Pub Date : 2026-02-05DOI: 10.1016/j.aquaculture.2026.743739
Toshinao Ineno , Taisei Nozaki , Ryuhei Kinami
Induction of gonad development into ovaries in genetic male sterlets (Acipenser ruthenus) has previously been achieved by dietary supplementation with 1000 μg/g genistein (GS), a phytoestrogen. The present study aimed to determine the lowest effective GS dose capable of feminizing genetic male sterlets. Genetically male sterlets at 137 days post-hatch (DPH) were divided into four groups of 30 individuals (53.9 ± 1.87 g), orally administered GS at doses of 0, 500, 800, and 1000 μg/g diet for 180 days in in the group tanks with flow-through river water, and then fed a GS-free diet for approximately 200 days prior to sampling. The results revealed that GS did not affect survival or growth rates. Intersex gonads were observed in 15/25, 22/25, and 20/24 fish in the 0, 500, 800, and 1000 μg/g dietary GS groups, respectively, and the minimum GS dose required to induce ovarian tissue development in the testis was ≤500 μg/g diet. Furthermore, a novel classification system for ovarian tissue development within the testes was introduced that consists of stages 0 to 4 based on the histological analysis results. A significant correlation was observed between GS dose and gonadal stage (ordinal logistic regression analysis: p < 0.05, R2 = 0.279), suggesting that GS increased the proportion of gonadal ovarian tissue in a dose-dependent manner. The results of this study suggest that administering an appropriate GS dosage could contribute towards the development of formulated feed that induces feminization in farmed sterlet.
{"title":"Minimum oral dose of genistein required to feminize sterlet (Acipenser ruthenus) evaluated based on oocyte appearance in the testes","authors":"Toshinao Ineno , Taisei Nozaki , Ryuhei Kinami","doi":"10.1016/j.aquaculture.2026.743739","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aquaculture.2026.743739","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Induction of gonad development into ovaries in genetic male sterlets (<em>Acipenser ruthenus</em>) has previously been achieved by dietary supplementation with 1000 μg/g genistein (GS), a phytoestrogen. The present study aimed to determine the lowest effective GS dose capable of feminizing genetic male sterlets. Genetically male sterlets at 137 days post-hatch (DPH) were divided into four groups of 30 individuals (53.9 ± 1.87 g), orally administered GS at doses of 0, 500, 800, and 1000 μg/g diet for 180 days in in the group tanks with flow-through river water, and then fed a GS-free diet for approximately 200 days prior to sampling. The results revealed that GS did not affect survival or growth rates. Intersex gonads were observed in 15/25, 22/25, and 20/24 fish in the 0, 500, 800, and 1000 μg/g dietary GS groups, respectively, and the minimum GS dose required to induce ovarian tissue development in the testis was ≤500 μg/g diet. Furthermore, a novel classification system for ovarian tissue development within the testes was introduced that consists of stages 0 to 4 based on the histological analysis results. A significant correlation was observed between GS dose and gonadal stage (ordinal logistic regression analysis: <em>p</em> < 0.05, R<sup>2</sup> = 0.279), suggesting that GS increased the proportion of gonadal ovarian tissue in a dose-dependent manner. The results of this study suggest that administering an appropriate GS dosage could contribute towards the development of formulated feed that induces feminization in farmed sterlet.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8375,"journal":{"name":"Aquaculture","volume":"617 ","pages":"Article 743739"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2026-02-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146135620","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Gracilaria is a globally valuable red seaweed with applications in food, pharmaceuticals, and ecosystem-based aquaculture, yet its cultivation in Bangladesh remains largely confined to nearshore habitats. This study provides the first rigorous, side-by-side evaluation of Gracilaria sp. performance in a 2 × 2 factorial experiment in traditional nearshore systems and in underutilized coastal ponds, assessing how environment (near-shore vs ponds) and water cultivation layers (surface vs on-bottom) jointly shape growth dynamics, ecological drivers, and biochemical attributes. Nearshore systems consistently produced superior (p < 0.001) net weight biomass (up to 674% higher) and faster daily growth rate (DGR) (up to 482% higher), while surface-layer culture outperformed (p < 0.001) on-bottom culture across all metrics, underscoring the importance of light availability and hydrodynamic exposure. Multivariate analyses revealed that seasonal maxima occurred during December–February, driven by favorable thermal regimes, enhanced water clarity, and winter nutrient enrichment, while temperature elevation and turbidity strongly suppressed growth. Biochemical profiling revealed pronounced environmental differentiation. Nearshore-grown thalli of Gracilaria sp. exhibited significantly (p < 0.001) elevated protein, lipid, crude fiber, ash, and essential amino acids, reflecting enhanced nitrogen assimilation, stronger photosynthetic performance, and greater metabolic allocation toward structural and functional biomolecules under dynamic hydrodynamic conditions. Conversely, bottom-layer cultivation stimulated higher antioxidant and flavonoid concentrations (p < 0.001), indicating depth-specific activation of phenolic and oxidative defense pathways. These patterns were supported by FTIR spectra, which revealed distinct shifts in amino-acid–related and phenolic functional groups between environments and cultivation layers, underscoring the biochemical plasticity of Gracilaria in response to ecological gradients. Collectively, the findings show that while nearshore farming maximizes biomass and nutritional quality, coastal pond-based systems offer complementary benefits for carbon capture and seamless integration into existing aquaculture. By clarifying the mechanistic links between environmental variability, seasonal dynamics, and biochemical profiles, this study provides a foundation for resilient, high-value Gracilaria production and highlights how strategically managed coastal pond-based systems can transform underutilized shrimp ponds into multifunctional seaweed-aquaculture platforms that strengthen coastal livelihoods and advance Bangladesh's blue-economy agenda.
{"title":"Differential growth and biochemical profiling of the red seaweed Gracilaria sp. under near-shore and pond-based environments: Insights from surface and on-bottom cultivation systems","authors":"Joy Talapatra , Md. Ramzan Ali , Sayeda Afrin Busra , Sourav Chowdhury , Md Nayeem Hossain , Md Nahiduzzaman , Md Asaduzzaman","doi":"10.1016/j.aquaculture.2026.743701","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aquaculture.2026.743701","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div><em>Gracilaria</em> is a globally valuable red seaweed with applications in food, pharmaceuticals, and ecosystem-based aquaculture, yet its cultivation in Bangladesh remains largely confined to nearshore habitats. This study provides the first rigorous, side-by-side evaluation of <em>Gracilaria</em> sp. performance in a 2 × 2 factorial experiment in traditional nearshore systems and in underutilized coastal ponds, assessing how environment (near-shore vs ponds) and water cultivation layers (surface vs on-bottom) jointly shape growth dynamics, ecological drivers, and biochemical attributes. Nearshore systems consistently produced superior (<em>p</em> < 0.001) net weight biomass (up to 674% higher) and faster daily growth rate (DGR) (up to 482% higher), while surface-layer culture outperformed (<em>p</em> < 0.001) on-bottom culture across all metrics, underscoring the importance of light availability and hydrodynamic exposure. Multivariate analyses revealed that seasonal maxima occurred during December–February, driven by favorable thermal regimes, enhanced water clarity, and winter nutrient enrichment, while temperature elevation and turbidity strongly suppressed growth. Biochemical profiling revealed pronounced environmental differentiation. Nearshore-grown thalli of <em>Gracilaria</em> sp. exhibited significantly (<em>p</em> < 0.001) elevated protein, lipid, crude fiber, ash, and essential amino acids, reflecting enhanced nitrogen assimilation, stronger photosynthetic performance, and greater metabolic allocation toward structural and functional biomolecules under dynamic hydrodynamic conditions. Conversely, bottom-layer cultivation stimulated higher antioxidant and flavonoid concentrations (<em>p</em> < 0.001), indicating depth-specific activation of phenolic and oxidative defense pathways. These patterns were supported by FTIR spectra, which revealed distinct shifts in amino-acid–related and phenolic functional groups between environments and cultivation layers, underscoring the biochemical plasticity of <em>Gracilaria</em> in response to ecological gradients. Collectively, the findings show that while nearshore farming maximizes biomass and nutritional quality, coastal pond-based systems offer complementary benefits for carbon capture and seamless integration into existing aquaculture. By clarifying the mechanistic links between environmental variability, seasonal dynamics, and biochemical profiles, this study provides a foundation for resilient, high-value <em>Gracilaria</em> production and highlights how strategically managed coastal pond-based systems can transform underutilized shrimp ponds into multifunctional seaweed-aquaculture platforms that strengthen coastal livelihoods and advance Bangladesh's blue-economy agenda.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8375,"journal":{"name":"Aquaculture","volume":"616 ","pages":"Article 743701"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2026-01-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146076166","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-27DOI: 10.1016/j.aquaculture.2026.743699
Ahmed E. Noreldin , Mustafa Shukry , Akram Ismael Shehata , Mohammed F. El Basuini , Hany M.R. Abdel-Latif
The widespread application of engineered nanomaterials, particularly silicon dioxide nanoparticles (SiO₂NPs) and copper oxide nanoparticles (CuONPs), has raised critical environmental concerns due to their increasing release into aquatic ecosystems. This study aimed to evaluate the sub-lethal neurotoxic effects of SiO₂NPs and CuONPs on the brain of Nile tilapia. Juvenile fish were exposed to SiO₂NPs (0, 20, 40, and 100 mg/L) and CuONPs (0, 10, 20, and 50 mg/L) for three weeks under controlled laboratory conditions. Histopathological examination revealed concentration-dependent neurodegenerative changes in the cerebellum and optic tectum, including neuronal shrinkage, edema, necrosis, and vacuolization, with significantly higher lesion scores at the highest concentrations. Transcriptomic analysis demonstrated a significant upregulation of oxidative stress-related gene metallothionein, and neuroendocrine regulator spexin at medium and high concentrations of both nanoparticles. Furthermore, key neurotransmission-related genes, including dopamine receptor 2, cholinergic receptor beta-2 subunit, acetylcholinesterase, and gamma-aminobutyric acid receptor gamma-3 subunit, were markedly downregulated in a dose-dependent manner, particularly at 100 mg/L SiO₂NPs and 50 mg/L CuONPs, indicating impaired synaptic signaling and potential behavioral dysfunction. In conclusion, the findings highlight the neurotoxic potential of SiO₂NPs and CuONPs in Nile tilapia, marked by histological deterioration and significant disruption of gene expression related to oxidative stress, inflammation, and neurotransmission. Notably, 50 mg/L for CuONPs and 100 mg/L for SiO₂NPs were identified as the highest concentrations that elicited significant adverse transcriptomic and histopathological responses, indicating these as critical levels for neurotoxicity. This study provides novel molecular evidence of nanoparticle-induced neurotoxicity and underscores the urgent need for environmental regulation to mitigate the risks of these nanomaterials in aquatic ecosystems.
{"title":"Effects of SiO2NPs and CuONPs on the histoarchitecture and transcriptomic responses in the brain of Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus","authors":"Ahmed E. Noreldin , Mustafa Shukry , Akram Ismael Shehata , Mohammed F. El Basuini , Hany M.R. Abdel-Latif","doi":"10.1016/j.aquaculture.2026.743699","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aquaculture.2026.743699","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The widespread application of engineered nanomaterials, particularly silicon dioxide nanoparticles (SiO₂NPs) and copper oxide nanoparticles (CuONPs), has raised critical environmental concerns due to their increasing release into aquatic ecosystems. This study aimed to evaluate the sub-lethal neurotoxic effects of SiO₂NPs and CuONPs on the brain of Nile tilapia. Juvenile fish were exposed to SiO₂NPs (0, 20, 40, and 100 mg/L) and CuONPs (0, 10, 20, and 50 mg/L) for three weeks under controlled laboratory conditions. Histopathological examination revealed concentration-dependent neurodegenerative changes in the cerebellum and optic tectum, including neuronal shrinkage, edema, necrosis, and vacuolization, with significantly higher lesion scores at the highest concentrations. Transcriptomic analysis demonstrated a significant upregulation of oxidative stress-related gene metallothionein, and neuroendocrine regulator spexin at medium and high concentrations of both nanoparticles. Furthermore, key neurotransmission-related genes, including dopamine receptor 2, cholinergic receptor beta-2 subunit, acetylcholinesterase, and gamma-aminobutyric acid receptor gamma-3 subunit, were markedly downregulated in a dose-dependent manner, particularly at 100 mg/L SiO₂NPs and 50 mg/L CuONPs, indicating impaired synaptic signaling and potential behavioral dysfunction. In conclusion, the findings highlight the neurotoxic potential of SiO₂NPs and CuONPs in Nile tilapia, marked by histological deterioration and significant disruption of gene expression related to oxidative stress, inflammation, and neurotransmission. Notably, 50 mg/L for CuONPs and 100 mg/L for SiO₂NPs were identified as the highest concentrations that elicited significant adverse transcriptomic and histopathological responses, indicating these as critical levels for neurotoxicity. This study provides novel molecular evidence of nanoparticle-induced neurotoxicity and underscores the urgent need for environmental regulation to mitigate the risks of these nanomaterials in aquatic ecosystems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8375,"journal":{"name":"Aquaculture","volume":"616 ","pages":"Article 743699"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2026-01-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146076099","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-27DOI: 10.1016/j.aquaculture.2026.743700
Weijie Song , Qianjing Jiang , Yong He , Bin Ma , Yu Tang , Jian Zhao
Stocking density is a critical factor in aquaculture, and a long-standing debate persists regarding the relative detriments of high versus low densities to fish welfare. Moreover, the mechanistic pathways and contributions of physiological stress and aggression to welfare decline remain poorly quantified. In this study, we conducted a comprehensive meta-analysis spanning 108 fish species based on 2507 observations from 214 studies. Our analyses revealed that, in contrast to low stocking density, high stocking density significantly impeded growth performance, as evidenced by reduced specific growth rate (SGR) (-9.4%), lower daily feed intake (DFI) (-13.6%), and a higher feed conversion ratio (FCR) (+8.8%). Mechanistically, this is driven by a significant physiological stress response, including elevated cortisol levels (+11.3%) and impaired digestive function (-15.5%). Counterintuitively, frequency of aggressive behavior (FAB) decreased significantly (-38.6%), suggesting that crowding-induced physiological stress, rather than aggression, is the primary cause of welfare degradation. Furthermore, subgroup analyses indicated carnivorous fish demonstrated superior tolerance to high-density stress, with a relatively minor reduction in SGR (-7.6%), a pronounced decrease in FAB (-40.6%), and non-significant changes in cannibalism rate (CR), coefficient variation of final weight (CV), DFI, and cortisol levels. In contrast, omnivores suffered a more substantial SGR decline (-12.1%), accompanied by increases in CR (+469.5%), CV (+26.7%), and cortisol levels (+19.3%), and a significant reduction in DFI (-21.9%). Finally, we identified indoor culture system and precise feeding rate as viable mitigation strategies for high-density stress. These findings provide a mechanistic understanding and practical solutions for improving welfare in intensive aquaculture.
{"title":"Crowding-induced physiological stress, not aggression, makes high stocking density more worthy of attention in aquaculture","authors":"Weijie Song , Qianjing Jiang , Yong He , Bin Ma , Yu Tang , Jian Zhao","doi":"10.1016/j.aquaculture.2026.743700","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aquaculture.2026.743700","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Stocking density is a critical factor in aquaculture, and a long-standing debate persists regarding the relative detriments of high versus low densities to fish welfare. Moreover, the mechanistic pathways and contributions of physiological stress and aggression to welfare decline remain poorly quantified. In this study, we conducted a comprehensive meta-analysis spanning 108 fish species based on 2507 observations from 214 studies. Our analyses revealed that, in contrast to low stocking density, high stocking density significantly impeded growth performance, as evidenced by reduced specific growth rate (SGR) (-9.4%), lower daily feed intake (DFI) (-13.6%), and a higher feed conversion ratio (FCR) (+8.8%). Mechanistically, this is driven by a significant physiological stress response, including elevated cortisol levels (+11.3%) and impaired digestive function (-15.5%). Counterintuitively, frequency of aggressive behavior (FAB) decreased significantly (-38.6%), suggesting that crowding-induced physiological stress, rather than aggression, is the primary cause of welfare degradation. Furthermore, subgroup analyses indicated carnivorous fish demonstrated superior tolerance to high-density stress, with a relatively minor reduction in SGR (-7.6%), a pronounced decrease in FAB (-40.6%), and non-significant changes in cannibalism rate (CR), coefficient variation of final weight (CV), DFI, and cortisol levels. In contrast, omnivores suffered a more substantial SGR decline (-12.1%), accompanied by increases in CR (+469.5%), CV (+26.7%), and cortisol levels (+19.3%), and a significant reduction in DFI (-21.9%). Finally, we identified indoor culture system and precise feeding rate as viable mitigation strategies for high-density stress. These findings provide a mechanistic understanding and practical solutions for improving welfare in intensive aquaculture.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8375,"journal":{"name":"Aquaculture","volume":"616 ","pages":"Article 743700"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2026-01-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146076096","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-27DOI: 10.1016/j.aquaculture.2026.743702
Liping Liu , Zihan Gai , Yan Li , Yanling Liu , Shuxiu Chen , Xiaojie Li , Weiwei Wang , Linan Zhang
The brown alga Saccharina japonica is a commercially important species in global seaweed aquaculture, with a haploid UV-type sex determination system operating at the gametophyte stage. Reliable sex identification is critical for germplasm resource management and genetic breeding; however, fully validated morphological traits for this purpose are currently lacking. Existing sex-specific molecular markers for S. japonica also have limitations, such as low efficiency (requiring dual markers) and insufficient specificity or interspecific universality. In this study, we developed a single PCR-based sex marker (designated Sj-SexI) derived from a pair of conserved gametologue genes—SjaF_32G0008590 (female-associated) and Sja_32G0004800 (male-associated)—localized within the sex-determining region (SDR) of S. japonica. These two gametologues encode putative Ste20-like serine/threonine kinases, sharing conserved exon sequences but exhibiting distinct intron lengths. This length polymorphism enabled the design of a degenerate primer pair to discriminate between male and female amplification products. Using a single PCR reaction, Sj-SexI amplified a 670 bp product in female gametophytes and a 391 bp product in male gametophytes, allowing for both rapid sex identification and detection of sex mixing in gametophytes. Validation experiments confirmed three key functionalities of Sj-SexI: (1) accurate identification of the genetic sex of aposporous gametophytes; (2) distinction between sporophytes derived from sexual reproduction (showing both male and female amplification bands) and those from asexual reproduction (displaying a single sex-specific band); and (3) broad cross-species applicability. Specifically, Sj-SexI successfully amplified sex-specific bands in multiple kelp species, including S. longissima, S. angustata, S. latissima, S. gyrata, Kjellmaniella crassifolia, and even Undaria pinnatifida (a species from a different family, Alariaceae). Compared with previously reported sex markers for S. japonica, Sj-SexI significantly improves identification efficiency and enhances both specificity and universality. This marker thus serves as a reliable tool for large-scale germplasm management, research on reproductive development mechanisms, and genetic breeding in S. japonica and related kelp species.
{"title":"A single PCR-based sex marker, Sj-SexI, from conserved SDR gametologue genes: Enhancing efficiency and cross-species applicability in kelp","authors":"Liping Liu , Zihan Gai , Yan Li , Yanling Liu , Shuxiu Chen , Xiaojie Li , Weiwei Wang , Linan Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.aquaculture.2026.743702","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aquaculture.2026.743702","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The brown alga <em>Saccharina japonica</em> is a commercially important species in global seaweed aquaculture, with a haploid UV-type sex determination system operating at the gametophyte stage. Reliable sex identification is critical for germplasm resource management and genetic breeding; however, fully validated morphological traits for this purpose are currently lacking. Existing sex-specific molecular markers for <em>S. japonica</em> also have limitations, such as low efficiency (requiring dual markers) and insufficient specificity or interspecific universality. In this study, we developed a single PCR-based sex marker (designated Sj-SexI) derived from a pair of conserved gametologue genes—<em>SjaF_32G0008590</em> (female-associated) and <em>Sja_32G0004800</em> (male-associated)—localized within the sex-determining region (SDR) of <em>S. japonica</em>. These two gametologues encode putative Ste20-like serine/threonine kinases, sharing conserved exon sequences but exhibiting distinct intron lengths. This length polymorphism enabled the design of a degenerate primer pair to discriminate between male and female amplification products. Using a single PCR reaction, Sj-SexI amplified a 670 bp product in female gametophytes and a 391 bp product in male gametophytes, allowing for both rapid sex identification and detection of sex mixing in gametophytes. Validation experiments confirmed three key functionalities of Sj-SexI: (1) accurate identification of the genetic sex of aposporous gametophytes; (2) distinction between sporophytes derived from sexual reproduction (showing both male and female amplification bands) and those from asexual reproduction (displaying a single sex-specific band); and (3) broad cross-species applicability. Specifically, Sj-SexI successfully amplified sex-specific bands in multiple kelp species, including <em>S. longissima</em>, <em>S. angustata</em>, <em>S. latissima</em>, <em>S. gyrata</em>, <em>Kjellmaniella crassifolia</em>, and even <em>Undaria pinnatifida</em> (a species from a different family, Alariaceae). Compared with previously reported sex markers for <em>S. japonica</em>, Sj-SexI significantly improves identification efficiency and enhances both specificity and universality. This marker thus serves as a reliable tool for large-scale germplasm management, research on reproductive development mechanisms, and genetic breeding in <em>S. japonica</em> and related kelp species.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8375,"journal":{"name":"Aquaculture","volume":"616 ","pages":"Article 743702"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2026-01-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146076027","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-25DOI: 10.1016/j.aquaculture.2026.743696
XiaoKun Yang , Xiaowen Zhang , Tianle Xi , Yitao Wang , Min Jiao , Ning Niu , Hua Xu , Chengwei Liang , Naihao Ye
Kelp (Saccharina japonica) is a commercially significant seaweed worldwide, yet its indoor seedling cultivation process remains time-consuming and costly. In this study, we isolated an endophytic bacterium, Priestia megaterium Strain H403, from healthy kelp S.japonica tissue of co-culture experiments demonstrated that H403 significantly promoted S. japonica seedling growth. Seedlings treated with H403 (at 1.4 × 107 cfu) exhibited a 3.6-fold increase in length compared to control group. Whole-genome sequencing of P. megaterium H403 identified 5458 protein coding genes, including several associated with plant growth-promoting traits, such as nitrogen fixation, phosphate solubilization, siderophore production, and indole-3-acetic acid biosynthesis. Additionally, Strain H403 showed strong adaptability to kelp seedling conditions and lacked alginate lyase activity, indicating its potential to colonize kelp seedings without causing host tissue damage. To our knowledge, this is the first report elucidating the molecular mechanisms underlying kelp growth promotion by P. megaterium, highlighting its promise for application in microbe-assisted seedling cultivation to support seaweed aquaculture.
{"title":"Genomic insights into Priestia megaterium H403: A kelp endophyte with growth-promoting potential for microbe-assisted aquaculture","authors":"XiaoKun Yang , Xiaowen Zhang , Tianle Xi , Yitao Wang , Min Jiao , Ning Niu , Hua Xu , Chengwei Liang , Naihao Ye","doi":"10.1016/j.aquaculture.2026.743696","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aquaculture.2026.743696","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Kelp (<em>Saccharina japonica</em>) is a commercially significant seaweed worldwide, yet its indoor seedling cultivation process remains time-consuming and costly. In this study, we isolated an endophytic bacterium, <em>Priestia megaterium</em> Strain H403, from healthy kelp <em>S.japonica</em> tissue of co-culture experiments demonstrated that H403 significantly promoted <em>S. japonica</em> seedling growth. Seedlings treated with H403 (at 1.4 × 10<sup>7</sup> cfu) exhibited a 3.6-fold increase in length compared to control group. Whole-genome sequencing of <em>P. megaterium</em> H403 identified 5458 protein coding genes, including several associated with plant growth-promoting traits, such as nitrogen fixation, phosphate solubilization, siderophore production, and indole-3-acetic acid biosynthesis. Additionally, Strain H403 showed strong adaptability to kelp seedling conditions and lacked alginate lyase activity, indicating its potential to colonize kelp seedings without causing host tissue damage. To our knowledge, this is the first report elucidating the molecular mechanisms underlying kelp growth promotion by <em>P. megaterium</em>, highlighting its promise for application in microbe-assisted seedling cultivation to support seaweed aquaculture.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8375,"journal":{"name":"Aquaculture","volume":"616 ","pages":"Article 743696"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2026-01-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146076097","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-24DOI: 10.1016/j.aquaculture.2026.743682
Haowei Cai , Xiaolong Gao , Mo Zhang , Rui Gao , Ying Liu
The Pacific abalone (Haliotis discus hannai), a typically nocturnal species, primarily engages in movement and feeding behaviors at night, while seeking shelter in dark areas during the day to avoid light. To explore how feeding frequency affects the behavior and physiological rhythms of this nocturnal mollusk during the high-temperature summer period, three feeding regimens were applied: continuous fasting (DJ), fasting followed by refeeding (DF), and intermittent feeding every three days (CF). The CF group showed significantly higher survival rates and specific growth rates in weight compared to the LS group. Within 24 h, the DJ group had significantly shorter movement durations than the continuous feeding group (LS) (P < 0.05). After refeeding, the DF group exhibited a significantly longer cumulative feeding duration compared to the LS group (P < 0.05). The CF group had the shortest cumulative movement distance, though its cumulative feeding duration after refeeding did not significantly differ from that of the LS group. However, fasting followed by refeeding did not significantly alter the diurnal rhythms of abalone movement and feeding compared to the LS group (P > 0.05). In the DF group, α-amylase activity in the gut was significantly higher than in the other three groups, and the peak phase of enzyme activity shifted forward from ZT00:34 in the LS group to ZT19:48 (P < 0.05). In the LS group, expression of the leptin receptor gene in the cerebral ganglia remained high during the day but low at night, while expression levels in the DJ and DF groups were significantly lower than in the LS group (P < 0.05). The dominant gut microbiota, Proteobacteria and Firmicutes, exhibited rhythmic diurnal changes in relative abundance, with significant differences observed in key genera, including Vibrio, Psychrilyobacter, Ruegeria, and Mycoplasma (P < 0.05). Fasting followed by refeeding significantly reduced the α-diversity of the gut microbiota (P < 0.05), with notable changes in the relative abundance of key genera such as Bacteroides, Sphaerochaeta, Vibrio, Ruegeria, Persicobacter, and Acinetobacter among the treatment groups (P < 0.05). Therefore, under controlled laboratory conditions, a three-day fasting and refeeding regimen can promote growth efficiency in abalone during high-temperature stress with limited natural food availability, though its long-term benefits and field applicability need to be validated. This dietary management induces a restructuring of behavior and physiological rhythms, with coordinated shifts in neuroendocrine and microbiota profiles supporting the involvement of the brain-gut-microbiome axis. These results provide a theoretical basis for developing scientific aquaculture practices to lower production costs.
{"title":"Fasting-refeeding reshapes diurnal behavior, digestive physiology, and gut microbiota in Pacific abalone (Haliotis discus hannai) via the brain-gut-microbiome axis","authors":"Haowei Cai , Xiaolong Gao , Mo Zhang , Rui Gao , Ying Liu","doi":"10.1016/j.aquaculture.2026.743682","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aquaculture.2026.743682","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The Pacific abalone (<em>Haliotis discus hannai</em>), a typically nocturnal species, primarily engages in movement and feeding behaviors at night, while seeking shelter in dark areas during the day to avoid light. To explore how feeding frequency affects the behavior and physiological rhythms of this nocturnal mollusk during the high-temperature summer period, three feeding regimens were applied: continuous fasting (DJ), fasting followed by refeeding (DF), and intermittent feeding every three days (CF). The CF group showed significantly higher survival rates and specific growth rates in weight compared to the LS group. Within 24 h, the DJ group had significantly shorter movement durations than the continuous feeding group (LS) (<em>P</em> < 0.05). After refeeding, the DF group exhibited a significantly longer cumulative feeding duration compared to the LS group (<em>P</em> < 0.05). The CF group had the shortest cumulative movement distance, though its cumulative feeding duration after refeeding did not significantly differ from that of the LS group. However, fasting followed by refeeding did not significantly alter the diurnal rhythms of abalone movement and feeding compared to the LS group (<em>P</em> > 0.05). In the DF group, α-amylase activity in the gut was significantly higher than in the other three groups, and the peak phase of enzyme activity shifted forward from ZT00:34 in the LS group to ZT19:48 (<em>P</em> < 0.05). In the LS group, expression of the leptin receptor gene in the cerebral ganglia remained high during the day but low at night, while expression levels in the DJ and DF groups were significantly lower than in the LS group (<em>P</em> < 0.05). The dominant gut microbiota, Proteobacteria and Firmicutes, exhibited rhythmic diurnal changes in relative abundance, with significant differences observed in key genera, including <em>Vibrio</em>, <em>Psychrilyobacter</em>, <em>Ruegeria</em>, and <em>Mycoplasma</em> (<em>P</em> < 0.05). Fasting followed by refeeding significantly reduced the α-diversity of the gut microbiota (<em>P</em> < 0.05), with notable changes in the relative abundance of key genera such as <em>Bacteroides</em>, <em>Sphaerochaeta</em>, <em>Vibrio</em>, <em>Ruegeria</em>, <em>Persicobacter</em>, and <em>Acinetobacter</em> among the treatment groups (<em>P</em> < 0.05). Therefore, under controlled laboratory conditions, a three-day fasting and refeeding regimen can promote growth efficiency in abalone during high-temperature stress with limited natural food availability, though its long-term benefits and field applicability need to be validated. This dietary management induces a restructuring of behavior and physiological rhythms, with coordinated shifts in neuroendocrine and microbiota profiles supporting the involvement of the brain-gut-microbiome axis. These results provide a theoretical basis for developing scientific aquaculture practices to lower production costs.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8375,"journal":{"name":"Aquaculture","volume":"616 ","pages":"Article 743682"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2026-01-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146076098","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-23DOI: 10.1016/j.aquaculture.2026.743695
Xin Hu , Sixing Xu , Shuhui Liu , Wenchang Liu , Hongxin Tan , Guozhi Luo
Despite its potential for sustainable aquaculture, biofloc technology faces persistent challenges in the effective management of old biofloc and the establishment of a stable system start-up. This study systematically evaluated the comparative performance and reuse feasibility of old biofloc (Old) against new biofloc (New) and a 1:1 mixture (Mix) over a 6-week tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) farming trial. Results showed that total ammonia nitrogen peaked in the New group, whereas nitrite nitrogen was highest in the Old group. The Mix group demonstrated a synergistic effect, combining the initial stability of old biofloc with the superior late-phase water quality control of new biofloc. Although the tilapia survival rate was highest in the New group, specific growth rate and final body weight were significantly higher in Mix group than Old and New groups (p < 0.05). No significant differences were observed in antioxidant and immune enzymes among groups except for lysozyme, where the Old group showed significantly higher levels than New and Mix groups (p < 0.05). No significant differences were observed in nutritional component of tilapia muscle among groups (p > 0.05). Gut microbiome analysis showed significantly higher microbial richness in Mix and New groups (p < 0.05). Correlation analysis revealed a significant negative correlation between biofloc volume and the survival rate of tilapia. These findings demonstrate that mixing old and new biofloc could enhance growth performance while abating drawbacks of old biofloc. This study validates a practical waste-valorization strategy to advance sustainable tilapia aquaculture by optimizing biofloc resource efficiency.
{"title":"Evaluating the practicability of Oreochromis niloticus farming with mixing strategy in recycled old and new biofloc","authors":"Xin Hu , Sixing Xu , Shuhui Liu , Wenchang Liu , Hongxin Tan , Guozhi Luo","doi":"10.1016/j.aquaculture.2026.743695","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aquaculture.2026.743695","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Despite its potential for sustainable aquaculture, biofloc technology faces persistent challenges in the effective management of old biofloc and the establishment of a stable system start-up. This study systematically evaluated the comparative performance and reuse feasibility of old biofloc (Old) against new biofloc (New) and a 1:1 mixture (Mix) over a 6-week tilapia (<em>Oreochromis niloticus</em>) farming trial. Results showed that total ammonia nitrogen peaked in the New group, whereas nitrite nitrogen was highest in the Old group. The Mix group demonstrated a synergistic effect, combining the initial stability of old biofloc with the superior late-phase water quality control of new biofloc. Although the tilapia survival rate was highest in the New group, specific growth rate and final body weight were significantly higher in Mix group than Old and New groups (<em>p</em> < 0.05). No significant differences were observed in antioxidant and immune enzymes among groups except for lysozyme, where the Old group showed significantly higher levels than New and Mix groups (<em>p</em> < 0.05). No significant differences were observed in nutritional component of tilapia muscle among groups (<em>p</em> > 0.05). Gut microbiome analysis showed significantly higher microbial richness in Mix and New groups (<em>p</em> < 0.05). Correlation analysis revealed a significant negative correlation between biofloc volume and the survival rate of tilapia. These findings demonstrate that mixing old and new biofloc could enhance growth performance while abating drawbacks of old biofloc. This study validates a practical waste-valorization strategy to advance sustainable tilapia aquaculture by optimizing biofloc resource efficiency.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8375,"journal":{"name":"Aquaculture","volume":"616 ","pages":"Article 743695"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2026-01-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146076169","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-22DOI: 10.1016/j.aquaculture.2026.743694
Christian Stolz , Michael Chambers , Lars Christian Gansel , Stig Atle Tuene
The ectoparasitic copepods of the family Caligidae are well known for their impact on modern sea cage aquaculture of salmonids. A rather overlooked approach to sea lice management is to use the natural filter-feeding ability of bivalves. In this study, on the example of mussels in the genus Mytilus, we explore the feasibility and expected size of a bivalve biofilter against planktonic stages of sea lice. We measured the filtration of planktonic Lepeophtheirus salmonis larvae by blue mussels (M. edulis) in laboratory experiments and combined the measured filtration rates with filtration rates calculated from raw data from comparable studies. The combined results suggest that 50 mm mussels filter sea lice nauplii with a mean rate of 1.66 Lh-1 and copepodids with a mean rate of 0.46 Lh-1. The observed differences in filtration amongst larval stages indicate that a mussel biofilter will be more effective at preventing the release of sea lice larvae from a salmonid farm than at preventing the entry of the infective stage. Upscaling to a typical salmonid aquaculture setting, we estimate that several million blue mussels would be needed to filter 10% of all passing copepodids and 30% of all passing nauplii, corresponding to more than 10 000 m of mussel rope per open-net cage. In smaller settings, around 1 million mussels corresponding to more than 1 000 m of mussel rope would be needed. Our estimates may be used in future modelling and planning of combined salmonid-mussel farms.
{"title":"Blue mussels (genus Mytilus) as a biofilter against sea lice around aquaculture farms","authors":"Christian Stolz , Michael Chambers , Lars Christian Gansel , Stig Atle Tuene","doi":"10.1016/j.aquaculture.2026.743694","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aquaculture.2026.743694","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The ectoparasitic copepods of the family <em>Caligidae</em> are well known for their impact on modern sea cage aquaculture of salmonids. A rather overlooked approach to sea lice management is to use the natural filter-feeding ability of bivalves. In this study, on the example of mussels in the genus <em>Mytilus</em>, we explore the feasibility and expected size of a bivalve biofilter against planktonic stages of sea lice. We measured the filtration of planktonic <em>Lepeophtheirus salmonis</em> larvae by blue mussels (<em>M. edulis</em>) in laboratory experiments and combined the measured filtration rates with filtration rates calculated from raw data from comparable studies. The combined results suggest that 50 mm mussels filter sea lice nauplii with a mean rate of 1.66 L<span><math><mi>⋅</mi></math></span>h<sup>-1</sup> and copepodids with a mean rate of 0.46 L<span><math><mi>⋅</mi></math></span>h<sup>-1</sup>. The observed differences in filtration amongst larval stages indicate that a mussel biofilter will be more effective at preventing the release of sea lice larvae from a salmonid farm than at preventing the entry of the infective stage. Upscaling to a typical salmonid aquaculture setting, we estimate that several million blue mussels would be needed to filter 10% of all passing copepodids and 30% of all passing nauplii, corresponding to more than 10<!--> <!-->000 m of mussel rope per open-net cage. In smaller settings, around 1 million mussels corresponding to more than 1<!--> <!-->000 m of mussel rope would be needed. Our estimates may be used in future modelling and planning of combined salmonid-mussel farms.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8375,"journal":{"name":"Aquaculture","volume":"616 ","pages":"Article 743694"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2026-01-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146076102","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
The eco-friendly biofloc technology enhances colouration, growth, and health status of ornamental fish by efficiently managing water quality. However, maintaining species-specific stocking density remains a major challenge to minimize stress and ensure fish well-being. This study optimized stocking density (SD) for ornamental koi carp (Cyprinus carpio var. koi) in biofloc systems by assessing colouration, performance, and health, using eighteen fiberglass-reinforced plastic (1000−L) tanks arranged in randomly designed six treatments with triplicates: two controls at 30 fish m−3 (SD30C1 without biofloc and SD30C2 with biofloc), and four other biofloc groups at 40, 50, 60, and 70 (SD40-SD70). A C:N ratio of 15:1 was maintained in biofloc treatments using jaggery, and fish were fed a 27% protein diet (1 mm pellet size) at 2.5% biomass for 120 days. Improved water and floc quality, overall fish performance, and health status were observed in biofloc treatments compared to the control group (SD30C1). Water quality parameters improved up to SD50 but deteriorated at higher stocking densities. Biofloc volume, microbial composition, and bacterial abundance improved up to SD50, dominated by Aeromonas hydrophila (biofloc formation) and also, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter junii (pigmentation). Growth performance (weight, length, SGR, PER, FCR), carotenoid content, colour indices (RGB, L*a*b*), haematological and biochemical parameters, antioxidant responses, and metabolic enzymes were significantly improved up to SD50, with no difference between SD40 and SD60. Expression of colour related genes Mc1r and Tyr was downregulated in SD40–SD60, particularly in SD50. Histological assessment indicated better skeletal muscle integrity, gill structure, intestinal villi, and hepatic organization in SD50 fish. Economic performance also favored higher SD. Overall; the study indicated that the optimum stocking density for koi carp was 50 fish m−3, ensuring superior colouration, growth performance, and production, while a density range of 40–60 fish m−3 was found suitable under biofloc systems.
{"title":"Colouration, growth performance and health status of ornamental koi carp (Cyprinus carpio var. koi) reared in variable stocking density under biofloc system","authors":"Amandeep Kaur , Amit Mandal , Sasmita Barik , Gurpreet Kaur , Devendra Pathak","doi":"10.1016/j.aquaculture.2026.743666","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.aquaculture.2026.743666","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The eco-friendly biofloc technology enhances colouration, growth, and health status of ornamental fish by efficiently managing water quality. However, maintaining species-specific stocking density remains a major challenge to minimize stress and ensure fish well-being. This study optimized stocking density (SD) for ornamental koi carp (<em>Cyprinus carpio</em> var. <em>koi</em>) in biofloc systems by assessing colouration, performance, and health, using eighteen fiberglass-reinforced plastic (1000−<em>L</em>) tanks arranged in randomly designed six treatments with triplicates: two controls at 30 fish m<sup>−3</sup> (SD30C1 without biofloc and SD30C2 with biofloc), and four other biofloc groups at 40, 50, 60, and 70 (SD40-SD70). A C:N ratio of 15:1 was maintained in biofloc treatments using jaggery, and fish were fed a 27% protein diet (1 mm pellet size) at 2.5% biomass for 120 days. Improved water and floc quality, overall fish performance, and health status were observed in biofloc treatments compared to the control group (SD30C1). Water quality parameters improved up to SD50 but deteriorated at higher stocking densities. Biofloc volume, microbial composition, and bacterial abundance improved up to SD50, dominated by <em>Aeromonas hydrophila</em> (biofloc formation) and also, <em>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</em> and <em>Acinetobacter junii</em> (pigmentation). Growth performance (weight, length, SGR, PER, FCR), carotenoid content, colour indices (RGB, L*a*b*), haematological and biochemical parameters, antioxidant responses, and metabolic enzymes were significantly improved up to SD50, with no difference between SD40 and SD60. Expression of colour related genes Mc1r and Tyr was downregulated in SD40–SD60, particularly in SD50. Histological assessment indicated better skeletal muscle integrity, gill structure, intestinal villi, and hepatic organization in SD50 fish. Economic performance also favored higher SD. Overall; the study indicated that the optimum stocking density for koi carp was 50 fish m<sup>−3</sup>, ensuring superior colouration, growth performance, and production, while a density range of 40–60 fish m<sup>−3</sup> was found suitable under biofloc systems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8375,"journal":{"name":"Aquaculture","volume":"616 ","pages":"Article 743666"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2026-01-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146076106","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}