Nighttime Lighting Influences on the Plankton Feeding and Growth of Juvenile Pacific Bluefin Tuna, .

During fingerling production of Pacific bluefin tuna (PBF) , heavy mortality can occur immediately after juveniles are transferred from nursery tanks to sea cages; however, nighttime lighting can moderate this mortality. Additionally, various live prey aggregate due to nighttime lighting in practical sea cage culture of PBF. Here, we investigated whether the growth and viability of PBF juveniles could be improved through promoting feeding on live prey that aggregate under nighttime lighting.

The problem of marine litters for cultured teleost.

Here, characteristics of marine litter ingested by Pacific bluefin tuna (PBF, Thunnus orientalis) juveniles under captive conditions were investigated. Swimming speeds of PBF juveniles with pseud-ingested polystyrene chips were compared, and mortality due to polystyrene chip ingestion in cultured teleosts (red sea bream, greater amberjack, and white trevally) was examined in the laboratory. Marine litter ingested by the PBF juveniles included mainly microplastics.

Gonadogenesis and slow proliferation of germ cells in juveniles of cultured yellowfin tuna, Thunnus albacares.

To develop techniques for seedling production of yellowfin tuna, the behavior of primordial germ cells (PGCs) and gonadogenesis were examined at 1-30 days post hatching (dph) using morphometric analysis, histological examination, and in situ hybridization. Immediately after hatching, PGCs were located on the dorsal side of the posterior end of the rectum under the peritoneum of the larvae, and at 3 dph they came into contact with stromal cells. PGCs and stromal cells gradually moved forward from the anus prior to 5 dph.

Visual spectral sensitivity of photopic juvenile Pacific bluefin tuna (Thunnus orientalis).

Although Pacific bluefin tuna is a species that relies on vision, its photopic visual function is not well known; we therefore recorded electroretinograms to investigate photopic spectral sensitivity in juveniles of this species (49-81 days post-hatch; standard length 74-223 mm). The peak spectral sensitivity wavelength was 505 nm. We estimated that two (λ(max) = 512-515 nm and 423-436 nm) or three (λ(max) = 512-515 nm, 423-436 nm, and 473 nm) types of cone visual pigments contribute to photopic vision; these spectral sensitivities are adapted to surface water habitats in clear ocean and coastal water.

Changes in the scotopic vision of juvenile Pacific bluefin tuna (Thunnus orientalis) with growth.

In cultured juvenile Pacific bluefin tuna (Thunnus orientalis), reducing the mass deaths caused by collision or contact with tank or net walls at night is a priority for seedling production. Pacific bluefin tuna is a visually dependant species, although its scotopic vision is poor. We recorded electroretinograms to investigate the visual function with growth in the dark-adapted eyes of juvenile Pacific bluefin tuna.

Electroretinographic analysis of night vision in juvenile pacific bluefin tuna (Thunnus orientalis).

We used electroretinogram recordings to investigate visual function in the dark-adapted eyes of the juvenile scombrid fishes Pacific bluefin tuna (Thunnus orientalis) and chub mackerel (Scomber japonicus) and the carangid fish striped jack (Pseudocaranx dentex). Despite the fast swimming speed of the Pacific bluefin tuna, analysis of flicker electroretinograms showed that visual temporal resolution in this species was inferior to that in chub mackerel. Peak wavelengths of spectral sensitivity in Pacific bluefin tuna and striped jack were 479 and 512 nm, respectively.

Developing 23 new polymorphic microsatellite markers and simulating parentage assignment in the Pacific bluefin tuna, Thunnus orientalis.

Twenty-three new polymorphic microsatellite markers were isolated in the Pacific bluefin tuna, Thunnus orientalis. Each locus comprised three to 34 alleles. The expected and observed heterozygosities ranged between 0.

Two types of tumor necrosis factor-alpha in bluefin tuna (Thunnus orientalis) genes: Molecular cloning and expression profile in response to several immunological stimulants.

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) is a key inflammatory mediator and has also the potential as a prominent biomarker of innate immunity. In this study, we identified and characterized TNF-alpha from bluefin tuna, which is an important cultured species. Two types of TNF-alpha were also cloned incidentally (TNF1 and TNF2).