秘鲁外海茎柔鱼角质颚的形态特征及其与个体大小和日龄的关系

角质颚是头足类重要的硬组织,被用于估算其个体大小及其生物量等。根据2009~2014年中国鱿钓船在秘鲁外海(79°22'W~84°30'W、10°00'S~18°16'S)采集的茎柔鱼(Dosidicus gigas)样本,提取出1 346ind茎柔鱼的角质颚,并对角质颚的形态进行了分析,建立了角质颚的形态特征参数与胴长、体重和日龄之间的关系。结果显示,雌性个体角质颚各形态参数的平均值均大于雄性个体,在角质颚12个形态参数中,上喙长(UHL)、上脊突长(UCL)、上侧壁长(ULWL)、下脊突长(LCL)、下侧壁长(LLWL)、下翼长(LWL)与胴长、体重、日龄之间的相关系数较高。胴长与角质颚各形态参数的关系在雌、雄个体间的差异性均显著(P0.05),体重、年龄与角质颚各形态参数的关系在雌、雄个体间的差异性均不显著(P0.05)。角质颚各形态参数与胴长、日龄之间呈线性关系;除上侧壁长外,角质颚的其它形态参数与体重之间呈幂指数关系。主成分分析认为,第一主成分解释上、下角质颚形态的贡献率分别为95.69%和95.11%,在上角质颚和下角质颚的形态参数中,载荷系数最大的形态参数分别为上脊突长和下侧壁长。研究认为,上述关系式的建立可以用于茎柔鱼的个体大小、生物量和日龄的估算。     

2种大洋性柔鱼类角质颚形态识别法的比较

依据中国鱿钓船2013年8~10月在北太平洋海域采集的柔鱼(Ommastrephes bartramii)和2014年4~7月在中东太平洋海域采集的茎柔鱼(Dosidicus gigas)样本,分别运用传统测量学法和傅里叶分析法对2种柔鱼类的角质颚进行识别,并对结果进行比较分析。运用传统测量学法共选取了12项角质颚参数值比较形态差异;角质颚外部轮廓形态通过软件转化为20组傅里叶代码(EFDs)后选取77个傅里叶值进行判别分析。结果表明,2种柔鱼类上、下角质颚形态在上头盖长(UHL)、上脊突长(UCL)、上喙长(URL)、上喙宽(URW)、上侧壁长(ULWL)、下脊突长(LCL)、下喙长(LRL)、下喙宽(LRW)、下侧壁长(LLWL)、下翼长(LWL)中存在显著性差异(P0.01),上翼长(UWL)、下头盖长(LHL)不存在显著性差异(P0.05)。主成分分析结果显示,传统测量法中下喙长(LRL)和下喙宽(LRW)与胴长(ML)之比主成分得分最高;傅里叶分析法显示上角质颚前16主成分可以解释总变异的83.58%;下角质颚前16主成分可以解释变异的73.76%。逐步判别分析将上头盖长(UHL)、上喙长(URL)、上侧壁长(ULWL)、下头盖长(LHL)、上喙长(URL)、上喙宽(URW)与胴长(ML)之比纳入判别分析函数,总别正确率为95%;傅里叶分析法将18个傅里叶值纳入判别函数,上颚总判别率为97.6%;下颚总判别率为85.7%。总体而言,2种方法对柔鱼类角质颚判别均有效,且上颚区分效果更明显。本文为头足类的种类判别提供了更多的且有效的识别方法。     

印度洋西北海域鸢乌贼角质颚长度分析

根据2004~2005年我国鱿钓渔船对印度洋西北海域鸢乌贼资源调查期间采集的103个鸢乌贼角质颚和60枚耳石样本,分析了角质颚长度特征,并与鸢乌贼胴长、体重和日龄建立了关系。结果显示,角质颚长度与胴长呈极显著的线性相关,与体重呈极显著的指数相关;角质颚各部长度随着鸢乌贼日龄增加逐步增大,上、下颚头盖和脊突生长较快,喙部和翼部生长较慢;上颚头盖和脊突较下颚头盖和脊突生长快;上颚翼部呈幂函数生长,上、下颚其余各部均呈线性生长。     

茎柔鱼耳石和角质颚微结构及轮纹判读

为了研究耳石和角质颚微结构在茎柔鱼年龄鉴定中的应用,实验根据2013年7—10月中国鱿钓船在秘鲁外海(79°57’~83°24’W、10°54’~15°09’S)采集的茎柔鱼样本,提取出39尾茎柔鱼的耳石、上角质颚和下角质颚,对其微结构进行分析,并对微结构的生长纹进行计数及其差异性比较。结果显示,角质颚微结构头盖背侧区域的生长纹较为完整,通过观察头盖背侧边缘的生长纹可以消除喙部被腐蚀所产生的影响;下角质颚与上角质颚的微结构十分相似,均具有喙部纵向生长纹和喙部截面纵轴,然而,在形态和色素沉着等方面又有所不同。分析认为,耳石轮纹数与上颚轮纹数、耳石轮纹数与下颚轮纹数以及上颚轮纹数与下颚轮纹数均呈线性相关关系,并且直线的斜率与1差异性不显著(P>0.01),相关系数均接近1。研究表明,上、下角质颚微结构均能较好地估算茎柔鱼的日龄,角质颚可被用于头足类年龄与生长的研究。     

东海剑尖枪乌贼角质颚的外部形态及生长特性

角质颚作为头足类的一种形态属性稳定的硬组织,蕴含着大量的生物学信息。根据2011~2014年期间东海渔业资源底拖网调查所获取的214 ind剑尖枪乌贼(Uroteuthis edulis)样本,分析角质颚各项形态参数特征。相似性检验认为,雌雄角质颚之间无显著性差异(R=-0.037;P0.05)。主成分分析认为,可挑选出上头盖长(UHL)和上脊突长(UCL)为上颚形态参数的代表、下脊突长(LCL)和下侧壁长(LLWL)为下颚形态参数的代表,并拟合外部形态参数与胴长、体质量的关系。探究角质颚各部分形态参数比值与胴长和体质量之间的变化规律,并从中挑选出随个体发育呈现稳定的指标。结果表明,角质颚外部形态参数随着胴长的增长呈极显著的线性增长趋势,随着体质量的增长呈极显著的幂函数增长趋势。上颚的上喙长(URL)/UHL、URL/UCL、URL/上侧壁长(ULWL)、UHL/UCL和UHL/ULWL,以及下颚的下喙长(LRL)/LCL、下头盖长(LHL)/LCL的比值相对较稳定,随胴长和体质量的改变呈现稳定趋势,可以用来作为剑尖枪乌贼区别于其它种类的差异性指标。     

赤道海域茎柔鱼角质颚形态及生长特征分析

茎柔鱼(Dosidicus gigas)资源丰富,约占我国远洋鱿钓总产量的50%以上,角质颚形态稳定,在头足类的种类、种群划分中有着重要意义。根据2017年2-4月调查期间赤道海域采集到的茎柔鱼角质颚样本,观测分析其角质颚形态特征、茎柔鱼个体生长对角质颚形态的影响。结果表明:雌、雄个体间角质颚的各形态参数具有显著性差异(P0.05),且雌性个体的角质颚大于雄性个体;主成分分析结果表明可以选用上脊突长(upper crest length,UCL)代表赤道茎柔鱼角质颚的形态特征,并且可以做为茎柔鱼个体大小的估算;对不同胴长和性腺成熟度与角质颚上脊突长(UCL)的生长关系进行分析,显示随着胴长的增大和性腺的发育,茎柔鱼雌、雄个体角质颚上脊突长(UCL)也逐渐增加,角质颚逐渐增大。因此,根据角质颚上脊突长(UCL)的长度对茎柔鱼的胴长及生长情况进行判定是可行的。     

智利外海茎柔鱼角质颚微结构及其年龄与生长研究

文章利用2010年4-6月智利外海采集的148尾茎柔鱼(Dosidicus gigas)样品,分析了茎柔鱼角质颚微结构,并对其年龄和生长进行了研究。结果表明,茎柔鱼角质颚上颚喙部截面由头盖和脊突两部分向前延伸组合而成,周期性生长带明显,每条生长带由明、暗两条生长纹组成,头盖与脊突部的生长纹交汇于内轴成"<"形。标记轮与异常结构的形成与个体发育期的特殊事件以及外界的突发事件有关。根据角质颚生长纹估算茎柔鱼日龄,推测茎柔鱼样本孵化日期为2009年3-11月,主要为6-7月;胴长与角质颚日龄呈显著的幂函数关系,其中雌性茎柔鱼胴长的平均瞬时生长率(Instantaneous growth rate,IGR)和绝对生长率(Absolute daily growth rates,AGR)分别为0.14%·d^-1和0.60 mm·d^-1,雄性茎柔鱼胴长的平均IGR和AGR分别为0.11%·d^-1和0.47mm·d^-1。研究结果为柔鱼类年龄鉴定和生长估算提供了新方法,并为中国开展头足类相关研究奠定了基础。     

东太平洋赤道海域茎柔鱼角质颚形态差异

海洋生物的表型与其栖息环境密切相关，了解其与资源利用相关的表型特征有助于理解其资源利用方式及生态位特征。茎柔鱼广泛分布于东太平洋，是该海域生态系统的关键种，其个体形态受环境影响变化明显。为探究不同环境条件是否会对茎柔鱼的重要摄食器官角质颚的形态产生影响，本研究对东太平洋赤道海域加拉帕戈斯群岛东、西部两个群体共244尾茎柔鱼的角质颚进行了形态学分析。采用传统形态方法测量了角质颚的12项外部形态参数，并利用几何形态测量方法对其上、下角质颚图像分别设置20个地标点并进行数字化分析。结果显示，不同群体的茎柔鱼角质颚的11项外部形态参数均存在显著差异，但差异系数均小于1.28。几何形态分析显示，不同群体茎柔鱼角质颚的整体大小及形状均差异显著，并具有不同的异速生长模式，形状差异主要体现在上颚的喙部与侧壁、下颚的喙部与翼部。不同群体的上、下角质颚均具有较高的判别成功率，平均判别正确率分别为89.61%和85.88%。加拉帕戈斯群岛以东海域的茎柔鱼具有较小的角质颚、较弯曲和尖锐的喙部、较大的侧壁及较短较宽的翼部，可能与该栖息地的环境及食物类型有关。这些与资源利用相关的表型可塑性反映了茎柔鱼对于不同栖息...     

基于角质颚外部形态学的柔鱼种群判别

根据2012年5~10月在北太平洋海域(153°E~180°E,39°N~45°N)采集的柔鱼(Ommastrephes bartramii)样本,对柔鱼的两个群体(秋生群和冬春生群)的胴长(ML)、质量(BW)、角质颚等形态参数进行分析,同时利用角质颚形态参数对2个群体进行判别。结果表明,两个群体在胴长和质量上均具有显著差异,秋生群体柔鱼的角质颚所有形态参数均小于冬春生群体的均值;均数差异假设检验结果表明,两个群体在上脊突长/胴长(UCL/ML)、上喙长/胴长(URL/ML)、上喙宽/胴长(URW/ML)、上侧壁长/胴长(ULWL/ML)、上翼长/胴长(UWL/ML)、下喙长/胴长(LRW/ML)、下喙宽/胴长(LRW/ML)、下侧壁长/胴长(LLWL/ML)和下翼长/胴长(LWL/ML)的形态参数比例指标上差异显著(P0.05)。冬春生群雌、雄个体只在下脊突长/胴长(LHL/ML)上差异显著(P0.05),而秋生群雌雄个体在上脊突长/胴长(UHL/ML)、UCL/ML、ULWL/ML、UWL/ML、LHL/ML和LWL/ML上差异显著(P0.05)。逐步判别分析建立种群判别函数,判别正确率为90.9%,结合主成分分析结果建立的判别函数正确率为76.9%。利用逐步判别分析对两种群雌、雄个体建立判别函数,冬春生群的判别正确率为55.1%,秋生群为70.5%。研究认为,冬春生群和秋生群在角质颚上差异明显,可利用判别分析对两者进行有效的划分,但是进一步的种群划分需要考虑性别差异。     

个体差异对西南大西洋阿根廷滑柔鱼角质颚外部形态变化的影响

角质颚是头足类重要的硬组织,广泛用于头足类分类及资源量估算等研究中。根据2010年中国鱿钓船在西南大西洋海域采集的2 916对阿根廷滑柔鱼角质颚样本,对角质颚12项外部形态参数进行测量,根据主成分分析结果,以角质颚的上头盖长(UHL)、上脊突长(UCL)、上翼长(UWL)、下头盖长(LHL)、下脊突长(LCL)和下翼长(LWL)作为角质颚各区外部形态变化的特征指标,以头盖长和脊突长之比(HL/CL)、喙长和脊突长之比(RL/CL)、喙宽与脊突长之比(RW/CL)、侧壁长和脊突长之比(LWL/CL)、翼长和脊突长之比(WL/CL)分别作为角质颚各区外形变化的指标,利用方差分析(ANOVA)和最小显著差多重比较法(LSD)研究不同性别、性腺成熟度和胴长范围对角质颚各区生长和外形变化的影响。结果表明,不同性别间UHL、UCL、UWL、LHL、LCL和LWL的变化存在显著性差异,相同性别不同性腺成熟度、不同胴长范围内的UHL、UCL、UWL、LHL、LCL和LWL的变化均存在显著性差异,而不同性别、不同性腺成熟度和不同胴长范围间上、下颚的HL/CL、RL/CL、RW/CL、LWL/CL、WL/CL的变化不存在显著性差异,并且其值基本恒定,上、下颚分别为78.04%、22.46%、17.28%、81.41%、23.07%和50.69%、43.31%、41.13%、144.98%、93.68%。研究表明,不同个体对阿根廷滑柔鱼角质颚外部形态变化有显著的影响。     

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.