Husbandry conditions of spotted ratfish (Hydrolagus colliei, Chimaeriformes) in aquaria for successful embryonic development and long-term survival of juveniles.

The spotted ratfish Hydrolagus colliei is the most common holocephalan species exhibited in aquaria worldwide for introducing deep-sea environments and raising awareness of their conservation. However, little is known about the biology of H. colliei. Current practices in aquaria allow long-term survival of sexually mature H. colliei specimens; however, this species struggles to complete a reproductive cycle in captivity mostly because embryos do not reach the hatchling stage. The aquarists of Planet Ocean Montpellier (POM, France) have bred H. colliei for 15 years and recorded parameters suitable for this species' successful embryonic and post-embryonic development. POM aquarists now regularly record egg-laying events of H. colliei and use four tanks to incubate eggs and raise neonates, late hatchlings, early and intermediate juveniles, subadults, and sexually mature specimens. In this work we provide the first long-term biometric data on H. colliei from the hatchling to the subadult stage. We also report the biotic and abiotic parameters sufficient to breed H. colliei in aquaria. We finally describe the methods used to facilitate individual monitoring of specimens along the ontogeny and several pathologies identified in this species, their putative causes, and the corresponding treatments. This work highlights the importance of ex situ research and points to the valuable outcomes of collaborative efforts between aquaria and academia in deciphering the biology of species whose study in the wild remains challenging.

Effects of a life-skills-based prevention program on self-esteem and risk behaviors in adolescents: a pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Risk behaviors among young people are a major social and public health issue. This study aims to assess the impact of a life-skills-based prevention program (called Mission Papillagou) on self-esteem, well-being, and risk behaviors among adolescents. METHOD: In a two-arm controlled study involving 520 school pupils aged between 10 and 15 years old, participants taking part in the prevention program (the Papillagou group) were compared to pupils who did not take part (the control group). Two assessment sessions were performed, one at baseline, and one after either the Mission Papillagou program (Papillagou group) or usual lessons (control group). Participants self-reported on their self-esteem, well-being, behaviors, interests and opinions. RESULTS: The Mission Papillagou program significantly improved Self-Esteem scores (ηρ2 = .035). Well-being (Cramér's V = .14) and mood ("feeling of depression": Cramér's V = .503; "feeling hopelessness about the future": Cramér's V = .357; "waking up at night": Cramér's V = .343) also improved in the Papillagou group compared to the control group. Regarding risk behaviors, the prevention program produced a decrease in the frequency of insults (Cramér's V = .267) and rumor-spreading (Cramér's V = .440), and a change of opinion toward the possibility of smoking an electronic cigarette in the future (Cramér's V = .372). CONCLUSION: This study suggests that life-skills-based risk prevention programs are effective.

RESAMA: A Network for Monitoring Health and Husbandry Practices in Aquatic Research Facilities.

Health monitoring is a crucial aspect of the management of any research animal house. RESAMA is a network strong of 60 academic and private partners acting in France since the end of 2012. The network aims to increase awareness of animal caretakers and researchers on health management issues in facilities holding aquatic model species (zebrafish, Xenopus, medaka, Mexican tetra). To do so, each partner research facility will be visited at least once. The visiting team is composed at least of one veterinarian and one zootechnician specialized in aquatic species. The visit results in a health-monitoring assessment of the facility, which includes a sampling for histo-pathological, bacteriological, and molecular pathogen detection. During the visit, rearing practices are also reviewed through an interview of animal caretakers. However, the present report essentially focuses on the health-monitoring aspect. The ultimate goal of the project is to provide a network-wide picture of health issues in aquatic facilities. Performed in parallel, the rearing practice assessment will ultimately help to establish rational relationship between handling practices and animal health in aquatic facilities. The study is still in progress. Here, we describe the results to be drawn from an analysis of the 23 facilities that had been visited so far. We sampled 720 fish and 127 amphibians and performed a little less than 1400 individual tests.