Anaesthesia of Atlantic halibut (Hippoglossus hippoglossus) Effect of pre‐anaesthetic sedation,and importance of body weight and water temperature

The efficacy of the anaesthetic agents benzocaine, metacaine (MS‐222), metomidate, 2‐phenoxyethanol, quinaldine and isoeugenol was studied in Atlantic halibut (Hippoglossus hippoglossus). Fish with an average body weight of 33 g were anaesthetized at 8 °C and fish with an average body weight of 1243 g were anaesthetized at 8 and 15 °C. Agents were tested individually and as combination anaesthesia comprising pre‐anaesthetic sedation, followed by anaesthesia. Induction and recovery times varied in relation to the body weight and water temperature. Large fish had longer induction times and shorter recovery times, and displayed reduced responsiveness to handling compared with small fish. A higher temperature resulted in shorter induction times, longer recovery times and increased responsiveness to handling. Lower dosages were used for all agents in combination anaesthesia. In small fish, this had no effect on the induction times but resulted in shorter recovery times and reduced responsiveness to handling. In large fish, combination anaesthesia resulted in shorter induction times whereas no uniform trend in recovery times and no differences in responsiveness to handling were observed. Neither individual agents nor combinations blocked all reflex reactions to external stimulation in all fish of any treatment group. MS‐222 and benzocaine, used separately or in combination anaesthesia, were the most effective agents in reducing reflex reactions.     

Identification and evaluation of shark bycatch in Georgia’s commercial shrimp trawl fishery with implications for management

Abstract Many US states have recreational and commercial fisheries that occur in nursery areas occupied by subadult sharks and can potentially affect their survival. Georgia is one of few US states without a directed commercial shark fishery, but the state has a large, nearshore penaeid shrimp trawl fishery in which small sharks occur as bycatch. During our 1995–1998 investigation of bycatch in fishery‐dependent sampling events, 34% of 127 trawls contained sharks. This bycatch totalled 217 individuals from six species, with Atlantic sharpnose shark, Rhizoprionodon terraenovae (Richardson), the most common and finetooth shark, Carcharhinus isodon (Müller & Henle) and spinner shark, Carcharhinus brevipinna (Müller & Henle), the least common. The highest catch rates for sharks occurred during June and July and coincided with the peak months of the pupping season for many species. Trawl tow speed and tow time did not significantly influence catch rates for shark species. Gear configurations [net type, turtle excluder device (TED), bycatch reduction device] affected catch rates for shark species. Results of this study indicate gear restrictions, a delayed season opening, or reduced bar spacing on TEDs may reduce shark bycatch in this fishery.     

基于相对湿润度指数的西南地区季节性干旱时空分布特征

西南地区是中国重要农业生产区,季节性干旱是该区域最主要的农业气象灾害,研究季节性干旱时空分布特征对西南地区防旱减灾具有重要意义。该文收集西南地区4个省(市)共97个代表气象站50a(1959年-2008年)的逐日降水量、气温、日照时数、相对湿度、风速、水汽压等气象资料,选用国家标准中相对湿润度指数(M)作为干旱指标,以年、季为时间尺度,研究西南地区干旱频率和强度的空间分布特征,并分析近50a干旱强度和发生范围的年际变化规律。结果表明:西南地区年尺度干旱频率呈西部高,东部低的带状分布,高发区位于川西高原、川西南山地、云南西北部和中北部的山地、高原及河谷地带,发生频率在3年2遇以上;年干旱强度以中旱以上为主。不同季节干旱频率差异大:冬旱发生频率最高,春旱次之,秋旱较低,夏旱最低;干旱强度方面,冬旱强度最大,春旱次之,秋旱较小,夏旱最小;总体而言,干旱发生频率高的地方干旱强度也大。从年际变化看,西南地区总体上略有变湿的趋势,年干旱强度明显减弱,其中春旱、秋旱有减轻趋势,夏旱和冬旱有所增强;但近10a,年干旱强度增大明显,夏旱、秋旱、冬旱也明显上升,这与西南地区近几年干旱频繁发生相吻合。     

稻田病虫害生态防控模式及其在西南地区的应用

近年来,由于受气候、种植制度、栽培方式、生态环境和品种多样化等因素的综合影响,水稻病虫害危害程度加重,防控压力增大;同时,由于当前我国农村劳动力的匮乏以及文化水平的限制,病虫害防治过分依赖化学药剂,造成环境污染,威胁食品安全。基于此,通过对传统优秀农业植保技术的挖掘、提高以及现代科学技术的发展、应用,一些以农业、物理和生物防治为关键技术的生态综合防控模式正被广泛应用并进行示范推广,逐渐显现出病虫害防治和减少农药施用的优势。本文总结并梳理了当前西南稻作区主要的稻田病虫害生态防控模式及其应用成效,结果发现:杂糯间作的品种多样性防控模式可有效控制稻瘟病,但增加了劳动量;稻鸭共作的生物多样性防控模式可有效控制纹枯病、稻飞虱、叶蝉、福寿螺和杂草,但对技术水平和市场条件要求较高。此外,对昆虫性信息素、生物农药、植物性驱虫剂和天敌保护利用技术等生物防控技术的优缺点进行了总结和分析。     

Changes in selected stress and immune‐related genes in Atlantic cod,Gadus morhua,following overcrowding

Using Atlantic cod, Gadus morhua, as a model for the stress response in gadoid fish, the changes in the expression of some stress and immune genes as well as the profiles of plasma cortisol were examined. Adult fish were kept at a density of ca. 100 kg m^?3 by lowering the water level in the rearing tank for 1 h and this short‐term crowding stress was repeated thrice over a 12‐h interval period. Blood samples were collected before exposure and at 2, 24 and 72 h post crowding. Plasma cortisol level significantly increased at 2 h post crowding but returned to pre‐crowding levels 24 h after exposure. The relative expression of the stress response genes, glucose transporter‐3 and a putative heat shock protein 70 significantly increased at 2 and 24 h post crowding respectively. Significant up‐regulation of the pro‐inflammatory cytokines, interleukin (IL)‐1β and IL‐8, as well as anti‐bacterial genes, g‐type lysozyme and bactericidal permeability‐increasing protein/lipopolysaccharide‐binding protein (BPI/LBP) was also observed at 2 h and the levels were maintained until 72 h post exposure, except for BPI/LBP which had maximum up‐regulation at 24 h. The present observations have implications with respect to fish welfare and assessment of the health status of the farmed fish.     

Inter-river, -annual and -seasonal variability in fecundity of Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., in rivers in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada

Abstract  Fecundity is an integral component of the calculation of Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., egg depositions in rivers. Fecundity determinations can be time consuming and prohibitively expensive in terms of application on a broad scale. Consequently, where river specific and annual data are not available, default means are used in calculations in Newfoundland and Labrador. It is important therefore to know the extent of variability among rivers, years and seasons and the potential error involved in using default values. Annual fecundity data were available for one river in Labrador and nine rivers in Newfoundland. Fecundity was determined from ovaries collected in the recreational fishery in the summer for all 10 rivers. For three of these rivers, fecundity determined from summer sampling was compared with that obtained from sampling at time of spawning in autumn. There was significant variability in fecundity with length as a covariate among rivers, years and seasons. Mean number of eggs per female decreased between 8.3% and 29.0% from summer to autumn while mean number of eggs per cm decreased from 5.0% to 28.5%. Depending on the measure of relative fecundity used (no. of eggs kg⁻¹ or no. of eggs cm⁻¹), results of simulations showed that estimates of egg deposition incorporating defaults can deviate from those obtained by applying year-specific and river-specific values by 50–75%, without adjusting for the seasonal reduction in fecundity, and by 30–50% with an adjustment. A sensitivity analysis revealed that of three parameters used in the calculation of egg deposition (size, percent female and fecundity), fecundity was the most influential.     

A comparison among differently enriched rotifers (Brachionus plicatilis) and their effect on Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) larvae early growth, survival and lipid composition

We evaluated the effect of differently enriched rotifers on the early growth, survival and lipid composition of Atlantic cod larvae (Gadus morhua). The enrichments tested were: (i) AlgaMac 2000^®; (ii) AquaGrow^® Advantage; and (iii) a combination of Pavlova sp. paste and AlgaMac 2000^®. Larvae from treatment 3 [1.50 ± 0.11 mg dry weight (dw) and 7.10 ± 0.14 dw specific growth rate (SGR)] were heavier (P = 0.006) and grew faster (P = 0.004) than larvae from treatment 2 (1.03 ± 0.04 mg dw and 6.29 ± 0.04 dw SGR). No significant differences were found in the final weight and SGR among larvae from treatment 1 (1.21 ± 0.07 mg dw and 6.58 ± 0.20 dw SGR) and larvae from treatments 2 and 3. The treatment 3 also resulted in the best survival at the end of the experimental period, estimated to be 3 on a scale from 1 to 5, whereas the survival estimates for the two other groups were 1–2. Larvae from the treatment 3 reached 37 days posthatch with levels of ω6DPA 32‐fold higher than newly hatched larvae. Differences in the larval enrichment of ω6DPA may explain the differences in growth and survival of the Atlantic cod larvae.     

Artemia enriched with high n-3 HUFA may give a large improvement in performance of Atlantic halibut (Hippoglossus hippoglossus L.) larvae

Atlantic halibut larvae were fed Artemia enriched with two different oil emulsions (cod liver oil and 2050TG) from first feeding to 70 days after first-feeding (dpff). Larvae fed 2050TG enriched Artemia had better growth, survival and eye migration than larvae fed the cod liver oil enriched Artemia, while pigmentation rate was similar in the two groups. In addition to the difference in fatty acids, the two emulsions differed in lipid class composition, since 2050TG is a synthetic oil and a mixture of mono-, di- and tri-acylglycerol, while cod liver oil is a tri-acylglycerol. Total lipid level, estimated as fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) was similar in the two Artemia types, but sum of n-6 and n-3 fatty acids, arachidonic acid (20:4n-6, ARA), docosahexaenoic acid (22:6n-3, DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (20:5n-3, EPA) were higher in Artemia enriched with 2050TG than in the cod liver oil enriched Artemia. However, the main difference in fatty acid composition in the larvae, was a higher DHA (% of total fatty acids) in 2050TG larvae than in cod liver oil larvae. The lipid level measured as FAME was up to four times higher in the 2050TG larvae than in the cod liver oil larvae, and the reason for this may have been a better bioavailability of the partly digested lipid in the 2050TG emulsion. The correlation between a high level of lipid in the larval tissues (e.g. high energy status) and improved eye migration in larvae fed the 2050TG enriched Artemia supports the hypothesis that energy limitation on the larval stage may be a cause of the impaired eye migration commonly observed in farmed Atlantic halibut juveniles.     

Important influent-water quality parameters at freshwater production sites in two salmon producing countries

Further growth in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) aquaculture production is expected, and as a response to limited freshwater resources, recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) are increasingly applied in smolt production. Knowledge of the general composition and quality of inlet-water is important for designing water-treatment to obtain optimal water quality in both flow-through and RAS systems. Based on water quality surveys in Norway (96 water sources, 1999–2006) and Chile (120 water sources, 2006–2008) inlet-water quality was evaluated. Norwegian smolt production is characterized by almost exclusively utilizing surface waters as inlet-water sources, with lake inlets constituting 88% and river inlets 12%. This results in large seasonal variations in both temperature, and inlet-water quality. In Chile, production is based on inlet-water from groundwater wells (32%), natural springs (40%) and rivers (28%). Norwegian inlet-water quality shows significantly lower pH and buffering capacity. The content of total organic carbon and total nitrogen is generally higher in Norway, while the levels the main metals of concern, aluminium (Al) and iron (Fe), show large between-site variability in both countries. In low pH waters in Norway, the concentration of inorganic (labile) aluminium exceeds recommended level (10 μg/L) in 15% of the samples. The Norwegian database documents highly variable production intensity in smolt production. The measured levels of carbon dioxide (CO₂, 11.6 ± 6.2 mg/L) and total ammonia nitrogen (TAN, 499 ± 485 μg N/L) (mean ± SD), exceed current legislative recommendations in 30% and 10.5% of the cases, respectively. RAS technology has the potential to improve a variable water quality if it proves reliable for the time intervals and production volumes needed. Thus, if necessary adjustments in water treatment to the local water quality are implemented, RAS production may well constitute a substantial part of smolt production in the future.     

An assessment of salmon farms and wild salmonids as sources of Lepeophtheirus salmonis (Krøyer) copepodids in the water column in Loch Torridon, Scotland

Wild salmonids and farmed salmon can both be sources of Lepeophtheirus salmonis (Krøyer, 1838) larvae . Farmed salmon smolts free of L. salmonis infections are stocked in sea cages and may subsequently contract L. salmonis infections, probably from wild fish. The contribution of gravid L. salmonis at Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., farms to populations of L. salmonis larvae in the water column has in the past been based on estimated parameters, such as louse fecundity. This present study augments these calculations by combining empirical data on densities of infective L. salmonis copepodids in the field with estimates of the number of gravid L. salmonis on farmed and wild salmonids in Loch Torridon. Data collected between 2002 and 2007 show a significant correlation between mean densities of L. salmonis copepodids recovered in the water column and the numbers of gravid L. salmonis at the local salmon farms. Generally, the farms with greatest numbers of salmon were observed to have stronger correlations with densities of copepodids in the water than the farms with fewer fish. The study suggests that louse management approaches, e.g. treatment trigger levels, need to take account of individual farm biomass, or numbers of fish. This study highlights the importance of control of L. salmonis on salmon farms for the co-existence of both wild salmonid populations and the aquaculture industry.