Genetic diversity and population structure of the sea star Asterias amurensis in the northern coast of China

The sea star Asterias amurensis is widely viewed as a severe“marine pest”because of its broad feeding habits.Over the past few decades,A.amurensis undergoes massive and sporadic population outbreaks worldwide,causing extensive economic and ecological losses to the local aquaculture industry and marine ecosystem.Understanding the genetic diversity and population structure of A.amurensis can provide vital information for resource management.By analyzing the polymorphism of the mitochondrial cytochrome C oxidase subunit I(COI)gene and ten simple sequence repeat(SSR)microsatellites markers,the genetic diversity and population structure of A.amurensis of four populations along the northern coast of China was uncovered.A total of 36 haplotypes were identified,and a main haplotype was found in four populations.The Qingdao(QD)population displayed the highest genetic diversity among all the populations.The AMOVA and pairwise F_(st)showed that there was small but statistically significant population differentiation among the four populations,especially between QD and Weihai(WH).Moreover,the principal component analysis(PCA)and admixture analysis showed that several individuals in Yantai(YT)and Dalian(DL)had little genetic association with other individuals.Overall,this study provided useful information of the genetic diversity and population structure of A.amurensis and will contribute to the resource management of A.amurensis in China.

Sulfated Sterols Isolated from Starfish Asterias amurensis Lutken

Aim To study the chemical constituents of starfish Asterias amurensis. Methods The constituents were separated and purified by different chromatographic methods, and their structures were elucidated by MS and NMR. Results Six compounds were isolated from Asterias amurensis Lutken. Their structures were identified as 3β-O-sulfated-cholest-5-en sodium salt （1）, 3β-O-sulfated-6α-ol- pregn-9（ 11 ） -en-20-one sodium salt （ 2 ）, 3β-O-sulfated-6α-ol-cholest-9 （ 11 ） -en-23-one sodium salt （3）, 3β-O-sulfated-6α, 20β-diol-cholest-9 （ 11 ）-en-23-one sodium salt （ 4 ）, 3β-O-sulfated-6α-ol- cholesta-9 （ 11 ）, 20 （ 22 ） -dien-23-one sodium salt （ 5 ）, and 3β-O-sulfated-6ct-ol-ergost-9 （ 11 ） -en-23- one sodium salt （6）. Conclusion Compounds 1 - 6 were obtained from this species for the first time.

Comparison of Lipids in Organs of the Starfish Asterias amurensis Associated with Different Treatments

Lipids were extracted from organs of the starfish Asterias amurens＆ associated with different treatments （raw-control, boiling and heating）, and then analyzed for lipid content, lipid oxidation index, lipid classes and fatty acid composition. Results showed that boiling softened the hard starfish shells, thus facilitating the collection of starfish organs. As compared with raw organs, the boiled organs had lower water content and higher lipid content, possibly due to the loss of water-holding capacity caused by pro- tein denaturation. Both boiling and heating increased the peroxide value （PV）, thiobarbituric acid （TBA） value and carbon value （CV） of lipids. Despite slight increases in the content of complex lipids, associated lipid composition had no substantial variations upon boiling and heating. For simple lipids, the content of 1, 2-diglyceride decreased in boiled and heated organs, with free fatty acids observed on thin layer chromatography （TLC）. However, neither boiling nor heating significantly changed the fatty acid composi- tions of simple or complex lipids in starfish organs, suggesting that these two treatments had no significant effects on complex lipids in starfish organs. Together, our results indicated that boiling of starfish soon after capture facilitated the handling and extraction of useful complex lipids consisting of abundant glucosylceramide and eicosapentaenoic acid （EPA）-bounded phospholipids.

A preliminary study on food consumption, preference and day-night predatory difference of Asterias amurensis on Scapharca broughtonii

In order to study the food consumption, preference and day-night predatorydifference of Asterias amurensis on Scapharca broughtonii, the experiments werecarried out at the temperatures ranging from 16 ℃ to 20 ℃, salinity of 28.2 ± 2.1,dissolved oxygen of 7.5±0.7 mg/L and pH of 8.0 ± 0.3.The results provided basic datafor promoting steady and healthy development of the multiplication and cultivation of S.broughtonii. The results of food consumption suggested that the food intake of starfishincreased with the density of S. broughtonii at all conditions. The food consumption ofstarfish in different sizes on S. broughtonii in the same size had no significant difference(p>0.05), but it was significantly different among S. broughtonii in different sizes. Thestarfish had the highest feeding rate on the smallest S. broughtonii. Our findings alsoverified the positive relation between the weight of food intake of starfish in differentsizes on the density and size of S. broughtonii. The feeding rhythm of starfish onS. broughtonii in different sizes showed a certain day-night difference, higher at nightthan in the day. The maximum food consumption occurred when the size of S.broughtonii became larger. The results showed that 30 ind/m2 was the suitable seabottom sowing density for S. broughtonii. Our data indicated that the ability to avoidpredators and rivals increased as the shell length rose. Based on prey selectivity,bivalves that have a lower commercial value may be used to clear away A. amurensis.