WERA99: Broodstock Management, Genetics and Breeding Programs for Molluscan Shellfish
(Multistate Research Coordinating Committee and Information Exchange Group)
Status: Inactive/Terminating
WERA99: Broodstock Management, Genetics and Breeding Programs for Molluscan Shellfish
Duration: 10/01/2006 to 09/30/2011
Administrative Advisor(s):
NIFA Reps:
Non-Technical Summary
Statement of Issues and Justification
Molluscan aquaculture in the U.S. includes a wide range of aquaculture techniques and species. Presently, the Eastern oyster Crassostrea virginica, European oyster Ostrea edulis, hard shell clam Mercenaria mercenaria, blue mussel Mytilus edulis and the Atlantic scallop Argopecten irradians irradians are cultured on the Atlantic coast. On the West coast, commercially cultured molluscan species include the European oyster, the Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas, the Manila clam Tapes japonica, the geoduck Panopea abrupta and the red abalone Haliotis rufescens.
Clam and oysters are the most economically important groups of mollusks in the U.S. Total commercial landings of all clam species in 2004 equaled 19,000 metric tons valued at $117 million (U.S. Dept Commerce, Fisheries Statistics 2005). Oysters are the second most economically important group of mollusks in the U.S. On the East and Gulf coasts, the Eastern oyster is predominately harvested from intensively managed wild populations, while on the Pacific coast hatchery-reared juvenile Pacific oysters are grown to harvest on leased or privately owned beds. Commercial landings of Eastern oysters in 2004 were estimated at 17,466 metric tons, valued at $111 million (U.S. Dept Commerce, Fisheries Statistics 2005). Although present annual harvests of Eastern oysters are significant, they represent less than 50% of annual harvests a decade ago primarily due to the loss of oyster stocks in the mid-Atlantic States. There the impact of the diseases (Haplosporidium nelsoni [MSX] and Perkinsus marinus [Dermo]) on Eastern oysters have exacerbated the declines stemming from over a century of over fishing and associated destruction of oyster reef habitat essential for oyster recruitment. These adverse impacts have been especially evident in the Chesapeake Bay where annual harvests of Eastern oysters are now less than 2% of harvests during the 1950s.
Restoration of oyster populations in the Chesapeake Bay is presently a major focus of many Federal and State agencies. There has been limited success in improving the resistance of Eastern oysters to diseases through selective breeding. Controversially, the States of Virginia and Maryland are evaluating the introduction of non-native oyster species into the Chesapeake Bay to compensate for losses of the native Eastern oyster. Initial studies indicated that the Pacific oyster was not well adapted to conditions in the Bay; however, growth and survival of triploid Suminoe oysters (Crassostrea ariakensis) have been shown to be superior to that of the native Eastern oyster. The State of Virginia is pursuing an approach of using reproductively sterile stocks of Suminoe oysters for aquaculture in the Chesapeake. However, there is a scientific consensus that these oysters are not absolutely reproductively sterile and this approach will eventually lead to the establishment of a self-recruiting feral population of non-native oysters. Large-scale test plantings of "reproductively sterile" triploid Suminoe oysters are in progress in the Chesapeake Bay. The introduction of non-native oysters is a controversial topic and intensive research is now underway to try and assess the ecological risks associated with such an introduction in preparation for a full Environmental Impact Statement.
On the West coast, production of Pacific oysters was estimated to equal about 9,000 metric tons in 2003, valued at $63 million (U.S. Dept Commerce, Fisheries Statistics 2005). Although the Pacific oyster is not susceptible to major diseases, losses due to "summer mortality" typically affect market-sized, 2-year old oysters on the West coast, USA, causing considerable economic damage to the industry. A NOAA-funded research project on summer mortality on the West coast has focused on determining environmental causes of the syndrome and the physiological response of oysters to heat stress. Younger, year-old oysters have been reported to succumb to summer mortality in France. A major French research program funded by IFREMER has focused on determining the causes of summer mortality in France and results indicate that both environmental (seawater temperature > 19oC and proximity of sediment) as well as the oyster's reproductive condition affect oyster mortality. WERA-099 meetings have been very useful in coordinating summer mortality research of French and US scientists.
Broodstock management and breeding programs for the West Coast's Pacific oyster industry were initiated in the 1990's. One program funded by the USDA - Western Regional Aquaculture Center (WRAC) adopted a cross-breeding approach that involved researchers from California, Oregon and Washington. The USDA-funded Molluscan Broodstock Program (MBP), based at Oregon State University, focuses on genetic selection of Pacific oysters. In 2003, USDA-ARS established a shellfish genetics program at the Hatfield Marine Science Center, Oregon State University to support MBP and carry out studies on the genetic basis of commercially important traits, such as growth and survival. Researchers from similar oyster breeding programs in New Zealand, Australia, and France have participated in WERA-099 meetings and this has led to useful improvements in oyster breeding strategies and methods. The establishment of the USDA-ARS National Animal Germplasm Program (NAGP) offers researchers the opportunity to cryopreserve, store and share valuable genetic material from this repository.
USDA and other Federal and State agencies support several other shellfish genetics and broodstock improvement programs. In the mid-Atlantic States (New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland and Virginia), NOAA and USDA-funded projects have led to the development of more disease-tolerant Eastern oysters for the revitalization of the oyster industries of the Chesapeake and Delaware Bays. Researchers in the Northeast region are supported by a USDA-funded broodstock improvement program to improve resistance of the Eastern oyster to juvenile oyster disease (JOD) and other diseases. Research on oyster diseases is also supported through grants from NOAA's Oyster Disease Research Program and the Gulf Coast Oyster Initiative.
Lastly, a large, multi-state project to sequence the genome of the Pacific oyster has been proposed by the Oyster Genome Consortium to the Joint Genome Institute. This ambitious project is likely to benefit from collaboration with French researchers who are also interested in sequencing the genome of the Pacific oyster. A joint NOAA-IFREMER oyster genetics and breeding collaborative program has been established to facilitate greater integration of research efforts in these areas.
Objectives
-
Provide a forum for geneticists, physiologists, nutritionists, biotechnologists and others interested in the aquaculture of molluscan shellfish to exchange ideas and information on molluscan genetics, reproduction, pathology, broodstock management, breeding programs, hatcheries, husbandry techniques, and restoration strategies.
-
Develop protocols for the preservation of valuable genetic material for future use by researchers.
-
Co-ordinate research efforts among scientists on the Pacific, Atlantic and Gulf coasts, USA, as well as international researchers in France, New Zealand and Australia.
-
Identify research needs for enhancement of commercial molluscan production through genetic improvement while maintaining environmental quality.
-
Evaluate different approaches for restoration of depleted stocks of native oysters.
-
Provide industry members with up-to-date research information that will lead to optimal broodstock management and breeding programs to enhance commercial production.
-
Publish committee reports and documents.
Procedures and Activities
Meetings will be held annually and participation by scientists as well as industry and agency representatives will be encouraged. The timing of meetings will be complementary with other relevant scientific meetings so that travel costs for members from non-land grant universities are minimized.
Agenda of meetings will include discussion of cryopreservation techniques and other types of repositories to conserve genetic material for researchers.
Co-ordination will be enhanced through annual meetings as well as interactions via a list serve set up at Oregon State University. Meetings of WERA-099 will continue to include researchers from a wide range of countries.
Research needs will be identified through discussions among scientists and industry members. Many of the participants are from other countries and WERA-099 will provide a rare opportunity to coordinate international research and exchange of scientists and students.
Restoration strategies are becoming very controversial, especially for oysters in the Chesapeake Bay. Recent meetings of WERA-099 have involved lengthy discussions of the pros and cons of introducing non-native species to the Chesapeake Bay. The informal nature of the meetings have meant that discussions have been very fruitful in addressing concerns.
Industry members will be encouraged to attend WERA meetings. They have been instrumental in establishing the USDA-funded Molluscan Broodstock Program and guiding its development. Discussion of "nut-and-bolts" aspects of broodstock husbandry and use in hatchery and nursery production are especially useful for industry.
Outcomes of WERA meetings have led to many fruitful collaborative research projects and publications, especially between US and French researchers.
Expected Outcomes and Impacts
- WERA-099 will provide a forum for US and international molluscan geneticists, physiologists and pathologists to exchange ideas and information on genetics, reproduction, diseases, chromosome and genetic manipulation techniques, broodstock management and breeding programs.
- Co-ordination and reporting of research among participants will reduce duplication of research effort and costs. Multi-disciplinary and inter-regional exchanges among participants will reveal new directions of scientific enquiry and facilitate formulation of new research questions. The committee will help overcome problems associated with geographical isolation facing many researchers located at remote marine field stations.
- Input from industry members at committee meetings will enable scientific research to better address industry needs.
- Increased economic returns to the Pacific oyster industry, resulting from improved strains of oysters, could amount to $6 million annually (10% greater than present returns), assuming a 2% increase in annual production over a five-year period. In addition, WERA-099 will contribute to better co-ordination of efforts by French and US researchers to improve resistance of Pacific oysters to summer mortality. Re-vitalization and expansion of the shellfish industry will benefit employment in coastal communities that are currently suffering from declines in fisheries and timber industries.
- Development of disease-resistant, fast-growing oysters for planting on the Atlantic and Gulf coasts would revitalize the oyster industry in these regions and result in the re-establishment of historically recorded harvest levels. In addition, development of disease-resistant stocks that performed well in the cold-waters of the Northeast, US, would allow geographical expansion of the oyster industry.
- Restoration of the Chesapeake Bay is a national objective with many interested parties involved. Determination of the best strategy to restore oyster populations is a fundamental component of these restoration efforts. WERA-099 will provide a forum for discussion of available options to facilitate adoption of the most effective restoration practices.
- WERA-099 members will continue to publish and present research results on subjects of common interest. Since 2002, a total of 40 peer-reviewed publications are listed for WERA-099 members with many more in review (see annual reports for 2002 - 2005). We anticipate continuation of this level of publication.
Projected Participation
View Appendix E: ParticipationEducational Plan
Graduate students will be encouraged to participate in WERA-099 meetings to meet established researchers and discuss their own research interests. Exchange of students among WERA-099 participants' laboratories will occur, benefiting the educational opportunities of students and facilitating the exchange of information and techniques among WERA-099 participants.
WERA-099 meetings will include numerous extension and industry representatives who have participated in discussions of research and application to industry production. WERA-099 meetings provide a good opportunity for planning collaborative work between researchers and industry; for example, joint experiments have been designed between industry members and researchers to determine performance of progeny from selected broodstock on a commercial scale.
WERA-099 members will continue to publish and present research results on subjects of common interest. Since 2002, a total of 40 peer-reviewed publications are listed for WERA-099 members with many more in review (see annual reports for 2002 - 2005). We anticipate continuation of this level of publication.
An email mailing list (list server: mollwrcc-owner@lists.oregonstate.edu) has been established to facilitate communication among WERA-099 members.
Organization/Governance
Chair: One year. Elected from committee membership. Duties include organizing annual meeting, chairing the meeting, extending invitations to outside participants, developing special presentations and initiatives.
Secretary: One year. Elected from committee membership. Duties include recording minutes and disseminating them by means of the list server for WERA-099, collecting donations to cover the costs of meetings, maintenance of the mailing list based on the WERA-099 list server.
Literature Cited
Publications (Peer-reviewed, past 5 yrs)
Brake, J., F. Evans and C. Langdon. 2003. Evidence for genetic control of pigmentation of shell and mantle edge in selected families of Pacific oysters, Crassostrea gigas. Aquaculture, 229:89-98.
Brake, J. F. Evans and C. Langdon. 2003. Is beauty in the eye of the beholder? Development of a simple method to describe desirable shell shape for the Pacific oyster industry. J. Shellfish Research, 22: 767-771.
Curole, J. P., and D. Hedgecock. 2005. Estimation of preferential pairing rates in second-generation autotetraploid Pacific oysters (Crassostrea gigas). Genetics 171:855-859.
Deng, Y., X. Liu, G. Zhang and X. Guo. 2005. Inbreeding depression and maternal effects on early performance of Pacific abalone. North American Journal of Aquaculture, 67:231-236.
Evans, F., S. Matson, J. Brake and C. Langdon. 2003. The effects of inbreeding on performance traits of adult Pacific oysters (Crassostrea gigas). Aquaculture, 230: 89-98.
Gong, N., H. Yang, G. Zhang, B.J. Landau and X. Guo. 2004. Chromosome inheritance in autotriploid Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas Thunberg.
Heredity, 93:408-415.
Hedgecock, D., P. M. Gaffney, P. Goulletquer, X. Guo, K. Reece, and G. W. Warr. 2005. The case for sequencing the Pacific oyster genome. Journal of Shellfish Research 24:429-441.
Hedgecock, D. P.M. Gaffney, P. Goulletquer, X. Guo, K. Reece and G. Warr.
2005. A case for sequencing the Pacific oyster genome. J. Shellfish Res., 24(2):429-441.
Langdon, C.J., Evans, F., Jacobson, D. and Blouin, M. 2003, Yields of cultured Pacific oysters Crassostrea gigas Thunberg improved after one generation of selection. Aquaculture, 220:227-244.
Li, L. and X. Guo. 2004. AFLP-based genetic linkage maps of the Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas Thunberg. Marine Biotechnology 6:26-36.
Liu, X., X. Liu, X. Guo, Q. Gao and G. Zhang. 2006. A preliminary genetic linkage map of the Pacific abalone Haliotis discus hannai Ino. Marine Biotechnology, in press.
Matson, S., Evans, F. and C. Langdon. Specific Pathogen Free Culture of the Pacific Oyster (Crassostrea gigas) in a Breeding Research Program: Effect of Water Treatment on Growth and Survival. Aquaculture, accepted
Peruzzi, S. and X. Guo. 2002. Tetraploid induction by meiosis inhibition with cytochalasin B in the dwarf surfclam, Mulinia lateralis Say: effects of temperature. J. Shellfish Res., 21(2): 677-684.
Song, L., W. Xu, C. Li, H. Li, L. Wu, J. Xiang, X. Guo. 2006. Development of expressed sequence tags from the bay scallop, Argopecten irradians irradians. Marine Biotechnology, in press.
Tanguy, A., X. Guo and S.E. Ford. 2004. Discovery of genes expressed in response to Perkinsus marinus challenge in eastern (Crassostrea virginica) and Pacific (C. gigas) oysters. Gene, 338:121-131.
Wang, Y., Z. Xu and X. Guo. 2005. Chromosomal mapping of 5S ribosomal RNA genes in the eastern oyster, Crassostrea virginica Gmelin by fluorescence in situ hybridization. J. Shellfish Res., in press.
Wang, Y., Z. Xu. J.C. Pierce and X. Guo. 2005. Characterization of eastern oyster (Crassostrea virginica Gmelin) chromosomes by fluorescence in situ hybridization with bacteriophage P1 clones. Marine Biotechnology, 7:207-214.
Wang, L., L. Song, Y. Chang, W. Xu, D. Ni and X. Guo. 2005. A preliminary genetic map of zhikong scallop (Chlamys farreri, Jones et Preston 1904).
Aquaculture Research, 36:643-653.
Wang, Y. and X. Guo, 2004. Chromosomal rearrangement in Pectinidae revealed by rRNA loci and implications for bivalve evolution. Biol. Bull., 207:247-256.
Wang, H. X. Guo, G. Zhang and F. Zhang. 2004. Classification of jinjiang oysters Crassostrea rivularis (Gould, 1861) from China, based on morphology and phylogenetic analysis. Aquaculture, 242:137-155.
Wang, Y., Z. Xu and X. Guo. 2004. Differences in the rDNA-bearing chromosome divide the Asian-Pacific and Atlantic species of Crassostrea (Bivalvia, Mollusca). Biol. Bull., 206:46-54.
Wang, Z., X Guo, S.K. Allen, Jr. and R. Wang. 2002. Heterozygosity and body size in triploid Pacific oysters, Crassostrea gigas Thunberg, produced from meiosis II inhibition and tetraploids. Aquaculture, 204(3-4):337-248.
Wang, Y. and X. Guo. 2001. Chromosomal mapping of the vertebrate telomere sequence (TTAGGG)n in four bivalve Molluscs by fluorescence in situ hybridization. J. Shellfish Res., 20(3):1187-1190.
Wang, Y., Z. Xu and X. Guo. 2001. A centromeric satellite sequence in the Pacific oyster, Crassostrea gigas (Thunberg) identified by fluorescence in situ hybridization. Marine Biotechnology, 3:486-492.
Xiao, J., S.E. Ford, H. Yang, G. Zhang, F. Zhang and Guo, X. 2005. Studies on mass summer mortality of cultured zhikong scallops (Chlamys farreri Jones et Preston) in China. Aquaculture, 250:602-615.
Xu, Z., X. Guo, J. Pierce and P.M. Gaffney, 2001. Chromosomal location of the major ribosomal RNA genes in the eastern and Pacific oysters. The Veliger, 44:79-83.
Yang, H. and X. Guo. 2005. Polyploid induction by heat shock-induced meiosis and mitosis inhibition in the dwarf surfclam Mulinia lateralis Say.
Aquaculture, in press.
Yang, H. and X. Guo. 2004. Tetraploid induction by meiosis inhibition in the dwarf surfclam Mulinia lateralis: effects of cytochalasin B duration.
Aquaculture Res., 35:1187-1194.
Yu, Z. and X. Guo. 2005. Identification and mapping of disease-resistance QTL in the eastern oyster, Crassostrea virginica Gmelin. Aquaculture, in press.
Yu, Z. and X. Guo. 2005. Genetic analysis of selected strains of the eastern oyster (Crassostrea virginica Gmelin) using AFLP and microsatellite markers.
Marine Biotechnology, 6:575-586.
Yu, Z., X. Kong, L. Zhang, X. Guo, J. Xiang. 2003. Taxonomic status of four Crassostrea oysters from China as inferred from mitochondrial DNA sequences.
J. Shellfish Res., 22(1):31-38.
Yu, Z. and X. Guo. 2003. Genetic linkage map of the eastern oyster Crassostrea virginica Gmelin. Biol. Bull. 204: 327-338.
Zheng, H., G. Zhang, X. Liu, X. Guo. 2006. Sustained response to selection in an introduced population of the hermaphroditic bay scallop Argopecten irradians irradians Lamarck (1819). Aquaculture, in press.
Zheng, H., G. Zhang, X. Liu, F. Zhang, and X. Guo. 2004. Different responses to selection in two stocks of the bay scallop, Argopecten irradians irradians Lamarck (1819). J. Exp. Mar. Biol. Ecol., 313:213-223.
Dong Q, Eudeline B, Allen SK, and Tiersch TR. 2002. Factors affecting sperm motility of tetraploid Pacific oysters. Journal of Shellfish Research 21:719-723.
He Y, Dong Q, Tiersch TR and Devireddy RV. 2004. Variation in the membrane transport properties and predicted optimal rates of freezing for spermatozoa of diploid and tetraploid Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas. Biology of Reproduction 70:1428-1437.
Dong Q., Eudeline B, Huang C, Allen SK and Tiersch TR. 2005. Commercial-scale sperm cryopreservation of diploid and tetraploid Pacific oysters, Crassostrea gigas. Cryobiology 50:1-16.
Dong Q, Eudeline B, Huang C and Tiersch TR. 2005. Standardization of photometric measurement of sperm cell concentration from diploid and tetraploid Pacific oysters, Crassostrea gigas (Thunberg). Aquaculture Research 36:86-93.
Dong Q, Huang C and Tiersch TR. 2005. Spermatozoal ultrastructure of diploid and tetraploid Pacific oysters. Aquaculture 249:487-496.
Dong, Q., C. Huang, B. Eudeline, T. Tiersch. 2005. Systematic factor optimization for cryopreservation of shipped sperm samples of diploid Pacific oysters, Crassostrea gigas. Cryobiology 51:176-197.
Dong Q, Huang C, Henk MC and Tiersch TR. 2006. Fixation methods can produce misleading artifacts in spermatozoan ultrastructure of diploid and tetraploid Pacific oysters, Crassostrea gigas. Cell and Tissue Research (in press).
Dong Q, Huang C, Eudeline B, Allen SK and Tiersch TR. 2006. Systematic factor optimization for sperm cryopreservation of tetraploid Pacific Oysters, Crassostrea gigas. Theriogenology (in press).
Zhang, Q., Allen, S.K., Jr. and Reece, K.S. (2005) Genetic variation in wild and hatchery stocks of the Suminoe oyster (Crassostrea ariakensis) assessed by PCR-RFLP and microsatellite markers. Mar. Biotechnol. 7(6):588-599.
Hedgecock, D., P.M Gaffney, P. Goulletquer, X. Guo, K. Reece and G. Warr (2005) The case for sequencing the Pacific oyster genome.J. Shellfish Res. 24:429-441.
Reece, K.S., Ribeiro, W.L., Gaffney, P.M., Carnegie, R.B. and Allen, S.K. Jr. (2004) Microsatellite marker development and analysis in the eastern oyster, Crassostrea virginica: Confirmation of null alleles and non-Mendelian segregation ratios. J. Heredity 95:355-361.
Dégremont L., Bédier E., Soletchnik P., Ropert M., Huvet A., Moal J., Samain J. F. & P. Boudry, 2005. Relative importance of family, site, and field placement timing on survival, growth, and yield of hatchery-produced Pacific oyster spat (Crassostrea gigas). Aquaculture 249 : 213-229.
Barbosa-Solomieu V., Dégremont L., Vazquez-Juarez R., Ascencio-Valle F., Boudry P. & T. Renault, 2005. Transmission of OsHV-1 among three successive generations of Pacific oysters (Crassostrea gigas). Virus Research 107: 47-56.
Huvet A., Herpin A., Dégremont L., Labreuche Y., Samain J.F. & C. Cunningham, 2004. The identification of genes from the oyster Crassostrea gigas that are differentially expressed as a result of summer mortality. Gene 343: 211-220.
Sellos D., Moal J., Dégremont L., Huvet A., Daniel J. Y., Nicoulaud S., Boudry P., Samain J. F. & A. Van Wormhoudt, 2003. Structure of the amylase genes in populations of the Pacific cupped oyster Crassostrea gigas: tissue expression and allelic polymorphism. Marine Biotechnology 5(2): 1-13.
Langdon, C., Demetropoulos, C., Evans, F., 2004. An environmentally-sustainable, integrated, co-culture system for dulse and abalone production. Aquaculture Engineering, 32, 43-56.
Publications in Non-peer-reviewed Journals
Guo, X. 2004. Oyster breeding and the use of biotechnology. Bull. Aquacult.
Assoc. Canada 104:26-33.
Guo, X., H. Yang and J. Kraeuter. 2001. Triploid and tetraploid technology for hard clam aquaculture. Jersey Shoreline, 20(2):6-9.
Jackson, D.L., B.W. MacDonald, B. Vercaemer, X. Guo, A. Mallet and E.L.
Kenchinton. 2003. Investigations with Triploid Atlantic Sea Scallops, Placopecten magellanicus, at the Bedford Institute of Oceanography, 2000-2003. Can. Tech. Rep. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 2460: v+ 48p.