To advance the development of a sustainable aquarium aquaculture program, a small scale, fully adjustable system that can easil y meet the needs of most aquarium fishes was fabricated . This resulted in Roger Williams University creating the Modular Larval Rearing System (MoLaRS), which has since been dispersed to numerous aquarium institutions globally. Withi n the MoLaRS, specific needs of the species being reared (water flow, light levels, live feed retention, aeration, etc.) can be tailored throughout the larval duration and even into juvenile growout . This allowed aquariums to have a multifaceted system that could work with in their spaces and facilitate the production of their spawning species on exhibit. The success of this larval rearing platform has allowed it to be fully transferable.
Applying the MoLaRS technique for rearing non-model species is an area where aquaculture is currently underutilized . RWU’s MoLaRS was successful in producing searobins (Prionotus carolinus and P. evolans). Searobins are an interesting non-model species allowing for the study of limb development and evolution . These fish have well developed fin rays that are modified for walking, digging, and sensing prey connected to specialized spinal lobes , hereafter referred to as legs.
Genetically edited S triped and N orthern searobins (Prionotus spp. ) were cultured to pinpoint essential transcription factors that are differentially expressed in leg development . These transcription factors play a vital role in ensuring accurate leg and neurological development in sea robins.
These species are a promising model for exploring the regulation of leg development genes in humans and other vertebrates’ traits . This work also opened the ability to answer additional questions, including developmental attributes, such as the genes responsible for their characteristic armor, and electrical signal transduction. Traditionally, marine aquaculture has focused on food production and recreation . Marine aquaculture of non-model species can expand biological research traditionally reserved for zebrafish and other model freshwater species .