NEUROSHELL has made significant scientific progress, in the understanding of the environmental and endocrine control of physiology in European native oyster (Ostrea edulis), for practical application to aquaculture.
Bivalve shellfish farming is rapidly expanding worldwide, it is an industry with low environmental impact, yet yields an end-product of high nutrient density. Increase in hatchery efficiency and seed availability, to support this expansion, is however being hampered by a lack of synchrony of animals, with inconsistency in broodstock conditioning and difficulties in spawning prediction and larval development. The overall objective of NEUROSHELL was to help address these issues, through focused research on the environmental/endocrine control of O. edulis physiology. Native oyster aquaculture heavily depends on hatchery seed supply not only for on-growing for the food market but for coastal restoration initiatives and for the future-proofing of oyster beds/breeding ponds vulnerable to years when there is poor natural seeding.
NEUROSHELL consisted of two research sub-projects each focusing on a key life stage event: Sub-project 1) Reproduction in Adults, Sub-project 2) Early Development and Metamorphosis in Larvae. Within each sub-project, a multi-targeted approach was employed combining in vivo experiments on conditioning regimes (temperature, light), with endocrine factor gene characterisation and profiling. Significant results included the definition of a number of key endocrine players (neurohormones, neurotransmitter receptors) with potential roles in decoding environmental information into physiological effects, evidence of molecular clock and melatonergic system components in O. edulis, and the evaluation of broodstock conditioning regimes. Such results have not only increased the state of the art in the field, contributing to laying the foundations for future research studies tailored to industry needs, but may also be used directly improve hatchery production. In addition to the scientific core of NEUROSHELL, shellfish aquaculture industry integration, transfer of knowledge and training of the Research Fellow including a secondment in Spain, were key objectives of the project.
In a broad sense, NEUROSHELL has built upon an essential platform for EU research and excellence: cutting-edge science for practical application in shellfish aquaculture. The advancement of the Fellow’s training and career, established position at the host institution and strong long-lasting collaboration with Spain can only contribute to strengthening this platform.
