Comparison of effects of dietary‐specific fatty acids on growth and lipid metabolism in Nile tilapia

The dominant fatty acids (FAs) in oils are often used to explain different nutritional effects of dietary oils in fish. However, the amounts of dominant FAs among oils are different, and the nutritional roles of these important FAs in fish have not been precisely compared at similar levels in feeding trials. In the present study, different amounts of palmitic acid were added to safflower oil (SO), olive oil (OO) and fish oil (FO) to obtain comparable amounts (about 550 g/kg of total FAs) of 18:2n‐6, 18:1n‐9 and 20:5n‐3 + 22:6n‐3 and subsequently fed to Nile tilapia (11.1 ± 0.01 g) for 8 weeks. The results showed similar growth among groups but FO group obtained lower fat deposition, serum ALT and AST activities, compared to OO. Lipogenesis‐related gene expressions were higher in OO group than FO group in liver, muscle and adipose tissue, but there were only few differences in these genes between SO and FO groups. Lipid catabolism genes in FO group were higher than OO and SO groups in adipose tissue, but not in muscle, and the significantly higher expressions of CPT1b and PPARα were only observed in liver. Overall, dietary 18:2n‐6, 20:5n‐3 and 22:6n‐3 were beneficial to normal growth and lipid metabolism, whereas high amount of 18:1n‐9 induced lipid deposition and liver damage in Nile tilapia.     

日粮不同NDF/NFC水平对周岁后荷斯坦奶牛生产性能、营养物质消化率、瘤胃发酵特征和甲烷排放的影响

本试验研究了日粮中不同中性洗涤纤维/非纤维性碳水化合物（NDF/NFC）水平对周岁后荷斯坦奶牛生产性能、营养物质消化率、瘤胃发酵特征及甲烷产量的影响，并在此基础上建立了甲烷排放预测模型，旨在获得我国生产模型下的甲烷排放规律和甲烷转化因子，为提高奶牛能量利用效率、建立国家或区域性温室气体排放清单和探索减排策略提供科学依据和支撑。将45头体况良好，平均为15月龄的荷斯坦后备奶牛随机分为3组，每组15头牛：低日粮NDF/NFC组（NDF/NFC=0.60）、中日粮NDF/NFC组（NDF/NFC=0.75）和高日粮NDF/NFC组（NDF/NFC=0.90），试验期为70 d，包括14 d的预饲期和56 d的正试期。结果表明：1）提高日粮NDF/NFC水平显著降低了奶牛的干物质采食量、有机物采食量、平均日增重、干物质和粗蛋白的表观消化率（P<0.05）；2）提高日粮NDF/NFC水平显著增加了瘤胃内总挥发性脂肪酸产量、乙酸的相对含量和乙酸/丙酸比例（P<0.05），显著降低了丙酸的相对含量（P<0.05）；3）随着日粮NDF/NFC水平的提高，瘤胃甲烷和甲烷能产量、甲烷/代谢体重、甲烷/干物质采食量、甲烷/有机物采食量、甲烷/中性洗涤纤维采食量显著提高（P<0.05）。甲烷转化因子也随着日粮NDF/NFC水平的增加而显著提高（P<0.05）；4）基于体重、采食量、营养物质含量和NDF/NFC分别建立了甲烷预测模型，其中基于干物质采食量和中性洗涤纤维采食量建立的预测模型的决定系数最高（R²=0.77）。因此，提高日粮中NDF/NFC水平可显著降低周岁后荷斯坦奶牛的生产性能、营养物质消化率和瘤胃内丙酸的相对含量，可显著提高瘤胃甲烷产量和甲烷转化因子。     

Stable isotopes and gut contents indicate differential resource use by coexisting asp (Leuciscus aspius) and pikeperch (Sander lucioperca)

Differential use of habitat and prey resources is an important mechanism that may allow coexistence of sympatric species. Unlike interactions between smaller cyprinid and percid fishes, the resource use by coexisting predatory asp (Leuciscus aspius) and pikeperch (Sander lucioperca) is relatively unknown. Here, gut content and stable isotope analyses were used to study ontogenetic dietary shifts and interspecific trophic niche overlap between asp and pikeperch coexisting in two reservoirs. The hypothesis that both species show an ontogenetic dietary shift from small invertebrates to large fish prey, but at the same time use different prey resources to reduce potential competitive interactions, was validated. The isotopic niches of the two predators showed no, or only a moderate, degree of overlap (0%–65%). The ontogenetic changes in the degree of interspecific isotopic niche overlap were different in the two reservoirs, suggesting that trophic segregation can be dynamic and variable among systems. Gut contents revealed that small (<100 mm standard length) asp consumed mostly terrestrial invertebrates and emerged aquatic insects, whereas small pikeperch foraged on zooplankton, larval and pupal stages of aquatic insects and fish. Larger individuals (>100 mm) of both species were predominantly piscivorous, with asp consuming more cyprinid prey and pikeperch more percid prey. Coexisting asp and pikeperch populations are able to utilise different prey resources, thereby reducing potential negative competitive interactions.     

Effects of dietary protein to energy ratios on growth,body composition and digestive enzyme activities in Chinese mitten‐handed crab,Eriocheir sinensis

This study aimed to determine the optimal protein to energy ratio (P/E ratio) and evaluate the effect of dietary protein and lipid levels on growth performance, body composition and digestive enzymes activities in Chinese mitten‐handed crab, Eriocheir sinensis. Nine practical diets containing three levels both for protein (DP 30%, 35% and 40%) and lipid (DL 2%, 7% and 12%) with P/E ratios ranging from 13.69 to 19.79 mg KJ^?1 were fed to four replicates of crabs (3.39 ± 0.10 g) for 10 weeks. Weight gain increased significantly with the increase in DP level at each DL level. Moreover, weight gain increased in crabs fed with diets containing DL level from 2% to 12% and DP level from 30% to 35%. However, the diet containing 40% DP and 12% DL levels significantly decreased the growth performance and protein efficiency of the crabs. The whole crab and hepatopancreas lipid contents also increased as dietary lipid increased, but not dietary protein. The total protease activity increased significantly with the increase in dietary protein at each lipid level. The lipase activity was statistically comparable among different DL levels at each DP level. Taken together, the crab fed the diet containing 35% protein and 12% lipid levels with P/E 15.77 mg KJ^?1 revealed optimal growth, feed utilization efficiency and digestive enzymes activities. Moreover, our study indicated that the higher dietary lipid level at a relatively lower dietary protein level could provide protein sparing effect in Eriocheir sinensis.     

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.     

Effects of dietary protein and lipid levels with different protein‐to‐energy ratios on growth performance,feed utilization and body composition of juvenile red‐spotted grouper,Epinephelus akaara

An 8‐week feeding trial was conducted to assess dietary protein and lipid levels on growth performance, feed utilization and body composition of juvenile red‐spotted grouper (7.85 ± 0.03 g fish^?1). Nine semi‐purified diets were formulated containing varying protein levels (440–520 g kg^?1, dry matter) and lipid levels (60–120 g kg^?1, dry matter). The weight gain of juvenile Epinephelus akaara was affected by dietary protein (p = .005) and its interaction with dietary lipid (p = .020). Viscerosomatic index, intraperitoneal fat ratio and whole‐body lipid level increased with increasing dietary lipid level (p < .001). Nitrogen retention was not affected by dietary protein and lipid, while lipid retention decreased with increasing dietary lipid level (p < .001). The plasma blood urea nitrogen increased with increasing dietary protein level (p = .003). This study showed that diet with 520 g kg^?1 protein and 60 g kg^?1 lipid with 30.58 mg kJ^?1 P:E provided a maximal growth for this species. Moreover, an increase in dietary lipid levels (from 60 to 90 g kg^?1) could reduce the protein requirement (from 520 to 480 g kg^?1) without affecting the growth performance, while higher fat deposition was observed in fish fed high‐lipid diets.     

饲料脂肪水平对俄罗斯鲟幼鱼生长、血液生化指标及抗氧化性能的影响

以鱼油、豆油、亚麻籽油等比例混合,配成脂肪含量分别为5.45%(L1)、7.00%(L2)、10.44%(L3)、14.37%(L4)、16.34%(L5)、18.91%(L6)及20.15%(L7)的等氮饲料,饲喂俄罗斯鲟(Acipenser gueldenstaedtii)幼鱼[(6.20±0.02)g]8周。实验结果表明,L3组的终末体质量、增重率最大,但与L2组间无显著差异(P0.05),L3组的蛋白质效率显著高于其它组(P0.05),且饲料系数最低。L6和L7组终末体质量、增重率和蛋白质效率显著低于L2和L3组(P0.05)。将幼鱼的增重率与饲料脂肪水平进行回归分析,得出俄罗斯鲟幼鱼在饲料脂肪水平为10.69%时生长最佳。随着饲料脂肪水平的升高,各组鱼的肝体比和体粗脂肪有上升趋势,其中肝体比在饲料脂肪含量大于14.37%时显著增大(P0.05)。血清中的甘油三酯、胆固醇含量也随脂肪水平升高而显著提高(P0.05),提示脂肪过高会影响俄罗斯鲟幼鱼的生长,降低蛋白质效率,导致脂肪在体内的过量积蓄。L7组鱼血清中高密度脂蛋白胆固醇含量最高,而L1组鱼的低密度脂蛋白胆固醇含量最高。肝脏脂蛋白酯酶活性随饲料脂肪水平的提高而升高,脂肪酸合成酶活性则随脂肪水平升高而降低,提示饲料脂肪水平的提高会促进鱼体脂肪的分解代谢。肝脏丙二醛含量和超氧化物歧化酶活性均随着饲料脂肪水平的提高显著升高(P0.05),表明脂肪含量过高会导致脂质过氧化,引发机体抗氧化酶活性的升高。综合俄罗斯鲟幼鱼的生长、血液指标及抗氧化性能,建议生产中将幼鱼的饲料脂肪水平控制在7.00%~10.69%。     

Appetite,metabolism and growth regulation in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) exposed to hypoxia at elevated seawater temperature

High temperature combined with low dissolved oxygen (DO) is one of the most challenging environmental conditions farmed fish experience; thus, understanding their impact on growth regulation is of relevance to cultured and wild populations. This study examines appetite‐ and growth‐regulating mechanisms in Atlantic salmon postsmolt exposed to either high (HO) or low oxygen (LO) at a suboptimally high temperature (17°C). Additionally, the effects of high (HE) and low (LE) dietary energy (DE) were examined. After a month of treatment, analyses of hormones, regulating appetite (ghrelin) and growth (growth hormone receptor ghr1 and insulin‐like growth factor IGF‐1), and free amino acids (FAA) were measured pre‐ and postprandially at ?4, ?2, 0, 2, 4 and 6 h. No preprandial ghrelin peaks were detected despite a significant reduction in feed intake and growth under hypoxia compared to normoxia. LO treatment also had an overall negative effect on survival compared to HO, while nutrient retention efficiency, FCR and plasma FAA concentrations were unaffected (P > 0.05). Feeding HE diet resulted in increased growth (+17%) and improved FCR (?14%) and energy retention efficiency (+26%) independent of DO. Plasma FAA concentrations were unaffected by LO treatment and DE (P > 0.05). Growth regulatory gene expressions possibly reflect an overall lower growth at a high temperature overriding the impacts of DO and DE. This study also indicates that optimal adaptation time to environmental conditions and feeding regime is crucial for establishing a regular hormonal appetite signalling that reflects real feeding anticipation in salmon.     

Influence of dietary lipid on growth performance and some lipogenesis‐related gene expression of tongue sole (Cynoglossus semilaevis) larvae

A 30‐day feeding trial was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary lipid levels on growth performance, activities of digestive enzymes, fatty acid composition and some lipogenesis‐related gene expression of half‐smooth tongue sole (Cynoglossus semilaevis) larvae. Five isoproteic diets were formulated with graded lipid levels (6.68%, 9.84%, 13.47%, 17.89% and 21.88% dry weight) using fish oil as the main lipid source. Each diet was randomly allocated to triplicate groups of 150 larval tongue sole (35 DAH, 54 ± 1 mg). Fish were fed five times daily to apparent satiation during the feeding experiment. Results showed that, the survival rate (SR) of larvae increased significantly firstly, and thereafter decreased significantly. The specific growth rates (SGR) of larvae fed the diet with 13.47% lipid were significantly higher than other treatments. Larvae fed 9.84% or 13.47% dietary lipid showed higher trypsin, lipase, leucine aminopeptidase and alkaline phosphatase (AP) activities than other treatments, whereas amylase activity nearly showed reverse trend with them. The fatty acid composition of the tongue sole larvae was well correlated with dietary fatty acid profile. Expression of acetyl‐CoA carboxylase alpha (ACC1) was found to be slightly negatively correlated with dietary lipid level, and high dietary lipid level depressed the expressions of acetyl‐CoA carboxylase beta (ACC2) and fatty acid synthase (FAS) mRNA expression significantly, implying that larvae may cope with high dietary lipid mainly through down‐regulating lipogenesis‐related gene expression of FAS and ACC2. Besides, on the basis of SGR, the optimal dietary lipid level for larval tongue sole was estimated to be 13.56% using second‐order polynomial curve.     

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.