基于全长转录组测序的金乌贼微卫星位点筛选与特征分析

以金乌贼(Sepia esculenta)转录组测序获得的177,951条Unigene为对象，采用Micro Satellite (MISA)软件检测及分析其中的简单重复序列(Simple sequence repeat, SSR)的位点信息。结果显示，在金乌贼转录组中共检测出161,327个SSR位点，分布在64,933条Unigene中，SSR位点发生频率为36.49%，出现频率为90.66%。其中，最主要的重复类型为单核苷酸、二核苷酸和三核苷酸，分别占SSR总数的46.00%、39.93%和9.48%。SSR包含的重复基元中，A/T是单核苷酸的优势重复基元，AT/AT和AC/GT是二核苷酸的优势重复基元类型。66,004个重复基元长度≥20 bp，占SSR总数的40.91%，且其中含有低级重复基元(二、三核苷酸重复)的SSR位点数量占优。以上结果表明，金乌贼转录组中SSR位点出现频率较高且类型丰富、多态性潜能较高，研究结果可为更好地开发金乌贼SSR分子标记、种质资源保护利用、遗传多样性评价和分子标记辅助育种等提供参考。     

基于转录组数据的毛蚶SSR分子标记开发与评价

本研究基于毛蚶(Scapharca subcrenata)的转录组数据,利用MISA软件对其中的微卫星位点进行挖掘。从35 555条unigene中共获得3987个SSR,SSR出现频率达11.21%。SSR重复类型主要以二核苷酸重复为主(58.06%),其次为三核苷酸重复(19.04%)。共有182种重复基元,不同类型SSR的重复基元分布特征不同,其中,二核苷酸重复基元中AC/GT类型比例最高,为45.70%。毛蚶转录组中SSR重复次数主要集中在5~7次,SSR长度主要集中在12~29 bp,多态性均在中等以上。利用筛选出的14对SSR引物在山东潍坊毛蚶野生群体中进行遗传多样性分析,结果显示,平均有效等位基因数(Na)、平均观测杂合度(Ho)、平均期望杂合度(He)和多态性信息含量(PIC)分别为15.4、0.682、0.852和0.817,从PIC值来看,本研究开发的14个微卫星标记均属高多态性标记(PIC≥0.5)。此外,有7个位点显著偏离哈迪–温伯格平衡(Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, HWE) (P<0.05)。结果表明,基于毛蚶转录组数据开发微卫星标记是切实可行的,研究结果丰富了毛蚶的分子标记数量,对毛蚶的种群遗传学分析、遗传图谱构建及分子辅助育种等研究具有重要意义。     

文蛤转录组中微卫星位点生物信息分析#br#

采用生物信息学方法分析了文蛤(Meretrix meretrix)转录组中微卫星序列(简单重复序列,simple sequence repeat)的分布规律。结果表明:在文蛤转录组SSR中,单碱基重复序列的数量最多,有3001个;其次为三碱基和四碱基重复序列,分别为2254和2200个;二碱基重复序列1052个;五碱基重复序列332个;六碱基重复序列最少,仅13个。文蛤转录组SSR共包含26种重复基元,其中优势基元为单碱基重复A/T有2809个,其次为三碱基重复AAC/TTG有907个,四碱基和二碱基重复中的AAAC/TTTG和AT/TA分别有588和561个,说明文蛤转录组微卫星位点的分布对A/T具有偏好性。文蛤完整SSR的平均长度为18.34 bp,长度分布在12~20 bp,约占41%。研究结果将为研究文蛤SSR标记开发、群体遗传多样性、遗传连锁图谱、种质资源鉴定和分子遗传育种等后续研究提供基础数据。     

曼氏无针乌贼转录组微卫星特征分析

本研究基于高通量测序获得的曼氏无针乌贼(Sepiella japonica)转录组数据,采用MISA(MIcro SAtellite)软件对其简单序列重复(Simple sequence repeat,SSR)位点进行了高通量发掘。组装并去冗余后,得到127575个Unigene,序列拼接的总长度为103104058 bp。对Unigene序列进行SSR分析,共得到62124个SSR(完整型SSR 36813个),分布在50626条Unigene序列当中,SSR出现频率为48.70%,平均16.6 kb出现1个SSR。微卫星序列主要以二碱基重复类型为主(31227,50.27%),其次为三碱基重复(16230,26.13%)。共发现122种碱基重复基元,在所有重复基元中(AT/AT)n占的比例最高为23.33%,其次为(AAAG/CTTT)n(17.42%)。曼氏无针乌贼SSR(完整型)的平均长度为25.87 bp,微卫星主要为重复长度大于20 bp的长序列,长度大于20 bp的微卫星序列占总数的51%。本研究发现,曼氏无针乌贼微卫星出现的频率和其长度呈极显著负相关(P0.01),相关系数为–0.594。该研究结果为开发高度多态性微卫星引物进行曼氏无针乌贼亲缘关系鉴定、种群遗传多样性和增殖放流效果评估等研究奠定了基础。     

双须骨舌鱼转录组EST-SSR标记开发与引物筛选

利用MISA软件对双须骨舌鱼(Osteoglossum bicirrhosum)性腺转录组测序获得的188 461条Unigene进行SSR检测,结果在11 917个Unigene中共检测到SSR位点12 578个,其中包含2个及以上SSR位点的Unigene有633个。SSR的发生频率为6.32%,平均分布距离为9 949 bp。在筛选到的SSR位点中,优势重复基序为二核苷酸、三核苷酸和四核苷酸,其中二核苷酸重复基序数量最多,占总数的50.52%。重复基元类型共216种,其中数量最多的类型为二核苷酸重复AC/GT,占总数的20.66%。从所有筛选出的SSR位点中随机选取50个位点并运用Primer Premier 5.0设计引物,共有25对引物成功扩增出特异性产物,并且均在同科的美丽硬仆骨舌鱼(Scleropages formosus)的三个亚种中通用。结果表明,转录组测序产生的EST序列是开发SSR标记的有效来源,开发所得EST-SSR引物可用于双须骨舌鱼及其近缘物种遗传分析、遗传图谱构建以及分子标记辅助育种等工作中。     

泥东风螺EST-SSR开发及其群体遗传多样性分析

本研究采用MISA软件分析泥东风螺(Babylonia lutosa)转录组中微卫星信息。结果显示，从转录组中共获得16324个SSR，共有181种重复基元；泥东风螺转录组中不同类型微卫星的重复基元具有不同的分布特征，其中，二核苷酸重复基元中AC/GT(70.58%)重复基元以重复6次出现频率占优；长度为12~20 bp的SSR占63.95%，长度为21~25 bp的SSR占9.14%，总体的平均长度为18.4 bp。随机选取其中50条序列设计引物，通过对福建野生泥东风螺群体(WP)DNA样本进行PCR扩增和分型，结果获得23个多态性位点，等位基因数目为2~7个不等，期望杂合度(Ne)为0.190~0.937，观察杂合度(No)为0.065~0.936，多态性信息含量(PIC)为0.061~0.777，有4个位点显著偏离哈迪温伯格平衡(Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, HWE) (P<0.05)。对野生群体和养殖群体(BP)遗传多样性分析显示，野生群体和养殖群体的平均Ne分别为0.491和0.544，平均No分别为0.477和0.564，平均PIC分别为0.541和0.407。Fis结果显示，野生群体和养殖群体分别有13个和9个位点杂合子过剩。群体间遗传分化指数(Fst)为0.001~0.655，平均值为0.053 (0.05相似文献   

基于转录组测序的圆口铜鱼微卫星标记筛选

分析圆口铜鱼(Coreius guichenoti)的遗传多样性,可为其人工繁殖家系鉴别、分子标记辅助育种及长江上游珍稀特有鱼类的种质资源保护提供理论依据和技术支撑。以室内循环水养殖的圆口铜鱼为研究对象,提取其肝脏RNA,通过Illumina HiSeq~(TM) 2000高通量测序平台进行转录组测序,利用MISA软件对测序获得的unigene进行微卫星(SSR)位点挖掘和特征分析,设计SSR位点引物并进行验证。结果显示,圆口铜鱼转录组测序共获得80 688条unigene,通过查找获得34 155个SSR位点,分布在25 947条序列上,发生率为32.2%。圆口铜鱼SSR中主要重复单元类型为单碱基和二碱基,其中A/T和AC/GT为优势单碱基和二碱基重复单元,占总SSR数量的57.2%和19.7%。SSR重复数在5～60次,其中有40.3%的SSR序列集中在11～15次;SSR序列长度变化显著,单碱基至六碱基重复类型的总体长度在11～101 bp,其中12～35 bp序列长度占78.8%。随机选取50个SSR位点合成引物对9尾圆口铜鱼样本进行PCR扩增验证,可稳定扩增出目的条带的有40对引物,其中16对具有多态性,证明了通过转录组测序开发圆口铜鱼SSR标记的可行性。     

基于RNA-seq数据的密斑刺鲀SSR分子标记开发及鉴定

以密斑刺鲀(Diodon hystrix)为研究对象,利用RNA-seq技术进行转录组测序及序列组装,最终获得221762条Unigene序列,N50为2240 nt,GC含量为46.20%。利用MISA软件从该转录组数据中搜索到106221个符合条件的SSR位点,分布于62451条Unigene中,发生频率为28.16%。优势重复单元为单核苷酸、二核苷酸和三核苷酸,发生频率分别为48.99%、32.57%和14.72%,其中单核苷酸重复单元中以A/T为主,占总SSR位点数的46.21%,二和三核苷酸重复单元分别以AC/GT和AGG/CCT为主,占比分别为21.90%和2.70%。选取SSR长度大于等于20 bp的位点设计了17563个位点的引物,随机挑选160对位点引物进行扩增鉴定,筛选到95对有效扩增引物,占比为59.38%。通过多态性验证,最终获得30对稳定、可重复的多态性引物(占有效扩增引物的31.58%),其中15对引物表现出高多态性(PIC>0.5),这些高多态性引物具有评估密斑刺鲀群体多样性的潜力。结果表明,密斑刺鲀转录组数据可作为开发稳定的SSR标记的有效来源,该实验所开发的多态性SSR位点为进一步研究密斑刺鲀的遗传图谱和遗传多样性奠定了基础。     

基于转录组测序的圆口铜鱼SSR标记初步筛选及特征分析

分析圆口铜鱼(Coreius guichenoti)的遗传多样性,可为其人工繁殖家系鉴别、分子标记辅助育种及长江上游珍稀特有鱼类的种质资源保护提供理论依据和技术支撑。以室内循环水养殖的圆口铜鱼为研究对象,提取其肝脏RNA,通过Illumina HiSeq? 2000 高通量测序平台进行转录组测序,利用MISA软件对测序获得的unigene进行微卫星（SSR）位点挖掘和特征分析,设计SSR位点引物并进行验证。结果显示,圆口铜鱼转录组测序共获得80 688条 unigene,通过查找获得34 155个SSR位点,分布在25 947条序列上,发生率为32.2%。圆口铜鱼SSR中主要重复单元类型为单碱基和二碱基,其中A/T和AC/GT为优势单碱基和二碱基重复单元,占总SSR数量的57.2%和19.7%。SSR重复数在5~60次,其中有40.3%的SSR序列集中在11~15次;SSR序列长度变化显著,单碱基至六碱基重复类型的总体长度在11~101 bp,其中12~35 bp序列长度占78.8%。随机选取50个SSR位点合成引物对9尾圆口铜鱼样本进行PCR 扩增验证,可稳定扩增出目的条带的有40对引物,其中16对具有多态性,证明了通过转录组测序开发圆口铜鱼SSR标记的可行性。     

乌鳢和斑鳢EST序列微卫星信息分析

乌鳢(Channa argus,♂)、斑鳢(Channa maculatus,♀)是杂交鳢"杭鳢1号"的亲本。利用高通量测序技术对乌鳢和斑鳢的肝脏进行转录组测序获得大量EST序列后,利用MISA软件进行微卫星信息分析,结果表明,通过转录组测序获得乌鳢EST序列59 959条,长度45 mb,发现15 428个SSR,出现频率为25.73%;获得斑鳢EST序列44 337条,长度27 mb,发现8 439个SSR,出现频率为19.03%。在乌鳢和斑鳢EST-SSR中,重复单元以1~2碱基重复为最多,并以长度小于16 bp的短重复序列为主,间隔SSR和复合SSR的EST序列RPKM均值要低于单纯型SSR的EST序列RPKM均值,且在单纯型SSR中SSR长度越长,其RPKM均值则越低。     

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.     

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。     

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.