梁家湾水库浮游动物群落结构及与水体理化因子的相关性研究

自2014年10月至2015年10月逐月对山西省长治市沁县县城境内的梁家湾水库浮游动物群落进行调查和分析,共检出浮游动物58种(属),其中,原生动物22种(属)、轮虫30种(属)、枝角类3种(属)、桡足类3种(属)。浮游动物年均密度为16 418个/L,年均生物量为9.894 mg/L。种类数、密度、生物量均呈现夏秋两季相对较高的特点。相关性分析显示,水温、总磷、叶绿素a是影响浮游动物群落变化的重要因素,表明梁家湾水库浮游动物群落结构的季节变化与水体营养状况密切相关。综合运用水质理化因子、综合营养状态指数、多样性指数及浮游动物优势种对梁家湾水库进行水质污染水平和富营养化评价,得出2015年梁家湾水质状况属于β-中污染,营养程度为中营养型水库     

浙江老虎潭水库后生浮游动物群落组成及其环境影响因子

为探究老虎潭水库后生浮游动物群落多样性变化,2014年5月至2015年2月按季度分4次对水库6个采样站点的后生浮游生物种类组成、密度与生物量、多样性指数以及9项水质理化指标进行了调查。结果表明,老虎潭水库共鉴定出后生浮游动物20属、34种,其中轮虫10属、22种,枝角类4属、6种,桡足类6属、6种;主要优势种为长肢多肢轮虫(Polyarthra dolichoptera)、裂足臂尾轮虫(Brachionus diversicornis)、萼花臂尾轮虫(Brachionus calyciflorus)、角突臂尾轮虫(Brachionus angularis)、圆筒异尾轮虫(Trichocerca cylindrica)、罗氏异尾轮虫(Trichocerca rousseleti)、长圆疣毛轮虫(Synchaeta oblonga)和长额象鼻溞(Bomina longirostris),且优势种的季节更替明显;密度和生物量季节差异显著,年均密度为27.79个/L,年均生物量为0.23 mg/L;丰富度指数和Shannon-Wiener多样性指数在4个季节间差异显著,夏季略高于其他3个季节;TLI指数显示,老虎潭水库全年各站点均处于中营养水平;冗余分析(RDA)表明,透明度、溶解氧、水温、高锰酸钾指数和p H是影响后生浮游动物群落动态变化的重要环境因子。     

黄河兰州市区段秋季浮游动物群落结构特征

通过研究浮游动物的种类组成、现存量及多样性,分析其群落结构特征和水质状况,为黄河兰州段水生态系统健康评价和渔业管理提供基础数据,于2014年秋季（11月）在黄河兰州市区段设定7个调查断面,即市区上游工业集聚区设置3个断面（H1-H3),中游人口集聚区设置3个断面（H4-H6),下游人类活动较少区设置1个断面（H7）,每个断面设3个采样点,共计21个采样点,进行浮游动物群落调查。结果表明,浮游动物共检出4大类、27种（属）,其中原生动物9种（属）,占总种（属）的33.3%,轮虫10种（属）,占37.1%,枝角类5种（属）,占18.5%,桡足类3种（属）,占11.1%,种类组成主要以轮虫和原生动物为主。浮游动物密度为1.88～11.09 个/L,均值为4.64 个/L;生物量为1.3～4.4 μg/L,均值为2.5 mg/L。浮游动物优势种为5种（属）,以小口钟虫（Vorticella microstoma）的优势度最高（0.539）。Shannon-Weiner多样性指数、Pielou均匀度指数和Margalef丰富度指数平均值分别为1.89、0.58和1.94。依据浮游动物密度聚类分析结果,7个采样断面的浮游动物可分为2大类群。根据物种多样性指数对水质进行评价,黄河兰州市区段水质处于轻-中度污染。     

不同洪水阶段对升金湖后生浮游动物群落结构特征的影响

为了解不同洪水阶段对升金湖后生浮游动物群落结构特征的影响，于2020年7月初（洪水前（Phase 1））、7月下旬（洪水形成期（Phase 2））、8月中旬（洪水中期（Phase 3））和9月下旬（洪水后（Phase 4））在升金湖湖区水域设置24个采样点进行后生浮游动物采样调查。研究期间共采集到后生浮游动物20科50属86种，其中轮虫11科29属55种，枝角类5科13属23种，桡足类4科8属8种。方差分析显示后生浮游动物密度在不同洪水阶段差异极显著（F=8.301，P<0.01）。四个阶段轮虫共同优势种为暗小异尾轮虫（Trichocerca pusilla）、广生多肢轮虫（Polyarthra vulgaris）、圆筒异尾轮虫（Trichocera cylindrica）、螺形龟甲轮虫（Keratella cochlearis）、裂痕龟纹轮虫（Anuraeopsis fissa），枝角类共同优势种为简弧象鼻溞（Bosmina coregoni）、颈沟基合溞（Bosminopsis deitersi）、脆弱象鼻溞（Bosmina fatalis），桡足类四个阶段没有共同优势种。后生浮游动物密度和生物量平均值分别为2170.20±506.74 ind./L和7.79±2.04 mg/L。平均密度和平均生物量峰值均出现在洪水前，最低值分别出现在分别出现在洪水中期和洪水形成期。Shannon Wiener多样性指数、Margalef丰富度指数和Pielou均匀度指数的变化范围分别为2.37~4.50、2.19~6.50和0.83~1.21。Pearson相关性分析结果表明后生浮游动物密度与电导率、水深呈显著负相关，生物量与溶解氧、电导率、水深、浊度呈显著负相关，与总氮含量、硝氮含量呈显著正相关。研究揭示了不同洪水阶段对通江湖泊后生浮游动物的影响：洪水改变了湖泊后生浮游动物的物种组成及优势种，且显著影响后生浮游动物的密度及多样性。     

黄河陕西段浮游动物群落结构特征研究

于2013年5月对黄河陕西段浮游动物的群落进行了系统调查,并结合相关数据,分析了黄河陕西段浮游动物群落结构空间变化特征。调查共获取浮游动物4个大类,12个种,在种类组成中占主导地位的类群是轮虫。黄河陕西段浮游动物平均密度为6.6个/L,变化范围为0.2~21.0个/L,浮游动物平均生物量为14.8μg/L,变化范围为0.1~56.3μg/L。前节晶囊轮虫(Asplanchna priodonta)和萼花臂尾轮虫(Brachionus calyciflorus)为黄河陕西段浮游动物优势种类。浮游动物Shannon-Weiner多样性指数平均值为1.48,变化范围为1.00~2.12。浮游生物物种多样性指数评价结果表明,黄河陕西段浮游动物群落结构趋于简单化,水质受污染程度为中等,河流生态保护亟待加强。     

黄河河南段浮游生物生态特性与时空分布

于2013年5月至2014年3月对黄河河南段进行了4个季度调查采样,分析了浮游生物群落的种类组成、密度、生物量和生物多样性等群落特征。此次调查共鉴定出浮游植物8门73种(属),其中,绿藻门、硅藻门、蓝藻门的种类数最多,分别有24种(属)、23种(属)和11种(属)。浮游植物的丰度值存在明显的季节变化,变化范围为:4.57×10~4~79.73×10~4 ind/L,表现为夏季或秋季最大,冬季最小;共鉴定出浮游动物4大类153种,其中,原生动物51种,轮虫72种,枝角类24种,桡足类6种。平均丰度为6.32×10~2 ind./L。物种丰富度大小顺序为秋春夏冬。黄河河南段Shannon-Wiener指数浮游植物变化范围为0.78~1.89,浮游动物为0.75~1.12。H'均较低,依据Shannon-Wiener指数评价标准,黄河河南段水质级别为中度污染。     

济南地区水域春、秋两季浮游动物群落结构与环境因子的关系

为了解济南地区水域浮游动物群落结构特征,于2015年春季(5月)和秋季(11月)对济南地区水域24个采样点位进行了采样调查。结果表明,两季节共鉴定出浮游动物50种,春季浮游动物共计4类46种,以枝角类为主,平均密度为3 421.67ind./L;秋季浮游动物共4类34种,以轮虫为主,平均密度为1 686.67ind./L。春季浮游动物香农威纳指数平均值为1.89,均匀度指数平均值为0.76,秋季浮游动物香农威纳指数平均值为1.92,均匀度指数平均值为0.74,典范对应分析结果显示:春季总硬度和电导率是影响浮游动物群落的主要环境因子,秋季总氮和氨氮及总碱度是影响浮游动物群落的主要环境因子。通过综合分析得出结论,济南地区水域呈中度污染。     

长江和澜沧江源区夏季浮游植物分布特征研究

在全球气候变化和人类活动的影响下,长江和澜沧江源区水生态环境问题日益突出,而浮游植物是水生态系统的物质循环和能量流动的重要环节,为了解长江和澜沧江源区浮游植物资源现状,本研究对比了2012 ~ 2016年长江和澜沧江源区干支流浮游植物特征,并采用冗余分析（RDA）揭示了浮游植物群落结构与9种环境因子间的关系。结果表明长江源区共鉴定出浮游植物4门44种（属）,其中蓝藻门5种（属）,绿藻门9种（属）,硅藻门29种（属）,隐藻门1种（属）,当曲和直门达2014年的浮游植物种类数最多,为18种,五道梁2012年种类数最少,为6种。长江源区浮游植物密度变化范围为2.53×104 ~ 94.00×104 ind/L,最小值出现在2015年的当曲样点,最大值为2016年的唐古拉山样点。长江源区Shannon多样性指数、Margalef丰富度指数和Pielou均匀度指数变化范围分别为0.86 ~ 3.34、0.34 ~ 0.96、0.33 ~ 0.83,最小值为2012年的五道梁样点。澜沧江源区共鉴定出浮游植物4门32种（属）,其中蓝藻门5种（属）,绿藻门6种（属）,硅藻门20种（属）,隐藻门1种（属）,扎曲2014年鉴定出种类数最多,为14种。澜沧江源区浮游植物密度变化范围为2.23×104 ~ 38.64×104 ind/L,最小值为扎那曲（2015年）,最大值为囊谦（2012年）。澜沧江源区Shannon、Margalef、Pielou三种多样性指数变化范围分别为0.86 ~ 3.21、0.36 ~ 0.78、0.25 ~ 0.91。长江和澜沧江源区总体上浮游植物密度较低,水体处于贫营养状态,浮游植物均匀度指数较高,种类分布较为均匀,群落结构较稳定。温度、浊度、流速和含沙量是影响长江和澜沧江源区浮游植物群落结构的主要环境因子。     

迎龙湖水库水质调查

于2020年春、夏、秋、冬，对重庆迎龙湖水库水质进行调查，分析了浮游生物与水体理化因子间的关系。结果表明，共检测到浮游植物7门35科125属种，其中绿藻门(46个种属)和硅藻门(41个种属)种类最多；共监测到浮游动物4门33科84属种，原生动物(30个种属)和轮虫(34个种属)种类最多。浮游植物平均密度为660.893 1×10⁴ cells/L，平均生物量为3.611 4 mg/L；浮游动物平均密度为14 039.79 ind./L，平均生物量为4.120 7 mg/L。迎龙湖水库水体为中-富营养，透明度最高为1.65 m,pH值平均值为7.6，水中溶解氧丰富，氮磷含量较高，水体呈富营养化趋势。指出，透明度、叶绿素a以及pH值，是影响浮游生物群落结构的主要因子。     

皖河口江豚主要栖息地浮游动物群落结构特征

探究皖河口浮游动物群落结构特征及其主要影响因素,可为长江江豚(Neophocaena asiaeorientalis asiaeorientalis)主要栖息地的生境保护与动态评估提供科学依据。2017年12月、2018年4、6、9月对皖河口4个断面的浮游动物密度、生物量和水环境因子进行调查,运用Pearson相关性和冗余(RDA)分析,解析浮游动物与水环境因子之间的关系。结果显示,调查期间共鉴定出浮游动物32属、47种,其中原生动物(20种)占优,轮虫(12种)和枝角类(11种)次之,桡足类(4种)较少。全年共出现优势种6种,主要为原生动物和轮虫,仅出现螺形龟甲轮虫(Keratella cochlearis)一种富营养指示种。皖河口浮游动物年均生物密度和生物量分别为300.18个/L和0.1586 mg/L,季节性差异显著(P<0.05),生物密度以春季最高,冬季最低;生物量以秋季最高,冬季最低。皖河口浮游动物群落总体上呈小型化现象,以食藻原生动物种类群落及喜中营养化轮虫群落结构为主。Shannon-Wiener指数(H′)、Margalef指数(D)及Pielou均匀度指数(J)分别为0.53、1.53和0.32。综合营养指数(TLI)显示,皖河口水质良好,处于中营养状态。Pearson相关性表明,溶解氧(DO)、总磷(TP)和叶绿素a(Chl-a)与皖河口浮游动物群落结构变化密切相关;RDA分析表明,氨氮(NH;-N)也是影响皖河口浮游动物群落变化的重要因子。     

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.     

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.     

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.     

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.     

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.     

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.     

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.     

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.