Quantifying trophic interactions and niche sizes of juvenile fishes in an invaded riverine cyprinid fish community

Quantifying feeding interactions between nonindigenous and indigenous fishes in invaded fish communities is important for determining how introduced species integrate into native food webs. Here, the trophic interactions of invasive 0+ European barbel Barbus barbus (L.) and the three other principal 0+ fishes in the community, Squalius cephalus (L.), Leuciscus leuciscus (L.) and Phoxinus phoxinus (L.), were investigated in the River Teme, a River Severn tributary in Western England. B. barbus has been present in the River Teme for approximately 40 years. Analyses of stomach contents from samples collected from three sites between June and September 2015 revealed that, overall, fishes displayed a generalist feeding strategy, with most prey having low frequency of selection. Relationships of diet composition versus body length and gape height were species‐specific, with increasing dietary specialisms apparent as the 0+ fishes increased in length and gape height. The trophic niche size of invasive B. barbus was always significantly smaller than S. cephalus and L. leuciscus and was significantly smaller than P. phoxinus at two sites. This was primarily due to differences in the functional morphology of the fishes; 0+ B. barbus were generally restricted to foraging on the benthos, whereas the other fishes were able to forage on prey present throughout the water column. Nevertheless, the invasive B. barbus were exploiting very similar prey items to populations in their native range, suggesting these invaders were strongly pre‐adapted to the River Teme and this arguably facilitated their establishment and invasion.     

Understanding farmers’ potato production practices and use of improved varieties in Chencha,Ethiopia

This study was carried out to better understand non-adoption of improved varieties of potato (Solanum tuberosum) and associated technologies by smallholder farmers in Chencha, Ethiopia. Data were collected through a survey (n = 47) and in-depth interviews (n = 20). It shows how wealth status was a factor of major importance. Most wealthy and some medium-wealthy farmers adopted improved potato varieties and many of the improved production practices; they had access to seed, associated knowledge and support, and sufficient resources that were necessary to apply the improved practices. Non-adoption was common among many medium-wealthy and most poor farmers: they lacked—next to access to the technologies and knowledge—cash, land, and labor. Results indicated the need to rethink research and intervention efforts. Next to paying attention to differences in the access to technology and the related knowledge, there is a need to consider the variation in technology needs, supporting microcredit services, and room to experiment. As a result, different combinations of improved production practices may be adopted.     

翘嘴鳜微卫星标记及其与主要经济性状的相关分析

利用筛选出的7对具有较高多态性的微卫星标记,检测106尾翘嘴鳜Siniperca chuatsi选育个体的基因组DNA,分析这些微卫星标记与翘嘴鳜体长、体质量和体高的相关性。结果获得67个等位基因,各位点的等位基因数为3~19,片段大小在147~530bp之间;期望杂合度0.5092~0.9207,均值为0.7574;各位点的多态信息含量在0.4639~0.9101之间,均值为0.7197,表明所选择的SSR标记识别力较高,适用于翘嘴鳜选育群体遗传分析和标记辅助育种研究。相关性分析结果表明,G4位点中含有的片段为219bp等位基因的基因型(229/219或219/219)个体的体质量、体长和体高的表型效应显著高于其他的基因型,G10位点中246/246基因型的体质量和体高表型效应显著高于其他基因型,可作为未来翘嘴鳜分子标记辅助育种的重要参考位点。     

Effects of Panax ginseng extract in practical diets for rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) on growth performance,immune response and resistance to Yersinia ruckeri

In a preliminary in vitro study, a Panax ginseng extract exhibited an evident antibacterial activity against Yersinia ruckeri and Lactococcus garvieae and affected the respiratory burst and proliferation of rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss leukocytes. Subsequently, the effects of a dietary ginseng extract supplementation on growth, blood biochemical profile, innate immune response and resistance against Y. ruckeri infection were investigated in vivo in rainbow trout juveniles. Four experimental diets were obtained by adding 0.0%, 0.01%, 0.02%, 0.03% of ginseng ethanolic extract to a commercial feed. Each diet was fed to triplicate groups of fish (mean body weight 30.5 ± 0.15 g) at 1% of body weight day^?1 for 10 weeks. The dietary supplementation with ginseng extract did not affect growth performance, feed utilization, biometric traits and fish whole body composition (P > 0.05). No major changes due to graded levels of ginseng extract in the diet were observed in blood biochemical parameters except for increasing plasma triglycerides and non‐esterified fatty acids in fish fed diets including 0.01% and 0.02% of extract (P < 0.05). The innate immune response was barely modulated by the dietary addition of ginseng extract. Serum lysozyme and leukocytes respiratory burst activities were just slightly increased in fish fed all the ginseng extract‐supplemented diets compared with controls, whereas serum antiproteases and leukocyte MPO were not affected (P > 0.05). The dietary administration of ginseng extract induced a reduction in mortality of rainbow trout infected with Y. ruckeri, although no significant differences between treated and control groups were observed (P > 0.05).     

采用主成分分析法评价廉州湾贝类养殖区水质状况

为了解广西廉州湾贝类养殖区水质状况并指导渔业生产,借助SPSS软件,分析了2013—2015年该养殖区的水温、溶氧(DO)、化学耗氧量(COD)、溶解态无机磷(DIP)、溶解态无机氮(DIN)、石油类、汞(Hg)和叶绿素-a(Chl-a)等8项水质因子。采用主成分分析法筛选对养殖区影响较显著的因子来综合评价水质状况。结果显示,在产卵期(5月)和高渔获期(10月)可以各提取占总方差89.9%、92.9%的前4个主成分来计算综合评价函数得分,2013—2015年各监测期水质综合得分依次是0.220、-0.211、0.759、1.028、-0.977、-0.817,分值高低反映水质污染程度。2013年两个监测期的水质均属于III类,2014年两个监测期的水质均属于IV类,2015年产卵期水质属于I类,2015年高渔获期水质属于II类。由此可知,养殖区水质综合状况不稳定,年际间变化较大,曾出现Hg超标情况,污染较严重的是DIP、DIN和Chl-a。因此,养殖区应加强码头日常作业及沿岸工业排污口管理,同时应控制生活污水、农业废水排入,合理规划养殖规模,防止贝类养殖自身污染。     

Comparison of immune responses and antioxidant status of different generations of growth‐selected Portunus trituberculatus families

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of inbreeding on the immune responses and antioxidant status of Portunus trituberculatus juveniles. Results showed that inbreeding affected the total haemocyte count, and phagocytic, pro‐phenoloxidase (propo), phenoloxidase and antibacterial activities decreased after the seventh generation. Antioxidant status showed a similar pattern: total antioxidant capacity, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and GSH/GSSG in the cell‐free haemolymph and hepatopancreas decreased, while catalase activity in the cell‐free haemolymph increased (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in α₂‐macroglobulin and bacteriolytic activities in the cell‐free haemolymph and glutathione peroxidase activity in the cell‐free haemolymph and hepatopancreas among nine inbreeding generations. Gene expression levels of proPO and crustin in haemocytes and SOD in haemocytes and hepatopancreas also decreased significantly as the inbreeding generations increased. The results suggest that a high level of inbreeding could severely reduce the physiological health of P. trituberculatus. Our obtained data would be particularly useful for P. trituberculatus breeding programmes.     

应用响应面优化辣木γ-氨基丁酸富集工艺研究

通过富集方式和干燥方法的单因素实验,最陡爬坡试验和响应面设计,优化辣木鲜叶γ-氨基丁酸(γ-aminobutyric acid,GABA)的富集工艺。建立的辣木鲜叶中GABA最适富集条件为辣木鲜叶在45℃下,真空处理34 h,然后50℃干燥。该条件处理的辣木GABA含量为(19.70±0.16)mg/g,是对照的2.63倍。     

Growth and yield responses of upland NERICAs to variable water management under field conditions

This study aimed to investigate the possible causes for inconsistent performances of upland New Rice for Africa (NERICA) varieties in uplands and lowlands, while identifying important determinants in grain yield under deficient soil moisture. We compared the growth and yield of NERICA 1 and NERICA 5 to those of Yumenohatamochi, a Japanese upland variety, and Hinohikari, a Japanese lowland variety, subjected to different water management regimes (continually flooded, supplementary irrigation, and non-irrigation). Under conditions of deficient soil moisture, panicle number per square meter, spikelet number per panicle, and 1000-grain weight of NERICAs decreased, whereas the panicle number of the Japanese varieties experienced little change. In contrast, the grain filling ratio was unaffected by water management, irrespective of variety. The primary source of yield reduction under low soil water conditions was a decrease in spikelet number per panicle, and water stress intensity was the primary factor for the degree of this reduction. Variation in the abortion of secondary rachis-branches caused differences between NERICAs in their spikelet number response to soil moisture deficiency. The inconsistency in NERICA performance across uplands vs. lowlands can be partially attributed to variation in yield response to low soil water conditions. Moreover, water stress intensity and the presence of a water gradient along the vertical soil profile may combine to affect the fluctuation in NERICA performance under upland conditions.     

Comparative functional responses of native and high‐impacting invasive fishes: impact predictions for native prey populations

Comparative functional responses (FRs) can predict impacts of invasive species, including piscivorous fishes, via quantifying their depletion of native food resources as a function of prey density. The utility of FRs for predicting impacts on prey populations by invasive fishes of different trophic guilds was tested here by comparing the FRs of the invaders Cyprinus carpio and Carassius auratus, with three native, trophically analogous fishes, Barbus barbus, Squalius cephalus and Tinca tinca. Chironomid larvae and Gammarus pulex were used as prey items. Predictions, developed from studies on the foraging of C. carpio and C. auratus in the literature, were that the invaders would have significantly higher consumption rates for chironomids than the native fishes, but not for G. pulex. Mean consumption rates for chironomids were significantly lower for both invaders than B. barbus and S. cephalus, but were similar to T. tinca. Barbus barbus had a significantly lower consumption rate of G. pulex than both invaders, but there were no significant differences between S. cephalus, T. tinca and the invaders. All FRs were type II, with FR curves for the invaders preying upon chironomids never being significantly higher than the native fishes, contrary to predictions. For G. pulex, some significant differences were apparent between the invaders and native fishes, but again were contrary to predictions. These results indicated that when predation impacts of invasive fishes could also be a function of their population density and body sizes, these parameters should be incorporated into FR models to improve impact predictions.