Physiological response,blood chemistry profile and mucus secretion of red sea bream (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Pagrus major</Emphasis>) fed diets supplemented with <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lactobacillus rhamnosus</Emphasis> under low salinity stress

Environmental stressors caused by inadequate aquaculture management strategies suppress the immune response of fish and make them more susceptible to diseases. Therefore, efforts have been made to relieve stress in fish by using various functional feed additives in the diet, including probiotics. The present work evaluates the effects of Lactobacillus rhamnosus (LR) on physiological stress response, blood chemistry and mucus secretion of red sea bream (Pagrus major) under low salinity stress. Fish were fed four diets supplemented with LR at [0 (LR0), 1 × 10² (LR1), 1 × 10⁴ (LR2) and 1 × 10⁶ (LR3) cells g^?1] for 56 days. Before stress, blood cortisol, urea nitrogen (BUN) and total bilirubin (T-BIL) showed no significant difference (P > 0.05), whereas plasma glucose and triglyceride (TG) of fish-fed LR2 and LR3 diets were significantly lower (P < 0.05) than those of the other groups. Plasma total cholesterol (T-CHO) of fish-fed LR3 diet was significantly (P < 0.05) lower than that of the other groups. Furthermore, total plasma protein, mucus myeloperoxidase activity and the amount of mucus secretion were significantly enhanced in LR-supplemented groups when compared with the control group (P < 0.05). After the application of the low salinity stress test, plasma cortisol, glucose, T-CHO and TG contents in all groups showed an increased trend significantly (P < 0.01) compared to the fish before the stress challenge. However, plasma total protein and the amount of secreted mucus showed a decreased trend in all groups. On the other hand, BUN, T-BIL and mucus myeloperoxidase activity showed no significant difference after exposure to the low salinity stress (P > 0.05). In addition, the fish that received LR-supplemented diets showed significantly higher tolerance against low salinity stress than the fish-fed LR-free diet (P < 0.05). The physiological status and the detected immune responses, including total plasma protein and mucus myeloperoxidase activity in red sea bream, will provide a more comprehensive outlook of the effects of probiotics to relieve stress in fish.     

Effect of high inclusion of rendered animal by‐product ingredients on growth,digestibility and economic performances in climbing perch Anabas testudineus

A 70‐day growth trail was conducted to investigate the effects of inclusion of high levels of meat and bone meal (MBM) and protein concentrate (PC) on growth, digestibility and economic performances of climbing perch, Anabas testudineus. Four isonitrogenous diets were formulated by lowering the level of dietary fishmeal protein at 0 (D₁, control), 70 (D₂), 85 (D₃) and 100% (D₄) with a mixture of MBM and PC protein (1:1). Triplicate groups of 300 fish (mean weight of 0.80 g) stocked in each 40 m² pond and fed the respective test diets. A digestibility trial was conducted after the growth trial in indoor glass aquarium. The result showed that growth parameters were significantly decreased (P < 0.05) with fishmeal replacement levels. However, significant differences were not found in feed conversion ratio and survival of fish. No difference was also found in protein efficiency ratio among D1, D2 and D3. Similar to growth parameters, total fish production was highest in D1, intermediate in D2 and D3; and lowest in D4. Apparent digestibility coefficients of dry matter, protein and lipid were highest (P < 0.05) in D1 and lowest in D4. The economic analysis revealed that the benefit cost ratio was ranked by D₃ (1.81), D₂ (1.71), D₁ (1.66) and D₄ (1.46) respectively. Upon considering the overall performances and unavailability of finite protein sources, it can be concluded that 70–85% fishmeal could be replaced with a mixture of MBM and PC (1:1) in practical diets for climbing perch.     

Stand structure and the regeneration ofChamaecyparis pisifera (Sieb. et Zucc.) Endl. on sites with different soil development in an old-growth coniferous forest, central Japan

Stand structure and the regeneration ofChamaecyparis pisifera on sites with and without well-developed soil in an old-growth coniferous forest, Akasawa Forest Reserve, central Japan, were investigated, along with their relationships to other important coniferous species. Of stems ofC. pisifera≥5 cm diameter at breast height, stems with intermediate size were absent in stands on the developed-soil site, while those with smaller size increased in stands on the undeveloped-soil site, which supported a higher density ofC. pisifera. In the stands without recent tree-fall of canopy stems on the developed-soil site, canopy stems ofC. pisifera were distributed uniformly and the understory stems, patchily. On the other hand, both canopy and understory stems ofC. pisifera in stands on the undeveloped-soil site were distributed patchily. In the understory,C. pisifera occurred as clonal patches formed by vegetative reproduction on various types of microsites including bare rocks. However, the clonal patches did not occur in a stand on the developed-soil site with dense saplings of an evergreen conifer,Thujopsis dolabrata, which can expand vegetatively with a well developed soil layer. Gap formation may induceC. pisifera to develop tree-form stems from shrubby clonal patches. On developed-soil sites,C. pisifera stands that survive a long disturbance-free period on this site need catastrophic disturbance for their regeneration, which will eliminateT. dolabrata in the understory and create bare soil for colonization ofC. pisifera from seeds. On undeveloped-soil sites,C. pisifera replaces itself continuously by effective vegetative reproduction. Ground instability and the wet condition of this site may promote the replacement.     

Growth,nutrient utilization,oxidative condition,and element composition of juvenile red sea bream <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pagrus major</Emphasis> fed with fermented soybean meal and scallop by-product blend as fishmeal replacement

A feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the effect of fermented soybean meal and scallop by-product blend (3:2) (FP) on the performance of juvenile red sea bream. Five isocaloric diets were prepared by replacing 0% (FP0), 15% (FP15), 30% (FP30), 45% (FP45), and 60% (FP60) fishmeal (FM) protein with FP, respectively. Triplicate groups of fish (initial mean weight 2.83 g) were fed the test diets for 45 days in a flowthrough seawater system. The results demonstrated that growth rates of fish fed FP0, FP15, and FP30 were similar, and significantly higher (P < 0.05) than those of FP45 and FP60. Nutrient utilization was significantly lower in FP60, with no differences found among the other groups. Dietary heavy-metal contents were affected by inclusion of FP, impacting on whole-body heavy-metal contents. In terms of oxidative stress, fish fed the FP30 diet were in the best condition, since this fish group showed the least oxidative-stressed condition as well as the highest tolerance against oxidation. In conclusion, the approach of utilizing this fermented mixture is promising and it could replace at least 30% FM protein in red sea bream diet without negative effects on performance, body composition or health of fish.     

Effects of Dietary Vitamin C on Blood Chemistry and Nonspecific Immune Response of Juvenile Red Sea Bream,Pagrus major

A trial was conducted to determine the effect of ascorbyl‐2‐monophosphate Na/Ca (AMP‐Na/Ca) on blood chemistry and nonspecific immune response of red sea bream juveniles. Test diets with three levels of AsA (free, 107, and 325 mg/kg diet) were fed to juvenile red sea bream (36.0 ± 1.3 g) two times a day for 3 wk. There were no significant differences in hematocrit, glucose, and blood urea nitrogen. Total cholesterol and triglyceride in plasma of fish fed AsA‐free diet was significantly (P < 0.05) higher than that of fish fed two other diets. There were no significant differences in serum albumin, total bilirubin, and total serum protein. Glutamyl oxaloacetic transaminase in serum of fish fed diets containing 107 and 325 mg of AsA were significantly (P < 0.05) lower than that of fish fed AsA‐free diet. Serum lysozyme activity (LA) of fish fed diets containing 107 and 325 mg of AsA were significantly (P < 0.05) higher than that of fish fed AsA‐free diet. There was no significant difference in mucus LA. The results mentioned above demonstrated that AMP‐Na/Ca is a bioavailable AsA source for red sea bream juveniles. Supplement of more than 107 mg AsA/kg in diets improved blood chemistry and nonspecific immune function of red sea bream juveniles.     

The Physcomitrella genome reveals evolutionary insights into the conquest of land by plants

We report the draft genome sequence of the model moss Physcomitrella patens and compare its features with those of flowering plants, from which it is separated by more than 400 million years, and unicellular aquatic algae. This comparison reveals genomic changes concomitant with the evolutionary movement to land, including a general increase in gene family complexity; loss of genes associated with aquatic environments (e.g., flagellar arms); acquisition of genes for tolerating terrestrial stresses (e.g., variation in temperature and water availability); and the development of the auxin and abscisic acid signaling pathways for coordinating multicellular growth and dehydration response. The Physcomitrella genome provides a resource for phylogenetic inferences about gene function and for experimental analysis of plant processes through this plant's unique facility for reverse genetics.     

Effects of dietary arginine and lysine levels on growth performance and biochemical parameters of juvenile Japanese flounder Paralichthys olivaceus

ABSTRACT: To investigate the effects of disproportionate levels of dietary arginine and lysine on juvenile Japanese flounder Paralichthys olivaceus , growth performance and biochemical parameters were evaluated by feeding five test diets, comprising different levels of arginine and lysine, to triplicate groups of juveniles (initial bodyweight 1.85 g) for 40 days. Crystalline amino acids were supplemented to test diets to correspond to the amino acid pattern found in the whole body protein of the Japanese flounder, except for arginine and lysine. After the feeding trials, plasma arginine, lysine and urea levels, excreted ammonia-N, and liver arginase activity were analysed. Survival, specific growth rate, feed conversion efficiency, and apparent protein retention were adversely affected ( P  <   0.05) by the deficiency in dietary arginine or lysine concentrations. An excess of either lysine or arginine in the diet did not depress growth when the diets contained adequate levels of either arginine or lysine, proving that there is no evidence for an arginine–lysine antagonism. Results for plasma arginine, lysine and urea levels, excreted ammonia, and liver arginase activity also demonstrated that Japanese flounder juveniles are not sensitive to excess dietary levels of lysine and arginine.     

Utilization of monounsaturated fatty acid (18:1n-9, oleic acid) by freshwater prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii (de Man) juveniles

The utilization of oleic acid as an energy source and the effects of oleic acid levels and/or dietary soy bean lecithin (SBL) on oleic acid utilization, growth and survival, and lipid class and fatty acid compositions of freshwater prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergii (de Man), juveniles were determined.
Increase in levels of dietary oleic acid from 10 to 80 g kg⁻¹ significantly ( P ≤ 0.05) reduced growth, survival and feed conversion efficiency of M. rosenbergii juveniles during the 40-day feeding period. Inclusion of 20 g kg⁻¹ SBL had no significant effect ( P ≥ 0.05) on growth and survival, nor was there any interactive effect between dietary SBL and oleic acid levels.
Body fatty acid profile of prawns reflected dietary fatty acid quantity. The fatty acid composition of prawns fed diets containing 80 g kg⁻¹ oleic acid had tremendously high proportions of oleic acid. Polar lipids, mostly phosphatidylcholine (PC), constituted the bulk of the extracted total lipids. Prawns fed with SBL had significantly ( P ≥ 0.05) higher PC content.
Oleic acid was metabolized for energy by M. rosenbergii juveniles at the same rate regardless of dietary level of SBL and/or oleic acid. Expired ¹⁴CO₂ accounted for half of the ingested radioactivity 48 h after feeding with labelled diets. No significant difference in the amount of ¹⁴CO₂ expired by prawns fed the labelled test diets was found. Per cent radioactivity ingested and absorbed into the body was also not significantly different in prawns of the different dietary treatments.     

Interannual variability of the ecosystem of the Kii Channel, the Inland Sea of Japan, as influenced by bottom intrusion of cold and nutrient-rich water from the Pacific Ocean, and a recent trend of warming and oligotrophication

Interannual variability of the ecosystem of the Kii Channel, productive shelf water on the Pacific side of south‐western Japan, was analysed based on physicochemical environmental variables and abundance of major zooplankton taxa collected monthly for 12 yr from 1987 to 1999. The Kii Channel experienced both short‐term (i.e. 3–4 yr) cyclical changes and a long‐term (i.e. decadal) environmental trend. The short‐term variability was primarily associated with year‐to‐year differences in intrusion of subsurface, cold nutrient‐rich water along the bottom of the Kii Channel from the Pacific Ocean. When this bottom intrusion was intense, the Kii Channel experienced a cold, new production‐dominated ecosystem. The bottom intrusion, however, has become less intense in recent years, because of the closer proximity of the Kuroshio flow axis to the Kii Channel. Hence, there was a consistent trend towards warming and a regenerated production‐dominated ecosystem. In accordance with such environmental changes, the zooplankton community shifted towards more oceanic conditions; major herbivorous calanoids (i.e. Calanus sinicus, Paracalanus parvus (s.l.), Clausocalanus spp. and Acartia omorii) decreased, while carnivores (i.e. hydromedusae and Sagitta spp.) increased. The amount of total fish catch also decreased, while the catch of subtropical species increased. These findings lead us to conclude that the bottom intrusion from the Pacific Ocean plays a key role in determining the biological production in the Kii Channel.