Plankton abundance and size structure in the northern North Pacific Ocean in early summer

Phyto- and zooplankton abundance and size structure were investigated in the northern North Pacific Ocean (37.0–49.5^oN along 180^o longitude) during June of 1987. The area between 41.5^oN and 47.5^oN was expected to be abundant in phytoplankton since both water column stability and nutrient availability were favourable for phytoplankton growth. Actual phytoplankton abundance was, however, low between 41.5^oN and 45.5^oN. In particular, abundance of net phytoplankton (>10μm) was low although picophytoplankton (<2 μm) was abundant between 41.5^oN and 43.5^oN. The zooplankton community between 41.5^oN and 45.5^oN was characterized by a large amount of net zooplankton and a small amount of microzooplankton. This situation may be best explained by top-down control; that is, net zooplankton grazing suppressed net phytoplankton and microzooplankton abundance. The diminished microzooplankton promoted the increase of picophytoplankton. Because planktivorous Pacific saury were abundant between 40.0^oN and 41.0^oN, it is further speculated that the low biomass of net zooplankton south of 41.0^oN resulted from feeding by Pacific saury. The reduced grazing pressure of net zooplankton may have enhanced the growth of net phytoplankton and microzooplankton in this region.     

威宁黄牛SOCS1基因外显子区SNP与体尺性状关联性研究

为研究SOCS1基因突变对威宁黄牛生长性能的影响,以106头威宁黄牛为研究对象,采用SSCP、DNA测序方法分析SOCS1基因外显子区SNP与不同个体体尺性状的相关性。结果显示：A＋815C位点在威宁黄牛中有不同分型,在威宁黄牛公畜中,A＋815C位点与体高、体直长有极显著关联,CC基因型个体体高、体直长均值最大,为有利基因型,对胸深的影响达到显著性水平,具有杂合子优势;在母畜中,A＋815C位点对胸围的影响达到显著水平,杂合子 AC基因型个体胸围均值最大。     

风幕式喷杆喷雾雾滴粒径与速度分布试验

为了研究风幕出口风速和风幕出风口与喷口的水平距离对雾滴粒径和雾滴速度分布的影响,运用PDPA测试系统对不同条件下的风幕式喷杆喷雾气液两相流场进行了测试,对雾滴粒径、速度分布的测量结果进行了分析和讨论。结果表明:雾滴在气流场的作用下,随着风幕风速的逐步变大,雾滴的粒径变小且分布均匀,有效地增大了雾滴的沉积、减小了飘移。风幕出风口与喷口水平距离越近时,雾滴的穿透性能越好,向后飘移的趋势越弱。     

A test of the individual feeding activity and food size preference in rainbow trout using demand feeders

Feeding activity and food size preferences were investigated in three groups of rainbow trout with initial weights ranging from 200 to 1000 g. Fish were given the option of releasing food from either of two demand feeding devices that contained either 6 mm or 9 mm food pellets. Individual biting activity (to activate release of food) was continuously monitored using specially designed passive integrated transponders (PIT-tags). In each of the groups, biting activity was strongly influenced by three individuals, which accounted for 70–85% of the total. Thus, high bite activity by few individuals indicates the development of social dominance hierarchies. There was no statistically significant correlation between number of bites and growth rate, indicating that the fish that operated the demand feeders did not gain any growth advantage. Trout that dominated the actuation of the feeders were found among both medium- and large-sized fish. There was no evidence of active food size selection, and the fish that most frequently operated the feeders defended one area of the tank rather than preferring the trigger that would have delivered food of the optimal size.     

Optimising codend configuration in a multispecies demersal trawl fishery

Abstract The relative efficiencies and selectivities of conventional and modified codends were examined in a demersal trawl fishery targeting several species, including eastern king prawns, Penaeus plebejus (Hess), whiting, Sillago spp. and cephalopods. The modifications to codends included: (i) reducing the circumference; (ii) increasing the mesh size in conventional diamond‐mesh designs; and (iii) orientating meshes on the bar so that they were square shaped. The codends were tested against a fine‐meshed control in paired comparisons onboard three commercial trawlers. The conventional codend comprised 41‐mm diamond‐shaped mesh attached to an anterior extension section at a ratio of 150 to 100 meshes and was demonstrated to be non‐selective for the targeted species. Reducing codend circumference to 100 meshes and increasing the size of mesh to 45 mm both improved selection for eastern king prawns, but the lateral mesh openings were estimated to be insufficient to allow juveniles of the other key species to escape. By contrast, codends made from 35‐ and 41‐mm mesh hung on the bar improved the size selection for eastern king prawns and selected stout whiting, Sillago robusta (Stead) (the smallest commercial‐sized fish) across narrow selection ranges and at 50% sizes of retention (L₅₀s) that were closely correlated to the transverse morphology of fish and the maximum mesh opening. With the exception of a reduction in catches of octopus, Octopus spp., by the 41‐square codend, there were no other impacts on commercial catches by the square‐mesh designs. It was concluded that diamond‐mesh codends are inappropriate for use throughout this multispecies fishery and that a modified design comprising at least 35‐mm mesh hung on the bar is required to minimise the fishing mortality of unwanted sizes of the key target species. The results are discussed in terms of the utility of these types of modifications for closely regulating selection in penaeid‐shrimp trawls.     

中华鲟小水体养殖试验初报

在7.2m^3水泥池中，采和人工配制饲料对中华鲟（Acipenser sinensis)进行养殖试验，通过4个阶段180d的养殖，鱼尾均增重1817.5g,日均增重分别为8．5，8．9，9．2，12．3，饲料系数为1．96，2．12，2．33，2．21。中华鲟在水水温处于8－29，1℃时均可摄食生长，利用人工配制养殖中华鲟的前景乐观。     

Foraging behaviour of juvenile pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) and size‐dependent predation risk

Two hypotheses related to effects of juvenile pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) foraging behaviour and size on their predation risk were evaluated using field data collected in Prince William Sound, Alaska 1 995–97. My results supported the hypothesis that low macrozooplankton density leads to dispersion of juvenile salmon from shallow nearshore habitats and greater predation risk, but zooplankton type was an important factor. When the biomass of large copepods (primarily Neocalanus spp.) declined, salmon dispersed from shallow nearshore habitats, and mean daily individual predator consumption of salmon increased by a factor of 5. A concomitant five‐fold increase in the probability of occurrence of salmon in predator stomachs supported the notion that increased predation on salmon was caused by a greater overlap between predator and prey when salmon dispersed offshore, not an increase in the number of salmon consumed per feeding bout. The results also generally supported the hypothesis that the timing of predation events modifies the nature of size‐dependent predation losses of salmon to different predator groups (small and large planktivores and piscivores). Size‐dependent vulnerabilities of salmon to predators were a function of both predator and prey sizes. When simulated predation was shifted from May to June, the vulnerability of salmon became more dependent on their growth than initial size. But, the size‐ and growth‐dependent vulnerabilities of salmon differed more among predator groups than between May and June, suggesting that changes in the composition of predator fields could more strongly affect the nature of size‐dependent predation than changes in the timing of predation losses.     

Effects of predation and intraspecific interactions on habitat use and foraging by brown trout in artificial streams

Abstract— We studied habitat use, foraging rates and behavior of 10 cm and 12 cm long brown trout, Salmo trutta , at two densities, 1.5 and 3.0 fish. m⁻², in artificial streams that contained either the amphipod, Gammarus pulex , alone or G. pulex together with the piscivore, northern pike, Esox lucius. Gammarus were stocked in and largely restricted to the pools at a density of 128 Gammurus. m⁻² . pool⁻¹ Large trout (12 cm) used pools more and riffles less when small trout (10 cm) were present than when small trout were absent. Small trout consumed fewer Gammarus when together with large trout than when alone, but showed no difference in habitat use in the presence and abscnce of large trout. Habitat use and number of Gammarus consumed per trout were not affected by trout density for either size-class when alone. For both size-classes of trout, use of pools and foraging rates were higher in the absence than in the presence of pike, and pike primarily resided in the pools. The number of aggressive interactions by both size-classes of trout decreased when pike was present. Our results indicate that for habitats that differ in food resources and predation risk, size structure may affect habitat use and foraging by brown trout.