Preliminary studies on predicting the setting season of oysters for the benefit of shellfish farmers

Preliminary findings from a spatfall forecasting programme initiated in April 1981 at Himamaylan River, Negros Occidental are presented. Two main activities are involved: 1) monitoring of daily counts of oyster larvae in the plankton; and 2) monitoring of actual setting of oysters on standardized collectors put in the vicinity of oyster farm sites. Findings indicate that when the count of mature larvae exceeds 5 per 100 ml sample and persists for at least 3 days, spat may be expected to occur shortly afterwards.

基于SPEM扩展元模型的PSP实施方法

提出了一种支持PSP过程的SPEM扩展元模型P-SPEM,并给出了基于P-SPEM的PSP实施过程及支持该过程的原型工具。其中使用PROBE方法帮助个体进行项目计划和估算,用DEA分析方法综合评价工程师的过程性能,有效地指导工程师实施PSP。

亚历山大藻（非PSP产毒株）毒理的初步研究

本文以一株不产PSP毒素的相关亚历山大藻（AC-1）为对象，研究了该藻株对褶皱臂尾轮虫、卤虫、黑褐新糠虾急性毒性效应和对糠虾的慢性毒性影响，同时对AFT毒素成分进行了研究，研究结果如下： 通过相关亚历山大藻（AC-1）对褶皱臂尾轮虫、卤虫、黑褐新糠虾的急性毒性影响研究，发现随着相关亚历山大藻（AC-1）密度的升高，轮虫、卤虫、糠虾的存活率逐渐降低，其96hLC50分别为：1500cells/ml，90cells/ml，5000cells/ml。比较研究三种生物对相关亚历山大藻（AC-1）敏感性可以看出，三种生物对该藻的敏感性顺序为：卤虫>轮虫>糠虾。 相关亚历山大藻（AC-1）对黑褐新糠虾的生长及种群繁殖有显著影响，我们发现在密度为50cells/ml藻液中，糠虾的繁殖就受到了不利影响。实验进行到63d结束时，糠虾日最高产虾数、总产幼虾数、总产虾天数都明显减少，初次产虾时间推迟，繁殖中断增加。且该藻对黑褐新糠虾亲虾的存活、生长也有一定的影响，糠虾亲虾的存活率为对照的71%，而体长和体重分别为对照组的87.3%和97.8%，但差异尚不显著（P>0.05）。 研究相关亚历山大藻（AC-1）各组分的毒性（藻液、藻细胞重悬液、藻细胞培养过滤液、内容物），发现藻液和藻细胞重悬液对褶皱臂尾轮虫种群数量及轮虫、卤虫、糠虾的存活率均有显著影响，表明相关亚历山大藻活体藻细胞的毒性最强。过滤液和内容物也显著降低了轮虫和卤虫的存活率，其对糠虾也有影响，但不显著，表明AFT毒素可能来源于细胞内，能分泌到细胞培养液中。 研究相关亚历山大藻（AC-1）AFT毒素的热稳定性、酸碱稳定性、去蛋白组分毒性、分子量范围、极性、多糖组分鉴定，表明AFT毒素为极性较强的多糖类物质，对热和酸碱是稳定的，其分子量范围在5K~50K之间。 以上结果表明相关亚历山大藻（AC-1）虽然不产生PSP毒素，但能产生极性多糖类毒素，对甲壳类等浮游动物的种群数量和资源补充产生不利影响。本研究为以后进一步研究AFT毒素的作用机制和毒素的化学结构奠定了基础，为全面评价亚历山大藻赤潮的危害提供了科学依据。

Growth characters and photosynthetic capacity of Gracilaria lemaneiformis as a biofilter in a shellfish farming area in Sanggou Bay, China

Experiments on growth characters and ecological functions of the macroalgae Gracilaria lemaneiformis, collected from south China, were conducted in polyculture areas of kelp and filter-feeding bivalve in Sanggou Bay in Weihai City, Shandong, in north China from May 2002 to May 2003. The results of 116 days cultivation showed that the average wet weight of alga increased 89 times from 0.1 to 8.9 kg rope(-1), with an average specific growth rate ( based on wet weight) of 3.95% per day. The most favorable water layer for its growth was 1.0 - 1.8 m below the surface in July and August, with an average specific growth rate of 8.2% per day in 30-day experiments. Photosynthetic activity changed seasonally, with an average of 7.3 mg O-2 g dw(-1) h(-1). The maximum rate (14.4 mg O-2 g dw(-1) h(-1)) was recorded in July, or 19.3 mg CO2 g dw(-1) h(-1), while the minimum (0.40 mg CO2 g dw(-1) h(-1)) was in April. This study indicated that the culture of G. lemaneiformis is an effective way to improve water quality where scallops are cultivated intensively.

Concentrations and distribution of organochlorine pesticides in shellfish from Changjiang estuary

To analyze and evaluate the status of organochlorine pollutants in the Changjiang (Yangtze River) estuary and adjacent waters, the concentrations of hexachlorocyclohexane (HCHs) and dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDTs) in shellfish collected in study area from 2006 to 2007 were determined with gas chromatography (GC). The concentration range of HCHs was (ND-12.13)x10(-3) mg/kg wet weight and averaged at 0.54x10(-3) mg/kg while the concentration of DDTs was in the range of (4.06-281.73) x10(-3) mg/kg with a mean of 57.52x10(-3) mg/kg in the survey areas. The concentrations of DDTs in the shellfish were higher than HCHs', so that DDTs could be considered as typical organochlorine pollutants in the areas. The concentrations of DDTs in the shellfish were higher than HCHs', so that DDTs could be considered as typical organochlorines pollutants. The HCHs in all the shellfish conformed to the first level of criterion (0.02 mg/kg) of the Marion Biology Quality (GB 18421-2001), and that of DDTs in most samples were beyond the first level (0.01 mg/kg) but conformed to the second level (0.10 mg/kg). On average, alpha-HCH and delta-HCH occupied the most part of HCHs, while O,P'-DDT and P,P'-DDT occupied the most part of DDTs. The concentrations of organocholorine pesticides in shellfish samples varied in site and in species. The highest level occurred at the Shengsi (SS), followed by Yangkougang (YKG), Lvsi (LS), Dongyuan (DY) and Beibayao (BBY), low concentrations were observed at Changsha (CS), Beidaodi (BDD), and Gouqi (GQ). The concentration of HCHs and DDTs in most sites decreased clearly from 2006 to 2007 except for YKG, DY, BDD, LYS, and SS. All of above results suggested that the study area was slightly affected by organochlorine pesticide, special by DDTs.

Protein phosphatase inhibition assay for detection of diarrhetic shellfish poison in oyster

A method based on protein phosphatase enzyme activity inhibition for the detection of diarrhetic shellfish poison (DSP) was used to analyze the DSP toxicity in three oyster samples. Based on the standard dose-effect curve developed with a series of okadaic acid (OA) standard solutions, the DSP toxicity of the three oyster samples collected were screened, and the results showed that there were no OA and dinophysis toxins ( DTXs) in the samples without hydrolization. However, the OA toxicity could be detected in two of the hydrolyzed samples, and the OA toxicity of the two samples were 1.81 and 1.21 mu g OA eq./kg oyster, respectively.

Speciation Analysis of Organotin Compounds in Shellfish by Hyphenated Technique of High Performance Liquid Chromatography-Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry

The hyphenated technique of high performance liquid chromatography coupled with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry(HPLC-ICP-MS) was applied to the simultaneous determination of five organotin compounds in the shellfish samples. Agilent TC-C-18 column was selected, mobile phase of the HPLC was CH3CN:H2O: CH3COOH = 65:23:12 (V/V), 0. 05% TEA, pH = 3.0 at flow rate 0.4 mL/min. Five mixed organotin standards from 100 mu g/L to 0. 5 mu g/L was used for the method evaluation. The experimental results indicate that the linearity (R-2) for each compound was over 0.998. The shellfish samples were treated by supersonic extraction with mobile phase for 30min. Four organotin compounds including dibutyltin (DBT), tributyltin (TBT), diphenyltin (DphT) and triphenyltin (TPhT) in shellfish samples were detected with method mentioned above. It was found that the domain compounds in the samples were tributyltin (TBT) and triphenyltin (TPhT). The recoveries test from the standard addition for trimethyltin (TMT tributyltin (TBT), and triphenyltin (TPhT) were, over 80%. However, the recoveries for diphenyltin (DPhT) and dibutyltin (DBT) were relatively low, 37.3% and 75.2% respectively. The reason might be attributed to the decomposition of those compounds during the extraction procedure. The further study on this subject is under the progress.

Biological wastes as plant growth substrate amendments

Globally, agriculture is being intensified with mechanization and increased use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. There has been a scaling up of production to satisfy the demands of supermarket distribution. Problems associated with intensification of production, trade globalisation and a larger market demand for greater volumes of fresh produce, include consumers' concern about pesticide residues and leaching of nutrients and pesticides into the environment, as well as increases in the transmission of human food-poisoning pathogens on raw vegetables and in fruit juices. The first part of this research was concerned with the evaluation of a biological control strategy for soil-borne pathogens, these are difficult to eliminate and the chemicals of which the most effective fumigants e.g. methyl bromide, are being withdrawn form use. Chitin-containing crustaceans shellfish waste was investigated as a selective growth substrate amendment in the field, in glasshouse and in storage trials against Sclerotinia disease of Helianthus tuberosus, Phytophthora fragariae disease of Fragaria vesca and Fusarium disease of Dianthus. Results showed that addition to shellfish waste stimulated substrate microbial populations and lytic activity and induced plant defense proteins, namely chitinases and cellulases. Protective effects were seen in all crop models but the results indicate that further trials are required to confirm long-term efficacy. The second part of the research investigated the persistence of enteric bacteria in raw salad vegetables using model food poisoning isolates. In clinical investigations plants are sampled for bacterial contamination but no attempt is made to differentiate between epiphytes and endophytes. Results here indicate that the mode isolates persist endophytically thereby escaping conventional chlorine washes and they may also induce host defenses, which results in their suppression and in negative results in conventional plate count screening. Finally a discussion of criteria that should be considered for a HACCP plan for safe raw salad vegetable production is presented.