Effects of salinity and food on growth and survival rate of mangrove snail (\(\textit{Nerita balteata}\) Reeve, 1885) at the spat larvae stage

Mangrove snail (Nerita balteata) belongs to gastropoda species distributed in the coastal intertidal and offshore islands of Quang Ninh province. Although the artificial seeds production of this species have been successful but still having a bottle neck as a low survival rate in the process by veliger larvae are transformed into spat larvae stage. Experiments were conducted to determine effects of salinity and food on growth rate and survival rate of mangrove snail in the stage of spat larvae in Quang Ninh province. The results showed that the optimal salinity for growth and developtment of spat larvae was 25‰ that resulted in a absoluted growth rate of 16.5 ± 2.19 µm/day and survival rate of 26.5 ± 0.57% and significantly higher compared to other treatments. The diet of benthic microalgae (Navicula sp.) combined with formulated feed (AP0 and Frippak) were most suitable for the growth and development of mangrove snail at the spat larvae stage with absoluted growth rate of 25,7 ± 1,28 µm/day; Whereas the survival rate of larvae of 32,3 ± 2,52% was significantly higher than those in the other treatments.

Snails associated with the coral-killing sponge Terpios hoshinota in Okinawa Island, Japan

Terpios hoshinota is a thin encrusting sponge that overgrows live scleractinian corals and it is linked to coral loss in many reefs. However, our knowledge of the species associated with this sponge species is poor. During a periodical survey of T. hoshinota in 2020, we found tiny snails crawling on the sponge in the subtropical waters around Okinawa Island, Japan. We observed egg capsules inside the sponge tissue and veliger larvae released from the egg capsules. Molecular analyses of both the snails and veliger larvae (cytochrome oxidase I, COI) showed that they were identical and belonged to Joculator sp. (family Cerithiopsidae). There was no direct observation of predation on the sponge by this snail; however, to the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on a close association between a snail and the sponge T. hoshinota.

First Report of Rare Tellin Serratina Ostracea (Lamarck, 1818) (Tellinidae: Venerida) From Indian Mainland

The present paper reports the occurrence of Tellin clam Serratina ostracea (Lamarck, 1818) from the Indian mainland. It was collected from the Talsari coast of Odisha state. This species was earlier reported from Andaman and Nicobar Islands and the probable reason for the dispersal of veliger larvae from its previous locality, Andaman, and Nicobar Islands to present locality Talsari (Odisha) coast was discussed here.

Metabolic Cost of the Immune Response During Early Ontogeny of the Scallop Argopecten purpuratus

The scallop Argopecten purpuratus is an important resource for Chilean and Peruvian aquaculture. Seed availability from commercial hatcheries is critical due to recurrent massive mortalities associated with bacterial infections, especially during the veliger larval stage. The immune response plays a crucial role in counteracting the effects of such infections, but being energetically costly, it potentially competes with the physiological and morphological changes that occur during early development, which are equally expensive. Consequently, in this study, energy metabolism parameters at the individual and cellular levels, under routine-basal status and after the exposure to the pathogenic strain bacteria (Vibrio splendidus VPAP18), were evaluated during early ontogeny (trochophore, D-veliger, veliger, pediveliger, and early juveniles) of A. purpuratus. The parameters measured were as follows: (1) metabolic demand, determined as oxygen consumption rate and (2) ATP supplying capacity measured by key mitochondrial enzymes activities [citrate synthase (CS), electron transport system (ETS), and ETS/CS ratio, indicative of ATP supplying efficiency], mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm), and mitochondrial density (ρm) using an in vivo image analysis. Data revealed that metabolic demand/capacity varies significantly throughout early development, with trochophores being the most efficient in terms of energy supplying capacity under basal conditions. ATP supplying efficiency decreased linearly with larval development, attaining its lowest level at the pediveliger stage, and increasing markedly in early juveniles. Veliger larvae at basal conditions were inefficient in terms of energy production vs. energy demand (with low ρm, ΔΨm, enzyme activities, and ETS:CS). Post-challenged results suggest that both trochophore and D-veliger would have the necessary energy to support the immune response. However, due to an immature immune system, the immunity of these stages would rely mainly on molecules of parental origin, as suggested by previous studies. On the other hand, post-challenged veliger maintained their metabolic demand but decreased their ATP supplying capacity, whereas pediveliger increased CS activity. Overall, results suggest that veliger larvae exhibit the lowest metabolic capacity to overcome a bacterial challenge, coinciding with previous works, showing a reduced capacity to express immune-related genes. This would result in a higher susceptibility to pathogen infection, potentially explaining the higher mortality rates occurring during A. purpuratus farming.

Study on the Development of Spiral babylonia snail Tiger Snail Juvenil Eggs (Babylonia spirata Linnaeus, 1758) in the Laboratory

Several marine gastropods are known to have high economic value, one of which is the Spiral babylonia snail. They commonly exploited for meat, shell, or operculum. Tiger snail meat is commonly exported and consumed by fishermen. Its shell is used as a material for industrial lime and for omamen. Operculum is commonly used as a medicinal and perfume ingredient). However, the recent production has decreased due to the limited information of seasonal catch. One way to overcome these obstacles is through culture activities. The provision of seeds is an important link in the culture system, therefore the study of the spawning process and larval development is an important requirement for the development of larval rearing techniques. This study aims to determine the development process of juvenil eggs and the survival rate of tiger snails reared in the laboratory.. The study was conducted at the Laboratory of Marine Farm Subdivision in Kudus, Pt Pura Bahari, Jepara Regency. This sudy used experimental method with descriptive data analysis. Adult tiger snails were caught from Bunga waters, Demak. The snails were reared in a rectangular tube filled with 15 cm filtered sea water and 5 cm of sand. Egg capsules were reared in a 4 liters circular tube with continuous aeration. The hatched larvae were reared in a 300 liters circular tube filled with filtered seawater, continuously aerated and fed with Chlorella plankton . Our result showed that tiger snails spawn naturally and produce egg capsules. The incubation period for the capsule is 6 days, then develop into veliger larva for 12 days. The veliger larvae metamorphosed,and become juvenil. The lowest survival rate observed in the veliger stage. The survival rate of the egg and the intracapsular trochopore stages were quite high (tube I = 98.413%; tube II = 98.238%; tube III = 90.476%), then the lowest was in the veliger stage (tube I = 3,468%; tube II = 2.603%; tube III = 2,598%) and the juvenil stage is quite high compared to the previous phase (tube I = 3,413%; tube II = 2,479%; tube III = 2,351%).

Gluconeogenesis and glycogen metabolism during development of Pacific abalone, Haliotis discus hannai

In lecithotrophic larvae, egg yolk nutrients are essential for development. Although yolk proteins and lipids are the major nutrient sources for most animal embryos and larvae, the contribution of carbohydrates to development has been less understood. In this study, we assessed glucose and glycogen metabolism in developing Pacific abalone, a marine gastropod mollusc caught and cultured in east Asia. We found that glucose and glycogen content gradually elevated in developing abalone larvae, and coincident expression increases of gluconeogenic genes and glycogen synthase suggested abalone larvae had activated gluconeogenesis and glycogenesis during this stage. At settling, however, glycogen sharply decreased, with concomitant increases in glucose content and expression of Pyg and G6pc, suggesting the settling larvae had enhanced glycogen conversion to glucose. A liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC/MS)-based metabolomic approach that detected intermediates of these pathways further supported active metabolism of glycogen. Immunofluorescence staining and in situ hybridization suggested the digestive gland has an important role as glycogen storage tissue during settlement, while many other tissues also showed a capacity to metabolize glycogen. Finally, inhibition of glycolysis affected survival of the settling veliger larvae, revealing that glucose is, indeed, an important nutrient source in settling larvae. Our results suggest glucose and glycogen are required for proper energy balance in developing abalone and especially impact survival during settling.

Mexican dancer in Ecuador: molecular confirmation, embryology and planktotrophy in the sea slug Elysia diomedea

Elysia diomedea varies in adult size and color across its geographical distribution in Ecuador. Because of morphological variation and the absence of genetic information for this species in Ecuador, we analyzed mtDNA sequences in three populations (Ballenita, La Cabuya, and Mompiche) and confirmed that (1) individuals from the three locations belonged to E. diomedea and (2) that there was no population structure that could explain their morphological differences. Next, we analyzed general aspects about the reproductive biology and embryology of this species. Live slugs from the Ballenita population were maintained and reproduced ex situ. Egg ribbons and embryos were fixed and observed by brightfield and confocal microscopy. We observed a single embryo per capsule, 98 embryos per mm2 of egg ribbon, and compared the cleavage pattern of this species to other heterobranchs and spiralians. E. diomedea early development was characterized by a slight unequal first cleavage, occurrence of a 3-cell stage in the second cleavage, and the formation of an enlarged second quartet of micromeres. We observed clear yolk bodies in the egg capsules of some eggs ribbons at early stages of development. Both reproductive and embryological characteristics, such as presence of stomodeum in the larva, and ingestion of particles after hatching confirmed the planktotrophic veliger larvae of this species, consistent with the majority of sacoglossans from the Eastern and Northeast Pacific Oceans.

Dynamics of Mesozooplankton Assemblage in Relation to Environmental Factors in the Maryland Coastal Bays

The mesozooplankton composition and dynamics in coastal lagoons of Maryland, mid-Atlantic region, USA have received little scientific attention despite the fact that the lagoons have undergone changes in water quality in the past two decades. We compared mesozooplankton abundance and community structure among sites and seasons, and between 2012, a year of higher than average salinity (33.4), and 2013 with lower than average salinity (26.6). It was observed that the composition, diversity, and abundance of mesozooplankton in 2012 differed from those of 2013. Barnacle nauplii were abundant in 2012 contributing 31% of the non-copepod mesozooplankton abundance, whereas hydromedusae were more dominant in 2013 and contributed up to 83% of non-copepod zooplankton abundance. Gastropod veliger larvae were more abundant in 2013 than in 2012 while larvae of bivalves, polychaetes, and decapods, in addition to cladocerans and ostracods had higher abundances in 2012. The abundance and diversity of mesozooplankton were explained by variations in environmental factors particularly salinity, and by the abundance of predators such as bay anchovy (Anchoa mitchelli). Diversity was higher in spring and summer 2012 (dry year) than in 2013 (wet year). The reduction of salinity in fall 2012, due to high freshwater discharge associated with Hurricane Sandy, was accompanied by a decrease in mesozooplankton diversity. Spatially, diversity was higher at sites with high salinity near the Ocean City Inlet than at sites near the mouth of tributaries with lower salinity, higher nutrient levels and higher phytoplankton biomass. Perhaps, the relatively low salinity and high temperature in 2013 resulted in an increase in the abundance of hydromedusae, which through predation contributed to the reduction in the abundance of bivalve larvae and other taxa.