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Reproductive Biology in Aquatic Animals: Implications for Aquaculture and Environmental Conservation

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A special issue of Animals (ISSN 2076-2615). This special issue belongs to the section "Aquatic Animals".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2021) | Viewed by 31025

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Radosław Kowalski

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Guest Editor

Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research of the Polish Academy of Sciences, Olsztyn, Poland
Interests: aquatic species gamete preservation; aquatic animal reproduction; gametes quality in aquatic species

Dr. Sayyed Mohammad Hadi Alavi

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Guest Editor

School of Biology, College of Science, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

Dr. Borys Dzyuba

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Guest Editor

Faculty of Fisheries and Protection of Waters, Research Institute of Fish Culture and Hydrobiology, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, Zátiší 728/II, 389 01 Vodňany, Czech Republic

Dr. Daniel Żarski

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Guest Editor

Department of Gamete and Embryo Biology, Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research of Polish Academy of Sciences in Olsztyn, Tuwima 10 Str., 10-748 Olsztyn, Poland
Interests: gamete biology; oocytes; eggs; sperm; transcriptomics; proteomics; fish; fish reproduction; artificial spawning; controlled reproduction of finfishes; fish endocrinology; fish physiology

Dr. Ákos Horváth

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Guest Editor

Institute of Aquaculture and Environmental Safety, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, H2100 Gödöllő, Hungary
Interests: cryobiology; fish reproduction

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The seafood production sector already provides more than 50% of the total seafood protein in the world. At the same time, the percentage of fish stocks within biologically sustainable levels in 2017 drop down to 65.8%. Growing demand for healthy food and effective protein source drives the aquaculture sector to reach each year new production records. In this situation advances in the aquatic animal's reproduction as well as knowledge useful in wild aquatic animals protections are crucial for reaching the sustainable goals in the sector development.

The special issue welcomes contributions of valuable basic and applied researches that address reproductive biology in a wide range of aquatic animals including, but not limited to, fish, shellfish, shrimps and corals. Special consideration is taken to researches that provide us with valuable information to develop aquaculture practices for commercially important species and endangered species and to assess ecological perspectives of aquaculture practices on the aquatic environment based on basic researches on the reproductive system. In this regard, the effects of environmental pollutants and climate change on reproductive physiology in male aquatic animals are within the scope of the special issue. However manuscripts oriented on research/review of taxa-specific events of gamete interaction are also very welcomed. Moreover, submissions of studies that consider the development of assisted fertilisation methods to increase aquaculture production or biological restocking actions are highly appreciated.

In practice, the issue is divided into the following parts:

Recent advances in reproductive biology in aquatic animals
Development of aquaculture practices for the reproduction of commercially important species of fish, shellfish and shrimps in aquaculture
Gene banking and biological conservation of wild and endangered aquatic animals
The effects of environmental pollutants on reproductive physiology in aquatic animals
The effects of climate change on reproductive physiology in aquatic animals

Dr. Radosław Kowalski
Dr. Sayyed Mohammad Hadi Alavi
Dr. Borys Dzyuba
Dr. Daniel Żarski
Dr. Ákos Horváth
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Animals is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

reproductive biology in aquatic animals
aquaculture practices
gene banking
biological conservation
environmental pollutants
reproductive physiology
climate change
wild aquatic animals protections

Published Papers (10 papers)

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Research

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21 pages, 3145 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Transport of Acrosomal Enzymes by KIFC1 via the Acroframosomal Cytoskeleton during Spermatogenesis in Macrobrachium rosenbergii (Crustacea, Decapoda, Malacostracea)

by Le Chang, Qiu-Meng Xiang, Jun-Quan Zhu, Yin-Er Chen, Dao-Jun Tang, Chun-Dan Zhang and Cong-Cong Hou

Animals 2022, 12(8), 991; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12080991 - 12 Apr 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1802

Abstract

The spermatogenesis of crustaceans includes nuclear deformation and acrosome formation. The mechanism of acrosome formation is one focus of reproductive biology. In this study, Macrobrachium rosenbergii was selected as the research object to explore the mechanism of acrosome formation. The acrosome contains a large number of acrosomal enzymes for the hydrolysis of the egg envelope. How these acrosomal enzymes are transported to the acrosomal site after synthesis is the key scientific question of this study. The acroframosome (AFS) structure of caridean sperm has been reported. We hypothesized that acrosomal enzymes may be transported along the AFS framework to the acrosome by motor proteins. To study this hypothesis, we obtained the full-length cDNA sequences of Mr-kifc1 and Mr-Acrosin from the testis of M. rosenbergii. The Mr-kifc1 and Mr-Acrosin mRNA expression levels were highest in testis. We detected the distribution of Mr-KIFC1 and its colocalization with Mr-Acrosin during spermatogenesis by immunofluorescence. The colocalization of Mr-KIFC1 and microtubule indicated that Mr-KIFC1 may participate in sperm acrosome formation and nucleus maturation. The colocalization of Mr-KIFC1 and Mr-Acrosin indicated that Mr-KIFC1 may be involved in Acrosin transport during spermiogenesis of M. rosenbergii. These results suggest that Mr-KIFC1 may be involved in acrosomal enzymes transport during spermiogenesis of M. rosenbergii. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Reproductive Biology in Aquatic Animals: Implications for Aquaculture and Environmental Conservation)

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11 pages, 1387 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Optimalisation of the Activation Medium and Effect of Inhibiting Activities of Acid Phosphatase, Lactate Dehydrogenase and β-N-Acetylglucosaminidase on the Fertilisation Success of Eurasian Perch (Perca fluviatilis L.)

by Beata Sarosiek, Katarzyna Dryl, Radosław K. Kowalski, Katarzyna Palińska-Żarska and Daniel Żarski

Animals 2022, 12(3), 307; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12030307 - 27 Jan 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1822

Abstract

Although methods for the artificial reproduction of perch have been developed, a lack of information remains regarding the enzymes present in its semen, as well as their role in the fertilisation process. In this study, we first select the optimal activating solution for perch fertilisation and then determine the inhibition effect of enzymes that have already been reported as present in the sperm of teleosts—acid phosphatase (AcP), lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) and β-N-acetylglucosaminidase (β-NAGase)—on the percentage of motile spermatozoa and fertilised eggs. Of the 8 studied activation media, a solution composed of 80 mM NaCl, 20 mM KCl, 10 mM Tris, with pH 8.0 and 206 mOsm/kg proved to be optimal for perch gametes. The addition of ammonium molybdate (AcP inhibitor) caused no significant reduction in the percentage of fertilised eggs. On the other hand, the addition of 0.25 mM gossypol (LDH inhibitor) and 0.125 M acetamide (β-N-acetylglucosaminidase inhibitor) significantly decreased the fertilisation percentage to 41.1% and 52.4%, respectively, in contrast to the control (89.9 %). Both LDH and β-NAGase thus seem to play a very important role in the perch fertilisation process. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Reproductive Biology in Aquatic Animals: Implications for Aquaculture and Environmental Conservation)

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15 pages, 1365 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Breeding of a Wild Population of South Pacific Bonito Sarda chiliensis chiliensis (Cuvier 1832) Broodstock under Laboratory Conditions in Pisagua, Northern Chile

by Renzo Pepe-Victoriano, Héctor Aravena-Ambrosetti and Germán E. Merino

Animals 2022, 12(1), 24; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12010024 - 23 Dec 2021

Viewed by 2574

Abstract

The wild population of South Pacific bonito Sarda chiliensis chiliensis, which has a wide distribution in northern Chile, is considered of importance in Chilean aquaculture. The biological feasibility of cultivation of any marine species begins with the establishment of an initial broodstock population to obtain eggs, larvae, and juveniles. In this work, 22 South Pacific bonito fishing campaigns were carried out in Pisagua, Chile, between spring in November 2011 and the summer in January 2012. At least 74 specimens were obtained of which 24 survived the capture and transport processes. Fish were stocked in a recirculating land-based aquaculture system, and at 14 months under captivity, fish began spawning. Eggs were collected, to describe some stages of development, and were placed in incubators at 20 °C and on the third-day eggs hatched. Larvae reached a total length between 1.435 and 1.7 mm, which were accurately characterized during their first morphological changes. This is the first work that describes the capture, transport, and acclimatization in captivity of a breeding population of wild Pacific bonito in Chile. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Reproductive Biology in Aquatic Animals: Implications for Aquaculture and Environmental Conservation)

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15 pages, 4694 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Molecular Cloning of Dynein Heavy Chain and the Effect of Dynein Inhibition on the Testicular Function of Portunus trituberculatus

by Qiumeng Xiang, Chaoguang Wei, Xinming Gao, Yiner Chen, Daojun Tang, Junquan Zhu and Congcong Hou

Animals 2021, 11(12), 3582; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11123582 - 17 Dec 2021

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2134

Abstract

Dynein is a motor protein with multiple transport functions. However, dynein’s role in crustacean testis is still unknown. We cloned the full-length cDNA of cytoplasmic dynein heavy chain (Pt-dhc) gene and its structure was analyzed. Its expression level was highest in testis. We injected the dynein inhibitor sodium orthovanadate (SOV) into the crab. The distribution of Portunus trituberculatus dynein heavy chain (Pt-DHC) in mature sperm was detected by immunofluorescence. The apoptosis of spermatids was detected using a TUNEL kit; gene expression in testis was detected by fluorescence quantitative PCR (qPCR). The expression of immune-related factors in the testis were detected by an enzyme activity kit. The results showed that the distribution of Pt-DHC was abnormal after SOV injection, indicating that the function of dynein was successfully inhibited. Apoptosis-related genes p53 and caspase-3, and antioxidant stress genes HSP70 and NOS were significantly decreased, and anti-apoptosis gene bcl-2 was significantly increased. The activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and alkaline phosphatase (AKP) were significantly decreased. The results showed that there was no apoptosis in testicular cells after dynein function was inhibited, but the cell function was disordered. This study laid a theoretical foundation for the further study of apoptosis in testis and the function of dynein in testis and breeding of P. trituberculatus. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Reproductive Biology in Aquatic Animals: Implications for Aquaculture and Environmental Conservation)

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10 pages, 950 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Survival of Embryos and Fry of Sea Trout (Salmo trutta m. trutta) Growing from Eggs Exposed to Different Concentrations of Selenium during Egg Swelling

by Katarzyna Dziewulska, Lucyna Kirczuk, Robert Czerniawski and Monika Kowalska-Góralska

Animals 2021, 11(10), 2921; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11102921 - 9 Oct 2021

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1848

Abstract

Adequate selenium (Se) availability enhances the health and growth of organisms, but overdose of it can be harmful and pathogenic. The study’s objective was to analyse the impact of short-term exposure of sea trout fertilised eggs to inorganic selenium (SeO₂) at concentrations from 0 to 32 mg Se L⁻¹ to find the optimal and toxic dose of Se on early fish development. Se accumulated in the body, embryos’ survival rate, and growth in the first four months of life was examined. Swelling of fertilised eggs in water supplemented with Se at a concentration from 0.5 to 8 mg Se L⁻¹ was associated with a slightly positive impact on the hatching rate. At higher Se concentration, a harmful effect on the survival of the embryo was observed. The survival of fry was similar in all groups, while the fry length and weight correlated positively with Se concentration in its body. Immersion of fertilised eggs in water enriched with Se during egg swelling can constitute a method to supplement the element to non-feeding stages of fish. In selenium-poor areas, this innovative method can be implemented in aquaculture to improve breeding outcomes. Se concentration should be adjusted to the chemical compound, fish species, and Se’s content in the yolk. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Reproductive Biology in Aquatic Animals: Implications for Aquaculture and Environmental Conservation)

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16 pages, 4520 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Reproductive Potential of Stone Moroko (Pseudorasbora parva, Temminck et Schlegel, 1846) (Teleostei: Cypriniformes: Gobionidae) Inhabiting Central Europe

by Lucyna Kirczuk, Katarzyna Dziewulska, Przemysław Czerniejewski, Adam Brysiewicz and Izabella Rząd

Animals 2021, 11(9), 2627; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11092627 - 7 Sep 2021

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2139

Abstract

Similar to other invasive species, stone moroko is extending its global distribution. The present study aimed to assess the reproductive potential of stone moroko fish in a new habitat in Poland based on analysing the sexual cycle and fecundity. Fish morphometric data, age, and gonadal structures were analysed. Fish age ranged from 0+ to 5+ years. Most females and males (93% and 60%, respectively) had reached sexual maturity in the first year of their life, with the smallest length of 25 mm and 28 mm, respectively. The mean, standard length of the body was 50 mm. The spawning season was spread over four months from late-April to mid-August. Females laid eggs in portions, and the absolute and relative fecundity was 1372 and 1691, respectively. Stone moroko males were ready to spawn for a longer time period than females. The present study shows greater reproductive potential of stone moroko population in the central Europe than the native population, suggesting its successful colonisation in the new habitat. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Reproductive Biology in Aquatic Animals: Implications for Aquaculture and Environmental Conservation)

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18 pages, 1877 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Optimization of Sperm Management and Fertilization in Zebrafish (Danio rerio (Hamilton))

by Yu Cheng, Roman Franěk, Marek Rodina, Miaomiao Xin, Jacky Cosson, Songpei Zhang and Otomar Linhart

Animals 2021, 11(6), 1558; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11061558 - 27 May 2021

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 5920

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to investigate the spontaneous motility of spermatozoa and to optimize sperm collection, short-term sperm storage, and fertilization in zebrafish Danio rerio. The movement of spermatozoon in water was propagated along the flagellum at 16 s after sperm activation then damped from the end of the flagellum for 35 s and fully disappeared at 61 s after activation. For artificial fertilization, milt must be added to an immobilizing solution, which stops the movement of sperm and keeps the sperm motionless until fertilization. E400 and Kurokura as isotonic solutions were shown to be suitable extenders to store sperm for fertilization for 6 h. E400 stored sperm for 12 h at 0–2 °C. Sperm motility decreased only to 36% at 12 h post stripping for the E400 extender and to 19% for the Kurokura extender. To achieve an optimal level of fertilization and swim-up larvae rates, a test tube with a well-defined amount of 6,000,000 spermatozoa in E400 extender per 100 eggs and 100 µL of activation solution has proven to be more successful than using a Petri dish. The highest fertilization and swim-up larvae rates reached 80% and 40–60%, respectively, with milt stored for 1.5 h in the E400 extender at 0–2 °C. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Reproductive Biology in Aquatic Animals: Implications for Aquaculture and Environmental Conservation)

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10 pages, 299 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Artificial Reproduction of Blue Bream (Ballerus ballerus L.) as a Conservative Method under Controlled Conditions

by Przemysław Piech and Roman Kujawa

Animals 2021, 11(5), 1326; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11051326 - 6 May 2021

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 1958

Abstract

The blue bream Ballerus ballerus (L.) is one of two species of the Ballerus genus occurring in Europe. The biotechnology for its reproduction under controlled conditions needs to be developed to conserve its local populations. Therefore, a range of experiments were performed to obtain valuable gametes from blue bream following hormonal stimulation with carp pituitary homogenate (CPH), Ovopel and Ovaprim. CPH and Ovopel were injected twice and Ovaprim—once, under a pectoral fin. The spawners were inspected 12 h after the last injection, and the gametes were collected. Eggs were collected from spawning females and fertilized with sperm from three males. The smallest number of ovulating blue bream (four females) was obtained from individuals stimulated with Ovaprim. There were six to nine ovulating females in the other groups, accounting for 60–90% of the females in the respective groups. The latency period was the shortest in the spawners stimulated with Ovopel. The fish in this group ovulated 14 h after the hormonal injection. Spawning was synchronized and all females spawned simultaneously. The highest average weight of eggs per fish (75.4 g) was obtained from the females stimulated with Ovopel, whereas the individuals stimulated with Ovaprim provided the smallest average amount of eggs (49.5 g). The study showed that blue bream spawners are not very sensitive to reproduction-related handling under controlled conditions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Reproductive Biology in Aquatic Animals: Implications for Aquaculture and Environmental Conservation)

11 pages, 1375 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Changes in Cadmium Concentration in Muscles, Ovaries, and Eggs of Silver European Eel (Anguilla anguilla) during Maturation under Controlled Conditions

by Joanna Nowosad, Dariusz Kucharczyk, Mariusz Szmyt, Joanna Łuczynska, Müller Tamás and László Horváth

Animals 2021, 11(4), 1027; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11041027 - 5 Apr 2021

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 2397

Abstract

This study determined the contents of cadmium (Cd) in the muscles, ovaries, and eggs of silver female European eels. The analysis of cadmium content was performed on female European eels caught during commercial fishing in freshwater in Warmia and Mazury (Poland), and then subjected to artificial maturation and ovulation processing under controlled conditions. The content of cadmium (Cd) in the tissues was determined by flameless atomic spectrometry using an electrothermal atomizer. The analysis showed statistically significant differences between the cadmium content in the muscles, ovaries, and eggs (p < 0.05) of female European eels. The lowest cadmium content was found in the muscle tissue (0.0012 ± 0.0001 mg kg⁻¹ wet weight) and the highest in eggs (after ovulation) (0.0038 ± 0.0007 mg kg⁻¹ wet weight). Moreover, a relationship was found between the cadmium content in the muscle tissue and the ovaries (R = 0.673; p = 0.0117) in the same fish. The movement of cadmium from tissues to oocytes may indicate a significant problem concerning this heavy metal content in the reproduction of European eel. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Reproductive Biology in Aquatic Animals: Implications for Aquaculture and Environmental Conservation)

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Review

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53 pages, 36439 KiB

Open AccessReview

A Review on Environmental Contaminants-Related Fertility Threat in Male Fishes: Effects and Possible Mechanisms of Action Learned from Wildlife and Laboratory Studies

by Sayyed Mohammad Hadi Alavi, Sepideh Barzegar-Fallah, Parastoo Rahdar, Mohammad Mahdi Ahmadi, Mina Yavari, Azadeh Hatef, Mahdi Golshan and Otomar Linhart

Animals 2021, 11(10), 2817; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11102817 - 27 Sep 2021

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 5088

Abstract

Increasing global rates of diminished fertility in males has been suggested to be associated with exposure to environmental contaminants (ECs). The aquatic environments are the final repository of ECs. As the reproductive system is conserved in vertebrates, studies on the effects of ECs on fertility endpoints in fishes provide us with valuable information to establish biomarkers in risk assessment of ECs, and to understand the ECs-related fertility threat. The aim of the present review was to evaluate associations between ECs and fertility determinants to better understand ECs-related male fertility threat in male fishes. Wildlife studies show that the reproductive system has been affected in fishes sampled from the polluted aquatic environment. The laboratory studies show the potency of ECs including natural and synthetic hormones, alkylphenols, bisphenols, plasticizers, pesticides, pharmaceutical, alkylating, and organotin agents to affect fertility determinants, resulting in diminished fertility at environmentally relevant concentrations. Both wildlife and laboratory studies reveal that ECs adverse effects on male fertility are associated with a decrease in sperm production, damage to sperm morphology, alternations in sperm genome, and decrease in sperm motility kinetics. The efficiency of ECs to affect sperm quality and male fertility highly depends on the concentration of the contaminants and the duration of exposure. Our review highlights that the number of contaminants examined over fertility tests are much lower than the number of contaminants detected in our environment. The ECs effects on fertility are largely unknown when fishes are exposed to the contaminants at early developmental stages. The review suggests the urgent need to examine ECs effects on male fertility when a fish is exposed at different developmental stages in a single or combination protocol. The ECs effects on the sperm genome are largely unknown to understand ECs-related inheritance of reproductive disorders transmitted to the progeny. To elucidate modes of action of ECs on sperm motility, it is needed to study functional morphology of the motility apparatus and to investigate ECs-disrupted motility signaling. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Reproductive Biology in Aquatic Animals: Implications for Aquaculture and Environmental Conservation)

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