Physiological tolerances limit the distribution of species and have important adaptive significance. Early-life stages usually have lower tolerances to environmental variables than juveniles and adults. In this project, we investigate the thermal and salinity tolerance limits of Octopus vulgaris Type II paralarvae in laboratory experiments to access their adaptations to a wide range of temperature and salinity conditions.

 

Participants:  Erica A G Vidal / Carolina Arruda de Oliveira Freire / Ivan Gavioli / Giovana Castellano/.Thiago Saccheto dos Santos

Mucus production is a universal feature in mollusks and has been associated with many functions, such as protection, assistance to locomotion and also feeding. In this context, the main objectives of this project are to evaluate the histochemical and ultrastructural characteristics of the glandular system responsible for the secretion of mucus in the epithelium of newly hatched squid paralarvae.

 

Participants: EricaA G Vidal / Roger Villanueva / Janek von Byern/ Norbert Cyran.

SUSAQUA-BRAZIL will assess the possibilities and challenges for developing green and sustainable marine aquaculture industry in Brazil, by indicating strong expertise groups. Brazil with its favorable climatic conditions, long coastline and the immense land availability has a potential to develop large scale culture of marine species. The green industry of macroalgae and cultivation of new marine aquaculture species, such as the octopus, will represent a new industry sector that will profit from cooperation with research groups in Norway with activity in this field.  This project focus on the potential of an emerging marine aquaculture industry especially in Brazilian coastal areas, and thereby developing a climatic balanced activity.

 

Participants: Erica A G Vidal / Pal Myhre / Roger Richardsen  / Gunnvor Oie  / Kjell Inge Reitan / J F Matias  / Rodrigo Leon  / José Guilherme Bersano Filho/ Ivan Gavioli/ L Hayashi.

Octopus hatchlings are tactile-visual voracious predators, but their visual capabilities are poorly understood, although crucial for understanding their experience-based feeding behavior. The aim of this project is to evaluate the influence of abiotic (light, turbulence) and biotic (prey density, type and size) factors on the predation rates of octopus paralarvae. Understanding morphological development and its interplay with prey-capture will uncover the visual requirements of hatchlings to survive in different environments, which is also one of the key factors to rear them successfully.

 

Participants: Erica A G Vidal, Danielle Ortiz de Ortiz, Ivan Gavioli, Thiago Sachetto dos Santos