Analysis of Effects of Environmental Fluctuations on the Marine Mysid Neomysis Awatschensis and Its Development As an Experimental Model Animal

Mysids are experimental models and are among the most important food items for animals in aquaria and that support fisheries, and even for humans, but information on their performance in controlled culture systems is still limited. We reared the marine mysid Neomysis awatschensis in a controlled laboratory system, and measured its growth, 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E) levels, molting, and survival in response to environmental fluctuations in temperature, pH, and salinity, and inferred their potential associations based on annual field sampling. The 20E levels were significantly elevated during the postnauplioid stages, and even higher levels of 20E were maintained in the adult stages than in the nauplioid stages. Values of growth parameters (i.e. total length and the lengths of the antennal scale, expod, endopod, and telson) and 20E levels were higher during a 40-day period at 25 degrees C than at other temperatures, with shorter intermolt intervals, although morality was also increased. Among the surviving mysids, the number of newly hatched juveniles produced was higher for females exposed to 20 degrees C than that in other groups. Relatively higher growth and survival rates were measured at salinities over 25 practical salinity, while lower salinities under 15 practical salinity significantly reduced growth and survival. The number of newly hatched juveniles was lower at salinities under 15 practical salinity compared to those over 20 practical salinity. Overall, low temperature and salinity reduced mysid reproduction and the maintenance of the second generation. In the case of pH variation (pH of 7.0-8.0), there were no significant effects on growth and the number of newly hatched juveniles, although the survival rate was slightly lower and the 20E level fluctuated at a pH of 7.0. We believe that these associations between growth and environmental conditions can provide crucial information for optimizing mass mysid culture for experimental and ecotoxicological usage in the laboratory.