Lethal effects caused by suspended particles and sediment load on zoospores and gametophytes of the brown alga <Emphasis Type="Italic">Eisenia bicyclis</Emphasis>

ABSTRACT:   The effects caused by suspended particles in seawater and sediment cover of the substrate on the attachment to the substrate of zoospores, and on the subsequent growth and survival of gametophytes of the brown alga Eisenia bicyclis were examined in the laboratory. The attachment rate to the substrate of the zoospores was remarkably reduced by the sediment cover on the substrate, and it decreased to 3.8% of the no-sediment control by a slight sediment cover of 3.0 mg/cm² (0.048 mm in thickness). The growth of gametophytes was not inhibited at 10 mg/cm² or less of sediment cover, though it was stopped at 30 mg/cm². The survival rate of gametophytes became 39.4% at 5 mg/cm² on the substrate, and gametophytes were all blighted at 30 mg/cm². The ratio of male to female of the surviving gametophytes became 81.5:18.5, when the sediment cover was 10 mg/cm². The rate of total loss ( TL [%]) of zoospores and gametophytes of Eisenia bicyclis was obtained from the following equation: TL  = 100 (1 − exp[−0.0339  C ] exp[−1.24  Q ]), where, C (mg/L) and Q (mg/cm²) indicate the concentration of suspended particles in seawater and the sediment on the substrate, respectively.     

The Culture of the Rotifer Brachionus plicatilis with Chlorella vulgaris Containing Vitamin B12 in its Cells

The rotifer Brachionus plicatilis requires vitamin B₁₂. Freshwater Chlorella , which is produced by traditional culture, cannot support rotifer growth under bacteria-free conditions. However, Chlorella enriched with vitamin B₁₂ can support rotifer growth. To attain stable mass production of Brachionus , it is desirable to develop a food that can completely support growth of the rotifers. The authors cultured rotifers at experimental and mass culture scale with concentrated Chlorella vulgaris suspension enriched with vitamin B₁₂ in their cells.
Chlorella suspensions were prepared containing different amounts of vitamin B₁₂ in their cells, and rotifers were then cultured in 20 ml of the prepared suspensions. The highest rotifer yield was obtained from the group cultured with Chlorella containing more vitamin B₁₂ in their cells. The suitable content of vitamin B₁₂ in the concentrated Chlorella suspension commercially available for mass culture of the rotifer is considered to be 200 _μg per 100 g dry matter of Chlorella . The amount of vitamin B₁₂ necessary to produce one individual rotifer is calculated at 0.32 pg.
The authors conducted mass production of the rotifer with baker's yeast and refrigerated concentrated Chlorella containing vitamin B₁₂ Rotifer culture with vitamin B₁₂ was more stable and showed 1.3 times higher production than with normal Chlorella .     

Growth of 0+ perch (Perca fluviatilis) predating on 0+ bream (Abramis brama)

Abstract – Larvae and juveniles of perch Perca fluviatilis and bream Abramis brama of Lake Speldrop, a highly eutrophicated gravel-pit lake in the floodplain of the Lower Rhine, were used in laboratory experiments to study predation of perch on bream. In the first series of experiments (control), 0+ perch of 30 mm total length (TL) did not prey on 0+ roach of about 24 mm TL. The perch fed only on zooplankton, resulting in low growth rates of 0.17 mm  ·  day⁻¹. In the second series of experiments, perch (30 mm TL) were combined with 0+ bream with an average TL of 14 and 19 mm at different ratios. As in the first series, even a nine-fold higher amount of zooplankton food had no significant influence on the growth rate of perch, regardless of the perch:bream ratio. At a perch: bream ratio of 7:1 and 4:4 all bream were eaten by the perch and restocked twice daily. At the end of the experiment, the TL of perch at a perch:bream ratio of 7:1 was significantly lower compared to a perch:bream ratio of 4:4 (mean growth rates at 7:1 of 0.16 mm  ·  day⁻¹ and at 4:4 of 0.35 mm  ·  day⁻¹). At the perch:bream ratio of 1:7, perch fed on bream in varying amounts, averaging between 3 and 12 bream per day and per individual. After 20 days, the final length of these fish was always significantly higher than the TL of perch at other perch:bream ratios and increased in correlation to number of bream eaten per day (mean growth rate 1.13 mm  ·  day⁻¹). The results are discussed with respect to the piscivore-dominated fish community of the eutrophied Lake Speldrop. ^Note     

Occurrence of viral haemorrhagic septicaemia in rainbow trout Salmo gairdneri Richardson reared in sea-water

Abstract. Viral haemorrhagic septicaemia (VHS) is reported for the first time in sea-water cultured rainbow trout. Heavy mortalities with typical signs and lesions A VHS virus (serotype 1) was isolated from the diseased fish. The mortalities were caused only by the VHS virus and 80 days post transfer of trout to sea-water the mortalities reached 85%, of the initial population.
The disease was experimentally transmitted to rainbow trout, both in sea-water 3·10⁴ pfu/ml of virus or by intramuscular injection of various doses of VHS₁ (7·10¹ 7·10⁴ or 7·10⁴ pfu per fish). Death occurred in all infected groups and started earlier in sea-water. Typical signs of VHS were observed in moribund fish. Viral multiplication was demonstrated to have occurred in fish organs.     

Use of night-lights to attract food organisms into tropical marine fish cages

Abstract. A 91-day cage trial was conducted with juvenile seabass, Lates calcarifer (Bloch), and grouper, Epinephelus tauvina (Forskal), to ascertain the capacity of kerosene pressure lamps and fluorescent electric lamps as night-lights above the cages to attract pelagic food organisms into the cage and consequently sustain the survival and growth of the cultured fish. The experiment was conducted using 1×1×1·5m floating cages with three different net mesh sizes (1, 13, and 19mm) and four fish stocking densities (seabass—10, 20,30 and 40/m³; grouper —10/m³). A positive growth response and survival was observed with seabass and to a lesser extent with grouper with increasing net mesh size and decreasing fish stocking density. At the lowest tested density of 10 fish/m³ seabass survival increased from 5·0 to 95·0% and total cage fish biomass increased from −95·1% to +56·9% with an increase in net mesh size from 1 to 19mm over the 91-day culture trial, respectively. The results are discussed in relation to the current commercial marine finfish cage farming practices employed in Indonesia.     

Optimum feeding rate, and energy and protein maintenance requirements of young Clarias batrachus (L.), a cultivable catfish species

Abstract. Protein and energy maintenance and optimum feed requirements are reported in the catfish, Clarias batrachus (L.), fed a purified diet (40% CP; 1487·1kJ/100g) at 0 to 8% (BW/day) ration levels. Linear (r = 0·985) increase was observed in daily average growth increment up to a ration level of 4% (BW/day), corresponding to 6·03g protein/(kg^0·8BW/day) and 224·26 kJ energy/(kg^0·8 BW/day). Maintenance requirements, obtained by regressing daily average growth increment to zero, were 0·942 g/(kg^0·8 BW/day) for protein and 36·02 kJ/(kg^0·8BW/day) for energy. Net gains in muscle protein and energy also depicted linear increase (r = 0·975) with feeding levels up to 6·03g protein/(kg^0·8 BW/day) and 224·26kJ energy/(kg^0·8 BW/day). On fitting the above data to regression equations, giving the amount of dietary protein and energy required to maintain a constant amount of body protein and energy, values of 1·005g/(kg^0·8 BW/day) and 42·11 kJ/(kg^0·8BW/day) were obtained for protein and energy respectively. The optimum feeding rate for this species, as evident from specific growth rate and conversion efficiencies, appears to be 3% (BW/day) at 30 ± 2°C. Moisture and lipid contents in muscle were found to be significantly ( P < 0·05) affected by the ration levels.     

Growth of juvenile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus L. from Lakes Zwai, Langeno and Chamo (Ethiopian rift valley) based on otolith microincrement analysis

Abstract – Age and growth of juvenile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus , from Lakes Zwai, Langeno and Chamo (Ethiopia) were studied from microincrements in otoliths. Growth in length was best described by the Gompertz model. Average growth rate of the fish was most rapid in Lake Chamo (0.39 mm  ·  day⁻¹, 1.14%  ·  day⁻¹), intermediate in Lake Zwai (0.20 mm  ·  day⁻¹, 0.72%  ·  day⁻¹) and slowest in Lake Langeno (0.16 mm  ·  day⁻¹, 0.62%  ·  day⁻¹). Similarly, back-calculation from otolith increment widths gave growth rates of 0.28 to 0.43 mm  ·  day⁻¹, 0.15 to 0.32 mm  ·  day⁻¹ and 0.11 to 0.28 mm  ·  day⁻¹ for Chamo, Zwai and Langeno fish, respectively. In addition, Fulton's condition factor was largest for Chamo tilapia and smallest for Langeno tilapia; the difference between fish from Langeno and Zwai was small. Rapid growth of juvenile O. niloticus in Lake Chamo was attributed to warm temperature and better food quality. ^Note     

Effects of including catla and tilapia in a freshwater prawn–mola polyculture in a rotational rice–fish culture systems

An on-farm trial was carried out from February to June 2006 to evaluate the growth and production performance of catla ( Catla catla ) and tilapia ( Oreochromis niloticus ) with freshwater prawn ( Macrobrachium rosenbergii ) and mola ( Amblypharyngodon mola ) in farmer's rice fields. In all treatments, 20 000 mola ha⁻¹ and 20 000 prawn ha⁻¹ were stocked. Besides, stocking included 2500 catla ha⁻¹ in treatment-I, 2500 tilapia ha⁻¹ in treatment-II and catla and tilapia at 1250 ha⁻¹ each in treatment-III . Prawns were fed in the evening with pellets at a feeding rate of 3–8% body weight (initially 8% and gradually decreased to 3%). Catla and tilapia were fed in the morning with a paste of mustard oil cake and rice bran at a feeding rate of 3% body weight. Significantly higher combined production of fish and prawn observed was 2142 kg ha⁻¹ in treatment-I. The benefit:cost ratio was found to be significantly higher in treatment-I than in treatment-II and there were no differences between treatments I and III. From the production and economic point of view, treatment-I was found to be the best proposition for the rotational rice–fish culture systems.     

Comparison of Three Culture Methods for the Intensive Culture of Northern Quahog Seed, Mercenaria mercenaria

A number of approaches have been utilized for growing bivalve hatchery seed (1 mm) to a size suitable for field planting (< 8 mm) but few have been directly compared. This study evaluated the growth and survival of northern quahog seed in three different culture systems and two different stocking densities. The three systems were: 1) a stacked-tray unit with downward water flow; 2) traditional upweller culture units with water flowing upward without seed bed expansion; and 3) upweller culture units with water flowing upward at fluidization velocities to provide seed bed expansion. The two stocking densities were 1.0 and 3.0 g whole wet weight clam/cm² respectively. During each trial period the seed clams were fed a 1% daily ration (% dry weight algae per wet weight clam per day) of the cultured diatom Chaetoceros muelleri . After 14 d of culture at the 1.0 g whole wet weight/cm² stocking density, seed clams (4.4 ± 0.6 mm initial shell length) under fluidized-flow condition exhibited better growth (0.54/d), and a greater final shell length (5.9 ± 1.0 mm). At the high density stocking conditions, after 28 d of culture, seed clams (4.2 ± 0.6 mm initial shell length) in the fluidized-flow culture conditions again exhibited better growth rate (0.031/d) and a greater final shell length (6.0 ± 1.0 mm). The preliminary evaluation of fluidized-flow for seed clam culture in land-based nurseries indicates its potential as a suitable alternative to raceway, downwelling, or traditional forced-flow culture methods.     

Histopathology, electron microscopy and isolation of channel catfish virus in experimentally infected European catfish, Silurus glanis L.

Abstract Two groups of European catfish, Silurus glanis L., fingerlings were infected with channel catfish virus (CCV) by either intraperitoneal injection with 10⁵ TCID₅₀ of CCV, or bathing in water containing 10⁵ TCID₅₀ of CCV per 1·0 ml. The virus was isolated from spleen, intestine and brain of CCV-injected fish at day 1 and the titres ranged from 10^2·1 to 10^3·3 TCID₅₀/g. However, the tissue distribution of CCV was irregular and no virus was isolated after day 3 post-exposure. In CCV-bathed fish, the virus was isolated only from the liver of one specimen at day 3 post-exposure. No clinical signs of CCV disease developed in any of the fish. Specimens in each regime from all sampling periods showed some minor histopathological changes, but there were no differences between treatments. Lesions included oedema and focal haemorrhage in the liver and the spleen was congested. Electron micrographs of tissue samples showed the presence of a few virus particles around the nuclei of kidney, spleen and intestinal cells, and in or around a myelinated nerve within the optic lobes of infected fish during the first 4 days of infection.     

Influence of photoperiod, frequency of stripping and presence of females on sperm output in turbot, Scophthalmus maximus (L.)

Abstract. The effect of four environmental conditions was investigated upon sperm output in turbot, Scophthalmus maximus (L.), submitted to three different rhythms of stripping. Males kept under a natural light cycle and under a 6-month contracted light programme released a similar sperm output in terms of total volume of semen produced per fish during the experimental period (4·9 ± 0·9ml), mean sperm concentration (29·4 ± 2·8 × 10⁹ spermatozoa/ml) and total sperm number (163·2 ± 40·5 × 10⁹ spermatozoa). Attempts to stimulate spermiation for a second time just after the end of the natural reproduction period resulted in the release of low sperm output (total volume of semen: 1·6 ± 0·4 ml; mean sperm motility: 2 min 36s ± 0 min 47s; mean sperm concentration: 47·6 ± 10·2 × 10⁹ spermatozoa/ml; total sperm number: 84·5 ± 25·3 × 10⁹ spermatozoa). Stripping frequency had no effect on total volume of semen, mean sperm motility and total sperm number. Monthly collection did not modify sperm samples in relation to stripping rank. However, decreasing volume, motility and sperm concentration were observed when males were stripped fortnightly and weekly. During the natural spawning period, the presence of females in the tank enhanced mean sperm motility (from 3 min 27s + 0 min 52s to 6 min 38s ± 1 min 38s).     

Outdoor turbidostat culture of the marine microalga Tetraselmis sp.

Abstract. Biomass productivity, photosynthetic efficiency and fatty acid profiles of the marine microalga Tetraselmis sp. in a turbidostat culture system using an outdoor photobioreactor are described. The maximum productivity depended on the units in which it was expressed; it reached 5·41 × 10⁻³ g/l/h in volumetric units, and 7·26g/m²/day in surface units, the former at the smallest culture depth (0·12m) and the latter at the greatest culture depth (0·25 m). Data from the experiments were adjusted to an equation for light limitation. The comparison of fatty acid composition at both depths showed that biosynthesis of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), including eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), was favoured when available light was low (0·17 m). Moreover, fatty acid 16:0 seemed to be an indicator of the type of limitation in the culture, i.e. nutrient or light limitation.     

The specific detection of infectious pancreatic necrosis virus in infected cells and fish by the immuno dot blot method

Abstract. The immuno dot blot technique is a rapid, sensitive and quantitative method for the diagnosis of infectious pancreatic necrosis virus ( ipnv ) in both infected tissue culture lysates and tissue homogenates of fish. Uninfected tissue culture lysates and fish homogenates do not react in the peroxidase dot blot system after appropriate treatment. The immuno dot blot method takes 4h to complete, and the dot blot membrane can be stored in the dark for a long period. The viral proteins in the infected tissue culture cells could be detected at 3h post-infection if an initial high MOI was used. The minimum dose of ipnv-ab strain which could be detected using homologous serum was 2·5 ng purified ipnv protein/dot. The smallest infectious dose of VR-299, SP, AB, EVE and CY-1 ipnv which could be detected by the immuno dot blot system was 10⁴ to 10⁵ TCID₅₀. When one μg of purified ipnv was used, a 1·6 × 10⁴ dilution of rabbit anti-AB antisera could be detected.     

The Effect of Five Stocking Densities on Growth and Yield of Red Swamp Crawfish Procambarus clarkii

A 34-day study was conducted to estimate the effect of stocking density on growth, biomass, and yield of harvestable animals in red swamp crawfish, Procambarus clarkii (Girard). Juvenile crawfish were stocked at l, 2, 4, 8, and 16 crawfish per m² into plastic-lined metal pools planted with rice ( Oryza sativa ) with three replicate pools at each density. Crawfish averaged 35 ± 1.5 mm (SE) total length at the time of stocking.
Growth in total length and weight was significantly affected by density ( P < 0.01), ranging from 91.5 mm and 20.7 g for crawfish stocked at 1 per m² to 62.5 mm and 6.3 g for crawfish stocked at 16 per m². The total crawfish biomass ranged from 20.7 g per m² for crawfish stocked at 1 per m² to 88.7 g per m² at 16 per m². The portion of that biomass made up of harvestable sized animals (>75 mm total length) ranged from 100% at 1 per m² to 0.7% at 16 per m². Gross revenues per ha were projected for crawfish yields at each stocking density with and without a graded product.     

Autecology of chub, Leudscus cephalus (L.), in a Greek stream, and the use of the pharyngeal bone in fish predator-prey studies

Abstract. The autccology of chub, Leudscus cephalus (L.), in the Renlina Stream, Greece, was carried out in an effort to obtain information on the age, growth, mortality and reproduction of this species. Fork length increment during the first year of life was 8·9cm, after which it decreased. Life span was short (maximum age 8 years) and the instantaneous mortality rates were higher for the older age-groups. Chub reached sexual maturity at the second year of life for both sexes and spawning occurred from the second fortnight of April into May, at a mean water temperature of 18°C. The relationship between fecundity ( F ) and fork length (1) was F = 0·0797 L^3·63 The average density and biomass were 1·06 fish.m⁻² and 11·38g.m⁻² respectively. The relationship between L and the pharyngeal bone size [gape ( G ), tip ( T ) and shank ( S )] in mm and caudal fin length ( C ) (cm) can be described by the equations: L = 0·8605 + 1·550 G , L = -0·0703 + 1·332 S, L = 1·092 + 1·615 T and L = 1·032 + 2·934 C .     

Growth and body composition of juveniles of Pterophyllum scalare (Lichtenstein) (Pisces; Cichlidae) at different densities and diets

Abstract. The effect on the growth of freshwater angelfish, Pterophyllum scalare (Lichtenstein) (Pisces; Cichlidae), of different densities of population and diet compositions was studied. The results show that increasing the population density from 50 fish/m² to 200/m² significantly decreased the rate of growth of fingerlings, and that this effect is correlated to the size of fish. No significant differences were observed in growth between diets containing 37%, 41% or 47% protein. However, the addition of live food (artemia) to the diet significantly raised the growth rate, especially in the higher protein diets.
Body composition shows no changes during the growth periods, with a mean of 64·68% body protein, 35·47% dry weight fat and no significant differences in the percentage of residual ash through the growth period.
The food conversion rate was very low, ranging from 1·15 to 1·31. Total production increased with density, from 4·0g/m²/day (50 fish) to 13·7g/m²/day (200 fish) over a period of 60 days.     

The susceptibility of salmonid fish to an atypical strain of Aeromonas salmonicida that infects goldfish, Carassius auratus (L.), in Australia

Abstract. An enzootic, Australian, atypical strain of Aeromonas salmonicida isolated from diseased goldfish, Carassius auratus (L.), was inoculated into Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., brown trout, S. trutta L., rainbow trout, S. gairdneri Richardson, and brook trout, Salvelinus fontinalis (Mitchill), fingerlings by intraperitoneal injection (i.p.) and by bath challenge, the latter with and without prior abrasion of skin. The 10-day LD₅₀ (i.p.) was estimated to be 7·4 × 10^-3 colony forming units (cfu) for Atlantic salmon, 3·0 × 10^-2 cfu for brown trout, 3·7 × 10² cfu for brook trout and 6·4 × 10³ cfu for rainbow trout. Brown, rainbow and brook trout succumbed to bath challenges with between 10⁵–10⁶ cfu/ml, developing ulcers of the skin and septicaemia. The organism was trasmitted from inoculated fish to five of 195 within-tank control fish via water and established a carrier state in one of 14 Atlantic salmon. It was concluded that the organism poses a significant threat to the salmonid farming industry and wild salmonid fisheries in Australia.     

Production and predation rates in a cannibalistic Arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus L.) population

Abstract – Production of cannibalistic Arctic char ( Salvelinus alpinus (L.)) and their prey conspecifics were estimated in an allopatric population, situated in an alpine ultraoligotrophic lake in central Norway. Estimates of population abundance were obtained by mark recapture and successive removal experiments. Assuming stable age distribution, we estimated mean yearly biomass (±95% CL) of char in sampled size groups vulnerable to predation (60 to 150 mm) to 7.93 (5.11–14.30) kg · ha⁻¹. Similarly, mean yearly biomass (±95% CL) of cannibalistic char (> 250 mm) was estimated to 0.62 (0.50–1.06) kg · ha⁻¹. Annual production (±95% CL) of char in length groups 60 to 150 mm was estimated to be 4.31 (2.74–8.03) kg · ha⁻¹ · year⁻¹, and production (±95% CL) of cannibalistic char to 0.19 (0.15–0.33) kg · ha⁻¹ · year⁻¹. Depending on the food conversion factor (set to vary from 0.1 to 0.4), the cannibalistic char removed from 10% to 40% of the production of char in sampled size-classes vulnerable to predation yearly. The overall ecological efficiency in energy transfer between the prey and predator population was 4.4%.     

Functional response of Ameca splendens (Family Goodeidae) fed cladocerans during the early larval stage

We studied the functional response of the goodeid Ameca splendens , an endangered species from rivers Ameca and Teuchitlán (Jalisco, Mexico), from birth until 8 weeks old. The cladocerans, Alona glabra adults, Simocephalus vetulus neonates, Ceriodaphnia dubia adults, Daphnia pulex juveniles and Moina macrocopa adults were used as prey. The prey densities, depending on the species, ranged between 0.25, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, 4.0, 6.0, 8.0, 16.0 and 32 ind. mL⁻¹, with four replicates at each density. We found that all functional responses were Type II. During the feeding period of 30 min, the fish larvae consumed about 600 individuals of the smallest prey A. glabra (450 μm). The consumption of larger prey (<1.0 mm) such as S. vetulus, C. dubia, D. pulex and M. macrocopa ranged between 150 and 200 prey larva⁻¹ during the feeding trials. Our study shows that A. splendens reached maximal prey consumption at around 4 weeks of age, after which there was no increase in prey consumption during the feeding period with age until the end of the study period of 8 weeks. Our study indicates that prey digestion rather than handling time determines the functional response in this fish species and that M. macrocopa is most suited as live food for A. splendens .     

Differences in performance, flesh composition and water output quality in relation to density and feeding levels in rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum), farming

Abstract. The aim of this research was lo evaluate the effect of density and feeding level (initially 8 or 16kg/m³ and 1·3% or 2% of present biomass respectively) on productive traits, meat composition and water quality output in farmed rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum). Individual fish growth shows significant differences in relation to density and feeding level; feed conversion rate is positively Influenced by the lower feeding level and low rearing density. At low density, specific growth rate, protein efficiency ratio and coefficient of variation of individual final weights are more favourable than at high density. Dry matter and lipid composition of meat are positively affected by feeding level; whereas no differences are recorded on the amino acid and fatty acid profiles. Water quality shows differences due to density (NO₃ and NH₄⁺) and feeding level (NO₂, NH₄⁺ and P).