A new method for recording activities of spinal motoneurons during fictive swimming in paralyzed teleost fish

ABSTRACT: A new method for monitoring spinal motoneuron activities during fictive swimming in teleost fish was developed. Enamel-insulated copper wire electrodes were implanted in the trunk muscle of goldfish or carp. For each freely moving fish, an electromyogram (EMG) was recorded using the electrodes. In those fish paralyzed with curare, using the same electrode set, bursts of electrical activities consisted of spikes of smaller amplitude and of shorter duration compared with those recorded by EMG. Simultaneous recording of the extracellular activity and intracellular recording from the muscle revealed that the bursts of spikes recorded in the paralyzed fish were motor nerve impulses innervating the muscle and are considered to be fictive swimming activity. The method developed in the present study provides a useful tool with which to investigate neuronal mechanisms underlying swimming activity in teleost fish.     

Recording cerebellar neuron activities in swimming goldfish

ABSTRACT:   Neuronal activities were investigated in the cerebellum of immobilized and swimming goldfish Carassius auratus . Extracellularly recorded neural activities of the cerebellum in immobilized goldfish were characterized and classified into five types. Based on the waveforms and recording depths, these five neural activity types were estimated to originate from three identified classes of cerebellar neurons: Purkinje cells, eurydendroid cells, and granule cells. Chronic recording of cerebellar neuron activities in unrestrained goldfish was performed for more than 100 h. During the chronic recordings, a submersible amplifier attached to the goldfish head, and a multielectrode array developed for the present study were used. Neuronal activities in the cerebellum of free-swimming fish could also be classified into five types as in the immobilized condition. Firing patterns of two neurons identified as Purkinje cells and eurydendroid cells were analyzed during turning movements of the goldfish. The firing patterns of these neurons changed in relation to turning movements. Although some improvements are required, the chronic recording method developed in the present study can be applied to further investigations concerning the direct relationship between brain neural activities and certain behavior.     

Behavior of Israeli carp Cyprinus carpio traced by long baseline telemetry techniques during dynamite explosion work

ABSTRACT:   The swimming behavior trajectory of an Israeli carp (body length 28 cm) during dynamite explosion work was obtained by the long baseline acoustic telemetry system with an ultrasonic pinger in an aquaculture cage located at Chungju Lake on 2 May 1997. The underwater noise levels measured at a distance of 400 m from the source of noise increased by 40 dB (re 1 µPa) compared to the levels before the explosion. The swimming area of the fish was reduced immediately after the explosion but more than 1 h after the explosion the fish had returned to a similar swimming area and behavior as right before the explosion. The fish usually swam less than 1.5 m from the water surface except during or right after the explosion. When there was an external stimulus, such as, an explosion the fish swam downwards. The average swimming speeds of the fish before, during and after the explosion were approximately 0.33 m/s, 0.52 m/s and 0.29 m/s, respectively, and the average swimming speed of the fish during the explosion was 1.6 times faster than usual.     

障碍物对鲢幼鱼游泳动力学的影响

为了解鱼在复杂水流环境中的运动行为,提升鱼道过鱼效果,实验通过在水槽中放置障碍物,分析不同来流速度(1,3和5 BL/s)(BL/s即体长每秒)下鲢幼鱼顶流静止和顶流前进时的游泳动力学表现,提取的游泳动力学指标有摆尾频率、摆尾幅度、对地游泳速度、游泳加速度和运动步长。结果发现,半流速度1 BL/s下,与自由来流相比,鲢幼鱼在障碍物后方顶流静止时,摆尾频率降低,摆尾幅度增加;顶流前进时,摆尾频率、对地游泳速度、游泳加速度和运动步长降低,摆尾幅度增加。半流速度3 BL/s下,障碍物有助于节省鱼类运动能量的消耗。在有障碍物的水流中,顶流静止时的摆尾频率随流速的增加而增加;顶流前进时,摆尾频率、摆尾幅度和游泳加速度随流速增大而增大,而运动步长随流速增大而减小。位置偏好研究表明,当流速为3 BL/s时,鲢幼鱼明显集中在距离障碍物后方约5～30 cm处游动,停留时间占比达92.5%,可能采用了卡门步态的运动模式;当流速为1和5 BL/s时,鲢幼鱼没有表现出非常明显的位置偏好;在自由来流中,鲢常贴壁游泳,亦没有明显的位置偏好,表明障碍物和流速的结合可为鱼类提供水流藏匿场,研究结果为鱼道设计提供重要参考依据。     

鲢幼鱼运动能量代谢研究

可靠的能量消耗估算可以更好地衡量鱼体在上溯过程中的能量分配方式,为鱼道水力设计提供依据,实现鱼道过鱼的高通过率。为探究鲢(Hypophthalmichthys molitrix)幼鱼运动过程中游泳行为和能量消耗的关系,利用丹麦Loligo Systems公司生产的鱼类行为视频跟踪系统,对24尾鲢幼鱼进行了室内游泳行为实验。采用流速递增法测得鲢幼鱼的活动代谢率,水体溶氧量由每个流速工况下等时距读取,静水条件下通过AutoRespTM测定水体溶氧变化值,计算标准代谢率;利用水槽上方架设的摄像头(25帧/s)记录鱼体运动行为,连接uEye Cockpit程序观测鱼体运动情况,采用LoliTrack进行运动行为分析,获取鱼体运动行为学参数。结果表明,鲢幼鱼的游泳速度与摆尾频率(TBF)呈显著正相关关系,其耗氧率(MO2)与摆尾频率(TBF)的拟合方程为MO2=318.3+1.04TBF2.87(R2=0.99,P0.001),拟合指数值为2.87,且摆尾频率的幂指数越大,表征鱼体游泳效率越低。实验测得鲢幼鱼的标准代谢率(SMR)为(284.47±30.75)mg/(kg·h),耗氧率方程得到的标准代谢率拟合值为318.3mg/(kg·h),与实测值较为接近;通过建立活动代谢率(AMR)与鱼体重量(M)及游速(U)的关系,得出鲢幼鱼生物能量模型AMR=10.39 M0.12 U0.39(R2=0.95,P0.001)。生物能量模型的建立,可以为鱼道不同过鱼目标的水力设计提供参考。     

不同营养状况对鲫鱼偏好游泳速度的影响

为考察不同营养状况对鲤科鱼类偏好游泳速度的影响,本研究以鲫鱼(Carassius auratus)为实验对象,(25±1.0)℃条件下设置3个不同营养状况实验组:对照组(禁食48 h)、饱食组(饱食)和饥饿组(饥饿14 d),将单尾实验鱼置于梯度流速选择仪(流速范围为11.86~65.45 cm/s,等距离划分为5个流速区域,从第一到第五流速区域流速连续增加)中拍摄1 h,采用Ethovision XT9软件分析视频资料并计算实验鱼在不同流速区域平均进入频次(F,次)、单次进入停留时间(T,s/次)和平均停留时间百分比(P_t,%)等流速选择行为指标。结果显示,对照组和饱食组的F值随水流速度上升而增加,对照组的T值不同流速区域间无差异(P0.05),而饱食组第三和第四流速区域T值均显著大于其他流速区域(P0.05),因此两实验组第三和第四流速区域的P_t均显著大于其他流速区域,其偏好游泳速度为20.12~41.30 cm/s。饥饿组流速偏好行为出现表型分化,I型实验鱼在第一流速区域P_t和T值显著大于其他流速区域(P0.05),各流速区域的F值均显著小于其他实验组(P0.05),故I型实验鱼的偏好游泳速度为11.86~15.18 cm/s。而II型实验鱼则与对照组相似,在第三和第四流速区域Pt均显著大于其他流速区域(P0.05),故II型实验鱼的偏好游泳速度为20.12~41.30 cm/s。结果表明,饱食不影响鲫鱼的偏好游泳速度,可能是饱食不影响鲫鱼的游泳能力所致,但饱食组在各流速区域间的出入频次减少而停留时间有所增加。饥饿后鲫鱼偏好游泳速度出现表型分化,I型实验鱼的偏好游泳速度降低,而II型实验鱼则无明显变化,I型和II型实验鱼偏好游泳速度的差异可能是由于在饥饿条件下二者能量节约和游泳功能维持的策略不同。     

Time pattern analysis of swimming activity and heart rate under the influence of chloramphenicol in carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) and rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri R.)

In industrial fish production there is little information available about the effect of antibiotics on the fish organism. The swimming activity of carp and trout before, during and after treatment with chloramphenicol was observed. Due to the daily rhythmical organization of body function and closely correlated periods of activity and rest, a treatment with chloramphenicol at different times of the day has different effects on swimming activity. A significant increase in heart rate after treatment with chloramphenicol was detected as compared to the controls. These results suggest that treatment with chloramphenicol should be given during the last feeding.     

不同运动模式下鲢幼鱼游泳特性研究

为探索鱼类在自发性运动和强迫式运动模式下的游泳特性,以鲢(Hypophthalmichthys molitrix)幼鱼为研究对象,采用船闸式水槽鱼类呼吸装置和环形水槽实验装置,Loli Track软件对游泳行为进行视频分析,解析不同运动模式下鲢幼鱼游泳特性变化情况。结果表明,在自发性运动模式下,鲢幼鱼的耗氧率随游泳速度、加速度、旋转角度和摆尾频率增加而增大。通过逐步回归拟合出多因素能量模型,得出游泳速度对耗氧率变化的影响最大。在两种运动模式中,唯一相同的相对游泳速度为0.5 BL·s~(-1)[BL为体长(cm)]下,能量消耗利用率为2.35。研究还发现在不同运动模式下鲢幼鱼的最优游泳速度大小差异性显著,但呼吸耗氧率差异性不显著。表明鲢幼鱼运动过程中相比于最优游泳速度,存在表征能量利用率最高且与游泳模式无关的最优耗氧率。     

鲢幼鱼非疲劳贴网及姿态转换行为研究

流速是影响鱼类生存与繁衍栖息的重要因子。为了了解鱼类在中等流速区的游泳行为,探究其对水流的适应特征,利用鱼类游泳能力测定装置,以鲢(Hypophthalmichthys molitrix)幼鱼[体重(9.82±3.81) g,体长(8.56±1.11) cm)]为对象,采用递增流速法,分析了游泳过程中的非疲劳贴网行为与姿态转换行为。结果表明,在22℃水温条件下,鲢幼鱼平均相对临界游泳速度(critical swimming speed,U_(crit))相比其体长(body length,BL)为(6.00±0.93)BL/s;其非疲劳贴网速度(no-fatigue impingement speed,U_(imp))与临界游泳速度呈线性正相关,U_(crit)=1.03 U_(imp)+1.26 (R~2=0.86,P0.01);姿态转换速度(gait transition speed,U_(tran))与临界游泳速度呈线性正相关,U_(tran)=0.59 U_(crit)+1.55 (R~2=0.43,P0.01);非疲劳贴网速度与姿态转换速度呈线性正相关,U_(tran)=0.51U_(imp)+2.72 (R~2=0.41,P0.001)。在中等流速范围内(2～4 BL/s),实验鱼摆尾频率(tail beat frequency, TBF)和单次摆尾周期前进距离(stride length, SL)均随流速增加而增大。首次出现非疲劳贴网的流速为4.62 BL/s,流速增至5.08 BL/s时出现姿态转换行为。发生姿态转换后,TBF开始下降,而SL随流速增加快速增大。研究显示,鲢幼鱼非疲劳贴网行为对游泳能力和姿态转换速度有显著影响,且非疲劳贴网行为与姿态转换行为之间也存在相互影响。研究结果可为自然环境中鱼类生态行为研究、鱼类资源保护及渔业管理提供参考。     

A comparison of swimming capacity and energy use in seven European freshwater fish species

Abstract –  Migrating fish species with different swimming capacities and energy use show different capacities for passing obstacles between habitats, such as culverts and fish ladders. Here, we present an integrated study on swimming capacity and energetic use in seven European freshwater fish species with different ranges of migration (brown trout Salmo trutta L., European perch Perca fluviatilis L., roach Rutilus rutilus L., common carp Cyprinus carpio L., gudgeon Gobio gobio L., bullhead Cottus gobio L. and stone loach Barbatula barbatula L.). Critical ( U _crit), optimal ( U _opt) and maximum ( U _max) swimming speed and oxygen consumption ( M O₂) were analysed and showed values correlated to migration capacity with highest swimming capacities in trout and roach and lowest in stone loach and bullhead. The resulting data can be used to make estimates of maximum passable water speeds in culverts. In conclusion, long-distance migrators show higher swimming capacities and can potentially clear obstacles easier than short distance migrators with lower swimming capacities. Even small obstacles (<25 cm) could be a barrier for genetic exchange between populations in short-distance migrators.     

The increased efficiency of fish swimming in a school

There is increasing evidence that fish gain energetic benefits from the hydrodynamic interactions when they swim in a school. The most recent indications of such benefits are a lower tail (or fin) beat at the back of a school and reduced oxygen consumption in schooling fish versus solitary ones. How such advantages may arise is poorly understood. Current hydrodynamic theories concern either fish swimming side by side or in a diamond configuration and they largely ignore effects of viscosity and interactions among wakes and individuals. In reality, however, hydrodynamic effects are complex and fish swim in many configurations. Since these hydrodynamic effects are difficult to study empirically, we investigate them in a computer model by incorporating viscosity and interactions among wakes and with individuals. We compare swimming efficiency of model fish (based on shapes of mullets of 126 mm) travelling solitarily and in schools at several interindividual distances in four different configurations (diamond, rectangular, phalanx and line). We show that these fish always swim more efficiently in a school than alone (except in a dense phalanx). We indicate how this efficiency may emerge from several kinds of interactions between wakes and individuals. As individuals in our simulations are not even intending to exploit the wake, gains in efficiency are obtained more easily than previously thought.     

A new device for monitoring the activity of freely swimming flatfish, Japanese flounder Paralichthys olivaceus

ABSTRACT:   The tail beat and activity behavior of four captive Japanese flounder Paralichthys olivaceus , were monitored with acceleration data-loggers while the fish swam in an aquarium. Depth, swimming speeds and two-axis acceleration data were collected continuously for approximately 20 h per fish. Simultaneously, the swimming behaviors of the fish were filmed at different angles. Using the specific characteristic of the acceleration profiles, in tandem with other types of data (e.g. speed and depth), four behavioral patterns could be distinguished: (i) 'active' swimming; (ii) burying patterns; (iii) 'inactive' gliding; and (iv) lying on the bottom. Tail beat frequency ranged from 1.65 ± 0.47 to 2.04 ± 0.25 Hz (mean ± SD; n  = 4). Using the relationship between tail beat frequency and swimming speed, the 'preferred' swimming speed of the fish was estimated to be between 0.6 and 1.2 body lengths (BL)/s. Additionally, fish rarely swam faster than 1.2 BL/s. This study shows that the acceleration data-loggers represent a useful and reliable system for accurately recording the tail beat of free-ranging fish and estimating flatfish behavior.     

Plasma vitellogenin levels in male common carp Cyprinus carpio and crucian carp Carassius cuvieri of Lake Kasumigaura

In order to investigate the possible influence of estrogenic environmental endocrine disruptors on the reproductive activity of fish in Lake Kasumigaura, plasma levels of vitellogenin (VTG), a biomarker of estrogen exposure, were measured in wild and cultured male common carp Cyprinus carpio and wild crucian carp Carassius cuvieri . Testicular histology and plasma steroid hormone levels were also examined. Fish were collected from June 1998 to August 1999. Plasma VTG levels in most fish examined were below a detection limit (40 ng/mL) throughout the sampling period, and a small amount of VTG (43.5 ng/mL–1680 ng/mL) compared to that in females was detected in some fish. Active spermatogenesis in the testis and increased levels of plasma sex steroids were observed in most of the fish examined. Thus, no marked influence of estrogenic chemicals was detected in the reproductive activity of male common carp and crucian carp in Lake Kasumigaura collected from the sampling sites in the present investigation.     

Lateral movement of common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) in a large lowland river and floodplain

Abstract –  Common carp ( Cyprinus carpio L.) are a major freshwater invader and knowledge of their movements is important for planning control efforts. To investigate the movement patterns of common carp, radio-tags were implanted into 46 adult fish; 37 near a large floodplain wetland, the Barmah-Millewa forest, and 9 in the Murray River approximately 175 km upstream. Tagged fish were located every second week between August 1999 and March 2001. Common carp occupied total linear ranges (TLR) between 0.4 and 238 km (mean 30 ± 61 km), with 25 fish (62.5%) occupying a TLR < 10 km. Two fish made large distance movements approximately 650 km downstream. Fish sex, the number of locations, time at large, or tagging location explained little variability ( P  > 0.05) in TLR. Monthly distance from release varied from 0.04 to 238 km (mean 15 ± 44 km), and was not significantly related to river discharge and water temperature, but 29 of 31 (93.5%) fish tagged at Barmah moved from the Murray River into adjacent floodplain habitats upon flooding. Five fish (12.5%) moved large distances (>127 km) upstream of the Barmah-Millewa forest. Fourteen fish (35%) showed site fidelity to within 20 m and usually occupied one or two home sites. Twenty-six fish (65%) showed site fidelity to within 100 m occupying up to five sites during the study period. Movement patterns of common carp were complex, and individuals exhibited different strategies, which is typical of invasive species. Efforts to control and potentially reduce common carp populations in regulated river-floodplain environments should target key floodplain access points and over-wintering habitats to reduce adult biomass, spawning and recruitment levels.     

5种鱼类标志对草鱼临界游泳速度的影响

采用被动整合雷达标志法(PIT)、切鳍标记、荧光标记、超声波标志和T型标志这5种标志方法对草鱼(Ctenopharyngodon idellus)进行标记后,测定其临界游泳速度,研究5种不同标记对草鱼游泳能力的影响。将试验草鱼按不同体长分为3组:15~18 cm,18~21 cm,21~25 cm,每个体长组均设置对照组,并分别进行以上5种鱼类标志,测量标志后草鱼的绝对临界游泳速度和相对临界游泳速度。采用SPSS17.0统计软件进行数据的分析比较。研究结果表明,随着体长增加,草鱼的绝对临界游泳速度增大,相对临界游泳速度减小;超声波标志对3个体长组草鱼的临界游泳速度均有极显著影响(P0.01),标志后草鱼绝对临界游泳速度分别下降18.72%、16.40%、23.15%,相对临界游泳速度分别下降18.95%、17.78%、21.86%;T型标志对15~18 cm体长组草鱼的临界游泳速度有极显著性影响(P0.01),标志后草鱼绝对临界游泳速度下降8.35%,相对临界游泳速度下降9.30%,对体长大于18 cm的草鱼无显著性影响;PIT标志、切鳍标记和荧光标记对这3个体长组草鱼的临界游泳速度均无显著性影响(P0.05)。     

Effects of dietary phenylalanine on growth,digestive and brush border enzyme activities and antioxidant capacity in the hepatopancreas and intestine of young grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella)

This study investigated the effects of phenylalanine on growth, digestive and absorptive ability and antioxidant status of young grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella). Young grass carp were fed diets containing 3.4 (basal diet), 6.1, 9.1, 11.5, 14.0 and 16.8 g phenylalanine kg^?1 diet with a fixed of 10.7 g tyrosine kg^?1 diet for 8 weeks. Percent weight gain (PWG), feed efficiency and feed intake of fish were the lowest in fish fed the basal diet (P < 0.05). Trypsin, lipase and amylase activities in the hepatopancreas, and antioxidants including glutathione contents and glutathione reducase activities in the hepatopancreas and intestine were all the highest in fish fed 11.5 g phenylalanine kg^?1 diet (P < 0.05). Trypsin, chymotrypsin and amylase activities in whole intestine, and creatine kinase, Na⁺, K⁺‐ATPase and alkaline phosphatase activities in the proximal intestine, and superoxide dismutase activities in the hepatopancreas and intestine were all the highest when phenylalanine at level of 9.1 g kg^?1 diet (P < 0.05). In conclusion, phenylalanine improved growth, digestive and absorptive ability, and antioxidant capacity of young grass carp. The phenylalanine requirement of young grass carp (256–629 g) based on PWG was 10.4 g kg^?1 diet or 3.44 g 100 g^?1 protein.     

4种常见淡水养殖鱼类目标强度测定与差异分析

鱼类目标强度(target strength)的测量是渔业声学技术研究和应用的核心内容之一。2015年6―10月,在小型水槽内使用Bio Sonics DT-X(199kHz)科学探鱼仪发射水平声波,测量了4种共29尾不同鳔室结构的淡水养殖鱼类体侧向及背腹向(180°范围)的目标强度,并拍摄X光影像以了解鱼体鳔室结构及特征。其中瓦氏黄颡鱼(Pelteobagrus vachelli)7尾、鳜鱼(Siniperca chuatsi)9尾、鲫鱼(Carassius auratus)6尾、草鱼(Ctenopharyngodon idellus)7尾。结果显示,单体鱼目标强度与声波入射角度具有cos三次方函数关系,体侧向与背腹向上最大目标强度均出现于鱼体主轴垂直于入射声波时,最小目标强度出现于头尾方向朝向声波时,与最大目标强度相差10dB。不同种鱼类体侧向平均目标强度略大于背腹向0.5~5dB。单室鳔鱼类目标强度比相近体长的两室鳔鱼类小。对4种鱼类的目标强度与鱼体相关生物学指标进行主成分分析,体侧向与背腹向目标强度主要受体长、鳔长和鳔长/鳔高值的影响较大。通过目标强度与实验鱼全长、体长、体重的线性回归,获得体侧和背腹入射方向目标强度与3个生物学参数的关系式。本研究通过分析不同鳔室形态鱼种的回波特征差异,辅助判别长江内常见鱼类(如瓦氏黄颡鱼、鱖鱼、鲫鱼等)的声学信号,结果对于淡水水域水平原位监测时分析评估资源量相关参数具有参考意义。     

不同运动状态下鳙幼鱼的游泳特性研究

为了探究鱼类反复运动疲劳后游泳能力和游泳行为的变化,以鳙(Aristichthys nobilis)幼鱼为研究对象,利用环形水槽实验装置,采用流速递增法,通过LoliTrack视频软件分析鱼类游泳行为,研究不同运动状态下鳙幼鱼的游泳特性变化情况。结果表明,鳙幼鱼疲劳前耗氧率随游泳速度的增大显著增加,且临界游泳速度恢复过程中最大耗氧率小于突进游泳速度恢复过程中最大耗氧率。视频分析显示,摆尾频率与游泳速度呈线性正相关关系。同时发现,在2组反复疲劳运动状态下,连续进行2次临界游泳速度测定过程中,鳙幼鱼频繁使用爆发-滑行游泳行为,而在经过突进游泳速度测试后转入临界游泳速度测定过程中,实验鱼并未使用这一游泳行为。经过一次临界游泳速度测试后,第二次临界游泳速度显著大于突进游泳速度测试后的临界游泳速度(P0.05),第一次突进游泳速度与第二次突进游泳速度无显著差异(P0.05)。无氧运动消耗导致鳙幼鱼有氧运动能力显著下降,而有氧运动消耗过程对无氧运动能力无显著影响。     

Effects of radio-transmitter antenna length on swimming performance of juvenile rainbow trout

Abstract –  Technological advances have lead to the production of micro radio-transmitters capable of being implanted in fish as small as c . 5 g. Although the actual tags are small, transmitters are equipped with long antennas that can increase drag and tangle in debris. We examined the effects of radio-transmitter antenna length on the swimming performance of juvenile rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss , ( N  = 156, mean mass = 34 g, mean fork length = 148 mm). Although we tested a variety of different antenna lengths up to a maximum of 300 mm, only the longest antenna significantly impaired swimming performance relative to control fish ( P  < 0.001). There was no difference in swimming performance between the sham (surgery, but no transmitter) and the control fish (handled, but no surgery), suggesting that the surgical procedure itself did not negatively affect the fish. Regression analysis, however, indicated that there was a significant decrease in swimming performance associated with increased antenna length ( R ² = 0.11, P  < 0.001). In addition, when held in laboratory tanks, fish with the three longest antennas (150, 225 and 300 mm) frequently became entangled with the standpipe. We suggest that researchers, under the guidance of the tag manufacturer, trim antennas to the shortest possible length required to detect fish in their specific study area. Antenna length is clearly an important issue for small fish, especially for species that inhabit complex habitats where antennas may become entangled, and where fish must attain speeds near limits of their swimming capacity.     

Phosphorus and nitrogen excretion during growth span of carp kept under two rearing systems

ABSTRACT:   Two feeding trials were performed on carp to investigate phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N) excretion during their growth span. Trial I was conducted under laboratory conditions by feeding 3.9 g carp an experimental diet (crude protein 34.8%, total P 1.41% and available P 0.67%) for 280 days under controlled conditions. Trial II was performed with 72.8 g carp, feeding them a commercial diet (CP 35.8%, total P 1.62% and available P 0.75%) for 180 days on a practical scale. Fish grew throughout the experiment in trial I, whereas they stopped growing in trial II when the water temperature fell below 15°C. In both trials, P and N content in fish body increased with increasing weight until it plateaued when fish were between 500 and 600 g. The retention rates of the two elements also followed a similar pattern, but decreased beyond the size range mentioned above. In both trials, P and N loading increased with an increase in fish size, but such a pattern was less evident until a bodyweight of 600 g, the trend being more pronounced in trial II. The results of the present study indicate that excretion is higher during the slow-growing stage of carp and is, hence, influenced by fish size.