Thesis (Ph. D.)--Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1994. / Vita. Abstract. Includes bibliographical references. Also available via the Internet.

The goal of this research project was to determine optimal breeding strategies for improving important traits of Marone species hybrids reared in recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS). Effects of hybridization and backcrossing among striped bass (Marone saxatilis), white bass (M chrysops) and yellow bass (M mississippiensis) on important traits were determined. This dissertation is described in four studies. In the first study, performance of striped bass female x white bass male (SBxWB) and striped bass female x yellow bass male (SBxYB) fingerlings reared in RAS was evaluated. SBxWB were superior to SBxYB for overall mean growth rate and feed conversion. Survival was higher for SBxYB than for SBxWB. Time x hybrid interactions for growth rate indicated that growth rate of SBxYB improved through time relative to that of SBxWB. Time x hybrid interactions for growth may have been due to differential responses ofSBxYB and SBxWB to deterioration of water quality. The slow growth of SBxYB limits its use for aquaculture. In the second study, relationships among total weight, body shape, visceral components and fillet yield were examined in SBxWB and SBxYB in order to evaluate strategies for improving fillet yield. Fillets were heavier (5g per fish) for SBxYB than for SBxWB. Relative increase of fillet weight was slightly greater than total weight in both hybrids indicating that small increases in fillet yield can be achieved by rearing fish to a larger size. Low variation in fillet weight (SD ± 9.6 to 11.3g) and poor predictability of fillet weight from body shape (models with r2s of .27 to .43) in both hybrids indicated that potential for improving fillet yield within hybrids is limited. Identification of superior species or strain crosses appears to be the best strategy for improving fillet yield of Morone hybrids. / Ph. D.

Recombinant and DNA vaccines utilizing Mycobacterium sp. antigen 85A (Ag85A) were assessed for immunostimulatory and protective effects against M. marinum. Because of their known susceptibility to piscine mycobacteriosis, Morone sp. were utilized as the models for these studies. The first study evaluated a recombinant vaccine with a Brucella abortus strain RB51 vector expressing the Mycobacterium bovis Ag85A. Striped bass (M. saxatilis) were inoculated at doses equivalent to 106, 107, 108, 109, and 1010 colony-forming units/fish. Vaccinated fish demonstrated significant specific humoral and cell-mediated immune responses towards the Ag85A in a dose-dependant manner. However, vaccinated fish failed to demonstrate cross-protective responses after live Mycobacterium marinum challenge 70 days post-vaccination. A DNA vaccine was constructed utilizing the Mycobacterium marinum Ag85A gene and a commercially-available eukaryotic expression vector. Hybrid striped bass (M. saxatilis x M. chrysops) were immunized by intramuscular (i.m.) and intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection at doses of 5 μg, 25 μg, or 50 μg plasmid. These fish produced significant Ag85A-specific antibody and lymphoproliferative responses over those of control fish injected with saline or empty plasmid. Non-specific macrophage phagocytic and respiratory burst functions failed to exhibit significant upregulation after vaccination. Fish receiving the DNA vaccine developed protective responses to high-dose M. marinum challenge 90 days post-vaccination, as demonstrated by increased relative percent survival and by reduced splenic bacterial counts over control fish. Furthermore specific immunostimulatory and protective effects were significantly increased using higher vaccine doses and using the i.m. injection route. Given these promising findings, the protective responses induced by the DNA vaccine were further investigated. Hybrid striped bass were injected with 25 μg or 50 μg plasmid i.m. and developed specific protective responses to high-dose M. marinum challenge 120 days post-vaccination. The 25 μg and 50 μg groups both developed more rapidly and significantly increased immune responses post-challenge over those of the control groups. The vaccination groups also demonstrated increased survival, reduced splenic bacterial counts, and reduced granuloma formation compared to the control groups. However, though the vaccination groups did not demonstrate the same acute effects post-challenge as the control groups, the vaccination groups ultimately developed increased splenic bacterial counts and granuloma formation, and eventually experienced 100% mortalities. Because piscine mycobacteriosis can affect virtually any species of fish, a vaccine against this disease could be widely beneficial to the aquaculture and ornamental fish industries. The vaccines in these studies exhibited significant immunostimulatory capabilities in Morone sp., but only the DNA vaccine showed promise for conferring protection against M. marinum challenge. Though the DNA vaccine only provided limited protection against high challenge doses, future studies may likely find enhanced protective effects against lower, more natural exposure doses. / Master of Science

Aquacultural production of hybrid striped bass (HSB) Morone chrysops × M. saxatilis is highly vulnerable to losses from bacterial pathogens such as Streptococcus iniae. Therefore, research was conducted to evaluate various dietary factors that may enhance immunocompetence and disease resistance of HSB. In the first experiment, purified and practical diets were supplemented with β-glucan and selenium in a factorial arrangement and fed to juvenile HSB for 6 wk followed by a S. iniae challenge. Weight gain (WG) and feed efficiency (FE) were higher for fish fed either practical diets or purified diets supplemented with selenium, but not those supplemented with β-glucan. Survival after disease challenge for fish fed the selenium-supplemented practical and purified diets was 75% and 35%, respectively. Because selenium supplementation also improved WG and FE, and because selenium and vitamin E have complementary biochemical functions, a second experiment evaluated potential interactions by feeding purified diets with or without vitamin E or sodium selenite (Na2SeO3), singularly or in combination, for 12 wk. Dietary selenium significantly affected whole-body selenium concentration but there was no effect of dietary selenium, vitamin E or their interaction on WG, FE, survival or blood neutrophil oxidative radical production. Three additional 12-wk experiments were conducted to establish selenium essentiality, toxicity, tissue deposition, dietary requirements, bioavailability and nonspecific immune responses using purified diets with a basal selenium level of 0.11 mg/kg. In one experiment, diets had selenium concentrations of 1.19, 2.00, 5.17 and 21.23 mg/kg from Na2SeO3. Another experiment had selenium concentrations of 0.90, 1.26 and 2.55 mg/kg from seleno-DL-methionine. The third trial utilized selenium from Na2SeO3, seleno-DL-methionine and selenium yeast at approximately 0.15, 0.30 and 0.60 mg/kg diet. No overt selenium deficiency signs were observed in any of the three latter experiments, but based on selenium retention values, a minimum dietary requirement of approximately 0.1 mg/kg was estimated. Selenium toxicity was observed in fish fed the diet containing more than 20 mg/kg. Bioavailability of selenium sources was ranked as seleno-DL-methionine > selenium yeast > Na2SeO3.

No description available.

Cobia (Rachycentron canadum) is a tropical marine fish, with increasing commercial aquaculture importance worldwide. One of the major limitations to intensive aquaculture is disease. Diseases spread rapidly in an aquatic environment and pose a major threat to the development and introduction of new species, such as cobia, in aquaculture. This is due to the necessity to use wild caught broodstock, which pose a greater threat to introducing disease to a facility. Bacteria of the genus Vibrio play a major role in the diseases of cultured cobia and other species of marine fish. The goal of this study is to reduce the incidence of disease in a population, by either eliminating the potential pathogen or increasing the resistance of the host. To reach that goal, a disinfection assay to evaluate the effectiveness of nine common aquaculture chemical disinfecting compounds was evaluated against two bacterial pathogens (Vibrio anguillarum and V. ordalii). Both bacterial species were susceptible to a variety of common disinfecting compounds including Chloramine-T®, chlorine, ethanol, iodine, Lysol®, Roccal®-D Plus, and Virkon-S®. In addition, both species showed a resistance to disinfection with formalin and tap water. The humoral immune response of cobia to vaccination with a commercially-available vaccine for Vibrio spp. was evaluated by an ELISA. There was a significant difference between control and vaccinated groups (P<0.0001), showing significant antibody production resulting from vaccination. / Master of Science

Predators are key components of aquatic ecosystems and innovative approaches to understanding their spatial distribution are imperative for research, effective management, and conservation. Discontinuities, created by abrupt changes between two unlike entities, are irregularly-distributed, intermediate-scale features that can have a disproportionate effect on organismal distribution within the seascape. Here I use the discontinuity concept to relate the distribution of a predator, striped bass (Morone saxatilis), to physical features within Plum Island Estuary (PIE), MA. I mapped the distribution of 50 acoustically-tagged striped bass during four monthly surveys at 40 sites to evaluate if heterogeneity in physical features concentrated predators. All striped bass survived tagging, were coastal migrants, displayed seasonal residency within PIE, and moved freely throughout the estuary. However, these highly mobile predators were not evenly distributed. Specifically, striped bass were clustered in the middle region of PIE in response to sandbar area, intermediate bottom unevenness, channel networks, and, to a lesser extent, confluences and drop-offs. The highest predator counts occurred at sites with the greatest additive habitat complexity. I measured 23 geomorphic metrics at 40 sites within the seascape to characterize the spatial patterns of confluences, drop-offs, bathymetry and land features. Then, I mapped integrated measurements of multimetric physical features to reveal distinct spatial trends in physical complexity of the estuary. By expanding the discontinuity concept and combining irregularly-distributed, intermediate-scale physical features with smaller-scale, traditional fish habitat methodologies, I revealed consistent and ecologically-meaningful patterns within a north temperate estuarine seascape.

No description available.