The effect of timing of extended photoperiod on growth and maturity of brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis)

The influence of timing of extended photoperiods on growth and maturity of brook trout was investigated in a 112‐day experiment. The fish with mean initial weight of ~192 g were reared under four light regimes: one control group with natural ambient photoperiod and three groups exposed to an 18L:6D regime initiated at days 1, 23 or 46 of the growth trial. Light‐emitting diodes, with intensity of 250–1000 lux, depending on the distance from the light source, were used for extending light periods. There was a positive effect of prolonged day length on fish growth (p < 0.05), and a delay in gonad development and sexual maturity. Significantly higher numbers of sexually mature fish were found among controls groups, regardless of sex. Survival rate was not affected by light regime. This study demonstrated that the short‐term expansion of the photo period delayed maturation and increased the growth rate of brook trout.     

Early development and allometric growth in hatchery‐reared Eurasian perch,Perca fluviatilis L.

The morphological development and allometric growth patterns of Eurasian perch, Perca fluviatilis L., a highly valued commercial species, were studied under intensive rearing conditions from hatching up to 50 DPH (Days Post Hatch). Based on the external morphology, four different phases during early development of Eurasian perch were identified: pre‐flexion larva 0–20 DPH (5.70–10.16 mm TL); flexion larva 22–30 DPH (11.09–15.14 mm TL) and post‐flexion larva/juvenile 32–50 DPH (18.00–24.75 mm TL). The results indicate that growth period when final replacement of all temporary (larval) structures and most important changes in the shape of P. fluviatilis occurred (between 13.95 and 24.06 mm TL, during flexion and post‐flexion phase) can be considered as a transitional period between the larva and juvenile. All body segments, except trunk length and tail length showed fast growth (positive allometry) throughout the entire studied period or up to the respective inflexion point with a common tendency to isometry. In addition, the specific behaviours (e.g. pelagic way of life) of Eurasian perch larvae resulted in some characteristic allometric growth patterns in the posterior region, different from the majority of other teleosts. The results are discussed with respect to the ontogeny of the functional morphology under both ecological and aquaculture considerations.     

A Comparison of the Effects of Two Prey Enrichment Media on Growth and Survival of Pacific Bluefin Tuna,Thunnus orientalis,Larvae

Three experiments were conducted to investigate the growth, survival, and standardized cohort biomass of Pacific bluefin tuna, Thunnus orientalis, larvae fed nutritionally enhanced prey during the first week of feeding using two commonly used, commercially available enrichment media, AlgaMac Enrich and Marine Glos. T. orientalis larvae exhibited exponential growth in standard length and dry weight. The daily specific growth rates in length and weight are the first reported for T. orientalis larvae and the averages ranged from 3.8 to 4.1% and 27.5%, respectively, for larvae in the AlgaMac treatment and from 4.1 to 6.1% and 31.5%, respectively, in the Marine Glos treatment. Average daily growth rates in length ranged from 0.16 to 0.23 mm/d for larvae in the AlgaMac treatment and from 0.17 to 0.27 mm/d for those in the Marine Glos treatment. Daily growth rates in length were similar to those reported for other tuna larvae reared in the laboratory but slower than most published estimates for larval tunas in situ at similar water temperatures. Mean prey number per gut was positively associated with mean prey level in the tank. Both enrichment media appear to be good sources of nutritional improvement of planktonic prey for T. orientalis larvae.     

Exploring the characteristics of successful volunteer-led urban forest tree committees in Massachusetts

Citizen engagement through urban forest tree committee volunteer service may aid in providing essential experience, ideas, and skills that support municipal tree management. Using semi-structured, research interviews with tree committee (TC) representatives from across the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, this study addresses current knowledge gaps concerning the general composition, processes, and relationships of volunteer-led urban forest tree committees. Our findings indicate that TC representatives are typically motivated, passionate volunteers who generally desire to work cooperatively with the many associations, organizations, and agencies that comprise the local socio-political landscape. Our findings also indicate it is important that TC representatives make a sustained, concerted effort to work collaboratively with their local tree warden to advance the care of their community’s urban trees. Furthermore, it is also essential that municipal managers and decision-makers attempt to provide TC volunteers with appropriate training opportunities, resources, as well as demonstrate appreciation, to further encourage and solidify volunteer-engagement in urban forestry at the local level.     

八种除草剂对多异瓢虫不同虫态的安全性评价

在新疆棉区，早春季节田埂杂草上滋养的天敌昆虫，是棉田内天敌的主要来源，也是棉田外天敌保育的重点。生产上，常喷施除草剂来防除田埂上的恶性杂草，从而除草剂可能会对非靶标天敌昆虫产生直接的不利影响。本文评价了新疆农田中常用的8种除草剂对多异瓢虫不同虫态存活的影响，发现8种除草剂喷施对多异瓢虫卵孵化率、蛹羽化率、成虫存活率均没有显著影响，精喹禾灵、苯磺隆、精噁唑禾草灵处理后3龄幼虫的存活率显著低于对照，而高效氟吡甲禾灵、精吡氟禾草灵、烯草酮、氯氟吡氧乙酸、乙氧氟草醚处理组的幼虫存活率与对照没有显著差异。利用高效氟吡甲禾灵、乙氧氟草醚药液处理多异瓢虫卵后，对卵、幼虫、蛹历期以及各虫态存活率、蛹重等均无明显影响，仅高效氟吡甲禾灵处理组幼虫化蛹率显著降低。利用高效氟吡甲禾灵、乙氧氟草醚处理3龄幼虫后，对其生长发育没有显著影响。本研究证实，新疆农田常用的8种除草剂对多异瓢虫比较安全，没有明显的毒杀作用与负面效应。     

4种微生物菌剂对辣椒主要病害的生物防治作用

本文选择4种不同微生物活性成分的生防菌剂，采用盆栽生物量测定、温室和田间小区试验对辣椒主要病害进行抗病效果及促生增产作用评价。结果表明，木霉-芽胞杆菌复合菌剂对辣椒的枯萎病、疫病、炭疽病和灰霉病防效分别达到72.2%、78.3%、71.9%和59.7%，枯草芽胞杆菌-粉红粘帚霉复合菌剂对辣椒4种病害的防效分别达到60.5%、62.1%、60.5%和50.9%；而淡紫紫孢菌菌剂只对辣椒炭疽病具有很好防效（77.5%）。同时，4种微生物菌剂对辣椒植株生物量均有显著促生作用，其中木霉-芽胞杆菌复合菌剂及枯草芽胞杆菌-粉红粘帚霉复合菌剂在盆栽试验中鲜重和干重增幅分别为132.79%、190.35%和211.80%、293.84%；两者在温室及田间小区试验中比对照增产182.3%、152.7%和65.0%、23.9%。本研究表明，生防菌剂可以替代化学药剂用于植物病害的防治，同时还能够促进作物植株生长，有增产作用。     

秸秆还田配施腐熟剂对砂性土壤性质及滴灌玉米生长的影响

为探究秸秆还田配施腐熟剂对宁夏扬黄灌区土壤改良和玉米增产的效应,在秸秆还田条件下施用3种不同腐熟剂[生物秸秆速腐剂(SR+BS)、EM菌秸秆腐熟剂(SR+RJ)、有机废物发酵菌曲(SR+OW)],以秸秆还田不施腐熟剂处理为对照(CK),研究其对秸秆生物失重率、砂性土壤理化性状和滴灌玉米生长及产量的影响。结果表明,3种腐熟剂均能有效促进玉米秸秆腐解,其中SR+RJ的秸秆腐解程度最佳,翻埋130 d后其秸秆生物失重率为49.9%,SR+OW和SR+BS次之,3种处理分别较CK显著提高7.1、5.7、5.2个百分点。SR+RJ对改善0~40 cm土层土壤容重效果最佳,较CK显著降低4.2%,同时显著提高了耕层土壤有机质和速效养分含量及生育中后期土壤贮水量,SR+OW和SR+BS次之。施用秸秆腐熟剂能明显促进玉米生育中后期植株生长,其中SR+RJ最佳。SR+RJ和SR+OW对玉米增产增收效果最明显,分别较CK显著增产26.9%、23.4%,显著增收28.8%、23.4%。可见,秸秆还田配施腐熟剂可有效促进玉米秸秆腐解,改善土壤理化性质,促进玉米生长发育,显著提高作物产量与经济效益,以EM菌秸秆腐熟剂效果最佳。本研究为宁夏扬黄灌区还田后促进秸秆腐熟和砂性土壤培肥及玉米高产提供了技术参考。     

硅钙钾镁肥配施黄腐酸钾对土壤酶活性及桃幼树生长的影响

为探究硅钙钾镁肥配施黄腐酸钾对桃树生长的效应,以盆栽一年生瑞蟠21号毛桃(Amygdalus persica Linn.)为试验材料,设置3种不同施肥方式(T1:硅钙钾镁;T2:硅钙钾镁+黄腐酸钾;CK:空白对照),在桃幼树生长季进行追肥处理,研究硅钙钾镁肥及硅钙钾镁肥配施黄腐酸钾对土壤酶活性、土壤养分状况及桃幼树根系构型和植株生长的影响。结果表明,与CK相比,T1、T2均显著提高了桃幼树生长季各时期土壤酸性磷酸酶、脲酶和过氧化氢酶活性,以及土壤中碱解氮、有效磷、速效钾和有效硅等含量,且配施黄腐酸钾后作用更明显。与CK相比,T1、T2细根比重分别提高了11.2%和26.2%,根系活力分别提高了12.2%和18.1%,根系总长度分别增加了28.1%和61.9%,且有效延缓了根系衰老;T1、T2植株总干重分别提高了1.2倍和2.0倍,根冠比分别提高了9.4%和17.0%,且差异显著。与CK相比,T1、T2各器官中全氮、全磷、全钾含量均显著增加,地上部硅含量分别提高了61.3%和91.9%,地下部硅含量分别提高了62.3%和102.5%,且差异显著。同时,T1、T2桃幼树叶片叶绿素含量和净光合速率均显著提高。综上所述,硅钙钾镁肥可有效提高土壤酶活,促进桃幼树细根的生长,延缓根系衰老进程,增加氮、磷、钾、硅等营养元素积累量,提高叶片光合速率,促进植株生长;硅钙钾镁肥配施黄腐酸钾后,提高了土壤有效硅及植株硅含量,比单施硅钙钾镁肥效果更加显著。本研究结果为桃树合理施用硅钙钾镁肥提供了理论依据。     

Replacement of fish meal with two fermented soybean meals in diets for rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

The present study investigated the effect of fish meal (FM) replacement with fermented soybean meal (FSM) on growth and feed utilization of rainbow trout. Two FSM products, FSM1 (more fermentation with more small peptide and acid than FSM2) and FSM2 were used to replace 20%, 40% and 60% of FM in control diet (250 g/kg FM), respectively (FSM1‐20, FSM1‐40, FSM1‐60, FSM2‐20, FSM2‐40 and FSM2‐60). Then the seven diets were fed to rainbow trout (18.1 g) for 8 weeks. Weight gain (WG), feed conversion ratio (FCR) and digestibility of crude protein and dry matter showed no significant difference among the groups of FSM1‐20, FSM1‐40, FSM2‐20, FSM2‐40 and the control, but WG significantly decreased and FCR increased when 60% FM was replaced by both FSMs (p < .05). The replacement of 40%, 60% FM resulted in lower villus height than the control (p < .05), and intestinal protease activity was lower in FSM2‐40, FSM2‐60 and FSM1‐60 groups than the control group (p < .05). In addition, the activity of alkaline phosphatase and superoxide dismutase increased with increasing levels of FSM (p < .05). In conclusion, dietary fish meal could be replaced by 40% with both FSMs without adverse effects on growth and feed utilization of rainbow trout based on an eight weeks feeding trial.     

Effects of a highly purified fucoidan from Undaria pinnatifida on growth performance and intestine health status of gibel carp Carassius auratus gibelio

A six‐week feeding trial was conducted to determine the effects of different concentrations of fucoidan (1 g/kg, 10 g/kg and 30 g/kg; w/w) from Undaria pinnatifida on gibel carp (Carassius auratus gibelio). Our results demonstrated that 30 g/kg fucoidan significantly increased (p < .05) growth performance, intestinal digestive enzyme activities, acid phosphatase activity and immunoglobulin M content. Histological examinations revealed that gibel carp receiving 30 g/kg fucoidan had significant higher abundance of mucin‐containing goblet cells in middle and distal intestine as compared with control treatment (p < .05). Intestinal microbiota analysis showed that 30 g/kg fucoidan supplementation significantly increased (p < .05) the abundance of Cetobacterium and Aeromonas, but lowered (p < .05) the prevalence of pathogenic bacteria Plesiomonas and a mucin‐degrading bacterium Mucinivorans. Furthermore, RNA‐seq and RT‐qPCR analysis indicated that 30 g/kg fucoidan caused significant changes (p < .05) in the expression of genes involved in immune regulation (such as interleukin‐8 and cyclooxygenase), signal transduction (such as phosphatidylinositol‐4,5‐bisphosphate 3‐kinase and protein kinase B) and nutrition utilization (maltase–glucoamylase and muscarinic acetylcholine receptor 3). Together, the current study shows that fucoidan supplementation could elevate the activity of intestinal digestive enzymes, modulate intestinal microbial communities and potentiate a higher state of immune readiness, which might consequently improve growth performance and intestine health status of gibel carp.