Browsing by Author "Almansa, Eduardo"
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- Can Cephalopods vomit? Hypothesis based on a review of circumstantial evidence and preliminary experimental observationsPublication . Sykes, António; Almansa, Eduardo; Ponte, Giovanna; Cooke, Gavan M.; Andrews, Paul L. R.In representative species of all vertebrate classes, the oral ejection of upper digestive tract contents by vomiting or regurgitation is used to void food contaminated with toxins or containing indigestible material not voidable in the feces. Vomiting or regurgitation has been reported in a number of invertebrate marine species (Exaiptasia diaphana, Cancer productus, and Pleurobranchaea californica), prompting consideration of whether cephalopods have this capability. This "hypothesis and theory" paper reviews four lines of supporting evidence: (1) the mollusk P. californica sharing some digestive tract morphological and innervation similarities with Octopus vulgaris is able to vomit or regurgitate with the mechanisms well characterized, providing an example of motor program switching; (2) a rationale for vomiting or regurgitation in cephalopods based upon the potential requirement to void indigestible material, which may cause damage and ejection of toxin contaminated food; (3) anecdotal reports (including from the literature) of vomiting- or regurgitation-like behavior in several species of cephalopod (Sepia officinalis, Sepioteuthis sepioidea, O. vulgaris, and Enteroctopus dofleini); and (4) anatomical and physiological studies indicating that ejection of gastric/crop contents via the buccal cavity is a theoretical possibility by retroperistalsis in the upper digestive tract (esophagus, crop, and stomach). We have not identified any publications refuting our hypothesis, so a balanced review is not possible. Overall, the evidence presented is circumstantial, so experiments adapting current methodology (e.g., research community survey, in vitro studies of motility, and analysis of indigestible gut contents and feces) are described to obtain additional evidence to either support or refute our hypothesis. We recognize the possibility that further research may not support the hypothesis; therefore, we consider how cephalopods may protect themselves against ingestion of toxic food by external chemodetection prior to ingestion and digestive gland detoxification post-ingestion. Reviewing the evidence for the hypothesis has identified a number of gaps in knowledge of the anatomy (e.g., the presence of sphincters) and physiology (e.g., the fate of indigestible food residues, pH of digestive secretions, sensory innervation, and digestive gland detoxification mechanisms) of the digestive tract as well as a paucity of recent studies on the role of epithelial chemoreceptors in prey identification and food intake.
- Cassiopea andromeda (Cnidaria, Scyphozoa) in the subtropical eastern AtlanticPublication . Gueroun, Sonia K. M.; Moura, Carlos; Almansa, Eduardo; Escánez, AlejandroThis study provides the first records of the upside-down jellyfish Cassiopea andromeda (Forsk & aring;l, 1775) in the eastern Atlantic supported by molecular analysis. Specimens were observed, recorded, and sampled in an inland aquaculture facility in September 2023 in Tenerife Island (Canary Islands). This new record officially demonstrates the geographical expansion of C. andromeda, and the introduction of a new potential invasive species in the Macaronesia oceanic island system.
- Characterization of deformed hatchlings of Octopus vulgaris obtained under captivity from a small femalePublication . Jiménez-Prada, Pablo; Scherbakova, Anastasia; Riera, Rodrigo; Felipe, Beatriz C.; Sykes, António V.; Gonçalves, Rui A.; Andrade, José Pedro; Perales-Raya, Catalina; Rodríguez, Covadonga; Almansa, EduardoThe common octopus (Octopus vulgaris), a promising species for aquaculture, spawns easily under cap-tivity from mature females (usually above 1 kg wet weight). Octopus juveniles and adults are collectedfrom nature to obtain eggs and paralarvae for aquaculture development trials. In July 2011, a very smallfemale (150 g wet weight but with an age estimation of 300 days-old) spawned almost 77,000 paralar-vae. Malformations of paralarvae were noticed in the first spawning days, namely the absence of arms.Despite not being lethal, these abnormalities might be derived from the physiological condition of thebreeding specimen (the female’s lower weight to the estimated amount of living days), which might beeventually related to nutritional unbalances or genetic parameters that were transferred to the eggs.
- Comparative study on fatty acid metabolism of early stages of two crustacean species: Artemia sp. metanauplii and Grapsus adscensionis zoeae, as live prey for marine animalsPublication . Reis, Diana; Acosta, Nieves G.; Almansa, Eduardo; Navarro, Juan C.; Tocher, Douglas R.; Andrade, José Pedro; Sykes, António V.; Rodríguez, CovadongaThe present study compared the lipid composition and in vivo capability of Artemia sp. metanauplii (the main live prey used in aquaculture) and Grapsus adscensionis zoeae (as a wild zooplankton model) to metabolise unsaturated fatty acids. The two species were incubated in vivo with 0.3μM of individual [1-14C]fatty acids (FA) including 18:1n-9, 18:2n-6, 18:3n-3, 20:4n-6 (ARA), 20:5n-3 (EPA) and 22:6n-3 (DHA) bound to bovine serum albumin (BSA). Compared to metanauplii, zoeae contained twice the content of polar lipids (PL) and eight-fold the content of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFA). Artemia sp. metanauplii showed increased short chain fatty acid de novo synthesis from beta-oxidation of [1-14C]LC-PUFA, preferentially DHA. Of the LC-PUFA, DHA showed the highest esterification rate into Artemia sp. triacylglycerols. In contrast, in Grapsus zoeae [1-14C]DHA displayed the highest transformation rate into longer chain-length FAs and was preferentially esterified into PL. EPA and ARA, tended to be more easily incorporated and/or retained than DHA in Artemia sp. Moreover, both EPA and ARA were preferentially esterified into Artemia PL, which theoretically would favour their bioavailability to the larvae. In addition to the inherent better nutritional value of Grapsus zoeae due to their intrinsic lipid composition, the changes taking place after the lipid incorporation, point at two distinct models of lipid metabolism that indicate zoeae as a more suitable prey than Artemia sp. for the feeding of marine animals.
- Composition and metabolism of phospholipids in Octopus vulgaris and Sepia officinalis hatchlingsPublication . Reis, Diana; Acosta, Nieves G.; Almansa, Eduardo; Tocher, Douglas R.; Andrade, Jose; Sykes, António; Rodriguez, CovadongaThe objective of the present study was to characterise the fatty acid (FA) profiles of the major phospholipids, of Octopus vulgaris and Sepia officinalis hatchlings, namely phosphatidylcholine (PC), phosphatidylserine (PS), phosphatidylinositol (PI) and phosphatidylethanolamine (PE); and to evaluate the capability of both cephalopod species on dietary phospholipid remodelling. Thus, O. vulgaris and S. officinalis hatchlings were in vivo incubated with 0.3 mu M of L-(alpha)-1-palmitoyl-2-[1-C-14]arachidonyl-PC or L-(alpha)-1-palmitoy1-2-[1-C-14]arachidonyl-PE. Octopus and cuttlefish hatchlings phospholipids showed a characteristic FA profiles with PC presenting high contents of 16:0 and 22:6n-3 (DHA); PS having high 18:0, DHA and 20:5n-3 (EPA); PI a high content of saturated FA; and PE showing high contents of DHA and EPA. Interestingly, the highest content of 20:4n-6 (ARA) was found in PE rather than PI. Irrespective of the phospholipid in which [1-C-14]ARA was initially bound (either PC or PE), the esterification pattern of [1-C-14]ARA in octopus lipids was similar to that found in their tissues with high esterification of this FA into PE. In contrast, in cuttlefish hatchlings [1-C-14]ARA was mainly recovered in the same phospholipid that was provided. These results showed a characteristic FA profiles in the major phospholipids of the two species, as well as a contrasting capability to remodel dietary phospholipids, which may suggest a difference in phospholipase activities. (C) 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
- Effect of of Artemia inherent fatty acid metabolism on the bioavailability of essential fatty acids for Octopus vulgaris paralarvae developmentPublication . B Reis, Diana; Acosta, Nieves G.; Almansa, Eduardo; Garrido, Diego; Andrade, José Pedro; Sykes, Antonio V.; Rodriguez, CovadongaThe aim of the present study was to determine the effect of Artemia metanauplii endogenous fatty acid (FA) metabolism in the actual availability of dietary essential fatty acids (EFA) for Octopus vulgaris paralarvae development. To this end, both Artemia metanauplii inherent radiolabelled FA metabolism and the Octopus vulgaris paralarvae FA metabolism, after being fed with Artemia metanauplii incubated with radiolabelled. FAs, were determined. Metanauplii were incubated in tissue culture plates during 12 h, with 0.3 mu M of a [1-C-14]FA, including either 18:3n-3, 20:4n-6 (ARA), 20:5n-3 (EPA) or 22:6n-3 (DHA), added individually to separate wells as their potassium salts bound to bovine serum albumin. A total of 3600 one-day-old paralarvae were reared up to 24 h in order to ensure the ingestion of a minimum amount of the labelled Artemia. Paralarvae rearing was performed in 4 L cylinder conical tanks at a density of 25 paralarvae L-1. Labelled Artemia metanauplii were added to each paralarvae rearing tank according to a specific [1-C-14]FA treatment. Artemia in vivo metabolism results showed a preferential catabolism of DHA, which was translated into (1) the lower incorporation of this FA into Artemia total lipids (TL)
- Effects of feeding with different live preys on the lipid composition, growth and survival ofOctopus vulgarisparalarvaePublication . Reis, Diana B.; Shcherbakova, Anastasia; Riera, Rodrigo; Martín, M. Virginia; Domingues, Pedro; Andrade, Jose; Jimenez-Prada, Pablo; Rodriguez, Covandonga; V. Sykes, Antonio; Almansa, EduardoTo move forward in the farming ofOctopus vulgarisparalarvae, it is necessary to search for a live prey easy to obtain and maintain in the laboratory that meets the nutritional requirements of the octopus paralarvae and adapts to its predatory behaviour.Grapsus adscensioniszoeae (Crustacea, Decapoda) seems to fulfil most of these targets, and it was herein used to deepen knowledge of paralarvae lipid requirements and composition, growth and survival. To this purpose, the effects of feeding withGrapsuszoeae as sole prey were compared withArtemiaat two different stages (nauplii and juveniles), which also differed in their lipid profiles. After 15 days of feeding, the best growth and survival of paralarvae was obtained in theGrapsusgroup, and no differences were observed between bothArtemiagroups. Triacylglycerides storage in paralarvae seemed to be co-related with a lower growth and survival, but not with its prey levels. Contrarily, sterol ester levels were higher in paralarvae fedGrapsus, reflecting its content in the prey. The best paralarval viability was related to higher levels of 22:6n-3 (DHA) and 20:4n-6 (ARA), also reflecting its higher content in the prey. On the other hand, neither the 20:5n-3 (EPA) levels in the prey nor in paralarvae were related to growth or survival. The implications of these results are discussed considering the lipid requirements ofO. vulgarisparalarvae.
- Growth and survival of cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis) of different ages fed crustaceans and fish. Effects of frozen and live preyPublication . Domingues, P.; Sykes, António V.; Sommerfield, Anne; Almansa, Eduardo; Lorenzo, António; Andrade, José PedroThree feeding experiments, using live mysid shrimp, grass shrimp or fish fry as prey for 1-, 30- and 60-day-old cuttlefish were conducted to determine the efficiency of each dietary source in relation to cuttlefish size and age. Additionally, a fourth experiment using fish fry and grass shrimp, but previously frozen, was also conducted. The results showed that when 1-day-old cuttlefish were fed mysids, grass shrimp or fish for 4 weeks, mysids were the best prey, but only during the first week. From this moment until the end of the experiment, the best growth rate was when cuttlefish were fed grass shrimp. Cuttlefish fed fish fry showed the poorest growth rate throughout the experiment. Similarly, cuttlefish aged 30 or 60 days fed grass shrimp or fish fry had the best growth rates when fed grass shrimp. When cuttlefish were fed live fish, survival increased with size of cuttlefish (73.3%, 91.7% and 100% for 1, 30 and 60 days cuttlefish, respectively). In the fourth experiment, using frozen diets, overall acceptance of each diet (feeding rates) was the same for fish and shrimp. However, lower growth was obtained when cuttlefish were fed fish compared to grass shrimp. This lower growth was due to a lower food conversion (28% vs. 41%). Since cephalopod paralarvae and juvenile most likely need prey rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), phospholipids and cholesterol, and a moderate content in neutral lipids, we have analyzed the biochemical compositions of the different prey to evaluate the influence of this factor on growth and survival.
- Meta-analysis approach to the effects of live prey on the growth of octopus vulgaris paralarvae under culture conditionsPublication . Garrido, Diego; Martín, Virginia M.; Rodríguez, Covadonga; Iglesias, José; Navarro, Juan C.; Reis, Diana; Riera, Rodrigo; Sykes, António V.; Almansa, EduardoThe common octopus (Octopus vulgaris, Cuvier 1797) is a species with increasing interest for marine aquaculture diversification, given its high growth rate and easy adaptation to captivity, among other positive features (Iglesias et al. 2007, 2014a). However, the massive paralarvae mortalities verified under culture conditions ( 100% in most studies) have hampered its commercial production, therefore making this the main bottleneck for industrial farming. According to several authors (Iglesias et al. 2007, 2014a; Iglesias & Fuentes 2013), the high mortalities could be due to: (i) inadequate and/or unbalanced diets that do not fulfil paralarvae nutritional requirements, (ii) lack of standardized rearing techniques, and (iii) little knowledge about octopus paralarvae physiology and behaviour.
- Model based optimization of feeding regimens in aquaculture: application to the improvement of Octopus vulgaris viability in captivityPublication . Hormiga, José A.; Almansa, Eduardo; Sykes, António V.; Torres, Néstor V.The culture of common octopus (Octopus vulgaris), one important candidate to the aquaculture diversification, faces significant difficulties, mainly related with an inadequate first development stages diet. A mathematical model integrating disperse information on the nutrient composition throughout the species ontogenic development as well as on the effects of broodstock feeding and diet composition data of O. vulgaris, allowed us to predict the time evolution of paralarvae nutritional composition in terms of protein and lipid fractions and to design an optimal diet composition with the objective to ensure the maximal survival. The optimization routine showed that a diet based on the spider crab (Maja squinado) zoea composition is the most suitable for reaching the best survival rates. Results are verified by comparison with available experimental data. The obtained results and the prospective developments are a good example of how the systemic, quantitative model based approach can be used to analyse and contribute to the understanding of complex biological systems.