Isolation of infectious microalga Prototheca wickerhamii from a carp (Cyprinus carpio) – a first confirmed case report of protothecosis in a fish

Protothecosis is a rare infection caused by environmentally ubiquitous achlorophyllic microalgae of the genus Prototheca. Here, we describe a first case of protothecosis in a carp (Cyprinus carpio), which is at the same time the first case of protothecosis in a fish, confirmed by phenotype‐ and molecular‐based methods, including PCR sequencing of the rDNA cluster and protein profiling using matrix‐assisted laser desorption ionization time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry.     

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.     

Apparent digestibility coefficients of animal and plant feed ingredients for juvenile Pseudobagrus ussuriensis

A study was conducted to determine apparent digestibility coefficients (ADCs) of dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), lipid, gross energy, phosphorus and amino acids (AAs) from Peruvian fish meal (PFM), native fish meal (NFM), meat bone meal (MBM), dried daphnia meal (DDM), soybean meal (SBM), full‐fat soybean (FSBM), cottonseed meals (CSM), rapeseed meal (RSM) and corn gluten meal (CGM) for Pseudobagrus ussuriensis (7.8 ± 0.06 g). Test diets were formulated to contain a 70:30 mixture of reference diet to test ingredient with chromic oxide (5 g kg^–1) serving as the inert marker. ADCs of DM ranged from 49.94% (CGM) to 87.11% (PFM), the highest ADCs of DM were observed in PFM and the lowest was found in CGM. ADCs of CP in the test ingredients ranged from 74.92% (CGM) to 93.41% (SBM). ADCs of crude lipid ranged from 51.80% (CGM) to 94.07% (PFM) for fish. ADCs of energy ranged from 56.42% (CGM) to 90.09% (PFM). ADCs of phosphorus ranged from 21.81% (CSM) to 65.70% (PFM). AA availability for the test ingredients followed a similar pattern to ADCs of CP, in which values for PFM, NFM and MBM were generally higher (p < .05) than those of other protein ingredients. Among all plant meals, the AA availability values in SBM were higher (p < .05) than those in CGM, CSM and RSM. The availability of most AAs in CGM was the lowest (p < .05) among all tested ingredients. In conclusion, PFM and NFM are good sources of available protein and AAs. When fishmeal supply is limited, MBM and DDM are substitutes for fishmeal reduction in P. ussuriensis diets; at the same time, SBM and FSBM are also very acceptable protein feedstuffs. However, CSM, RSM and CGM could not be used at high levels in P. ussuriensis diets because of their inferior digestibilities.     

Fluorescence of Extracts from Argentine Hake (Merluccius hubbsi) Muscle and Its Correlation with Quality Indices During Chilled Storage

Argentine hake (Merluccius hubbsi) was stored chilled for 8 days. The evolution of fluorescence of the aqueous and organic extracts of muscle during storage at 4°C was studied and correlated with common damage indices; pH, total volatile basic nitrogen, free fatty acids, and the fluorescence intensity of the aqueous phase showed a good correlation with storage time. The excitation-emission matrices of the aqueous extracts were also obtained. A fluorescence landscape that could be attributed to tryptophan decreased with storage time, meanwhile a peak (around 340 and 400 nm for excitation and emission wavelengths, respectively) is developed during chilled storage.     

Interactions of baseflow habitat constraints: Macroinvertebrate drift,stream temperature,and physical habitat for anadromous salmon in the Calapooia River,Oregon

1. The Calapooia River in western Oregon supports a small winter steelhead trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) population and historically supported spring Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha). Early timber harvesting removed the riparian forest, and log transportation practices simplified the channel. Those disturbance legacies continue to affect fish habitat by limiting shade and channel complexity, complicating conservation efforts.
2. To evaluate juvenile salmonid rearing potential, macroinvertebrate drift, thermal regime and physical habitat were measured at eight sites in 24 km of the upper river during late summer baseflow.
3. Overall physical habitat was simple, with few functioning instream structures or pools. During the 22‐day drift study, flows declined and maximum site stream temperatures ranged from 23.1°C at the lower end to 16.4°C 24 km upstream.
4. Macroinvertebrate drift concentrations ranged from 0.7–13.7 ind. m^?3 with biomasses from 0.02–1.23 mg m^?3. Drift concentration biomass was higher upstream (P  = 0.006) than downstream and declined overall (P  < 0.001) during the study. Drift biomass was dominated by five taxon groups – Baetis tricaudatus, Calineuria californica, Hesperoperla pacifica, Simulium spp., and Chironomidae, which were 65% of total biomass. During twilight, total biomass and biomass of B. tricaudatus, Simulium spp., and Chironomidae (both larvae and adults) were higher.
5. Total drift declined dramatically over the study period owing to decreases in drift concentration and a 58% decline in discharge, greatly reducing overall drift and available food resources for juvenile‐rearing salmonids.
6. The upper catchment, both with cooler temperatures and higher food availability, provided the best conditions for juvenile anadromous salmonids to survive late summer conditions. Conservation consequences of climate change‐induced alterations in flow and temperature may further affect habitat quality for juvenile salmonids in this catchment in the coming decades.

     

High dietary energy level stimulates growth hormone receptor and feed utilization in large Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) under hypoxic conditions

This study examines how appetite and growth regulation of Atlantic salmon are affected by low dissolved oxygen (LO) and dietary digestible energy levels (DE: high [HE] vs. low [LE]). Long‐term exposure to LO resulted in a reduced feed intake, growth, digestible protein and fat retention efficiencies and increased feed conversation ratio and plasma ghrelin concentrations (p < .05) compared to high dissolved oxygen (HO). Pair‐feeding of rations based on the feed intake of the LO groups, but fed at HO, resulted in a 50% growth improvement in HE diet groups. This suggests that the poor growth under LO was not entirely caused by the reduced feed intake. Salmon adapted to LO by increased haemoglobin concentrations, while osmoregulation was affected by increased plasma chloride concentrations (p < .05). Plasma ghrelin concentration was unaffected by DE (p > .05). Growth regulation was affected by the HE diet, with increased liver and muscle growth hormone receptor ghr1 mRNA (p < .05), regardless of oxygen level. The growth depression due to low oxygen appears to be related to higher metabolic costs, while higher DE upregulates the GH‐IGF system at the ghr1 level and found to be beneficial for growth, feed intake, oxyregulation and osmoregulation under hypoxia.     

A fluorescence‐based assay for in vitro screening of Saprolegnia inhibitors

The incidence of fish pathogenic oomycetes, Saprolegnia, has increased significantly in aquaculture since the ban of malachite green. For the efficient characterization of anti‐Saprolegnia therapeutics, simple accurate methods are required. However, the current screening methods are limited by time, and none of them are confirming the viability of treated spores or hyphae. In this study, a modified fluorescence‐based assay for the in vitro screening of Saprolegnia inhibitors has been developed. This method involves the use of FUN‐1 viability dye combined with calcofluor white M2R, and is based on the formation of orange‐red cylindrical intravacuolar structures (CIVS) in metabolically active spores, hyphae and biofilms. Heat‐killed and bronopol‐treated Saprolegnia spores, hyphae and biofilms exhibited diffuse bright green fluorescence which confirms complete loss of viability. For boric acid‐treated spores, no germination was observed. However, tiny CIVS were observed in 50% of treated spores which indicated reduction in their viability. Our results proved that FUN‐1 dye is an efficient tool to distinguish between live and dead Saprolegnia spores, hyphae and biofilms and to monitor the change in Saprolegnia viability during qualitative evaluation of potential anti‐Saprolegnia compounds.     

Tracking escaped Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua L.) aggregated around Norwegian farms: Considerations for management strategies

To examine site fidelity and potential for ecosystem impacts, 20 escapee cod (Gadus morhua L.) from fjord‐based cod farms were tagged with acoustic transmitters, released in the vicinity of the same farm, and their subsequent behaviour and survival monitored using a fixed array of acoustic receivers. Most individuals demonstrated high fidelity to their farm where tagged, and this increased during the polar night. Only five individuals (25%) were occasionally detected at another farm (4 km distance), and only three cod (15%) migrated out of the fjord during the 6‐month study period. Vertical movements were consistently greater in the hours around noon than at night, a behaviour inconsistent with that observed for wild fish. A high mortality rate (40%) was observed during the first 4 months post‐release, and actual mortality may have been even higher, limiting the potential for negative ecosystem effects from cod escapees. Findings from this study are used to discuss the development of recapture strategies for minimising potential impacts from cod escapees to ensure sustainable farming activity.     

Enhancing capacity for freshwater conservation at the genetic level: a demonstration using three stream macroinvertebrates

1. Species diversity is declining more rapidly in freshwater ecosystems than in any other, but the consequences for genetic diversity, and hence evolutionary potential, are poorly understood. In part this reflects limited use and development of modern molecular tools and genetic approaches to address conservation questions in rivers, lakes and wetlands. As widespread, diverse and functionally important organisms, freshwater macroinvertebrates are ideal candidates for genetic approaches to reveal, for example, the conservation consequences of demographic histories and past disturbances. However, the availability of microsatellite markers for this group is very limited.
2. Using next generation sequencing, microsatellite markers were developed for Isoperla grammatica (Poda, 1761), Amphinemura sulcicollis (Stephens, 1836) and Baetis rhodani (Pictet, 1843) to enable conservation genetic investigations of these widespread invertebrate species. Fifty‐two robust microsatellite loci were developed (18, 21 and 13 per species), all with high levels of allelic diversity (7–27, 3–16, 5–13 alleles per loci, respectively).
3. These tools will allow assessment of genetic structure, dispersal and demographic resilience in these model species as a function of environmental change and variation, thereby aiding freshwater monitoring and conservation. The authors urge further capacity building to support genetic applications to the conservation biology of other aquatic organisms.

Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.