Does acidification lead to impairments on oxidative status and survival of orange clownfish Amphiprion percula juveniles?

The nitrification process in recirculating aquaculture systems can reduce water pH. Fish can also be exposed to water acidification during transport, an important feature in the aquarium industry, as live fish can be kept in a closed environment for more than 24 h during overseas aerial transportation. Therefore, it is important to study the responses of fish to acidic environments. We investigated the impacts of acute exposure to decreasing pH levels in orange clownfish Amphiprion percula juveniles on their survival and oxidative stress status. Fish were exposed to pH 5, 6, 7, and 8 for 96 h. We observed a significant reduction in survival (85%) and protein damage as measured by P-SH (protein thiol) for fish maintained at pH 5. Despite no effects on survival or oxidative damage, fish exposed to pH 6 showed an increase in their antioxidant defense systems, demonstrating this pH level could not be suitable for them as well. Furthermore, there were no negative effects for fish kept at pH 7, compared to those maintained at pH 8 during this short-term evaluation.

Growth and histopathological effects of chronic exposition of marine pejerrey Odontesthes argentinensis larvae to petroleum water-soluble fraction (WSF).

The water-soluble fraction (WSF) of petroleum contains a mixture of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, volatile hydrocarbons, phenols, and heterocyclic compounds, considered deleterious to aquatic biota. Marine "pejerrey" Odontesthes argentinensis (Teleostei: Atherinopsidae) has a great commercial importance in local fisheries and a high potential for aquaculture. The aim of this study was to evaluate the histopathological effects in "pejerrey" larvae exposed to different concentrations of petroleum WSF. The chronic toxicity test was conducted with newly hatched larvae exposed for 21 days to sublethal concentrations of WSF (2.5, 5, 10, and 20 % of WSF), plus one control. Survival and growth were significantly lower in the highest concentration. Several histopathological changes were found in the gills (e.g., hyperplasia, aneurisms, edema, and necrosis), kidney (e.g., nuclear alterations, decrease in the hematopoietic cells), and liver (e.g., hypertrophy, karyorrhexis, and karyopyknosis). An index of branchial lesion was proposed to standardize gill lesions to different pollutants.

Genotoxicity and histological alterations in grey mullet Mugil liza exposed to petroleum water-soluble fraction (PWSF).

Petroleum hydrocarbons are considered one of the main organic chemicals found in water bodies. In the present study, the median lethal concentration (LC50) was estimated for mullet Mugil liza after acute exposure to petroleum water-soluble fraction (PWSF). Furthermore, histopathological studies and micronuclei frequency were also performed in order to observe deleterious effects of medium-term exposition to PWSF. Mullets (25 ± 2.3 g) were exposed to chronic concentrations (1.7, 3.5 and 7 % of PWSF), plus the control group, for 14 and 7 days of clearance time. Throughout the experimental period (1, 4, 14 and 21 days), blood samples were collected for analysis of micronucleus (MN) and liver and gills for histopathological study. For these procedures, seven fish were sampled per concentration tested. The LC50-96 h was estimated at 37.5 % of the PWSF. The time required for MN induction was 96 h of exposure. The time of clearance was sufficient to achieve a MN frequency similar to that of the control group. Histopathological studies showed severe changes in the gill and liver tissues. The most relevant histopathology in the gills was telangiectasia. Hepatic histopathology such as cholestasis, dilated sinusoids and inflammatory infiltrates were commonly described. The MN test and histological study effectively detected damages caused by medium-term exposition to the PWSF, and despite the toxicity, a few days without exposure can minimize PWSF genotoxicity in juveniles of M. liza.

Deleterious effects of water-soluble fraction of petroleum, diesel and gasoline on marine pejerrey Odontesthes argentinensis larvae.

Accidental discharges and oil spills are frequent around the world. Petroleum-derived hydrocarbons are considered one of the main pollutants of aquatic ecosystem. The importance of petroleum and refined fuels is notorious because today's society depends on them. Researches related to the toxic water-soluble fraction (WSF) of petroleum and derivatives to aquatic biota are scarce. For this reason, deleterious effects of WSF of Brazilian petroleum, automotive diesel and unleaded gasoline to marine pejerrey Odontesthes argentinensis larvae were studied employing toxicity tests and histopathological examination. Each WSF was generated in a laboratory by mixing four parts of seawater with one part of pollutant by approximately 22 h. Larvae were exposed during 96 h to different concentrations of WSF of petroleum, diesel, and gasoline, plus a control. After 96 h of exposure to the different WSFs, three larvae were sampled for histopathological studies. The median lethal concentration after 96 h (LC50) of exposure for WSF of petroleum was equal to 70.68%, it was significantly higher (P<0.05) than the values for WSF of diesel and gasoline, which were 13.46% and 5.48%, respectively. The histological examination of pejerrey larvae exposed to WSF of petroleum, diesel and gasoline after 96 h revealed a variety of lesions in the larvae. The gills, pseudobranchs and esophagus presented epithelial hyperplasia, and the liver presented dilatation of hepatic sinusoids, hepatocitomegaly, bi-nucleated and nuclear degeneration of hepatocytes, such as pyknotic nuclei. The acute toxicity of diesel and gasoline is at least fivefold higher than Brazilian petroleum. However, all toxicants induced histopathological abnormalities in pejerrey larvae. The results are of importance since much attention has been paid to large visible surfaces of petroleum spills instead of potential toxic effects of dissolved aromatic hydrocarbons, which are more available to marine biota.

Efeito da intensidade luminosa sobre a capacidade de predação de larvas do peixe-rei marinho Odontesthes argentinensis / Effect of light intensity on prey consumption of marine pejerrey Odontesthes argentinensis larvae

Este estudo teve como objetivo determinar o efeito da intensidade luminosa sobre a capacidade de predação de larvas do peixe-rei marinho Odontesthes argentinensis. Ovos fertilizados foram coletados na Praia do Cassino,Rio Grande, Rio Grande do Sul (RS). Ao completarem dois dias e posteriormente, 14 dias de vida, 15 grupos com 10 larvas foram transferidos para béqueres de 800mL. As larvas foram mantidas em jejum durante 12 horas nas intensidades luminosas de 0, 75, 150, 1500 e 3000lux (três repetições para cada tratamento). Logo em seguida foram oferecidos náuplios de Artemia sp. na densidade de oito náuplios mL-1 durante 15 minutos. As larvas foram imediatamente anestesiadas e fixadas em formol 10 por cento. Posteriormente foi contado o número de náuplios presentes no trato digestório de cada larva. O número de presas ingeridas na primeira alimentação não diferiu significativamente (P>0,05) entre as larvas mantidas sob 75, 150, 1500 e 3000lux, mas foi observada uma tendência de redução na ingestão de náuplios à medida que a intensidade luminosa aumenta. Na intensidade de zero lux, o consumo foi significativamente inferior (P<0,05) em relação a 75, 150 e 1500lux, mas semelhante (P>0,05) ao consumo das larvas mantidas a 3000lux, sugerindo que as intensidades luminosas elevadas e o escuro não são apropriados para larvas de peixe-rei recém-eclodidas. O aumento no consumo de Artemia pelas larvas de 14 dias foi proporcional ao aumento da intensidade luminosa até 1500lux, quando foi estabilizado. Considerando a capacidade de predação, este estudo indica a utilização da intensidade luminosa igual ou superior a 75lux para a alimentação inicial das larvas de O. argentinensis, entretanto a intensidade luminosa deve ser ao menos de 1500lux a partir do 14o dia de vida.

This study evaluated the effect of light intensity on predation capacity of marine pejerrey Odontesthes argentinensis larvae. Fertilized eggs were collected at Cassino Beach (Rio Grande-RS). At two and 14 days after hatching, 15 groups of 10 larvae were transferred for 800mL beakers and maintained without food during under light intensities of 0, 75, 150, 1,500 and 3,000lux (each treatment was replicated three times) during 12h. Immediately after that, Artemia sp. (8 nauplii mL-1) were offered during 15 min and larvae were sampled, anaesthetized and fixed in formol 10 percent to count the number of nauplii in the digestive tract of each larvae. The number of prey consumed 2 days after hatching did not differ (P>0.05) among larvae kept under 75, 150, 1,500 and 3,000lux, but there is a trend towards a smaller prey consumption as light intensity increases. Larvae kept in the dark consumed significantly less Artemia (P<0.05) than those maintained at 75, 150 and 1,500lux, but similar (P>0.05) to those under 3,000lux, suggesting that high light intensity and darkness are not appropriate for newly hatched larvae. Considering 14 days old larvae, Artemia nauplii consumption increased proportionally to the light intensity until 1,500lux, when it was stabilized. Therefore, it is suggested that O. argentinensis larvae should be maintained under light intensity equal or higher than 75lux for the first feeding, and light intensity should be increased to 1,500lux 14 days after hatching.

Consumo de oxigênio pós-prandial de juvenis do pampo Trachinotus marginatus / Postprandial oxygen consumption of juvenile pompano Trachinotus marginatus

Para determinar a viabilidade do cultivo de uma espécie, é importante o conhecimento dos fatores limitantespara sua produção. Conhecer a taxa de consumo de oxigênio pós-prandial pode auxiliar na determinação da freqüênciaalimentar ideal para as espécies cultivadas. O objetivo deste trabalho foi estudar a taxa de consumo de oxigênio pós-prandial para juvenis do pampo Trachinotus marginatus. A avaliaçãodo consumo de oxigênio foi feita a 24°C e 33‰, com pampos (9,64±0,2g) alimentados com 12% da biomassa por dia com dieta NRD INVE (59% proteína). Foi observado um pico de consumo de oxigênio 30min após a alimentação (1,06mgO2 g-1 h-1) e seu retorno ao nível de jejum (0,79mgO2 g-1 h-1) depois de decorridos mais 120min. A alimentação de juvenis de pampo pode ser realizada com uma freqüência de aproximadamente oito vezes por dia, pois a cada 2,5h a taxa de consumo de oxigênio já não mostra a elevação característica da fase pósprandial, sugerindo que os processos de digestão e assimilação dos nutrientes estejam finalizados.

In order to determine the viability of new species for aquaculture, it is important to know the limiting factors forits production. The knowledge about postprandial oxygen consumption of fish is useful to estimate the time for returning to appetite and allows to estimate the proper feeding frequency.The objective of this research was to study the postprandial oxygen consumption of juvenile pompano Trachinotus marginatus. Oxygen consumption rate was determined at 24°C and 33‰ and fish (9.64±0.2g) were fed daily with 12% total of biomass NRD INVE diet (59% protein). Postprandialincrease in oxygen consumption was observed 30min after feeding (1.06mgO2 g-1 h-1), and it returned to the routine metabolic rate (0.79mgO2 g-1 h-1) within the next 120min. According to these results, it seems appropriated to feed juvenile pompano 8 times per day, because every 2.5h the oxygen consumption rate declines to the unfed level, suggesting that the process of digestion and assimilation have already finished.