Aquaculture International最新文献

{"title":"Effects of replacing dietary fish oil with linseed oil on growth, fatty acid profile, and acute upper thermal tolerance in juvenile Gulf corvina (Cynoscion othonopterus)","authors":"V. Rosas,&nbsp;J. P. Lazo","doi":"10.1007/s10499-026-02543-w","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10499-026-02543-w","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>As aquaculture demand outpaces finite fish-oil supply, reliance on fish oil (FO) has become increasingly unsustainable for marine feeds. A promising alternative to fish oil replacement is linseed oil (LO), which provides n-3 essential fatty acid precursors for marine fish. Thus, the present study aimed to evaluate the substitution of FO with LO in diets for juvenile Gulf corvina, a Sciaenid species with high aquaculture potential. Four levels of FO substitution (0%, 33%, 66%, 100% LO) were evaluated in triplicate groups, using isonitrogenous (49% protein) and isolipidic (9% lipids) formulated diets with defatted shark meal as a protein source. Fish with an initial weight of 58 g were reared at 24 °C in a recirculating system composed of twelve 250-L fiberglass tanks. Fish were fed for 10 weeks at a daily ration of 3% of biomass, divided into three equal meals per day. Growth was significantly higher in fish fed diets containing 0% and 33% LO compared to 66% and 100% LO. Muscle fatty acid content resulted in significant differences for fish fed the 66% and 100% LO diets compared to the control and 33% LO. Selective retention of the EFA in fish muscle was detected, particularly for EPA and DHA. Additionally, we evaluated the effect of fish oil substitution on the acute upper thermal tolerance of the fish by using a thermal challenge test (CTMax) to assess changes in the temperature tolerance of the juveniles under each dietary treatment. Upper thermal tolerance (critical thermal maximum, CTMax) did not differ among dietary treatments. In conclusion, up to 33% of the FO can be replaced by LO without affecting productive parameters, acute upper thermal tolerance, and fatty acid profile of the fish muscle, indicating that LO is a promising sustainable alternative lipid source for this species.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":8122,"journal":{"name":"Aquaculture International","volume":"34 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-04-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147738620","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Influence of culture conditions and dietary regimes on survival, population dynamics and naupliar production of the copepod Paramphiascella fulvofasciata (Rosenfield & Coull, 1974)","authors":"Palani Sridhar,&nbsp;Mohammed Syed Marjuk,&nbsp;T. D. Babu,&nbsp;Thirunavukkarasu Muralisankar,&nbsp;Perumal Santhanam,&nbsp;Pachiappan Perumal","doi":"10.1007/s10499-026-02545-8","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10499-026-02545-8","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The marine harpacticoid copepod <i>Paramphiascella fulvofasciata</i> is a promising live feed candidate for aquaculture applications, yet systematic information on its culture requirements remains limited. This study evaluated the independent effects of key environmental parameters and dietary treatments on survival rate (SUR), population density (PD), nauplii production rate (NPR), and developmental time (DT), using a one-factor-at-a-time (OFAT) approach. Each factor, including salinity (15–40 psu), temperature (21–36 °C), pH (6.5–9.0), dissolved oxygen (DO; 1.0–6.0 mg/L), light intensity (100–2000 lux), and photoperiod, was tested independently across a range that encompassed both culture-relevant and physiologically stressful levels. Dietary trials covered seven monospecific microalgal diets (<i>Picochlorum maculatum</i>, <i>Isochrysis</i> <i>galbana</i>, <i>Dunaliella salina</i>, <i>Nannochloropsis oculata</i>, <i>Chlorella marina</i>, <i>Tetraselmis suecica</i>, <i>Thalassiosira</i> <i>weissflogii</i>), a mixed microalgal diet, and seven commercial alternatives (brown seaweed, green seaweed, spirulina, moringa, beetroot, carrot, tomato). The best-performing levels for each parameter individually were 30 psu salinity, 27 to 30 °C temperature, pH 8.0, and 4.0 mg/L DO, with maximum SUR of 92.00 ± 4.00%, PD of 889.44 ± 46.96 ind./L, and NPR of 20.83 ± 0.70 nauplii/female recorded at these respective levels. <i>I. galbana</i> proved the superior microalgal diet; brown seaweed and spirulina showed the greatest potential among commercial alternatives, with SUR exceeding 70%. Light optimization showed 500 lux as the best-performing level for SUR (83.00 ± 10.00%) and 1000 lux for reproduction, with the 10:14 L:D photoperiod yielding the highest PD and NPR. The shortest generation time of 19.0 ± 0.4 days was achieved under the <i>I. galbana</i> diet. Performance declined under physiologically unfavourable conditions, particularly at extreme salinities and temperatures, hypoxic DO (&lt; 2.0 mg/L), high light intensities (&gt; 1500 lux), and extended photoperiods. These findings establish species-specific culture guidelines for <i>P. fulvofasciata</i> and highlight the practical potential of marine-origin commercial diets as cost-effective alternatives to live microalgae in larviculture operations.</p>","PeriodicalId":8122,"journal":{"name":"Aquaculture International","volume":"34 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-04-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147738197","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Large-scale rearing of southern king crab (Lithodes santolla) larvae for stock enhancement initiatives","authors":"M. Paula Sotelano,&nbsp;M. Belén Reartes,&nbsp;M. Carolina Romero,&nbsp;Gustavo A. Lovrich,&nbsp;Olga Florentín,&nbsp;Ariel Giamportone,&nbsp;Federico Tapella","doi":"10.1007/s10499-026-02535-w","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10499-026-02535-w","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The development of reliable larval rearing techniques and protocols is essential knowledge to promote any stock enhancement initiative based on the production of new individuals. This study evaluated three low-cost container designs—bottom-meshed, modified-planktonkreisel, and buckets—for mass culture of centolla (<i>Lithodes santolla</i>) larvae from Zoea 1 to Megalopa. Larval survival to Megalopa (24 days) exceeded 55% in bottom-meshed and modified-planktonkreisel containers, outperforming buckets (~ 20%). The modified-planktonkreisel achieved optimal performance at 240 larvae·L⁻¹, yielding 1536 megalopae per container with minimal daily labor, requiring only 2.6 min of maintenance per container. Density-dependent mortality was primarily observed in modified-planktonkreisel containers. Under hatchery conditions comparable to those in this study, our utilization strategy estimates that a starting pool of 40 ovigerous females could produce ~ 90,000–104,000 megalopae annually in recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) using bottom-meshed or modified-planktonkreisel containers, respectively. Beyond the ~ 15% increase in production output achieved with the modified-planktonkreisel containers, this model offers superior operational advantages, particularly in reducing labor requirements. These results confirm the scalability of this approach for stock enhancement programs targeting not only <i>L. santolla</i> but potentially other commercially important crustacean species.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":8122,"journal":{"name":"Aquaculture International","volume":"34 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-04-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147738148","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Soy lecithin supplementation modulates hepatic lipid metabolism in Nile tilapia reared at low temperature: a lipidomic approach","authors":"Rosana Oliveira Batista,&nbsp;Martina Blank,&nbsp;Débora Machado Fracalossi,&nbsp;James Eugene Pettigrew,&nbsp;Delano Dias Schleder","doi":"10.1007/s10499-026-02546-7","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10499-026-02546-7","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>In fish, lipid metabolism is highly sensitive to low temperatures, influencing their capacity to adapt to thermal stress. This study evaluated the effects of dietary soybean lecithin on the hepatopancreas lipid profile of Nile tilapia (<i>Oreochromis niloticus</i>) reared at a suboptimal temperature (22°C). Juvenile fish (12.22 ± 0.09 g) were fed diets containing 0, 21, 43, or 64 g kg⁻¹ of soybean lecithin for 90 days. Lipid composition of hepatopancreas was analyzed using gas chromatography (GC), flow injection analysis mass spectrometry (FIA-MS), and liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS). Soy lecithin supplementation significantly altered hepatic lipid profiles, promoting a linear increase in n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFAs), particularly docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), which is essential for maintaining membrane fluidity under cold stress. Multiplatform lipidomic analyses revealed clear distinctions in lipid profiles among treatments. Pathway enrichment analysis highlighted significant modulation of glycerophospholipid and glycerolipid metabolism, key pathways for membrane structure and energy regulation. Notably, ether lipid and inositol phosphate metabolism were also affected, suggesting potential roles in signaling and stress adaptation. Additionally, there was a higher intensity of sterols in the liver of fish fed the higher doses of lecithin. These findings demonstrate that soybean lecithin enhances specific lipid pathways associated with membrane remodeling and metabolic resilience in Nile tilapia under thermal stress. The application of comprehensive lipidomics provided detailed insights into the dietary modulation of hepatic lipid metabolism, reinforcing the value of phospholipid-rich ingredients for improving fish robustness in suboptimal rearing conditions.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":8122,"journal":{"name":"Aquaculture International","volume":"34 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-04-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s10499-026-02546-7.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147738143","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Low-salinity depuration improves flesh quality and reduces off-flavor in bighead carp (Hypophthalmichthys nobilis)","authors":"Chengzhang Huang,&nbsp;Xinran Song,&nbsp;Zehao Wang,&nbsp;Jing Yang,&nbsp;Jun Wang,&nbsp;Jiali Ye,&nbsp;Kai Xu,&nbsp;Tao Zhu,&nbsp;Zhangjie Chu,&nbsp;Yang Gao","doi":"10.1007/s10499-026-02536-9","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10499-026-02536-9","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Bighead carp (<i>Hypophthalmichthys nobilis</i>) is a major freshwater aquaculture species in China. Earthy off-flavor, primarily caused by geosmin and 2-methylisoborneol (2-MIB), readily accumulates in water and muscle, adversely affecting sensory quality and market acceptance. Controlling earthy off-flavor under commercial RAS (recirculating aquaculture system) conditions remains challenging, and limited information is available on how low-salinity depuration combined with stable water flow influences flavor, nutritional quality, and muscle structure. In this vivo study, we conducted a 30-day experiment using two depuration strategies in identically configured RAS loop systems. The experiment consisted of a conventional freshwater depuration (FW-D) group and a low-salinity depuration (LS-D) group, in which salinity was gradually increased to approximately 6‰. During the depuration period, the fish were fasted to reflect commercial practice. At the end of the experiment, dorsal muscle samples were collected from fish in both treatment groups: three fish were sampled per group, with three replicates per group, for a total of nine fish. We assessed dorsal muscle texture, proximate composition, geosmin, and 2-MIB concentrations and performed flavor-omics analyses. The 2-MIB concentration in the LS-D group (0.073 ± 0.005 μg/kg) was significantly lower than that in the FW-D group (0.340 ± 0.021 μg/kg; <i>p</i> &lt; 0.05). Meanwhile, geosmin was not detected in either group (limit of quantification ≤ 0.044 μg/kg). In addition, the fish in the LS-D group showed higher levels of crude protein, crude lipid, total amino acids, essential amino acids, and EPA/DHA. Volatile profiling showed that LS-D shifted the aroma profile from green/herbaceous notes toward mushroom-like and floral/sweet notes. Texture attributes, including hardness, springiness, chewiness, and resilience, were also enhanced under LS-D. These results demonstrate that mild salinity depuration (approximately 6‰) with stable flow control, applied under commercial-style fasting conditions, can substantially reduce 2-MIB content, improve muscle quality, and enhance flavor diversity in bighead carp. This approach offers practical potential for improving product quality and consistency in commercial production.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":8122,"journal":{"name":"Aquaculture International","volume":"34 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-04-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147737927","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Site-based comparison of environmental conditions and biochemical composition of mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) across different aquaculture areas in Aegean Sea, Türkiye","authors":"Selçuk Yiğitkurt,&nbsp;Sena Sarıdayı","doi":"10.1007/s10499-026-02538-7","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10499-026-02538-7","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>This study comprehensively evaluates the environmental conditions, meat yield, condition index, biochemical composition and fatty acid profiles of mussels (<i>Mytilus galloprovincialis</i>) from different aquaculture sites (tuna farm, fish farm – sea bream and sea bass, mussel farm) and a natural reference site in Türkiye. Water temperature, salinity, and chlorophyll <i>a</i> levels were monitored monthly. The average water temperature ranged from 16.3 °C in winter (December) to 26.6 °C in summer (July), with mussel farm and natural reference site exhibiting slightly higher temperatures during warmer months. Salinity and chlorophyll <i>a</i> levels were higher at mussel farm and natural reference site (39–39.3 PSU and up to 10.45 µg L⁻¹, respectively), indicating favorable conditions for mussel growth. In contrast, tuna farm and fish farm showed lower salinity (34–38.9 PSU) and chlorophyll <i>a</i> levels (0.06–2.29 µg L⁻¹), suggesting suboptimal nutrient availability. Meat yield and condition index values varied significantly among the sites, with the highest meat yield and condition index observed at mussel farm (40.27% and 23.96%; respectively). Biochemical analysis indicated that mussels from all sites were rich in protein (50–65%) and ash (10.9–16.9%), with fish farm showing the highest protein content (65%). Fatty acid analysis revealed high levels of omega-3 fatty acids, particularly docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 21.4%) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, 13.5%), across all sites. The findings highlight the significant influence of trophic conditions, particularly chlorophyll-a availability, on mussel growth and nutritional quality. Mussel farm and natural reference site exhibited comparatively more favorable local conditions during the study period, underscoring the strong influence of site-specific trophic variability on mussel performance. This study provides valuable insights for optimizing mussel farming practices and promoting sustainable aquaculture in Türkiye. The results provide preliminary insight into whether organic inputs from finfish and tuna farming may partially compensate for limited phytoplankton availability in offshore production areas.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":8122,"journal":{"name":"Aquaculture International","volume":"34 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-04-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s10499-026-02538-7.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147737819","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Dietary myo-inositol supplementation enhances growth performance and salinity stress tolerance in giant freshwater prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii)","authors":"Sakshi Mukund Bagde,&nbsp;Krishna Rugmini Salin,&nbsp;Balasaheb Ramdas Chavan,&nbsp;Divya Vadassery Haridas,&nbsp;Seema Vijay Medhe,&nbsp;Manoj Tukaram Kamble","doi":"10.1007/s10499-026-02540-z","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10499-026-02540-z","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Salinity intrusion driven by climate change poses a growing challenge to freshwater prawn aquaculture, necessitating nutritional strategies to enhance stress tolerance and production sustainability. This study evaluated the effects of dietary myo-inositol supplementation on growth performance, feed efficiency, physiological resilience, environmental indicators, and economic outcomes of <i>Macrobrachium rosenbergii</i> juveniles cultured under varying salinity conditions. Two consecutive 30-day feeding trials were conducted. Experiment 1 assessed graded myo-inositol inclusion levels (0, 0.35, 0.45, and 0.55%) under freshwater (0 ppt) and low-salinity (10 ppt) conditions. Experiment 2 validated the optimal inclusion level (0.55%) across a broader salinity gradient (0, 6, and 12 ppt), with additional evaluation of ionic regulatory and stress-related biomarkers. Myo-inositol supplementation significantly improved growth, biomass production, and feed conversion ratio, with the highest and most consistent benefits observed at 0.55% inclusion across all salinities. Enhanced carcass protein and lipid deposition accompanied improved feed utilization. Physiologically, myo-inositol reduced hemolymph glucose and Ca²⁺Mg²⁺-ATPase activity, while increasing total antioxidant capacity, indicating lower metabolic stress and reduced ionic regulatory energy demand. Feed-efficiency–adjusted CO₂-equivalent intensity was estimated using feed conversion ratios and published emission factors to reflect feed-related environmental performance; however, these values represent proxy estimates and not direct measurements or full life-cycle assessment (LCA) of greenhouse gas emissions. Importantly, improved feed efficiency translated into substantial reductions in feed-adjusted CO₂e intensity and significantly higher economic returns. These findings demonstrate that dietary myo-inositol functions as an effective osmoprotective and metabolic modulator, supporting climate-resilient, low-salinity freshwater prawn aquaculture while simultaneously improving environmental and economic sustainability.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":8122,"journal":{"name":"Aquaculture International","volume":"34 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-04-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147737821","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Dietary octacosanol enhances growth, antioxidant defense, gene expression, and hypoxia tolerance in whiteleg shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei)","authors":"Akram Ismael Shehata,&nbsp;Mohammed F. El Basuini,&nbsp;Vicent Michael Shija,&nbsp;Md. Akibul Hasan Bakky,&nbsp;Ngoc Tuan Tran,&nbsp;Ming Zhang,&nbsp;Shengkang Li","doi":"10.1007/s10499-026-02541-y","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10499-026-02541-y","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>This study probed the impacts of dietary octacosanol supplementation at 0 (control), 6, 12, and 18 mg/kg diets on the growth parameters, intestinal enzyme activities, biochemical, antioxidant status, gene expression pattern, and hypoxia tolerance of whiteleg shrimp (<i>Litopenaeus vannamei</i>, initial weight 1.49 ± 0.01 g, <i>n</i> = 3, total shrimp = 360) during a 60-day feeding trial. To assess growth efficiency, final weight, weight gain, and specific growth rate were recorded, which were significantly (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.05) improved with octacosanol supplementation, with optimal responses observed at 12 mg/kg. Feed conversion ratio decreased quadratically, reaching optimal efficiency at approximately 10.83 mg/kg. Intestinal enzyme activities (amylase, lipase, and protease) and antioxidant indicators (SOD, CAT, GPx, and TAC) were markedly enhanced at 12 mg/kg, while lipid peroxidation (MDA) was minimized. Hemolymph biochemical indices, including total protein, albumin, globulin, HDL-c, and lysozyme, increased significantly (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.05), whereas AST and ALT decreased. Furthermore, transcriptional expression of immune- and antioxidant-related genes (<i>Mn-SOD</i>, <i>CAT</i>, <i>GSH-Px</i>, <i>LYZ</i>, and <i>ProPO</i>) was upregulated, coinciding with elevated antioxidant capacity and immune responses. Shrimp fed octacosanol diets exhibited enhanced hypoxia tolerance, with LT₅₀ extended by approximately 30–40 min compared to the control. Collectively, the results demonstrate that dietary octacosanol at 12 mg/kg optimizes growth, physiological health, and stress resilience in <i>L. vannamei</i>, supporting its potential as a natural dietary additive for sustainable shrimp farming. Future studies are needed to explore octacosanol’s long-term effects on shrimp under various stress conditions, its molecular mechanisms, and its impact on other species, as well as its synergy with other feed additives.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":8122,"journal":{"name":"Aquaculture International","volume":"34 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-04-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147737820","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"First identification of an insulin-like androgenic gland (IAG) homolog and putative IAG-switch related genes in Macrobrachium amazonicum (Heller, 1862)","authors":"Gabriel Monteiro de Lima,&nbsp;Melody Wahl,&nbsp;Larissa Brito Martins,&nbsp;Ítalo Lutz,&nbsp;Bruna Ramalho Maciel,&nbsp;Janieli do Socorro Amorim da Luz Sousa,&nbsp;Carlos Murilo Tenório Maciel,&nbsp;Iracilda Sampaio,&nbsp;Eliahu David Aflalo,&nbsp;Chiara Benvenuto,&nbsp;Amir Sagi,&nbsp;Cristiana Ramalho Maciel","doi":"10.1007/s10499-026-02526-x","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10499-026-02526-x","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The androgenic gland (AG) is a male-specific endocrine organ in crustaceans, playing a crucial role in sexual differentiation. The function of the AG in decapods has been attributed to the expression of the <i>insulin-like androgenic gland hormone</i> (<i>IAG</i>) encoding gene which in <i>Macrobrachium rosenbergii</i> was shown to serve as a sexual switch (IAG-switch) for natural sexual differentiation as well as for sex manipulations. <i>Macrobrachium amazonicum</i> is a native South American species that has gained interest in recent years for aquaculture biotechnologies. However, the <i>IAG</i> gene of this species has not yet been identified, which limits further studies on its applications. In the present study, we constructed transcriptomic libraries of <i>M. amazonicum</i> male reproductive system (MRS), hepatopancreas (HE), and muscle (MU). Using the MRS libraries, we performed in silico search, identification, and characterization of an <i>IAG</i> gene homolog. The complete <i>IAG</i> open reading frame was identified in all <i>M. amazonicum</i> MRS cDNA libraries. <i>Ma-IAG</i> contains typical regions of the insulin-like growth factor gene superfamily. RT-PCR analyses confirmed <i>Ma-IAG</i> expression exclusively in the AGs. The differentiation into and deviation between maleness and femaleness are complex multigenic processes. Following the identification of <i>Ma-IAG</i>, we conducted a comprehensive search for putative genes related to the IAG-switch in the transcriptomic libraries of <i>M. amazonicum</i>, aiming to encompass genes potentially involved in these processes. Indeed, several upstream and downstream genes putatively associated with <i>IAG</i> were identified, including <i>SoxE</i>, <i>Transformer-2</i>, <i>Masc</i>, and <i>Dmrt</i> family members. This study represents the first step toward a broader understanding of the IAG regulatory axis in <i>M. amazonicum</i>, its possible manipulations and development of biotechnological tools applicable to the aquaculture of this species.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":8122,"journal":{"name":"Aquaculture International","volume":"34 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-04-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s10499-026-02526-x.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147682708","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The epigenetics-environmental DNA axis: a transformative frontier for monitoring, management, and sustainability in aquaculture","authors":"C. W. R. Gunasekara","doi":"10.1007/s10499-026-02532-z","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10499-026-02532-z","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Environmental DNA (eDNA) discovery has changed aquatic monitoring with non-invasive techniques used to detect species, evaluate biodiversity, and track pathogens. Regardless, typical eDNA-based analyses provide information on presence and abundance of species, but minimal insights into physiological state, stress-response, or adaptation mechanisms elicited in organisms. The study of epigenetics, which examines dynamics in gene expression that do not involve changes in underlying DNA sequence, provides more insight into how organisms engage with their environment. The recent concept of “epigenetics-environmental DNA (epi-eDNA)” posits that epigenetic marks on eDNA fragments can act as effective indicators of the source organisms’ recent physiological status, developmental processes, or environmental exposure. This review consolidates the current knowledge on the mechanisms of epi-eDNA formation, release pathways, and environmental persistence in aquatic systems, outlining analytical strategies for recovering and characterizing epigenetic marks from environmental samples, including bisulfite sequencing, methylation-sensitive restriction assays, and emerging direct-read sequencing platforms. Potential applications of epi-eDNA have been further highlighted, including monitoring and tracking species and populations in aquaculture, disease detection, physiological stress, identification of quality broodstock and feeding responses, documenting interactions between cultivated and natural populations, and evaluating ecosystem health related to environmental change. Although technical challenges persist, such as low quantity of DNA, epigenetic marks deteriorate, challenging interpretations of tissue-specific signals, and absence of standardized workflows within this research field, the potential to combine epi-eDNA with multi-omics, informed machine learning applications, and real-time environmental sensing in future holds promise for predictive and precision aquaculture management, as well as advancing ecological sustainability. </p><h3>Graphical Abstract</h3>\u0000<div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture><span>The alt text for this image may have been generated using AI.</span></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":8122,"journal":{"name":"Aquaculture International","volume":"34 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2026-04-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147682723","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}