Sufficient pure ciguatoxin (0.5 mg of CTX-1) has been isolated from moray eel viscera to allow the immunisation of mice and screening of antibodies to ciguatoxin. It is determined that in vivo immunisation techniques were most likely to yield antibodies using related toxins as models of ciguatoxin....
ORGANISATION:
Department of Agriculture and Fisheries EcoScience Precinct
This project confirmed that the benthic dinoflagellate Gambierdiscus toxicus is an origin of putative ciguatoxin precursors called gambiertoxins. It was recently found in French Polynesia that gambiertoxins could be extracted from biodetritus containing wild G. toxicus and that gambiertoxins were...
ORGANISATION:
Department of Agriculture and Fisheries EcoScience Precinct
The problem of deterioration of the crab flesh, commonly called 'mushiness', has been widely known, and mostly ignored, for many years. When mushiness occurs, the normally firm and resilient crab muscle loses integrity and becomes soft. A mushy crab is externally indistinguishable from one with firm...
ORGANISATION:
Department of Agriculture and Fisheries EcoScience Precinct
Based on logbook records the sand crab commercial pot fishery in Moreton Bay is worth in the vicinity of $2 million wholesale annually. Sand crabs are also taken as an incidental by-catch by otter trawlers and in addition Moreton Bay supports a substantial recreational fishery.
Sand crabs are caught...
ORGANISATION:
Department of Agriculture and Fisheries EcoScience Precinct
Seagrasses are of immense ecological importance in marine ecosystems. Primary production rates for seagrass beds are amongst the highest recorded for marine and terrestrial systems. They have a well documented role as animal habitat, nursery grounds, and as substrate stabilizers.
The proximity of...
ORGANISATION:
Department of Agriculture and Fisheries EcoScience Precinct