Davis, Megan

Suaeda linearis is an edible halophyte crop with nutraceutical properties that is native to Florida. This study investigated how the biomass production and mineral content of aquacultured S. linearis was affected by harvest frequency during a 10-week period using four different harvest treatments. Under the first treatment (T1) plants received zero intermittent harvests, the second (T2) received harvests every five weeks, the third (T3) received harvests every 3.3 weeks, and the fourth (T4) received harvests every 2.5 weeks. The results indicate that biomass production and mineral content were both strongly affected by harvest treatment. Intermittent harvesting decreased biomass production and conversely, intermittent harvesting increased the quantities of certain desirable minerals in S. linearis. Early harvests of the study plants were small, suggesting that 13-15 weeks after germination is the earliest time a harvestable yield can be achieved from S. linearis.

The subject invention provides methods for producing cultured pearls in gastropods, such as the queen conch, Strombus gigas, and other gastropod species (e.g., families Strombidae, Haliotididae and Volutidae), with high success rates. The subject invention also provides cultured pearls produced by the methods as described herein.

The subject invention provides methods for producing cultured pearls in gastropods, such as the queen conch, Strombus gigas, and other gastropod species (e.g., families Strombidae, Haliotididae and Volutidae), with high success rates. The subject invention also provides cultured pearls produced by the methods as described herein.

The subject invention provides methods for producing cultured pearls in gastropods, such as the queen conch, Strombus gigas, and other gastropod species (e.g., families Strombidae, Haliotididae and Volutidae), with high success rates. The subject invention also provides cultured pearls produced by the methods as described herein.

The queen conch, Lobatus gigas, is key to the Bahamian way of life. Recent studies suggest that commercial stocks will be depleted in The Bahamas in 10-15 years. In response to this, an egg farm was established in a historic breeding ground in Moriah Harbour Cay National Park, Exuma, Bahamas. Previously used for aquaculture, the egg farm concept was tested as a restoration method. Conch were tagged (n=251) and stocked in a 1,385 m2 (0.14 ha) circular enclosure at an equivalent density of 1,813/ha or 1 conch/5.5 m2. The egg farm was visited every 24-48 hours during the study period (May 26-August 14, 2019) to examine conch distribution, burial, predation, breeding, and egg mass laying. Queen conch Essential Fish Habitat was characterized in this study, contributing to a knowledge gap concerning conch spawning areas. No egg masses were laid, despite temperature, sediment solid-phase organics, calcium carbonate, and other seagrass habitat characteristics displaying similarities to previous studies in which conch spawned. It is speculated that egg laying did not occur due to handling disturbances, which may have caused the conch to resorb their gonads. Comprehensive recommendations are made for future egg farms intended for restoration.

Queen conch in the Florida Keys are slowly recovering from overfishing. This
study assessed habitat characteristics, metamorphosis and postlarval growth of queen
conch in a nearshore and an offshore habitat. The nearshore habitat was dominated by
macroalgae while the offshore habitat was dominated by areas of open coarse sediment
and seagrass. There was a significant difference among the top six diatom families at
each habitat (p < 0.001). The diatom family Naviculaceae was dominant at both sites. No
difference in microbial populations was observed (p>0.05). Larvae metamorphosed when
exposed to sediment from nearshore and offshore locations (10-40%). Larvae exposed to
offshore sediment at 27°C exhibited the highest metamorphic response (~40%). There
was no significant difference in growth rate of post larvae fed the food present in the
sediment from nearshore and offshore locations. This study may help explain
aggregation differences between a nearshore and an offshore queen conch habitat.