SEPIAMETA - On the metabolism of the European cuttlefish, Sepia officinalis (Linnaeus, 1758)

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Publications

The effect of tank types on the growth and survival of Octopus vulgaris paralarvae fed the crab Grapsusadscensionis zoeae

Publication . Shcherbakova, Anastasia; Andrade, José Pedro; Sykes, António de Vilhena Andrade Ferreira; Berro, Eduardo Almansa; Rodrigues González, Covadonga

2012Master thesis

Open Access

Preliminary results on the daily and seasonal rhythms of cuttlefish Sepia officinalis (Linnaeus, 1758) locomotor activity in captivity

Publication . Oliveira, Catarina; Grano-Maldonado, Mayra; Gonçalves, Rui A.; Frias, Paulo; Sykes, António V.

Cephalopods are considered as an alternate group for aquaculture species diversification [1,2], not only because they are a good food source (highly appreciated in some worldwide markets, e.g., Portugal, Spain, Italy and Asia) and have the potential to quickly reach a market size, but also because they are considered animal models in several fields of research [3–5], and it is expected that such models are progressively obtained from bioteriums instead of being captured from nature. Despite the recent advances in culture protocols of several cephalopod species [2], there is still little information available about the biological rhythms of cephalopods in captivity. In fact, to the best of our knowledge, there are only 4 published papers concerning this theme, and these are focused on octopus species [6–9]. This issue assumes increasing importance with the enforcement of EU welfare legislation (Directive 2010/63/EU), and this information is critical for the future update of Annex III (housing conditions) for cephalopods of that Directive, and for a future update of the Guidelines for the Care and Welfare of Cephalopods in Research [10]. If it is considered that the European cuttlefish Sepia officinalis (Linnaeus, 1758) may have, at the least, two different sleep‐like states [11], the importance of this study becomes even more evident.

2017Journal article

Open Access

Characterization of deformed hatchlings of Octopus vulgaris obtained under captivity from a small female

Publication . 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, Eduardo

The 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.

2014Journal article

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The use of different anaesthetics as welfare promoters during short-term human manipulation of European cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis) juveniles

Publication . Gonçalves, Rui A.; Aragão, C.; Frias, P. A.; Sykes, António V.

Anaesthetics are frequently used to prevent injuries, stress and to promote welfare while handling animals. The efﬁciency of ﬁve anaesthetics for short-term handling of the European cuttleﬁsh (Sepia ofﬁcinalis) was tested in order to determine the best agent and its concentration. Ethanol (10.0, 20.0 and 30.0 mL.L−1 ), clove oil (0.05, 0.15 mL.L−1 ), hypothermia (8 °C), magnesium chloride (hexahydrated; 20.0, 27.0 g.L−1 ) and AQUI-S® (10.9 μl.L−1 ) were the selected anaesthetics. This choice was preceded by a preliminary trial, with additional agents, where 2-phenoxyethanol (10, 15, 20, 30 mL.L−1 ) and MS-222® (30, 40 mg.L−1 ) were used.

2012Journal article

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Improvement of common octopus (Octopus vulgaris) paralarval culture, based on studies of feeding and nutrition with alternative preys

Publication . Reis, Diana Filipa Botelho; Andrade, José Pedro de Andrade e Silva; Sykes, António de Vilhena Andrade Ferreira; Berro, Eduardo Almansa; González, Covadonga Rodríguez

At the moment, the biggest bottleneck in Octopus vulgaris culture is the paralarvae stage, which is characterized by high mortalities and poor growth. This thesis pretended to study the effect of three different preys (Palaemon elegans, Grapsus grapsus and Artemia spp. enriched with Tetraselmis chuii) on the survival and growth of 0. vulgaris paralarvae. It also targets the nutritional composition of newly hatched paralarvae and the effect of the diets after nine days of culture. Prey biological characteristics and level of predation were also covered during this study. Regarding growth, survival and the biochemical composition of paralarvae, two experiments were conducted. In the 1” experiment, paralarvae were reared at density of 5 paralarvae/L and Artemia spp. juveniles (1-ART) and P. elegans zoea (1-PAL) were tested. In the 2“d experiment, the paralarvae rearing density was reduced to 1.5 paralarvae/L to raise the number of preys per paralarvae and Artemia spp. juveniles (2- ART), P. elegans zoea (2-PAL) and G. grapsus zoea (2-GRA) were tested. Low survival rates were obtain during the 1” experiment and although higher rates were obtain during the 2“d experiment, no statistical differences (P>0.05) between experiments and treatments were found due to the high variability recorded. Nonetheless, higher growth rates (P<0.05) were found in treatments with low paralarvae density (2“d experiment) and fed with decapod crustacean zoeae (2-PAL - IGR=5.18i 0.96% and 2-GRA - IGR=6.29 Í 1.10). The biochemical composition of octopus hatchlings in the present study was similar to that reported in previous works. After nine days of rearing it was observed a nutritional change in paralarvae composition. Regardless from prey provided, a reduction in DHA and PUFA content and DHA/EPA ratio was detected (P<0.05). Nevertheless, the best rearing success was obtained in the 2-PAL and 2-GRA groups, which were the ones with the higher DHA/EPA ratio (P<0.05). Although no differences were found between the 2-ART group and octopus hatchlings (P>0.05), the remaining treatments displayed a raise in ARA content that might be related with food input. The artemia juveniles (prey with the poorer results in terms of paralarvae rearing) were the most different prey contrasting with the FA profile of octopus paralarvae, suggesting the importance of this factor in the octopus development. On the other hand, crab zoeae, which presented good rearing results, also presented low content in protein, phospholipids and to some extent cholesterol; which were higher in artemia juveniles (P<0.05). The prawn zoea was the most attacked and captured prey during the predation trial and, although not different from artemia juveniles due to the high variability (P>0.05), both decapod crustacean zoeae were highly ingested by the octopus paralarvae. The low number of attacks and captures on crab zoeae observed and the high number of ingestions recorded could have been related to the fact that, when placed in the tank, most of the zoeae sank rapidly to the bottom, not being quickly detected. From the present results it seems that not just the biochemical composition of prey influences the octopus; paralarvae development, but also the number of preys ingested may suggest as a limiting factor. A reduction in the water column depth of the rearing tanks could reduce the energy spent in prey capture from the bottom, improving energy efficiency and promoting paralarvae growth. Considering the results obtained with Artemia spp. despite being the most available and easiest prey to culture, it does not seem to be an adequate prey for octopus paralarvae. On the other hand, decapod crustacean zoea seems a promising model if zoeae availability is improved.

2011Master thesis

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