Effect of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lactococcus lactis</Emphasis> K-C2 on the growth performance,amino acid content and gut microflora of amberjack <Emphasis Type="Italic">Seriola dumerili</Emphasis>

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of Lactococcus lactis K-C2 on the growth performance, microbial diversity, and release of free amino acids in the intestinal tract and the edible parts of young amberjack, Seriola dumerili. Fish were fed a diet with or without strain K-C2 (2?×?10¹⁰ cfu/g feed) for 25 days. The results indicated that the growth performance of fish in the treated group was significantly higher than those in the control group (p?<?0.05). The amount of five amino acids (aspartate, sarcosine, taurine, alanine, and arginine) in the gut content and 13 of 21 amino acids in the edible parts of fish in the treated group were significantly higher (p?<?0.05) than those in the control group. Sphingomonas, Propionibacterium, and Mycobacterium were observed in gut microflora of fish in both the control and treated groups. Staphylococcus and Kocuria were detected in one sample from the control and treated groups; Acinetobacter and Acidobacteria were found in one sample from the control group. L. lactis was only found in one sample in the treated group. In conclusion, the dietary administration of probiotic L. lactis stimulated growth, reduced feed consumption, and improved the nutritional value of cultured amberjack.     

Contributions of salmon-derived nitrogen to riparian vegetation in the northwest Pacific region

We examined the relationship between the annual escapement of salmon and the δ ¹⁵N of willow (Salix spp.) leaves to evaluate the contribution of marine-derived nutrients (MDN) to riparian vegetation around the Pacific Northwest and Northeast regions. Foliar δ ¹⁵N values ranged from −3.42‰ to 4.65‰. The value increased with increasing density of carcasses up to 500 fish/km and 1500 fish/km. δ ¹⁵N values were variable at carcass densities below 500 fish/km. Possible factors affecting the fluctuation of δ ¹⁵N at reference sites are: (1) denitrification; (2) the presence of N₂-fixing trees, such as alder; and (3) agricultural runoff. δ ¹⁵N values at the sites with carcass densities over 500 fish/km were consistently high, while a value of δ ¹⁵N below zero was observed at only one site (Rusha River; δ ¹⁵N = −1.87‰). At this site, most adult pink salmon returned to limited locations near the estuary because steeper channel gradients acted as a migration barrier, resulting in the negative δ ¹⁵N value. Nevertheless, we concluded that our results showed evidence of the feedback of MDN to terrestrial vegetation, although the use of the δ ¹⁵N value as a terrestrial end member at spawning sites is limited. If the relationship between the enrichment index, which is expressed as the values using a mixing model, and salmon abundance was estimated, the availability of MDN in riparian ecosystems could possibly be evaluated and will lead to the establishment of escapement goals. An erratum to this article is available at .     

The influences of land-use changes on hydrology and riparian environment in a northern Japanese landscape

Temporal changes in a hydrological system and riparian ecosystem were examined with reference to land-use conversion in order to clarify the linkages between these two systems. First, the hydrological system of the Toikanbetsu River basin was divided into three components that measure water retention, inundation and conveyance. Variation in the hydrological system was expressed as a basis of delineating the three components and estimating their functions. The rainfall-runoff system was also examined using a model which can predict responses of surface-, subsurface- and base flows on rainfall intensity. Second, areas and fragmentation of the riparian forests, maximum stream temperature in summer and amount of coarse woody debris (CWD) were selected as parameters indicating the condition of the riparian ecosystem. Temporal changes in stream temperature and amount of CWD were estimated using multiple regression analysis and analysis of variance, respectively. The results indicated that the hydrological system has been altered since the 1970s, increasing flood peaks by 1.5–2.5 times and shortening peak appearance by 7 hours. Riparian forests have been disappearing since the 1960s due to extensive development of agricultural lands and river channelization. The summer maximum stream temperature increased from 22 °C in 1947 to 28 °C at present. The amount of CWD should substantially decrease with river channelization and associated forest cutting. Fish favoring cool water, such as masu salmon, could survive in 1947 although they are forced to migrate to cooler forested upstream tributaries now. The ecological systems were closely related to and distinctly altered by land-use. Finally, we propose a new perspective for understanding the two interrelated systems. Riparian ecosystems can be restored by restoring water retention and inundation functions, which also reduce the flood hazard generated by elevated flood peaks.     

Occurrence probabilities of tree cavities classified by entrance width and internal dimensions in hardwood forests in Hokkaido, Japan

To estimate cavity availability for species with diverse cavity requirements, we recorded cavities in eight deciduous hardwood forests in Hokkaido, Japan, and classified them into two categories based on their entrance width (small, 2.5–5 cm; large, ≥5 cm). In two of the forests, we inspected cavity interiors and classified cavities into three further categories based on their internal dimensions (shallow, moderate, and deep). We then estimated the occurrence probabilities of cavities of different sizes at the individual-tree level. Although the cumulative occurrence probabilities of small and large cavities increased with increasing diameter at breast height (DBH) for all tree species, the occurrence probabilities of large cavities were <0.08 at 40 cm DBH except for 0.20 in Acer mono and 0.22 in snags. Snags were more likely than live trees to have cavities especially at smaller DBH. The cumulative probabilities that cavities were classified as deep or moderate were positively correlated with DBH and cavity entrance width, and negatively correlated with height of cavity entrance above ground. The variation in occurrence probabilities among cavities of different sizes shows that the classification of cavities by both entrance width and internal dimensions contributes to reliable estimates of cavity availability for different cavity users.     

A single gene transfer of gibberellin biosynthesis gene cluster increases gibberellin production in a Fusarium fujikuroi strain with gibberellin low producibility

Fusarium fujikuroi, the causative agent of bakanae disease in rice, produces many kinds of secondary metabolites. Recently, two phylogenetic subgroups (F and G groups) of Japanese F. fujikuroi have been identified and found to have differences in their gibberellin (GA) and fumonisin production. G-group F. fujikuroi produces large amounts of GA, but is a fumonisin nonproducer. F-group produces large amounts of fumonisin, but is a GA low or nonproducer. We investigated the cause of low GA production in the F-group. Genetic mapping suggests that low GA production in the F-group strain Gfc0825009 is due to a GA gene cluster for GA biosynthesis. Analysis of the nucleotide and amino acid sequences of the genes in the GA gene cluster showed >98.4% homology between the F-group strain Gfc0825009 and the G-group strain Gfc0801001. Following a 7-day culture under low nitrogen conditions, we found that expression of P450-1, P450-4, and P450-2 in the cluster increased in the G-group strain and not in the F-group strain. We hypothesized that complementation by GA genes in the G-group strain would be required to increase GA production in the F-group strain. However, we found that this occurred with a single gene complementation of DES, P450-1, P450-4, or P450-2. Simultaneous increase in the expression of P450-1, P450-4, and P450-2 were detected in the complementary transformants. Moreover, the same phenomenon was observed by reintegration of its own P450-1. Our results suggest the presence of unknown regulatory mechanisms of the GA gene cluster in F. fujikuroi.     

Extraordinary high aluminium tolerance of the acidophilic thermophilic alga,Cyanidium caldarium

A strain of an acidophilic, thermophilic alga, Cyanidium caldarium, was cultured in a medium containing various metal ions (A1, Cd, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Zn). Among these metals, the alga tolerates especially high levels of AI: it can grow in a medium containing 200 mM AI, although the growth rate was reduced to 58%. The cellular Al concentration was kept at a considerably lower level as compared to the medium Al concentration. This may account for the Al tolerance of the alga. Treatment of the algal cells with carbonylcyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone in the presence of Al increased the cellular Al concentration. It was suggested that energy-coupled Al exclusion mechanisms can operate in the alga.     

Radioactive cesium distribution in bamboo [Phyllostachys reticulata (Rupr) K. Koch] shoots after the TEPCO Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant disaster

Abstract

Radioactivity levels of cesium (Cs)-134 and ¹³⁷Cs in bamboo [Phyllostachys reticulata (Rupr) K. Koch] sprouts grown from April to June 2011 over a wide area (including Fukushima Prefecture) were elevated (max. 3100 Bq kg^?1 fresh weight) after the Tokyo Electric Power Company, Inc. (TEPCO) Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant disaster in March 2011. Bamboo sprouts in 2012 also contained high radioactivity levels. Radioactivity imaging analysis of bamboo sprouts harvested in 2012 showed increasing concentration gradients of radioactivity from the lower parts to the top of the sprouts. The peels were individually separated from the sprouts, and the inner edible part (trunk) was cross-sectioned at the internodal sections from the top to the lower parts. Each segmented trunk and its corresponding peel were analyzed for radioactive cesium (¹³⁴Cs and ¹³⁷Cs) and stable cesium (¹³³Cs). The concentrations of ¹³⁴Cs and ¹³⁷Cs showed significant increases from the lower part to the top, whereas ¹³³Cs showed an almost constant value in the trunk and peel except in the peel of the top node. We speculated that ¹³⁴Cs and ¹³⁷Cs in newly emerging bamboo sprouts in 2012 were translocated mainly from various plant tissues (where the fallout was layered on the bamboo tissues) in older bamboo, while ¹³³Cs was translocated from the soil through the roots of the new bamboo sprouts and was present in the roots and stems.