Masters Degrees (Animal Sciences)

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Mitigation methods for Terebrasabella heterouncinata, a problematic sabellid polychaete, populations within an abalone (Haliotis midae) production system
(Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch, 2006-03) Henderson, Ray Arthur; Brink, Danie; Britz, Peter; University of Stellenbosch. Faculty of Agrisciences. Dept. of Animal Sciences. Aquaculture.
T. heterouncinata is a sabellid polychaete endemic to South Africa and found primarily in the shells of the abalone Haliotis midae. With the intensification of abalone aquaculture around the world, T. heterouncinata has become a problematic pest by causing shell deformities, reducing abalone growth rates and, in some instances, high abalone mortalities. The problem of this sabellid was first noticed in Californian in the early 1980’s in Red abalone (Haliotis rufescens) production facilities. Many mitigation methods have been tested over the years and this paper investigates another two methods; a reduction in particulate load in the tank to reduce the food source of the sabellid which perhaps will reduce fecundity, and to use ultrasound as a possible mitigation method. This study found that filtration and reduction in suspended particles did not have a significant effect, but that ultrasound did have a significant effect in reducing T. heterouncinata populations.