Evaluation of a simple means to reduce discard in the Kattegat-Skagerrak Nephrops (Nephrops norvegicus) fishery: Commercial testing of different codends and square-mesh panels

Discarding of fish species in the Kattegat-Skagerrak Nephrops directed fisheries remains at high levels. In this work we have tested four sets of codends pair-wise with the catch comparison technique under full commercial conditions to assess their potential in reducing the catch of undersized commercial species, in particular cod. We investigate the position of a 90 mm square-mesh panel (SMP), the effect of increasing the mesh size from 90 to 120 mm in the SMP, the effect of inserting a 90 mm SMP in an 80 mm codend and the effect of increasing the codend mesh size from 90 to 120 mm in a total of 89 hauls. Inserting the SMP 3–6 m from the codline compared to 6–9 m from the codline, reduced catches of cod above the minimum landing size (MLS) and Nephrops above and below the MLS. Increasing the mesh size in the SMP from 90 to 120 mm increased the catch of cod above the MLS in weight with an overall increase of 12% in the revenue. The effect of installing a 90 mm SMP 6–9 m from the codline in a nominal 80 mm codend had no effect on the catch of cod. Increasing the nominal codend mesh size from 90 to 120 mm reduced the catch of all species below the MLS, except monkfish. Catches of Nephrops above the MLS were, however, reduced by approximately one third and the total loss in revenue was 21%.     

Proton toxicity interferes with the screening of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) genotypes for aluminium resistance in nutrient solution

Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) proved to be very sensitive of low pH (4.3), with large genotypic differences in proton sensitivity. Therefore, proton toxicity did not allow the screening of common bean genotypes for aluminium (Al) resistance using the established protocol for maize (0.5 mM CaCl₂, 8 μM H₃BO₃, pH 4.3). Increasing the pH to 4.5, the Ca²⁺ concentration to 5 mM, and addition of 0.5 mM KCl fully prevented proton toxicity in 28 tested genotypes and allowed to identify differences in Al resistance using the inhibition of root elongation by 20 μM Al supply for 36 h as parameter of Al injury. As in maize, Al treatment induced callose formation in root apices of common bean. Aluminium‐induced callose formation well reflected the effect of Ca supply on Al sensitivity as revealed by root‐growth inhibition. Aluminum‐induced callose formation in root apices of 28 bean genotypes differing in Al resistance after 36 h Al treatment was positively correlated to Al‐induced inhibition of root elongation and Al contents in the root apices. However, the relationship was less close than previously reported for maize. Also, after 12 h Al treatment, callose formation and Al contents in root apices did not reflect differences in Al resistance between two contrasting genotypes, indicating a different mode of the expression of Al toxicity and regulation of Al resistance in common bean than in maize.     

不同锌源对母猪繁殖能力、体况及断奶发情间隔的影响

为了研究酵母锌对母猪繁殖能力、体况及断奶发情间隔的影响,选择同一品种(长白×大白)、体重、胎次基本相近、妊娠80 d的健康经产母猪60头,随机分为3个处理组,每组4个重复,每个重复5头,添加不同形式的锌源配制试验日粮,保持各组日粮中锌的水平一致。结果表明,不同锌源对母猪繁殖能力的影响方面:随着酵母锌增加,平均初生重、平均初生窝重明显提高,试验组平均初生窝重与对照组比较差异显著(P0.05)。母猪妊娠后期随着酵母锌添加量增加,背膘增厚、哺乳期背膘损失分别有升高和降低的趋势,且背膘厚达到显著水平(P0.05);母猪断奶后发情间隔缩短,但不表现出规律性。     

北方旱区保护性耕作对农田土壤水分的影响

土壤水分是中国北方旱区农业生产的主要限制因子,研究保护性耕作技术体系下土壤水分的动态变化,明确不同耕作模式下的水分平衡规律,对于选择适宜的保护性耕作技术,提高北方旱区土壤水分的利用效率具有重要的指导意义。该文在2a田间试验的基础上采用DSSAT模型对4个不同保护性耕作处理的土壤体积含水量、水分平衡以及水分利用效率进行了模拟和检验。结果表明干旱年份保护性耕作处理土壤体积含水量较传统耕作高,RMSE误差在0.025～0.063;干旱年份传统耕作土壤储水量减少最多,为144.6mm,降水较多年份减少也最多,为46.1mm;干旱年份水分利用效率1.52～1.78kg/m3,免耕覆盖水分利用效率最高,降水较多年份水分利用效率1.70～1.71kg/m3,各处理间差异并不显著。研究结果为保护性耕作技术对农田土壤水分的影响研究提供了理论依据。     

Significance of sulfur in heat stressed cluster bean (Cymopsis tetragonoloba L. Taub) genotypes: responses of growth,sugar and antioxidative metabolism

A sand culture experiment was carried out to study the effects of sulfur deprivation on heat stress tolerance of two cluster bean (Cymopsis tetragonoloba L. Taub) cultivars (GC-1 and Pusa Nau Bahar (PNB)). Three weeks old sulfur-starved and sulfur-supplemented plants were subjected to heat stress (45°C/35°C) treatment for 24 h. Total dry weight, chlorophyll content, Chlorophyll a:b ratio, electrolyte leakage, malondialdehyde (MDA) accumulation, H₂O₂ content, sugar, glucose-6-phosphate (G-6-P), fructose-6-phosphate (F-6-P), ascorbate and glutathione concentrations and antioxidant enzyme activity (superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT)) were monitored, at the end of the heat stress treatment. Heat stress enhanced and sulfur starvation depleted the contents of sugar metabolites, but the accumulation of sugar, G-6-P and F-6-P were not related with heat stress tolerance. Antioxidant enzyme activities of SOD and CAT were influenced significantly more by sulfur starvation than heat stress. The results showed that under heat stress, the addition of sulfur helps to mitigate the oxidative damage in both the cultivars. However, GC-1 was more heat tolerant as it was characterized by significantly higher total dry weight, chlorophyll content, ascorbate and glutathione content and lower H₂O₂, MDA, electrolyte leakage than PNB.     

Predicting optimal combinations of by‐catch reduction devices in trawl gears: A meta‐analytical approach

Global efforts to reduce unwanted catches have led to the development of a vast array of by‐catch reduction devices (BRDs), in particular for mixed trawl fisheries. Some of these BRDs could likely benefit from being combined. However, the number of possible combinations would be prohibitive to be tested experimentally. Therefore, in this study we propose a meta‐analytical approach that combines the data available on BRDs tested independently in a fishery and predict the theoretical selectivity of all possible combinations of those devices. This allows to identify promising BRD combinations, worth experimental investigation and flexible trawl configurations, where the selectivity can be substantially modified by adding or removing one BRD, thus aiding fishermen in adapting to high variability in catch composition and quota availability. To illustrate the approach, we used BRDs developed for the well‐studied Nephrops (Nephrops norvegicus, Nephropidae) directed mixed trawl fishery in the Skagerrak and Kattegat seas. We predicted the selectivity of 100 BRD combinations for Nephrops, cod (Gadus morhua, Gadidae) and haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus, Gadidae), compared them in terms of absolute selectivity and performance under realistic catch scenarios, from both single‐ and multispecies perspectives, and identified 15 BRD combinations that could be worth future experimental investigation. The meta‐analytical approach makes best use of existing knowledge and leads to new insights about the potential for improvement and flexibility in trawl selectivity. This could benefit a variety of mixed trawl fisheries and help developing a new generation of more flexible gears, with multiple BRDs integrated in their structure.