华南6水系与澜沧江-湄公河攀鲈线粒体ND2基因的遗传多样性分析

测定了中国华南6水系及澜沧江(云南勐腊)-湄公河流域(柬埔寨洞里萨湖)的125尾攀鲈(Anabas testudineus)线粒体部分ND2基因1 010 bp序列,分析发现39个变异位点和12个单倍型,总遗传多样性较低(h=0.369,π=0.003 8),推测可能经历过严重的瓶颈效应;中国攀鲈群体遗传多样性更低(h=0.282,π=0.000 4),处于边缘区的中国攀鲈群体是造成低遗传多样性的主要原因。在单倍型网络图中柬埔寨和中国攀鲈各自聚类,具有明显地理结构和谱系结构,推测地质运动和气候变化导致基因交流受阻所致。核苷酸错配图和中性检验表明中国群体经历过种群扩张,时间约为(5.94~4.13)万年前。华南水系群体间基因交流通畅,不存在明显分化;但与云南澜沧江群体间分化大而显著(FST=0.775,P0.01),AMOVA分析显示变异主要来自组群间(77.41%),推测二者分化时间约为(4.0~2.8)万年前,云南群体受末次冰期的影响,基因交流受阻而出现分化。中国群体和柬埔寨群体可作为2个管理单位进行保护;就中国群体而言,韩江水系群体遗传多样性最高,建议优先保护;澜沧江与华南水系间群体分化显著且遗传多样性极低,建议对澜沧江水系群体进行保护,以避免种质资源灭绝。     

用综合污染指数法分析评价黄河陕西段的水环境

2013年-2015年,逐月监测分析了黄河陕西段府谷、吴堡、龙门、洽川、港口、汾河入黄口和渭河入黄口7个段面22项水质指标,并用综合污染指数法进行评价。结果显示:黄河陕西段处于4级中度污染水平,5级较重污染段面汾河入黄口(P=9.26)1个,其余6个段面处于4级中度污染水平(2.04≤P≤4.67)。主要污染物为总氮、总磷和有机物,部分段面还受到重金属汞、砷、铜、锌的影响,所有段面未受有机氯和有机磷的污染。同期断面比较,上游污染轻于下游,污染逐年下降。     

应用浮游植物生物完整性指数评价长江上游河流健康

2013年11月-2014年6月对长江上游宜宾至江津段五个断面的浮游植物进行了四次调查,共鉴定出浮游植物6门38属95种。对13个备选指标进行分布范围、判别能力及Pearson相关性分析,构建了适合长江上游的浮游植物生物完整性指数(P-IBI)指标体系,即香农多样性指数、Margalef丰富度指数、Pielou均匀度指数、浮游植物密度、硅藻密度百分比等参数指标。采用3分制法、4分制法和比值法分别对生物指标计分,评价结果显示:高庄桥、羊石处于"健康"状态;白沙处于"亚健康"状态;而江安、德感处于"亚健康"向"一般"过渡状态。综合来看,三种评价方法所反映各样点的健康状况基本一致,只是4分制法和比值法在划分评价等级上更细致,评价结果更精确。Pearson相关性分析显示:TN、pH与P-IBI值呈显著负相关(P0.05)。     

Cohort‐specific variation in juvenile coho salmon habitat use

In this study, we examined summer and fall freshwater rearing habitat use by juvenile coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) in the quickly urbanising Big Lake drainage in south‐central Alaska. Habitat use was assessed by regressing fish count data against habitat survey information across thirty study sites using generalised linear mixed models. Habitat associations were examined by age‐0 and age‐1+ cohorts separately, providing an opportunity to compare habitat use across different juvenile coho salmon life stages during freshwater rearing. Regression results indicated that the age‐0 cohorts were strongly associated with shallow, wide stream reaches with in‐stream vegetation, whereas age‐1+ cohorts were associated with deeper stream reaches. Furthermore, associations between fork length and habitat characteristics suggest cohort‐specific habitat use patterns are distinct from those attributable to fish size. Habitat use information generated from this study is being used to guide optimal fish passage restoration planning in the Big Lake drainage. Evidence for habitat use partitioning by age cohort during freshwater juvenile rearing indicates that pooling age cohorts into a single “juvenile” stage for the purposes of watershed management may mask important habitat use dynamics.     

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.     

Sorghum extrusion process combined with biofortified sweet potato contributed for high iron bioavailability in Wistar rats

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of sorghum and sweet potato on the bioavailability of iron, gene expression of proteins involved in iron metabolism and the plasma antioxidant capacity in animals fed with whole sorghum grains processed by dry heat or extrusion, combined or not with sweet potato flour with high content of carotenoids. Five experimental groups were tested (n = 7): dry heat sorghum flour (DS); extruded sorghum flour (ES); whole sorghum flour + sweet potato flour (DS + SP); extruded sorghum flour + sweet potato flour (ES + SP) and positive control (FS). The evaluations included: hemoglobin gain, hemoglobin regeneration efficiency, gene expression of divalente metal transporter 1 (DMT-1), duodenal citochroma B (DcytB), ferroportin, hephaestin, transferrin and ferritin and total plasma antioxidant capacity (TAC). The ES + SP group showed higher (p < 0.05) expression of DcytB, ferroportin and hephaestin when compared to the control group. The DS group showed high (p < 0.05) expression of DMT-1 and the ES showed high mRNA expression of transferrin and ferritin. The changes in the sorghum physicochemical properties from extrusion process reduced the iron and phytate content, and increased the gene expression of proteins involved in iron metabolism, improving iron bioavailability. The combination of sweet potato and sorghum flour (dry or extruded) improved the iron capture and total antioxidant capacity, probably due to the presence of β-carotene and antioxidant compounds.     

Characterizing the pigmented traditional rice cultivars grown in temperate regions of Kashmir (India) for free and bound phenolics compounds and in vitro antioxidant properties

The purpose of the research was to identify the phenolic and flavonoid compounds of seven different traditional pigmented whole rice cultivars grown in the temperate regions of Kashmir so as to study their relationship with in vitro antioxidant capacities. The completely pigmented rice cultivars were found to have higher phenolic, flavonoid, anthocyanin contents and exhibited higher antioxidant capacities than the light colored and sparely colored rice cultivars. A total of 40 compounds had been identified in the analyzed rice cultivars that were found to be distributed in 6 major categories with 6-phenolics, 6-flavonoids, 11-hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives, 7-hydroxybenzoic acid derivatives, 3-anthocyanins and 7-flavonoid glucosides of different flavonoid compounds. Among the free and bound fractions for each cultivars the light and sparsely colored depicted higher content of phenolics and in vitro antioxidant properties in bound faction, while the completely pigmented cultivars showed higher antioxidant properties in free fractions. The anthocyanins quercetin-3-O-galactoside, cyanidin-3-O-rutinoside and pelargonidin-3-O-diglucoside had been identified by LC-MS existing in the free fractions of the analyzed rice cultivars whereas, the free fraction of acetone + H₂O possessed higher percentage of phenolic compounds as compared to methanolic extracts and bound fractions. The black colored cultivars possessed higher DPPH scavenging activity and lipid peroxidation inhibition.     

Dough rheological properties and noodle-making performance of non-waxy and waxy whole-wheat flour blends

Dough rheological properties and noodle-making performance of non-waxy whole-wheat flour (WWF) with partial- or full-waxy (PW- or FW-) WWF substitution were studied. The substitution levels were 0, 250, 500, 750, and 1000 g/kg, respectively. FW-WWF reduced the peak viscosity and pasting temperature of WWF blends as its substitution level was increased due to its higher proportions of B-type starch granules and short amylopectin chains, while PW-WWF increased peak viscosity with the increasing substitution level because of its higher amylopectin content. As demonstrated by farinograph and rheometer measurements, FW-WWF interfered with gluten development because of the increased competition for water by arabinoxylans and amylopectin; however, PW-WWF enhanced dough strength due primarily to its increased protein content. Consequently, FW-WWF showed a detrimental effect on cooked noodle texture as the cooked noodle hardness was reduced by 50% at the 1000 g/kg substitution level. In contrast, PW-WWF enhanced noodle integrity and elasticity by increasing cooked noodle cohesiveness and resilience by 10.1% and 14.8%, respectively, at the 1000 g/kg substitution level. The results suggest that with waxy WWF substitution, the changes in starch composition, arabinoxylans, and protein content could modify the interactions among flour components and influence the quality characteristics of noodle products.     

Rapid salinity changes affect the survival and physiology of a penaeid prawn: Implications of flood events on recruitment to the fishery

Estuaries act as nurseries for many penaeid prawns, but these habitats are highly susceptible to salinity decline through flooding. The rate of salinity decline and duration of exposure to non‐optimal salinity may affect survival and subsequent recruitment of prawns to the fishery. This study aimed to determine the effect of salinity fluctuations observed in local estuaries during flood events using a novel dilution approach. Mortality of juvenile Melicertus plebejus (Hess) was assessed after 24 hr exposure to 24 rates of salinity decline ranging from 0.01% to 20% per hr. After the salinity decline, prawns were held at the final salinities for five days before again assessing mortality as well as aerobic metabolic rate and prawn water content. Salinity decline from 36 to ~0.8 led to 50% mortality, but continued exposure to low salinity for five days increased mortality at this salinity to 99% and shifted the 50% mortality point to salinity ~5. Aerobic metabolic rate and water content data suggested the cause of mortality due to exposure to salinities < 5 was osmoregulatory failure. Rapid salinity declines over 24 hr and sustained low salinity due to flooding could compromise the survival of juvenile prawns, potentially reducing recruitment to the fishery.     

A stochastic surplus production model in continuous time

Surplus production modelling has a long history as a method for managing data‐limited fish stocks. Recent advancements have cast surplus production models as state‐space models that separate random variability of stock dynamics from error in observed indices of biomass. We present a stochastic surplus production model in continuous time (SPiCT), which in addition to stock dynamics also models the dynamics of the fisheries. This enables error in the catch process to be reflected in the uncertainty of estimated model parameters and management quantities. Benefits of the continuous‐time state‐space model formulation include the ability to provide estimates of exploitable biomass and fishing mortality at any point in time from data sampled at arbitrary and possibly irregular intervals. We show in a simulation that the ability to analyse subannual data can increase the effective sample size and improve estimation of reference points relative to discrete‐time analysis of aggregated annual data. Finally, subannual data from five North Sea stocks are analysed with particular focus on using residual analysis to diagnose model insufficiencies and identify necessary model extensions such as robust estimation and incorporation of seasonality. We argue that including all known sources of uncertainty, propagation of that uncertainty to reference points and checking of model assumptions using residuals are critical prerequisites to rigorous fish stock management based on surplus production models.