Relative impacts of native and non‐native crayfish on shelter use by an indigenous benthic fish

• 1. The North American signal crayfish Pacifastacus leniusculus has been widely introduced throughout Europe where it is expanding its range and in many areas replacing the native white‐clawed crayfish Austropotamobius pallipes. There is concern with regards to the impact of this species replacement on benthic fish. Interspecific behavioural interactions and competition for shelter between the benthic fish, bullhead Cottus gobio and A. pallipes and P. leniusculus were measured to assess the comparative impact of native and non‐native crayfish.
• 2. Both white‐clawed crayfish and signal crayfish were dominant over bullhead. Bullheads moved away from approaches of crayfish, left shelters on entry of crayfish and rarely entered an occupied shelter. Signal crayfish made significantly more aggressive approaches towards bullheads than white‐clawed crayfish.
• 3. Alone, bullheads spent most of their time by day under shelter (median 96%), reflecting a highly entrained behavioural response, which was relaxed by night (median 60%). Both crayfish species reduced shelter use by bullheads although the extent of shelter sharing by bullheads was higher in trials with white‐clawed crayfish than with signal crayfish.
• 4. Sampling in the River Wharfe, northern England, where signal and white‐clawed crayfish and bullhead currently exist, demonstrated a negative relationship between the densities of signal crayfish and bullhead, with high bullhead abundance where crayfish were absent or where white‐clawed crayfish were present at low density.
• 5. Assuming that shelter is sometimes limited under natural conditions, crayfish are likely to displace bullheads from shelters, which may increase predation risk for bullheads. Although the effects of signal crayfish on bullhead shelter use were more intense, the pattern was highly evident for the native white‐clawed crayfish. The higher fecundity and densities attained by signal crayfish may be more significant than differences in the behaviour of the two crayfish species in determining the impact of crayfish on bullheads.

Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Endogenous antioxidant systems of two teleost fish,the rainbow trout and the black bullhead,and the effect of age

Antioxidant enzyme activities and glutathione status were determined in different tissues of two teleost species, the rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and the black bullhead (Ameiurus melas) to establish whether age-related changes exist between mature and immature individuals. Glutathione reductase and superoxide dismutase activities were significantly lower in hepatic and extrahepatic tissues of 3+ year than 1+ year trout and bullheads. Activities of glutathione peroxidase, catalase and glutathione S-transferase did not exhibit a clear pattern, with decreases in liver and kidney, but increases in gill and muscle tissues. Glutathione concentrations were significantly higher in most tissues of 3+ year than in 1+ year trout, but remained unchanged or decreased in tissues of older bullheads. The results imply an age- or maturation-dependent effect on key antioxidant enzymes in various tissues of these 2 teleost species. Thus, age and maturation may impact upon the use of oxidative stress parameters as indicators of contaminant exposure in environmental studies.     

A potential biomarker of androgen exposure in European bullhead (Cottus sp.) kidney

The aim of this study was to identify a signal that could be used as an androgen exposure indicator in the European bullhead (Cottus sp.). For this purpose, the ultra-structure of the kidney was characterized to identify normal structure of this organ, and histological changes previously described in the kidney of breeding male bullheads were quantified using the kidney epithelium height (KEH) assay previously developed and validated for the stickleback. In the next step, the effect of trenbolone acetate (TbA), a model androgen, was assessed to identify potential androgenic regulation of bullhead kidney hypertrophy. Measurement of KEH performed on adult non-breeding male and female bullheads exposed for 14 and 21 days to 0, 1.26 and 6.50 μg/L showed that kidney hypertrophy is induced in a dose-dependent manner, confirming the hypothesis that the European bullhead possesses a potential biomarker of androgen exposure. Combined with the wide distribution of the European bullhead in European countries and the potential of this fish species for environmental toxicology studies in field and laboratory conditions, the hypothesis of a potential biomarker of androgen exposure offers interesting perspectives for the use of the bullhead as a relevant sentinel fish species in monitoring studies. Inducibility was observed with high exposure concentrations of TbA. Further studies are needed to identify molecular signals that could be more sensitive than KEH.     

Blood pressure and heart rate during tonic immobility in the black tipped reef shark,Carcharhinus melanoptera

Tonic immobility was induced in black tipped reef sharks (Carcharhinus melanoptera) and heart rate and ventral aortic blood pressure recorded. Without branchial irrigation, tonic immobility was correlated with a significant depression in blood pressure and heart rate irrespective of the sharks being in air or in water. Tonic immobility with branchial irrigation resulted in a significant increase in blood pressure in sharks in air, but not in water. Heart rate was unchanged when the gills were irrigated. Intra-arterial injections of atropine abolished the bradycardia and blood pressure rise associated with tonic immobility. We conclude that, during tonic immobility, sharks are able to receive afferent information from the ventilatory system and make appropriate responses via the vagus nerve.     

Trophic overlap between non‐native brown bullhead (Ameiurus nebulosus) and native shortfin eel (Anguilla australis) in shallow lakes

We quantified trophic overlap between the invasive, non‐native catfish brown bullhead (Ameiurus nebulosus) and the New Zealand native shortfin eel (Anguilla australis) in four peat and riverine lakes using stable isotope (δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N) and gut content analyses. Across all lakes and fish sizes over the austral spring–summer period, shortfin eel guts were dominated numerically by fish prey (57% occurrence cf 42% in brown bullhead), while Diptera larvae were most commonly encountered in guts of brown bullhead (45% cf 14% in eels). Significant differences in % composition of animal contents in guts were detected between fish species and sampling occasions (n = 4) but not between lakes. In contrast, stable isotope signatures of brown bullhead and shortfin eel did differ significantly between lakes but not between sampling occasions, indicating enduring sources of nutrition despite apparently differing ingestion patterns over time. The R mixing model MixSIAR indicated that shortfins likely assimilated higher proportions of fish prey carbon compared to brown bullheads, which appeared to show greater assimilation of invertebrates, consistent with the results of gut content analyses. Isotopic niche regions, calculated in nicheROVER using probabilistic ellipses, indicated that shortfin eels occupied at least c.60% of brown bullhead trophic niche, which occupied less than 30% of eel trophic niche in all but one lake. These estimates suggest that brown bullhead has higher potential to influence shortfin eel nutrition than vice versa, or that a broad trophic niche occupied by eels provides resilience to the effects of overlapping consumption patterns with invasive omnivores.     

Underwater evaluation of habitat partitioning in a European river between a non‐native invader,the racer goby and a threatened native fish,the European bullhead

We conducted underwater surveys using SCUBA gear to examine habitat and microhabitat competition between the Ponto‐Caspian racer goby Babka gymnotrachelus and native European bullhead Cottus gobio to assess the potential for competitive displacement of the native species by the invading species. In summer, 88 surveys were made in a tributary of the River Vistula within defined benthic areas across the entire width of the river bed. The occurrence of fish by total length class (small: <6 cm; large: >6 cm) and environmental conditions (depth, water velocity, substratum type, plant cover, shelter type) was recorded. We found a substantial separation between the species and size classes in relation to substratum, shelter type and water velocity. European bullheads were limited to lotic areas with stony bottoms, whereas racer gobies also occupied lentic areas over sand or mud. European bullheads usually took refuge under stones in contrast to a wider range of shelters used by racer goby, including tree roots and rubbish. In general, the breadth of habitat used by the racer goby was wider than that of the European bullhead, although habitat overlap between the species was not statistically significant except for the type of shelter occupied by small fish, selecting smaller stones. An inverse relationship was observed between small European bullheads and all racer gobies in areas where they co‐occurred, suggesting that invader may be having an adverse effect on the distribution and habitat use of small native bullheads, particularly in areas of moderate water velocities over small stones and gravel.     

Interrelationships between gill chloride cell morphology and calcium uptake in freshwater teleosts

The involvement of the freshwater fish gill chloride cells (CCs) in trans-branchial calcium uptake (JinCa²⁺) was investigated. This was accomplished by assessing the interspecific relationships between the apical surface area of CCs exposed to the external environment and JinCa²⁺. Three species of freshwater teleosts, the rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), the American eel (Anguilla rostrata) and the brown bullhead catfish (Ictalurus nebulosus), were used. Chronic (ten-day) treatment with cortisol in each species was used as a tool to evoke variations in both JinCa²⁺ and gill CC morphology in order to assess intraspecific relationships between CC surface area and JinCa²⁺. The results of quantitative morphometry, based on analysis of scanning electron micrographs, demonstrated that catfish possessed the lowest fractional area of exposed CC (CCFA) on the gill filament epithelium (12,744 ± 2248 m²/mm²) and was followed, in increasing order, by American eel (21,355 ± 981 m²/mm²) and rainbow trout (149,928 ± 26,545 m²/mm²). With the exception of catfish, chronic treatment with cortisol caused significant increases in CCFA owing to proliferation of CCs and/or enlargement of individual CCs (eel only). The rates of JinCa²⁺ closely reflected the CC fractional area in each species. The results of correlation analysis revealed significant correlations between CC fractional area and JinCa²⁺ in trout and eel. Owing to the absence of an effect of cortisol treatment, there was no significant correlation in catfish because of insufficient variation in CC fractional area in this species. CC fractional area was significantly correlated with JinCa²⁺ among the three species examined. These results suggest that CC is involved in calcium uptake in freshwater teleosts and that both intra- and interspecific differences in the rates of calcium uptake can be accounted for by variability in the surface area of exposed CCs on the gill epithelia.     

Temperature influences on California rainbow trout physiological performance

Although thermal influences on the physiology of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) have been widely studied, there is little information about the responses of different genetic strains to temperatures. The effects of water temperature (10, 14, 19, 22, and 25 °C) on food consumption rate, growth rate, gross conversion efficiency, resting routine oxygen consumption rate, upper critical thermal tolerance and critical swimming velocity were investigated in juvenile rainbow trout of the Eagle Lake (O. m. aquilarum) subspecies and the Mt. Shasta strain. No strain-related differences in conversion efficiency, oxygen consumption rates, thermal tolerance or swimming performance were observed in 1995 (19, 22, and 25 °C) or 1996 (10, 14, and 19 °C), but Mt. Shasta strain trout grew faster at highest temperatures than did Eagle Lake trout. Food consumption rates, growth rates, conversion efficiency, and oxygen consumption rates declined at the extreme temperatures (10 and 25 °C) in both Eagle Lake and Mt. Shasta trout. Swimming performance was temperature-independent between 10 and 19 °C (overall mean: 5.43 body lengths s^–1).     

Motility Parameters of Rainbow Trout (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Oncorhynchus mykiss</Emphasis>) Spermatozoa in Relation to Sequential Collection of Milt,Time of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Post-mortem</Emphasis> Storage and Anesthesia

The present study investigated the effects of sequential collection of milt, time of post-mortem storage and anesthesia on rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) sperm motility parameters (using computer-assisted sperm analysis – CASA) as well as seminal plasma osmolality and sperm concentration. The post-mortem storage and time of anesthesia altered motility characteristics of rainbow trout sperm to different extents. The moderate impact of time of anesthesia was manifested in a shortened duration of sperm motility after 10 min exposure of fish to anesthetic. The prolonged post-mortem storage (≥40–60 min), in addition to lowering sperm motility duration, also significantly influenced sperm motility parameters, such as sperm velocities, percentage of motile sperm and sperm trajectory parameters. These results clearly demonstrate that when milt from sacrificed fish is used for sperm motility studies, the time of post-mortem storage significantly alters sperm motility characteristics. Since sperm motility rate and swimming velocity could predict fertilizing ability, detrimental effects of prolonged post-mortem storage may lead to reduced fertilization success. Sperm concentration and seminal plasma osmolality were lower in the first fractions and increased with successive collections of milt. It suggests the presence of urine contamination of the first milt fractions which were collected by stripping. Therefore, testing of sperm concentration and/or seminal plasma osmolality should be mandatory while handling stored milt.     

Diet of the Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) on the River Gradac,Serbia: Predation in a brown trout‐dominated stream

1. Prey preference and seasonal variation in the diet of the Eurasian otter, Lutra lutra (Linnaeus, 1758), were examined by the analysis of 789 spraint samples collected along a 10‐km section of a small lowland salmonid river in Serbia, with a trout farm situated in its lower part, from June 2009 to March 2012. Of particular interest was any possible impact of the otter on brown trout, which is important to investigate for preventing and managing any potential conflicts with fishers and fish farmers.
2. Fish were by far the most important otter prey, followed by crayfish. Cottus gobio Linnaeus, 1758 (the European bullhead) was the most common prey species, probably because of the combination of its abundance and easy catchability. Other prey contributed very little to the diet of the otters. Of 11 fish species present in the river, five were found in the otter diet: the European bullhead, Salmo trutta Linnaeus, 1758 (brown trout), Squalius cephalus (Linnaeus, 1758) (chub), Barbus balcanicus Kotlík, Tsigenopoulos, Ráb & Berrebi, 2002 (the Danube barbel), and Phoxinus phoxinus (Linnaeus, 1758) (the Eurasian minnow). The bullhead was the only positively selected species, however. The share of fish prey in the otter diet was stable throughout the year, except for a decrease noticed during the summer.
3. The results suggest that otters on the River Gradac target smaller, sedentary, and less nutritious prey. Owing to a small percentage of brown trout in otter spraints, we surmise that otters do not represent a major biological or economic threat, either to the native trout population in the river or to the trout from the nearby fish farm.
4. Although there are no reports of otters causing damage to the trout population in the local fish farm, it is advisable to establish mechanisms for the compensation of fish farmers in case such damage does occur.
5. The data presented in this paper can be used to contribute to the conservation of the otter in stream habitats, especially because there are no published studies on the dietary requirements of otter in Serbia.

     

Lipid-stimulated somatostatin secretion in rainbow trout,Oncorhynchus mykiss

Previous work has shown that somatostatins (SS) affect teleost lipid metabolism indirectly by inhibition of insulin (INS) and directly by stimulation of hepatic lipolysis. In the present study, rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) were used to characterize further the lipid-SS relationship by evaluating how lipid, contributes to SS secretion bothin vivo andin vitro. In vivo hyperlipidemia was induced for up to 3 h by short-term (2 min) infusion of a triacylglycerol (TG)-rich lipid emulsion (20% Intralipid^®). Plasma total lipid concentration increased 118 and 155% over control levels 1 h and 3 h, respectively, after infusion; much of this increase was due to elevated plasma fatty acids (FA), which increased 39 and 520%, respectively, over the same time-frame. The hyperlipidemic pattern was attended by a significant increase in the plasma concentration of SS. The specific effects of fatty acids were evaluated on isolated Brockmann bodies. Palmitic acid and oleic acid stimulated SS release 378 and 82%, respectively, over baseline levels. These results indicate that lipids, and in particular fatty acids, modulate SS secretion in rainbow trout.     

Effects of sulfide on K+ flux pathways in red blood cells of crucian carp and rainbow trout

The effect of sulfide on K⁺ influx pathways was measured in red blood cells (RBCs) of sulfide-sensitive rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and sulfide-tolerant crucian carp (Carassius carassius). In trout RBCs, maximal inhibition of Na⁺, K⁺-ATPase was attained at 10 mol l^–1 sulfide and amounted to 32% without being influenced by pH between 6.7 and 8.3. Ouabain-resistant K⁺ influx in the absence and presence of sulfide was insignificant at pH values between 6.7 and 7.7. At higher pH values ouabain-resistant K⁺ influx increased, but was inhibited to about 15% by 30 mol l^–1 sulfide. In RBCs of crucian carp neither Na⁺, K⁺-ATPase nor ouabain-resistant K⁺ influx were affected by sulfide concentrations up to 850 mol l^–1. Differences in sulfide-sensitivity of K⁺ influx between both species can be based upon different properties of the membrane transporter themselves. The reduced Na⁺, K⁺-ATPase activity in trout RBCs may also result from a slightly reduced (by 9%) ATP level after sulfide exposure. In addition, intracellular sulfide concentrations were higher in trout RBCs as compared to crucian carp. In trout, intracellular sulfide concentrations reached extracellular levels within 5 min of incubation whereas sulfide concentrations in crucian carp RBCs remained about 2-fold lower than extracellular concentrations. Although the physiological basis of sulfide-insensitive K⁺ influx in crucian carp RBCs is currently unknown it may contribute to the extremely high sulfide-tolerance of this species.     

The physiological effects ofheat stress and the role of heat shock proteins in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus f) red blood cells

The effects of in vitro thermal stress and the potential role ofheat shock proteins in thermoprotection were examined in the nucleated red blood cells (rbcs) of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchusmykiss). Oxygen consumption, a general indicator of cellular metabolism, was maintained in trout rbcs until 30 °C, but was markedly reduce by 35 °C. Subsequent experiments were then conducted which involved exposing rbcs to 30 °C to determine which physiological variables might be compromised by an extendedheat stress. Although this temperature challenge caused an induction of Hsp 70 mRNA, and a significant reduction in the amount of oxygen bound to hemoglobin, carbonic anhydrase (CA) activity was unaffected by an 8 h, 30 °C exposure.heat stress also caused a rise in methemoglobin formation, but the increase in rbc methemoglobin concentration did not appear to be a stimulus for Hsp 70 induction. Rbc oxygen consumption, CA activity and hemoglobin/oxygen binding ability were unaltered when hsp synthesis was inhibited by the translational inhibitor, cycloheximide. These results indicate that hsps do not have a role in protecting rbc metabolism or the function of important rbc proteins, such as hemoglobin and CA. Extended 30 °Cheat stress did cause a significant leakage of potassium from the rbcs, which appeared to be intensified in the presence of cycloheximide. These latter results suggest that hsps may play a limited role in preserving rbc membrane integrity and/or ionoregulatory processes.     

Effect of Continuous Food Supply on the Oxygen Consumption of Young Mediterranean Yellowtail (Seriola dumerili Risso, 1810)

The aim of this work was to investigate the effect of a continuous food supply on the oxygen consumption of young Mediterranean yellowtails (Seriola dumerili Risso, 1810) during the photophase period (14LL:10DD). Four groups with six fish each, weighing individually approx. 600 g, were distributed into open 2 m³ quadrangular fibreglass tanks, and fed with commercial pellets for 60 days. Two of the tanks received a continuous feed supply by means of automatic band feeders (ABF), whilst fish in the other two tanks were fed by hand, twice a day. To improve accuracy in calculating oxygen consumption, the effect of oxygen diffusion between the air and the water was determined by the use of a control tank of similar characteristics, containing no fish. Oxygen consumption instantaneous rate was calculated by the difference between dissolved oxygen concentrations in tanks with and without fish, multiplied by the water flow and divided by the estimated total fish biomass in each tank. In both feeding regimes, an increase in the oxygen consumption levels after feeding commencement was observed. The amplitude, however, was lower and the duration of feeding effect was higher in the group fed by ABF.     

Temporal and spatial patterns in tumour prevalence in brown bullhead Ameiurus nebulosus (Lesueur) in the tidal Potomac River watershed (USA)

For two decades, fish tumour surveys have been used to monitor habitat quality in the Chesapeake Bay (USA) watershed. Tributaries with sediments contaminated with polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), known to cause liver neoplasia, were frequently targeted. Here, we compare surveys in brown bullhead Ameiurus nebulosus conducted in 2009–2011 in the tidal Potomac River watershed (including the Anacostia River) with previous surveys. Using logistic regression, we identified length and sex as covariates for liver and skin tumours. We reported a statistically significant decrease in liver tumour probabilities for standardized 280 mm Anacostia bullheads between the 1996 and 2001 samplings (merged collections: female–77.5%, male–43.0%) and 2009–2011 (female–42.2%, male–13.6%). However, liver tumour prevalence in bullheads from the Anacostia, Potomac River (Washington, DC) and Piscataway Creek (17 km downriver) was significantly higher than that for Chesapeake Bay watershed reference locations. The causes of skin tumours in bullheads are uncertain, requiring further research. The similar liver tumour prevalence in these three locations suggests that the problem is regional rather than restricted to the Anacostia. To monitor habitat quality and the success of pollution control actions, we recommend conducting tumour surveys on a 5‐year cycle coordinated with sediment chemistry analyses.     

Growth in Arctic charr and rainbow trout fed temporally concentrated or spaced daily meals

The effect on growth of distributing feed over a few hours compared tomore frequent meals was tested on 1+ Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus L.) and 1+ rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss Walbaum). Triplicate hatchery groups for each treatment were fed at a ration level of 1%/dayeither with few meals (8 times per day divided into morning and evening)or with frequent meals (32 meals equally distributed during the day). Wefound an opposite effect of meal frequency on growth in the two species.Low feeding intensity (8 meals per day) had a significantly positive effecton growth in rainbow trout but a significantly negative effect on growth inArctic charr when compared to feeding the fish frequent meals. Theopposite response to meal frequency is likely to be an effect of thedifferences in activity during feeding. Rainbow trout feed much moreaggressively than charr which can result in feeding being a more stressfulevent. In this experiment, the specific growth rate was lower and the feedconversion ratio higher for Arctic charr compared to rainbow trout.     

Effect of Acute Hypoxia in Trout (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Oncorhynchus mykiss</Emphasis>) on Immature Erythrocyte Release and Production of Oxidative Radicals

This paper evaluates the response of trout exposed to acute hypoxia between 8.7 mgO₂/l (controls) and 1.4 mgO₂/l. Temperature, pH, NH4, oxygen consumption rate and spleen-somatic index (SSI) were evaluated. Blood cell counts, oxidative radicals (ORs) production and immature erythrocytes were assessed to evaluate their relationship with the degree of hypoxia. Acute hypoxia induced a decrease in water pH (p < 0.05), oxygen consumption rate (60% less), SSI (55% less) and a significant increase of water ammonium concentration (p < 0.05). Haematocrit increased significantly starting at 4.8 mgO₂/l, as well as an increase in the total number of leukocytes (up to 50% in some fish). Starting at 2 mgO₂/l, swelling of erythrocytes was induced and a decrease in the potential production of ORs, showing a negative correlation to immature erythrocyte numbers. These results suggest that lower than normal oxygen concentrations may jeopardize ORs production and hence non-specific defence mechanisms in trout. High percentages of immature erythrocytes can be used as a simple and inexpensive indicator of both hypoxic events and impairment of ORs production in the absence of bleeding, haemolysis, anti-anaemia treatments and/or increased temperature.     

国内虹鳟代表性养殖群体的高通量SNP芯片检测及遗传分析

本研究旨在对国内虹鳟(Oncorhynchus mykiss)代表性养殖群体开展全基因组水平的遗传评估。利用57K单核苷酸多态性(single nucleotide polymorphism,SNP)芯片,检测了来自不同地域的6个虹鳟养殖群体样本共计48尾,包括黑龙江虹鳟、黑龙江金鳟、四川虹鳟、四川金鳟、北京虹鳟和北京金鳟,共获得有效SNP位点50201个,在中国虹鳟中的多态比例达到97.7%,表明该芯片虽然基于美国和挪威虹鳟群体设计,但对中国群体同样具有良好的适用性。各群体最小等位基因频率均值为0.240~0.267,与国外主流养殖群体相近,黑龙江虹鳟、四川虹鳟和北京虹鳟群体内遗传多样性丰富,多态位点比例为83.6%~84.9%,与国外主流养殖群体相近,而黑龙江金鳟、四川金鳟和北京金鳟,多态位点比例相对较低,在60.2%~76.9%范围内。应用6个中国虹鳟群体和2个美国虹鳟群体数据开展系统发育分析、主成分分析和群体遗传结构STRUCTURE分析,结果显示8个群体可分为3个祖源类群,其中3个金鳟群体为遗传联系较紧密的一个类群,黑龙江虹鳟和北京虹鳟为一个类群,而四川虹鳟与2个美国虹鳟群体为一个类群,部分中国养殖群体中有显著离群个体存在,表明群体遗传背景不均一。本研究表明,高密度SNP芯片在我国虹鳟养殖群体遗传分析中具有广泛的应用前景,能够为种质资源评估、本土化良种培育、制种和引种工作提供基因组水平的参考信息。     

Modelling oxygen consumption rates of post-smolt Atlantic salmon in commercial-scale,land-based farms

Oxygen consumption rates of post-smolt Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) were recorded during various growth trials at four land-based salmon farms in south-west Norway, during the period 1988–1992. Principle component analysis indicated that fish size, water temperature and current speed had the greatest influence on oxygen consumption of fish in all the farms. A multiple regression analysis showed that 70% of the variation in the oxygen consumption could be explained by these three parameters. The predicted effect of fish size, water temperature and current speed on oxygen consumption are consistent with those reported in studies conducted on salmonids held in tunnel respirometers. The model described in this study may be a useful tool for the estimation of oxygen and water requirements needed for the design and operation of land-based farms.     

Effects of feeding time,water temperature,feeding frequency and dietary composition on apparent nutrient digestibility in rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss and common carp Cyprinus carpio

A series of experiments was conducted to evaluate the effects of feeding time (daytime vs nighttime feeding), dietary fat content (8 and 20%), feeding frequency (trout 1–3 times/day, carp 2–7 times/day), water temperature (trout 18 and 11°C, carp 25 and 17°C), on the apparent nutrient digestibility in rainbow trout and common carp. The feeding time had little effect on the macronutrient digestibility in both species. In trout, starch digestibility decreased with the decrease of water temperature and with increase of feeding frequency, but in carp, increase of the feeding frequency markedly decreased the macronutrient digestibility and phosphrrus absorption of the high fat diet. Fat digestibility of the beef tallow diet decreased relative to the pollock oil diet in carp, without affecting the phosphorus absorption. Inclusion of raw starch, the digestibility of which was lower than that of gelatinized starch, increased the phosphorus absorption in carp. These results suggest that reduction of water temperature and increase of feeding frequency notably decreased starch digestibility in trout while in carp, the effects of feeding frequency and water temperature on macronutrient digestibility and phosphorus absorption are notable for a high fat diet.