池塘养殖尾水经稻田生态工程净化后的浮游细菌群落特征

为利用稻田生态工程对精养池塘尾水进行循环利用,采用Illumina Mi Seq第二代测序技术比较分析了稻田生态工程进出水中浮游细菌群落结构和多样性差异,以探讨稻田生态工程净化回用水中浮游细菌群落变化对池塘养殖的影响。结果显示,稻田生态工程进出水中优势浮游细菌在门水平上的组成相同,均为蓝细菌门(Cyanobacteria)、变形菌门(Proteobacteria)、放线菌门(Actinobacteria)、浮霉菌门(Planctomycetes)和拟杆菌门(Bacteroidetes)。但优势门类的相对丰度发生变化,蓝细菌门的相对丰度由进水中的46.72%显著降低至表面流出水中的41.82%和渗流出水中的34.77%;而放线菌门的相对丰度由3.90%增加至表面流出水中的5.65%和渗流出水中的6.45%。属水平上优势浮游细菌组成也相同,但微囊藻属(Microcystis)的相对丰度由0.83%显著降低至渗流出水中的0.46%(P0.05)。另外,稻田生态工程表面流出水中浮游细菌物种丰富度指数(Chao 1)显著提高,渗流出水中Shannon多样性指数显著提高,且Simpson指数显著降低(P0.05)。     

应用DGGE技术分析流清河湾扇贝养殖海区细菌群落结构的季节变化

细菌是海区生态环境的重要组成部分,为了解扇贝养殖海区细菌群落结构的季节性变化,连续11个月(2009年5月—2010年4月,2月除外)定期采集青岛流清河湾扇贝养殖海区水深0.5 m处水样,过滤收集粒径0.22～3.00μm的微生物,采用CTAB法提取样品总DNA,PCR扩增细菌16S rDNA V3-V5可变区序列,并通过DGGE技术对所得序列进行分离,结果共得到36条不同位置的条带,1月份水样细菌群落条带数最为丰富,3月份水样的细菌群落条带数最少。基于各月份DGGE条带数目和相对光密度,对11个月份样品的细菌群落多样性进行UPGMA聚类分析,结果表明,3、4和5月份细菌群落多样性具有较高的相似性,优先聚为一支,其余月份中,7月和8月,9月和12月,10月和11月分别优先聚为一支,而1月份和6月份均单独分为一支。剪切DGGE图谱中的20条主要谱带重扩增、测序,并进行BLAST比对。结果表明,20条序列与已知序列的相似性均在94%以上,这20条序列所代表的细菌分属于α-变形菌亚门(α-Proteobacteria)、β-变形菌亚门(β-Proteobacteria)、γ-变形菌亚门(γ-Proteobacteria)、拟杆菌门(Bacteroidetes)、放线菌门(Actinobacteria)和疣微菌门(Verrucomicrobia)。     

梁子湖与后官湖浮游细菌的群落结构特征

探究浮游细菌群落结构以及微生物与环境因子的相关性,可为湖泊环境评价和生态治理提供理论依据。选取湖北境内的梁子湖和后官湖,于2018年4月分别设置10个和5个采样点,进行浮游细菌与水体理化指标采样调查;通过16S rRNA基因高通量测序,分析比较浮游细菌群落结构及其多样性的差异,并通过冗余分析(RDA)探讨环境因子与浮游细菌群落结构的关系。结果表明,梁子湖和后官湖均有较高的浮游细菌群落多样性,其Shannon指数分别为3.974~4.743和3.924~4.500;梁子湖与后官湖的浮游细菌群落结构有所差异,梁子湖菌群隶属于放线菌门(Actinomycetes)、变形菌门(Proteobacteria)、拟杆菌门(Bacteroides)、蓝细菌门(Cyanobacteria)、疣微菌门(Verrucomicrobia)、绿菌门(Chlorobi)、绿弯菌门(Chloroflexi)、装甲菌门(Armatimonadetes)、厚壁菌门(Firmicutes)和硝化螺旋菌门(Nitrospirae);后官湖菌群隶属于放线菌门、蓝细菌门、变形菌门、拟杆菌门、疣微菌门、芽单胞菌门(Gemmatimonadetes)、绿弯菌门、绿菌门、浮霉菌门(Planctomycetes)、装甲菌门和螺旋体菌门(Saccharibacteria);其中,梁子湖的优势菌群为放线菌门(20.09%~43.23%)和变形菌门(21.35%~35.28%),而后官湖的优势菌群为放线菌门(20.70%~42.69%)和蓝细菌门(14.40%~45.77%)。RDA分析表明,总氮(TN)、pH、总磷(TP)是影响微生物群落结构的主要环境因子。     

阳宗海浮游植物和浮游细菌群落的空间分布特征

浮游植物和浮游细菌在水生态系统的物质循环和能量流动中起重要作用,其分布规律及其驱动机制的识别和比较是评价水生生态系统健康的重要基础。阳宗海2008年经历了大规模的砷污染,且砷浓度目前仍处于超标水平,有必要识别砷污染水体中不同浮游生物群落分布的基本特征及其异同。通过显微镜检和聚合酶链式反应-变性梯度凝胶电泳(PCR-DGGE)方法,探究阳宗海浮游植物和浮游细菌的组成及其空间分布因子。结果表明,蓝藻门在浮游植物中占绝对优势(全湖平均比例为91%),其次是甲藻门、绿藻门、金藻门、硅藻门、隐藻门和裸藻门。对DGGE条带中的DNA片段进行blast比对显示,阳宗海水体中的浮游细菌(异养细菌)主要包含放线菌纲、β-变形菌纲、α-变形菌纲和拟杆菌。PCA分析显示,浮游植物和浮游细菌群落空间分布存在差异,ANOSIM结果表明,南部和中北部的浮游植物群落存在显著差异(P0.05,R=0.48)。多变量统计分析结果显示,空间变量和水温分别单独解释了阳宗海浮游植物群落变化的5.69%和16.51%,砷主要通过与水温和空间距离的相互作用对浮游植物的空间分布产生影响,水环境指标和空间距离与浮游细菌的空间分布没有显著关系(P0.05)。与浮游细菌相比,浮游植物群落相似性存在显著的距离衰减关系(R2=0.61,P0.001),可能与浮游植物扩散能力小于细菌有关。     

三峡库区及上游沉积物细菌群落结构及其对重金属的响应

为探究不同生境条件下细菌群落结构特征及其对沉积物重金属污染的响应，在三峡库区及上游共4个江段，采集21个表层沉积物样品，利用高通量测序技术研究其细菌群落结构和多样性，并利用冗余分析和相关性分析等方法分析重金属与细菌群落结构和多样性之间的响应关系。结果显示：研究江段沉积物细菌群落共检出65门179纲446目784科和1 926属；优势菌门为变形菌门(Proteobacteria),优势菌纲为γ-变形菌纲(Gammaproteobacteria),其相对丰度分别为42.35%～54.56%和12.65%～28.30%;细菌群落多样性表现为：库区江段>库区上游江段，但没有显著差异；重金属As、Pb、Cr和Cu含量与绿弯菌门(Chloroflexi)相对丰度呈显著正相关，与厚壁菌门(Firmicutes)相对丰度呈显著负相关。     

裙带菜配子体与孢子体的附生微生物群落组成分析

裙带菜(Undaria pinnatifida)是一种重要的大型褐藻,具有较高的经济和食用价值。藻类的附生微生物既能通过代谢产物调控宿主藻类的生长发育,特定条件下又可能导致病害。了解裙带菜附生微生物群落组成对研究裙带菜与附生微生物间的相互作用、种质资源的有效保存以及防治藻类病害等有重要意义。现有研究大多集中于海带和紫菜,关于裙带菜的附生微生物,特别是不同生活史的对比研究还很少。本研究通过16S rRNA基因高通量测序发现,裙带菜配子体和孢子体的附生细菌群落组成有明显差异,配子体样品中的细菌群落丰度和多样性均大于孢子体。配子体中变形菌门(Proteobacteria)(66.67%)为第一优势菌门,其次为拟杆菌门(Bacteroidetes)(13.48%)和蓝细菌门(Cyanobacteria)(11.13%),α-变形菌纲(Alphaproteobacteria)(34.58%)为第一优势菌纲,其次为γ-变形菌纲(Gammaproteobacteria)(31.01%);而孢子体中蓝细菌门(95.67%)占绝对优势,其次为放线菌门(Actinobacteria)(1.65%)和厚壁菌门(Firmicutes)(1.48%)。裙带菜样品经18S rRNA基因测序检测出链形植物(Streptophyta)、纤毛虫门(Intramacronucleata)、担子菌门(Basidiomycota)、顶复亚门(Apicomplexa)、节肢动物门(Arthropoda)、硅藻门(Bacillariophyta)、脊索动物门(Chordata)、腹毛动物门(Gastrotricha)、子囊菌门(Ascomycota)和毛霉菌门(Mucoromycota),其中,担子菌门、子囊菌门和毛霉菌门属于真菌,孢子体的真核微生物群落丰度大于配子体。本研究确定了裙带菜配子体和孢子体附生微生物群落组成以及不同细菌和真核微生物的相对丰度,结果表明,2个世代之间存在显著差异,为后续研究藻类宿主与微生物之间的相互作用、提高海带目褐藻种质保存技术提供了基础的数据支持。     

稻田养殖沙塘鳢对稻田水体及底泥微生物群落结构及多样性的影响

为了研究养殖沙塘鳢(Odontobutis obscurus)对稻田水体及底泥的微生物群落结构及多样性的影响,2015年于浙江海盐江南四阡现代农业公司进行了沙塘鳢的稻田养殖实验,利用DGGE(Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis)技术对养殖过程中的稻田水体及底泥中细菌的16S r DNA片段进行指纹图谱分析。DGGE条带测序分析结果显示:稻田水体及底泥共检测到包括α-变形菌亚门(Alphaproteobacteria)、β-变形菌亚门(Betaproteobacteria)、γ-变形菌亚门(Gammaproteobacteria)、δ-变形菌亚门(Deltaproteobacteria)、ε-变形菌亚门(Epsilonproteobacteria)、绿菌门(Chlorobi)、酸杆菌门(Acidobacteria)、厚壁菌门(Firmicutes)、放线菌门(Actinobacteria)、蓝藻门(Cyanobacteria)等细菌门类。多样性分析结果显示,养殖沙塘鳢的稻田底泥微生物DGGE条带数多于常规养殖稻田,养殖稻田的底泥Shannon多样性指数2.86,显著高于常规稻田的2.27,同时养殖稻田养殖沟底泥的Shannon多样性指数随养殖时间由2.56变化到2.16。PCA(Principal Component Analysis)及DGGE聚类分析结果显示,养殖稻田的水体及底泥微生物群落结构与常规稻田存在较大差异。结果表明,稻田养殖环境的微生态条件可能优于常规稻田。     

凡纳滨对虾不同养殖密度高位池水体细菌群落动态

通过对养殖水体环境基因组DNA中细菌16S rRNA基因V4–V5区的高通量测序和生物信息学分析,研究了两种养殖密度的凡纳滨对虾(Litopenaeus vannamei)高位池水体中细菌群落在养殖过程中的动态。结果显示,养殖过程中各菌群相对丰度变化明显,细菌多样性随时间逐渐提高,优势菌群为变形菌门(Proteobacteria)、蓝藻门(Cyanobacteria)、拟杆菌门(Bacteroidetes)、放线菌门(Actinobacteria)和浮霉菌门(Planctomycetes)。随着养殖时间增长,蓝藻丰度所占比例逐渐减少,而变形菌、拟杆菌和浮霉菌丰度逐渐增大,同时养殖前期高密度池浮霉菌丰度显著高于低密度池(P0.01),而其他菌群无显著差异。结果表明,养殖期前50 d不同养殖密度水体细菌群落差异较大,而后30 d内细菌群落的时间异质性大于空间异质性,这意味着高位池水体菌相被划分为两类,到养殖后期菌相快速转变,养殖密度所带来的影响被减弱。     

汾河太原段沉积物中细菌群落的分布特征

采用Illumina高通量测序技术分析汾河太原段沉积物细菌丰度和群落结构，利用主成分分析（PCoA）、冗余分析（RDA）和相关性分析等方法探讨沉积物中细菌群落结构分布特征以及主要影响因素。结果表明，10个断面表层沉积物中5422个细菌OTUs分属于61个门，140个纲，346个目，580个科，1073个属。细菌群落结构在fh6、fh7、fh8、fh9、fh10、fh11 和fh4相似度较高，fh1和fh2相似度较高，而fh3断面与其它断面差异显著。除fh3，沉积物细菌优势菌门均为变形杆菌门（Proteobacteria），次优势菌门为绿弯菌门（Chloroflexi），优势菌纲为γ-变形菌纲（Gammaproteobacteria）。Pearson相关性分析表明，TN、OM和Pb与OTUs、Shannon指数和Simpson指数相关性显著。TN、OM和Pb是细菌群落结构的主要影响因子。RDA和Spearman分析表明，变形杆菌（Proteobacteria）与TN和OM呈显著正相关（P<0.01），与Pb和Ni呈正相关（P<0.05）；绿弯菌（Chloroflexi）与Cr呈显著负相关（P<0.01），与OTC和TC呈显著正相关（P<0.01）；放线菌（Actinobacteria）与TN、OM和Cu呈负相关（P<0.05）；厚壁菌（Firmicutes）与pH呈负相关，与TP呈正相关（P<0.05）。本研究结果为认识汾河太原段沉积物中细菌群落的分布特征，识别环境影响因子提供了数据支撑。     

两种三疣梭子蟹(Portunus trituberculatus)养殖塘中浮游细菌的季节变化

结合基于细菌16S rRNA基因的T-RFLP技术与克隆测序技术,对象山港三疣梭子蟹、脊尾白虾混养模式下改良塘M1(塘底铺网四周铺砂)以及传统塘M2(土塘)水体不同季节细菌群落结构和多样性进行分析。结果显示,M1、M2养殖塘水体细菌群落主要由变形纲门(Proteobacteria)、拟杆菌门(Bacteroidetes)、放线菌门(Actinobacteria)、蓝藻门(Cyanobacteria)组成。养殖过程中,细菌群落结构随时间发生了显著变化,不同养殖塘水体细菌群落结构变化的方向不同。M1养殖塘水体由放线菌门主导的群落结构向蓝藻菌门以及变形菌门主导的群落结构发展,M2养殖水体由蓝藻菌门主导的向变形纲门主导的群落结构发展,说明养殖后期改良塘水体有利于蓝藻细菌的生长。无论是M1还是M2,拟杆菌门在8-9月含量最高,且养殖过程中在M2水体的含量始终高于M1。随着养殖时间的推移,M1养殖塘水体细菌群落由多样性指数高的稳定性结构向多样性指数低的不稳定性结构转变,而M2水体养殖后期仍保持较高的多样性指数。PCA分析结果显示,M1养殖塘水体细菌群落差异性大于M2,说明M2水体细菌群落对环境变化的抵御能力大于M1。相关性分析结果显示,不同养殖塘水体细菌群落分布受环境的影响效应不同。     

Association between the interannual variation in the oceanic environment and catch rates of bigeye tuna (Thunnus obesus) in the Atlantic Ocean

The environmental processes associated with variability in the catch rates of bigeye tuna in the Atlantic Ocean are largely unexplored. This study used generalized additive models (GAMs) fitted to Taiwanese longline fishery data from 1990 to 2009 and investigated the association between environmental variables and catch rates to identify the processes influencing bigeye tuna distribution in the Atlantic Ocean. The present findings reveal that the year (temporal factor), latitude and longitude (spatial factors), and major regular longline target species of albacore catches are significant for the standardization of bigeye tuna catch rates in the Atlantic Ocean. The standardized catch rates and distribution of bigeye tuna were found to be related to environmental and climatic variation. The model selection processes showed that the selected GAMs explained 70% of the cumulative deviance in the entire Atlantic Ocean. Regarding environmental factors, the depth of the 20 degree isotherm (D20) substantially contributed to the explained deviance; other important factors were sea surface temperature (SST) and sea surface height deviation (SSHD). The potential fishing grounds were observed with SSTs of 22–28°C, a D20 shallower than 150 m and negative SSHDs in the Atlantic Ocean. The higher predicted catch rates were increased in the positive northern tropical Atlantic and negative North Atlantic Oscillation events with a higher SST and shallow D20, suggesting that climatic oscillations affect the population abundance and distribution of bigeye tuna.     

Growth performance,digestive enzyme activity and immune response of Japanese sea bass,Lateolabrax japonicus fed with fructooligosaccharide

In this experiment, a feeding trial was performed to determine the effects of fructooligosaccharide (FOS) on growth performance, digestive enzyme activity and immune response of Japanese sea bass, Lateolabrax japonicus juveniles (initial weight 38.3 ± 0.5 g), and the fish were examined following feeding with six levels of FOS (0, 0.5, 1, 2, 4 and 6 g/kg) for 28 days. Significant enhancement of weight gain (WG) and specific growth rate (SGR) was found in fish fed 1 g/kg FOS incorporated diets (p < .05), while the feed conversion ratio (FCR) in the 1, 2 g/kg FOS groups reduced significantly compared with the control (p < .05). Besides, the crude lipid in the 4, 6 g/kg FOS groups increased significantly compared with the control (p < .05). On the other hand, the erepsin and lipase activities significantly elevated in intestine of fish fed 2 g/kg FOS (p < .05) and the lysozyme activity in serum of fish fed 2 g/kg FOS were significantly higher than that in the control (p < .05). Moreover, the alkaline phosphatase activities in serum of fish fed 0.5, 1, 2 g/kg FOS were significantly higher than in control (p < .05). Regression analysis showed that the relationships between dietary FOS levels and either SGR, FCR, erepsin or lysozyme activities were best expressed by regression equations, and the optimal inclusion levels are 1.37, 1.80, 3.06, 3.11, 1.93 and 1.80 g/kg for SGR, FCR, erepsin, lipase, lysozyme and total superoxide dismutase activities, respectively. Overall, this study revealed that FOS incorporated diets could beneficial for L. japonicus culture in terms of increasing the growth, digestion and immune activities. Under the present experimental condition, the optimal supplementary level of FOS in the diet of L. japonicus is 1–3 g/kg.     

Involvement of gonadal steroids in final oocyte maturation of white perch (Morone americana) and white bass (M. chrysops): in vivo and in vitro studies

Plasma estradiol-17 (E₂), testosterone (T), 17,20-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one (DHP) and 17,20,21-tri-hydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one (20-S) levels were measured by radioimmunoassay (RIA) in white perch (Morone americana) and white bass (M. chrysops) that were induced to undergo final oocyte maturation (FOM) with human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). Plasma DHP levels increased in females of both species in association with oocyte germinal vesicle migration (GVM) and germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD) and decreased thereafter. Plasma 20-S levels also increased with oocyte GVM in white bass, but were several-fold lower than DHP levels. Circulating E₂ and T levels were greatest during GVM and GVBD in both species and decreased to low levels during oocyte hydration and ovulation. Follicles from white perch and white bass which received a priming injection of hCG in vivo, produced both DHP and 20-S in vitro after exposure to hCG and their oocytes underwent GVBD. Ovarian incubates from unprimed fish of either species produced only E₂ and T and their oocytes did not complete GVBD. Oocytes from unprimed bass, but not perch, matured when follicles were exposed to hCG in vitro. Both trilostane and cycloheximide blocked in vitro production of DHP and 20-S and oocyte GVBD by white perch follices. DHP and 20-S were equipotent inducers of FOM in the GVBD bioassay. None of several other structurally-related steroids tested were effective within a physiological range of concentrations. These results indicate a role for DHP and 20-S in the control of FOM in white perch and white bass.     

Cardiac,ventilatory and metabolic responses of two ecologically dissimilar species of fish to waterborne cyanide

Changes in heart rate, ventilatory activity and oxygen consumption were determined in trout (Salmo gairdneri) and brown bullhead catfish (Ictalurus nebulosus) during exposure to a steadily increasing concentration of waterborne cyanide selected to produce death in 8–9 hours for each species. The lethal cyanide concentration for the bullheads was an order of magnitude higher than for trout. Trout developed an immediate and gradually increasing bradycardia throughout the exposure period. Cyanide produced tachycardia in the bullhead followed by a gradual onset of bradycardia as the concentration of cyanide was raised. Pericardial injection of atropine (a muscarinic cholinergic antagonist) indicated that bradycardia in the trout was due initially to increased vagal tone but later due to the direct effect of cyanide on the heart. Hyperventilation in the trout persisted throughout the exposure period, although the rate and amplitude fluctuated and was variable between individual fish. During the last hour of exposure (highest cyanide concentration), ventilation was characterized by rapid, shallow breaths followed by a sudden respiratory arrest. The bullheads exhibited hyperventilation during the first 3 hours of exposure followed by a gradual, linear drop in ventilation rate and amplitude until death occurred. Cardiac and ventilatory responses in both species were attributed to stimulation of central and peripheral chemoreceptors by cyanide. Evidence is presented which suggests the initial response in the bullheads was due, at least in part, to gustatory stimulation by the cyanide. Oxygen consumption of the trout remained above pre-exposure levels for the majority of the test period. Oxygen consumption in the bullhead paralleled the changes in heart and ventilatory rates. Whole-body lactate levels of fingerlings of both species during cyanide exposure were measured to estimate the extent of anaerobiosis. Whole-body lactate levels were much greater in the bullheads than the trout, indicating a higher capacity for anaerobiosis, possibly due to a greater fuel supply. Overall, the trout responded to cyanide in a manner similar to that produced by environmental hypoxia whereas the bullheads experienced a gustatory stimulus which masked the hypoxia-like response.     

An overview of stress physiology of fish transport: changes in water quality as a function of transport duration

This study brings an integrated analysis about the relationship between water deterioration and its physiological consequences in live fish transport. The analysis was focused on the transport water and its deterioration, and physiological challenges imposed on the fish. Usual commercial handling procedures employed to mitigate fish stress during transport were discussed. Future topics of research for the establishment of safer fish transport protocols were proposed. Transport was classified into short (≤8 h) or long transport (>8 h). The main issue in short transports should be the prevention of water pH reduction, while in long transports it is the increase in ammonia. Plasma cortisol is the most employed marker for stress and is acutely elevated upon short episodes of transport, but remains elevated even in long‐transport events. Plasma glucose is perhaps a better marker for handling stress. Plasma lactate, pH, osmolality CO₂ and ions should be more often evaluated. Plasma Na⁺ and Cl^‐ are very useful markers of acidosis, due to their respective exchange for H⁺ and , for acid–base regulation. The establishment of species‐specific transport protocols should be preceded by such combined analyses of water and physiological parameters.     

Are hatchery‐reared abalone naïve of predators? Comparing the behaviours of wild and hatchery‐reared northern abalone,Haliotis kamtschatkana (Jonas, 1845)

Abalone populations have declined worldwide, generating interest in enhancement using hatchery‐reared individuals. In many cases, such restoration efforts have met with limited success due to high predator‐induced mortality rates. Furthermore, the mortality rates of outplanted hatchery abalone are often considerably higher than for wild individuals. This study uses northern abalone (Haliotis kamtschatkana) as a case study to determine whether hatchery‐reared abalone behave differently than their wild counterparts. In the field, outplanted hatchery‐reared abalone were significantly less responsive than wild abalone, in terms of number of abalone responding and intensity of response, to nearby movement and to physical contact with an inert probe. Also, when encountering a cue to which all abalone responded (a seastar predator), hatchery‐reared individuals remained subdued. Anti‐predator behavioural deficits in hatchery‐reared abalone were more pronounced in 4‐year‐old individuals than in 1‐year‐old individuals, suggesting an influence of either age or amount of time spent in the hatchery environment. These behavioural differences are expected to increase the vulnerability of hatchery‐reared abalone to predators, and are likely a major cause of their elevated predator‐induced mortality when outplanted.     

Effects of cadmium on the kinetics of calcium uptake in developing tilapia larvae, Oreochromis mossambicus

The toxic effects of Cd²⁺ on Ca²⁺ influx kinetics in developing tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus) larvae were evaluated. Addition of 20 µg l^-1 of Cd²⁺ to the environment of 0 and 3 day-old larvae competitively inhibited the Ca²⁺ uptake within 4h resulting in a great increase in K_m values for Ca²⁺ influx (19.3 and 17.4 fold, respectively) as compared with their respective controls. Consequently, the actual Ca²⁺ influx of larvae in solutions of 0.2 mM Ca²⁺ are suppressed by 32–45%. Also, 3 day-old larvae were more sensitive to internally accumulated Cd²⁺ than 0 day-old larvae. Although the Ca²⁺ influx in 0 and 3 day-old larvae may be restored to the levels of their respective controls with 24h of being transferred to a 20 µg l^-1 Cd²⁺ solution, total body Ca²⁺ content was significantly reduced in 3 day-old larvae. Increased Ca²⁺ uptake efficiency ensures sufficient Ca²⁺ for normal growth. However, rapid increase in Ca²⁺ influx after hatching also leads to higher Cd²⁺ uptake. Exposure to Cd²⁺ will lead to a drop in body Ca²⁺ content resulting in retardation of larval growth. Therefore, we conclude that if Ca²⁺ uptake is interfered with at this critical stage of development, larvae will not be able to maintain normal levels of body Ca²⁺ and will show signs of Cd²⁺ poisoning.     

Migratory dynamics of stream-spawning longnose gar (Lepisosteus osseus)

Abstract– Literature evidence suggests that lake-dwelling longnose gar (Lepisosteus osseus) enter tributary streams to spawn, Until the present study, the dynamics of this breeding migration had never been investigated quantitatively. During the summers of 1991 and 1992, longnose gar were captured as they entered Weaubleau Creek, Missouri, a tributary of Harry S. Truman Reservoir. The in-stream spawning migration began in early April and ended in late May, and was positively correlated with stream flow and water level, and negatively correlated with water temperature. In-stream residence times ranged from 15 to 94 days, with males exhibiting longer residence times than females. Once in-stream, longnose gar travelled as far as 10 km upstream and occupied certain pools at greater relative frequencies. Although the reason for this preferential utilization is not completely understood, it may relate to pool depth and riffle proximity. Longnose gar disperse from the spawning stream great distances, with gar captured in Weaubleau Creek being recaptured up to 48 km away. This information should provide fisheries biologists the means to consider the reproductive ecology of this species in their conservation and management decisions.     

Nutritional regulation of hepatocyte fatty acid desaturation and polyunsaturated fatty acid composition in zebrafish (Danio rerio) and tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)

The desaturation and elongation of [1-¹⁴C]18:3n-3 was investigated in hepatocytes of the tropical warm freshwater species, zebrafish (Danio rerio) and Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). The hepatocyte fatty acid desaturation/elongation pathway was assayed before and after the fish were fed two experimental diets, a control diet containing fish oil (FO) and a diet containing vegetable oil (VO; a blend of olive, linseed and high oleic acid sunflower oils) for 10 weeks. The VO diet was formulated to provide 1% each of 18:2n-6 and 18:3n-3, and so satisfy the possible EFA requirements of zebrafish and tilapia. At the end of the dietary trial, the lipid and fatty acid composition was determined in whole zebrafish, and liver, white muscle and brain of tilapia. Both zebrafish and tilapia expressed a hepatocyte fatty acid desaturation/elongation pattern consistent with them being freshwater and planktonivorous fish. The data also showed that hepatic fatty acid desaturation/elongation was nutritionally regulated with the activities being higher in fish fed the VO diet compared to fish fed the FO diet. In zebrafish, the main effect of the VO diet was increased fatty acid Δ6 desaturase activity resulting in the production of significantly more 18:4n-3 compared to fish fed the FO diet. In tilapia, all activities in the pathway were greater in fish fed the VO diet resulting in increased amounts of all fatty acids in the pathway, but primarily eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA; 20:5n-3) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA; 22:6n-3). However, the fatty acid compositional data indicated that despite increased activity, desaturation of 18:3n-3 was insufficient to maintain tissue proportions of EPA and DHA in fish fed the VO diet at the same level as in fish fed the FO diet. Practically, these results indicate that manipulation of tilapia diets in commercial culture in response to the declining global fish oil market would have important consequences for fish fatty acid composition and the health of consumers. Scientifically, zebrafish and tilapia, both the subject of active genome mapping projects, could be useful models for studies of lipid and fatty acid metabolism at a molecular biological and genetic level. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Production of diatom–bacteria biofilm isolated from Seriola lalandi cultures for aquaculture application

Controlled incorporation of selected microalgae and bacteria in aquaculture systems can be beneficial because they can act as microbiological control. That is why the characteristics of biofilm generated naturally in Seriola lalandi culture cages were analysed, their potential benefit to the growth of larvae was studied, and their controlled use for improving the larval viability and as a vector to improve incorporation of previously studied probiotic bacteria was tested. According to biodiversity results, these biofilms are composed of a diatom–bacteria mix showing a decrease in biodiversity in laboratory culture conditions being dominated by Navicula phyllepta and bacteria of the family Rhodobacteraceae. This can be produced on mesh substrates incorporated in bioreactors with rapid growth rate and adhesiveness. Preliminary results from the addition of substrates with this specific biofilm in larvae culture systems showed that it is consumed by the larvae without negative effects, while positive effects on the viability of larvae in combination with probiotics were observed. Considering preliminary results, the addition of these specific substrates with diatom–bacteria biofilms could be a good improvement for aquaculture systems and together with the use of probiotics can contribute to maintaining a stable and controlled system improving the viability of the larval fish culture in its early stages.