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Broodstock management and egg and larval quality
140
Broodstock Broodstock
Book Reviews
management Management
Roberts (Editors), 63203591-9.
and Egg and Larval Quality. Niall R. Bromage
Blackwell
Science,
Oxford,
1995,
424
pp.,
and Ronald J. E.59.50, ISBN O-
Broodstock Management and Egg and Larval Quality is the result of a 1992 meeting entitled Science in Aquaculture and is an excellent compilation of reviews in several key research areas in fish reproduction, and of the current state of knowledge of spawning, incubation and larval rearing of most aquaculture species. The book is organized into 16 chapters, six dealing with research areas and ten describing reproduction and broodstock management practices used for specific fish species. The editors state that the book is intended as a reference text for students and fishery scientists, and this more or less accurately reflects the depth and scope of the various chapters. The first chapter on Broodstock Management and Seed Quality sets the standard, covering all of the relevant topics within the subject. Control of reproduction, induced spawning with hypothalmic releasing hormones, and environmental manipulation to induce spawning are discussed in overview. Other issues, such as fecundity and egg size and the effects of strain and fish size are covered, as is egg quality, nutrition of broodfish, overrippening, and other topics, with examples from farmed species used to illustrate the points made by the author. This chapter is followed by a detailed review on sperm physiology and quality, which presents both scholarly and practical information on sperm morphology, sperm production, evaluation of sperm quality, short-term preservation, cryopreservation and several other subjects. The next chapter is entitled Preservation of Gametes, and, as in the previous chapter, the author blends practical and research findings to present a crisp review of the subject. The emphasis in the chapter is on the role of gamete storage in aquaculture, short-term preservation and cryopreservation. The fourth chapter presents a review entitled Biotechnological Approaches to Broodstock Management, and is simply the best review available on the subject. This chapter should be required reading for all non-scientists (particularly bureaucrats) who speak enthusiastically and superficially about the subject. After reading this well written and realistic chapter, they will better understand the potential and limitations of this often misunderstood subject. The subjects covered by the author include biotechnology available for broodstock improvement, e.g. chromosome set manipulation, gene transfer, and marker-assisted selection, and major breeding goals for aquaculture. The references in the first four chapters provide relatively complete coverage through 1992, particularly the most important papers. Ten chapters focus on farmed fish, each briefly reviewing taxonomy, and proceeding to such topics as sex reversal, induction of spawning, production of gametes throughout the year, the effects of diet on reproductive performance and egg and larval quality and recommended broodstock management and rearing practices. The species covered in the chapters are gilt-head sea bream, red drum and other Sciaenids, sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax), Atlantic halibut and cod, Pacific salmon, channel catfish, African catfish, Nile tilapia, carps, and Red Sea bream. The depth and range of the chapters is variable, reflecting the information available and the preferences of the authors, all of whom are
Book Reuiews
141
well known scientists. For the most part, these chapters are excellent summaries ofboth research and practical information, particularly the chapters on gilt-head sea bream, red drum and Sciaenids, and sea bass. In each chapter, the authors describe the development of current spawning practices, citing fascinating research which provided the basic information upon which production is now based. Less information is available on other species, such as Atlantic halibut and cod; thus this chapter is a description of gonad development, environmental conditions and feeds for brc odstock, spawning practices, and rearing procedures for eggs and larvae. The chapter on Pacific salmon has a completely different perspective than the other chapters covering species or groups of fish. This chapter is limited to the capture, holding, spawning and genetic aspects of captured wild salmon, as practiced in North America on specific salmon stocks in connection with conservation efforts. The chapters on channel catfish, carps and tilapia are similar in their emphasis on commercial production of fry. Broodstock management in channel catfish is mainly confined to holding maturing fish in ponds managed specifically to encourage natural spawning and egg mass recovery for subsequent incubation and fry rearing in hatcheries. The tilapia chapter is fairly long, and covers the reproductive biology of Oreochromis niloticus, traditional fry production methods used in Asia, mainly Thailand, current trends in commercial production, artificial incubation of eggs and fry, and production of all-male fry populations. The carp chapter describes in detail the practices used in Israel for broodstock management, spawning, fry production and a brief section on ornamental carp. The University of Wageningen research on African catfish is presented here in a comprehensive chapter covering the impressive results of 15 or so years of activity in this area. The final chapter on a specific farmed species covers the Red Sea bream, a fish primarily reared in Japan. The emphasis in this chapter is on production practices used in Japan and on the effects of diet composition on reproduction and fry quality. The remaining chapters cover egg lipids (origin and functions) and larval foods. The lipid chapter seems somewhat out of place in that it is a review of energetics associated gonad formation, lipids and vitellogenesis, and lipid metabolism of developing eggs and fry. Compelling evidence is presented to implicate lipids (specifically n-3 PUPAS) in nearly every critical metabolic and developmental step in reproduction and early development. Yet the author concludes that the importance and complexities of lipid nutritional biochemistry should not obscure the fact that our ignorance in this area does not result in innumerable problems that cannot be resolved with changes in lipid nutrition; we know enough to stay out of trouble. Larval foods, however, are an area where often we are in trouble, as this chapter explains. The authors review algal, rotifer, and Artemia culture, smartly reviewing the literature and describing methods of culture, enrichment, and disease control possibilities through oral delivery of drugs and vaccines via live food. In this chapter, as in all others, literature coverage is extensive, permitting easy access to original papers for those wishing more detail. Overall, this volume covers a great deal of territory in 424 pages. The contributors and editors should be complimented on assembling this wide array of research findings, historical development and current practices in broodstock management. Despite the variable coverage in several of the species chapters, especially no mention of carp
142
Book Reviews
culture in Asia, this volume ought to be a mandatory purchase for those contemplating involvement with or currently immersed in research or production of broodstock fish. RONALD W. HARDY Northwest Fisheries Science Center 2725 Montlake Boulevard East Seattle, WA 98112 USA
Broodstock Broodstock
Book Reviews
management Management
Roberts (Editors), 63203591-9.
and Egg and Larval Quality. Niall R. Bromage
Blackwell
Science,
Oxford,
1995,
424
pp.,
and Ronald J. E.59.50, ISBN O-
Broodstock Management and Egg and Larval Quality is the result of a 1992 meeting entitled Science in Aquaculture and is an excellent compilation of reviews in several key research areas in fish reproduction, and of the current state of knowledge of spawning, incubation and larval rearing of most aquaculture species. The book is organized into 16 chapters, six dealing with research areas and ten describing reproduction and broodstock management practices used for specific fish species. The editors state that the book is intended as a reference text for students and fishery scientists, and this more or less accurately reflects the depth and scope of the various chapters. The first chapter on Broodstock Management and Seed Quality sets the standard, covering all of the relevant topics within the subject. Control of reproduction, induced spawning with hypothalmic releasing hormones, and environmental manipulation to induce spawning are discussed in overview. Other issues, such as fecundity and egg size and the effects of strain and fish size are covered, as is egg quality, nutrition of broodfish, overrippening, and other topics, with examples from farmed species used to illustrate the points made by the author. This chapter is followed by a detailed review on sperm physiology and quality, which presents both scholarly and practical information on sperm morphology, sperm production, evaluation of sperm quality, short-term preservation, cryopreservation and several other subjects. The next chapter is entitled Preservation of Gametes, and, as in the previous chapter, the author blends practical and research findings to present a crisp review of the subject. The emphasis in the chapter is on the role of gamete storage in aquaculture, short-term preservation and cryopreservation. The fourth chapter presents a review entitled Biotechnological Approaches to Broodstock Management, and is simply the best review available on the subject. This chapter should be required reading for all non-scientists (particularly bureaucrats) who speak enthusiastically and superficially about the subject. After reading this well written and realistic chapter, they will better understand the potential and limitations of this often misunderstood subject. The subjects covered by the author include biotechnology available for broodstock improvement, e.g. chromosome set manipulation, gene transfer, and marker-assisted selection, and major breeding goals for aquaculture. The references in the first four chapters provide relatively complete coverage through 1992, particularly the most important papers. Ten chapters focus on farmed fish, each briefly reviewing taxonomy, and proceeding to such topics as sex reversal, induction of spawning, production of gametes throughout the year, the effects of diet on reproductive performance and egg and larval quality and recommended broodstock management and rearing practices. The species covered in the chapters are gilt-head sea bream, red drum and other Sciaenids, sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax), Atlantic halibut and cod, Pacific salmon, channel catfish, African catfish, Nile tilapia, carps, and Red Sea bream. The depth and range of the chapters is variable, reflecting the information available and the preferences of the authors, all of whom are
Book Reuiews
141
well known scientists. For the most part, these chapters are excellent summaries ofboth research and practical information, particularly the chapters on gilt-head sea bream, red drum and Sciaenids, and sea bass. In each chapter, the authors describe the development of current spawning practices, citing fascinating research which provided the basic information upon which production is now based. Less information is available on other species, such as Atlantic halibut and cod; thus this chapter is a description of gonad development, environmental conditions and feeds for brc odstock, spawning practices, and rearing procedures for eggs and larvae. The chapter on Pacific salmon has a completely different perspective than the other chapters covering species or groups of fish. This chapter is limited to the capture, holding, spawning and genetic aspects of captured wild salmon, as practiced in North America on specific salmon stocks in connection with conservation efforts. The chapters on channel catfish, carps and tilapia are similar in their emphasis on commercial production of fry. Broodstock management in channel catfish is mainly confined to holding maturing fish in ponds managed specifically to encourage natural spawning and egg mass recovery for subsequent incubation and fry rearing in hatcheries. The tilapia chapter is fairly long, and covers the reproductive biology of Oreochromis niloticus, traditional fry production methods used in Asia, mainly Thailand, current trends in commercial production, artificial incubation of eggs and fry, and production of all-male fry populations. The carp chapter describes in detail the practices used in Israel for broodstock management, spawning, fry production and a brief section on ornamental carp. The University of Wageningen research on African catfish is presented here in a comprehensive chapter covering the impressive results of 15 or so years of activity in this area. The final chapter on a specific farmed species covers the Red Sea bream, a fish primarily reared in Japan. The emphasis in this chapter is on production practices used in Japan and on the effects of diet composition on reproduction and fry quality. The remaining chapters cover egg lipids (origin and functions) and larval foods. The lipid chapter seems somewhat out of place in that it is a review of energetics associated gonad formation, lipids and vitellogenesis, and lipid metabolism of developing eggs and fry. Compelling evidence is presented to implicate lipids (specifically n-3 PUPAS) in nearly every critical metabolic and developmental step in reproduction and early development. Yet the author concludes that the importance and complexities of lipid nutritional biochemistry should not obscure the fact that our ignorance in this area does not result in innumerable problems that cannot be resolved with changes in lipid nutrition; we know enough to stay out of trouble. Larval foods, however, are an area where often we are in trouble, as this chapter explains. The authors review algal, rotifer, and Artemia culture, smartly reviewing the literature and describing methods of culture, enrichment, and disease control possibilities through oral delivery of drugs and vaccines via live food. In this chapter, as in all others, literature coverage is extensive, permitting easy access to original papers for those wishing more detail. Overall, this volume covers a great deal of territory in 424 pages. The contributors and editors should be complimented on assembling this wide array of research findings, historical development and current practices in broodstock management. Despite the variable coverage in several of the species chapters, especially no mention of carp
142
Book Reviews
culture in Asia, this volume ought to be a mandatory purchase for those contemplating involvement with or currently immersed in research or production of broodstock fish. RONALD W. HARDY Northwest Fisheries Science Center 2725 Montlake Boulevard East Seattle, WA 98112 USA