Illumination influences the ability of migrating juvenile salmonids to pass a submerged experimental weir

Abstract –  The downstream migration of juvenile salmonids has previously been considered predominantly passive. It has been argued that passive displacement during periods of darkness is, partially at least, a result of an inability to maintain a fixed position in the absence of visual cues. In this study, behaviour of juvenile Pacific salmonids was assessed under conditions of light and dark as they passed through an artificial channel and encountered a submerged weir. Results indicated that when light, fish formed schools and actively explored the channel. Conversely, when dark (infrared illumination only) they did not form schools, but maintained randomly distributed positions holding station against the flow. As a consequence, more fish approached and either passed, or rejected, the weir when light. The majority of fish that passed the weir did so within the first minute of each trial. Fish predominantly passed through the channel facing downstream and changed orientation prior to passing tail first over the weir crest in the presence and absence of visual cues. The orientation switch was less common when dark. This study shows, at a fine-resolution scale, that downstream movement of juvenile salmonids can be inhibited as fish exhibit alternative behaviours in the absence of visual cues. Downstream movement was not predominantly passive. Fish passage design should not be based on the assumption that downstream migration is passive.     

水流对杂交鲟幼鱼游泳行为的影响

在26℃水温下,使用特制的鱼类游泳行为测定装置研究了杂交鲟(Huso duricusGeorgi♂×Acipenser schrenc-kiBrandt♀)幼鱼在0 m/s、0.1 m/s、0.3 m/s、0.5 m/s 4种流速条件下的游泳行为。结果显示:杂交鲟幼鱼随着流速的增加趋流率增大,且在90min内趋流率达到100%所需的时间明显缩短。实过过程中0.3 m/s和0.5 m/s两组摆尾频率都高于0.1 m/s和静水组,但在各个时段内,摆尾频率与趋流率均没有显著的相关。杂交鲟幼鱼的游泳状态明显受到所处流速的影响:0.1 m/s流速下以逆流前进为主,约占时间比例56.3%;0.3 m/s流速下以逆流静止为主,约占时间比例58.1%;0.5 m/s流速下以逆流后退为主,约占时间比例80.7%。在逆流前进和逆流静止两种游泳状态下,杂交鲟幼鱼的游泳速度和摆尾频率呈线性相关。但在逆流后退和顺流而下两种状态下,两者之间却没有显著的相关,且此两种状态下其游泳速度和摆尾频率随流速增加的变化趋势也不一致。     

Kisspeptin injection improved the semen characteristics and sperm rheotaxis in Ossimi ram

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of kisspeptin-10 (Kp10) injection on semen characteristics, testosterone (T) production and sperm rheotaxis using microfluidic devices in immature ram. Computer-assisted sperm analysis (CASA) with controlled flow velocity was used to explore the kinetic parameters of sperm and positive rheotaxis (PR %). PR % was defined as the number of PR sperms over the number of motile sperms. Healthy Ossimi rams were randomly divided into two groups; a saline-treated control group and Kp10-treated one (5 µg/kg body weight). Treatments were given by intramuscular injection once a week for 1 month. After 1 month, the semen was collected and evaluated weekly for 6 weeks, while the blood samples were collected every 2 weeks for the next 8 weeks. Semen properties were significantly affected by Kp10 injection (p < .01). The Kp10 increased the volume, sperm concentration and percentages of live sperm compared with those of control. Additionally, sperm trajectories and rheotaxis get improved by the injection of Kp10 with time. Furthermore, kisspeptin improved the secretion of testosterone levels throughout the period of study. In conclusion, injections of the Kp10 had a positive impact on semen characteristics as well as improved sperm rheotaxis of Ossimi rams in subtropics.     

黑鲪幼鱼趋流性的初步研究

在垂直循环回流水槽中对黑(Sebastodes fuscescens)幼鱼个体的趋流性进行了统计分析。实验测定黑幼鱼个体的感应流速为0.10~0.15 m/s,喜爱流速为0.20~0.45 m/s,极限流速为0.6~0.7 m/s。用线性回归的方法对流速与体长的关系进行了统计分析,并应用t检验的方法对相关性进行了显著性分析,结果表明,t喜爱流速=31.06>t0.01(23)=2.81;t极限流速=47.71>t0.01(23)=2.81,因此,可以认为喜爱流速和极限流速与体长的相关关系是极显著的。为从触觉角度和鱼类的趋性对黑的聚礁机理研究提供参考。     

Effect of pH on rheotaxis of bull sperm using microfluidics

The aim of the present research is to study the effect of pH values on the sperm rheotaxis properties. Semen collected from bulls was diluted with SOF medium (1:10). pH of the medium was adjusted using a digital pH meter to the following pH values: 6.0, 6.2, 6.4, 6.4, 6.8, 7.0. All kinetic parameters of sperm (n = 3,385) were determined through a computer‐assisted sperm analysis (CASA) system using microfluidic devices with controlled flow velocity. The following parameters were determined: total motility (TM%), positive rheotaxis (PR%), straightline velocity (VSL, μm/s), average path velocity (VAP, μm/s), linearity (LIN, as VSL/VCL, %), beat cross‐frequency (BCF, Hz) and curvilinear velocity (VCL, μm/s). Nitric oxide, calcium and potassium were estimated in semen at different pH values. To confirm the effect of nitric oxide and K⁺, we used sodium nitroprusside (an NO donor) and KCL as (a K⁺ donor) to see their effect on sperm PR%. The results showed no difference in TM% at pH (6–7). The PR% was the lowest at pH 6 and 7. The best parameters for the PR% were at pH 6.4–6.6. The concentration of Ca⁺² did not change at different pH values. The mean NO values decreased with the increase of pH; however, the mean values of K⁺ increased with the increase of pH. Addition of high concentration of NO and K⁺ to the semen media at fixed pH level had a negative effect on TM% and PR%. In conclusion, the bull sperm had the best rheotaxis properties at pH 6.4–6.6 and sensitive to the change of seminal NO and K⁺.     

Implications of ram sperm rheotaxis analysed by microfluidics for fertility

Rheotaxis of sperm using a microfluidic device was explored in human, mice and bull. However, the rheotaxis of ram sperm and its role in fertility are unknown. Herein, we described the sperm rheotaxis in ram using microfluidic devices and focused on rheotaxis as potential markers of in vivo fertility. Computer-assisted sperm analysis (CASA) with controlled flow velocity was used to explore the kinematic parameters of sperm, total motility and positive rheotaxis (PR). The percentage of PR was defined as the number of PR sperm cells over the number of motile sperm cells. Then, according to the percentage of PR sperm, rams were classified into two groups; sperm with ≥40% PR and <40% PR, although the two ram groups showed similar total motility and kinematic values of sperm evaluated by CASA (p > .05). Two groups of rams mated one hundred thirty ewes naturally (10 ewes/ram). In the results, the pregnancy rate was higher in ≥40% PR (94.4%) than in <40% PR (42.5%, p < .05) after natural mating. Besides, the pregnancy loss was higher in <40% PR (33.3%) than in >40% PR group (8.1%, p < .05). In conclusion, the PR examination in semen can contribute to evaluate the reproductive performance of ram that will provide valuable insights into the semen evaluation.     

黑水河3种鳅科鱼类感应流速的初步研究

感应流速是鱼类游泳特性的关键指标之一,获取鱼类的感应流速将有助于过鱼设施低流速区的流速设计和增值放流地点的选择等。本研究以黑水河的红尾副鳅（Paracobitis variegates）、横纹南鳅（Schistura fasciolatus）和山鳅（Oreias dabryi）为研究对象,利用固定流速法对其感应流速进行测试。结果显示,3种鳅科鱼类的绝对感应流速范围为5.7-13.2 cm/s,相对感应流速的范围为0.6-1.5 BL/s。红尾副鳅的绝对感应流速显著高于横纹南鳅和山鳅,相对感应流速显著低于横纹南鳅和山鳅（P<0.05）,横纹南鳅和山鳅无显著差异（P>0.05）。所有测试鱼的绝对感应流速和相对感应流速均与体长呈显著相关关系,绝对感应流速随体长的增加而增加,相对感应流速随着体长的增加而减少。体长可能是影响3种鳅科鱼类感应流速差异的主要原因。所有测试鱼的趋流率与流速呈指数函数关系为PR=97.93e^(〖-e〗^(-0.91V+6.34) )。本研究结果可为金沙江流域鱼类行为学研究提供基础资料,为黑水河过鱼设施设计和增值放流地点选择提供参考和依据。     

黑鲪幼鱼趋流性的初步研究

在垂直循环回流水槽中对黑(Sebastodes fuscescens)幼鱼个体的趋流性进行了统计分析。实验测定黑幼鱼个体的感应流速为0.10~0.15 m/s,喜爱流速为0.20~0.45 m/s,极限流速为0.6~0.7 m/s。用线性回归的方法对流速与体长的关系进行了统计分析,并应用t检验的方法对相关性进行了显著性分析,结果表明,t喜爱流速=31.06>t0.01(23)=2.81;t极限流速=47.71>t0.01(23)=2.81,因此,可以认为喜爱流速和极限流速与体长的相关关系是极显著的。为从触觉角度和鱼类的趋性对黑的聚礁机理研究提供参考。     

Activity patterns of Gulf Sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrinchus desotoi) in the staging area of the Pascagoula River during fall outmigration

Environmental cues that are associated with individual movement of threatened Gulf Sturgeon from upriver areas to nearshore and offshore winter feeding areas have been described throughout much of their range in the Gulf of Mexico. In this study, we focus on small‐scale movement of Gulf Sturgeon between summer ‘holding’ areas and the fall staging area in the Pascagoula River system (Mississippi, USA). We evaluated a set of logistic regression models using Akaike's Information Criterion and found that relative changes in barometric pressure, time of day, and water temperature were cues for small‐scale Gulf Sturgeon movements during fall outmigration. Numerous environmental cues appear to drive the activity of Gulf Sturgeon in staging areas, indicating the complexity of abiotic factors affecting the observed staging patterns during emigration. The identification of the environmental drivers that are associated with Gulf Sturgeon movement is particularly important if these known saline transition zones change spatially annually with variable rainfall or due to water withdrawals and are used by Gulf Sturgeon making osmotic adjustments while moving downriver.     

Behaviour of adult Pacific lamprey in near‐field flow and fishway design experiments

Abstract An experimental fishway was used to examine adult Pacific lamprey, Lampetra tridentata (Gairdner), behaviour in a series of attraction and passage‐performance tests. Among all experiments, lamprey oriented to the fishway floor and walls and were attracted to both ambient and concentrated flow. When confronted with high‐velocity areas (vertical‐slot and submerged‐orifice weirs), many lamprey failed to pass upstream. However, lamprey were able to find and take advantage of low‐velocity refuges when they were provided. Lamprey climbed shallow‐ and steep‐angled ramps when attraction cues were sufficient and other passage routes were restricted. The combined results demonstrated the passage challenges that fishways designed and operated for salmonids present to non‐salmonid species. They also highlight the importance of evaluating trade‐offs between fishway attraction and passage efficiency. The experiments were integrated with tagging studies and development of lamprey‐specific passage structures, a research combination that provided an effective template for fishway performance evaluations.