珠母贝属6个种的ITS 2分子标记研究

对珠母贝属的大珠母贝、珠母贝、白珠母贝、黑珠母贝、长耳珠母贝、黑珠母贝和合浦珠母贝6个种的内部转录间隔区2(ITS2)序列及其两侧的5.8S和28S的部分序列进行了比较分析。其中黑珠母贝的序列来自GenBank。PCR扩增片段大小为600bp左右,测序结果表明,ITS2长211～254bp,两端的5.8S和28S分别长84bp和272bp(均含引物)。序列比对分析结果表明,5.8S和28S序列高度保守,不适合于种类鉴定,而ITS2序列高度变异,270个比对位点中有146个位点发生突变,其中72个位点发生插入/缺失突变。除白珠母贝和黑珠母贝之间的遗传距离较小外,其余种类之间的遗传距离远远大于种内遗传距离。基因型分析表明,每个种具有各自特有的基因型。基因型和序列变异分析表明ITS2序列可作为珍珠贝种类鉴定的分子标记。可用于种间、杂交育种、幼体和珍珠贝肉等材料的种类鉴定与遗传分析。     

2种东风螺线粒体基因序列多态性研究

对来自粤东和粤西的方斑东风螺(Babylonia areolata(Link))和台湾东风螺(Babylonia formosae(Sowerby))的线粒体16S rRNA和COⅠ基因片段的序列进行分析,并对其遗传变异进行了比较研究。得到的序列总长度分别为506 bp(16S rRNA)和640 bp(COⅠ)。2种东风螺序列的碱基组成均显示较高的A T比例(16S rRNA基因63.5%,COⅠ基因62.4%)。对位排序比较表明,16S rRNA基因片段变异较小,台湾东风螺和方斑东风螺各存在1个碱基变异位点;方斑东风螺COⅠ片段有12个碱基存在变异,包括3个简约信息位点和9个单一多态位点;台湾东风螺COⅠ片段有17个碱基存在变异,包括4个简约信息位点和13个单一多态位点。数据分析结果表明:2种东风螺线粒体的COⅠ基因比16SrRNA基因具有更高的多态性,COⅠ基因序列更适用于东风螺种群的遗传多样性分析。方斑东风螺的平均核苷酸差异和核苷酸多样度分别为2.68和0.004 2,台湾东风螺则分别为5.62和0.007 8,说明台湾东风螺的遗传多样性高于方斑东风螺。无论是方斑东风螺和台湾东风螺,粤东群体的平均核苷酸差异和核苷酸多样度都大于粤西群体,说明粤东群体的遗传多样性高于粤西群体。     

中华绒螯蟹核糖体DNA全序列分析

核糖体DNA通常被选作系统发育研究的分子标记,核糖体DNA中IGS部分序列的变异在一定程度上影响着生物的生长。报道了中华绒螯蟹核糖体DNA全序列的分离和序列特征。中华绒螯蟹核糖体DNA全长11660bp,包括18S(1873bp),ITS1(317bp),5.8S(163bp),ITS2(614bp),28S(4461bp)和IGS(4240bp);不同部分AT含量在40.1%～48.6%之间,低于果蝇(55.8%～80.0%),高于鲤(22.0%～43.7%)。平均100个核苷酸含简单重复序列(SSR)数由高到低依次为ITS2(0.98%),IGS(0.49%),28S(0.38%),ITS1(0.32%),18S(0.21%),5.8S(0%)。个体内差异分析结果表明,中华绒螯蟹个体内存在两类ITS2序列,其中一类在405nt处有一12bp(CGCAGGACCACC)插入序列。中华绒螯蟹rDNA的IGS部分长4240bp,AT含量为42.6%。IGS部分包含一个有约7个连续136～139bp单元组成的重复序列区,重复序列单元中存在XhoⅠ内切酶位点,为河蟹特有的重复序列;重复序列区后有一个由182个碱基对...     

西施舌Cyt b基因核苷酸差异分析

从线粒体DNA水平对我国沿海西施舌进行了遗传差异和系统发育研究,为其保护和可持续利用提供理论依据.对4个不同地理群体西施舌Cyt b基因片段进行了扩增、测序,利用MEGA4.1进行序列比对分析,以文蛤和中华文蛤为外类群,构建系统进化树.结果获得394 bp的Cyt b基因片段,其T、C、A、G含量分别为38.4%、16.9%、23.6%、21.1%,A+T含量明显高于G+C含量.在394 bp比对位点中,有318个保守碱基,76个变异位点.其中,70个简约信息位点.长乐与其他3个群体之间的遗传距离为0.194～0.209.氨基酸序列比对结果显示长乐群体与3个非长乐群体有7个位点的氨基酸差异,遗传距离为0.053.由此可见长乐群体是一个具有明显分子遗传特征的独立群体.     

11种鲈形目鱼类的核糖体基因GC含量及其与硬骨鱼类的特征比较

核糖体基因为串联重复多拷贝的基因,包括3个编码基因(18S,5.8S,28S)和两个间隔区ITS1(internal transcribed spacer 1)和ITS2(internal transcribed spacer 2)。目前,对核糖体基因的相关报道主要集中在个体内不同拷贝间的多态特征,以及其作为分子标记在系统演化关系中的应用,GC含量作为一项非常重要的核苷酸序列指标,而鲜有报道。为了探讨鱼类的核糖体基因GC含量特征以及间隔区是否也存在GC平衡现象,本研究选择了鲈形目(Perciformes)5科11种鱼类5个片段的核糖体基因进行研究,包括尖吻鲈科(Latidae)、射水鱼科(Toxotidae)、军曹鱼科(Rachycentridae)、剑鱼科(Xiphiidae)、鲹科(Carangidae)。获得了1651个单克隆序列,通过分析并比较已有的其他硬骨鱼序列片段的GC含量变化特征,结果发现:本研究鱼类的18S的GC含量为52.6%~57.1%(平均54.6%),5.8S为55.6%~58.9%(平均57.4%),28S为64.2%~65.8%(平均64.6%),ITS1为56.5%~73.0%(平均65.0%),ITS2为62.3%~77.5%(平均69.1%)。编码区的GC含量相对较保守,变异范围较小,18S和5.8S变化范围明显小于间隔区,28S则位于间隔区的最低值和最高值之间。因此,我们发现硬骨鱼核糖体ITS高于60%的GC含量是该类群的一个特征,并且高GC含量的ITS1和ITS2序列中不存在明显的高GC富集区,其含量高低的变化与序列长度也没有相关性。本研究11种鱼类的ITS1和ITS2的GC含量在种内的相似性既有大于也有小于种间相同片段的相似性,因此GC平衡现象只存在部分种类中。本研究结果可为鱼类核糖体基因序列特征的进一步研究及利用提供科学依据。     

脊尾白虾3个野生群体ITS1序列分析及其亲缘关系分析

对脊尾白虾的莱州湾、海洲湾、象山湾3个野生群体共计62个个体的核糖体RNA转录单元内间隔区ITS1基因片段进行克隆和测序,对序列特点进行分析,并结合GenBank数据库中已有的长臂虾亚科ITS1同源序列虾类进行系统分析。结果显示,脊尾白虾的ITS1序列具有长度多态性,其长度为345~384 bp,62条序列GC的平均含量显著高于AT含量;共检测到79个变异位点,39种单倍型,多态位点比例为21.7%;海洲湾群体遗传多样性指数最高,象山湾群体次之,莱州湾群体最低。在脊尾白虾ITS1序列中发现微卫星序列共有8处,重复序列类型为(GC)n、(AG)n、(GGC)n、(GGA)n、(AT)n、(GA)n,以(GA)n类型最多。AMOVA分析结果显示3个群体间的遗传分化较弱或只有中度分化。另外用MEGA4.0软件中的NJ法构建分子进化树,探讨长臂虾亚科几个种的系统进化关系,系统树显示同种的不同个体、同属的不同种聚在一起,与形态学的分类吻合。     

5.8S rDNA-ITS区片段的序列分析在坛紫菜种质鉴定中的应用

为探讨DNA序列标记技术在坛紫菜种质鉴定中的应用，对10个野生坛紫菜种质材料的5.8S rDNA-ITS区进行PCR扩增和序列分析，结果发现扩增的片段长度在1 208~1 219 bp之间，可以分为ITS1区，5.8S区和ITS2区3个部分，其中5.8S区片段的长度完全一致，均为160 bp；ITS1区和ITS2区片段的长度也非常接近，只有几个碱基的差异。多重序列比对发现10个种质材料的ITS区（包括ITS1和ITS2）序列都存在一定差异，序列同源性在95.82％~99.73％之间，而5.8S区序列则完全一致，但与其它种紫菜的5.8S区序列有很大差异，序列同源性在79.7％~95.0％之间。由此认为5.8S rDNA-ITS区这种高度保守区和高变区交替排列的形式可以成为坛紫菜种质鉴定及系统进化分析的强有力工具。     

内蒙古达里湖及岗更湖东北雅罗鱼D-loop基因序列及多样性研究

文章对内蒙古达里湖和岗更湖东北雅罗鱼(Leuciscus waleckii Dybowski)的mtDNA D-loop序列进行扩增,获得了896 bp的同源基因序列,得到的同源基因片段中A、T、C和G碱基的平均含量,达里湖群体为32.0%、32.2%、21.3%和14.5%;岗更湖群体为32.0%、32.2%、21.4%和14.5%;达里湖和岗更湖鱼群D-loop基因CG含量相当,未见明显差异。2个群体内和群体间都存在丰富的序列多态性,两湖群体的D-loop基因896个位点中存在可变位点33个,其余位点较为保守;达里湖30尾鱼D-loop基因含有多态性位点/突变位点21个,11个单倍型;岗更湖30尾鱼D-loop基因含有多态性位点/突变体位点31个,17个单倍型;岗更湖鱼群D-loop基因多样性高于达里湖。遗传距离计算显示,岗更湖和达里湖鱼群之间的平均遗传距离为0.007 0;达里湖鱼群之间的平均遗传距离为0.003 6;岗更湖鱼群之间的平均遗传距离为0.007 4。岗更湖鱼群D-loop基因的平均遗传距离大于达里湖鱼,前者群体D-loop基因进化速度大于后者。     

浅色黄姑鱼线粒体16S rRNA基因片段序列特征分析

PCR扩增100个浅色黄姑鱼个体的线粒体16SrRNA基因片段序列,得到大约620bp的扩增产物。将其中5个个体的扩增产物进行测序和同源比对,得到468bp可供比对分析的片段。比对结果表明,5条序列包括两个单倍型,两个单倍型之间有1个碱基突变。PCR-RFLP分析结果显示,两个种群的100个样品中98%的个体为其中一种单倍型,只有2%的个体呈另一种单倍型,表明这两个种群的遗传多样性较低。两个单倍型平均碱基组成为:T22.0%,C26.3%,A29.8%,G21.9%,GC含量平均为48.2%。与GenBank中石首鱼科7属9种的11条同源序列比对,得到429个比对位点,其中包括69个简约信息位点、55个单突变子和16个插入/缺失位点。聚类分析显示,浅色黄姑鱼与黄姑鱼亲缘关系较近,与形态分类相符。     

相手蟹属两种蟹类线粒体16S rRNA基因序列的比较

测定了相手蟹属红螯相手蟹和褶痕相手蟹线粒体16S rRNA基因部分片段的序列，二者的序列长度相同，均为533bp，且A、T、D、C的含量相似，分别为198bp（37．1％），206bp（38．6％），84bp（15．8％），45bp（8．4％）和200bp（37．5％），205bp（38．5％），81bp（15．2％），47bp（8．8％）；二者的序列有49处差异，其中21个位点为转换、22个位点为颠换和6个缺失／插入位点。进一步对20种相手蟹属蟹类的长度为361bp的16S rRNA基因同源序列进行分析，发现AT的含量为78．6％～82．9％，明显高于GC的含量，且存有91个变异位点。从NJ树和遗传距离来看，在分布于中国的3种相手蟹中，无齿相手蟹和红螯相手蟹的亲缘关系最近（d=0．0151），而它们与褶痕相手蟹的亲缘关系则较远（d=0．0924／0．0923）。分布于中国的相手蟹和分布于北美的相手蟹之间存在着较大的遗传距离（差异），表明它们之间有着较远的亲缘关系，互为单系起源。     

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.     

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.     

Production of diatom–bacteria biofilm isolated from Seriola lalandi cultures for aquaculture application

Controlled incorporation of selected microalgae and bacteria in aquaculture systems can be beneficial because they can act as microbiological control. That is why the characteristics of biofilm generated naturally in Seriola lalandi culture cages were analysed, their potential benefit to the growth of larvae was studied, and their controlled use for improving the larval viability and as a vector to improve incorporation of previously studied probiotic bacteria was tested. According to biodiversity results, these biofilms are composed of a diatom–bacteria mix showing a decrease in biodiversity in laboratory culture conditions being dominated by Navicula phyllepta and bacteria of the family Rhodobacteraceae. This can be produced on mesh substrates incorporated in bioreactors with rapid growth rate and adhesiveness. Preliminary results from the addition of substrates with this specific biofilm in larvae culture systems showed that it is consumed by the larvae without negative effects, while positive effects on the viability of larvae in combination with probiotics were observed. Considering preliminary results, the addition of these specific substrates with diatom–bacteria biofilms could be a good improvement for aquaculture systems and together with the use of probiotics can contribute to maintaining a stable and controlled system improving the viability of the larval fish culture in its early stages.