Penaeid Prawns Research Articles

The distribution and significance of stingray feeding pits in Quandamooka (Moreton Bay), Australia

Context Quandamooka (Moreton Bay) is a large, subtropical, urban, Ramsar-listed marine park in which stingray feeding pits (SRFPs) provide nursery habitat for commercially important nekton. Aims Nearmap aerial images were used to assess the distribution and abundance of SRFPs and their relationship to shore characteristics around Quandamooka’s perimeter. Methods SRFPs were surveyed using 25-m2 quadrats overlain on aerial images at 65 sites on low-energy tidal flats around the perimeter of Quandamooka, and a polygon encompassing the region with the highest SRFP densities was used to make a preliminary assessment of its potential contribution to whiting and prawn fisheries. Key results SRFPs were present at 63 of the 65 sites surveyed, with habitat type in the high shore (especially mangroves v. seawalls) being the most important spatial driver of SRFP density. Conclusions Eastern Quandamooka sites held more SRFPs and may therefore be an important nursery habitat, holding an estimated 600,000 individuals of postlarval whiting (genus Sillago) and 8 million postlarval penaeid prawns. Implications Given the potentially important role of SRFPs for fisheries, especially those adjacent to mangroves, they should be considered a specific habitat type in future marine park zoning plans and managers should ensure the ongoing protection of stingrays.

Erratum: Eyestalk Ablation to Increase Ovarian Maturation in Mud Crabs.

Erratum: Eyestalk Ablation to Increase Ovarian Maturation in Mud Crabs.

Fish Catch Rate and Fish Composition of Commercially Operated by Multi-Day Trawling off Sindhudurg Coast of Maharashtra, India

The commercial-operated multi-day trawlers from Sindhudurg coast carried out fishing operations at Malvan landing center, South Konkan region, Maharashtra, India in the mean depth range of 18–31 m in September, 2016 to May, 2018 to assess the changing trends in the fish catch composition, catch and discards rate by multi-day trawlers operating along the Sindhudurg coast of Maharashtra state. The average catch rate was observed 25.03 kg h-1 and 31.72 kg h-1 with average discards 5.07 kg h-1 and 7.81 kg h-1 by multi-day trawler during 2016–17 and 2017–18 respectively. During two fishing seasons, the average catch rate was 28.37 kg h-1, with average discards of 6.44 kg h-1 by multi-day trawlers. Major catch composition of multiday trawlers comprised Arius maculatus, Parastromateus niger, Lactarius lactarius, Otolithes cuvieri, Lepturacanthus savala, Rastrelliger kanagurta, Scomberomorus guttatus, Cynoglossus macrostormus, Uroteuthis duvaucelii, and Penaeid prawns. Discards comprised juveniles of commercial species and adults of low market value fishes. Cod end mesh size of trawl net varied from 15–35 mm depending on the fishery resources harvested. Duration of fishing trips by multi-day trawlers varied from 2–4 days, peak fishing activities were observed during October to December followed by February in terms landing. The study clearly indicated an increase in the average catch rate h-1 trawler-1 during the year 2017–18 compared to the previous year 2016–17 along the Sindhudurg coast. The t-Test performed on fish catch and discard of multi-day trawlers showed a statistically significant difference (p<0.05) in a fish catch (kg h-1) and fish discards between two fishing seasons, i.e., 2016–17 and 2017–18.

Ecosystem-based approaches to develop a monitoring framework for restoring the transitional lagoon ecosystem of Pulicat, India

Monitoring habitat fragmentation (HF) for economically significant species at close-ranges can provide crucial data for deriving the indicators of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 14.4 for complex socio-ecological systems such as coastal lagoons. However, exclusivity of local-scale processes causing fragmentation, differences in the monitoring approaches, differential interpretations of resilience to disasters, as well as mismatches in reporting outcomes of scientific studies indicate the need for a focussed monitoring framework for transitional ecosystems. Using the example of penaeid prawns (Peneaus sp.), an economically important species from Pulicat lagoon, (an intertidal ecosystem on the east coast of India), the present work presents the development of a practical framework using selective but effective indicators of HF. The overall approach involves establishment of baselines, causal loops, triggering transformations as well as adaptive responses as per the scale and magnitude of HF. In the context of deriving baselines (Level 1), in-situ indicators such as salinity, turbidity, chlorophyll-a concentrations and distribution of seagrass which directly influence the habitat selection are proposed. Derived datasets on nutrient budgets, changes in abundances, Representative Concentration Pathways scenarios 4.5 and 8.5 for climate-induced changes are proposed as external forcings to understand the causative parameters (Level 2). Monitoring extents of tidal influence in ecosystem-based approach for disaster risk reduction (EcoDRR) is proposed to evaluate triggers and adaptive responses (Level 3). The EcoDRR based framework presented has the potential to contribute towards policy-targeted transformative approaches relevant to India's National Fisheries Policy 2020 as well as SDG 14, cross-correlated with targets of other SDGs.

Small-scale fisheries of the Bons Sinais Estuary in Mozambique with emphasis on utilization of unselective gear

Small-scale fisheries in estuaries of the Western Indian Ocean form a key component of socio-ecological systems (SES) and food security, yet they remain poorly understood. This study describes the estuarine fisheries of the Bons Sinais Estuary in Mozambique based on fisheries and biological data collected by monitors between 2007 and 2016. Multiple gears were used, including beach seines (78 % of sampled fish), chicocota nets (12 %), gillnets (5 %), and hook and line (4 %). Landings were dominated by small pelagic fishes (Engraulidae 29 %, Pristigasteridae 16 %, Clupeidae 11 %) and prawns (Penaeidae 29 %). Monthly averaged fishing effort, landings and catch per unit effort of beach seine and chicocota nets peaked during the dry season, in April and July to October. The proportion of penaeid prawns in landings increased moderately at the end of the wet season, between January and March. The species and size composition selected by beach seine and chicocota nets overlapped, with chicocota nets also retaining marginally smaller individuals. Both gears exploited low trophic level species near the base of the food web, with low trophic values of 2.8 for chicocota and 3.0 for beach seine nets. The small-scale fishery in the Bons Sinais Estuary followed a ‘balanced harvest’ approach in which unselective fishing gear is used to exploit a mix of species and sizes proportional to natural productivity and relative abundance.

Effects of functional polysaccharide from silkworm as an immunostimulant on transcriptional profiling and disease resistance in fish

Dietary manipulation to maintain fish health and reduce bacterial infection through the use of immunostimulants has been widely used worldwide. A broad range of bioactive substances capable of optimising animal health has been found in several insect species, including antimicrobial/antiviral peptides, polysaccharides such as chitin, lauric acid, and insect products such as honey. Recently, we identified a novel bioactive polysaccharide from Bombyx mori, termed silkrose-BM, that can activate innate immunity in mammalian RAW264.7 macrophages and provide effective protection against vibriosis in penaeid prawns. However, the efficacy of dietary silkrose-BM in teleosts remains unclear. Here, we investigated the effects of dietary inclusion of silkrose-BM in Japanese medaka (Oryzias latipes) after they were artificially challenged with Edwardsiella tarda. The survival of medaka after infection with E. tarda was significantly improved by dietary silkrose-BM at a concentration of 10, 100, and 1000 ng/g. RNA-seq analysis was performed in the intestine and liver of the medaka to identify changes in the transcriptional profiling evoked by silkrose-BM. The dietary silkrose-BM group showed 1,194 and 2,259 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the intestine and liver, respectively, when compared with the control group prior to E. tarda infection. Functional enrichment analysis of DEGs showed several putative genes involved in the Toll-like receptor/nuclear factor κB pathway, cytokine-cytokine receptor interactions, complement cascade, antimicrobial peptides, and junctional modification. Taken together, these results suggest that silkrose-BM used as an immunostimulant can improve the immune system and resistance to edwardsiellosis in teleosts.

Diet‐tissue discrimination and turnover of δ13C and δ15N in muscle tissue of a penaeid prawn

RationaleStable isotopes are used to study trophic and movement ecology in aquatic systems, as they provide spatially distinct, time‐integrated signatures of diet. Stable isotope ecology has been used to quantify species‐habitat relationships in many important fisheries species (e.g., penaeid prawns), with approaches that typically assume constant values for diet‐tissue discrimination and diet‐tissue steady state, but these can be highly variable. Here we provide the first report of these processes in Metapenaeus macleayi (eastern school prawn).MethodsHere we explicitly measure and model carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N) diet‐tissue discrimination and turnover in eastern school prawn muscle tissue as a function of experimental time following a change in diet to an isotopically distinct food source.ResultsDiet‐tissue discrimination factors were 5 and 0.6‰ for δ13C and δ15N, respectively. Prawn muscle tissue reached an approximate steady state after approximately 50 and 30 days for δ13C and δ15N. Half‐lives indicated faster turnover of δ15N (~8 days) than δ13C (~14 days).ConclusionsOur diet‐tissue discrimination factors deviate from ‘typical’ values with larger values for carbon than nitrogen isotopes, but are generally similar to those measured in other crustaceans. Similarly, our estimates of isotopic turnover align with those in other penaeid species. These findings confirm muscle tissue as a reliable indicator of long‐term diet and movement patterns in eastern school prawn.

Impact of environmental changes on the fishery of motorized and non-motorized sub-sectors of the upwelling zone of Kerala, southeastern Arabian sea

The marine waters of Kerala state along the southwest coast of India are among the most productive upwelling regions in the southeastern Arabian Sea. Analyses were made to assess the impact of environmental changes on the marine fish catch using motorized and non-motorized craft operating off the coast. The catch per unit effort (CPUE) of total landings, OBGN (outboard gillnet), OBTN (outboard trawlnet), NM (non-motorized) crafts, as well as the catch of 5 major fish resources Indian mackerel, lesser sardines, Stolephorus spp., scads, and penaeid prawns were obtained. Sea surface temperature (SST), chlorophyll, salinity, rainfall, sea level anomaly, multivariate ENSO index, dipole mode index, local temperature anomaly, degree heating month (DHM), degree cooling month (DCM) and surface currents were used as variables to investigate the relationship between environment and fishery. Principal component analysis was used to select the minimum data set and GAM (Generalized additive model) was used to detect the influence of the environment on the fisheries. The adjusted R2 value of the GAM was 0.68, taking the CPUE of the total landings as the response variable. For the case of the selected fish resources, the adjusted R2 value of the GAM was 0.73 for penaeid prawns, followed by Stolephorus spp. (0.44), scads (0.33), lesser sardines (0.31), and Indian mackerel (0.25). Considering the CPUE as the response variable for the GAM also returned high adjusted R2 values for fishing method (OBGN = 0.59, OBTN = 0.53 and NM = 0.31). SST, chlorophyll, rainfall, salinity, yearly DCM and surface currents all had significant influences on the marine fisheries along the Kerala coast. Lower SST, high salinity and rainfall promote the fisheries of both small pelagics and large pelagic groups like scads. Along with the negative relationship between SST and fishery, the present analyses also indicate a positive relationship with yearly DCM, which clearly indicates that the warming of coastal waters has a negative impact on fisheries along the Kerala coast. From these results, we find that ocean currents can play a crucial role in fish recruitment in the coastal waters of Kerala. Primary production, the key factor for marine fishery production, was found to be controlled by environmental factors like SST and currents. These results point to the vulnerability of the small-scale fisheries sector of the tropical upwelling zone to increasing SST and climate change.

Use of a filamentous green alga (Chaetomorpha sp.) and microsnail (Stenothyra sp.) as feed at an early stage of intensive aquaculture promotes growth performance, artificial feed efficiency, and profitability of giant tiger prawn (Penaeus monodon).

With the worldwide demand for tropical penaeid prawn increasing in recent decades, more research on shrimp culture methods is needed to enhance efficiency and profitability for shrimp farmers. The objective of this study was to develop a technique to boost the productivity, feed efficiency, and profitability of the giant tiger prawn (Penaeus monodon). To accomplish this, a novel culture setup was established in which two benthic organisms, a filamentous green alga (Chaetomorpha sp.) and a microsnail (Stenothyra sp.), were propagated together with P. monodon post-larvae during an early culture stage and then offered to shrimp as supplementary live feeds in intensive aquaculture ponds. For the experiment, shrimp post-larvae (density: approximately 33 individuals m-2) were cultured in outdoor concrete ponds (9 × 9 × 1.2 m) under either control (fed only artificial feed, n = 3) or experimental (fed artificial feed and benthic organisms, n = 3) conditions until they reached marketable size (15 weeks). Apparent green algae consumption was 6.81 kg (8.4% green alga to total feed consumption), whereas microsnail consumption was 1.96 kg (2.4% microsnail to total feed consumption). Compared with the control group of giant tiger prawn, the experimental group showed significantly higher productivity (total number of shrimp produced: 118%; total shrimp production: 133%), feed efficiency (feed conversion ratio of artificial shrimp feed: 89%), and profitability (shrimp sales: 139%; balance between shrimp sales and costs: 146%), while labor and financial costs were kept minimal. These results can be explained by the enhanced growth of shrimp at the early stages of culture. The techniques developed in this study will help to advance the efficiency of intensive aquaculture operations for giant tiger prawn and also improve profitability for shrimp farmers.

Effects of reduced pH on an estuarine penaeid shrimp (Metapenaeus macleayi).

Acid sulfate soils are a major problem in modified coastal floodplains and are thought to have substantial impacts on estuarine species. In New South Wales, Australia, acid sulfate soils occur in every estuary and are thought to impact important fisheries species, such as Eastern School Prawn (Metapenaeus macleayi). These fisheries have experienced declining productivity over the last ten years and increasing occurrence of catchment-derived stressors in estuaries contribute to this problem. We evaluated the effect of pH 4-7.5 on School Prawn survival at two salinities (27 and 14.5), pH 5, 6 and 7.5 on the predation escape response (PER) speed at two salinities (27 and 14.5), and pH 4 and 7.5 on respiration rates. While mortality appeared to be greater in the high salinity treatment, there was no significant relationship between proportional survival and pH for either salinity treatment. Respiration was significantly slower under acidic conditions and the average PER was almost twice as fast at pH 7.5 compared to pH 5 (p<0.05), indicating prawns may fall prey to predation more easily in acidic conditions. These findings confirm the hypothesised impacts of acidic water on penaeid prawns. Given that the conditions simulated in these experiments reflect those encountered in estuaries, acidic runoff may be contributing to bottlenecks for estuarine species and impacting fisheries productivity.

Seasonal, interannual and spatial variability in the reproductive dynamics of Penaeus merguiensis

Penaeid prawns (shrimp) are short-lived and fecund, with a complicated life cycle that includes offshore spawning followed by a coastal or estuarine postlarval and juvenile phase. Factors affecting survival during the early life-history stages, and during movement between these stages, will affect variability in recruitment to the nursery ground, the offshore subadult and adult population, and, ultimately, catch. The inability to predict recruitment, and ultimately commercial offshore catch, has been complicated by an incomplete understanding of these factors. The reproductive dynamics of Penaeus (Fenneropenaeus) merguiensis were investigated by simultaneous adult and larval sampling on 66 lunar-monthly surveys from March 1986 to March 1992 in Albatross Bay, northeastern Gulf of Carpentaria, Australia. Egg production was seasonal, with the highest production from 6-mo-old newly recruited spawners, and another peak from 12mo-old spawners. Larval abundance (no. m-2) followed the same seasonal pattern as the abundance of eggs. However, interannual variation in egg and larval abundance was large, and there was a weak correlation between monthly egg and larval abundance. Larval abundance appeared to be further influenced by fluctuations in chlorophyll a concentration, a measure of food availability. There was evidence of a match/mismatch relationship between larval abundance and episodic chlorophyll increases. While there was no direct spawner (egg production)-fishery recruit relationship in P. merguiensis over the 6-yr study, there was a strong relationship between total larval abundance in spring and the size of the commercial catch 3 to 6 mo later. Therefore, factors affecting larval survival, including food availability, have significant implications for fishery production.

Penaeus aztecus Ives, 1891 (Crustacea, Decapoda), in the Scheldt estuary (Belgium): Isolated record or forerunner of a penaeid invasion?

A single specimen of the penaeid prawn Penaeus aztecus (Ives, 1891) was recorded in 2018 in the brackish zone of the Scheldt estuary near Antwerp (Belgium). The presence of this species, native to the West Atlantic, might result either from ships' ballast water coming from transatlantic boat shipping, from illegal import or from a considerable expansion leap northwards from the Mediterranean Sea, where this species has recently established and now has rapidly expanding invasive populations.

Antibiofilm and immunological properties of lectin purified from shrimp Penaeus semisulcatus

Penaeid prawns are considered as most demanding fishery resources. The current study aims to purify and characterize lectin from the haemolymph of Penaeus semisulcatus. The semisulcatus-lectin was purified by affinity chromatography using mannose coupled Sepharose CL-4B column and purified lectin exhibited a single band of 66 kDa in SDS-PAGE. The purity and crystalline structure of purified lectin was confirmed by HPLC and X-ray diffraction analysis. Semisulcatus-lectin exhibited yeast agglutination activity against Saccharomyces cerevisiae and agglutinated human erythrocytes. Semisulcatus-lectin was evaluated for phenol oxidase activation and phagocytic activities. It was observed that semisulcatus-lectin had antibacterial activity against Gram-negative Vibrio parahaemolyticus and Aeromonas hydrophila, suggesting a potential therapeutic strategy in aquaculture industry for disease management.

The influence of rainfall on recruitment success and commercial catch for the large sciaenid, Argyrosomus japonicus, in eastern Australia

Freshwater flows into estuaries influence fish populations through effects on recruitment, growth and mortality. We compared year class strength of a large sciaenid Argyrosomus japonicus with rainfall through a 16-year period in southeastern Australia, to understand the influence of freshwater input on this estuary-dependent and depleted population. Relative year class strength, estimated by back-calculating age composition data from commercial fishery landings, was positively related to rainfall within estuarine catchments (R2 = 52%). Commercial estuarine landings from a separate 29-year dataset were positively related to rainfall two and three years earlier (R2 = 21% and 44%, respectively). Year class strength of a key prey species, the penaeid prawn Metapenaeus macleayi, was also related to year class strength of A. japonicus (R2 = 39%), suggesting that rainfall influences recruitment of A. japonicus by affecting food availability. Several years of above average rainfall may be required to promote recruitment substantial enough to rebuild the population.

Stable isotopes reveal the importance of saltmarsh-derived nutrition for two exploited penaeid prawn species in a seagrass dominated system

Estuaries represent highly important nursery habitats for a range of species, with refuge and nutrition being two key benefits derived from estuaries. Quantifying these benefits provides us with a means for enhancing fisheries productivity. Metapenaeus macleayi (School Prawn) and Penaeus plebejus (Eastern King Prawn) are two commercially and recreationally important species in New South Wales that utilise estuarine nurseries throughout their life history. In this study, stable isotopes of carbon, nitrogen and sulfur were used to determine the proportional contribution of primary producers to prawn nutrition in Brisbane Water (NSW). Both the saltmarsh grass Sporobolus virginicus and seagrass Zostera muelleri were found to support a high trophic contribution to prawns (up to 53% and 40%, respectively). The contributions of other primary producers such as mangroves, fine benthic organic matter (FBOM) and C3 saltmarsh plants were generally found to be much lower (0.7–15%). Such findings are generally consistent with patterns observed in other south-east Australian estuaries, however such a dominant role of saltmarsh in the presence of seagrass is a novel finding. These results highlight linkages between habitats of conservation concern and highly valuable fisheries species, and the benefit of using sulfur as an additional marker in Bayesian mixing models examining estuarine food webs.

The biology and ecology of the banana prawns: Penaeus merguiensis de Man and P. indicus H. Milne Edwards.

The two banana prawns Penaeus merguiensis and P. indicus are arguably the most commercially important species of penaeid prawns in the tropical and sub-tropical Indo-West Pacific region. They are fecund, short-lived, and have a complex life history involving offshore spawning, inshore mangrove-lined nursery grounds, and migrations between the two locations. We have reviewed and assessed published research on: the fisheries and aquaculture; taxonomy and identification; distribution and habitat preferences; growth; mortality; food and feeding; predation, and the importance of the mangrove habitat to banana prawns. We have examined the life history patterns of these two banana prawns and the many environmental and biological factors that affect different life history stages, often resulting in large interannual variations in abundances of adult prawns and commercial catches. We have also reviewed research on the ecosystem relationships involving these prawns, including fishery impacts on the environment and other species caught as bycatch. In reviewing the published information on factors affecting recruitment dynamics and variability, we have sometimes found contrasting and confounding results, suggesting that these factors are not yet fully understood. Therefore, for each aspect of the prawns' biology we have pointed to areas with incomplete or conflicted understanding, which will hopefully guide future research on these extremely valuable prawn species.

KIFC1 is essential for normal spermatogenesis and its depletion results in early germ cell apoptosis in the Kuruma shrimp, Penaeus (Marsupenaeus) japonicus.

In order to explore the dynamic mechanisms during spermatogenesis of the penaeid prawns, the full length of kifc1 was cloned from testis cDNA of Penaeus japonicus through RACE. Both semi-quantitative RT-PCR and Western blot results indicated that KIFC1 was extensive expressed in different tissue of P. japonicus. Compared with other tissue, the highest expression of KIFC1 occurred in the testis. According to the immunofluorescence results, the KIFC1 protein was detected at each stage of whole process of spermatogenesis. In the spermatogonial phase, KIFC1 mainly dispersed in cytoplasm and co-localized with microtubules, while abundant KIFC1 signal was detected in the nucleus of spermatocytes. At the early stage of spermatids, KIFC1 was transported from the nucleus into the cytoplasm, and it assisted microtubule assembly onto one side of the nucleus. Finally, in mature sperm, it was weakly expressed in the acrosome. This implies that KIFC1 may participate in the mitosis of spermatogonia, meiosis of spermatocyte, and acrosome formation during spermiogenesis; it may also play functions in acrosome maintaining in mature sperm. In addition, the results of KIFC1 knockdown by dsRNA injection in vivo reveal that decreased KIFC1 expression may induce aberrant microtubule assembly, and it leads to spermatogonia and spermatocyte apoptosis.

Catchment-derived stressors, recruitment, and fisheries productivity in an exploited penaeid shrimp

Many factors can affect growth, survival, reproduction, and fisheries productivity of estuarine species, including structural and physico-chemical habitats, and freshwater inflow to estuaries. Land-based activities can lead to poor catchment condition, and catchment-derived stressors can adversely impact estuarine systems. Using the Eastern School Prawn (Metapenaeus macleayi) in a south-eastern Australian estuary (Camden Haven Estuary) as a case study, we examine juvenile recruitment and fisheries productivity alongside a comprehensive suite of catchment-derived stressors, and interpret patterns in the context of existing studies of lethal and sub-lethal impacts of these stressors on penaeid prawns. Logged dissolved oxygen data indicated a moderate frequency of hypoxia throughout the system, with occasional periods of anoxia. Dissolved aluminium concentrations remained above the relevant marine water quality guideline for the majority of the study period, and concentrations tended to correlate with estuarine inflow. Hypoxia led to depressed prawn abundance, and both hypoxia and high estuary inflow led to decreased somatic condition in prawns. Long-term commercial catch negatively correlated with estuary inflow, which was the opposite of the expected pattern for the species. These patterns highlight the potential cumulative impacts of a complex array of catchment-derived stressors on an important exploited penaeid species. Similar patterns probably occur for prawn species across other floodplain estuaries across south-eastern Australia, and suggest a hitherto unquantified economic impact of degraded catchments through losses in fisheries productivity.

The Seasonal Variability in The Genus-Family Structure of Free-Living Nematode Communities in Organic Shrimp Farming Ponds, Ca Mau Province

The Seasonal Variability in The Genus-Family Structure of Free-Living Nematode Communities in Organic Shrimp Farming Ponds, Ca Mau Province

Evaluating the impact of moulting and chilled storage of spermatophores on the integrity of plasma membrane, acrosome and DNA of black tiger prawn ( Penaeus monodon ) spermatozoa

To explore the impact of moulting and short-term chilled storage of spermatophores on the sperm quality for a commercially important penaeid prawn, spermatozoa of Penaeus monodon from early (B-C), middle (D0-1) and late (D2-3) moult stages were compared for sperm quality parameters relating to the structural integrity of plasma membrane (Viab%), acrosome (AR%) and DNA (SDF%) after being stored at 4°C for 0–26 days. The three different sperm extenders used for chilled storage included artificial lobster haemolymph (AH), calcium free saline (CS) and filtered seawater (FS); two storage conditions were applied either as a free sperm suspension or retained within the intact spermatophore. Results showed that (a) the lowest natural AR% was shown for B-C spermatozoa in CS whereas the highest levels were for B-C, D0-1 and D2-3 spermatozoa in FS and D2-3 spermatozoa in AH; (b) the calcium ionophore A23187 agent used in this study was able to increase the mean AR% by 6.22%; (c) the Viab% was significantly lower in CS than that in FS; (d) the SDF% significantly increased over the period of chilled storage for B-C and D0-1 spermatozoa, while the SDF% of D2-3 spermatozoa was initially elevated and did not change significantly over time; and (e) there was no difference in sperm quality between two storage conditions. This study has successfully demonstrated the moult-related variance in the percentages of acrosome-reacted and DNA-damaged spermatozoa, providing evidence of moult-related spermatophore renewal cycle in this species.