The absorption efficiency of the orange-footed sea cucumber Cucumaria frondosa was evaluated in order to examine its potential as organic-matter extractive species for IMTA systems. For this reason, laboratory and field trials were conducted. In the laboratory, the sea cucumbers were exposed to three different diets: (i) commercial algal diet of T-iso (Isochrysis galbana) or shellfish diet (mix of different microalgae), (ii) modified algae diet (a mixture of diatomaceous earth) and T-iso and (iii) mixture of particles found at local salmon farms. For the field trial, sea cucumbers were maintained in three different locations exposed to natural conditions.

Cucumaria frondosa (source: Peabody Museum of Natural History)

The absorption efficiency estimated in the field trial was 70%, while in the laboratory trials ranged between 68 to 85%. Sea cucumbers were able to consume aquaculture waste in both kinds of experiments. The results obtained in the present study demonstrated that C. frondosa presents the capacity to reduce the organic matter from aquaculture wastes and it has the potential to be used as an organic-matter extractive species in IMTA systems.

For more details visit Nelson et al. (2012). The absorption efficiency of the suspension-feeding sea cucumber, Cucumaria frondosa, and its potential as an extractive integrated multi-trophic aquaculture (IMTA) species. Aquaculture 370–371, 19–25.

Though the potential of polychaetes has not been fully investigated, they are known to function as organic extractive species in IMTA systems. Owing to the high levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) found in several polychaetes species it is worthwhile to explore the practicability of employing polychaetes to convert fish farm waste into alternative resources for fish diet. Within this context, Nederlof and his team evaluate the potential of polychaetes Capitella sp. and Ophryotrocha craigsmithi to convert fish waste into valuable ingredients for fish feed formulation. The polychaetes were fed different forms of salmon feces (fresh, acid-preserved, or oven-dried) and their production rate as well as body composition, especially, fatty acid (FA) profiles were determined to evaluate their applicability in (de)coupled integrated multi-trophic aquaculture (IMTA) systems. Coupled production involves direct integration of polychaetes and fish within the same eco (system), whilst in decoupled production, the rearing units can be separated spatially or functionally. Preservation of fish waste is recommended in case of decouple system. The authors observed the highest growth rate in both species when fed with fresh feces, whilst a negative growth rate was observed in O. craigsmithi when fed with preserved diets. This in fact suggests the importance of microbial role in polychaetes’ diet. Despite relatively low content of PUFAs (5-9% of total FAs) in the diets, the fatty acid profile showed that both species were rich in PUFAs (>30% of total FAs). Moreover, all essential FAs needed for fish nutrition were also found. The FA profile was enriched in Capitella sp. when fed acid-preserved diets. The enriched levels of FAs found in both species might be accredited to the accumulation of PUFAs, de novo synthesis and/or transfer via bacterial biomass that could have led in the up-regulation of PUFA content. On the whole, the authors conclude that both species are highly valuable marine products that can be used as an alternative source for fish food formulations. Deducing from the recorded growth rates with different diets, O. craigsmithi seems more suitable for integration in coupled systems where fresh fish feces are continuously supplied, whilst Capitella sp. is interesting for both coupled and decoupled integrated systems as favourable growth was observed on all diets tested.

For more details please visit: Application of polychaetes in (de)coupled integrated aquaculture: production of a high quality marine resource

The formation, alteration, and maintenance of habitats by organisms through the production of physical structures or the transformation of existing ones is known as ecosystem engineering. In one of these cases, the role of Alitta virens (Sars) as an ecosystem engineer in pristine sediments was assessed. Nereidid polychaetes are able to exploit vacant niches and pristine sediments owing to their ability to swim, crawl, and burrow as well as to be carried passively by currents. They engineer their own environment by burrowing, feeding and respiring, and produce a diverse array of potential sedimentary and endobenthic habitats for other organisms. Changes in the burrowing behavior and modifications of the event beds by the burrowing nereidid were examined using laboratory microcosms with either abiotic sediments or organic-rich mud and pristine sand. In all the microcosms, modification of the environment by the nereidids to permit long-term residence was observed. Moreover, the nereidids demonstrate different behavioural strategies and burrow morphologies based on sediment characteristic and nutrient availability. Alitta virens used a variety of feeding strategy viz. scavenging, surface deposit feeding, suspension feeding, microbial gardening, deposit feeding at depth, and cannibalism. Many nereidids are known to employ suspension feeding using mucus but has never been documented before for A. virens. The extended use of suspension feeding may indicate low availability of biotic sediments for deposit feeding. Though A. virens characteristically produced burrows similar to Arenicolites and Skolithos, burrow morphologies similar to Polykladichnus, Planolites, Palaeophycus, and Thalassinoides were formed under differing sedimentary conditions and over different time scales. According to the rock record, such ichnological diversity might be interpreted as indicating paleoeco- logical diversity, rather than the response of one taxon to changing conditions. On the whole, Alitta virens is an allogenic ecosystem engineer, changing the physical and geochemical characters of its environment by its behaviour. These changes, combined with the widespread occurrence and population longevity of A. virens, demonstrate that burrowing polychaetes are important ecosystem engineers in shallow marine environments, and are likely to have been so over geological time scales.

for more details please visit: Ecosystem Engineer

Aquaponics is the integration of aquaculture and hydroponics in a recirculating system. This production model has been successfully developed around the world using freshwater. However, in recent years and due to the development of the cultivation of salinity-tolerant plants, various studies have been carried out to evaluate the production of marine species coupled to halophyte plants.

Researches from the Federal University of Santa Catarina Brazil evaluated the integrated culture of Pacific white shrimp (Penaeus vannamei) and Sarcocornia ambigua in a marine aquaponic system with biofloc. The experimental system consisted of an 800 L culture tank, a 40L conical bottom chamber, and an NFT hydroponic system with 0.4 m2 of planting area. The shrimp culture was stocked at 250 shrimp m^-3 and 40 plants were coupled in each system. The experiment was carried out for 74 days.

The final plant production obtained was 8.2 kg m^-2 while the final shrimp biomass was 2.1 kg m^-3. The water quality was maintained within the acceptable limits for marine shrimp culture. The recovery of nitrogen supplied to the aquaponic system was higher (39.3%) than a similar system without plants (31.4%).

The proposed system is capable to produce 2 kg of plants for each kilogram of shrimp produced. The present study shows the feasibility of produce shrimp and plants using marine water, while the use of nutrients is improved.

For more details, see: Pinheiro et al. (2017). Production of the halophyte Sarcocornia ambigua and Pacific white shrimp in an aquaponic system with biofloc technology. Ecological Engineering 100, 261-267.

Two species of macroalgae (Undaria pinnatifida and Gracilaria vermiculophylla) collected from the Russian Far-East were evaluated in laboratory experiments to determine their potential as biofilters. For this purpose, their nutrient uptake potential and their physiological response to wastewater effluents from a maricultural rearing system (mussels’ culture) were measured.

8 g (fresh weight) of macroalgae were placed by replicate in 2 L containers with a continuous flow of wastewater. Water samples were taken to measure the ammonium- and phosphate concentrations and calculate the nutrient uptake rate. During the experiments, the temperature was maintained at 15°C, the irradiance was fixed at 130 µmol photons m^-2 s^-1, and the aeration was supplied continuously.

The results obtained indicated that both species of macroalgae can reduce the nutrient concentrations in the water (up to 70-90% of ammonium and 35-82% of phosphates). Besides, any negative effect on the growth and physiological conditions of both macroalgae species were found.

The study suggests that both species have great potential as a biofilter. Furthermore, the macroalgae species tested have great economic potential, being another good reason to use in IMTA.

For more details please visit: Skriptsova and Miroshnikova (2011). Laboratory experiment to determine the potential of two macroalgae from the Russian Far-East as biofilters for integrated multi-trophic aquaculture (IMTA). Bioresource Technology 102, 3149-3154.