Evaluation of Crosses Between Two Geographic Populations of Native Chinese and Introduced Thai Spotted Ivory Shell, Babylonia areolata, in Southern China

Abstract

In the present study, intraspecific crossing experiments between Chinese (H) and Thai populations (T) of Babylonia areolata were conducted by using a complete diallel design (H, T, TH, and HT). A total of 45 pedigreed families were obtained and cultured under the same environmental conditions. Positive heterosis was observed for many developmental parameters and shell sizes for most stages from juvenile to adult. Hatching and metamorphosis occurred significantly earlier in the hybrid (HT) than in the parent groups and a crossed group (TH). Rate of metamorphosis was also higher in HT than in the other three groups. Heterosis in shell length and body weight of the crossed group (HT) from the nursery and grow-out stage to harvest time was high and significantly different from the H, T, and TH groups. For mortality rate from juvenile to adult, total and average heterosis of the crossed group (TH) was positive and significantly different from H, T, and HT. The results of the present study show that intraspecies crosses can be a potentially useful way to increase the economic traits for B. areolata and thus provide a promising method for genetic improvement of the species as a new aquaculture stock in southern China.

Proteomics Studies on the three Larval Stages of Development and Metamorphosis of Babylonia areolata

“…Species of the genus Babylonia (Mollusca, Gastropoda, Neogastropoda, Babyloniidae) have been the most promising economic marine gastropod in this century, because of its wide distribution along most parts of Asian coastlines, delicate flavor, and high market reception 14 , 15 . Babylonia areolata are common species in China 16 , and are good study materials for both scientific studies on the early development and metamorphosis of gastropods and the artificial breeding technology of the genus Babylonia .…”

Predation behaviour of millimetre-sized hydrozoan polyps on early ivory shell juveniles

“…In the present study, an unexpected massive death of juveniles of the ivory shell Babylonia areolata (Mollusca: Gastropoda: Babyloniidae) caused by the predation of an unknown hydroid in an aquaculture farm in China caught the authors' attention. This ivory shell species is one of the most important economic maricultural gastropods in East Asia, with an annual economic benefit up to US$35 million in the Hainan province of China in the year 2013 (Lü et al ., 2016). An integrative approach was adopted to describe the hydroid and its interaction with the molluscan prey.…”

Spermatozoan morphology of the snails Babylonia lutosa , Babylonia areolata from parental lines of populations in Hainan and Thailand and hybrid lines

“…The Ivory Shell, Babylonia areolata , is a commercially important mariculture species in southern China and Southeast Asia. Given its rich nutritional content, fast growth and delicious taste, B. areolata has been identified as one of the most important marine gastropods for human consumption (Di et al., 2011, 2013; Fu et al., 2017; Lü et al., 2016). To solve the decline in quality and the absence of good brood stock, the aquaculture industry of Babylonia areolata in China has been successfully established in Guangdong and Hainan provinces since 2000 (Liang et al., 2005; Luo et al., 2004).…”

“…All of these studies have greatly promoted the development of the artificial breeding of Babylonia (Luo et al., 2004) and have laid a solid foundation for the artificial reproduction of Babylonia areolata . In Hainan Province, the culture area of B. areolata was approximately 450,000 square metres in 2013, and production generated approximately RMB 250 million yuan (about 36.25 million USD, 28.73 million GBP) (Fu et al., 2017; Lü et al., 2016).…”