Academic literature on the topic 'Lates Calcarifer'

Barramundi (Lates calcarifer) is known as Sea bass with a selling price of Rp.75,000 - Rp.80,000/Kg consumption size. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of the addition of bread yeast with different doses to feed on the growth of Lates calcarifer. This study uses an experimental method with a Completely Randomized Design (CRD). The treatments were P0=0% yeast, P1=0.5%, P2=0.10%, P3=0.15%, P4=0.20% yeast from the weight of the feed given. The results of the study are the bread yeast influences the growth of Lates calcarifer. The highest absolute weight gain in P4 treatment was 0.507 g. The highest absolute length increase in P4 treatment was 0.990 cm. The lowest FCR at perlakuan P1 yaitu 15,55. The highest survival rates are P2, P3, and P4 which is 100%. Erythrocytes with the highest total amount in P4 treatment 12,58x106 - 18,62x106 cells/mm3. Leukocytes with the highest total number in P2 treatment were 27,96x106 - 44,641x106 cells/mm3. Water quality parameter values in the maintenance media are in the range of requirements for Lates calcarifer cultivation. The conclusion of the study is the addition of bread yeast affects the growth of Lates calcarifer and the optimal dose that can increase the growth is 0,20%.

Each year plastic production worldwide has increased. Approximately 10% of the production of plastic will lead to the sea. This plastic is degraded to be a small particle size < 5mm called microplastic. The river is the main route of entry of plastic from land to the sea. Sayung River is a river that has the potential to be contaminated with microplastics around which it is used as a location for the cultivation of various fisheries commodities including Pernaviridis, Penaeus monodon, and Lates calcarifer. The study aims to determine the number and type of microplastic in Penaeus monodon, Pernaviridis, and Lates calcarifer. Samples were taken from three different stations in the coverage area. Microplastic abundance analysis by isolating microplastic on each sample. Isolation samples of Pernaviridis, Penaeus monodon, and Lates calcarifer are done by dissolving the sample in a solution of 10% KOH was allowed for 24 hours at a temperature of 60 oC and observed under a binocular microscope. Founded types of microplastic are fiber, fragments, pellets, and films on Pernaviridis, Penaeus monodon, and Lates calcarifer. Pernaviridis found on many types of films, in Penaeusmonodon are the most prevalent types of fragments and the Lates calcarifer most common types of fiber. Pellet type is the least kind found in Pernaviridis and Penaeus monodon. Based on the age when taken, Penaeus monodon is the commodity that has the most potential to be contaminated with microplastic while based on the number of particles found in Lates calcarifer is the commodity with the most potential to be contaminated with microplastic.

To understand the impacts of dietary Glycyrrhiza uralensis on the immune responses of Lates calcarifer, the expression of immune-related genes including crp, c-3, c-4, mtor, mlst-8, eif4e, hsp-70, hsp-90, il-8il-8, il-10, tgfβ1, tnf, ifn-γ1, and mxf in L. calcarifer juveniles was evaluated in this study. Fish were fed experimental diets with G. uralensis levels of 0%, 1%, 3%, and 5% for 56 days. The results showed that dietary G. uralensis could improve the growth and survival of L. calcarifer and regulate the immune-related genes’ expression in L. calcarifer. Dietary G. uralensis significantly upregulated the expression level of crp, mtor, hsp-90, c-3, and c-4 genes in the liver of L. calcarifer, while hsp-70 gene expression was nearly downregulated. It did not upregulate the expression of elf4e and mlst-8 in the 1% and 3% inclusion groups, but it was the exact opposite in the 5% inclusion group. G. uralensis significantly affected the expression of il-8, il-10, tnf, ifn-γ1, mxf, and tgfβ1 in the head kidney of L. calcarifer. G. uralensis upregulated the expression of tnf and tgfβ1 consistently, but ifn-γ1 was at a low expression level. The expression of il-8 and il-10 was upregulated in the 1% group, while it was downregulated in the 5% group. The results from the present study indicate that dietary G. uralensis appeared to improve the immune function of L. calcarifer, and the optimum inclusion level should be between 1–3%.

The stocking of predators can have significant consequences on recipient aquatic ecosystems. We investigated some potential ecological impacts of stocking a predatory fish (Lates calcarifer) into a coastal river and a large impoundment in north-eastern Australia. L. calcarifer was mostly found in slower-moving, larger reaches of the river or in the main body of the impoundment where there was abundant suitable habitat. In the tidally influenced freshwater reaches of the coastal river, L. calcarifer predominately consumed aytid and palaemonid shrimp that were associated with local macrophyte beds or littoral grasses. In this area the diets of juvenile stocked and wild L. calcarifer were similar and stocked fish displayed a high degree of site fidelity. Further upstream in the river, away from tidal influence, and in the impoundment, fish were the main prey item. Cannibalism was uncommon and we suggest that, at the current stocking densities, there was little dietary evidence of predatory impacts from L. calcarifer on species of conservation concern. We caution against introducing novel predatory species such as L. calcarifer in or near areas that are outside their natural range and are known to support rare, threatened or endangered species.

White snapper Lates calcarifer is one of the marine fish commodities that has important economic value. The addition of immunostimulant ingredients in feed is believed to increase immunity and increase fish growth. This study aims to determine the effect of adding β-glucan to feed on white snapper (Lates calcarifer). This study used a completely randomized design (CRD) consisting of 5 treatments with 3 repetitions. White snapper used with a weight of ± 6 grams and a length of ± 7. The frequency of feeding is done 3 times a day. The results of the ANOVA test showed that the addition of β-glucan in the feed significantly affected the growth rate of the fry of white snapper (Lates calcarifer) (P0.05). The best treatment in this study was treatment E (commercial feed + β-glucan 8g/kg feed) which gave the best growth in White snapper where this treatment was able to increase absolute weight (4.51 ± 0.29), absolute length (4 .84 ± 0.284), specific growth rate (2.09 ± 0.15), FCR (1.00 ± 1.00), feed utilization efficiency (97.42 ± 0.50) and survival (100.00 ± 0.00).

Extraction of Gelatin from Fish White Bone (Lates Calcarifer) with HCl Concentration Variance Gelatin is a food added ingredient used in emulsifiers, thickeners, food stabilizers. Gelatin is a type of protein in the form of gel obtained from the denaturation of skin, bone and fish tissue collagen denaturation. The process of making gelatin from the bones of white snapper (Lates calcarifer) uses the HCl acid method with the parameters of yield, water content, ash content, and protein content. The immersion process carried out with varoius of HCl acid concentration 3%, 7% and 11%.The results show that the best value of% yield at a concentration of 7% of 1.90%, 10.16% water content. Ash content 3%. Protein content is 3.25%. FTIR spectrum revealed the presence of amida group at wave number 3269 cm-1, amide I; II; and Amida III sequentially at wave number 1656 cm-1; 1525.69 cm-1; 1161.15 cm-1.Keywords : Gelatin ; collagen ; Lates calcarifer ; FTIRABSTRAK Gelatin merupakan bahan tambah pangan yang digunakan dalam pengemulsi, pengental, penstabil makanan. Gelatin merupakan salah satu jenis protein yang berbentuk gel yang didapatkan dari hasil denaturasi kolagen kulit, tulang dan jaringan ikan. Proses ekstrak gelatin dari bahan tulang ikan kakap putih (Lates calcarifer) menggunakan asam HCl dengan parameter rendemen, kadar air, kadar abu, kadar protein dan analisis FTIR. Proses perendaman dilakukan variasi asam HCl 3%, 7% dan 11%. Dari hasil penelitian didapatkan nilai % rendemen tertinggi pada konsentrasi 7% sebesar 1,90%, dengan nilai kadar air 10,16%, kadar abu 3,00%, kadar protein 3,25%. Dari spektrum FTIR didapatkan gugus Amida A pada bilangan gelombang 3269 cm-1, amida I ; II ; dan amida III secara berturut-turut pada bilangan gelombang 1656 cm-1 ; 1525,69 cm-1 ; 1161,15 cm-1.Kata kunci : Gelatin ; ikan kakap putih ; FTIR

Two new species of Lates Cuvier are described. Lates lakdiva, new species, from western Sri Lanka, differs from its Indo-Pacific congeners by its lesser body depth, 26.6‒27.6% SL; 5 rows of scales in transverse line between base of third dorsal-fin spine and lateral line; 31‒34 serrae on the posterior edge of the preoperculum; third anal-fin spine longer than second;47‒52 lateral-line scales on body; and greatest depth of maxilla less than eye diameter. Lates uwisara, new species, fromeastern Myanmar, is distinguished by possessing 7 scales in transverse line between base of third dorsal-fin spine and lat-eral line; eye diameter 4.4‒4.7% SL; body depth 28.4‒34.5% SL; and third anal-fin spine shorter than the second. Despitesubstantial genetic variation, L. calcarifer sensu lato is widely distributed, from tropical Australia through Indonesia, Sin-gapore and Thailand, westwards to at least the west coast of India. Caution is urged in translocating Lates in the Indo-Pacific region as other yet unrecognized species likely exist. The status of the type specimens of L. calcarifer is discussed,and a common lectotype designated for L. heptadactylus and L. nobilis. While Lates vacti (type locality Bengal) may bea valid species, L. cavifrons and L. darwiniensis are considered synonyms of L. calcarifer. Plectopomus Goldfuss and Ptertopomus Goldfuss are shown to be incorrect subsequent spellings of Plectropomus Oken.

Ikan kakap putih (Lates calcarifer) merupakan jenis ikan yang tersebar luas di wilayah Hindia-pasifik Barat mulai dari Asia Tenggara sampai Papua Nugini dan Australia Utara. Ikan kakap putih lebih akrab dikenal dengan ikan barramundi. Pesatnya permintaan pasar nasional dan luar negeri, maka dibuat rekayasa wadah budidaya benih yang dilakukan di darat. Warna media menjadi pengaruh visual pada ikan untuk mendapatkan makanan. Oleh karena itu, perlu dilakukan penelitian menggunakan desain warna wadah, diharapkan mampu meningkatkan laju pertumbuhan dan kelangsungan hidup ikan kakap putih (Lates calcarifer).Penelitian ini dilaksanakan selama 30 hari. Dimulai pada Tanggal 22 Agustus hingga 20 September 2019. Bertempat di Balai Budidaya Laut Lombok, Desa Sekotong Barat, Kecamatan Sekotong, Kabupaten Lombok Barat, Provinsi Nusa Tenggara Barat.Penelitian ini dilakukan dengan metode eksperimental menggunakan Rancangan Acak Lengkap (RAL) dengan empat perlakuandan empat kali ulangan yaitu, perlakuan A (transparan/kontrol), B (warna hitam), C (biru), dan D (hijau). Hasil ANOVA menunjukan penggunaan wadah pemeliharaan dengan warna yang berbeda memberi pengaruh nyata terhadap pertumbuhan, namun tidak berpengaruh nyata pada kelangsungaan hidup benih ikan kakap putih (Lates calcarifer).Wadah warna hijau (perlakuan D) adalah wadah terbaik yang berpengaruh nyata terhadap LPH berat 2.95 %, LPH panjang3.84 %, berat mutlak (BM) 1.35 g.

Disease is a major impediment to world aquaculture, amplified by the increase of the intensity of aquaculture relieving pressure from over depleted wild stocks, but with intensity brings disease and particularly disease of the fragile gill organ, exposed directly to the water environment. There is little literature on barramundi biology and the various forms of culture impacting on health, particularly the gill and much research is required in gaining a further understanding of this popular eating fish. The light microscope is a pivotal tool with cytology and histology mandatory in assessing gill health. The gill biopsy should be considered part of a clinical examination as the water medium surrounding the gill and on the gill contains often fragile organisms that would otherwise be lost in fixation for histology alone, but easily viewed with cytology. Barramundi are easily anaesthetised and recovered like many terrestrials and gill re-growth is rapid, healing within days. Biopsies should be viewed unstained with and without phase contrast and then stained and reviewed, recognizing some ectoparasites maybe lost with anaesthetic agents and stains. The sacrificing of the fish after a live gill biopsy is necessary with histology and microbiology our major tools for diagnostics, with no other non invasive methods readily available as for terrestrials. Every year many new water organisms related to aquaculture are described in the literature and the finding of novel and new organisms makes the veterinary examination of the live fish exciting yet imperative. A major concern is the gill pathogens found in wild barramundi were similar to those found in culture. For example the prevalence of the parasite Henneguya a Myxosporidean was 90% in sea cages 60 km offshore from Darwin in the Bathurst Island river system and 66% for ponded fish with water drawn from the Darwin Elizabeth river, compared to 33% infected in the wild habitat of the Mary river system close to Darwin by road. However the bacterial disease Epitheliocystis had a prevalence of 66% in the sea cages and 18% of similarly sized fish in the Mary river system, yet nil found in the pond farm, but in this case sample numbers were restricted. Consequently the surveillance for new fish pathogens and monitoring for existing pathogens in the wild ecosystems and aquaculture facilities is necessary and must include the macro and micro flora and fauna surrounding such facilities as they are potentially affected from aquaculture waste streams. The sustainability of aquaculture in open water culture must be considered with great concern for many reasons, but disease by its nature could overwhelm a species and other aquatic life quickly disseminated in a dynamic water medium. Freshwater culture of barramundi has problems with off flavour and disease, particularly recirculating aquaculture systems due to undercapitalization and possibly at this stage with existing type farms not suited for the culture of barramundi with one farm having all fish sampled diagnosed with systemic bacteraemia and gill Epitheliocystis. Commonly fish sampled from freshwater culture had suffered pathological changes to the gill, particularly hyperplasia indicating the fish are continually affected by issues of water quality and disease. Pond culture appeared to control gill disease issues by affording lower stocking rates, high water exchanges from a river within metres, fallow and the flavour of the fish similar to wild catch or sea cage culture, when purged in brackish water. The decreased environmental and ecosystem risks, coupled with the pond farmer reporting good profits with a simple form of culture, also suitable for intensification is a success story for barramundi production for today and the future.

Other than the study by Griffiths (2009) on gill diseases, there has been no comprehensive study and report on the major diseases of Asian seabass (or barramundi) Lates calcarifer Bloch. It is a food fish species of growing importance in Asia and Australia. This study investigates some of the major diseases encountered in the various stages of the culture of L. calcarifer, at the histopathological, ultrastructural and molecular levels. Culture practices can have significant impacts on fish health. Disease outbreaks are influenced by factors involving the host, environment and pathogen. Current knowledge on diseases of L. calcarifer, and these factors which may influence disease outbreaks are discussed in Chapter 1. This is the first report of an intestinal Eimeria infection in L. calcarifer. The Eimeria infection was associated with severe pathology and significant mortality in the absence of other pathogens. It was detected in diseased L. calcarifer in all five nurseries in Ca Mau, Vietnam. Although these were small scale nurseries which stocked an average of 3000 to 5000 fish at any one time, a mortality rate of up to 30% was reported and is the cause of significant economic losses for these nurseries. Moderate to heavy Eimeria infestation were observed in greater than 80% of diseased fish examined. This high rate of Eimeria infestation is suspected to be linked to the low daily water exchange rates practised in these nurseries. However, the examination of only diseased fish does not allow the determination of prevalence. A systemic iridovirus infection was concurrently observed in some of the fishes but was not consistently present when compared to the Eimeria infection. Molecular analysis showed that the Eimeria of L. calcarifer from Vietnam formed clades with the Eimeria detected in L. calcarifer cultured in Australia, but clustered separately from other known Eimeria species. Although Cryptosporidium was detected in these L. calcarifer tissues, it could not be demonstrated histologically or ultrastructurally, suggesting a low grade infestation or perhaps an environmental contaminant in fish tissues tested. In situ hybridization using labeled PCR products showed that labeled DNA probes generated from 18S PCR products could not be used to distinguish between closely related genera such as Cryptosporidium and Eimeria. Future investigation to determine the origin, transmission and risk factors associated with this Eimeria infestation in L. calcarifer are needed. ‘Scale drop syndrome’ is a novel disease first reported in L. calcarifer in Penang, Malaysia in 1992. Cases with similar gross and clinical presentations were observed in Singapore in 2002, 2006 and 2009. Affected fish have loose scales, which dropped off easily when handled. The disease was initially observed in 100-300g fish, and later in larger fish up to 5kg bodyweight. Cumulative mortalities of 40 to 50% were reported by farms, posing significant economic losses of larger more valuable fish. This investigation forms the first pathological description of ‘scale drop syndrome’ (SDS) in L. calcarifer. To aid recognition of new cases for study, a case definition was developed for ‘scale drop syndrome’ in L. calcarifer as a systemic vasculitis associated with tissue necrosis in all major organs including the skin, with apparent targeting of cells of epithelial origin. Attempts to isolate or detect the causative agent(s) by cell culture, PCR and immunohistochemistry have proven unsuccessful. Further studies to elucidate the definitive aetiology, isolate the causal agent(s) and reproduce the disease will help better understanding and control of SDS. Although systemic iridoviral disease has been previously reported in many freshwater and marine fish species, this study forms the first report of this disease in L. calcarifer. Systemic iridoviral disease was observed in 5 to 20g L. calcarifer usually 2 to 3 weeks post-transfer into sea cages at two farms. Inclusion bodies suggestive of a systemic iridovirus infection were observed in clinically healthy L. calcarifer from the land-based nursery of one of these two farm; the presence of an iridovirus infection was supported by positive PCR results using Red Sea bream iridovirus (RSIV) primer 1. The presence of inclusions was not accompanied by any tissue necrosis in these clinically healthy fish. This finding suggested that the systemic iridovirus infection occurred before stocking at sea, and did not originate from wild fish or older fish in adjacent sea cages as initially suspected by this farm. Immunohistochemistry on tissues of clinical cases of systemic iridovirus gave positive results using the Red Sea bream iridovirus monoclonal antibody (RSIV M10), although intensity varied between tissues, possibly related to varying exposure of different tissues to fixation chemicals. Inclusion bodies in clinically healthy fish from the same farm did not show positive reaction with RSIV M10. This may be due to a lack of antigenic expression by the viral infected cells at this early stage of infection. Viral nervous necrosis (VNN) is a serious disease of hatchery reared L. calcarifer fry in this study. Mortalities of 50 to 100% were reported in 3wo fry. VNN can be difficult to diagnose in older fry, where it can be associated with few vacuolations or an absence of viral inclusions ‘Pot belly disease’ (PBD) was previously reported in L. calcarifer fry less than 1g, in association with an intracellular coccobacillus infection and mortalities of 80 to 100%. In this study, PBD was observed in 120g L. calcarifer at two sea cage farms, in association with significant granulomatous enteritis. The extent of the granulomatous enteritis is likely to have an effect on affected fish. It was observed concurrently with systemic iridoviral disease at one farm and nocardiosis at another farm. Diagnosis by histopathology and the lack of other confirmatory tests for PBD may result in underdiagnosis of this disease. The epidemiology of PBD needs further study to establish origin and modes of transmission, to facilitate better disease control. Diseases associated with infections by ubiquitous bacteria such as Vibrio, Tenacibaculum were commonly observed in L. calcarifer post-handling. Tenacibaculosis and vibriosis often occurred concurrently with other diseases such as streptococcosis, systemic iridviral disease or PBD. Streptococcosis can affect fish up to 3kg bodyweight, resulting in significant mortalities greater than 40 to 50%. Like SDS, because streptococcosis can affect up to market size fish, they can cause considerable economic losses. Although vaccines against Streptococcosis are available, conflicting views are held on the efficacy of Streptococcus vaccines by various research groups. Overall, the South-east Asian L. calcarifer farms which practiced vaccination against Streptococcus iniae reported a reduction of mortality, especially in fish greater than 1 to 1.5kg bodyweight. Nocardiosis has been reported as an emerging disease in marine food fish species caused by acid fast filamentous branching bacterium. Although nocardiosis was observed histopathologically in L. calcarifer at two sea cage farms, the numbers of samples examined were small and no other tests were attempted due to lack of suitable samples. More intensive and extensive study is needed to determine the significance of nocardiosis in L. calcarifer. Chronic granulomatous enteritis was not uncommon in the cases submitted to the Fish Health Laboratory in Perth. Although the peritonitis was associated with heavy bacteria infection, it is unclear if these are secondary invaders. Schipps, Bosmans & Humphreys (2009) reported that Vibrio harveyi and Photobacterium damsela damsela vaccinations appeared to be not efficacious, suggesting that these bacteria were not the primary cause of the disease. It is well recognized that disease outbreaks in farmed fish are influenced by the interaction between host, the environment and pathogens. While serious diseases are often reported in association with specific aquatic pathogens, not much is known about the risk factors which trigger fish disease outbreaks. Disease outbreaks often occur after stressful events such as net transfers, recent handling or poor water quality. In fact, diseases are often caused by ubiquitous pathogens that are commonly present in the culture environment. Although further research is necessary to gather more information to improve diagnosis and management of specific diseases, general health management strategies can be applied at the various stages in the culture of L. calcarifer to minimize disease outbreaks. This is discussed for L. calcarifer in Chapter 6. Observations of types of disease agents may be influenced by site conditions or the types of tests or materials examined. For example, some parasites may be more prevalent in certain sites where intermediate hosts abound, or loosely attached ectoparasites may be lost unless wet mount microscopic examinations of fresh tissues were carried out. The study of emerging diseases such as scale drop syndrome (SDS) or pot belly disease (PBD) in L. calcarifer has been hampered by lack of confirmatory diagnostic tools and inadequate knowledge on critical epidemiological factors such as mode of transmission or potential reservoirs. While ideally identification and isolation of the causal agent will help fulfil Koch’s postulates, it may be possible to improve the understanding of disease via cohabitation or infectivity trials using tissue homogenates from diseased fish when pure isolates are not available. There is a need to conduct research to not only establish a definitive aetiology, but also to identify risk factors to facilitate successful disease control. The successful management of disease in aquaculture does not lie in any one strategy but an integrated management of all risks encountered during the culture cycle against disease occurrence or incursions.

Barramundi (Lates calcarifer) is a centropomid teleost with a wide distribution across the Indo Pacific. In Australia, barramundi are native to the tropical zone from Exmouth Gulf in Western Australia, across the northern part of the continent, to the Mary River in Queensland. Barramundi are protandrous hermaphrodites, and are euryhaline, with a catadromous life history. Barramundi are a valuable Australian resource, with important commercial and recreational fisheries and aquaculture production to the value of $11 million dollars per year. Recent declines in the availability of the fish in some rivers has led to an interest in the possibility of restocking rivers with barramundi from other areas. Determining the genetic structure of barramundi populations in Australia is important for understanding biogeographic history, and appropriate management practices for both aquaculture and recreational and commercial fishing. Previous studies have concentrated on the east coast of Australia, and have largely ignored the western populations. In this study, I obtained DNA data from barramundi populations across the Australian range of the species, as well as populations from Papua New Guinea and Indonesia. The aims of this study were to use the genetic data to determine: 1. if populations in Western Australia show genetic differences between geographic regions 2. if these populations show an ancestral split from populations in the east of Australia and 3. the ancestral origins of Australian barramundi. Previous studies of DNA data from barramundi have discovered an east/west split occurring at the Torres Strait that was assumed to be caused by the closing of the strait during lowered sea levels. However, these studies suffered from a bias in sampling area, concentrating either on the eastern half of the range of barramundi, or on the western tip of the range. Data from these studies were combined and reanalyzed. Two major clades were discovered, with considerable biogeographic structuring, but their geographic locations did not coincide with the reported vicariance event at the Torres Strait. Instead,historical divisions among freshwater drainage systems appeared to have driven the evolutionary history of barramundi in Australia. In order to investigate these historical divisions further, a 290 bp section of the mitochondrial DNA control region was sequenced in 284 barramundi from seven populations across the Australian geographic range of the species and from one population in Papua New Guinea and one population in Indonesia. Analyses of molecular variance within and among populations showed significant geographic structuring, based on biogeographical provinces and drainage divisions. Nested clade analyses indicated that these geographical associations were the result of restricted gene flow, range expansion, and past fragmentation events. I hypothesise that the Ord River area in the west of the continent was the ancestral source population for the rest of the species' range across Australia, with Indonesia being the most likely origin of this source. Populations of barramundi from the Pilbara region are genetically distinct and geographically isolated, with strong evidence of an ancestral divide along geographical barriers to dispersal. There is a strong association between Papua New Guinea and Australia, although further investigations using the cytochrome b region of mitochondrial DNA indicated a more ancestral divide between the two than is currently evident, which could reflect an ancient geographical divide between the two, or could be evidence of a secondary migration route to Australia. For a more detailed study of evolutionary processes acting on populations of barramundi in Western Australia, allelic diversity was examined at five microsatellite loci. All loci were polymorphic and genotypic frequencies conformed to Hardy-Weinberg expectations, with no significant linkage between loci evident in any population. Measures of within population diversity were significantly related to latitude, suggesting southerly migration from a northern source population. The Ord River was the most genetically diverse population, and the most likely ancestral migration source to the area, with diversity decreasing down the west coast. Although there were significant differences among populations, the nuclear microsatellite data do not indicate the same degree of genetic structuring as is evident in the mitochondrial data. This may be a consequence of rapid evolutionary change at microsatellite loci, with past separations or population differences masked by recombination and back mutation of the microsatellite alleles. However, the nature of nuclear and mitochondrial inheritance may also indicate life history differences between the sexes, where significant genetic contribution to gene flow by males and limited female gene flow may lead to preservation of maternally inherited population substructure. The principal findings from this study are: * There is no genetic evidence for an east/west division of barramundi populations in Australia, as suggested by previous research. * Despite barramundi's catadromous life history, and ability to disperse through marine waters, the present genetic structure indicates a division principally among river drainages. From a population genetic viewpoint, the species can be regarded as freshwater, rather than marine. * The most likely origin of barramundi in Australia is the Ord River region, with Indonesia as the route of migration. * Differences in the population structure demonstrated by nuclear and mitochondrial data indicate possible life history differences between the sexes. * Barramundi populations in different biogeographical provinces may have been substantially isolated over a long period of time, and may therefore represent independently evolving populations. This has important implications for fishery management and translocation issues for restocking rivers.

Barramundi (Lates calcarifer) is a centropomid teleost with a wide distribution across the Indo Pacific. In Australia, barramundi are native to the tropical zone from Exmouth Gulf in Western Australia, across the northern part of the continent, to the Mary River in Queensland. Barramundi are protandrous hermaphrodites, and are euryhaline, with a catadromous life history. Barramundi are a valuable Australian resource, with important commercial and recreational fisheries and aquaculture production to the value of $11 million dollars per year. Recent declines in the availability of the fish in some rivers has led to an interest in the possibility of restocking rivers with barramundi from other areas. Determining the genetic structure of barramundi populations in Australia is important for understanding biogeographic history, and appropriate management practices for both aquaculture and recreational and commercial fishing. Previous studies have concentrated on the east coast of Australia, and have largely ignored the western populations. In this study, I obtained DNA data from barramundi populations across the Australian range of the species, as well as populations from Papua New Guinea and Indonesia. The aims of this study were to use the genetic data to determine: 1. if populations in Western Australia show genetic differences between geographic regions 2. if these populations show an ancestral split from populations in the east of Australia and 3. the ancestral origins of Australian barramundi. Previous studies of DNA data from barramundi have discovered an east/west split occurring at the Torres Strait that was assumed to be caused by the closing of the strait during lowered sea levels. However, these studies suffered from a bias in sampling area, concentrating either on the eastern half of the range of barramundi, or on the western tip of the range. Data from these studies were combined and reanalyzed. Two major clades were discovered, with considerable biogeographic structuring, but their geographic locations did not coincide with the reported vicariance event at the Torres Strait. Instead,historical divisions among freshwater drainage systems appeared to have driven the evolutionary history of barramundi in Australia. In order to investigate these historical divisions further, a 290 bp section of the mitochondrial DNA control region was sequenced in 284 barramundi from seven populations across the Australian geographic range of the species and from one population in Papua New Guinea and one population in Indonesia. Analyses of molecular variance within and among populations showed significant geographic structuring, based on biogeographical provinces and drainage divisions. Nested clade analyses indicated that these geographical associations were the result of restricted gene flow, range expansion, and past fragmentation events. I hypothesise that the Ord River area in the west of the continent was the ancestral source population for the rest of the species' range across Australia, with Indonesia being the most likely origin of this source. Populations of barramundi from the Pilbara region are genetically distinct and geographically isolated, with strong evidence of an ancestral divide along geographical barriers to dispersal. There is a strong association between Papua New Guinea and Australia, although further investigations using the cytochrome b region of mitochondrial DNA indicated a more ancestral divide between the two than is currently evident, which could reflect an ancient geographical divide between the two, or could be evidence of a secondary migration route to Australia. For a more detailed study of evolutionary processes acting on populations of barramundi in Western Australia, allelic diversity was examined at five microsatellite loci. All loci were polymorphic and genotypic frequencies conformed to Hardy-Weinberg expectations, with no significant linkage between loci evident in any population. Measures of within population diversity were significantly related to latitude, suggesting southerly migration from a northern source population. The Ord River was the most genetically diverse population, and the most likely ancestral migration source to the area, with diversity decreasing down the west coast. Although there were significant differences among populations, the nuclear microsatellite data do not indicate the same degree of genetic structuring as is evident in the mitochondrial data. This may be a consequence of rapid evolutionary change at microsatellite loci, with past separations or population differences masked by recombination and back mutation of the microsatellite alleles. However, the nature of nuclear and mitochondrial inheritance may also indicate life history differences between the sexes, where significant genetic contribution to gene flow by males and limited female gene flow may lead to preservation of maternally inherited population substructure. The principal findings from this study are: * There is no genetic evidence for an east/west division of barramundi populations in Australia, as suggested by previous research. * Despite barramundi's catadromous life history, and ability to disperse through marine waters, the present genetic structure indicates a division principally among river drainages. From a population genetic viewpoint, the species can be regarded as freshwater, rather than marine. * The most likely origin of barramundi in Australia is the Ord River region, with Indonesia as the route of migration. * Differences in the population structure demonstrated by nuclear and mitochondrial data indicate possible life history differences between the sexes. * Barramundi populations in different biogeographical provinces may have been substantially isolated over a long period of time, and may therefore represent independently evolving populations. This has important implications for fishery management and translocation issues for restocking rivers.

Barramundi (Lates calcarifer) is a centropomid teleost with a wide distribution across the Indo Pacific. In Australia, barramundi are native to the tropical zone from Exmouth Gulf in Western Australia, across the northern part of the continent, to the Mary River in Queensland. Barramundi are protandrous hermaphrodites, and are euryhaline, with a catadromous life history. Barramundi are a valuable Australian resource, with important commercial and recreational fisheries and aquaculture production to the value of $11 million dollars per year. Recent declines in the availability of the fish in some rivers has led to an interest in the possibility of restocking rivers with barramundi from other areas. Determining the genetic structure of barramundi populations in Australia is important for understanding biogeographic history, and appropriate management practices for both aquaculture and recreational and commercial fishing. Previous studies have concentrated on the east coast of Australia, and have largely ignored the western populations. In this study, I obtained DNA data from barramundi populations across the Australian range of the species, as well as populations from Papua New Guinea and Indonesia. The aims of this study were to use the genetic data to determine: 1. if populations in Western Australia show genetic differences between geographic regions 2. if these populations show an ancestral split from populations in the east of Australia and 3. the ancestral origins of Australian barramundi. Previous studies of DNA data from barramundi have discovered an east/west split occurring at the Torres Strait that was assumed to be caused by the closing of the strait during lowered sea levels. However, these studies suffered from a bias in sampling area, concentrating either on the eastern half of the range of barramundi, or on the western tip of the range. Data from these studies were combined and reanalyzed. Two major clades were discovered, with considerable biogeographic structuring, but their geographic locations did not coincide with the reported vicariance event at the Torres Strait. Instead, historical divisions among freshwater drainage systems appeared to have driven the evolutionary history of barramundi in Australia. In order to investigate these historical divisions further, a 290 bp section of the mitochondrial DNA control region was sequenced in 284 barramundi from seven populations across the Australian geographic range of the species and from one population in Papua New Guinea and one population in Indonesia. Analyses of molecular variance within and among populations showed significant geographic structuring, based on biogeographical provinces and drainage divisions. Nested clade analyses indicated that these geographical associations were the result of restricted gene flow, range expansion, and past fragmentation events. I hypothesise that the Ord River area in the west of the continent was the ancestral source population for the rest of the species’ range across Australia, with Indonesia being the most likely origin of this source. Populations of barramundi from the Pilbara region are genetically distinct and geographically isolated, with strong evidence of an ancestral divide along geographical barriers to dispersal. There is a strong association between Papua New Guinea and Australia, although further investigations using the cytochrome b region of mitochondrial DNA indicated a more ancestral divide between the two than is currently evident, which could reflect an ancient geographical divide between the two, or could be evidence of a secondary migration route to Australia. For a more detailed study of evolutionary processes acting on populations of barramundi in Western Australia, allelic diversity was examined at five microsatellite loci. All loci were polymorphic and genotypic frequencies conformed to Hardy-Weinberg expectations, with no significant linkage between loci evident in any population. Measures of within population diversity were significantly related to latitude, suggesting southerly migration from a northern source population. The Ord River was the most genetically diverse population, and the most likely ancestral migration source to the area, with diversity decreasing down the west coast. Although there were significant differences among populations, the nuclear microsatellite data do not indicate the same degree of genetic structuring as is evident in the mitochondrial data. This may be a consequence of rapid evolutionary change at microsatellite loci, with past separations or population differences masked by recombination and back mutation of the microsatellite alleles. However, the nature of nuclear and mitochondrial inheritance may also indicate life history differences between the sexes, where significant genetic contribution to gene flow by males and limited female gene flow may lead to preservation of maternally inherited population substructure. The principal findings from this study are: • There is no genetic evidence for an east/west division of barramundi populations in Australia, as suggested by previous research. • Despite barramundi’s catadromous life history, and ability to disperse through marine waters, the present genetic structure indicates a division principally among river drainages. From a population genetic viewpoint, the species can be regarded as freshwater, rather than marine. • The most likely origin of barramundi in Australia is the Ord River region, with Indonesia as the route of migration. • Differences in the population structure demonstrated by nuclear and mitochondrial data indicate possible life history differences between the sexes. • Barramundi populations in different biogeographical provinces may have been substantially isolated over a long period of time, and may therefore represent independently evolving populations. This has important implications for fishery management and translocation issues for restocking rivers.

This study characterises various aspects of barramundi (Lates calcarifer) humoral immunity, including ontogeny, temperature modulation and kinetics following challenge with Streptococcus iniae. It was discovered that Staphylococcal protein A (SpA) was able to efficiently isolate antibody from serum, and that all barramundi Ig found in serum is tetrameric with a weight of approximately 800 kDa. This tetramer is composed of 8 heavy chains (72 kDa) and 8 light chains (28 kDa). Denaturing, non-reducing electrophoresis demonstrated differential disulfide polymerization (redox forms) of the tetrameric Ig which was consistent with those observed with other species. Polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies were produced against the protein A purified barramundi Ig, and various ELISA formats were developed. These serological tools were used to investigate aspects of barramundi humoral immunity. Examination of ontogeny of humoral immunity, revealed that barramundi possess minimal maternal antibody (<10 μg/ml wet weight) post-hatch, which is depleted rapidly (within 3 days). By day 8 systemic Ig is able to be detected, which continues to increase over the following months. However, it is not until seven week post-hatch that barramundi fingerlings are able to mount a prolonged immune response following vaccination with S. iniae. Environmental temperature was also found to significantly impact the ability of barramundi to respond to vaccination with S. iniae. Barramundi maintained at low temperatures (<230C) displayed a diminished, delayed and highly variable humoral immune response following vaccination, with many of the experimental animals failing to respond to primary vaccination. These responses could be mediated by either administering a booster vaccine or by elevating the environmental temperature. This study also demonstrated that there was a relationship with specific serum antibody and protection against S. iniae, with fish possessing high levels of specific Ig being protected from lethal challenge, while those with low titres being more susceptible to disease. Specific antibody in barramundi could be generated through natural exposure to the bacterium from the environment or through vaccination. Thus bath vaccination of fish (50,000) held at two facilities resulted in elevated systemic antibody levels and lower observed mortality, when compared to the unvaccinated control fish. Infections due to S. iniae were determined to be associated with elevated water temperatures. Laboratory trials and field data indicated that water temperatures between 24 and 280C resulted in the highest barramundi mortality. A weak association was also determined with low pH and mortality, with fish exposed to low pH’s (<6.0) being more susceptible to infection. No association was observed with mortality and salinity. Four monoclonal antibodies (Mab’s) were also generated against a 21 kDa protein from cell wall of S. iniae. The Mab’s displayed a high level of specificity for S. iniae, including those from Australia, Israel and America, and minimal cross-reactivity with other bacterial species tested. The Mab’s were used in an immunohistochemical study that confirmed the neurotropic nature of S. iniae infections, as well as demonstrating the presence of the bacterium in the intestine of infected fish.

This study characterises various aspects of barramundi (Lates calcarifer) humoral immunity, including ontogeny, temperature modulation and kinetics following challenge with Streptococcus iniae. It was discovered that Staphylococcal protein A (SpA) was able to efficiently isolate antibody from serum, and that all barramundi Ig found in serum is tetrameric with a weight of approximately 800 kDa. This tetramer is composed of 8 heavy chains (72 kDa) and 8 light chains (28 kDa). Denaturing, non-reducing electrophoresis demonstrated differential disulfide polymerization (redox forms) of the tetrameric Ig which was consistent with those observed with other species. Polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies were produced against the protein A purified barramundi Ig, and various ELISA formats were developed. These serological tools were used to investigate aspects of barramundi humoral immunity. Examination of ontogeny of humoral immunity, revealed that barramundi possess minimal maternal antibody (<10 μg/ml wet weight) post-hatch, which is depleted rapidly (within 3 days). By day 8 systemic Ig is able to be detected, which continues to increase over the following months. However, it is not until seven week post-hatch that barramundi fingerlings are able to mount a prolonged immune response following vaccination with S. iniae. Environmental temperature was also found to significantly impact the ability of barramundi to respond to vaccination with S. iniae. Barramundi maintained at low temperatures (<230C) displayed a diminished, delayed and highly variable humoral immune response following vaccination, with many of the experimental animals failing to respond to primary vaccination. These responses could be mediated by either administering a booster vaccine or by elevating the environmental temperature. This study also demonstrated that there was a relationship with specific serum antibody and protection against S. iniae, with fish possessing high levels of specific Ig being protected from lethal challenge, while those with low titres being more susceptible to disease. Specific antibody in barramundi could be generated through natural exposure to the bacterium from the environment or through vaccination. Thus bath vaccination of fish (50,000) held at two facilities resulted in elevated systemic antibody levels and lower observed mortality, when compared to the unvaccinated control fish. Infections due to S. iniae were determined to be associated with elevated water temperatures. Laboratory trials and field data indicated that water temperatures between 24 and 280C resulted in the highest barramundi mortality. A weak association was also determined with low pH and mortality, with fish exposed to low pH’s (<6.0) being more susceptible to infection. No association was observed with mortality and salinity. Four monoclonal antibodies (Mab’s) were also generated against a 21 kDa protein from cell wall of S. iniae. The Mab’s displayed a high level of specificity for S. iniae, including those from Australia, Israel and America, and minimal cross-reactivity with other bacterial species tested. The Mab’s were used in an immunohistochemical study that confirmed the neurotropic nature of S. iniae infections, as well as demonstrating the presence of the bacterium in the intestine of infected fish.

The research investigated the effectiveness of proteins from tuna hydrolysate (TH) and poultry by product meal (PBM), as fishmeal (FM) protein replacements. The results demonstrated that replacement of 10% FM with TH improved growth, immunity, intestinal health and disease resistance in juvenile barramundi. The addition of 10% TH in bioprocessed PBM not only improved the physiology of the fish but also increased the fish growth when 100% fishmeal protein was replaced by PBM protein.

The effects of pre-freezing treatments such as time-temperature abuse, use of ice, freeze–thaw cycles, use of polyphosphate and post freezing treatments such as glazing and packaging were assessed on the microbiological and physiochemical properties of barramundi (Lates calcarifer) fillets. The results indicated that the use of sodium tripolyphosphate, constant temperature and use of ice in the form of slurry can improve the shelf life of barramundi fillets.

The Barramundi (Lates calcarifer Bloch) is a large, percoid fish, highly valued as a commercial and recreational species. In Queensland, it is distributed in estuaries, coastal habitats and freshwater areas accessible to the sea north from about the Noosa River. This study reports on a three year investigation of the movements, reproduction and growth of barramundi at 15 sites along the east Queensland coast. Of the 524 adult and sub-adult barramundi tagged in coastal areas and estuaries of eastern Queensland between 1981 and 1984, 136 (26%) were recaptured. Most recaptures (75%) occurred within a year of the fish being tagged and 32% were recaptured within three months of release. Movements of tagged fish were usually less than five kilometres, with 25 km regarded as rare. While most fish were recaptured at or near the location where they were released (usually an estuary), in the Burdekin delta area there were movements along coastal foreshores and into adjacent streams. Unlike other parts of Australia and Papua New Guinea, barramundi in eastern Queensland are generally not catadromous. The large proportion of short and ephemeral rivers and an increasing number of barriers across the larger river systems have restricted the freshwater habitat available for barramundi. In eastern Queensland, peak spawning occurs from November to February although some spawnings do occur as early as September and as late as April. Gametogenesis commences in August/September and is apparently initiated by a seasonal increase in water temperature and photoperiod. Only weak evidence was found supporting multiple spawning and only one modal size class of developing eggs was generally present in ovaries. Fecundity was high and was found to be exponentially related to length. Barramundi mature as males and later, between about 900 and 1000 mm total length, change sex to females. Length-weight relationships, for both sexes, in all areas were strongly linear. In most areas there were significant differences between male and female length-weight regressions. For each area, estimates of the von Bertalanffy growth parameters K, L00 and t 0 ranged from 0.23 to 0.25, 1189 mm to 1274 mm and -0.44 to -0.49 years respectively. Growth rates were initially faster than those established for barramundi in the Northern Territory, Gulf of Carpentaria and Papua New Guinea, and this as considered to be a possible response to heavy exploitation or environmental conditions.