Biological filtration properties of selected herbs in an aquaponic system

This study was conducted to determine the biological filtration capabilities of some culinary herbs co‐cultured with lemon fin barb hybrid in a nutrient film technique (NFT) recirculating aquaponic system. Lemon fin barb hybrid (Hypsibarbus wetmorei ♂ × Barbonymus gonionotus ♀) fingerlings were stocked in twelve 2‐tonne fibreglass tanks at 25 fish per tank and co‐cultured with Chinese celery (Apium graveolens var. secalinum Alef.), coriander (Coriandrum sativum) and peppermint (Mentha × piperita) for seven weeks. The impacts of the waste generated by the fish on the water quality, the filtration capability of the herbs and the ability of fish and herbs to retain nutrients (NPK) were also estimated. All the herbs showed water purifying potentials to varying degrees as significantly lower levels of nitrogenous compounds (NH₃‐N, NO₃‐N, NO₂‐N) were observed after the herbal filtration. The plant growth seemed to be affected by their ability to absorb nutrients and consequently purify the culture medium. Interestingly, the lemon fin barb hybrid also showed significant differences in terms of weight gain, but the nutrient retention among fish treatments was not statistically different. The plants absorbed less phosphorus and potassium than the fish. After computing for the total system percentage of NPK recovered, nitrogen was the most retained nutrient. The peppermint showed superiority in terms of gross biomass and water purifying potential compared to the Chinese celery and coriander.     

灰海马染色体制备及核型分析

为了解灰海马的细胞遗传学特征,便于今后开展灰海马的种质评价与鉴定、规模化人工繁育、亲缘关系研究及人工选育等工作,实验以雌雄灰海马的背鳍为材料,采用秋水仙素浸泡和常规热滴片法制备染色体标本。借助Photoshop图像软件,将同源染色体配对、拼贴,做出染色体核型图。采用Image J软件的自定义曲线测量功能,以着丝粒的中心位置为起点,顺着染色体弯曲的形态,到染色体臂末端为终点,测量线段长度,得出图片中染色体的臂长,根据相同放大倍数下标尺的测量值,换算出染色体的实际臂长。根据臂比值,将染色体进行配对、分类后,得出灰海马的染色体核型公式。结果显示,灰海马的背鳍组织可作为其染色体制备的理想材料,实验选用的染色体制备方法能获得图像清晰、形态良好的细胞分裂相。此法简单、效果好,解决了海龙科鱼类染色体制备的难题;灰海马具有22对染色体,二倍体染色体数目2n=44,雄鱼的染色体核型公式为2n=2sm+20st+22t,雌鱼的染色体核型公式为2n=1m+2sm+20st+21t,雌鱼存在性染色体异型的现象,因此灰海马的性染色体为ZW/ZZ型。     

A critical appraisal of appendage disparity and homology in fishes

Fishes are both extremely diverse and morphologically disparate. Part of this disparity can be observed in the numerous possible fin configurations that may differ in terms of the number of fins as well as fin shapes, sizes and relative positions on the body. Here, we thoroughly review the major patterns of disparity in fin configurations for each major group of fishes and discuss how median and paired fin homologies have been interpreted over time. When taking into account the entire span of fish diversity, including both extant and fossil taxa, the disparity in fin morphologies greatly complicates inferring homologies for individual fins. Given the phylogenetic scope of this review, structural and topological criteria appear to be the most useful indicators of fin identity. We further suggest that it may be advantageous to consider some of these fin homologies as nested within the larger framework of homologous fin‐forming morphogenetic fields. We also discuss scenarios of appendage evolution and suggest that modularity may have played a key role in appendage disparification. Fin modules re‐expressed within the boundaries of fin‐forming fields could explain how some fins may have evolved numerous times independently in separate lineages (e.g., adipose fin), or how new fins may have evolved over time (e.g., anterior and posterior dorsal fins, pectoral and pelvic fins). We favour an evolutionary scenario whereby median appendages appeared from a unique field of competence first positioned throughout the dorsal and ventral midlines, which was then redeployed laterally leading to paired appendages.     

Ray blight of pyrethrum in Australia: a review of the current status and future opportunities

Ray blight caused by Stagonosporopsis tanaceti is one of the most important diseases of pyrethrum (Tanacetum cinerariifolium), a perennial herbaceous plant cultivated for the extraction of insecticidal pyrethrins in Australia. The disease is responsible for complete yield loss in severe outbreaks. Infected seed is considered as the principal source of S. tanaceti. Infection hyphae remain only in the seed coat and not in the embryo, resulting in pre- and post-emergence death of seedlings and latent infection. Therefore, quantification of the level of infection by S. tanaceti within seed using a qPCR assay is important for efficient management of the disease. Stagonosporopsis tanaceti completes its life cycle within 12 days after leaf infection through production of pycnidia and can infect every tissue of the pyrethrum plant except the vascular and root tissues. Ray blight epidemics occur in pyrethrum fields through splash dispersal of pycnidiospores between adjacent plants. Besides steam sterilization, thiabendazole/thiram and fludioxonil are effective seed-treating chemicals in controlling S. tanaceti before planting begins. Ray blight is currently managed in the field through the foliar application of strobilurin fungicides in the first 1–2 years of crop establishment. Later on, difenoconazole and multisite specific fungicides in the next 2–3 years during early spring successfully reduce ray blight infestation. Avoiding development of resistance to fungicides will require more sustainable management of ray blight including the development and deployment of resistant cultivars.     

60Co-γ射线对睡莲生物学效应的影响

为探究辐射对睡莲的生物学效应,对2个睡莲品种弗吉尼亚(Nymphaea Virginia)和奥毛斯特(N.Almost black)的块茎进行不同剂量的⁶⁰Co-γ射线辐射处理。结果表明,2个睡莲品种的存活率均随辐射剂量的增加而下降,半致死剂量分别为24.342和27.671 Gy。5~10 Gy 剂量⁶⁰Co-γ辐射处理使睡莲叶面积和浮叶数显著增加,20~40 Gy剂量⁶⁰Co-γ辐射处理使叶面积和浮叶数显著减少。2个睡莲品种的开花时间均随辐射剂量的增加而延迟,但整个花期长度无显著变化。10~40 Gy剂量⁶⁰Co-γ辐射处理显著降低了睡莲花径,但对睡莲开花率无显著影响。辐射处理导致2个睡莲品种的叶片均出现红棕色斑块、锯齿、皱缩、小孔、卷曲、黄化等变异,且红棕色斑块的面积随着辐射剂量的增加而增大。辐射处理使黑红色花品种奥毛斯特出现普遍的褪色现象,而白色花品种弗吉尼亚的花色未发生变异。此外,经⁶⁰Co-γ射线辐射处理后2个睡莲品种均出现了花型变异的现象。本研究结果为利用辐射诱变技术选育睡莲新品种奠定了基础。     

电子束和γ射线辐照对象拔蚌品质影响的异同性研究

为探明电子束和γ射线辐照对象拔蚌理化指标和微生物影响的异同性,采用不同剂量的电子束(0、2.1、3.9、6.1、8.0 k Gy)和γ射线(0、2.1、4.2、6.3、8.4 k Gy)辐照真空包装象拔蚌,对其贮藏期内营养成分、p H值、生物胺、菌落总数进行测定。结果表明,利用一定剂量电子束和γ射线辐照均能有效降低象拔蚌的菌落总数,在12 d贮藏期内,2种辐照处理之间菌落总数随辐照剂量的变化趋势以及随贮藏天数的变化趋势无显著差异,其中γ射线的D10=3.2 k Gy,电子束的D10=3.1 k Gy;较之对照,电子束和γ射线辐照对象拔蚌蛋白质、灰分、脂肪和水分含量无显著影响;电子束辐照处理组的p H值在贮藏期内维持在6.80~6.94,而γ射线辐照处理组的p H值维持在6.68~6.92,较之对照组,2种射线辐照处理均可抑制贮藏期内象拔蚌p H值的下降;辐照处理组能够抑制生物胺总量的增长,但电子束和γ射线辐照处理之间,象拔蚌生物胺总量随辐照剂量的变化趋势以及随贮藏天数的变化趋势无显著差别。由此可知,电子束与γ射线辐照均具有应用于象拔蚌鲜食食品加工的潜力,这为辐照应用于象拔蚌提供了科学依据。     

terraGIS – a web GIS for delivery of digital soil maps in cotton‐growing areas of Australia

Effective management of soil requires the spatial distribution of its various physical, chemical and hydrological properties. This is because properties, for example clay content, determine the ability of soil to hold cations and retain water. However, data acquisition is labour intensive and time‐consuming. To add value to the limited soil data, remote sensing (e.g. airborne gamma‐ray spectrometry) and proximal sensing, such as electromagnetic (EM) induction, are being used as ancillary data. Here, we provide examples of developing Digital Soil Maps (DSM) of soil physical, chemical and hydrological properties, for seven cotton‐growing areas of southeastern Australia, by coupling soil data with remote and proximal sensed ancillary data. A greater challenge is how to get these DSM to a stakeholder in a way that is useful for practical soil use and management. This study describes how we facilitate access to the DSMs, using a simple‐to‐use web GIS platform, called terraGIS. The platform is underpinned by Google Maps API, which is an open‐source development environment for building spatially enabled Internet applications. In conclusion, we consider that terraGIS and the supporting information, available on the sister web page ( http://www.terragis.bees.unsw.edu.au/ ), allow easy access to explanation of DSM of soil properties, which are relevant to cotton growers, farm managers, consultants, extension staff, researchers, state and federal government agency personnel and policy analysts. Future work should be aimed at developing error budget maps to identify where additional soil and/or ancillary data is required to improve the accuracy of the DSMs.     

Elasmobranch fisheries in the Arabian Seas Region: Characteristics,trade and management

The Arabian Seas Region plays an important role in the global landings and trade of sharks and rays. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Yemen, two countries with stark socio‐economic differences, serve as major regional trade hubs for shark and ray products and four countries (Oman, Pakistan, UAE and Yemen) supply nearly 11% of dried fin exports to Hong Kong. Yet, little information is available on the characteristics of this trade and the fisheries contributing to it. Here, we review the fisheries characteristics, trade, utilization and distribution chain of sharks and rays in 15 countries of the Arabian Seas Region based on published and grey literature, landing surveys, field observations and interviews with fishermen and traders. Although regional shark fisheries remain mostly artisanal, reported shark and ray landings represent 28% of the regional total fish production, reaching 56,074 mt in 2012 (7.3% of total world catches), with Iran, Oman, Pakistan and Yemen ranking as the primary catchers. Utilization and distribution patterns are complex, vary between landing sites and countries, and remain unmonitored. Based on widespread over‐exploitation of most teleost fisheries, current exploitation levels for most sharks and rays are potentially unsustainable. The situation is exacerbated by limited research and political will to support policy development, the incomplete nature of fisheries data, as well as insufficient regulations and enforcement. A better understanding of shark and ray fisheries will be key for regulating trade, promoting conservation and developing management initiatives to secure food security, livelihoods and biodiversity conservation in the region.     

Changes in soil macropores: Superposition of the roles of organic nutrient amendments and the greenhouse pattern in vegetable plantations

Organic farming can potentially mitigate soil compaction, which commonly occurs in vegetable plantations, particularly in greenhouses when compared with open‐air systems. Although several studies have addressed the effect of planting patterns on soil pore characteristics, few studies have focused on changes in pore attributes under organic fertilization. We used adjacent fields during green manure planting as a control to compare the differences in soil physicochemical and macropore parameters between 14‐year‐old greenhouse plots and open‐air plots under organic fertilization. Pearson's correlation analysis was performed to analyse the drivers of soil macropore characteristics in vegetable plantations in Jiangsu Province, China. A significant increase in connectivity, fractal dimensions and total macroporosity and a decrease in bulk density after 14 years of organic farming, particularly in the surface layer in the greenhouse, were observed. However, the difference in pores in the plough pan layer was not significant between the treatments. The volume of small pores (50–500 μm) and medium pores (500–1,000 μm) increased significantly (p < 0.05) in both the greenhouse and open‐air systems, showing significantly positive relationships with soil organic matter (SOM) and total nitrogen (TN) content. Large pores (>1,000 μm) showed a clear decrease, especially in open‐air fields, possibly due to the disappearance of the original straw residues in the surface layer. Small and medium pores in the plough layer increased in greenhouse fields, whereas the opposite occurred in open‐air fields. Overall, compared with open‐air systems, long‐term organic greenhouse patterns had a significantly positive effect on soil pore attributes.     

Assessment of prebiotic potentials in selected leaf meals of high dietary fibre on growth performance,body composition,nutrient utilization and amylase activities of a tropical commercial carp fingerlings

The performance of selected leaf meals of high dietary fibre in the feed of a tropical commercial carp, hybrid lemon fin barb (Barbonymus gonionotus ♀ × Hypsibarbus wetmorei ♂) was evaluated in a 56‐day feeding trial. The tropical carp juveniles (9.43 ± 0.05 g) were randomly stocked in 60‐L aquaria at 15 fish per aquarium. Five isonitrogenous and isocaloric diets (30% crude protein, 17 kJ/g gross energy) containing no leaf meal and 10% napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum), alfalfa (Medicago sativa), water spinach (Ipomea aquatica) and Gliricidia sepium leaf meals were formulated and tested. Three aquaria were randomly assigned to each experimental diet. The results showed that fish‐fed diets containing leaf meals showed superior growth performance and body composition which was better than those fed control diet. The leaf meal‐treated groups also had higher values of protein, lipid, energy retention and production of digestive enzymes amylase. Conclusively, the results indicated that leaf meal fibre provided better performance showing the inherent prebiotic effect of the utilization of these leaf meal in hybrid lemon fin barb .