UCN-CEAZA
Effect of two temperatures on ammonia excretion rates of Seriolella violacea (Palm fish) juveniles under rearing conditions.
Nerici, C., Silva, A., & Merino, G.
Nitrogenous compounds can be toxic to aquatic animals, especially when they are reared for production purposes at high stocking densities. Seriolella violacea is a pelagic fish, native from the easterly South Pacific Ocean. This species has shown desirable behavioral and metabolic characteristics under captivity conditions, which leaded the Marine Fish Laboratory from the UCN to increase its efforts on the research and development to validate S. violacea as a new aquaculture option. Therefore, the objective of this study is to determine the excretion rates of palm fish juveniles weighing 300–500 g at two different temperatures: 14 °C and 18 °C. Total ammonia as nitrogen (TAN) excreted was 4.4 ± 0.9 and 7.1 ± 1.9 mg TAN/kg fish/h for 14 °C and 18 °C respectively. The experiments were carried out in a recirculating system operating as a farm-like situation. Tests were performed in 1000 L rearing tanks operating as open respirometers. The results of the present study indicate that TAN excretion rates on S. violacea juveniles, is temperature dependent. Data obtained in these experiments are valuable information for the engineering design of land based aquaculture systems for palm fish.
Año: 2012
Palabras claves: Seriolella violacea; Excretion rates; Ammonia; Recirculating aquaculture system; Water quality
Referencia APA: Nerici, C., Silva, A., & Merino, G. (2012). Effect of two temperatures on ammonia excretion rates of Seriolella violacea (Palm fish) juveniles under rearing conditions. Aquacultural Engineering, 46, 47-52.
Floating Seaweeds and Their Communities.
Rothäusler, E., Gutow, L., & Thiel, M.
A wide diversity of floating seaweeds is found in temperate and subpolar regions of the world’s oceans where sea surface currents and winds determine their traveling velocities and directions. The importance of floating seaweeds as dispersal agents for associated organisms and for the algae themselves varies depending on the supply from benthic source populations and on their persistence at the sea surface. Persistence of floating algae depends on water temperature, grazing activity, epifaunal load, and, to a lesser extent, on prevailing irradiance conditions. In temperate regions, persistence of floating algae is primarily limited by warm sea surface temperatures and high densities of motile and sessile epifauna whereas at higher latitudes algae can successfully compensate grazer-induced tissue loss by continuous growth at the prevailing low water temperatures. Accordingly, floating seaweeds can bridge large oceanic distances especially at high latitudes allowing for connectivity among distant benthic populations of algae and associated rafters.
Año: 2012
Palabras claves:
Referencia APA: Rothäusler, E., Gutow, L., & Thiel, M. (2012). Floating Seaweeds and Their Communities. Ecological Studies, 359-380.
Authentication of commercialized crab-meat in Chile using DNA Barcoding.
Haye, P., Segovia, N., Vera, R., Gallardo, M., & Gallardo-Escárate, C.
Authentication of commercialized marine products has become a market priority. Crustaceans are benthic marine resources highly exploited in Chile. Brachyuran crabs are of particular interest and in Chile are commercialized with different processing and presentations. Generally, Chilean brachyuran crab-meat commercial packages do not include taxonomic information, which in addition to the loss of diagnostic characters during the processing, impedes the identification of species being commercialized. The goal of this study was to determine which brachyuran species are being commercialized in the Chilean market using DNA Barcoding and phylogenetic analysis. For authentication of commercial crab-meat and DNA Barcoding a partial sequence of the Cytochrome Oxidase I (COI) gene of seven commercialized brachyuran species in Chile were used. For authentication, samples were obtained from seven commercial formats available on the local market in Coquimbo, Chile. Most commercial packages contained more than one species of crab. The Species detected in order of frequency are Metacarcinus edwardsii, Romaleon polyodon, Cancer porteri, Cancer plebejus, and Homalaspis plana. Mislabeling was detected in one of the commercial formats that declared including meat from Cancer species. The procedure presented herein, based on standard DNA Barcoding as well as phylogenetic analyses, can be used for the normative control of crab-meat processed products.
Año: 2012
Palabras claves: Food authentication; DNA Barcoding; Crab meat; Species identification; Mislabeling; Conservation genetics
Referencia APA: Haye, P., Segovia, N., Vera, R., Gallardo, M., & Gallardo-Escárate, C. (2012). Authentication of commercialized crab-meat in Chile using DNA Barcoding. Food Control, 25(1), 239-244.
Genetic signatures of rafting dispersal in algal-dwelling brooders Limnoria spp. (Isopoda) along the SE Pacific (Chile).
Haye, P., Varela, A., & Thiel, M.
ABSTRACT: Brooding marine isopods of the genus Limnoria inhabit and feed on kelp holdfasts and wood. These substrata have high floating potential, making these species ideal organisms to study the effects of rafting-mediated connectivity on the population structure of brooders living on rafting substrata. It is hypothesized that rafting leaves particular genetic signatures such as low differentiation among distant local populations and absence of isolation by distance (IBD) at a macro-geographic scale (thousands of km). Using cytochrome oxidase I (COI) sequences, we tested the effects of rafting-mediated gene flow with respect to genetic differentiation on L. quadripunctata (from wood and also the holdfasts of the giant kelp Macrocystis pyrifera) and L. chilensis (mainly from the bull kelp Durvillaea antarctica) sampled across 2400 km of the Chilean coast. Analyses of COI data for both species indicated low differentiation between distant locations along the Chilean coast and lack of IBD, bearing the expected genetic signatures of rafting dispersal. Phylogenetic analyses were performed with COI and the nuclear gene 28S to place the genetic diversity of Chilean Limnoria spp. into a wider geographical context. Both markers revealed that L. quadripunctata from Chile is a sister clade to other Limnoria spp. analyzed (L. chilensis, L. segnis, and L. stephenseni), which mainly inhabit D. antarctica. L. chilensis from Chile and subantarctic islands form a tight monophyletic group. Phylogenetic and phylogeographic analyses show that along the studied area, L. quadripunctata and L. chilensis have the genetic signatures of relatively recent or ongoing rafting.
Año: 2012
Palabras claves: Peracarids, Rafting, Biogeography, Mitochondrial DNA, COI, 28S, Phylogeny, Phylogeography
Referencia APA: Haye, P., Varela, A., & Thiel, M. (2012). Genetic signatures of rafting dispersal in algal-dwelling brooders Limnoria spp. (Isopoda) along the SE Pacific (Chile). Marine Ecology Progress Series, 455, 111-122.
Herbivorous amphipods inhabit protective microhabitats within thalli of giant kelp Macrocystis pyrifera.
Gutow, L., Long, J., Cerda, O., Hinojosa, I., Rothäusler, E., Tala, F., & Thiel, M.
Many small marine herbivores utilize specific algal hosts, but the ultimate factors that shape host selection are not well understood. For example, the use of particular microhabitats within algal hosts and the functional role of these microhabitats have received little attention, especially in large algae such as kelps. We studied microhabitat use of the herbivorous amphipod Peramphithoe femorata that inhabits nest-like domiciles on the blades of giant kelp Macrocystis pyrifera. The vertical position of nest-bearing blades along the stipe of the algal thallus and the position of the nests within the lateral blades of M. pyrifera were surveyed in two kelp forests in northern-central Chile. Additionally, we conducted laboratory and field experiments to unravel the mechanisms driving the observed distributions. Peramphithoe femorata nests were predominantly built on the distal blade tips in apical sections of the stipes. Within-blade and within-stipe feeding preferences of P. femorata did not explain the amphipod distribution. Amphipods did not consistently select distal over proximal blade sections in habitat choice experiments. Mortality of tethered amphipods without nests was higher at the seafloor than at the sea surface in the field. Nests mitigated mortality of tethered amphipods, especially at the seafloor. Thus, protective microhabitats within thalli of large kelp species can substantially enhance survival of small marine herbivores. Our results suggest that differential survival from predation might be more important than food preferences in determining the microhabitat distribution of these herbivores.
Año: 2012
Palabras claves:
Referencia APA: Gutow, L., Long, J., Cerda, O., Hinojosa, I., Rothäusler, E., Tala, F., & Thiel, M. (2012). Herbivorous amphipods inhabit protective microhabitats within thalli of giant kelp Macrocystis pyrifera. Marine Biology, 159(1), 141-149.
Gene expression analysis in Mytilus chilensis populations reveals local patterns associated with ocean environmental conditions.
Núñez-Acuña, G., Tapia, F., Haye, P., & Gallardo-Escárate, C.
Marine ecosystems involve relationships between genomic interactions of marine populations with shared biogeographic ranges and the environmental conditions. These relationships, studied mainly through neutral DNA markers, are not always consistent with actual biogeographic patterns or the evolutionary history of marine species. In addition, increased information at functional genomic level from non-model species allows the study of adaptive responses in marine populations. This work reports local transcriptomic patterns in populations of the mussel Mytilus chilensis and their correspondence with oceanographic variability in southern Chile. Analysis of gene expression patterns was conducted through qPCR of seven candidate genes involved in the response to environmental stress (HSP70, HSP90), iron metabolism (Ferritin), pathogens (Mytilin B, Defensin) and oxidative stress (SOD-CuZn, Catalase) in at five study sites located in southern Chile, from Valdivia (39°56′S–73°36′W) to Melinka (43°52′S–73°44′W). Multivariate and correlation analyses were used to assess the relationship between levels of individual gene expression and site features characterized using satellite data on surface temperature, chlorophyll concentration and total suspended sediments. Two main groups of sites with differential patterns of gene expression were identified. Individuals exposed to higher temperatures showed an overexpression of HSP70, HSP90 and Ferritin genes. The expression of SOD-CuZn and Catalase was correlated with local chlorophyll-a (i.e. food availability for mussels), although with opposite correlations. In addition, Mytilin B showed higher levels of expression in areas with higher freshwater influence. Patterns of gene expression across the region of interest suggest that spatial variability in environmental conditions induce phenotypic changes in different populations of the same mussel species. In addition, the analysis of expression patterns in candidate genes can reveal local patterns in populations where other molecular markers show no genetic structure.
Año: 2012
Palabras claves: Gene expression; Mytilus chilensis; Adaptative response; Environmental stress; Thermal tolerance; Sea surface temperature
Referencia APA: Núñez-Acuña, G., Tapia, F., Haye, P., & Gallardo-Escárate, C. (2012). Gene expression analysis in Mytilus chilensis populations reveals local patterns associated with ocean environmental conditions. Journal Of Experimental Marine Biology And Ecology, 420-421, 56-64.
Testing sustainable management in Northern Chile: harvesting Macrocystis pyrifera (Phaeophyceae, Laminariales). A case study.
Borras-Chavez, R., Edwards, M., & Vásquez, J.
Kelp harvesting in northern Chile is managed by local fishermen and is part of an organized industry. However, the lack of standardized harvesting protocols has made regulation difficult. This, in combination with the impacts of oceanographic disturbances has resulted in some kelp populations being considerably reduced during the last decade. Consequently, harvest methods that maintain kelp resources are sorely needed if harvesting is to remain a viable industry in Chile. Here, experiments were done to identify sustainable methods for harvesting Macrocystis pyrifera along the coast of northern Chile. Three methods were compared with regard to their impacts on kelp populations; one that involves extracting half of the fronds from each individual in a population, one that involves extracting all the fronds from half of the individuals in a population, and a third that involves extracting all the fronds from all of the individuals in a population (i.e., the method currently used). Following this, populations were evaluated over a 2-month period to monitor re-growth of the remaining individuals and recruitment of new individuals, as well as changes in understory algal diversity and herbivore abundance. Our results indicate that removing half of the fronds from each individual in a population was the best method for maintaining the resource for future harvest because, it (1) maintains rapid growth of new fronds on the harvested individuals, (2) promotes recruitment of new individuals, and (3) reduces herbivore densities through physical abrasion. Consequently, this method is recommended for future harvesting of M. pyrifera in Northern Chile.
Año: 2012
Palabras claves: EcologyKelp, harvesting, Macrocystis, Phaeophyta, Sustainability
Referencia APA: Borras-Chavez, R., Edwards, M., & Vásquez, J. (2012). Testing sustainable management in Northern Chile: harvesting Macrocystis pyrifera (Phaeophyceae, Laminariales). A case study. J Appl Phycol, 24(6), 1655-1665.
Asociacion del color de la concha de reproductores de Argopecten purpuratus (Lamarck, 1819) con la supervivencia, crecimiento y desarrollo larval de sus progenies.
Garcia, R. & Winkler, F.
Las conchas de moluscos bivalvos marinos son extremadamente diversas en sus patrones de pigmentación y riqueza de colores. Tal diversidad se debe a factores ambientales y genéticos. En bivalvos marinos adultos, individuos con coloraciones de concha poco comunes en las poblaciones silvestres suelen presentar tasas de crecimiento y supervivencia menores que aquellos con colores de concha más frecuentes. Conociendo que la variación del color de la concha en Argopecten purpuratus está bajo control genético, en este trabajo se pone a prueba la hipótesis de que los loci responsables de dicha variación pueden afectar el crecimiento, la supervivencia y la tasa de desarrollo de las larvas de esta especie. Se estimó la supervivencia y el crecimiento en progenies de cruzamientos dirigidos entre individuos de A. purpuratus con colores de concha blanco, naranja y marrón, y se verificó la existencia de diferencias en las tasas de desarrollo. El crecimiento de las larvas producidas en cruzamientos que incluyeron individuos marrones o blancos con naranja no mostraron diferencias entre sí. En cambio, las progenies producto de autofecundaciones de individuos naranja y blancos presentaron tasas de crecimiento significativamente menores que las anteriores y distintas entre sí. Las tasas de desarrollo y de supervivencia, en cambio, no mostraron diferencias entre las progenies de los distintos tipos de cruzamientos. Los resultados sugieren que los genes que controlan la variación del color en las conchas de juveniles y adultos de A. purpuratus afectarían la tasa de crecimiento de sus larvas, pero no la tasa de desarrollo ni su supervivencia.
Año: 2012
Palabras claves: Argopecten purpuratus, ostión del norte, pectinidos, cultivo, desarrollo larval, color, Chile.
Referencia APA: Garcia, R. & Winkler, F. (2012). Asociacion del color de la concha de reproductores de Argopecten purpuratus (Lamarck, 1819) con la supervivencia, crecimiento y desarrollo larval de sus progenies. Latin American Journal Of Aquatic Research, 40(2), 367-375.
The Lessonia nigrescens fishery in northern Chile: “how you harvest is more important than how much you harvest”
Vásquez, J., Piaget, N., & Vega, J.
In Chile, management of natural resources usually starts right before its imminent collapse or after evident declination. In the northern area of the country, the fishery of brown seaweeds has an enormous social, ecological, and economical importance. More than 11,000 people depend directly or indirectly on the collection and harvesting of this resource. Ecologically, kelps constitute areas for food, reproduction, and refuge for hundreds of invertebrates and fish species. Economically, landings up to 300,000 dry tons per year represent close to US $60 million for the industry. Until 2002, the Chilean brown seaweed fishery was mainly sustained by natural mortality, where plants cast ashore were collected by artisanal fishermen. Since then, three brown seaweed species of economic importance (Lessonia nigrescens, Lessonia trabeculata, and Macrocystis pyrifera) have been intensively harvested in coastal areas between 18° and 32° S. To manage kelp populations along the northern Chilean coast, regulations have been based on the principle “how you harvest is more important than how much you harvest”. This exploitation strategy has been adopted in consensus between fishermen, industries, governmental entities, and scientists. Since L. nigrescens represents more than 70% of total brown seaweed landings, this study tests the effects of L. nigrescens harvesting on the following population variables: (1) abundance, (2) distribution, (3) juvenile recruitment, (4) plant morphology, (5) frequency of reproductive plants, and (6) biodiversity of the macroinvertebrate community associated to kelp holdfasts. Our results show that, despite the enormous harvesting pressure on Lessonia density and biomass, the associated macroinvertebrate richness has been maintained, due to normal plant growth and high recruitment all year round.
Año: 2012
Palabras claves: Kelp fishery, Natural populations, Intertidal, Management, Harvesting, Conservation, Administrative policies.
Referencia APA: Vásquez, J., Piaget, N., & Vega, J. (2012). The Lessonia nigrescens fishery in northern Chile: “how you harvest is more important than how much you harvest". J Appl Phycol, 24(3), 417-426.
Permanent Genetic Resources added to Molecular Ecology Resources Database 1 August 2011-30 September 2011.
A’hara, S. W., Amouroux, P., Argo, E. E., Avand-Faghih, A., Barat, A., Barbieri, L., Bert, T. M., Blatrix, R., Blin, A., Bouktila, D., Broome, A., Burban, C., Capdevielle-Dulac, C., Casse, N., Chandra, S., Cho, K. J., Cottrell, J. E., Crawford, C. R., Davis, M. C., Delatte, H., Desneux, N., Djieto-lordon, C., Dubois, M. P., El-Mergawy, R. A. A. M., Gallardo-Escárate, C., Garcia, M., Gardiner, M.M., Guillemaud, T., Haye, P. A., Hellemans, B., Hinrichsen, P., Jeon, J. H., Kerdelhué, C., Kharrat, I., Kim, K. H., Kim, Y. Y., Kwan, Y.-S., Labbe, E. M., Lahood, E., Lee, K. M., Lee, W.-O., Lee, Y.-H., Legoff, I., Li, H., Lin, C.-P., Liu, S. S., Liu, Y. G., Long, D., Maes, G. E., Magnoux, E., Mahanta, P. C., Makni, H., Makni, M., Malausa, T., Matura, R., Mckey, D., Mcmillen Jackson, A. L., Méndez, M. A., Mezghani-Khemakhem, M., Michel, A. P., Paul, M., Murielcunha, J., Nibouche, S., Normand, F., Palkovacs, E. P., Pande, V., Parmentier, K., Peccoud, J., Piatscheck, F., Puchulutegui, C., Ramos, R., Ravest, G., Richner, H., Robbens, J., Rochat, D., Rousselet, J., Saladin, V., Sauve, M., Schlei, O., Schultz, T. F., Scobie, A. R., Segovia, N. I., Seyoum, S., Silvain, J.-f., Tabone, E., Van Houdt, J. K. J., Vandamme, S. G., Volckaert, F. A. M., Wenburg, J., Willis, T. V., Won, Y.-J., Ye, N. H., Zhang, W. and Zhang, Y. X.
This article documents the addition of 299 microsatellite marker loci and nine pairs of single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) EPIC primers to the Molecular Ecology Resources (MER) Database. Loci were developed for the following species: Alosa pseudoharengus, Alosa aestivalis, Aphis spiraecola, Argopecten purpuratus, Coreoleuciscus splendidus, Garra gotyla, Hippodamia convergens, Linnaea borealis, Menippe mercenaria, Menippe adina, Parus major, Pinus densiflora, Portunus trituberculatus, Procontarinia mangiferae, Rhynchophorus ferrugineus, Schizothorax richardsonii, Scophthalmus rhombus, Tetraponera aethiops, Thaumetopoea pityocampa, Tuta absoluta and Ugni molinae. These loci were cross-tested on the following species: Barilius bendelisis, Chiromantes haematocheir, Eriocheir sinensis, Eucalyptus camaldulensis, Eucalyptus cladocalix, Eucalyptus globulus, Garra litaninsis vishwanath, Garra para lissorhynchus, Guindilla trinervis, Hemigrapsus sanguineus, Luma chequen. Guayaba, Myrceugenia colchagüensis, Myrceugenia correifolia, Myrceugenia exsucca, Parasesarma plicatum, Parus major, Portunus pelagicus, Psidium guayaba, Schizothorax richardsonii, Scophthalmus maximus, Tetraponera latifrons, Thaumetopoea bonjeani, Thaumetopoea ispartensis, Thaumetopoea libanotica, Thaumetopoea pinivora, Thaumetopoea pityocampa ena clade, Thaumetopoea solitaria, Thaumetopoea wilkinsoni and Tor putitora. This article also documents the addition of nine EPIC primer pairs for Euphaea decorata, Euphaea formosa, Euphaea ornata and Euphaea yayeyamana.
Año: 2012
Palabras claves:
Referencia APA: Molecular Ecology Resources Primer Development Consortium, A’hara, S. W., Amouroux, P., Argo, E. E., Avand-Faghih, A., Barat, A., Barbieri, L., Bert, T. M., Blatrix, R., Blin, A., Bouktila, D., Broome, A., Burban, C., Capdevielle-Dulac, C., Casse, N., Chandra, S., Cho, K. J., Cottrell, J. E., Crawford, C. R., Davis, M. C., Delatte, H., Desneux, N., Djieto-lordon, C., Dubois, M. P., El-Mergawy, R. A. A. M., Gallardo-Escárate, C., Garcia, M., Gardiner, M.M., Guillemaud, T., Haye, P. A., Hellemans, B., Hinrichsen, P., Jeon, J. H., Kerdelhué, C., Kharrat, I., Kim, K. H., Kim, Y. Y., Kwan, Y.-S., Labbe, E. M., Lahood, E., Lee, K. M., Lee, W.-O., Lee, Y.-H., Legoff, I., Li, H., Lin, C.-P., Liu, S. S., Liu, Y. G., Long, D., Maes, G. E., Magnoux, E., Mahanta, P. C., Makni, H., Makni, M., Malausa, T., Matura, R., Mckey, D., Mcmillen Jackson, A. L., Méndez, M. A., Mezghani-Khemakhem, M., Michel, A. P., Paul, M., Murielcunha, J., Nibouche, S., Normand, F., Palkovacs, E. P., Pande, V., Parmentier, K., Peccoud, J., Piatscheck, F., Puchulutegui, C., Ramos, R., Ravest, G., Richner, H., Robbens, J., Rochat, D., Rousselet, J., Saladin, V., Sauve, M., Schlei, O., Schultz, T. F., Scobie, A. R., Segovia, N. I., Seyoum, S., Silvain, J.-f., Tabone, E., Van Houdt, J. K. J., Vandamme, S. G., Volckaert, F. A. M., Wenburg, J., Willis, T. V., Won, Y.-J., Ye, N. H., Zhang, W. and Zhang, Y. X. (2012). Permanent Genetic Resources added to Molecular Ecology Resources Database 1 August 2011–30 September 2011. Molecular Ecology Resources, 12: 185–189.
Plasticity in feeding selectivity and trophic structure of kelp forest associated fishes from northern Chile.
Pérez-Matus, A., Pledger, S., Díaz, F., Ferry, L., & Vásquez, J.
One of the primary ways in which species interact with their environment is through foraging; thereby directly consuming some fraction of their surrounding habitat. The habitat itself, in turn, may dictate the types of foraging opportunities that are available to the inhabitants. To investigate the relationship between habitat availability and diet composition of habitat-associated fishes, we estimated the relative abundance of the potential sessile and mobile prey items and the diet of the fish species assemblage associated to kelp forest. Specifically, diet and feeding selectivity of the kelp-forest associated fish assemblage were determined by calculating Manly's alpha selectivity index. We determined the diet of kelp forest associated fishes and their foraging behavior by comparing prey availability with those items present in the stomachs of fishes captured by gill net and spear gun. We calculated the degree of dietary overlap among fishes from four locations along the northern coast of Chile. Results indicate that utilization of prey by predators is predominantly affected by potential prey availability. With the exception of the two carnivorous species such as Pinguipes chilensis (Valenciennes, 1883) and Paralabrax humeralis (Cuvier & Valenciennes, 1828), whose diet did not change among sites, all other kelp-associated fishes changed their dietary habitats to consistent with the availability of local resources. Benthic resources changed among the different study sites, which led to differing diets even in the same species from different locations. Eleven of the 12 kelp forest fishes also showed some selectively for benthic prey. We conclude that the ability of fishes to be plastic in their feeding preference and, therefore, partition the benthic resources may set adaptations to co-exist in a dynamic environment such as kelp forest.
Año: 2012
Palabras claves: Chile, Manly α, predation, trophic guilds, understory.
Referencia APA: Pérez-Matus, A., Pledger, S., Díaz, F., Ferry, L., & Vásquez, J. (2012). Plasticity in feeding selectivity and trophic structure of kelp forest associated fishes from northern Chile. Rev. Chil. Hist. Nat., 85(1), 29-48.
Bioeconomic effect from the size selection in red abalone intensive culture Haliotis rufescens as a production strategy.
Pérez, E., Araya, A., Araneda, M., & Zúñiga, C.
The variability in growth is a common characteristic in mollusks breeding. Effects rising from the variability in the individual growth rate and the consequent dispersion of sizes in cultivation are important in financial terms. To manage this heterogeneity many firms use size selection, which can happen in two stages: toward the end of the stage of growing, or in the phase of growing of seeds. A bioeconomic model simulating the operation of a firm producing red abalone was implemented in spreadsheets. The firm produces 70 tons yearly. The model was structured in three sub-models. A biological sub-model detailed a batch’s dynamics, in terms of survival and growth, considering individual variation of size around a central value for each age. A technological sub-model described raw materials, the quantity of food and the energy required. Finally, the simulation model is completed with an economic integrated sub-model, where net present value is calculated considering income and costs over the time. Results of the alternative production strategies (with or without selection) are assessed according to: quantity of larvae and necessary spawners to reach the desired level of production; net present value (NPV) and necessary time to recover the investment. The number of larvae was approximately 17 millions larger for the case of the strategy of production with sizes selection and 73% more of available spawners is required for this larger amount of larvae. In the short term, the size-selection strategy increases the production costs at the initial time, compared with the strategy without selection. However, in the long term, this strategy generates greater NPV. The span for investment recovery was shorter for the case of the strategy with size selection and living product (nearly 2,140 days) than frozen (nearly 2,232 days); while without sizes selection a 15-year simulation showed the investment is not recovered. Finally, could be verified that size selection can be an interesting strategy to explore, since it improves the financial result, the same way other more expensive technological changes would.
Año: 2012
Palabras claves: Bioeconomic effect, Red abalone, Size selection, Strategy.
Referencia APA: Pérez, E., Araya, A., Araneda, M., & Zúñiga, C. (2012). Bioeconomic effect from the size selection in red abalone intensive culture Haliotis rufescens as a production strategy. Aquaculture International, 20(2), 333-345.