Article
Fisheries
Md Mahbubul Hassan, Victoria Parks, Susan Laramore
Summary: This study aimed to determine the optimal microalgae diet for hard clam larvae by comparing different combinations of commonly fed microalgae species. T. Iso and C. gracilis fed in equal proportion throughout the larval period resulted in the highest levels of larval growth, development, and survival. Additionally, feeding T. Iso alone provided higher growth and survival rates compared to P. lutheri, while C. gracilis paired with T. Iso outperformed C. muelleri when combined as a dual-species diet.
AQUACULTURE REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Fisheries
Zhi Hu, Jie Feng, Hao Song, Cong Zhou, Zheng-Lin Yu, Mei-Jie Yang, Pu Shi, Yong-Jun Guo, Yong-Ren Li, Tao Zhang
Summary: This study elucidated the molecular defense mechanisms of hard clams against the synergistic effects of heat and hypoxia. The results showed that protein folding and microtubule-related genes were upregulated under stress conditions, and protein processing in endoplasmic reticulum and ubiquitin-mediated proteolysis were common stress-induced pathways.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Cong Zhou, Hao Song, Jie Feng, Zhi Hu, Zheng-Lin Yu, Mei-Jie Yang, Pu Shi, Yong-Ren Li, Yong-Jun Guo, Tao Zhang
Summary: The study conducted RNA sequencing on the hemocytes of hard clams exposed to air for varying durations, revealing the overall and dynamic molecular responses of hard clams to air exposure. The up-regulation of cytochrome P450 1A and 3A, and monocarboxylate transporter family members during air exposure, as well as different dominant molecular processes in response to different durations of air exposure were observed.
Article
Fisheries
Md Mahbubul Hassan, Victoria Parks, Susan Laramore
Summary: The study evaluated the efficacy of commercially available microalgae concentrates as a replacement diet for hard clam larvae, finding that complete replacement led to smaller size, delayed foot development, and significantly lower final survival rates compared to partial replacement or live microalgae diets, suggesting that complete replacement diet may only be used for a short duration.
AQUACULTURE NUTRITION
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Zhi Hu, Li Xu, Hao Song, Jie Feng, Cong Zhou, Mei-Jie Yang, Pu Shi, Yong-Ren Li, Yong-Jun Guo, Hai-Zhou Li, Tao Zhang
Summary: Aquatic animals are facing increased heat and hypoxia stress due to global climate change and human activities. The study investigated the response and adaptation of mitochondrial function and energy metabolism in the gill of the hard clam Mercenaria mercenaria under different stress conditions. The results showed that under environmental stress, mitochondrial membrane potentials were depolarized, and processes such as fusion, fission, and mitophagy played important roles in maintaining mitochondrial function. Anaerobic metabolism and amino acid accumulation were found to be crucial for energy provision and tolerance under heat and hypoxia stress. The study provides insights into the mitochondrial and energy metabolism responses of marine bivalves to environmental stress.
COMPARATIVE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY C-TOXICOLOGY & PHARMACOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Darren de Silva, Christopher J. Gobler
Summary: Hard clams have a strong resistance to harmful algal blooms caused by Margalefidinium polykrikoides. They can actively clear moderate concentrations of M. polykrikoides cells, and the clearance rates are influenced by the density of blooms. R. salina and CPSB-1G strain are cleared faster than other M. polykrikoides populations.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Sabrina Geraci-Yee, Bassem Allam, Jackie L. Collier
Summary: Progress in understanding and managing QPX disease outbreaks in hard clams has been limited by a lack of insight into basic aspects of the biology and ecology of the opportunistic pathogen Mucochytrium quahogii. Here, a sensitive and specific PCR assay was developed to detect and quantify M. quahogii in seawater and sediment samples. The assay revealed that M. quahogii is widely distributed in the marine environment, with higher abundance in sediment and bottom seawater samples.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Ann J. J. Ropp, Kimberly S. S. Reece, Richard A. A. Snyder, Jingwei W. Song, Ellen E. E. Biesack, Jan R. R. McDowell
Summary: Aquaculture is experiencing rapid growth worldwide, and understanding genetic variation and connectivity among populations is crucial for its sustainability. This study used DArTseq genotyping to assess the genetic stock structure of the northern hard clam along the North American Atlantic and Gulf coasts. The results revealed the presence of six genetically distinct populations, shedding light on the factors shaping the distribution of this economically valuable aquaculture species.
EVOLUTIONARY APPLICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Yuelei Dong, Jian Gao, Jingyi Cen, Jing Zhang, Songhui Lu, Lei Cui
Summary: In this study, a Chinese strain of A. anophagefferens isolated from the brown tide waters of Bohai Bay, China, was investigated for its impact on hard clam cultivation. The research found that hard clams fed with A. anophagefferens showed characteristics similar to starvation, with reduced feeding efficiency and energy intake, as well as increased immune response and oxidative stress. An imbalance in the energy budget may be a significant reason for hard clam starvation. This study describes the response characteristics of the A. anophagefferens Chinese strain to M. mercenaria and provides ideas for reducing shellfish aquaculture problems caused by brown tides.
Article
Immunology
Caroline Schwaner, Sarah Farhat, John Haley, Emmanuelle Pales Espinosa, Bassem Allam
Summary: This study investigated the role of circulating hemocytes in both biomineralization and immunity in the hard clam Mercenaria mercenaria. The results showed that hemocytes in the extrapallial fluid (EPF) played a central role in shell formation by overexpressing genes and proteins related to biomineralization, ion transport, and regulation of carbonic acid levels. These hemocytes also showed higher calcium content compared to those in the hemolymph, suggesting their involvement as a source of calcium during biomineralization. Furthermore, the overexpressed genes and proteins contained dual-functional domains involved in both biomineralization and immune response.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Fisheries
Md Mahbubul Hassan, Victoria Parks, Susan Laramore
Summary: This study investigated the filtration and ingestion rates of different microalgae species by hard clam larvae and post-set. The results showed that flagellates were filtered and ingested at higher rates than diatoms, and Tisochrysis lutea had the highest filtration and ingestion rates among all evaluated species. The differences in rates were primarily attributed to the size, shape, and dry weight of the microalgae species.
AQUACULTURE RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Sabrina Geraci-Yee, Jackie L. Collier, Bassem Allam
Summary: The study quantified the distribution and abundance of the QPX pathogen, M. quahogii, in hard clams and the environment. The results suggest that the clam tissue and pallial fluid serve as environmental reservoirs of M. quahogii, and there is a specific commensal relationship between the pathogen and the hard clam.
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
David K. Moss, Donna Surge, Michael L. Zettler, Ian J. Orland, Alex Burnette, Abby Fancher
Summary: Traditional isotope sclerochronology has been used for decades to study growth increment formation in marine organisms, but it has limitations in analyzing species with narrow growth increments. This study demonstrates the use of SIMS to analyze oxygen isotopes in Astarte borealis shells in the Baltic Sea, revealing the seasonal timing of growth increment formation. Results indicate that A. borealis in the Baltic Sea is moderately long-lived and slow growing, with potential to serve as a recorder of seasonality using live- and dead-collected shells.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jonathan Benoit, Baylor Fox-Kemper
Summary: This study utilizes multi-satellite analysis to examine the impact of thermal pollution from BPPS on the temperature behavior of Narragansett Bay. The findings show an immediate cooling effect after the cessation of effluent release and highlight the importance of seasonal variability in effluent impacts.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yi Liu, Jeffrey S. Ren, Xinmeng Wang, Wenguang Wu, Jihong Zhang
Summary: The mortality of Manila clam in the aquaculture area of Laizhou Bay during summer is influenced by environmental factors such as elevated temperature, hypoxia, and hydrogen sulfide concentration. In 2019, significant variations in these environmental variables were observed, resulting in high mortality of the clam in certain areas.
MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2023)
