洱海湖滨带大型底栖动物的群落结构

洱海是云贵高原第二大湖泊,拥有生物较为丰富的湖滨带和特有种,如螺蛳(Margarya melanioides)、绘环棱螺(Bellamya limnophila)。2009年5月和12月在洱海湖滨带开展调查,共采集到底栖动物30个分类单元;其中,寡毛类、摇蚊科幼虫和软体动物等主要类群为11种、7种和9种,分别占物种总数的36.7%、23.3%和30.0%,其它动物3种。在密度方面,群落结构以寡毛类为主,平均密度达488个/m2(占总丰度的89.7%),密度峰值出现在弥苴河口(7424个/m2);而在生物量方面则以软体动物占优势,平均生物量为67.26g/m2(占总丰度的91.4%)。按密度的平均相对丰度计算,霍甫水丝蚓(Limnodrilus hoffmeisteri)为第一优势种(平均相对丰度24.4%),其次为异腹腮摇蚊(Einfeldia sp.)(13.2%)、苏氏尾鳃蚓(Branchiura sowerbyi)(11.6%)和正颤蚓(Tubifex tubifex)(11.5%)。按生物量计算,圆田螺(Cipangopaludina sp.)为第一优势种(占总生物量的79.3%),其次为河蚬(Corbicula fluminea)(10.6%)和环棱螺(Bellamya sp.)(6.2%)。洱海的Shannon-Wiener指数平均为1.08,西岸比东岸的生物多样性指数要高。     

张家界大鲵繁殖洞穴外溪冬季大型无脊椎动物

2013年1月与2014年1月对湖南张家界大鲵国家级自然保护区大鲵自然繁殖洞穴外溪大型无脊椎动物群落和水质状况进行了调查。共采集到动物117种,隶属于5门8纲16目59科。其中水生昆虫107种,软体动物3种,甲壳动物2种,环节动物3种,涡虫纲和线虫动物各1种。两年各采样点物种数平均为27种,七眼泉洞穴出水口(S6)物种数最多,为33种,骡子塔洞穴出水口(S1)物种数最少为15种。2年1个月中各采样点大型无脊椎动物密度介于872.2~3511.1 ind/m2,平均密度为1747.6 ind/m~2,水生昆虫为优势类群,相对丰度97.05%,其中,四节蜉(Baetis sp.)、宽基蜉(Choroterpes sp.)、纹石蛾(Hydropsyche sp.)、锯形蜉(Serratella sp.)、扁蜉(Heptagenia sp.)和朝大蚊(Antocha sp.)为最优势的种类,其丰度分别占总丰度的32.27%、9.15%、7.13%、6.61%、6.52%、5.45%;基于Shannon-Wiener指数和BI生物指数的水质评价结果显示,各洞穴出水口溪流中,乌木峪(S3)、院子(S4)和七眼泉(S6)水质最为清洁,骡子塔(S1)和芭茅溪(S7)水质稍差,有轻微污染;功能摄食类群分析结果显示各采样点以收集者(GC)和捕食者(PR)为主要优势类群;K-优势曲线结果表明,除了骡子塔洞穴出水口溪流(S1)受到较重的人为影响外,其他采样点基本保持了较高的物种多样性。从两年调查状况来看,张家界大鲵(Andrias davidianus)自然繁殖洞穴外溪出苗期大型无脊椎动物具有较高的多样性,环境敏感类群优势地位明显,通过估算稚鲵营养容纳量推测,洞穴外溪可为野生稚鲵提供良好的饵料条件,但一些自然繁殖洞穴外溪稚鲵食物可能存在不足的风险,应加强保护区内喀斯特溶洞与大型无脊椎动物群落的保护。     

南溪河大型底栖无脊椎动物群落结构及其季节变化

2020年8月和11月对云南南溪河水系进行了两次大型底栖无脊椎动物调查,共采样到9000余头标本,鉴定出208个物种,隶属4门7纲73科。该区域大型底栖无脊椎动物以水生昆虫为主,软体动物次之。水生昆虫中蜉蝣目、双翅目、毛翅目和蜻蜓目为优势类群。南溪河大型底栖无脊椎动物整体生物多样性较高,表现为大多数样点的生物多样性指数值处于较高水平。无论丰水期还是枯水期,大型底栖无脊椎动物在物种组成和个体数量上均以水生昆虫为主,丰水期的物种数、个体数量和密度均显著低于枯水期,但丰水期的生物量显著高于枯水期。优势物种为四节蜉科一种（Baetidae sp.1）、纹石蛾属一种（Hydropsyche sp.1）、蚋科一种（Simuliidae sp.1）、亚非蜉属一种Afromurus sp. 、扁蜉属Heptagenia sp.1,其中前四种在丰水期和枯水期均为优势种。南溪河大型底栖无脊椎动物多样性受到海拔、河道底质和干扰强度的影响,在海拔1000-1500m的地区多样性最高,淤泥质底质和重度干扰使大型底栖无脊椎动物的物种数和密度显著降低。     

镜泊湖大型底栖动物群落调查

2006年春、夏、秋3个季节对镜泊湖大型底栖动物群落特征和生物多样性进行了调查研究.结果表明,镜泊湖大型底栖动物主要隶属于3门、9科、26种.其中水栖寡毛类2科、8属、11种,为绝对优势类群,其密度呈现季节性差异,在春季最高(951.45个/m2),夏季最低(706.40个/m2);其次,优势类群为水生昆虫,夏季密度最高(840.26个/m2),秋季最低(319.47个/m2).霍甫水丝蚓(Limnodrilus hoffmeisteri)和前突摇蚊(Proeladius sp.)幼虫等耐污种为底栖动物的优势种,同时也是镜泊湖水体污染的指示生物.底栖动物群落的Shannon-Wiener指数(H')和Pielou均匀度指数(J)都表现为春季最大,夏季次之,秋季最小;Margalef物种丰富度指数(d)在各季节差异不大;Simpson优势度指数(D)和BI指数都表现为秋季最大,夏季次之,春季最小.采用Shannon-Wiener指数和BI指数对该水体污染状况进行了评价,该湖区水质污染程度为轻度一中度污染状态.     

洱海湖滨带大型底栖动物的群落结构

洱海是云贵高原第二大湖泊,拥有生物较为丰富的湖滨带和特有种,如螺蛳（Margarya melanioides）、绘环棱螺（Bellamya limnophila）。2009年5月和12月在洱海湖滨带开展调查,共采集到底栖动物30个分类单元;其中,寡毛类、摇蚊科幼虫和软体动物等主要类群为11种、7种和9种,分别占物种总数的36.7%、23.3%和30.0%,其它动物3种。在密度方面,群落结构以寡毛类为主,平均密度达488个/m2（占总丰度的89.7%）,密度峰值出现在弥苴河口（7424个/m2）;而在生物量     

淀山湖大型底栖动物群落结构及其与环境因子的关系

为了解淀山湖大型底栖动物群落结构特征及其与环境因子的关系,于2014-2015年对淀山湖11个采样点的大型底栖动物按季度进行8次调查,同时对12项水环境指标进行监测。结果表明,大型底栖动物共计47种,其中寡毛类4种(9%),多毛类4种(9%),甲壳类6种(13%),摇蚊幼虫18种(38%),软体动物12种(26%),其他3种。河蚬Corbicula fluminea为第一优势种(IRI=41.26),其次为疣吻沙蚕Tylorrhynchus heterochaetus(5.23)、红裸须摇蚊Propsilocerus akamusi(3.17)、霍甫水丝蚓Limnodrilus hoffmeisteri(2.37)、日本旋卷蜾蠃蜚Corophium volutator(2.1)、寡鳃齿吻沙蚕Nephtys oligobranchia(1.92)、三角石缨虫Laonome triangularis(1.92)、太湖裸须摇蚊Propsilocerus taihuensis(1.43)。底栖动物密度存在显著的空间差异和季节变化,空间上,其最高值主要集中在湖心区,平均密度为385个/m~2,湖口区次之,为343.2个/m~2,湖湾区平均密度最小,为252.3个/m~2;大型底栖动物的密度在冬季最大,秋季最小,冬季出现大量的红裸须摇蚊。全年与四季的底栖动物密度和水质数据冗余分析(RDA)以及经蒙特卡罗置换检验(Monte Carlo)表明,淀山湖水体的电导率(SPC)、水温(WT)、总氮(TN)、高锰酸钾指数(COD_(Mn))和溶解氧(DO)是影响底栖动物群落分布关键的环境因子。     

洪泽湖大型底栖动物群落结构及其与环境因子的关系

洪泽湖是我国第四大淡水湖,然而关于洪泽湖大型底栖动物的报道较少。为了研究洪泽湖大型底栖动物群落结构特征及其影响因子,在洪泽湖设置20个采样点,进行了为期1周年的季度调查(2010年5月-2011年2月)。共采集到大型底栖动物14种,寡毛类、摇蚊科幼虫和软体动物分别有5种(占总物种数的35.7%)、3种(21.4%)和6种(42.9%)。河蚬为第一优势种(优势度Y=0.18),其次分别为苏氏尾鳃蚓(0.09)、羽摇蚊(0.07)、霍甫水丝蚓(0.06)和铜锈环棱螺(0.06)。群落的平均密度和平均生物量分别为(45.45±7.38)个/m2和(52.43±12.04)g/m2,其中软体动物平均密度和平均生物量最高[(24.80±6.20)个/m2和(49.55±11.94)g/m2],摇蚊类次之[(13.76±2.87)个/m2和(2.28±0.71)g/m2],寡毛类最低[(6.96±2.41)个/m2和(0.60±0.18)g/m2]。全湖Shannon-Wiener、Margalef和Pielou指数分别为2.69、1.10和0.71,各指数季节差异不明显。冗余分析(RDA)结果共解释物种数据累计方差的35.0%;MonteCarlo检验表明,洪泽湖水体中硝酸盐氮、总氮和化学耗氧量是影响底栖动物群落分布最关键的环境因子(F=2.181～3.277,P<0.05)。     

泥河水库底栖动物群落的研究

1997年对泥河水库进行资源调查，共获底栖动物4大类26种。其中软体动物14种，摇蚊幼虫6种，寡毛类5种，甲壳类1种。底栖动物的年平均密度为621.9个/m^2，生物量年平均为37.226g/m^2。阐述了底栖动物的季节变化、渔产潜力及底栖动物在环境检测中的作用。     

黄河口海域夏季大型底栖动物的生态学特征

根据2012年6月黄河口海域的大型底栖动物调查数据，应用典范对应分析等方法对大型底栖动物生态学特征进行分析。结果显示，在调查海域共采集到大型底栖动物67种，隶属于6门53科，多毛类28种，节肢动物17种，软体动物16种，棘皮动物和其他类群各3种。优势种有 3种，为无尾涟虫(Leucon sp.)、丝异须虫(Heteromastus filiforms)和寡节甘吻沙蚕(Glycinde gurjanovae)。调查海域的生物量和栖息密度的平均值分别为2.03 g/m2和358 ind./m2。物种多样性指数变化范围为1.825–3.976；种类丰富度指数为0.775–4.052；物种均匀度指数为0.637–0.924。群落结构多元统计分析和典范对应分析表明，18个调查站位可分为3组，Ⅰ组(C4、D4站位)，群落组成为长尾虫(Apseudes sp.)、日本鳞缘蛇尾(Ophiophragmus japonicus)、钩虾1种(Gammaridea sp.)，它们的分布与水深、水温、盐度呈正相关；Ⅲ组(C1、B1站位)为丝异须虫、背蚓虫(Notomastus latericeus)群落，与氨氮、硝酸盐、总氮和溶解氧呈正相关；其余站位为Ⅱ组，为寡节甘吻沙蚕、江户明樱蛤(Moerella jedoensis)、无尾涟虫群落，与各环境因子不相关。ABC曲线分析显示出黄河口海域的大型底栖动物群落倾向于受到中等程度的干扰。环境因子中，水深与大型底栖动物丰度分布相关性最高，其次为氨氮。     

兴化湾潮间带大型底栖生物群落生态研究

分别于2005年11月(秋季)和2006年5月(春季)两个季节,在兴化湾潮间带4条断面取样,共鉴定大型底栖生物189种.其中,多毛类、甲壳类和软体动物占总种数的90.5％,是该海域的主要优势类群.优势种主要有寡鳃卷吻沙蚕(Nephtys oligobranchia)、中蚓虫(Mediomastus sp.)、异蚓虫(Heteromastus sp.)、珠带拟蟹守螺(Cerithideopsilla cingulata)和侧理蛤(Theora lata)等.平均栖息密度和生物量分别为326 ind/m2和32.35 g/m2.空间分布上,栖息密度和生物量的垂直分布次序为:中潮区＞低潮区＞高潮区,水平分布具有湾内向湾口递减的趋势;对比两个季节,春季的平均栖息密度和生物量均大于秋季.群落结构分析显示,兴化湾潮间带大型底栖生物群落结构不稳定,群落发生扰动.     

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.     

Protein and amino acid composition from the mantle of juvenile O ctopus vulgaris exposed to prolonged starvation

Protein and amino acid composition of the mantle of juvenile O ctopus vulgaris (Cuvier, 1797) during fasting for 27 days were determined. Average protein content of octopus mantle was of 711.19 ± 46.80 g kg^?1 DW, and it decreased with increasing fasting days. The non‐essential amino acids content was higher (486.18 ± 11.08 g kg^?1 protein) than essential amino acids (425.82 ± 9.15 g kg^?1 protein) at the start of the experiment (unstarved animals). The results suggest that the amino acid profile of the mantle where the most abundant amino acids are Arg, His, Lys, Gly, Leu and Pro could indicate a prolonged fasting condition (>20 days) or poor nutrition of O . vulgaris. This study supports the idea of using mantle for metabolic needs of starved O . vulgaris suggesting that the degradation pathway of amino acids to pyruvate and tricarboxylic acid cycle intermediates was favoured contrary to the degradation pathway of ketogenic amino acids. Special considerations should be taken concerning Thr, Ile, Ser, Ala, Asx (Asp, Asn), Glx (Glu, Gln) (because of their fast intake) and Lys and His (due to their stable contents) during a prolonged period of fasting.     

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.