基于COI序列的长江中上游鲢6个地理群体遗传多样性分析

为了对长江中上游鲢(Hypophthalmichthys molitrix)种质资源现状进行监测和评价,本研究利用线粒体细胞色素C氧化酶I(cytochrome c oxidase subunit I)基因(COI)对长江中上游宜宾、忠县、万州、石首、监利、湘江6个鲢群体进行了遗传多样性分析。结果表明,在648 bp的COI序列中共检测到42个变异位点,其中单变异位点14个,简约信息位点28个。6个群体123个个体共定义了26个单倍型,单倍型多样性为0.0476~0.0945,核苷酸多样性为0.00196~0.00982。6个鲢群体总体遗传多样性丰富,万州群体单倍型多样性和核苷酸多样性均最高,忠县群体单倍型多样性最低,核苷酸多样性最低的为石首群体。遗传变异主要来自群体内个体间,单倍型网络图和系统进化树显示各群体的单倍型没有形成明显的地理格局。此外,上游宜宾群体和万州群体与中游的石首、监利和湘江群体具有明显的遗传分化,中游的监利群体与石首群体和湘江群体也有一定的遗传分化,上游群体和中游群体应该分属于长江水系两个不同的种群。     

基于COⅠ基因序列的东、黄海区野生与养殖大黄鱼遗传多样性分析

为研究野生与养殖大黄鱼(Larimichthys crocea)群体的遗传多样性,对大黄鱼8个野生群体及6个养殖群体共336个样本的线粒体COⅠ基因部分序列进行了扩增和测序分析。实验最终获得序列片段长621 bp,总变异位点38个,简约信息位点23个,单变异位点15个,其中野生群体包含38个变异位点,占总变异的100%,养殖群体包含8个变异位点,占总变异的21.05%。在所有样本中共检测出单倍型34个,单倍型多样性为0.587,核苷酸多样性为0.00194,野生及养殖群体单倍型多样性指数分别为0.714~0.952、0.000~0.581。大黄鱼养殖与野生两个组群间的遗传分化指数为0.04982,占总变异的4.98%,差异极显著(P0.01),组群间群体间的变异占1.46%(P0.05),群体内的变异占93.56%(P0.01)。以上结果表明,大黄鱼的遗传变异主要来自于群体内,养殖群体的遗传多样性显著低于野生群体,两者的遗传多样性程度均处于较低水平,养殖群体间或野生群体间不存在显著的遗传分化,而养殖与野生两大组群间存在着显著的遗传分化。此外,通过对群体遗传结构及进化树的分析表明,东、黄海大黄鱼应属于同一地理种群,但两者间存在较低程度的遗传分化现象,黄海的大黄鱼群体遗传多样性高于东海群体。本研究可为大黄鱼种质资源的保护和恢复提供理论依据。     

基于细胞色素b基因河鲈养殖群体与野生群体遗传多样性分析

利用线粒体DNA细胞色素b基因的421 bp部分序列对北屯、乌伦古湖、博斯腾湖3个野生河鲈(Perca fluviatilis)群体和北湖、五家渠2个养殖河鲈群体序列多样性与种群遗传结构进行分析。结果表明:100个个体中检测到7个单倍型,变异位点10个,其中野生群体60个个体检测到9个变异位点和6个单倍型,养殖群体40个个体共检测到8个变异位点和4种单倍型;野生群体平均单倍型多样性和平均核苷酸多样性(Hd=0.496±0.121,Pi=0.002 53±0.001 54)高于养殖群体(Hd=0.416±0.127,Pi=0.001 23±0.001 13),分子方差分析揭示,98.74%的遗传变异性出现在种群内个体间。群体间的FST分析揭示野生群体和养殖群体分化程度较低(0.05FST0.15)。分子系统树和单倍型网络图分析也表明,河鲈单倍型间关系较近,野生群体和养殖群体不存在显著分化。     

中华绒螯蟹长江、黄河和辽河水系野生和养殖群体的遗传多样性

中华绒螯蟹(Eriocheirsinensis)是中国最重要的淡水养殖蟹类,广泛分布于东亚地区,养殖区域主要集中在长江、黄河和辽河流域。本研究基于线粒体DNAD-loop区评估辽河野生群体(LW)和养殖群体(LC)、黄河野生群体(HW)和养殖群体(HC)及长江野生群体(YW)和养殖群体(YC)的遗传多样性和种群结构。结果显示:(1)用于本研究的D-loop基因片段长度为477 bp,共包含234个变异位点和131个简约信息位点, 6个群体的262个个体中共有110个单倍型,包括90个独有单倍型和20个共享单倍型;(2)6个种群的单倍型多样性指数(Hd)范围为0.88889～0.96522,核苷酸多样性指数(π)范围为0.00887～0.01602,养殖和野生群体遗传多样性水平依次为:HCYCLC及HWLWYW;(3)6个群体的遗传距离(Da)范围为0.0119～0.0173,不论是养殖群体还是野生群体,辽河群体和长江群体之间的遗传距离均最小,且6个群体间遗传分化指数FST为0.12938。对6个群体进行中性检验显示Tajima’s D和Fu’s Fs的值均为负值。综上,基于线粒体D-loop基因的研究结果表明,三水系养殖和野生群体均具有较高的遗传多样性,且辽河和长江水系中华绒螯蟹的亲缘关系相对较近,该研究为中华绒螯蟹的种质资源评估、保护和开发提供了参考。     

基于线粒体D-loop区探讨我国养殖大口黑鲈的分类地位和遗传变异

对大口黑鲈国内养殖种群(G)和北方亚种(N)、佛罗里达亚种(F)两个野生种群共23个个体的线粒体DNA D-loop区序列进行分析,探讨国内养殖大口黑鲈(Micropterus salmoides)的分类地位和遗传变异。D-loop区序列分析结果表明,共检测到73个变异位点,总变异率为9.0%。三群体间没有共享单倍型,群体G的5个个体含2种单倍型,群体N的11个个体含9种单倍型,群体F中每个个体均为一种单倍型。对三个群体间的遗传距离分析表明,养殖群体与北方亚种野生群体的遗传距离为0.009,与佛罗里达亚种野生群体的遗传距离为0.053,表明国内养殖的大口黑鲈在分类上属于北方亚种,分子系统进化树的进一步分析结果与其一致。群体N、F和G的核苷酸多样性指数(π)依次为0.008 2,0.013和0.000 5,单倍型多样性指数(h)分别为0.946,1.000和0.400,显示出养殖大口黑鲈群体的遗传多样性相比国外野生群体有明显下降,有必要开展大口黑鲈的遗传改良研究,提高其种质质量。     

基于26个微卫星标记的三江水系草鱼遗传多样性分析

选取26个微卫星标记对来自长江(监利、邗江)、黑龙江、珠江3个水系的4个野生草鱼(Ctenopharyngodon idellus)群体的遗传多样性进行了检测。结果表明,26个微卫星位点均为高度多态位点,草鱼4个地理群体的多态信息含量(PIC)平均值为0.581 3~0.638 6;共检测出141个等位基因,其中有102个为共有等位基因;每个位点有等位基因2~11个,平均等位基因5.46,平均有效等位基因3.455 6。4个地理群体野生草鱼的平均杂合度在0.711 4~0.804 5之间。群体间遗传固定指数(FST)及AMOVA分析表明,群体间遗传分化并不显著(FST=0.031 73)。基于DA遗传距离构建的UPGMA聚类树表明,监利群体与邗江群体这两个长江水系野生地理群体聚为一支,然后与珠江群体聚为一支,黑龙江群体单独聚为一支。长江群体是原始群体。综上所述,三江水系野生草鱼具有较高的遗传多样性,4个群体之间遗传分化并不明显。     

4个群体鲢mtDNA D-loop的PCR-RFLP分析

采用PCR技术扩增了湖北监利、江西瑞昌、湖南长沙3个长江野生群体和天津宁河1个人工繁殖群体(已繁殖6代)共158尾鲢(Hypophthalmichthys molitrix)mtDNA D-loop区段,并用14种核酸内切限制酶对扩增片段进行酶切。结果显示:所有试验鱼均扩增出约1.6 kb的DNA片段,10种限制酶有酶切位点,共检测出16种单倍型,以单倍型Ⅰ为主,在各群体中所占比例为57.5%~90.0%。鲢4个群体的单倍型多样性指数、核苷酸多样性指数为0.1885~0.6526和0.001182~0.007570。瑞昌群体与监利群体的Rogers遗传距最小,为0.1250;监利群体与宁河群体的Rogers遗传距最大,为0.2693。χ2检验结果显示4个群体间的遗传差异显著(P<0.01)。在4个群体中,宁河人工繁殖群体的单倍型多样性指数、核苷酸多样性指数均最高,并且HinfⅠ的C酶切类型为宁河群体所特有,达20.0%。     

基于CO I和Cyt b序列的丹江口水库鲢群体遗传结构特征分析

有效的人工增殖放流应监控放流群体和野生群体的遗传结构特征,以避免放流群体对天然群体遗传多样性的负面影响。本研究利用线粒体CO I和Cyt b基因分析了丹江口鲢库区、鲢亲本和鲢子代3 个群体的遗传结构特征。分析结果显示,104 条646 bp线粒体CO I序列中共检测到多态位点15 个,简约信息位点5 个,单一变异位点10 个,定义了7 个单倍型,单倍型多样性为0.544~0.676,核苷酸多样性为0.00221~0.00254;103 条1058 bp线粒体Cyt b序列中共检测到多态位点19 个,简约信息位点13 个,单一变异位点6 个,定义了14 个单倍型,单倍型多样性为0.609~0.714,核苷酸多样性为0.00262~0.00424,总体上处于较高单倍型多样性和较低核苷酸多样性。CO I和Cyt b序列遗传距离、遗传分化指数以及基因流分析结果显示,群体间遗传距离为0.002（CO I）、0.003~0.004（Cyt b）,总的遗传分化指数为-0.00468（P>0.05）（CO I）、0.03180（P>0.05）（Cyt b）,差异均不显著,群体间基因流为14.69～41.47（CO I）、5.49～40.47（Cyt b）,分子方差分析（AMOVA）结果表明群体的遗传变异主要来自群体内。单倍型聚类关系树表明,3 个鲢群体间均存在共享单倍型,不同地理群体间单倍型散乱分布于各支,未形成地理群体的聚集。以上分析结果显示,3 个鲢群体间不存在明显的遗传分化,表明增殖放流鲢群体与丹江口库区野生群体的遗传多样性和遗传结构相近,可开展增殖放流。本研究结果可为丹江口鱼类增殖站鲢群体的增殖放流提供科学依据。     

大泷六线鱼6个野生群体遗传多样性的12S rRNA基因分析

本文利用PCR技术扩增了6个野生群体大泷六线鱼线粒体12S r RNA基因的部分序列。在获得的582bp碱基序列中,共检测到314个变异位点,占总位点数的53.95%。34尾个体共定义了16种单倍型,6个群体的单倍型多样性指数为0.40~1.00,核苷酸多样性指数为0.00071~0.10441。中性检验Fu's Fs值为1.19782(P0.01)。分子变异分析表明:Fst=0.88326(P0.01),群体间和群体内变异分别为88.33%和11.67%。不同个体间的遗传距离构建的NJ和MP系统树表明,东港和旅顺群体亲缘关系较近,构成一个分支,其他群体构成另一分支。     

基于线粒体COⅠ序列比较长江口中华绒螯蟹放流与野生群体的遗传多样性

为探讨长江口中华绒螯蟹(Eriocheir sinensis)放流亲蟹与野生群体的遗传多样性和遗传结构的差异,对77个放流和野生亲蟹个体进行了线粒体细胞色素氧化酶亚基Ⅰ(COⅠ)基因序列的比较分析,结果表明:所检测的样本共计77个COⅠ基因序列(630 bp)中,变异位点(V)41个,简约信息位点(P)37个,A+T(61.7%)的含量明显高于C+G(38.3%),表现出较为明显的碱基组成偏倚性;两个群体共检测出15种单倍型,其中单倍型Hap-1出现频率最大,为两个群体所共享,放流和野生群体各具有5种独有单倍型;两个群体的单倍型多样性指数(H)为0.825,核苷酸多样性指数(π)为0.004 66,平均核苷酸变异数(K)为2.910,其中野生群体的单倍型多样性指数(0.833)和核苷酸多样性指数(0.007 70)均高于放流群体(0.810和0.002 11)。AMOVA分子方差分析表明,长江口中华绒螯蟹放流与野生群体总的遗传变异主要来自群体内,其中96.53%遗传变异来自各群体内部,3.47%遗传变异来自群体间。群体内遗传分化指数(FST)野生群体(0.034 75)高于放流群体(0.034 57),两个群体间遗传分化指数(FST)为0.034 66(P0.05),两个群体遗传分化不显著。两个群体间的基因流(Nm)为13.93(Nm1),表明放流群体和野生群体的基因交流较为频繁。     

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.     

美人鱼发光杆菌对凡纳滨对虾非特异性 免疫功能及抗病力的影响

在基础饲料中分别添加0.1%和1%美人鱼发光杆菌灭活菌、0.1%美人鱼发光杆菌活菌配制成3种免疫实验饲料,以基础饲料为空白对照组饲料,每组设3个平行样。对个体质量为(4.83±0.36)g的凡纳滨对虾进行为期20 d的饲养实验,分别在0、5、10、15和20d进行取样,以血清中的酚氧化酶(PO)、酸性磷酸酶(ACP)、碱性磷酸酶(AKP)、超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)和溶菌酶(UL)活性为免疫指标,探讨了美人鱼发光杆菌作为免疫制剂对凡纳滨对虾非特异性免疫效应的影响;在投喂免疫饲料后的第22天,按0.004 2 kg/kg体重的剂量,直接投喂对虾白斑综合征病毒(WSSV)病料,并记录累积死亡率。结果表明,美人鱼发光杆菌免疫实验组对凡纳滨对虾血清中PO、ACP、AKP、UL和SOD活性影响明显高于对照组,并且在饲料中添加美人鱼发光杆菌后,明显提高了对虾抵御WSSV感染的能力。其中0.1%美人鱼发光杆菌活菌实验组的抗病毒感染能力最强,WSSV感染14d内累计死亡率为63.3%±5.8%;而对照组为96.7%±3.3%。研究表明,美人鱼发光杆菌添加在对虾饲料中能提高凡纳滨对虾非特异性免疫水平,增强抵抗疾病的能力,将其作为对虾免疫增强剂具有良好的应用前景。     

Effects of Spirulina platensis as a feed additive on growth and coloration of blue dolphin cichlids (Cyrtocara moorii Boulunger, 1902)

This study was carried out to investigate the effects of replacing fish meal with dietary Spirulina as a feed supplement on the growth performance and coloration of blue dolphin cichlids (Cyrtocara moorii). Five isonitrogenous (47% crude protein) and isocaloric (17.36 kJ/g digestible energy) diets were for formulated to replace FM with 0, 5, 10, 15 and 20% Spirulina (designated as Control, SP5, SP10, SP15 and SP20 respectively) and fed to the fish (initial body weight, 3.15 ± 0.01 g). Fish were randomly distributed into fifteen 120 L aquariums (26.5 ± 1.00°C), 15 fish per aquarium. The diets were tested in triplicate for 12 weeks. Experimental groups were fed twice daily (09:00 and 17:00) by hand to satiation. At the end of the feeding trial, significantly (p < 0.05) higher weight gain (WG), specific growth rate (SGR), protein efficiency ratio (PER) and lower feed conversion ratio (FCR) were observed in fish fed the SP10 diet when compared to the SP20 diet. There was no significant difference in these parameters between the other groups. The skin coloration of blue dolphin cichlid fed a diet containing Spirulina meal was enhanced. The best coloration was observed in the SP15 group. These impressions were objectively validated by chemical determinations of carotenoids extracted from fish skins and passed statistical tests of significance. The study findings show that Spirulina meal does not diminish growth rates except at very high levels.     

A Minchinia mercenariae‐like parasite infects cockles Cerastoderma edule in Galicia (NW Spain)

The cockle Cerastoderma edule fishery has traditionally been the most important shellfish species in terms of biomass in Galicia (NW Spain). In the course of a survey of the histopathological conditions affecting this species in the Ria of Arousa, a haplosporidan parasite that had not been observed in Galicia was detected in one of the most productive cockle beds of Galicia. Uni‐ and binucleate cells and multinucleate plasmodia were observed in the connective tissue mainly in the digestive area, gills and gonad. The parasite showed low prevalence, and it was not associated with abnormal cockle mortality. Molecular identification showed that this parasite was closely related to the haplosporidan Minchinia mercenariae that had been reported infecting hard clams Mercenaria mercenaria from the Atlantic coast of the United States. The molecular characterization of its SSU rDNA region allowed obtaining a fragment of 1,796 bp showing 98% homology with M. mercenariae parasite. Phylogenetic analysis supported this identification as this parasite was clustered in the same clade as M. mercenariae from the United States and other M. mercenariae‐like sequences from the UK, with bootstrap value of 99%. The occurrence of M. mercenariae‐like parasites infecting molluscs outside the United States is confirmed.     

Sea bream culture in Egypt; status, constraints and potential

Marine fish farming in Egypt began in 1976 with the culture of gilthead sea bream, (Sparus aurata) as this fish was notably adaptable to brackish and marine pond conditions. Today, marine fish and shrimp farms amount to about 19,000 ha, out of which 42% is already in production while the rest, i.e., 58% is still under construction. In 1997, cultured gilthead sea bream production of 2,250 tons made up 3% of the 75,000 tons total aquaculture catch. In polyculture, usually with the grey mullet and sea bass, gilthead sea bream contributed 440 kg ha^–1 to the total yield of 1,700 kg ha^–1 (26%) over a period of 16 months. For the same period, the yield of monoculture ponds averaged 100 kg ha^–1, while in marine cages, yields ranged from 4–10 kg m³. In 1996–1997, fry of 0.25–1 g and fingerlings 1–10 g with a total of 3 million, were collected from the wild and 1 million fry were produced in the three marine hatcheries out of the four existing ones. The development of sea bream culture in Egypt is now severely inhibited by the shortage of seeds and adequate feeds. Exports of both sea bream and sea bass, during 1994–1996 averaged 1,300 tons per year.     

Dietary thiamin and pyridoxine requirements of fingerling Indian major carp,Cirrhinus mrigala (Hamilton)

Two experiments were conducted to quantify the dietary thiamin (experiment I) and pyridoxine (experiment II) requirements of fingerling Cirrhinus mrigala for 16 weeks. In experiment I, dietary thiamin requirement was determined by feeding seven casein–gelatin‐based diets (400 g kg^?1 CP; 18.69 kJ g^?1 GE) with graded levels of thiamin (0, 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 8 and 16 mg kg^?1 diet) to triplicate groups of fish (6.15 ± 0.37 cm; 1.89 ± 0.12 g). Fish fed diet with 2 mg kg^?1 thiamin had highest specific growth rate (SGR), protein retention (PR), RNA/DNA ratio, haemoglobin (Hb), haematocrit (Hct), RBCs and best feed conversion ratio (FCR). However, highest liver thiamin concentration was recorded in fish fed 4 mg thiamin kg^?1 diet. Broken‐line analysis of SGR, PR and liver thiamin concentrations exhibited the thiamin requirement in the range of 1.79–3.34 mg kg^?1 diet (0.096–0.179 μg thiamin kJ^?1 gross energy). In experiment II, six casein–gelatin‐based diets (400 g kg^?1 CP; 18.69 kJ g^?1 GE) containing graded levels of pyridoxine (0, 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 mg kg^?1 diet) were fed to triplicate groups of fish (6.35 ± 0.37 cm; 1.97 ± 0.12 g). Fish fed diet containing 6 mg kg^?1 pyridoxine showed best SGR, FCR, PR, RNA/DNA ratio, Hb, Hct and RBCs, whereas maximum liver pyridoxine concentration was recorded in fish fed 8 mg kg^?1 dietary pyridoxine. Broken‐line analysis of SGR, PR and liver pyridoxine concentrations reflected the pyridoxine requirement from 5.63 to 8.61 mg kg^?1 diet. Data generated during this study would be useful in formulating thiamin‐ and pyridoxine‐balanced feeds for the intensive culture of this fish.     

Fertilization by refrigerator stored sperm of the Indian major carp, Labeo calbasu (Hamilton, 1822)

This study reports on the spermatological properties, and on the development of a protocol for refrigerator storage (4°C) of Labeo calbasu (Hamilton, 1822) sperm for artificial breeding. Volume, motility, concentration and pH of the freshly collected sperm were 2.21 ± 0.53 (μL g^?1 of fish weight) (mean ± SD), 95 ± 1 (%), 1.93 ± 0.44 × 10⁹ (cells mL^?1) and 7.56 ± 0.17 respectively. Sperm activation was evaluated at different osmolalities of NaCl solution, and motility ceased completely when osmolality of the extender was ≥287 mOsmol kg^?1. Sperm retained motility for 24, 72 and 108 h, after refrigerator storage when sperm were undiluted, suspended in Alsever's solution and suspended in Alsever's solution containing 5% methanol respectively. Fertilization rate of fresh eggs with sperm stored at 4°C in Alsever's solution and Alsever's solution containing 5% methanol was 77% and 60% with a hatching rate of 60% and 43% respectively. The fertilization and hatching success of the stored sperm suggests potential to use refrigeration for transporting genetic material to hatcheries for artificial breeding of L. calbasu in Bangladesh.     

A novel approach to denitrification processes in a zero-discharge recirculating system for small-scale urban aquaculture

This paper presents an innovative process to solve the nitrate build-up problem in recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS). The novel aspects of the process lie in a denitrification bioreactor system that uses solid cotton wool as the primary carbon source and a unique degassing chamber. In the latter, the water is physically stripped of dissolved gaseous O₂ (by means of a Venturi vacuum tube), and the subsequent denitrification becomes more efficient due to elimination of the problems of oxygen inhibition of denitrification and aerobic consumption of cotton wool. The cotton wool medium also serves as a physical barrier that traps organic particles, which, in turn, act as an additional carbon source for denitrification. Operation in the proposed system gives an extremely low C/N ratio of 0.82 g of cotton wool/g of nitrate N, which contributes to a significant reduction of biofilter volume. The additional advantage of using solid cotton wool as the carbon source is that it does not release organic residuals into the liquid to be recycled. Operation of the system over a long period consistently produced effluents with low nitrate levels (below 10 mg N/l), and there was only a very small need to replace system water. The overall treatment scheme, also incorporating an aerobic nitrification biofilter and a granular filtration device, produced water of excellent quality, i.e., with near-zero levels of nitrite and ammonia, a sufficiently high pH for aquaculture, and low turbidity. The proposed system thus provides a solution for sustainable small-scale, urban aquaculture operation with a very high recovery of water (over 99%) and minimal waste disposal.     

Effects of metomidate anaesthesia or transfer to pur sea water on plasma parameters in ammonia-exposed Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L) in sea water

Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L) postsmolts weighing 150 ± 53 g were exposed to 14–15 mg l^–1 TA-N (total ammonia-N) in sea water in 1 m³ tanks for 24h. Blood samples were then taken A) immediately after the fish were netted from the exposure tanks and stunned by a blow to the head; B) 2–20 min after the fish were transferred to 15 l of an anaesthetic solution of metomidate in ammonia-free sea water; or C) 2–20 min after the fish were transferred to 15 l of ammonia-free sea water. Plasma TA-N level was 18% lower in the anaesthetised fish compared to in the fish sampled directly from the exposure tanks (p 0.05), and accordingly 16% lower in the fish transferred to pure sea water although this difference was not significant (p = 0.07). Plasma glucose level was higher in the fish transferred to pure sea water than in the fish receiving the two other treatments (p 0.05), but plasma urea, osmolality, Na^{+, Cl–, Ca2+ or Mg2+} levels did not vary significantly between the different treatments. Plasma TA-N level increased with time in the fish in the metomidate solution (p 0.02).