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A comparison of the suitability of different stains for inducing a non-lethally, detectable mark in Concholepas concholepas and Mesodesma donacium

A comparison of the suitability of different stains for inducing a non-lethally, detectable mark in Concholepas concholepas and Mesodesma donacium
A comparison of the suitability of different stains for inducing a non-lethally, detectable mark in Concholepas concholepas and Mesodesma donacium
Different stains are used to internally mark calcified structures of mollusc shells in growth experiments. Because of interspecific variations in marking success, an assessment of suitability for each species is necessary. The potential of calcein, alizarin red, and strontium chloride hexahydrate (strontium chloride) was investigated for the Chilean abalone Concholepas concholepas and the surf clam Mesodesma donacium, two molluscs of commercial importance in Chile. Wild specimens from Northern Chile were marked using different concentrations and immersion periods of the three stains. Animals were reared for 20 days to allow growth, mortality, body condition index (BCI), and growth rate was measured to assess the effects of the treatments. To detect marks, individuals were culled and shell sections analyzed using scanning electron microscopy for strontium chloride and fluorescence microscopy for calcein and alizarin red, respectively. Strontium chloride produced narrow bright bands only at concentrations of 2,880 [mg x [l.sup.-1] and 24 h exposure. Calcein markings produced fluorescent bands detectable in all treatments (50 and 100 mg x [l.sup.-1], 3 and 6 h) whereas alizarin red only yielded irregular bands with 50-100 mg x [l.sup.-1] and 6 h exposure. Our results show that growth rates of C. concholepas are significantly affected by the stains factor: Strontium chloride showed the lowest growth rates whereas that of alizarin red and calcein was similar to the control group. High concentrations of strontium chloride negatively affected (P < 0.05) the body condition of the gastropod. Although no statistical differences were found, BCI of M. donacium followed the same trend as observed for C. concholepas. In conclusion, calcein was the best growth marker for both species because it produced bright, long-lasting bands even at low concentrations and immersion times without detectable lethal or sublethal effects.
alizarin red, calcein, Chilean abalone, growth rate, strontium chloride, surf clam, Mesodesma, Concholepas
0730-8000
43-49
Riascos, J.M.
583a8abe-be46-41fa-a20b-175510de7a6d
Guzmán, N.
01b04e16-388a-4aa2-8808-0210079178b4
Laudien, J.
f78f1204-92a6-4178-a00d-6ca1a5b55ea2
Heilmayer, O.
cbad0ced-292f-41ad-a42f-7ff810750457
Oliva, M.
01e05bef-018f-4c4f-b7db-0eab0c1e3e2e
Riascos, J.M.
583a8abe-be46-41fa-a20b-175510de7a6d
Guzmán, N.
01b04e16-388a-4aa2-8808-0210079178b4
Laudien, J.
f78f1204-92a6-4178-a00d-6ca1a5b55ea2
Heilmayer, O.
cbad0ced-292f-41ad-a42f-7ff810750457
Oliva, M.
01e05bef-018f-4c4f-b7db-0eab0c1e3e2e

Riascos, J.M., Guzmán, N., Laudien, J., Heilmayer, O. and Oliva, M. (2007) A comparison of the suitability of different stains for inducing a non-lethally, detectable mark in Concholepas concholepas and Mesodesma donacium. Journal of Shellfish Research, 26 (1), 43-49.

Record type: Article

Abstract

Different stains are used to internally mark calcified structures of mollusc shells in growth experiments. Because of interspecific variations in marking success, an assessment of suitability for each species is necessary. The potential of calcein, alizarin red, and strontium chloride hexahydrate (strontium chloride) was investigated for the Chilean abalone Concholepas concholepas and the surf clam Mesodesma donacium, two molluscs of commercial importance in Chile. Wild specimens from Northern Chile were marked using different concentrations and immersion periods of the three stains. Animals were reared for 20 days to allow growth, mortality, body condition index (BCI), and growth rate was measured to assess the effects of the treatments. To detect marks, individuals were culled and shell sections analyzed using scanning electron microscopy for strontium chloride and fluorescence microscopy for calcein and alizarin red, respectively. Strontium chloride produced narrow bright bands only at concentrations of 2,880 [mg x [l.sup.-1] and 24 h exposure. Calcein markings produced fluorescent bands detectable in all treatments (50 and 100 mg x [l.sup.-1], 3 and 6 h) whereas alizarin red only yielded irregular bands with 50-100 mg x [l.sup.-1] and 6 h exposure. Our results show that growth rates of C. concholepas are significantly affected by the stains factor: Strontium chloride showed the lowest growth rates whereas that of alizarin red and calcein was similar to the control group. High concentrations of strontium chloride negatively affected (P < 0.05) the body condition of the gastropod. Although no statistical differences were found, BCI of M. donacium followed the same trend as observed for C. concholepas. In conclusion, calcein was the best growth marker for both species because it produced bright, long-lasting bands even at low concentrations and immersion times without detectable lethal or sublethal effects.

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More information

Published date: 2007
Keywords: alizarin red, calcein, Chilean abalone, growth rate, strontium chloride, surf clam, Mesodesma, Concholepas

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 46971
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/46971
ISSN: 0730-8000
PURE UUID: 69ac2e30-b6bc-4c64-9c0c-b645a375ea74

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Date deposited: 18 Jul 2007
Last modified: 08 Jan 2022 03:57

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Contributors

Author: J.M. Riascos
Author: N. Guzmán
Author: J. Laudien
Author: O. Heilmayer
Author: M. Oliva

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