Early development and control of Phestilla fuscostriata

Zhang Man, Xian Ziyang, Chang Siyi, Zhan Zhitong, Yu Zhaolin, Yu Kefu

Journal of Marine Sciences ›› 2026, Vol. 44 ›› Issue (3) : 129-137.

PDF(5894 KB)
PDF(5894 KB)
Journal of Marine Sciences ›› 2026, Vol. 44 ›› Issue (3) : 129-137. DOI: 10.27049/j.cnki.1001-909X.2025077

Early development and control of Phestilla fuscostriata

Author information +
History +

Abstract

Phestilla fuscostriata is a nudibranch mollusk that exclusively preys on Pavona decussata. This study investigated the early developmental characteristics of P.fuscostriata and explored effective control methods through microscopic observation and physiological-biochemical analysis. The results showed that the embryonic development of P.fuscostriata progresses from fertilized eggs through the cleavage stage, blastula stage, gastrula stage, encapsulated trochophore stage, and encapsulated veliger stage, completing hatching at 168 hours post-fertilization under a water temperature of 26 ℃. Subsequent control experiments revealed that allicin exhibited strong killing efficacy and licorice extract showed good removal efficacy, and that both were safe for P.decussata with no toxic side effects. Therefore, they are recommended as effective agents for controlling P.fuscostriata. The findings of this study provide fundamental data for research on the reproductive biology of P.fuscostriata and offer valuable insights for developing green and efficient control strategies against coral-eating nudibranchs.

Key words

Phestilla fuscostriata / early development / plant extracts / control efficacy / Pavona decussata / nudibranch mollusk / reproductive biology / ecological safety

Cite this article

Download Citations
Zhang Man , Xian Ziyang , Chang Siyi , et al . Early development and control of Phestilla fuscostriata[J]. Journal of Marine Sciences. 2026, 44(3): 129-137 https://doi.org/10.27049/j.cnki.1001-909X.2025077

References

[1]
Allgeier J E. The ecosystem ecology of coral reefs revisited[J]. Annual Review of Ecology, Evolution, and Systematics, 2024, 55: 251-370.
[2]
Pacey K I, Caballes C F, Pratchett M S. Using size-weight relationships to estimate biomass of heavily targeted aquarium corals by Australia’s coral harvest fisheries[J]. Scientific Reports, 2023, 13: 1448.
Coral reefs are highly threatened environs subject to ongoing unprecedented degradation as a result of anthropogenic activities. Given the existential threat to coral reef ecosystems, extractive industries that make use of coral reef resources, are facing significant public and political pressure to quantify and justify their environmental impact. In Australia, hundreds of thousands of live scleractinian (hard) corals are harvested annually directly from the wild to supply the growing international marine aquarium trade. Many of the most popular and high value aquarium corals are believed to be slow growing, which would make them particularly vulnerable to over-fishing. Corals present a number of unique challenges for fisheries management, not least of which, is the marked variation in the size of corals, which may be harvested in whole or in part. This issue is further compounded because harvest limits are typically weight-based, but there is very limited information on the standing biomass of corals in targeted stocks. Herein, we describe size-weight relationships for some of Australia's most heavily targeted coral species (Catalaphyllia jardinei, Duncanopsammia axifuga, Euphyllia glabrescens, Homophyllia cf. australis, Micromussa lordhowensis, Trachyphyllia geoffroyi), which allows estimation of standing biomass from transect surveys. This work represents an important first step in the development of ecologically sound management strategies by bridging the gap between catch reporting and stock assessments.© 2023. The Author(s).
[3]
Barton J A, Bourne D G, Humphrey C, et al. Parasites and coral-associated invertebrates that impact coral health[J]. Reviews in Aquaculture, 2020, 12(4): 2284-2303.
[4]
Wang A, Conti-Jerpe I E, Richards J L, et al. Phestilla subodiosus sp. nov. (Nudibranchia, Trinchesiidae), a corallivorous pest species in the aquarium trade[J]. ZooKeys, 2020, 909: 1-24.
[5]
Mehrotra R, Arnold S, Wang A, et al. A new species of coral-feeding nudibranch (Mollusca: Gastropoda) from the Gulf of Thailand[J]. Marine Biodiversity, 2020, 50(3): 36.
[6]
Yiu S K F, Chung S S, Qiu J W. New observations on the corallivorous nudibranch Phestilla melanobrachia: morphology, dietary spectrum and early development[J]. Journal of Molluscan Studies, 2021, 87(4): eyab034.
[7]
Hu J T, Zhang Y J, Yiu S K F, et al. A new species of predatory Nudibranch (Gastropoda: Trinchesiidae) of the scleractinian coral Goniopora[J]. Zoological Studies, 2020, 59: 62.
[8]
Yiu S K F, Qiu J W. Distribution, dietary preference and larval settlement preference of three scleractinain-coral-eating nudibranchs Phestilla spp. (Nudibranchia: Trinchesiidae) from Hong Kong waters[J]. Regional Studies in Marine Science, 2023, 61: 102858.
[9]
Hu J T, Zhang Y J, Xie J Y, et al. A new species of predatory Nudibranch (Gastropoda: Trinchesiidae) of the coral Pavona decussata[J]. Zoological Studies, 2020, 59: 30.
[10]
Barton J A, Neil R C, Humphrey C, et al. Efficacy of chemical treatments for Acropora-eating flatworm infestations[J]. Aquaculture, 2021, 532: 735978.
[11]
Krol L, Dunker F H, LaDouceur E, et al. Milbemycin oxime (interceptor) treatment of pycnogonid sea spider infestation in three species of corals[J]. Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine, 2023, 54(2): 292-300.
A coral reef system at the Steinhart Aquarium in San Francisco, CA, USA experienced a population explosion of pycnogonid sea spiders (Arthropoda: Class Pycnogonida) with subsequent deleterious health effects on the corals in the system. Sixteen coral colonies across three species (,, and ) were chosen from this system for milbemycin oxime immersion therapy trials, with the goal of decreasing or eradicating the sea spider population with minimal detrimental effect to the corals. Corals underwent two milbemycin immersion treatments, administered 1 wk apart, at the previously published aquatic invertebrate dose of 0.016 parts per million (ppm; mg/L), but therapy did not reduce the number of sea spiders. Doubling the dose to 0.032 ppm milbemycin and repeating this immersion therapy 1/wk for three treatments successfully reduced the sea spiders. Histopathology was used to assess the health of the corals and tolerance to therapy, and posttreatment biopsies confirmed that there were no adverse effects to any of the three species of coral. Repeated 1/ wk treatments of milbemycin oxime immersion therapy at 0.032 ppm appears to be both safe and effective for reducing the numbers of pycnogonid sea spiders in the stony corals,, and.
[12]
Cheng C M, Cheng Y R, Ding D S, et al. Effects of ciliate infection on the activities of two antioxidant enzymes (SOD and CAT) in captive coral (Goniopora columna) and evalua-tion of drug therapy[J]. Biology, 2021, 10(11): 1216.
[13]
Carl M. Predators and pests of captive corals[M]//Leewis R J, Janse M. Advances in coral husbandry in public aquariums. Arnhem: Burgers' Zoo, 2008: 31-36.
[14]
Singh V K, Singh D K. Enzyme inhibition by allicin, the molluscicidal agent of Allium sativum L. (garlic)[J]. Phytotherapy Research, 1996, 10(5): 383-386.
[15]
Ding D S, Pan C Y, Sun W T, et al. Evaluation of Forsythia suspensa extract for drug therapy of ciliate infection in coral (Goniopora columna)[J]. Aquaculture, 2023, 573: 739581.
[16]
姜登钊, 李辉敏. 甘草提取物与氯硝柳胺联合杀螺效果研究[J]. 中国病原生物学杂志, 2015, 10(3): 277-280.
Jiang D Z, Li H M. Study of the molluscicidal action of a Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch.extract in combination with niclosamide[J]. Journal of Parasitic Biology, 2015, 10(3): 277-280.
[17]
张蓉, 王晓雯, 朱建亚, 等. 植物提取物应用于水产饲料的研究进展[J]. 中国农学通报, 2019, 35(27): 142-145.
Abstract
植物提取物因其安全、绿色和高效等特点已成为目前替代抗生素的研究热点。植物提取物含有多种有效成分,具有多种生理活性,应用于不同水产动物效果不同。本文分别从诱食性、促生长、免疫增强、抗氧化应激和抗病原菌五个方面,综述了植物提取物在水产饲料中的最新研究进展,为开发环保型饲料添加剂提供理论参考。
Zhang R, Wang X W, Zhu J Y, et al. Application of plant extracts to aquatic feed: a review[J]. Chinese Agricultural Science Bulletin, 2019, 35(27): 142-145.
Plant extracts are regarded as promising alternatives to antibiotics due to their distinct properties, such as safety, environment-friendly and efficiency. Plant extracts contain a variety of active components, which have various physiological activities, and their effects on aquatic animals are inconsistent. In this paper, we summarized the latest research progress of plant extracts in aquatic feed from five aspects, which were appetite stimulating, growth promoting, immune enhancement, anti-oxidative stress and pathogenic resistance. The study can provide a basis for the development of environmental-friendly feed additives.
[18]
蒙林庆, 黄雯, 阳恩广, 等. 高温白化事件可提高涠洲岛澄黄滨珊瑚(Porites lutea)的耐热性[J]. 海洋学报, 2022, 44(8): 87-96.
Meng L Q, Huang W, Yang E G, et al. High temperature bleaching events can increase thermal tolerance of Porites lutea in the Weizhou Island[J]. Haiyang Xuebao, 2022, 44(8): 87-96.
[19]
丁小雨, 李振通, 段鹏飞, 等. 长期超低温冷冻保存对鞍带石斑鱼精子超微结构及酶活性的影响[J]. 水产学报, 2023, 47(7): 48-64.
Ding X Y, Li Z T, Duan P F, et al. Effects of long-term cryopreservation on ultrastructure and enzyme activity of Epinephelus lanceolatus sperm[J]. Journal of Fisheries of China, 2023, 47(7): 48-64.
[20]
张廷超, 潘能斌, 唐媛媛, 等. 虫黄藻(Effrenium voratum)对高温胁迫的生理响应[J]. 海南热带海洋学院学报, 2025, 32(2): 1-10.
Zhang T C, Pan N B, Tang Y Y, et al. Physiological response of Effrenium voratum to high-temperature stress[J]. Journal of Hainan Tropical Ocean University, 2025, 32(2): 1-10.
PDF(5894 KB)

Accesses

Citation

Detail

Sections
Recommended

/

〈 〉