Ageing the unageable: investigating novel methods of ageing exploited crabs and lobsters
Lead Research Organisation:
University of East Anglia
Department Name: Biological Sciences
Abstract
Sustainable exploitation of fish and shellfish stocks requires an understanding of growth rates. Most fish and molluscs can be aged by counting growth rings laid down in hard calcified structures. In contrast, most crustaceans cannot be aged accurately as they periodically lose and replace most calcified structures through molting. This project will investigate the potential of some novel methods of ageing commercially important crustacean species. In particular, the potential of a variety of DNA based and epigenetic markers will be investigated using both laboratory reared and wild sourced samples. This project is a collaboration between Dr Martin Taylor and Prof. David Richardson at UEA and Dr Ewan Bell at CEFAS, bringing together expertise in molecular genetics, ageing and senescence and crustacean fishery management / biology.
People |
ORCID iD |
| Martin Taylor (Primary Supervisor) | |
| Eleanor Fairfield (Student) |
Studentship Projects
| Project Reference | Relationship | Related To | Start | End | Student Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BB/M011216/1 | 01/10/2015 | 31/03/2024 | |||
| 1776960 | Studentship | BB/M011216/1 | 01/10/2016 | 30/11/2020 | Eleanor Fairfield |
| Description | We investigated two molecular markers of crustacean age. Firstly, the number of mutations in the mitochondrial genome has been shown to accumulate with age in humans and vertebrate model animals and has therefore been put forward as a useful marker of animal age. We quantified the number of mutations in the mitochondrial genomes of European lobsters and red cherry shrimp of different ages. Surprisingly, the number of mutations did not differ across age groups, suggesting that this is not a useful predictor of crustacean age. Secondly, the amount of DNA methylation at individual loci has provided accurate estimates of age in a wide range of animals, including Humpback whales and European bass. We investigated whether it is possible to predict European lobster age by quantifying the amount of methylation in ribosomal DNA. We were able to predict the age of young lobsters with high accuracy and precision using information on the amount of methylation at just ten ribosomal DNA loci. |
| Exploitation Route | Our method for ageing European lobsters using methylation of ribosomal DNA was shown to perform really well in young individuals. The method now requires further validation across older lobsters of known age, using DNA from different tissues, and across different geographic locations and species. |
| Sectors | Aerospace, Defence and Marine,Agriculture, Food and Drink,Environment |
| Description | Development of a novel ageing method for European lobsters |
| Amount | £30,720 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 11/2019 |
| End | 03/2020 |
| Description | Further development of a novel ageing method for European lobsters |
| Amount | £248,213 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | RD051 |
| Organisation | Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 01/2021 |
| End | 03/2022 |
| Description | The National Lobster Hatchery |
| Organisation | National Lobster Hatchery |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | An agreement was made to provide The National Lobster Hatchery (NLH) with the opportunity to contribute and comment on any manuscripts and to grant NLH joint authorship on publications where meaningful contributions are made. We will also acknowledge support in any materials (presentations, posters etc.) produced about the project. |
| Collaborator Contribution | NLH have provided samples from known-age European lobsters (1 day - 2 years old) reared in their hatchery. |
| Impact | NLH have provided samples from known-age European lobsters (1 day - 2 years old) reared in their hatchery, which has allowed us to explore molecular changes in known-age individuals of a commercially-important crustacean. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | Visit from Villiers park students |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | 17 x AS-level students and 2 x UG student ambassadors visited our aquarium facility at UEA. I spoke to them about our research and why it is important. The purpose was to give the students an idea of what it is like to work in research related to ecology and evolution. This visit was combined with visits to other research groups in the department. Overall feedback was that the visit increased interest in studying biology at University. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |