Impacts of diet on hindgut microbiota and short‐chain fatty acids in grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idellus)

Diet is known to influence intestinal microbiota in fish, but the specifics of these impacts are still poorly understood. Different protein/fibre ratio diets may result in differing structures and activities of gut microbiota. We examined the hindgut microbiome of grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idellus) fed three different diets: fish meal (FM, high protein – low fibre), Sudan grass (SG, high fibre – low protein) and compound feed (CF, intermediate). Microbial profiles of fish fed on FM were significantly different from profiles of fish fed CF and SG (F = 18.85, p < .01). Cetobacterium, known to be positively associated with protein digestion, was the dominant microbial group in FM samples (approximately 75.7%), while Lachnospiraceae and Erysipelotrichaceae, thought to be involved in fermentation of plant polysaccharides, were dominant in CF and SG samples (46.8% and 42.9% respectively). Network analyses indicated that the abundance of Lachnospiraceae and Erysipelotrichaceae was in a significantly positive correlation (r = .895, p = .001). Short‐chain fatty acid (SCFA) levels may indicate that the digestibility of diet by microbiota in the grass carp gut decreased from FM to SG (FM>CF>SG). Overall low SCFA levels indicate that hindgut fermentation probably provides a low proportion of energy requirements in grass carp.     

Local adaptation studies and conservation: Parasite–host interactions between the endangered freshwater mussel Unio crassus and its host fish

1. Parasite–host interactions can involve strong reciprocal selection pressure, and may lead to locally adapted specializations. The highly threatened unionoid mussels are temporary parasites on fish, but local adaptation has not yet been investigated for many species.
2. Patterns of local adaptation of one of Europe's most threatened unionoids, the thick‐shelled river mussel (Unio crassus) were investigated. Eurasian minnows (Phoxinus phoxinus) from two rivers (separate drainage areas) were cross‐infested in the laboratory with sympatric and allopatric mussel larvae, while bullheads (Cottus gobio), inhabiting only one of the rivers, were infested with sympatric or allopatric mussel larvae. Larval encystment, juvenile mussel excystment and survival were measured.
3. For one river, but not the other, juvenile excystment from P. phoxinus was highest when infested with sympatric mussels. The opposite pattern was found for C. gobio in this river, where juvenile excystment and post‐parasitic juvenile survival from allopatric C. gobio were highest. The results thus cannot confirm local adaptation of U. crassus to P. phoxinus in the study rivers, as excystment was not consistently higher in all sympatric mussel–host combinations, whereas there were potential maladaptive signs of U. crassus in relation to C. gobio. There was no loss of encysted larvae 3 days after infestation until juvenile excystment. Most juveniles were excysted between 17 and 29 days after infestation, and the numbers of excysted juveniles increased with fish size.
4. The results have implications for parasite–host ecology and conservation management with regard to unionoid propagation and re‐introduction. This includes the need to (1) test suitability and adaptation patterns between U. crassus and multiple host fish species, (2) evaluate the suitability of certain unionoids and host fish strains after more than 3 days, and (3) determine whether large fish produce more juvenile mussels than smaller fish.

     

Effects of stocking density on the performance of brown shrimp Farfantepenaeus californiensis co‐cultured with the green seaweed Ulva clathrata

The brown shrimp Farfantepenaeus californiensis and the seaweed Ulva clathrata, both native to north‐west Mexico, were co‐cultured in lined ponds during 18 weeks. The aim of this study was to evaluate different stocking densities (10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 per m²) in terms of shrimp yield to see if the co‐culture method results in shrimp yields suitable for commercial production. The presence of Ulva results in good water quality and allows culture of brown shrimp with low water exchange (10% weekly) and with low nitrogen and phosphorus content in discharged water. The final weight and specific growth rate (SGR) in shrimp between 10 and 30 per m² were significantly higher (12.5–12.0 g and 4.56–4.53% day⁻¹ respectively) than 40 and 50 per m² (9.1 and 8.6 g, and 4.31% and 4.26% day⁻¹ respectively). Total shrimp biomass generated in 30 or more shrimp per m² was significantly higher (2.7–3.1 t ha⁻¹) compared with 10 and 20 shrimp per m² (1.0 and 2.0 t ha⁻¹ respectively). The lowest feed conversion ratio (FCR) (0.97) was shown in the 10 shrimp per m² case, and the highest FCR was seen with 50 shrimp per m² (1.37). Shrimp survival ranged between 71% and 81%, where the highest mortality was shown in 50 shrimp per m². The results show that the co‐culture method can result in commercially interesting yields, suggesting that 30 shrimp per m² is the best stocking density for co‐culturing F. californiensis with U. clathrata, based on the shrimp performance.     

渭河流域周至段鱼类多样性与栖息环境调查

2016年6月19日~30日对渭河流域周至段鱼类资源与其栖息环境进行调查研究。结果表明:该地区有鱼类有2纲(硬骨鱼纲和辐鳍鱼纲)4目(鲤形目、鲈形目、鲶形目和鲑形目)6科(鲤科、虾虎鱼科、鲿科、鳅科、鲑科和鲶科)17属18种,其中优势种为拉氏鱥Phoxinus lagowskii与鲦Hemiculter leucisculus;常见种为红尾荷马条鳅Homatula variegata。鱼类资源多度状况与水质差异显著相关,在渭河与黑河交汇处生物多样性最丰富,各样区种类分布较为平均,但群落数量差异较大。总体而言,渭河流域周至段鱼类组成较为简单,鱼类资源呈下降的趋势,丰富性程度不高。     

Using near‐infrared reflectance spectroscopy to predict the digestible protein and digestible energy values of diets when fed to barramundi,Lates calcarifer

This study examined the potential of using near‐infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) to predict nutrient digestibility parameters (digestible protein and digestible energy) of compound diets when fed to barramundi. A series of 60 diets were assessed for their protein and energy digestibilities in a series of five experiments over a 5‐year period from 2009 to 2014. Considerable variance was observed in the digestibility parameters of diets across the experiments, providing a suitable range in diet digestible protein and digestible energy values from which to develop a NIRS calibration. Samples of the same diets were also scanned using a diode array near‐infrared spectrophotometer (DA‐NIRS). The spectra were obtained by the DA‐NIRS and were chemometrically calibrated against the digestible value data using multivariate analysis software. The results in terms of standard error of cross‐validation (SECV), residual prediction deviation (RPD) and correlation coefficient (R²) show good relationships (R² > 0.8) between the predicted and observed parameters for both the digestible protein and digestible energy parameters assessed. This study therefore demonstrates that it is possible to use NIRS technology to provide rapid estimates of the digestible protein and digestible energy values of compound diets for barramundi in near real time.     

An assessment of carcass counting surveys with increasing time lapse following a simulated fish kill on a small upland stream

A simulated fish kill was conducted on a small upland stream in Northern Ireland by planting out hatchery‐produced brown trout Salmo trutta L. carcasses of various size categories. Standard, post‐fish kill, assessment walkover surveys were conducted over time intervals to determine the number of carcasses visible. The sample variance between individual surveyors was generally low, with good agreement between the observed counts for the three, discrete, size fractions of fish up to 72 hr after the simulated fish kill. Despite low discharge rates, shallow water and good accessibility to the experimental stream, only 52% of the small category fish (<8 cm L_F) were recorded 4 hr after the start of the simulated fish kill. Larger carcasses (>17 cm L_F) were more visible, and >90% were detected 48 hr after the start of the simulated fish kill. After 96 hr, all size fractions of carcasses had reduced significantly, and the variability between replicate surveys increased markedly.     

Evaluation of dietary inclusion of housefly maggot (Musca domestica) meal on growth,fillet composition and physiological responses for barramundi,Lates calcarifer

The study was to evaluate the effects of dietary fish meal (FM) partially replaced by housefly maggot meal (HMM) on growth, fillet composition and physiological responses of juvenile barramundi, Lates calcarifera. HMM at 100, 150, 200 and 300 g kg^?1 was supplemented in the basal diet to replace dietary FM protein. Basal diet without HMM supplementation was used as control. Total of five experimental diets were fed to triplicate groups of juvenile barramundi (initial weight: 9.66 ± 0.22 g) in a flow‐through rearing system for 8 weeks. Fish fed all experimental diets showed no effects (P > 0.05) on weight gain and whole body protein, lipid and moisture content. Fish fed control diet and 100 g kg^?1 HMM diet had the highest (P < 0.05) hepatic superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, followed by 150 g kg^?1 HMM group, the lowest in 200 and 200 g kg^?1 HMM groups. Hepatic thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) value was the highest in fish fed 150–300 g kg^?1 HMM diets, followed by 100 g kg^?1 HMM group and the lowest in fish fed the control diet. Fish fed the 300 g kg^?1 HMM diet had lower plasma lysozyme activity than fish fed other diets. The results indicated that up to 300 g kg^?1 HMM can be used to substitute dietary FM protein without negative effect on growth. Although physiological responses were also considered, up to 100 g kg^?1 HMM in barramundi diet was recommended.     

High fluid shear strain causes injury in silver shark: Preliminary implications for Mekong hydropower turbine design

The Lower Mekong Basin is facing unprecedented threats to fish diversity from hydropower development. There is increasing pressure on developers and construction authorities to design solutions to improve fish survival through turbines, thus protecting the resources in regions being developed for hydropower. A hydraulic characteristic of hydropower turbines with known fisheries impacts is fluid shear stress. Elevated shear stress occurs where rapidly flowing water passes near spillways, screens and within turbine draft tubes. Shear stress can have adverse impacts on fish, but no work has assessed whether this holds true for Mekong River species. A flume was used to determine critical tolerances of silver shark, Balantiocheilos melanopterus (Bleeker), to shear stress rates at a high‐velocity jet which simulated a hydropower turbine. Fish were assessed for injury or mortality following exposure. Results were compared against a no‐shear control. Injury and mortality were greater at higher shear stress exposures. Injuries occurred at all shear exposure levels with mortality at shear levels higher than 600/s. This approach should help design future hydropower turbines if data on other species demonstrate similar results. If the likelihood of adverse impact is high, then shear stress will need to be considered in the design of future hydropower facilities.     

上海水稻精量机械穴直播技术研究与应用

以上海地区主推水稻品种为材料,在精量机械穴直播条件下,开展了不同类型水稻品种的小区试验和示范,明确了精量机械穴直播水稻的生育特性、抗倒伏性、群体建成和产量表现,并分析了采用水稻精量机械穴直播后土壤的微生物群落结构的变化和水稻生产经济效益。试验示范结果表明,精量机械穴直播水稻生育期明显缩短,单株分蘖力强,群体结构合理,穗粒结构协调,干物质积累多,抗倒能力较强,增产优势明显,节本低耗,生产效率显著提高,是目前极具生产潜力的一种新型高效低耗种植模式,适合上海都市农业发展的需求,也顺应了水稻低碳种植发展趋势,具有广阔的应用前景。     

射流式鱼泵输送草鱼的性能研究

为了分析射流式鱼泵输送草鱼的性能及其损伤因素,文章设计了一台喉管直径为60 mm的射流式鱼泵,开展了草鱼输送实验,并采用高速摄影和计算流体力学方法进行了研究。结果显示,该射流式鱼泵在扬程2.24m时最高草鱼输送能力达918 kg·h~(-1),其所需水功率为2.83 k W。进一步的检测表明,部分实验鱼有鳞片脱落的情况,但未出现游泳异常,解剖后也未发现内脏受损等情况;实验鱼在过泵后呼吸频率及部分血液指标存在明显变化,但在24 h内基本可以恢复。数值模拟和高速摄影方法分析得出,剪切层是造成实验鱼泵内鳞片脱落的主要原因,撞击伤是由内流偏转诱导实验鱼撞击泵内壁面产生的,包含压力梯度在内的水力因素都可能使实验鱼产生应激反应。但由于鱼类在泵内时间极短,上述因素都不会致实验鱼死亡。