港口湾水库对下游大型底栖动物群落结构的影响

为研究西津河港口湾水库对下游大型底栖动物群落结构的影响,分别在水库上下游的兵坑口桥、港口湾水文站点、宁国老水文站和西津大桥4个站点进行底栖动物采样调查及鉴定,共采集大型底栖无脊椎动物22 315个;应用底栖动物物种组成和功能摄食类群等参数来衡量水库对河流底栖动物群落结构的影响,并结合河流生境的变化对底栖动物群落结构做了简单分析。结果表明,坝上游底质以鹅卵石(54.46%)和砾石(43.56%)为主,坝下组以鹅卵石、砾石和大石块为主,且坝上下游水体各理化指标均出现波动但并不显著;下游距离大坝1 km处的港口湾水文站点物种丰富度和EPT分类单元数显著降低(P=0.016,P=0.003),滤食者比例显著升高(P=0.011),刮食者和捕食者比例显著下降(P=0.011,P=0.013);而多度指数、Shannon-Wiener多样性指数、Simpson优势度指数和Pielou均匀度指数等群落参数在各样点间无显著差异;群落结构相似性分析也表明,港口湾水文站点群落结构与其他样点存在显著差异。研究成果可为水利工程对生态系统影响的评价及生态恢复提供参考。     

三沙湾夏季大型底栖动物群落结构及其和水产养殖活动关系

为了解三沙湾大型底栖动物群落结构以及区域内水产养殖活动对其产生的影响,依据2016年夏季采集的样品数据,分析底栖群落结构、群落与环境因子的相关性以及典型群落参数在不同类型水域(鱼类网箱、海带吊绳、鲍鱼筏式养殖水域和自然水域)间的差异。结果表明,三沙湾共发现大型底栖动物6门75种,群落丰度和生物量均值分别为371.34个·m~(-2)和21.82 g·m~(-2)。其中,丝异须虫(Heteromastus filiformis)、不倒翁虫(Sternaspis scutata)、欧努菲虫(Onuphis eremita)、索沙蚕属一种(Lumbrineris sp.)和角海蛹(Ophelina acuminata)等多毛纲动物为数量优势物种,常在鲍鱼筏式和鱼类网箱养殖水域形成较高种群数量。物种数(N)、丰度(S)、生物量(B)和Shannon-Wiener多样性(H′)、Pielou均匀度指数(J′)、Margalef丰富度指数(d)等群落参数在不同水域之间无显著差异(P0.05)。聚类分析结果显示,区域内群落空间异质性较高,空间差异未反映出水域类型的差别。水深、底层水体温度和盐度、沉积物含水率、粉砂-黏粒比例、总氮含量以及总有机碳含量等环境因子和群落相关性较强。综上,三沙湾底栖群落在群落参数方面与我国沿海温带水域相似,但群落的物种组成和较高的空间异质性较为独特;物种组成可表征网箱养殖活动的底栖生态效应。     

金沙江下游沿岸区大型底栖动物群落结构及影响因素

为掌握金沙江下游区域底栖动物群落组成及资源现状, 探究影响群落结构的主要环境因子, 本研究于 2017—2018 年对金沙江下游四级梯级水库区域干、支流共计 16 个位点的沿岸区底栖动物群落进行了 3 次调查。 共记录大型底栖动物 63 属种, 物种组成以节肢动物昆虫纲(Insecta)占优势, 占总分类单元数的 66.7%。不同站点底栖动物分类单元在 1~22 之间, 不同水库区域乌东德库区最高, 溪洛渡库区最低, 不同季节夏季最高, 冬季最低。 底栖动物总密度均值为(201.6±306.1) ind/m² , 生物量(3.2±5.5) g/m² , 且在不同水库区域呈差异显著。典范对应分析 (canonical correspondence analysis, CCA)表明, 金沙江下游沿岸区底栖动物群落组成的主要影响因子为底质、流速、 海波和溶氧。总体来看, 金沙江下游沿岸区的大型底栖动物群落结构组成以节肢动物昆虫纲和环节动物门 (Annelida)为主, 密度和生物量低于区域其他河流。干流生境由于流速较高, 生境底质单一, 大型底栖动物种类、 密度和生物量均不高, 但区间支流底栖动物资源丰富, 对区域生物多样性起到重要的维持作用。基于本研究结果, 就金沙江下游水生态保护提出以下建议: 开展长期的水生生物监测和生态影响评估; 保护河流沿岸带生境多样性; 统筹干、支流保护, 维持河流生态网络完整性。     

北京密云水库底栖动物群落结构及其时空变化

为了研究南水北调中线调水工程运行对密云水库底栖动物群落结构及其生物多样性的影响,2014-2016年在密云水库设置了7个采样点每月采样1次(冰封期除外),进行底栖动物调查,分析了底栖动物群落结构、密度、生物量、优势种及其生物指数变化。结果显示,调查期间共检出底栖动物17种,其中摇蚊幼虫12种,环节动物5种。底栖动物平均密度为455.0个/m~2,平均生物量为2.70g/m~2,其中优势种为红裸须摇蚊(Propsilocerus akamusi)和克拉泊水丝蚓(Limnodrilus claparedianus)。底栖动物群落呈现出明显的时空变化,11月密度和生物量达最大值,分别为808.9个/m~2、6.94g/m~2;8月出现最小值,分别为180.4个/m~2、0.72g/m~2。水平分布上,水库中心底栖动物密度和生物量达最大值,分别为916.7个/m~2、6.08g/m~2;白河坝为最小值,分别为307.1个/m~2、0.70g/m~2。底栖动物Shannon-Wiener多样性指数、Pielou均匀度指数、Margalef丰富度指数均在4月达最大值,分别为1.43、1.13、1.14;9月出现最小值,分别为0.38、0.27、0.31;3项指数在潮河口达最大值,分别为1.08、0.64、1.01,在潮河坝、白河坝指数相对较低。同时分析了随着密云水库水深增加,底栖动物群落的结构变化。研究表明,受调水的影响,目前密云水库底栖动物群落结构不稳定,处于重构期。     

小清河流域春季底栖动物功能摄食类群与水环境因子的关系

为了研究济南地区小清河流域内底栖动物群落结构分布特征,于2015年春季(5月)对小清河流域13个样点的底栖动物群落结构和水环境理化因子特征进行了野外调查,分析流域内底栖动物功能摄食类群组成和空间结构特征,采用典范对应分析法分析底栖动物群结构特征、分布范围及其与环境因子的关系。结果表明:春季采集到底栖动物23种,密度平均值为1.19×10~3 ind·m~(-2),香农威纳指数平均值为1.14,均匀度指数平均值为0.65。依据食性将底栖动物划分为刮食者、撕食者、收集者、滤食者和捕食者,其中刮食者占绝对优势。典范对应分析表明,春季影响小清河流域底栖动物功能摄食类群的主要环境因子是总磷和总氮。综合分析,得出结论:小清河流域水体污染较为严重,水体呈中度污染。     

胶州湾冬季大型底栖动物群落结构及其与环境因子的相关性

为了解胶州湾大型底栖动物群落的动态变化以及与环境因子的关系,本研究通过2016年冬季在胶州湾12个站位采集到的大型底栖动物样品,共鉴定出大型底栖动物66种,其中环节动物32种,节肢动物、软体动物和棘皮动物分别为17种、9种和3种,脊索动物2种,纽形动物、头索动物、半索动物各1种。优势种为寡鳃齿吻沙蚕(Nephtys oligobranchia)、丝异须虫(Heteromastus filiformis)、青岛文昌鱼(Brachiostoma belcheri tsingtauense),优势度分别为0.02、0.147和0.024。大型底栖动物的总平均栖息密度为176.7 ind/m~2,总平均生物量为159.5 g/m~2。水平分布显示,栖息密度由高到低依次为湾内近岸海域、湾外海域、湾内离岸海域,生物量水平分布湾外海域湾内海域。多样性指数(H')取值为1.19~3.54,平均值为2.65;丰富度指数(d)取值为0.91~2.29,平均值为1.47;均匀度指数(J′)取值为0.46~1.00,平均值为0.87。根据Cluster结果,可将调查站位划分为4个群落。ABC曲线显示,群落Ⅰ受到严重的扰动(H'=1.65),群落Ⅱ(H'=2.84)和群落Ⅲ海域(H'=2.32)有轻微的扰动,群落Ⅳ未受干扰(H'=3.54)。BIOENV分析表明,与群落结构关系最密切的环境因子为水深、溶解有机碳(DOC)、中值粒径和Zn含量(r=0.524)。胶州湾受人类活动干扰较多,大型底栖动物群落结构不稳定,需进行长期监测和评价。     

三都澳大型底栖动物群落结构及其对水产养殖的响应

三都澳是中国沿海典型海水养殖海湾。本研究依据2009年5月至2010年2月共9个航次采样结果,分析该海域大型底栖动物群落结构特点及其对养殖活动的响应。结果显示,三都澳大型底栖动物Shannon-Wiener多样性指数均值为2.40,变化范围为1.45～3.22;Margalef物种丰富度指数均值为1.68,变化范围为0.99～2.41;Pielou物种均匀度指数均值为0.88,变化范围为0.76～0.94。多样性指数和丰富度指数空间分布规律明显,湾口区站位、海带养殖区和对照站位数值较高,网箱养殖站点数值较低。均匀度指数未有明显空间分布差异。多样性指数、丰富度指数和均匀度指数都未见明显时间分布规律。在养殖高峰季节,以30%的相似性程度划分,三都澳水域大型底栖动物可被划分为5个群落。站位间相似性指数总体较低,但位置较为接近的或养殖方式相同的站位间群落结构较为相似。ABC曲线分析显示,2月和11月大型底栖动物生物量曲线位于丰度曲线之上,表明群落结构未受到显著干扰;5月和8月生物量曲线与丰度曲线相互交叉或非常接近,说明此期间群落结构受到一定干扰。相关性分析表明,水体溶解氧、沉积物硫化物含量以及氧化还原电位这3个环境因子与三都澳水域大型底栖动物群落结构相关性较强(P<0.01)。     

秋季红旗泡水库及周边水域底栖动物群落结构研究

2013年9月调查了红旗泡水库及周边水域底栖动物群落结构,鉴定出底栖动物19种,隶属于3门、7目、12科,其中软体动物门10种,占总物种数的52.63%;环节动物门4种,占总物种数的21.05%;节肢动物门5种,占总物种数的26.32%。红旗泡水库的底栖动物优势种为截口土蜗Galba truncatula及斯蒂齿斑摇蚊Stictochironomus sticticus,而红旗泡水库周边水域底栖动物优势种为椭圆萝卜螺Radix swinhoei、划蝽Sigra distanei及霍甫水丝蚓Limnodrilus hoffmeisteri。秋季红旗泡水库及周边水域底栖动物的密度分别为(150.4±152.88)ind·m-2和(229.33±192.89)ind·m-2。红旗泡水库的Magalef丰富度指数、Shannon-wiener多样性指数及Simpson多样性指数均低于周边水域,而Pielou均匀度指数高于周边水域,说明红旗泡水库的底栖动物生物多样性低于周边水域,但均匀度较高。红旗泡水库底栖动物功能摄食群主要是杂食者,而周边水域主要是捕食者。     

春、秋季东海大桥海上风电场水域大型底栖动物群落结构及其与环境因子的关系

为探明工程建设后东海大桥风电场水域大型底栖动物群落结构特征,利用底层拖网资料和环境调查数据,采用相对重要性指数、等级聚类、多元统计等方法对该水域大型底栖动物群落结构及其与环境因子的关系进行分析。春、秋季共发现17种大型底栖动物种类,隶属5目10科14属,十足目占绝对优势,其比率为76.5%,其中以长臂虾科和梭子蟹科占优,比率分别为29.4%和17.6%。春季优势种为葛氏长臂虾(Palaemon gravieri)、三疣梭子蟹(Portunus trituberculatus)和安氏白虾(Exopalaemon annandalei),秋季优势种为安氏白虾和葛氏长臂虾,春、秋季对底栖动物资源量贡献最大的种类不同。春、秋季底栖动物Margalef丰富度指数(D)、Pielou均匀度指数(J')和Shannon多样性指数(H')平均值分别为1.05、0.47和0.83,多样性指数季节间变异不显著。等级聚类(CLUSTER)和非度量多维标序排序(NMDS)表明,东海大桥风电场水域大型底栖动物群落可分为春季和秋季2个组群,单因子相似性分析(ANOSIM)表明2个组群差异极显著(R=0.954,P0.01)。冗余分析(RDA)表明,温度和盐度是影响东海大桥风电场水域大型底栖动物群落结构变异的最主要环境因子,其季节变异主要体现在繁殖群体的季节演替上。东海大桥风电场水域是安氏白虾、葛氏长臂虾和三疣梭子蟹等重要渔业资源的栖息地和繁殖场所,群落结构的变异与底栖动物的繁殖生态习性密切相关,具有典型的季节特征。     

桑沟湾不同养殖区大型底栖动物的群落结构特征

于2016年9月和11月对我国北方典型筏式养殖海湾—桑沟湾的筏式贝藻养殖区和网箱养殖区的大型底栖动物进行调查,研究了桑沟湾不同养殖区大型底栖动物的种类组成、数量分布、群落结构及生物多样性等群落特征,分析了底栖动物与海洋环境因子的关系,以了解养殖活动对大型底栖动物的影响。结果显示,调查共鉴定出大型底栖动物67种,其中,环节动物多毛类36种,软体动物12种,节肢动物门甲壳类和全足类16种,棘皮动物3种。桑沟湾大型底栖动物的优势种主要为多毛类,贝藻区的绝对优势种为刚鳃虫和长叶索沙蚕,网箱区的绝对优势种为异足索沙蚕和多丝独毛虫。生物量和丰度的特性为9月网箱区11月网箱区9月贝藻区,多样性指数的趋势相反。研究表明,底栖动物群落特征与底质有机碳、总磷、硫化物和氧化还原电位等因素有关,桑沟湾大规模养殖活动对底栖动物群落组成和分布产生了一定的影响。     

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.