Heavy Metal Content of Coho Oncorhynchus kisutch and Chinook Salmon O. tschawytscha Reared in Deep Upwelled Ocean Waters in Hawaii1

Coho (Oncorhynchus kisutch) and chinook salmon (O. tschawyrscha) were reared in seawater pumped from the 600 m depth at the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii. Fish were reared in either 100% deep water at 11 C, or a mixture of 55% deep and 45% surface waters at 17 C. Salmon flesh was analyzed for mercury, zinc, cadmium and lead. Mercury concentration in coho salmon reared at 11 C was significantly lower than the concentration in coho reared at 17 C (P < 0.05), but other heavy metal concentrations in tissue did not differ between the two species or between the two rearing temperatures. Compared with wild salmon from the northwest Pacific Ocean, salmon reared in Hawaii had significantly lower concentrations of mercury and lead (P < 0.05), but significantly higher concentrations of zinc and cadmium. These differences in heavy metal concentration between wild and cultured salmon were most readily explained by differences in the heavy metal content of diets and the lack of heavy metal concentrations in rearing water. The concentration of mercury in salmon tissue was at least 20 times less than the 1.0 μ/g U.S. Food and Drug Administration action level for mercury. Action levels have not been established for zinc, cadmium, and lead.     

Signs of Sympathetic Denervation Associated With a Thoracic Melanoma in a Horse

Sympathetic denervation in a 20-year-old, gray, Thorough-bred-Percheron gelding was manifested by cutaneous hyperthermia and sweating over the right side of the body, demarcated by a line from the withers to the elbow and extending cranially. There was cutaneous hyperthermia over the right side of the head, but other signs of Horner's syndrome (sweating, ptosis, miosis, enophthalmos) were not present. The pattern of cutaneous hyperthermia and sweating was consistent with sympathetic denervation localized to the cervicothoracic ganglion, and thoracic radiographs revealed increased density in the craniodorsal thorax. Cytologic evaluation of a sample of pleural effusion revealed mesothelial cells containing melanin and cells suggestive of melanocytes or melanoblasts. Treatment with oral cimetidine and intrapleural cisplatin was not successful. A necropsy was not performed, but the clinical findings supported a diagnosis of thoracic melanoma involving the cervicothoracic ganglion.     

Spatial variation in forage nutrient concentrations and the distribution of Serengeti grazing ungulates

Resident grazing ungulates in the Serengeti National Park, Tanzania, are conspicuously patchy in their distribution among regions of the Park. Linear programming models that maximize nitrogen (N) consumption by foraging ungulates in Serengeti regions having high and low resident animal densities were compared using forage ingestion rate and twelve nutritional requirements as simultaneously imposed constraints on forage choice. Model results indicate that (1) growing season N or crude protein is not limiting in either region although greater N ingestion is possible within the eastern corridor under other nutritional constraints, (2) grazing ungulates in the eastern corridor region occur in greater density and are capable of balancing dietary requirements solely from forage while simultaneously consuming more protein than ungulates in the northeast region, and (3) rarer landscape elements are most capable of providing ungulate dietary requirements in both the northeast and eastern corridor. These results provide a nutritional basis to understand patchy spatial distributions of grazers within Serengeti regions and landscapes, and provide a partial test of the hypothesis that large generalist herbivores should graze rare forages more frequently. The ability of uncommon landscape elements to support ungulate grazing over the growing season is supported by previous ecosystem studies that demonstrate the capability of grass forages for compensatory growth and the ability of grazing to stimulate rapid nutrient recycling.     

Artificial Propagation of Mutton Snapper Lutjanus analis, A New Candidate Marine Fish Species for Aquaculture

Abstract Wild-caught mutton snapper Lutjanus analis , a high-value marine food fish species, matured in flow-through seawater (36 g/L) tanks after 3 yr in captivity. On 31 May 1995, a female with a mean oocyte diameter of 382 μm was injected with human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) (500 IU/kg body wt.) followed 24 h later by a second injection (1,000 IU/kg body wt.). At the time of the second injection, three males were injected with HCG (500 IU/ kg body wt.). Voluntary spawning occurred 33 h after the first injection, with a total of 534, 781 eggs released. Fertilization rate was 75.7%, while average diameter of fertilized eggs was 783 μm. Embryos were stocked in a 30-m³ outdoor tank at a density of 10.5/L. On day 2 post-hatching (d2ph), larval density was 8.61 larvae/L, and average notochord length was 2.6 mm. Larvae were fed ss-type rotifers from dl-d28ph, Artemia nauplii from 0–08ph, and artificial diets (52–48% protein) from d24-d38ph. On d38ph, fish averaged 0.308 g and 22.2 mm standard length. Survival (from d2ph) was 14.3%, with a total of 36,900 post-metamorphic juveniles produced. On d97ph, 1,390 hatchery-reared juveniles (avg. wt. = 10.5 g) were stocked into two 14.5-m³ recirculating seawater tanks (695 fish/tank; 48 fish/m³) and fed a 56% protein pellet. After 168 d, fish averaged 140.8 g, with a survival rate of 97.8% and a feed conversion ratio (dry wt./wet wt.) of 1.2. These preliminary results reveal the mutton snapper to be a prime, new candidate species for commercial cultivation.     

Nitrogen fertilization reduces diversity and alters community structure of active fungi in boreal ecosystems

Nitrogen (N) availability is increasing in many ecosystems due to anthropogenic disturbance. We used a nucleotide analog technique and sequencing of ribosomal RNA genes to test whether N fertilization altered active fungal communities in two boreal ecosystems. In decaying litter from a recently burned spruce forest, Shannon diversity decreased significantly with N fertilization, and taxonomic richness declined from 44 to 33 operational taxonomic units (OTUs). In soils from a mature spruce forest, richness also declined with N fertilization, from 67 to 52 OTUs. Fungal community structure in litter differed significantly with N fertilization, primarily because fungi of the order Ceratobasidiales increased in abundance. We observed similar changes in fungal diversity and community structure with starch addition to litter, suggesting that N fertilization may affect fungal communities by altering plant carbon inputs. These changes could have important consequences for ecosystem processes such as decomposition and nutrient mineralization.     

Behavior and mortality of caught-and-released bonefish (Albula spp.) in Bahamian waters with implications for a sustainable recreational fishery

Bonefish (Albula spp.) are a widely distributed group of morphologically indistinguishable marine fish species, that provide a recreational sport fishery, that is important for many local economies. Although the majority of angled bonefish are released following capture, little is known about their behavior or post-release survival. Using ultrasonic transmitters and small visual floats, we assessed behavior and mortality of bonefish following catch-and-release angling at spring water temperatures (25.5-27.3 °C) in two regions of the Bahamas with differing shark abundances. All observed mortality occurred within 30 min of release and was a direct result of predation by sharks. In the low shark abundance areas, all released bonefish survived, whereas in the high shark abundance areas, some mortality (39%) was observed. Exhaustively angled fish exposed to air had problems maintaining equilibrium following release. These fish typically spent substantial periods of the first 30 min post-release remaining stationary, then moved in rapid bursts. The results of this study, highlight the benefits of angling and releasing bonefish quickly, minimizing handling and particularly air exposure. Furthermore, when shark predation threat is high, anglers should avoid releasing bonefish in the immediate area. The conservation of exploited recreational bonefish fisheries will depend upon the development and dissemination of science-based catch-and-release strategies.     

Changes in fruit antioxidant activity among blueberry cultivars during cold-temperature storage

Antioxidant activity, total phenolic content, anthocyanin content, and six other fruit characters including titratable acid concentration, soluble solids, firmness, and percentage of bruised berries were determined for nine blueberry (Vaccinium L. sp.) cultivars at harvest and at various postharvest intervals after storage at 5 degrees C. Berries from MSU-58, Brigitta, and Legacy stored successfully for 7 weeks, Bluegold stored for 3-5 weeks, Bluecrop, Elliott, and Nelson stored for 3 weeks, and Jersey and Little Giant stored for fewer than 3 weeks. During the time they retained marketable quality, one cultivar (MSU-58) demonstrated a 29% increase in antioxidant activity. None of the cultivars showed a significant decrease from the harvest antioxidant activity value during storage. Antioxidant activity, total phenolic content, and anthocyanin content were strongly correlated with each other (r = 0.87-0.99, P < 0.01). All three parameters were moderately correlated with soluble solids (r = 0.47, P < or =0.05; r = 0.44, P < or = 0.05; and r = 0.64, P < or = 0.01, respectively), and antioxidant activity and total phenolic content were both moderately correlated with pH (r = 0.53 and 0.49, respectively; P < or = 0.05). However, antioxidant activity, total phenolic content, and anthocyanin content showed no correlation with firmness, percent severely bruised berries, or weight loss. Antioxidant activity and total phenolic content at harvest both correlated with titratable acidity at harvest (r = 0.68, P < or = 0.05 and r = 0.70, P < or = 0.05, respectively) on a cultivar mean basis. Berries from Elliott were also harvested from plants at two levels of bush ripeness (30-50% and 60-80% ripe berries on plants) and separated into three fruit maturity classes on the basis of percent blue color. The level of bush ripeness had no significant effect on antioxidant activity, total phenolic content, or anthocyanin content; however, fruit maturity had a significant effect on antioxidant activity, total phenolic content, and anthocyanin content, and bush ripeness x fruit maturity interactions were significant for these three traits. Berries with 50-75% blue coloration harvested from bushes with 60-80% mature fruit showed a significant increase in antioxidant activity, total phenolic content, and anthocyanin content during the first 3 weeks in storage. Our results demonstrate that increases in antioxidant activity, total phenolic content, and anthocyanin content may occur in the blueberry during cold storage and are cultivar-dependent. The increases that occur in immature fruit, such as in Elliott, may be advantageous for producers who wish to delay marketing of the fruit.