The impetus for this study was the mass bleaching event of giant clams in 1997–1998 at several reefs in the Great Barrier Reef (GBR, Australia). From September until December 1999, the study investigated the effects of high light intensities and increased temperature accompanied by a nutrient limitation on the metabolism of Tridacna gigas, to test, if these environmental changes can induce bleaching. In a 50-day trial similar conditions of the mass bleaching event were imitated stressing clams, collected from Orpheus Island and Nelly Bay, by a two- to threefold light intensity and an increased temperature of 4–6 °C. The objectives of the experiments were to determine whether high light intensities can induce changes in chlorophyll content or alter zooxanthella cell sizes and populations in the tissue. After 50 days of exposure to high light intensity the mantle tissue of stressed clams exhibited a decreased number of zooxanthellae per unit area from 19.8 ± 0.8 (× 107·cm–2) to 0.2 ± 0.2 (× 107·cm–2) (mean ± CL). Additionally, the average cell size of zooxanthellae were downsized from 7.4 ± 0.1 μm to 5.3 ± 0.1 μm (mean ± CL). Subsequently, the chlorophyll content of both, chl a and chl c1, declined as well, chl a from 192 ± 4 to 0.1 ± 0.1 μg·ml–1 and chl c1 from 145 ± 6 to 0 μg·ml–1 (mean ± CL). This study shows that increased light intensity and temperature are the main causes for bleaching in giant clams. Thus, the study confirmed the four major aspects involved in bleaching: (1) loss of symbiotic algae, (2) decrease of chl a/c1 in the remaining symbiotic algae, (3) retention of small zooxanthellae in the tissue and (4) release of ammonium (NH4+) into the water column while nutrient uptake of ammonium was largely blocked.

The aim of this report is the synthetic presentation of observations related to ultrastructural aspects of the lipid metabolism during the ontogenesis of trophic mechanisms in three teleost species, the sea bass, Dicentrarchus labrax, the sea bream, Sparus aurata and the pike-perch, Stizostedion lucioperca. The results have shown the respective roles of the vitelline syncytium, the intestine, the liver and the exocrine pancreas during the change from an endogenous lipid source, the yolk vesicle, to an exogenous lipid one, food. They make it possible to stress the close correlation between the development of the biliary function, that of the exocrine function of the pancreas and that of the intestinal absorption of lipids. These activities established during the endotrophic stage are slight at the beginning of trophic life and then increase at the end of the endo-exotrophic stage. Analysis of the results suggests the occurrence of four physiological phases characteristic in early lipid metabolism establishing the main heads in acquisition of the trophic autonomy according to a pattern similar to that of mammals.

After the population increase of introduced Nile perch (Lates niloticus) in Lake Victoria, a decrease in the relative abundance of herbivorous cladocerans and calanoids was reported for the pelagic zone. The shift from large herbivores to small-bodied predatory cyclopoids has been attributed to the increase of the zooplanktivorous cyprinid dagaa (Rastrineobola argentea), which rose concomitantly with the Nile perch. However, we observed that in the Mwanza Gulf of the lake cyclopoids dominated the zooplankton community already before the rise of dagaa. Furthermore, there are indications that dagaa takes fewer calanoids than expected from their representation in the environment, although a slight preference for cladocerans may exist. Calanoids dominated the diet of small Nile perch of about 4 cm length, but juvenile Nile perch did not occur in the study area until after the size shift in zooplankton. The lumped biomass of dagaa and small Nile perch is lower than the biomass of the original haplochromine-dominated community of zooplanktivorous fish. Thus, the decline of large zooplankters in the lake cannot be explained by intensified predation after the replacement of zooplanktivorous haplochromines by dagaa and Nile perch. Increased eutrophication, resulting in a shift in predominance from diatoms to cyanophytes, is suggested as an alternative explanation for the shift in zooplankton composition.

The genetic structure of two native Silurus aristotelis (one of Europe's oldest surviving freshwater fish species) populations was investigated using eight microsatellite loci. Average values of population heterozygosity were very high, even approaching values reported for marine fishes, possibly due to stable population sizes and the prolonged undisturbed conditions prevailing in the lakes that represent the native distribution of S. aristotelis. The success of an attempt to introduce the species into a new environment was also evaluated. No loss of genetic variability in the introduced population was detected. Additionally, assignment tests and trees based on genetic distances among individuals indicated the low differentiation of the translocated population from its donor population, and, differentiated the two autochthonous populations successfully. Comparisons with previous allozyme and mitochondrial RFLP studies were also made and showed that results on relative levels of genetic variability among populations were in good agreement among all methods. However, microsatellite analysis exhibited higher power of statistical tests for differentiation among population samples compared to allozymes.

Formalin (a 33–38% aqueous formaldehyde solution) is currently used for bath treatments to control ectoparasitic infections of fish. Its effects on nitrification were evaluated in a semi-closed pilot scale saltwater recirculating turbot culture system. Tested treatments included 1 h static exposure to 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 90 mg l−1 formaldehyde without flushing, and long-term (i.e., 2, 4 and 6 h) exposures with constant 60 mg l−1 formaldehyde in a recirculating system. Formaldehyde has no apparent effect on the ammonia oxidative bacterial community. However, a significant effect on nitrite oxidation was observed in 1 h static exposures of concentrations higher than 40 mg l−1, and in recirculating system exposures of 60 mg l−1 formaldehyde for more than 4 h. Repeated treatments may be hazardous for nitrifying bacteria, which could induce an increase in nitrite concentration. Nitrite concentrations should be monitored when treatments are repeated or when they last a long time in recirculating aquaculture systems.

Three serological techniques (indirect immunofluorescence test, flow cytometry, and indirect dot–blot immunoenzymatic assay) have been evaluated for the detection of lymphocystis viral antigens using a gilt-head seabream cell line, SAF-1, and fish leukocytes. Six lymphocystis disease virus (LCDV) isolates from gilt-head seabream, and one reference strain (ATCC VR 342), were tested. Detection of viral LCDV antigens in SAF-1 cells and fish leukocytes by indirect immunofluorescence test occurs at similar periods (5–7 d post-inoculation), and viral antigens were detected as cytoplasmic inclusions located at the periphery of inoculated cells. The percentages of cells with LCDV antigens obtained by flow cytometry were very low, ranging between 0.9% at 5 d post-inoculation and 19.7% at 10 d post-inoculation. The optimal concentration of viral stocks detected by indirect dot–blot immunoenzymatic assay was 0.5 μg ml–1, when purified viral stocks were used as antigens. Inoculated and uninoculated SAF-1 cells could not be distinguished using LCDV antiserum binding. On the basis of these results, indirect immunofluorescence and flow cytometry tests appear to be the best serological methods to detect LCDV antigens in both SAF-1 cells and fish leukocytes.

The distinction of the two cupped oysters Crassostrea gigas (Thunberg, 1793) and Crassostrea angulata (Lamark, 1819) into two species was chiefly due to their differing geographical distributions, C. gigas being present in Asia and C. angulata in Europe. Today it is commonly accepted that C. angulata and C. gigas are a single species according to morphological, genetic and F1 hybridization data. However, the demonstration of the fertility of their hybrids and the absence of any reproductive isolation remained to be investigated. Consequently, we studied the fertility of hybrids and sperm competition by performing three different experiments and producing G1 and G2 hybrid progenies between wild populations of C. angulata and C. gigas. Progenies showed very close developmental yields, at 24 hours after fertilization, according to dam taxa suggesting a bold maternal transmission of oocyte quality, but no reproductive isolation was observed between the two taxa. Significant decreases of developmental yields were noticed in C. angulata females with sperm competition, most probably due to early larval mortality. The fertility of hybrids C. angulata × C. gigas was demonstrated, which is further evidence that they are the same species. To definitively state the precise taxonomic classification of C. angulata and C. gigas, further studies are needed to (i) identify geographical zones where these taxa are in contact and (ii) assess their level of hybridization in these zones.

In the English Channel, the French cuttlefish landings of the smallest commercial category (body weight < 100 g) indicate that recruitment begins in autumn. Samples of recruits were collected in the Port-en-Bessin (Normandy) fish market once every fortnight from October to December 2000 to determine age-at-recruitment and juvenile growth variability. In addition, pre-recruit samples (mantle length: 53–90 mm) were collected in the Bay of Seine from August. Age was determined by statolith analysis: daily growth increments on the statolith lateral dome were observed under a light microscope. Increments were counted automatically, and manually when necessary, using the image analysis software TNPC. Readable statoliths were obtained in 236 cuttlefish, which revealed changes in age-at-recruitment during the study period. The cohort 2000 is recruited at an age ranging between 2 and 5.5 months (the bulk of recruits are 60–120 d old) and an increasing trend in average age is observed in autumn. The duration of the hatching period was derived from back-calculated hatching dates. A main hatching peak was observed between June and August. Juvenile growth variability was analysed at the individual level and between batches of hatchlings. Growth rates suggest that early hatched individuals grow faster than animals hatched later in the summer.

We studied the distribution patterns of the native European white-clawed crayfish (Austropotamobius pallipes) and the introduced signal crayfish (Pacifastacus leniusculus), and looked at the water chemistry in several streams in the north of the Iberian Peninsula (Cantabrian watershed). Fifty fluvial reaches which were currently or previously inhabited by crayfish and had physical attributes similar to the known habitat requirements of crayfish were sampled. P. leniusculus was the most common species encountered (54% of the samples), A. pallipes was found in 19% and neither species was recorded in the remaining reaches. In this paper we determine the relationship between crayfish presence and water chemistry. As neither species inhabits waters with the highest NO2– concentrations found, it seems both species are sensitive to NO2–. Mg+2 and SO4–2 concentrations are the factors separating sites with and without crayfish (crayfish inhabit water with higher concentrations of both cations). The main differences between reaches inhabited by native and signal crayfish lies in SO4–2 concentration: higher concentrations favour signal crayfish. Applications to management based on the river water chemistry are proposed.

As a first step in assessing the viability of periphyton-based fish production in South Asian pond aquaculture systems, the effects of artificial substrates on development of periphyton and on water quality were evaluated. Earthen ponds (10 × 7.5 m) were provided with an artificial substrate constructed from poles of either bamboo, kanchi or hizol tree branches (1.0 m2 artificial substrate per m2 pond surface). Higher periphyton biomass, in terms of dry matter (DM) (4.9 mg cm–2) and chlorophyll a (11.5 μg cm–2) developed on hizol and bamboo, respectively. Periphyton ash content was higher on hizol (41%) than on the other two substrate types (29%). Protein content of the periphyton growing on bamboo (38% of ash-free dry matter (AFDM)) was 50% higher than that on the other two substrate types. Maximum periphyton productivities of 1.01, 1.38 and 1.03 g C m–2 d–1 were obtained for bamboo, hizol and kanchi substrates, respectively. Taxonomic composition of periphyton showed a rapid development of a relatively stable community with few differences between the substrate types. In total, 56 genera of algal periphyton and 35 genera of phytoplankton were identified. Based on a periphyton productivity estimate of 2.2–2.8 g AFDM m–2 d–1, periphyton alone can sustain an estimated fish production of 5000 kg ha–1 year–1 through the addition of a substrate area equivalent to 100% of the pond surface area.

Domoic acid is a neurotoxin responsible for the Amnesic Shellfish Poisoning (ASP). With the aim of determining its depuration kinetics in raft mussels Mytilus galloprovincialis and the effects of body weight, salinity and temperature on it, an experiment involving these factors was carried out. Mussels which had incorporated this toxin to a concentration of 153 μg·g–1 of soft tissue during a bloom of the pennate diatom Pseudo nitzschia australis, were collected from the Galician Rías and placed at temperatures of 18 and 22 ºC and salinities of 12.5 and 31. Mussel samples were taken at the start of the experiment and daily during the four subsequent days and the domoic acid contents of the soft tissues were analysed. The simple one-compartment kinetics, that is a kinetics in which all toxin depurates at the same rate, was fitted to the data, with good quantitative results. Notwithstanding, the deviations of the model from the actual data were dependent on time, suggesting that such a simple model is not enough to correctly describe the data, and that a more complex kinetics may be more adequate. A two-compartment kinetic model, in which two pools of toxins exist (compartments), each one depurating at different rate, described qualitatively better the depuration but its quantitative contribution to the fit was not statistically significant. The parameters of the model, obtained by least squares fitting, suggest the possibility of a small second compartment of very small or null depuration rate, as detected in other species. This kind of model would explain the reduced quantitative contribution of the second (slowly depurating) compartment.Low salinity was shown to reduce the depuration rate. The two other factors checked, temperature and body weight, nor any interaction had significant effect on depuration rate.

In the present study, norepinephrine (NE), epinephrine (E), dopamine (DA) and 5-hydroxy-tryptamine (5HT) have been quantified by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) in Pecten maximus during larval and post-larval development. With average values ranging from 2 to 5 pg μg–1 of protein, NE remained low through the whole larval life, while epinephrine (E) was undetected. DA and 5HT were the most abundant monoamines with significant variations between larval, pre-metamorphic and post-larval stages. During the first 20 days, corresponding to D larval and umboned larval stages, levels of DA and 5HT increased from 15 to 30 and 10 to 15 pg μg–1 of protein, respectively. Then during the last week of larval life, at the approach of metamorphosis, DA rose sharply from 30 to 50 pg μg–1 of protein and 5HT from 15 to 50 pg μg–1 of protein. Lastly during the first week of post-larval life (day 27 to day 34) DA and 5HT contents declined to levels similar to those detected in the first days of larval life reaching progressively 1 pg μg–1 of protein during the second week of post-larval life (day 34 to day 55). These rapid and transient variations in monoamine contents (5HT and DA) around metamorphosis, present a great interest. However, this relation between neurochemical changes and metamorphosis must be confirmed with future studies in order to verify if such monoamines might be used as indicators of larval competence in P. maximus, a commercially important species.

This paper reports a comparative study of two cupped oysters, Crassostrea gigas and C. angulata, and their hybrids reared in the Marennes-Oléron Sound (France) under usual farming conditions. The relative proficiency of these species was characterized in terms of growth, survival and reproduction, three major concerns for oyster farming. Four populations of each taxon were sampled (C. gigas: Japan and France; C. angulata: Taiwan and Spain) and used as progenitors to produce six different progenies under common hatchery and nursery conditions (transfer of 5 to 6 g of seed oysters at sea and rearing in bags for 2 years). Mortality profiles differed greatly among the progenies. The C. angulata progeny of Taiwanese origin gave the poorest results, with 100% mortality during the second year. For the entire rearing period, the highest yield (+22%) was obtained with the C. gigas progeny of French origin. The sexual maturation index, lipid cycles and dry weight loss after spawning showed that spawning of C. angulata was delayed by about two weeks compared to that of C. gigas. A clear maternal effect was observed for the growth and reproductive characteristics of the hybrids. On the whole, C. gigas of French origin gave the best aquacultural results. However, severe episodes of C. gigas mortality have been observed in France in recent years, indicating that this species might not be entirely suitable for sustained oyster farming in this country.

The abundance of prey ingested by brown trout (Salmo trutta) were compared with the abundance of drifting invertebrates in a mountain stream managed by hydropeaking, upstream (site A) and downstream (site B) of a hydroelectric power plant. During power generation, flow and temperature were the two main environmental factors modified. The natural flow in the river below the outlet may be enhanced several times a day from 1 to 11 m3.s–1 in summer and winter, and from 5 to 15 m3.s–1 during spring spates. During hydropeaking, the water was cooled by an average of 6 °C in summer and warmed by an average of 2 °C in winter. Overall drift density was higher at site B than at site A. There was a clear diel pattern of drift at site A, with low drift density during the day and high drift density at night, whereas no clear diel pattern was observed at site B. Below the plant, at site B, drift pattern appeared to be influenced most by hydropeaking. The flushing action of peaking flows caused a catastrophic drift, which was highest in autumn when the difference between natural and peak flows was greatest. Juvenile trout were adversely affected by hydropeaking conditions and subsequently their density and biomass were reduced by 30% from site A to site B, whereas no significant difference was noticed for adults. Gut contents analysis showed that brown trout chiefly fed on the most available prey items at both sites. Fish did not seem to feed in response to diel drift patterns above the plant, whereas they chiefly used drift pulses generated by peaking flows below the outlet. Under natural conditions, fullness indices increased from autumn to summer, suggesting they may be related to prey availability and changes in water temperature. In the regulated section, fullness indices were the lowest in spring, i.e. the season when peak flows added to snowmelt floods, suggesting a prominent role of high current velocities through habitat suitability, position maintenance, and ability to capture preys. Although hydropeaking is known to disturb trout population dynamics in this and other rivers, this kind of river regulation (natural discharge except during periods of power generation, and intermittent hydropeaking from a separate reservoir) allowed the maintain of brown trout below the outlet, probably because the river returned to natural conditions when the plant was inoperative, and because daily artificial fluctuations in flow and temperature remained within the limits of natural seasonal variations.

A number of cephalopod species present substantial ecological and economical importance; however, data on the physiology of stress and on regulatory processes linking stress to immune defence against pathogens remain extremely scarce in these organisms. The present study examined the influence of a 5 min air exposure, a common perturbation associated with handling in aquaculture settings and fisheries, on neuroendocrine and immune parameters in the octopus Eledone cirrhosa. Measurements of circulating concentrations of noradrenaline and dopamine, two hormones that are released in the haemolymph during stress in bivalves and gastropods, showed that the 5 min air exposure represents a real stress to octopus. Indeed, blood levels of both hormones increased by about 2–2.5-fold in stressed animals. Concomitantly, a significant decrease in the number of circulating haemocytes was observed, whereas haemocyte phagocytotic activity and superoxide anion production increased transiently between 5 and 60 min after the beginning of the stress. These results provide a first insight into the effects of stress on catecholamine levels and immune functions in cephalopods and suggest that stress and immunity may be associated in these organisms.

Gonadal neoplasms (germinomas) in softshell clams, Mya arenaria, have only been reported from locations in Maine, USA despite the fact that the geographic range of M. arenaria extends from Labrador to North Carolina on the east coast of North America. To more accurately determine the geographic distribution of this disease, adult clams (n = 18–60 per sample) obtained between 1989 and 1997 from sites along the entire coast of Maine and from Atlantic Canada (New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island) were examined histologically for the presence of neoplasia. Gonadal neoplasms were present at 10 of the 28 locations sampled, including sites in Maine, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island, at prevalences ranging from 3.3 to 50% and at all stages of development. Prevalence and stage of development, however, were consistently greater at sites located between Penobscot Bay, Maine and Passamaquoddy Bay, New Brunswick. There was no correlation between mean clam size (shell length) and prevalence. Clams with neoplasia were predominantly female. To assess possible disease transmissibility and subsequent mortality rates, naïve clams were transplanted to a site where neoplasia is enzootic and placed in close proximity to clams having the disease. After 6 months, no evidence of neoplasia was found in the transplanted clams even though cumulative mortality (14.7%) was greater than that in local clams (3.4%). These results suggest that gonadal neoplasms in M. arenaria progress slowly and cause little mortality once present in an individual and may not have an infectious etiology. Loss of reproductive output is a potential long-term effect of the disease.

The sequencing of the human genome represented a watershed in the biological sciences. Post-genomic biology will be marked not only by vastly greater knowledge about the human genome and those of other species but will see an increasing application of novel and highly sophisticated technologies. Genomic strategies, together with those that look at the proteome of cells and tissues, are likely to revolutionize scientific research over the coming years. The ease with which novel and homologous genes can be isolated using the new databases and technologies, and the ability to study the expression of thousands of genes simultaneously at a global cellular level will be the major factors in this revolution. Genomic information is already being used to further our understanding of physiology and gene evolution in fish. Furthermore, the highly compact pufferfish (Takifugu rubripes) genome is being used extensively as a model to interpret those of tetrapods. Currently, studies of the fish genome are limited to gene evolution and to a much lesser extent, environmental toxicology. However, as interpretation of fish genomes gathers pace, we are likely to see the increasing involvement of other key areas such as reproduction, growth, pathology of disease, and flesh development/quality. Here, we present some of the advanced genomic technologies currently available and discuss how these might influence our knowledge of fish biology.

The impact of metals (silver, cadmium, copper, mercury and zinc) on metallothionein (MT) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels of the oyster (Crassostrea gigas) and the mussel (Mytilus edulis) was studied after 4 or 21 days of metal exposure. Moreover, total protein levels were determined. After 4 days of metal exposure, although C. gigas and M. edulis accumulated cadmium and mercury concentrations in the gills and digestive gland, no significant variation of total protein level was occurred. After 21 days of exposure, metals were bioaccumulated in the gills and the digestive gland of both mollusks. A decrease of total protein concentrations in the gills of oysters and the digestive gland of mussels and an increase on metallothionein concentrations in the gills of both mollusks were observed. An increase of MDA levels was noticed for the gills and the digestive gland of mussels exposed for 21 days to either cadmium, silver or mercury whereas a decrease of MDA levels was observed in the gills of the oysters exposed for the same time to the same metals. The levels of proteins, MDA and MT were metal, species or organ dependent.

The European catfish Silurus glanis has been cultivated in extensive ponds in central and Eastern Europe in association with carps for more than 100 years. The total production of S. glanis in aquaculture from ten European countries (Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Germany, France, Hungary, Greece, Macedonia, Poland, Czech Republic and Romania) was 602 t in 1993 and presently is about 2000 t. Production is increasingly from intensive pond culture or in heated/geothermal waters. The flesh is white, boneless, easy to prepare, and low in fat (6 to 8%). The taste is mild but is subject to off-flavour. The fish are filleted (yields about 40% without skin) and the flesh is cut into steaks or smoked). During the last 10 years, research in Czech Republic, France and other European countries have developed technologies for artificial reproduction, evaluated population genetics and addressed problems of conservation. Growth is higher in males and research is in progress to produce triploids fish. While propagation techniques have progressed, production remains low and the cost of production is still high. Thus availability is low and the product remains poorly known.

French mollusc production is based mainly on the Pacific cupped oyster, Crassostrea gigas. Since 1991, annual mass mortality of juveniles has been reported during summer months. These recurring episodes concern professionals who fear that like Portugese oyster, C. angulata, C. gigas could in turn disappear following one of these epizooties. Previously, bacteriological analysis of moribund oyster juveniles yielded an isolate of a Vibrio splendidus biovar II strain, named TNEMF6. This isolate was demonstrated to be pathogenic to Crassostrea gigas spat by experimental challenge. To study the association between summer oyster mortality and presence of TNEMF6 cluster strains, Vibrionaceae fauna were isolated from infected spat along the French Atlantic coast between 1997-1998. Strains related to V. splendidus biovar II were selected. Comparison with TNEMF6 was performed by classical biochemical tests and polymerase chain reaction – restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) of SSU rDNA, rpoD, and gyrB genes. Genomic similarities were confirmed by DNA/DNA hybridization. Only one strain out of 14, TNNIII7, was found to be closely related to the pathogenic bacteria. Neither the phenotypic nor the genotypic markers used in this study were able to distinguish pathogenic from non-pathogenic strains of the widespread V. splendidus. However, future genetic comparisons of TNEMF6 and TNNIII7 is likely to reveal genes involved in pathogenicity.