An ecosystem-based assessment of the Korean blue crab trammel net fishery in the Yellow Sea and management implications

Landings in the blue crab, Portunus trituberculatus, fishery in Korean waters of the Yellow Sea have declined substantially from 11,000 t in the 1980s to 2,300 t in 2004. Blue crab habitat quality in the Yellow Sea has been degraded by anthropogenic activities including sand mining, land reclamation, and coastal pollution. Various traditional management measures have been implemented, including closed seasons during spawning and size limits, but these measures alone have been unsuccessful to conserve blue crab stocks. Consequently, a total allowable catch and a stock-rebuilding program using an ecosystem-based management approach were implemented in 2003 and 2006, respectively to rebuild blue crab stocks and restore habitats. This program involved assessment of both blue crab stock status and trammel-net fishery impacts at an ecosystem-level using an ecosystem-based fisheries assessment method ( [Zhang et al., 2009] and [Zhang et al., 2010]), which considered fishery data from catch and effort time-series, crab population biology, and ecosystem characteristics, including habitats and environmental conditions. Recent (2008) management status indices have shown significant positive change compared to conditions in 2000 with respect to sustainability of the stock and fishery and with regards to biodiversity and ecosystem habitat quality.     

Sea turtle by‐catch in the Mediterranean

Sea turtle by‐catch data in the Mediterranean were reviewed and analysed with fishing effort. The results indicate over 132 000 captures per year, with probably over 44 000 incidental deaths per year, while many others are killed intentionally. Small vessels using set net, demersal longline or pelagic longline represent most of the Mediterranean fleet and likely cause more incidental or intentional deaths than large vessels typically using bottom trawl or pelagic longline. When interactions, mortality, intentional killing, size (a proxy for reproductive value) and turtle populations are considered, results indicate that Mediterranean green (Chelonia mydas) and loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta) are more affected (i) by fishing gears such as bottom trawlers, demersal longlines and set nets, (ii) by small‐scale fisheries, and (iii) by fishing in the eastern basin. Although small‐scale fisheries should be the priority target, available measures are easier to implement on the fewer large vessels. Moreover, these measures are few, and they are not implemented yet, while others should still be tested for the Mediterranean fisheries. Thus, measures for reducing captures or mortality through changing gear‐specific characteristics may help, but probably a more holistic conservation strategy aimed to an ecosystem‐based fishery management for a sustainable fishing would be the only solution for the long‐term survival of Mediterranean Sea turtle populations and their habitats. Small‐scale fisheries should manage marine resources, including turtles, in a responsible and sustainable way. Turtles may not only benefit from but can also help this process if their non‐consumptive value is fully recognized.     

日本渔业概况

日本是全球重要的渔业国家。本文介绍了日本的渔业生产、渔业资源、渔业在国民经济中的地位、渔业管理以及渔业劳动力和经营状况。日本渔业以海洋捕捞为主,由于全球渔业资源衰退,国际竞争加剧以及日本国内经济的持续低迷,日本渔业在经历了上世纪80年代的鼎盛期之后呈现大幅下降趋势,面临着产业结构调整的巨大压力。     

A fast,low‐cost and efficient method for the diagnosis of sperm DNA fragmentation in several species

Sperm DNA fragmentation is a condition that interferes directly in the reproductive efficiency. Currently, there are several methods for assessing the sperm DNA integrity, such as Alkaline Comet, TUNEL and Sperm Chromatin Structure Assay. However, many of these techniques are laborious and require high‐precision equipment. Thus, the development of new techniques can optimize the evaluation of sperm DNA damage. Therefore, the aim of this study was to standardize the toluidine blue (TB) stain technique for the analysis of DNA fragmentation of dog, cat, bull, stallion and ram spermatozoa. For this purpose, we used six animals of each specie (n = 30), in reproductive age. Sperm was collected by different methods according to the particularities of each species, and such samples were divided into two aliquots: a sperm sample was kept at 5°C (considered as intact sperm DNA), and the remaining samples were submitted to the induction of DNA fragmentation by exposure to ultraviolet light for 4 hr. Samples were then mixed with the intact sample to obtain known and progressive proportions of sperm with fragmented DNA (0%, 25%, 50%, 75% and 100%). Semen smears were performed and subjected to staining with TB. Blue‐stained spermatozoa were considered to have DNA fragmentation. We observed high linear regression coefficients between the expected proportion of damaged DNA and the results of TB for dog, cat, ram, bull and stallion samples. In conclusion, TB stain was considered a fast and effective technique for the study of spermatozoa DNA in several species.     

饲粮亚油酸水平对育成期蓝狐生长性能、营养物质消化率及氮代谢的影响

本试验旨在研究饲粮亚油酸水平对育成期蓝狐生长性能、营养物质消化率及氮代谢的影响。选取(90±5)日龄、体重相近的健康雄性蓝狐60只,随机分成6组,每组10个重复,每个重复1只蓝狐。6组蓝狐分别饲喂亚油酸水平为0.11%(Ⅰ组)、0.52%(Ⅱ组)、0.92%(Ⅲ组)、1.33%(Ⅳ组)、2.14%(Ⅴ组)和3.36%(Ⅵ组)的试验饲粮。预试期7 d,正试期63 d。结果表明:1)饲粮亚油酸水平极显著影响育成期蓝狐的平均日增重和料重比(P0.01),对干物质采食量无显著影响(P0.05)。随饲粮亚油酸水平由0.92%升高到3.36%,平均日增重逐渐升高,料重比逐渐降低,但上述指标Ⅳ和Ⅴ组间差异不显著(P0.05)。2)饲粮亚油酸水平极显著影响育成期蓝狐的脂肪、碳水化合物及干物质消化率(P0.01),对蛋白质消化率无显著影响(P0.05)。脂肪和碳水化合物消化率均以Ⅵ组最高,干物质消化率以Ⅴ组最高,但上述3个指标在Ⅳ和Ⅴ组间均无显著差异(P0.05)。3)饲粮亚油酸水平显著或极显著影响粪氮、尿氮和蛋白质生物学价值(P0.01或P0.05),对食入氮、氮沉积和净蛋白质利用率无显著影响(P0.05)。粪氮以Ⅵ组最高,与Ⅱ、Ⅳ和Ⅴ组差异不显著(P0.05)。尿氮以Ⅱ组最高,与Ⅲ、Ⅳ和Ⅴ组差异不显著(P0.05)。Ⅵ组蛋白质生物学价值最高,显著高于Ⅱ组(P0.05),与其他组差异不显著(P0.05)。从降低环境污染以及保证育成期蓝狐生长性能的角度综合考虑,饲粮亚油酸水平为2.14%较适宜。     

Accelerated induction of etorphine immobilization in blue wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus) through the addition of hyaluronidase

ObjectiveTo study the effects of the addition of hyaluronidase (HA) to an etorphine/azaperone drug combination on induction times of immobilization.Study designExperimental part-randomized ‘blinded’ cross-over study.AnimalsEight wild managed blue wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus).MethodsAnimals were immobilized, on separate occasions separated by two weeks, with one of four treatments. Treatments were; ‘Control drugs (CD), etorphine 0.01 mg kg⁻¹ + azaperone at 0.1 mg kg⁻¹; treatment 1 CD + 5000IU HA; treatment 2 CD + 7500 IU HA; and treatment 3 etorphine 0.007 mg kg⁻¹ + azaperone at 0.07 mg kg⁻¹ + 7500 IU HA. Times to first effect and to immobilization (from darting to possible to approach and blindfold) were measured. anova was used to compare treatments. Results are given in means ± SD (range).ResultsFor control, and treatments 1–3 respectively, times (in minutes) to first effect were 1.58 ± 0.42 (1.02–2.10), 1.64 ± 0.42 (0.95–2.17), 1.12 ± 0.24 (0.80–1.48) and 1.60 ± 0.21 (1.13–1.88) and to immobilization were 5.38 ± 1.53 (3.82–8.07), 3.80 ± 1.14 (2.02–5.50), 3.51 ± 1.08 (2.28–5.52) and 4.46 ± 0.67 (3.30–5.40). Compared to control, time to first effect for treatment 2 was significantly shorter. Time to immobilization was significantly quicker in all three treatments containing HA than that for control.Conclusion and clinical relevanceHyaluronidase can reduce the time to immobilization when used in the immobilizing dart, and might be usefully incorporated into etorphine combinations for darting wildlife.     

Review of injection techniques targeting the sacroiliac region in horses

Local anaesthetic techniques and diagnostic imaging tools are currently used in conjunction with thorough physical and lameness examinations to diagnose sacroiliac disease (SID) in the horse. The deep and inaccessible location of the sacroiliac joint (SIJ), however, often renders diagnostic imaging modalities, such as radiography, nuclear scintigraphy and ultrasonography, unreliable in identifying sacroiliac problems. The equine clinician therefore often has to rely on positive results of local anaesthetic techniques to confirm a diagnosis of SID. Regional infiltration techniques have been described but result in a diffuse distribution of large volumes of local anaesthetic solution throughout the entire lumbosacroiliac region, which is nonspecific to the SIJ and has the potential to produce false positive results. Several periarticular injection approaches to the SIJ have recently been described. A combination of periarticular SIJ injections with the use of modest amounts of local anaesthetic solution provides increased SIJ specificity, but may lead to false negative results in cases where the pain originates from surrounding soft tissues. This article clarifies terminology related to sacroiliac injections, reviews current injection techniques, highlights the advantages and disadvantages of each approach, and investigates injectate volume considerations.     

生产用金针菇菌种退化的快速判断

取发生不同程度菌种退化的相同来源的金针菇(Flammulina velutipes)工厂化袋栽菌株和栽培菌包,观察其在PDA平板上的分纯情况和形态特征;采用LBL液体培养基检测不同菌株对培养基的脱色情况。实验结果表明:这些退化菌株经过分离可以得到不同菌落形态的分离菌株,而且对LBL液体培养基表现不同的脱色能力,退化严重的菌株脱色能力最差,说明LBL液体培养基的脱色反应结合菌种纯度的检测可以在一定程度上排除生产上的退化菌株。     

利用酵母双杂交膜系统筛选与小麦蓝矮植原体免疫膜蛋白互作的异沙叶蝉蛋白

正小麦蓝矮病(Wheat blue dwarf,WBD)是我国西北麦区一种重要植原体病害,在我国西部地区危害严重。该病害由异沙叶蝉(Psammotettix alienus L.)专化性传播,介体传毒成为病害流行的重要中心环节[1]。本实验室前期通过免疫荧光标记研究发现WBD植原体免疫膜蛋白(immunodominant membrane protein, IMP)与介体异沙叶蝉肌动蛋白互作,说明IMP在植原体传播和致病过程中起关键作用。     

Large‐scale patterns of fish diversity and assemblage structure in the longest tropical river in Asia

Although the Mekong River is one of the world's 35 biodiversity hot spots, the large‐scale patterns of fish diversity and assemblage structure remain poorly addressed. This study aimed to investigate the fish distribution patterns in the Lower Mekong River (LMR) and to identify their environmental determinants. Daily fish catch data (i.e. from December 2000 to November 2001) at 38 sites distributed along the LMR were related to 15 physicochemical and 19 climatic variables. As a result, four different clusters were defined according to the similarity in assemblage composition and 80 indicator species were identified. While fish species richness was highest in the Mekong delta and lowest in the upper part of the LMR, the diversity index was highest in the middle part of the LMR and lowest in the delta. We found that fish assemblages changed along the environmental gradients and that the main drivers affecting the fish assemblage structure were the seasonal variation of temperature, precipitation, dissolved oxygen, pH and total phosphorus. Specifically, upstream assemblages were characterised by cyprinids and Pangasius catfish, well suited to low temperature, high dissolved oxygen and high pH. Fish assemblages in the delta were dominated by perch‐like fish and clupeids, more tolerant to high temperatures, and high levels of nutrients (nitrates and total phosphorus) and salinity. Overall, the patterns were consistent between seasons. Our study contributes to establishing the first holistic fish community study in the LMR.