White Abalone Research Articles

Metagenome-assembled genome of withering syndrome causative agent, "Candidatus Xenohaliotis californiensis," from endangered white abalone (Haliotis sorenseni).

The genome of "Candidatus Xenohaliotis californiensis" was assembled from shotgun metagenomic sequencing of experimentally infected white abalone. Ninety-one percent genome completeness was achieved with low contamination. Sequencing this genome provides the opportunity to track pathogen evolution over time, conduct gene expression experiments, and study dynamics between this pathogen and its phage.

Spirochaete genome identified in red abalone sample represents a novel genus Candidatus Haliotispira gen. nov. within the order Spirochaetales.

A fully assembled spirochaete genome was identified as a contaminating scaffold in our red abalone (Haliotis rufescens) genome assembly. In this paper, we describe the analysis of this bacterial genome. The assembled spirochaete genome is 3.25 Mb in size with 48.5 mol% G+C content. The proteomes of 38 species were compared with the spirochaete genome and it was discovered to form an independent branch within the family Spirochaetaceae on the phylogenetic tree. The comparison of 16S rRNA sequences and average nucleotide identity scores between the spirochaete genome with known species of different families in Spirochaetia indicate that it is an unknown species. Further, the percentage of conserved proteins compared to neighbouring taxa confirm that it does not belong to a known genus within Spirochaetaceae. We propose the name Candidatus Haliotispira prima gen. nov., sp. nov. based on its taxonomic placement and origin. We also tested for the presence of this species in different species of abalone and found that it is also present in white abalone (Haliotis sorenseni). In addition, we highlight the need for better classification of taxa within the class Spirochaetia.

Combining a novel outplant module with metareplication to further abalone restoration capacity in California

ABSTRACT Species reintroductions require large resource investments for rearing and placement and are further complicated by the paucity of robust monitoring regimes. Nonetheless, continued population declines in many species necessitate such actions. The white abalone (Haliotis sorenseni) in California has experienced steep population declines and a reintroduction programme through outplanting juvenile, captive-bred abalone is considered necessary for its recovery. A novel module known as the Short-term Abalone Fixed Enclosure (SAFE) was developed to allow red abalone (H. rufescens), a surrogate species that is not endangered and co-occurs with white abalone, a period of adjustment before dispersing. Outplant events were conducted at multiple sites in California, USA and monitored regularly for shells and live animals in a process known as metareplication, considered essential for robust outplant reporting. Time-lapse cameras were also placed on SAFEs to document predator visitation. Live animals and shells both increased on-site throughout the first six months and declined thereafter, with most animals unaccounted for. Empty shells on site were considered a proxy for the mortality rate and the lack of encounters after a short period suggests successful emigration from modules into the reef habitat. Predator visitation was generally low, and no significant differences were found across outplant periods. Results from this study indicate outplant mortality may peak early and predator activity is generally low and unrelated to abalone introduction. This vital step illustrates this outplant method may be an effective tool in restoring abalone to subtidal rocky reefs.

Performance of Edible Mushroom Varieties Under Different Agricultural Substrates

The study was conducted at Dr. Emilio B. Espinosa, Sr. Memorial State College of Agriculture and Technology (DEBESMSCAT) Cabitan, Mandaon, Masbate. The experimental design used was 3 x 7 CRD factorial with three varieties of mushrooms (Pink Oyster, White Abalone, and Milky Mushroom), seven agricultural substrates as treatments, Treatment A (70% rice straw and 30% sawdust), Treatment B (70% rice straw and 30% corn cob), Treatment C (70% rice straw and 30% Carbonized Rice Hull), Treatment D (100% rice straw), Treatment E (100% sawdust), Treatment F (100% corn cob) and Treatment G (100% Carbonized Rice Hull). The experiment was replicated three times with a total of 945 fruiting bags. Height, fresh weight, and the number of fruiting bodies are the data that was observed in the study. The result showed that in terms of growth performance, a nonsignificant result was observed in the height performance of the mushroom varieties inoculated in substrates with 70% rice straw, 30% corn cob, and 100% carbonized rice hull. Similarly, the number of mushroom fruiting bodies produced differed among mushroom varieties inoculated. Mushrooms inoculated in 100% carbonized rice hull attained more fruiting bodies than other tested varieties. Mushrooms inoculated in 100% corn cob produced a significantly higher number of mushroom fruiting bodies than other treatments. Finally, the weight of mushroom fruiting bodies produced in 70% rice straw and 30% carbonized rice hull applications was statistically significant for all agricultural substrates inoculated. The researcher concluded that using agricultural substrates other than carbonized rice is effective in mushroom production.

Determination of gonad reproductive state using non-lethal ultrasonography in endangered black (Haliotis cracherodii) and white abalone (H. sorenseni)

IntroductionBlack (H. cracherodii) and white abalone (H. sorenseni) are federally listed as endangered species in the United States. Conservation efforts include captive breeding programs; however, determination of the reproductive state of individual abalone is notoriously difficult using traditional visual assessments. Ultrasonography is a well-recognized technology used to assess gonad reproductive condition accurately and nonlethally in cultured and wild fish, and more recently cultured red abalone (H. rufescens). Here, we implemented the use of ultrasound imaging technology to monitor the gonad condition of endangered black and white abalone.MethodsRepeated ultrasound assessments of the gonad were used to assess seasonal changes in reproductive development in wild black (n=20), and captive white abalone (n=25).ResultsA modified ultrasound gonad index score was developed to incorporate multiple species of abalone. The ultrasound index scores ranged from one to five, with an index score of one being the lowest (gonad margin is thinly wrapped around the digestive gland or not present) and an index score of five being the highest (gonad margin is thick and significantly compressing the digestive gland).ConclusionWe show that non-lethal ultrasound imaging technology is useful for tracking cyclical changes in the gonad reproductive condition as well as a more precise selection of individuals that are in peak reproductive condition for captive breeding programs.

A Decade of Scuba Effort Reevaluates Approach for Surveying White Abalone (Haliotis sorenseni Bartsch, 1940)

Accurate distribution and density data of endangered marine species may be complicated by artifacts from exploitation, survey design, and general difficulty in accessing subtidal habitats. Occasional review of survey data may help restructure survey efforts to improve conservation outcomes. The white abalone (Haliotis sorenseni) is a marine gastropod listed under the Endangered Species Act thought to primarily inhabit depths beyond conventional scientific SCUBA limits (30–60 m) in the southern California Channel Islands. This study reviews surveys at four Channel Islands and four locations along the southern California mainland coast within SCUBA depth ranges and conducts a simulation comparison of the larger survey design used for this study with the standard transect approach presently common in the region. White abalone density was greater along the mainland, particularly in Point Loma and La Jolla, than the Channel Islands, where no live white abalone were recorded. The larger survey approach was found to be more effective at finding simulated white abalone, beyond the expected difference in areal coverage alone. These results show that surveys within SCUBA limits are an effective way to monitor H. sorenseni and that impacts from overfishing on the Channel Islands may make sections of the mainland coast one of the last refuges of white abalone. The greater efficiency of larger surveys can complement standard transect approaches to improve abalone monitoring at sites of interest. Both results can be applied to the immediate conservation of white abalone by improving site selection and monitoring approaches to active restoration efforts.

Modeling the past, present, and future distributions of endangered white abalone (Haliotis sorenseni) to inform recovery efforts in California.

White abalone (Haliotis sorenseni) was once commonly found in coastal waters of the Southern California Bight (SCB) and south to Punta Abreojos, Baja California, Mexico. During the 1970s, white abalone supported a commercial fishery, which reduced the population and resulted in the closure of the fishery in 1996. When population levels continued to decline, National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) listed the species as endangered under the Endangered Species Act. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife and NMFS began surveying the wild populations, propagating specimens in captivity, and protecting its seabed habitat. We modeled coarse-scale (17 x 17 km) historical (using fishery-dependent data [1955–1996]) and contemporary (using fishery-independent data [1996–2017]) distributions of white abalone throughout its historical domain using random forests and maximum entropy (MaxEnt), respectively, and its fine-scale (10 x 10 m) contemporary distribution (fishery-independent data) using MaxEnt. We also investigated potential outplanting habitat farther north under two scenarios of future climate conditions. The coarse-scale models identified potential regions to focus outplanting efforts within SCB while fine-scale models can inform population monitoring and outplanting activities in these particular areas. These models predict that areas north of Point Conception may become candidate outplant sites as seawater temperatures continue to rise in the future due to climate change. Collectively, these results provide guidance on the design and potential locations for experimental outplanting at such locations to ultimately improve methods and success of recovery efforts.

Withering syndrome induced gene expression changes and a de-novo transcriptome for the Pinto abalone, Haliotis kamtschatkana

In the abalone and Candidatus Xenohaliotis californiensis (Ca. Xc) system, the Ca. Xc bacterium infects abalone digestive tissues and leads to extreme starvation and a characteristic “withering” of the gastropod foot. First identified in black abalone in California after an El Niño event, withering syndrome (WS) has caused large declines in wild black and captive white abalone on the northeastern Pacific coast, but disease resistance levels are species-, and possibly population-specific. This study compared gene expression patterns in the digestive gland of Ca. Xc-exposed and unexposed (control) Pinto abalone (Haliotis kamtschatkana), a particularly susceptible species. Lab-induced Ca. Xc infections were followed over 7 months and RNAseq was used to identify differential gene expression. Exposed Pinto abalone showed distinct changes in expression of 68 genes at 3 and 7 months post-infection relative to those in control animals. Upregulation of an orexin-like receptor (which is involved in feeding signaling) and a zinc peptidase-like region (many amino peptidases are zinc peptidases) in animals infected for 7 months indicates that animals with Ca. Xc infection may be starving and upregulating processes associated with feeding and digestion. Other groups of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were upregulated or downregulated across control and exposed individuals over the 7-month experiment, including DEG groups that likely correspond to early disease state and to general stress response of being held in captivity. No patterns emerged in genes known to be involved in molluscan immune response, despite this being an expectation during a 7-month infection; digestion-related genes and unannotated DEGs were identified as targets for future research on potential immune response to WS in abalone.

Foot injury survival in red abalone (Haliotis rufescens)

Recovery of the U. S. Federal Endangered Species Act-listed white abalone (Haliotis sorenseni) in California, USA depends on the success of a captive breeding program, which requires collection of wild broodstock to maintain genetic diversity. Foot damage is frequently sustained during collection and handling, and severe injuries can be fatal. This study used the proxy species red abalone (Haliotis rufescens) to investigate the ability of abalone to survive foot injury by administering foot injuries varying in severity and monitoring subsequent health and survival. In a preliminary study, 6/6 farm-origin 55–70 mm animals survived two types of injury while 5/6 survived a third type of injury. We then conducted a definitive study using 24 wild-origin animals (165–207 mm) and three intensified injury treatments. Five of six animals that received a deep tissue incision were dead the following morning, presumably from acute hemolymph loss, and the remaining animal in that treatment group died on day 41 with a systemic bacterial infection. Nine of twelve abalone that received loss of either 8% or 17% of foot sole epithelium survived until experiment termination at day 90, at which time all survivors were regenerating epithelial tissues, as evident by histology. This study suggests that abalone may be more capable of surviving significant superficial foot damage that can occur during collection and handling, at least in a captive rearing environment, than has been previously recognized.

Effect of oxytetracycline treatment on the gastrointestinal microbiome of critically endangered white abalone (Haliotis sorenseni) treated for withering syndrome

White abalone (Haliotis sorenseni) are critically endangered marine gastropods that are native to kelp forests in the northeastern Pacific. White abalone are highly susceptible to withering syndrome, a fatal bacterial disease caused by Candidatus Xenohaliotis californiensis (CaXc), an intracellular, order Rickettsiales prokaryote that is endemic throughout the white abalone's range in California and Mexico. Oxytetracycline (OTC) baths at a dose of 500 mg/L are successful in clearing CaXc infections from the gastrointestinal tract of infected abalone. The impact of OTC treatment on the diversity and stability of the gut microbiome in white abalone is unknown. The objectives of this study were two-fold: (1) to characterize the gastrointestinal microbiome of clinically-normal white abalone and (2) to compare the gastrointestinal microbiomes of OTC-treated white abalone to those of control animals. Gastrointestinal tracts from five OTC-treated individuals and five untreated controls were sampled at each time point: day 0, one day after the 21-day OTC treatment (day 22), and at 203 days post-treatment. Gastrointestinal tract microbiomes were analyzed after amplification and sequence of the 16S rRNA. Gastrointestinal microbiomes of untreated animals were dominated by three core bacterial phyla: Proteobacteria, Fusobacteria, and Bacteroidetes. Reduced Shannon α-diversity and absence of various phyla in the microbiome of OTC-treated animals were observed in samples at day 22. Bacterial profiles were improved in terms of α-diversity at 203 days but some bacterial phyla, mainly Fusobacteria, remained absent. All animals remained clinically normal throughout the study period and there was no significant difference in a condition index between the two groups. OTC treatment for withering syndrome appears to be clinically safe in white abalone.

Warm Water Shifts Abalone Recruitment and Sea Urchin Diversity in Southern California: Implications for Climate-Ready Abalone Restoration Planning

Nearshore kelp forest ecosystems are highly vulnerable to climate change and ocean warming, which can alter community dynamics and change the trajectory of species recovery in unpredictable ways. Abalone (Haliotis spp.) populations in the Southern California Bight (SCB) are still recovering from a combination of overfishing and disease, despite the closure of the fisheries 20 years ago and active restoration programs for abalone species in the region. For this study, abalone recruitment and sea urchin populations were surveyed in artificial habitats (16–22 m) across a spatial and temporal climatic gradient in southern California from 2010 to 2017 to inform the development of climate-ready abalone restoration programs. The SCB encompasses warm and cool islands, and experienced two periods of ocean conditions—cool (2010–2013) and warm ocean conditions (2014–2016). Dive surveys of the artificial habitats revealed that juvenile abalone recruitment remained low during the study period, suggesting that recovery is slow. Warm-water years favored recruitment of juvenile pink (Haliotis corrugata) and green abalone (Haliotis fulgens), with the highest abalone recruitment observed at Catalina Island. Endangered white abalone (Haliotis sorenseni) were not observed despite placing the artificial habitats in suitable deep rocky reefs, which is further evidence supporting their endangered species status. The coolest site, San Diego, had little abalone recruitment, with a few juvenile red abalone (Haliotis rufescens) and threaded (Haliotis kamtschatkana) abalone present. Sea urchin abundance and diversity increased during the warm period, with the largest increase at Catalina Island. During the warm period, Coronado sea urchin (Centrostephanus coronatus) increased in abundance, coincident with a decrease in the commercially valuable temperate red sea urchin (Mesocentrotus franciscanus). Potential shifts in the sea urchin assemblage to warm-water sea urchins may negatively impact recovering abalone populations and the red sea urchin fishery. Climate-ready abalone restoration will require ecosystem-based monitoring, tracking on not only abalone recruitment but also sea urchins, algal abundances, ocean temperature, and kelp forest communities as climate change may lead to complex and unexpected ecosystem interactions.

An Annotated Genome for Haliotis rufescens (Red Abalone) and Resequenced Green, Pink, Pinto, Black, and White Abalone Species.

Abalone are one of the few marine taxa where aquaculture production dominates the global market as a result of increasing demand and declining natural stocks from overexploitation and disease. To better understand abalone biology, aid in conservation efforts for endangered abalone species, and gain insight into sustainable aquaculture, we created a draft genome of the red abalone (Haliotis rufescens). The approach to this genome draft included initial assembly using raw Illumina and PacBio sequencing data with MaSuRCA, before scaffolding using sequencing data generated from Chicago library preparations with HiRise2. This assembly approach resulted in 8,371 scaffolds and total length of 1.498 Gb; the N50 was 1.895 Mb, and the longest scaffold was 13.2 Mb. Gene models were predicted, using MAKER2, from RNA-Seq data and all related expressed sequence tags and proteins from NCBI; this resulted in 57,785 genes with an average length of 8,255 bp. In addition, single nucleotide polymorphisms were called on Illumina short-sequencing reads from five other eastern Pacific abalone species: the green (H. fulgens), pink (H. corrugata), pinto (H. kamtschatkana), black (H. cracherodii), and white (H. sorenseni) abalone. Phylogenetic relationships largely follow patterns detected by previous studies based on 1,784,991 high-quality single nucleotide polymorphisms. Among the six abalone species examined, the endangered white abalone appears to harbor the lowest levels of heterozygosity. This draft genome assembly and the sequencing data provide a foundation for genome-enabled aquaculture improvement for red abalone, and for genome-guided conservation efforts for the other five species and, in particular, for the endangered white and black abalone.

DNA entombed in archival seashells reveals low historical mitochondrial genetic diversity of endangered white abalone Haliotis sorenseni

In this study we used decades-old shells of the endangered Northeast Pacific white abalone Haliotis sorenseni to produce high-quality DNA sequences for identification and historical diversity analysis. We obtained mitochondrial (mt) and nuclear DNA sequences (cytochrome c oxidase subunit I and histone H3 respectively) from shells with collection dates bracketing a period of population decline due to overexploitation, from throughout the species’ range. Illustrating the potential of shell DNA for forensic and conservation studies, we found two cases of misidentification among archival shell specimens. Diversity at the mitochondrial marker was lower in H. sorenseni throughout the 20th century than levels recently observed in two sympatric species that also suffered declines. The cause of comparatively low mtDNA diversity in white abalone is unclear; however, it cannot be exclusively linked to exploitation. DNA entombed in shells allowed us to directly establish historical genetic baselines for restoration of this endangered species. Vast repositories of shells exist in museum, aquaculture and private collections; the DNA contained within may be broadly investigated for studies of evolution, archaeology and conservation.

Differing responses of red abalone (Haliotis rufescens) and white abalone (H. sorenseni) to infection with phage-associated Candidatus Xenohaliotis californiensis.

The Rickettsiales-like prokaryote and causative agent of Withering Syndrome (WS)—Candidatus Xenohaliotis californiensis (Ca. Xc)—decimated black abalone populations along the Pacific coast of North America. White abalone—Haliotis sorenseni—are also susceptible to WS and have become nearly extinct in the wild due to overfishing in the 1970s. Candidatus Xenohaliotis californiensis proliferates within epithelial cells of the abalone gastrointestinal tract and causes clinical signs of starvation. In 2012, evidence of a putative bacteriophage associated with Ca. Xc in red abalone—Haliotis rufescens—was described. Recently, histologic examination of animals with Ca. Xc infection in California abalone populations universally appear to have the phage-containing inclusions. In this study, we investigated the current virulence of Ca. Xc in red abalone and white abalone at different environmental temperatures. Using a comparative experimental design, we observed differences over time between the two abalone species in mortality, body condition, and bacterial load by quantitative real time PCR (qPCR). By day 251, all white abalone exposed to the current variant of Ca. Xc held in the warm water (18.5 °C) treatment died, while red abalone exposed to the same conditions had a mortality rate of only 10%, despite a relatively heavy bacterial burden as determined by qPCR of posterior esophagus tissue and histological assessment at the termination of the experiment. These data support the current status of Ca. Xc as less virulent in red abalone, and may provide correlative evidence of a protective phage interaction. However, white abalone appear to remain highly susceptible to this disease. These findings have important implications for implementation of a white abalone recovery program, particularly with respect to the thermal regimes of locations where captively-reared individuals will be outplanted.

Withering syndrome susceptibility of northeastern Pacific abalones: A complex relationship with phylogeny and thermal experience.

Population declines in wild and cultured abalones (Haliotis spp.) due to a bacterial disease called withering syndrome (WS) have been documented along the northeastern Pacific Ocean. However, observed differences in species susceptibility to the disease are not well understood. Here, we examined the susceptibility of three temperate abalone species, the cool water (4-14 °C) pinto or northern abalone (Haliotis kamtschatkana), the intermediate water (8-18 °C) red abalone (H. rufescens), and the warm water (12-23 °C) pink abalone (H. corrugata), to experimental WS infection at temperatures facilitating disease proliferation. Mortality data paired with histological and molecular detection of the WS pathogen confirmed that these abalone species exhibit different levels of susceptibility to infection and resistance to WS development ranging from high susceptibility and low resistance in pinto abalone to moderate/low susceptibility and resistance in red and pink abalones. The temperature associated with WS induced mortalities also varied among species: pinto abalone died at the lowest experimental temperature (17.32 ± 0.09 °C), while red abalone died at an intermediate temperature (17.96 ± 0.16 °C), and pink abalone required the highest temperature (18.84 ± 0.16 °C). When data from the current and previous studies were examined, susceptibility to WS was inversely related to phylogenetic distance from white abalone (H. sorenseni), which had the highest susceptibility and lowest resistance of all abalone species tested prior to the current study. These results provide further evidence that an abalone's thermal optima and phylogenetic relationship can determine its susceptibility to WS; species with cool water evolutionary histories are most susceptible to WS and the most susceptible species appear to be closely related. Differences among the thermal ranges of abalone species have broad implications for WS disease dynamics and highlight the importance of understanding the mechanisms governing the abalone-WS relationship in order to properly manage declining abalone populations.

Evaluating factors affecting restoration of an endangered marine broadcast-spawning invertebrate using an individual-based model of white abalone

Evaluating factors affecting restoration of an endangered marine broadcast-spawning invertebrate using an individual-based model of white abalone

Effect of Temperature, Diet, Light, and Cultivation Density on Growth and Survival of Larval and Juvenile White AbaloneHaliotis sorenseni(Bartsch, 1940)

ABSTRACT White abalone Haliotis sorenseni was studied in the mariculture laboratory of the Channel Islands Marine Resource Institute in southern California to determine the effect of environmental factors such as temperature, diet, light, and cultivation density on growth and survival. Fertilized eggs and larvae were raised at water temperatures of 9°C, 12°C, 15°C, 18°C, and 21°C in two separate trials. The rate of larvae development increased significantly with each 3°C change in temperature. Survival from fertilization to settlement stage was greatest (56%) at 12°C, followed by survival of 23% at 15°C, and 2% at 18°C. Larvae raised at the extremes of 21°C and 9°C had 100% mortality by 90 and 100 h posthatch. The biological zero temperature, the point at which growth stops, is projected to be 3.04°C for white abalone, significantly lower than that of sympatric species. Fecundity was determined as 7,271 eggs/g for wild-caught abalone and 6,128 eggs/g for hatchery-reared abalone and was not significantly d...

Population Status Assessment and Restoration Modeling of White AbaloneHaliotis sorenseniin California

White abalone Haliotis sorenseni was listed as endangered in 2001 because of severe declines throughout southern California due to overfishing. Populations continue to decline despite the closure of the fishery in 1996. There has been little to no evidence of recruitment in southern California from population surveys and in artificial reefs targeting white abalone recruitment since the listing of the species. A 13-y time series of white abalone abundance in prime habitat, surveyed with a remote-operated vehicle, was used in a population viability analysis to quantify: (1) the population decline and (2) the time to reach a quasi-extinction threshold. The annual decline in the population is 12%, which is comparable to adult natural mortality rates for abalone species. The quasi-extinction threshold of 1,000 individuals is met within 15 y. These results confirm that the white abalone populations in southern California are at high risk of extinction, and highlight the importance of active stocking and restoration for the species. To inform restoration, a deterministic density-dependent size-based matrix model was developed to investigate different stocking scenarios, incorporating an innovative method for modeling low populations by setting the reproductive term as a function of adult density to mimic a reproductive Allee effect. A minimum density of 0.14 abalone/m2 of stocked juveniles led to a maximum population growth rate (λ) of more than or equal to 1 for the model population within 10 y but that recovery was poor (mean λ15–20 ≤ 1.0) over time if the level of juvenile stocking was less than 0.23 abalone/m2 in the model population. The innovative approach of incorporating adult density into the reproductive term in the model quantitatively shows how low population densities can impact threatened and endangered species, and may be widely used for other species. These results can not only help guide stocking strategies but also allow for the quantitative evaluation of white abalone under the guidance of the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, suggesting that white abalone should be considered Critically Endangered.

Implementing a Restoration Program for the Endangered White Abalone (Haliotis sorenseni) in California

ABSTRACT A restoration program including wild population surveys, captive breeding, health monitoring, recovery site preparation, and recovery modeling has been implemented to restore white abalone (Haliotis sorenseni) populations in California. White abalone once supported a lucrative fishery and are now endangered, nearing extinction at less than 1% of baseline abundances. Recent deep water surveys indicate that populations continue to decline with no signs of recruitment, despite the closure of the fishery in 1996. Four sites with artificial reefs (n=12/site) in optimal white abalone habitat were established. No wild white abalone have been found at these sites. Captive abalone were spawned in the spring of each year from 2012 to 2015. Each year, the production of 1-y-old abalone has increased in the captive breeding program from approximately 20 in 2012, to 150 in 2013 and an estimated 2,000 in 2014. In 2015, the breeding program reached two milestones: (1) most successful spawning season to date and ...

Draft Genome Sequences of Shewanella sp. Strain UCD-FRSP16_17 and Nine Vibrio Strains Isolated from Abalone Feces.

We present here the draft genome sequences for nine strains of Vibrio (V. cyclitrophicus, V. splendidus, V. tasmaniensis, and three unidentified) and one Shewanella strain. Strains were isolated from red (Haliotis rufescens) and white (Haliotis sorenseni) abalone, with and without exposure to “Candidatus Xenohaliotis californiensis,” the causative agent of abalone withering syndrome.