February 15-18, 2009 Washington State Convention Center Seattle ...

ADVANCES IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE GERMPLASM BANK OF AQUATIC SPECIES
OF BAJA CALIFORNIA MEXICO
Carmen G. Paniagua-Chavez
Department of Aquaculture
Centro de Investigación Científica y de Educación Superior de Ensenada (CICESE)
Kilómetro 107 Carrt. Tijuana-Ensenada
Ensenada, Baja California, 22800, México
cpaniagu@cicese.mx
In 2005, the Centro de Investigación Científica y de Educación Superior de Ensenada (CICESE) launched the first Germplasm
Bank of Aquatic Species (GBAS) of Baja California. This project was developed with funds of the National Council of Science
and Technology (CONACyT) and the Secretary of the Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT). The goal of the
GBAS is to conserve genetic resources of important biological and commercial species of Baja California to help in programs
of conservation or enhance the aquaculture industry in the state.
Up to date, the GBAS contains samples from three important commercial species; red abalone (Haliotis rufescens), Pacific oyster
(Crassostrea gigas), and California flounder (Paralichtys californicus); one endemic species, rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus
mykiss var. nelsoni); and one endanger species, totoaba (Totoaba macdonaldi).
Preliminary studies have been performed for the cryopreservation of sperm of
white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei), sea cucumber (Cucumber apostichupus)
and trochophore larvae of red abalone. Other organisms to be considered for
the GBAS are important abalone species such as green, pink, white and black
abalone; clams such as geoduck and pismo clams; different species of sea
urchin, and a variety of marine and fresh water fish.
Sample collection has focus on sperm, embryos or eggs (Fig. 1). However, it
has been considered to store other type of tissues. The acquisition of the samples
depends on organisms’ availability or spawning season. Besides storing samples,
the GBAS achieve different studies to optimize de cryopreservation of endemic
species and carry out techniques to verify sample quality such as cytoplasm membrane
and DNA integrity, changes on proteins (MAPK) activity, and pathogen
transfer, among others (Fig. 2).
Information technologies have been an important issue for the bank. A specific
information management system was developed and called GBAS Information
Management System (GBAS-IMS ℃ ). The GBAS-IMS ℃ provides support for the
operation of the GBAS in daily bases.
The GBAS is a pilot project looking forward to help in the creation of the
National GBAS in the future.
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