Does sand content in spawning substrate result in early larval emergence? Evidence from a lithophilic cyprinid fish

The spawning success of lithophilic salmonids is strongly influenced by the fine sediment content (“fines”) of spawning substrates, yet knowledge on the impacts of fines on the spawning of non‐salmonid lithophiles remains limited, despite their ecological and socio‐economic importance in European rivers. Consequently, the aim here was to use an ex‐situ experiment to investigate the impact of sand content on egg survival and timing of larval emergence of the surface‐spawning cyprinid European barbel Barbus barbus. Thirty incubator boxes within a recirculating system were filled with one of five experimental sediment mixtures (0%–40% sand by mass) that each contained 300 fertilised eggs at a depth of 50 mm. Emerged, free‐swimming larvae were captured and counted daily to assess grain‐size effects on larval survival and emergence. Specifically, total proportion of emerged larvae, cumulative daily proportion of emerged larvae and time required to reach 50% emergence were measured during the study. Whilst the proportion of sand in the sediments did not have a significant impact on egg‐to‐emergence survival (mean survival per treatment 75%–79%), it significantly affected the timing of larval emergence to the water column; early emergence was detected in treatments with elevated sand content (on average, 50% emergence after 12–13 days versus 19 days in the control). Similar to findings from salmonid studies, these results suggest high sand content in spawning gravels can influence timing of larval emergence and potentially cyprinid lithophilic fish survival.     

微波处理条件对蛋清结构和IgG结合能力的影响

为探究降低蛋清致敏性的新方法,在不同的微波条件下处理蛋清蛋白,通过SDS-PAGE(十二烷基磺酸钠-聚丙烯酰氨凝胶电泳)分析分子量变化、圆二色光谱分析二级结构变化、紫外光谱分析三级结构变化、外源性荧光光谱分析疏水性变化、间接ELISA(酶联免疫吸附试验)分析IgG(免疫球蛋白G)结合能力的变化,研究微波对蛋清的影响。研究证实,微波处理降低蛋清蛋白的潜在致敏性,其中400 W/30 s处理后的蛋白显示出最低的IgG结合能力,所有条件下处理后的蛋清蛋白的二、三级结构均发生显著改变。80 W的微波功率下,蛋白质的结构先折叠,该条件下处理30 s后,蛋白结构又展开;当微波功率达到640 W时,处理时间较长的蛋白分子产生堆叠。蛋白质分子的结构变化导致了其抗原性的变化。     

Factors affecting the reproductive efficiency in crayfish: implications for aquaculture

In recent years, crayfish aquaculture industry has been developing rapidly in different regions of the world. Crayfish aquaculture is often carried out in dams, lakes and extensive pond systems. There is an increasing demand for crayfish juvenile in aquaculture sector. Therefore, it is important to know which factors affect reproductive efficiency in crayfish. In the present review, factors affecting the reproductive efficiency of crayfish are divided into two main sections, external and internal factors. Dietary lipids, phospholipids, highly unsaturated fatty acids, protein and amino acids, vitamins and carotenoids are important external factors affecting broodstock crayfish reproduction. In addition, various external (i.e. female size, stocking density, temperature, photoperiod, sex ratio) and internal (i.e. endogenous hormones) factors affect the reproductive efficiency in crayfish. This study reviews the present knowledge with the purpose of realizing the factors that are important to reach optimal crayfish nutrition, maturation and reproduction (i.e. pleopodal egg number and quality). This review will particularly be useful for crayfish farmers and crayfish hatchery units.     

15种杀虫剂对草地贪夜蛾卵的毒力测定

采用浸卵法测定了15种杀虫剂对草地贪夜蛾卵的毒力,并比较了不同杀虫剂的毒力水平。结果表明:100 mg/L处理后48 h,甲氨基阿维菌素苯甲酸盐(甲维盐)和灭多威对草地贪夜蛾卵孵化抑制率最高,达到100%,其LC 50分别为12.67 mg/L和16.95 mg/L;而200 mg/L的氯虫苯甲酰胺、多杀霉素、阿维菌素、高效氯氰菊酯、虱螨脲、辛硫磷和杀螟丹分别处理后72 h对草地贪夜蛾卵的孵化抑制率次之,在69.6%~87.65%之间,其LC 50分别为44.1、50.9、78.37、79.0、98.15、126.8 mg/L和137.7 mg/L。依据毒力测定的结果和高效低毒类杀虫剂优先选用的原则,推荐选择甲维盐、氯虫苯甲酰胺、多杀霉素、阿维菌素和高效氯氰菊酯作为防治草地贪夜蛾卵的主要药剂。     

酸化剂对蛋鸡生产性能、蛋品质及肠道相关指标的影响

本试验旨在研究酸化剂对蛋鸡生产性能、蛋品质及肠道相关指标的影响。选取25周龄罗曼褐壳蛋鸡672只，随机分为4个组，每组7个重复，每个重复24只鸡。对照组饲喂基础饲粮，试验组饲喂在基础饲粮中分别添加0.05%、0.10%和0.20%酸化剂的试验饲粮，试验期60 d。结果表明：1)与对照组相比，饲粮添加0.05%酸化剂显著提高了蛋鸡的平均日采食量( P<0.05)；添加0.20%酸化剂显著降低了料蛋比( P<0.05)。2)与对照组相比，饲粮添加酸化剂显著增强了试验第30和60天的蛋壳强度( P<0.05)；添加0.20%酸化剂显著提高了试验第30和60天的蛋白高度( P<0.05)。3)与对照组相比，酸化剂的添加对试验第30和60天消化道pH没有显著影响( P>0.05)，但显著提高了十二指肠食糜中淀粉酶和胰蛋白酶的活性( P<0.05)，并显著降低了消化道大肠杆菌的数量( P<0.05)。4)与对照组相比，饲粮添加酸化剂显著提高了试验第30和60天钙与磷的表观代谢率( P<0.05)。饲粮添加酸化剂可改善产蛋鸡饲料转化效率、鸡蛋品质；提高蛋鸡肠道消化酶活性及钙、磷表观代谢率；改善肠道微生态环境。     

Interspecific differences in early life‐history traits in a species complex of stream‐resident galaxiids

Fish differentially provision resources to eggs and larvae to optimise survival during the critical early life‐history period. Resource allocation is limited by a trade‐off between egg size and fecundity, and the optimal strategy varies with habitat type. This study examines the consequences of egg size differences for the early life‐histories of four closely related galaxiid species which occur in contrasting habitat types on the South Island, New Zealand. Headwater species had substantially larger water‐hardened eggs, longer incubation times, and newly hatched larvae were on average up to 41% longer than lower catchment species. Significant interspecific differences in gape diameter, eye diameter and myomere depth were also observed. Swimming ability was positively associated with larval length at hatch. Interspecific differences in length and swimming ability were generally maintained throughout the larval period, despite larvae being reared under relatively benign conditions where many other studies suggest initial differences should disappear. These results demonstrate the consequences of differential maternal provisioning to the egg for larval traits. The larger larvae of headwater species are likely to be more resistant to starvation and have improved foraging ability compared to lower catchment species; traits which are likely to confer them survival advantages in the low productivity, food‐scarce environments they occupy. The smaller larvae of lower catchment species are likely to be a consequence of females investing in fecundity in these relatively resource‐rich streams.     

Determination and Correlation Analysis on the Egg Quality of Egg-laying Ducks Reared in Cages and on Floor

The purpose of this test was to evaluate the egg quality from two breeds of ducks reared in cages and on floor.30 eggs were chosen from each type of eggs,which were from Jinding (green shell) and Shan Partridge ducks (white shell)at 40 weeks-old reared in cages and on floor for egg quality evaluation.The results showed that the egg weight of caged duck was extremely significantly larger than the floor duck (P<0.01) in the same breed,there were very significant positive correlations between the egg weight and eggshell weight,egg-white weight and egg yolk weight (P<0.01),but no significant difference among the egg yolk weights of different types of ducks (P>0.05).The shell strength of green egg was obviously higher than that of white shell eggs (P<0.05),and the shell strength of green egg from caged ducks was higher than that of the green egg ducks on floor.The correlation coefficients of the egg specific gravity and eggshell thickness,the specific gravity and eggshell strength were 0.503 (P<0.01) and 0.536 (P<0.01) respectively.Haugh units of four types of ducks all reached 72 or more.Although there was significant positive correlation between egg-white weight and egg yolk weight (P<0.01),significant negative correlation was existed between egg-white weight and egg yolk ratio (P<0.01).There were significant negative correlations between egg specific gravity and egg yolk weight (P<0.05) and egg yolk ratio (P<0.05).In conclusion,the mode of cage feeding and the breed with green shell were appropriate choices in laying-egg duck production for high egg quality.