The invasive golden apple snail Pomacea canaliculata has a strong reproductive capacity and has rapidly spread in Asian countries. Current control methods include physical, chemical, and biological approaches, but there has been limited research on the control of P. canaliculata in its different life stages. This study assessed the effectiveness of using giant river prawns Macrobrachium rosenbergii in controlling juveniles of P. canaliculata through a controlled indoor experiment. The density, size, and dispersal range of recently hatched juvenile snails were significantly lower among those kept with prawns than those kept without prawns, indicating a control effect of M. rosenbergii at least on P. canaliculata juveniles. Furthermore, the study speculates on the potential application of M. rosenbergii in the context of a rice–prawn symbiotic system of ecological farming to control invasive P. canaliculata. In terms of effectiveness and safety, its application might lead to a win-win situation for both rice-farm profits and the ecological benefits of invasive species control.

Widely used in humans and animals for bacterial infection management, antibiotics are poorly absorbed and persistent, being excreted into ecosystems and causing serious pollution. However, the effects of extended exposure to residual environmental levels of antibiotics in fireflies are currently unknown. In this study, we investigated Aquatica leii growth and development under chronic low-dose exposure to oxytetracycline (OTC) and levofloxacin (LEV) residues using physiology, transcriptomics, and metabolomics. The results showed that OTC and LEV treatments enhanced A. leii larval growth (increased body length and weight) and significantly altered SOD and CAT activities. Transcriptional analyses identified 1193 and 1669 differentially expressed genes from the LEV and OTC groups, respectively, compared to the control group, predominantly associated with insect hormone biosynthesis, digestive system, immune system, and signal transduction. The metabolomic results showed that 965 and 1094 endogenous metabolites (i.e., comprising mainly amino acids, organic acids, and carbohydrates) were affected by LEV and OTC treatments, respectively. These metabolites are mainly enriched in signal transduction, amino acid metabolism, and energy metabolism pathways. Further, a conjoint omics analysis highlighted the multifaceted regulatory roles of glutathione metabolism in the response of A. leii to OTC and LEV treatments. The study provides critical insights into the transcriptional and metabolic responses of A. leii to antibiotic treatment, informing dosage guidelines for sustainable A. leii farming.

In recent years, Pomacea canaliculata has aggressively invaded rice fields in Asia, resulting in significant agricultural losses. Biological control can effectively reduce the damage caused by P. canaliculata. This research evaluates E. sinensis as a biocontrol for P. canaliculata, focusing on its feeding preferences and optimal control density on snails of three sizes, as well as the effects on the nutritional quality of juvenile crabs post consumption. Our findings reveal that juvenile E. sinensis exhibit a strong preference for feeding on small snails, effectively managing populations at densities of 600 snails per tank. Crab feeding significantly reduces the survival and activity of snails. Furthermore, consumption of P. canaliculata meat alters the crabs’ physiology. Female crabs show elevated levels of molting hormones, total energy yield (TEY), and condition factor (CF), while males demonstrate increased lipid, moisture, and TEY levels. The amino acid profiles shift, with higher isoleucine and leucine levels in female hepatopancreas and reduced histidine in the muscles. Notably, the total Σn-3 PUFA content in female muscles fed on snail meat exceeds that of those given commodity grain. This study underscores the dual benefits of employing juvenile E. sinensis for managing P. canaliculata while enhancing crab farming practices.

Copper (Cu) contamination in aquatic environments induces oxidative stress and structural damage to crustaceans. This study investigated the protective effects and associated mechanisms of exogenous melatonin (MT) against Cu-induced toxicity in Procambarus clarkii using integrated physiological, histopathological, proteomic, and molecular analyses. MT supplementation enhanced antioxidant defense by elevating SOD, CAT, and T-AOC activities, while reducing MDA accumulation, with peak effects observed at 24 h. MT also restored endogenous melatonin levels and regulated phosphatase activity, thereby maintaining immune and metabolic homeostasis. Histopathology showed reduced hepatopancreatic damage, characterized by reduced epithelial vacuolization and preserved basement membrane integrity. Proteomics suggested that MT modulates a multilayered network associated with detoxification, redox balance, and cellular homeostasis. Pathway enrichment showed that Cu exposure dysregulated proteins involved in mitochondrial biogenesis, ABC transporters, membrane trafficking, and apoptosis. MT administration partially counteracted these alterations and was associated with the regulation of glutathione metabolism, as well as reduced enrichment of lysosome- and apoptosis-related pathways. Quantitative RT-PCR results were consistent with the proteomic data. Overall, MT partially alleviated Cu-induced toxicity and was associated with enhanced antioxidant defense, improved cellular homeostasis, and metabolic regulation. Our study provides new molecular insights and suggests its potential application for mitigating metal toxicity in aquaculture.

The insufficient of fish meal has been become a prominent problem with the development of the aquaculture industry. Therefore, it is great significance that replacement fish meal using other protein sources for the sustainable development of aquaculture industry. In this study, fermented cottonseed meal (FCM) and fermented rapeseed meal (FRM) were used to replace fish meal in Chinese mitten crab. The ratio of FCM and FRM were set according to 1:2, 1:1, and 2:1, and were supplemented into 25% fish meal (FM-25) and 15% fish meal (FM-15) diets, respectively, to formulated 6 kinds of experimental diets. The feeding duration was 8 weeks. The results showed that the weight gain (WG) and specific growth rate (SGR) of crabs fed the diets containing 25% fish meal were significantly higher than crabs fed 15% fish meal diets. At 25% fish meal level, the WG and SGR of crabs fed the diet with 1FCM:1FRM were significantly higher than those fed the 1FCM:2FRM and 2FCM:1FRM diets. At 25% fish meal level, the crude lipid (CL) content of crabs fed the diet with 1FCM:2FRM were significantly higher than those fed the 2FCM:1FRM and 1FCM:1FRM. At 25% fish meal level, the activities of glutathione peroxidase (GPX) and peroxidase (POD) of crabs fed the diet with 1FCM:2FRM were significantly higher than those fed the 2FCM:1FRM and 1FCM:1FRM. At 25% fish meal level, the relative expression of peroxiredoxin (PRX) of crabs fed the diet with 1FCM:1FRM were significantly higher than those fed the 2FCM:1FRM and 1FCM:2FRM. In summary, diets supplemented with a mixture of fermented cotton meal and fermented rapeseed meal (1:1) can significantly improve the growth and antioxidant capacity of Chinese mitten crab.