High levels of larval mortality are a significant barrierto the artificial mass production of Pacific bluefin tuna (Thunnusorientalis). Mortality may occur when larvae sink and comeinto contact with the bottom of the rearing tank during the first10 days after hatching. We evaluated the effect of flow controlby aeration on the survival of T. orientalis larvae.These larvae were held in 500-L tanks in which the aeration ratewas varied during the night. Larval survival increased with airsupply. We documented the cross-sectional flow pattern and gravitationalsinking velocities of larvae to assess the correlation between survivaland circulation patterns in the tank. The sinking velocity of T. orientalis larvaeat night increased with larval body density, which varied with swimbladdervolume. Larvae with uninflated swimbladders sank significantly fasterthan larvae with inflated swimbladders. Both water circulation speedand survival increased at higher aeration rates. Our results suggestthat aeration rates >900 ml min–1 may increase larval survival bycounteracting sinking.

Parasite communities of wild and reared bluefin tuna display remarkable diversity. Among these, the most prevalent and abundant are the Didymozoidae (Monticelli, 1888) (Trematoda, Digenea), considered one of the most taxonomically complex digenean families. The aim of this study was to evaluate phylogenetic structure of Didymozoidae occurring in Pacific (Thunnus orientalis) and Atlantic bluefin tuna (T. thynnus) in order to increase our knowledge of didymozoid zoogeography and identify species that could successfully be employed as biological tags for stock assessment studies. For the present analyses we used 2 nuclear ribosomal DNA loci, part of the 28S gene and the second internal transcribed spacer (ITS-2) as well as a portion of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 gene (cox1). In most parasitic groups, morphology is the primary factor in the structuring of phylogenetic relationships. In rare examples, however, habitat has been suggested as a primary factor affecting parasite evolution. During their evolution, didymozoids have spread and inhabited a remarkable number of different sites in their hosts, colonizing exterior as well as strictly interior niches. Our data suggest that habitat selection has been the leading force in shaping didymozoid phylogenetic relationships. For 2 didymozoid species (D. wedli and D. palati), cox1 sequences indicate intraspecific differences between Mexican and Adriatic populations.