Browsing by Author "Morato, Telmo"
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- Capture, husbandry and long-term transport of pilotfish, Naucrates ductor (Linnaeus, 1758), by sea, land and airPublication . Correia, João Pedro Santos; Maurício, Francisco de Vaissier Ferro; Rosa, Rui Miguel Guedes da; Marçal, Tiago; Campino, Nelson Silva; Silva, Luís; Morato, TelmoThis is a report on the capture, transport, and husbandry of pilotfish, Naucrates ductor. The objective of this work was to evaluate the most adequate process for capturing, transporting and maintaining pilotfish, while gaining understanding on their behavior. Collection was done in the Azores, by hook and line. Seventy six individuals were then transported to shore, where they were maintained for two months. After this, they were transported by sea over four days. This transport was then followed by an eight day transport by road along Portugal, Spain and multiple public aquaria in France. The animals endured this trip with no losses and multiple notes on husbandry and behavior are provided. Subsequently (2014 to 16), other animals were shipped by air to Atlanta (Georgia, USA), Plymouth (UK), Budapest (Hungary), Springfield (Missouri, USA), and Dubai (UAE), which involved multiple trials prior to the first shipment, to ensure survivorship and wellbeing during the long transit times. The trials revealed that shipping must occur in the presence of an ammonia quencher and pH buffering agents, including the addition of povidone-iodine to decrease bacterial growth, and ice, to keep temperature low.
- The effect of rapid decompression on barotrauma and survival rate in swallowtail seaperch (Anthias anthias): defining protocols for mitigating surfacing mortalityPublication . Silva, Luís; Rosa, Rui Guedes; Campino, Nelson; Martins, Inês; Pinho, Mário Rui; Correia, João; Morato, TelmoSwallowtail seaperch, Anthias anthias, is a popular fish in the public aquaria industry worldwide, but is subject to barotrauma and high mortality rates if an appropriate decompression profile is not used. Here, we analyze behavioral response to pressure reductions in swallowtail to define protocols for mitigating surfacing mortality. Four different pressure reduction rates were tested (15%, 25%, 35%, and 45%) in several lifting steps from an initial depth of 30 m. Decompression using this procedure was done with 12 and 24 h acclimation duration at each step allowing fish to recover from the pressure reduction. Fish condition was assessed based on swimming behavior, immediately after each new pressure reduction also after each acclimation time. Additionally, fish condition was monitored in a post-decompression trial for 14 days. During decompression, both conditions - initial and final - showed statistically significant differences in the reduction rates tested but showed no differences in acclimation times, and no interaction of the two factors. Neither pressure nor acclimation time affected the condition of the animal in post-decompression trials. Ascension steps near the surface are associated with larger decreases in neutrally buoyant fish compared to deeper decompression steps. Close monitoring of the effect of decompression on A. anthias in the control group, showed that a 29% reduction in pressure could indicate an approximate value of the free vertical range of this species, while swimbladder rupture can occur between 63 and 70% of pressure reduction. The optimal protocol for mitigating surfacing mortality combines two decompression profiles used in this experiment with a total duration of 84 h and comprising 4 lifting steps. The protocol developed to mitigate surfacing mortality was designed for conditions where oceanic cages or containers can be lifted gradually.
- (Very) long‐term transport of Silurus glanis, Charcharhinus melanopterus, Scomber colias, Trachurus picturatus, Polyprion americanus, Rhinoptera marmoratus, Salmo salar, Scomber scombrus, Sardina pilchardus, and others, by land, water and airPublication . Correia, João; Daghfous, Gheylen; Silva, David; Graça, Gonçalo; Beltran, Ivan; Reis, João; Marques, José P.; Silva, Luís; Guedes, Rui; Morato, TelmoIn this paper, we cover 4 years of live fish transports that ranged from 14 to 200 h (8 days), and bioloads from 3.8 to 76.9 kg/m3. The key ingredients for success in all trips, where virtually no mortality occurred, was atributed to (1) pre‐buffering the water with sodium bicarbonate and sodium carbonate at 50 g/m3 (each)—and/or ATM Alka‐HaulTM at 25 g/m3—and applying additional (partial or full) doses throughout each transport, whenever the tanks were accessible; (2) pre‐quenching ammonia with ATM TriageTM at 32 g/m3, and applying additional (partial or full) doses throughout each transport, whenever the tanks were accessible; (3) keeping the dissolved oxygen saturation rate above 100%, ideally above 150%; (4) Keeping temperature on the lower limit of each species' tolerance range; (5) Using foam fractionators to effectively eliminate organic matter from the water and (6) Using pure sine wave inverters, which allows for a steady supply of electrical current throughout the transport. The use of a ‘preventive’ versus ‘corrective’ pH buffering philosophy is also discussed.