Quantifying trophic interactions and niche sizes of juvenile fishes in an invaded riverine cyprinid fish community

Quantifying feeding interactions between nonindigenous and indigenous fishes in invaded fish communities is important for determining how introduced species integrate into native food webs. Here, the trophic interactions of invasive 0+ European barbel Barbus barbus (L.) and the three other principal 0+ fishes in the community, Squalius cephalus (L.), Leuciscus leuciscus (L.) and Phoxinus phoxinus (L.), were investigated in the River Teme, a River Severn tributary in Western England. B. barbus has been present in the River Teme for approximately 40 years. Analyses of stomach contents from samples collected from three sites between June and September 2015 revealed that, overall, fishes displayed a generalist feeding strategy, with most prey having low frequency of selection. Relationships of diet composition versus body length and gape height were species‐specific, with increasing dietary specialisms apparent as the 0+ fishes increased in length and gape height. The trophic niche size of invasive B. barbus was always significantly smaller than S. cephalus and L. leuciscus and was significantly smaller than P. phoxinus at two sites. This was primarily due to differences in the functional morphology of the fishes; 0+ B. barbus were generally restricted to foraging on the benthos, whereas the other fishes were able to forage on prey present throughout the water column. Nevertheless, the invasive B. barbus were exploiting very similar prey items to populations in their native range, suggesting these invaders were strongly pre‐adapted to the River Teme and this arguably facilitated their establishment and invasion.     

Cannibalism facilitates gigantism in a nine‐spined stickleback (Pungitius pungitius) population

Cannibalism is a taxonomically widespread phenomenon that can fundamentally affect the structure and stability of aquatic communities, including the emergence of a bimodal size distribution (“dwarfs” and “giants”) in fish populations. Emergence of giants could also be driven or facilitated by parasites that divert host resources from reproduction to growth. We studied the trophic ecology of giant nine‐spined sticklebacks (Pungitius pungitius) in a Finnish pond to evaluate the hypotheses that gigantism in this population would be facilitated by cannibalism and/or parasitic infections by Schistocephalus pungitii cestode. Stomach content analyses revealed an initial ontogenetic dietary shift from small to large benthic invertebrates, followed by cannibalism on 10–20‐mm‐long conspecifics by giant individuals. However, stable nitrogen isotopes (δ¹⁵N) indicated a concave relationship between fish size and trophic position, with relatively low trophic position estimates suggesting only facultative cannibalism among giants. The unexpectedly high trophic position of the intermediate‐sized fish may reflect substantial, but temporary, predation on eggs or young‐of‐the‐year conspecifics, but may also partly result from starvation caused by S. pungitii infection. However, it seems implausible that parasitic infections (i.e. castration) would explain gigantism among nine‐spined sticklebacks because all >100‐mm giants were unparasitised. Hence, the present results suggest that an ontogenetic niche shift from an invertebrate diet to intercohort cannibalism may facilitate the occurrence of gigantism in nine‐spined sticklebacks.     

应用PCR-DGGE技术比较绵羊瘤胃、网胃、瓣胃和皱胃菌群的多样性

本研究采用聚合酶链式反应-变性梯度凝胶电泳(PCR-DGGE)技术结合DGGE图谱条带的克隆和测序比较了绵羊瘤胃、网胃、瓣胃和皱胃菌群的多样性,同时对菌群进行了聚类分析和主成分分析。结果表明:绵羊瘤胃、网胃、瓣胃和皱胃内容物DGGE图谱的平均条带数分别为18、13、16和15条;瘤胃和瓣胃内菌群的多样性指数、均匀度和丰富度均较高,分别为2.83、0.79、17.00和2.82、0.79、16.80,而网胃和皱胃内容物较低,分别为2.52、0.70、12.60和2.73、0.76、15.40;聚类分析结果显示不同胃的内容物菌群具有一定差异,但不同动物个体相同胃的内容物相似性系数均高于0.63;PCR-DGGE图谱中测序的条带大多数归为拟杆菌门(Bacteroidetes)和厚壁菌门(Firmicutes),优势菌群为厚壁菌门(Firmicutes)细菌、拟杆菌门(Bacteroidetes)细菌、未培养瘤胃细菌(uncultured rumen bacterium)、未培养细菌(uncultured bacterium)和韦荣球菌科(Veillonellaceae)细菌,特异性细菌为不动杆菌属(Acinetobacter sp.)细菌和瘤胃球菌属(Ruminococcaceae)细菌。结果提示,绵羊4个胃中均含有种类丰富和数量巨大的细菌,且随着消化道部位由前往后的顺序,菌群的多样性呈现先高后降低再升高的趋势。     

The functional-morphological adaptive strategy of digestive organs of decapodiform cephalopods

The digestive organs in decapodiform cephalopod species morphologically vary by individual lifestyle. We examined the following six species of adult decapodiformes cephalopods representing different habitats: Todarodes pacificus, Loligo bleekeri, Loligo edulis, Watasenia scintillans (pelagic), Sepia lycidas and Euprymna morsei (benthic). L. bleekeri and L. edulis possess a bursiform cecal sac connected to the cecum. Pelagic species have a single digestive gland smaller than in benthic species. T. pacificus has an oval digestive gland larger than that of L. bleekeri and L. edulis, which possess withered-looking and smaller digestive glands. In contrast, the digestive glands in benthic species are paired. S. lycidas and E. morsei have well-developed and larger digestive glands than those of the pelagic species. Well-developed digestive duct appendages are found in benthic species. In qualification of the mass of digestive organs, pelagic species have smaller stomachs, digestive glands and digestive ducts’ appendages than benthic species. Because pelagic species need to swim, they may possess smaller stomachs and larger cecums for more rapid digestion. A smaller digestive gland may have the advantage of reducing the body weight in pelagic species for rapid swimming. In contrast, since benthic species require a longer time for digestion than pelagic species, they compact more food in their stomachs and absorb nutrients via more organs, such as the digestive grand and digestive duct appendages, in addition to cecum.     

Dietary plasticity in Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus) in response to long‐term environmental change

Corrigan LJ, Winfield IJ, Hoelzel AR, Lucas MC. Dietary plasticity in Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus) in response to long‐term environmental change.
Ecology of Freshwater Fish 2011: 20: 5–13. © 2010 John Wiley & Sons A/S Abstract –  In the face of widespread environmental change impacts, there is a need to better understand mechanisms promoting flexibility and resilience of ecosystem components to such change to inform strategies for conservation. Glacial relict species are especially vulnerable to such changes. We investigated the behavioural responses of a native, glacial relict species, Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus) to long‐term environmental changes. It was hypothesised that changes in feeding behaviour would occur as a key intermediary to reduction in habitat availability (through climate change and eutrophication) or competitive interactions [with introduced roach (Rutilus rutilus)]. Stomach content analysis was used to assess the diet of 199 charr caught from Windermere, United Kingdom, in the months of March, June, September and November 2003–2007. The results were compared to data from 1940 to 1951 prior to the environmental changes and revealed a marked increase in the contribution of benthic invertebrates in the present diet. Stable isotope analysis confirms the results of the stomach analysis, suggesting that the charr have switched their diet from zooplanktivory towards benthivory. We discuss the possibility that habitat modification and roach population expansion in Windermere have contributed to changes in charr diet. Complementary studies suggest that this diet shift is more likely to be a response to the increasing roach population than to habitat modification; however, further study in Windermere would be required to elucidate the exact mechanism. Long‐term data sets such as these provide information that is useful for determining the directivity of ecological change and the capability of species to respond to change.     

CD8+T细胞在不同年龄家兔胃肠道的分布规律

探讨不同年龄组家兔胃肠道各段CD8⁺T细胞的分布特征,为进一步研究CD8⁺T细胞的作用奠定形态学基础。采用免疫组织化学技术对不同年龄组(幼年组、青年组、老年组)家兔胃肠道内CD8⁺T细胞进行染色、观察及统计分析。结果显示,家兔的CD8⁺T细胞多呈圆形、椭圆形或呈不规则形。在不同年龄组家兔,胃肠不同部位的分布有如下特点:家兔的CD8⁺T细胞主要分布于胃肠道的固有层中;青年组CD8⁺T细胞的分布数量显著高于幼年组和老年组;各肠段之间CD8⁺T细胞分布的数量差异不显著,但其分布的总量按照小肠、大肠、胃的顺序依次降低。研究结果显示,CD8⁺T细胞在家兔小肠的分布最多,并且其数量随着年龄的增长呈现先上升后下降的趋势,青年家兔胃肠的分布最为丰富。     

Hypertrophic gastropathy associated with gastric sarcoma in a dog

A 14-y-old spayed female Labrador Retriever was presented with an 8-mo history of chronic vomiting. Abdominal ultrasound and gastrointestinal endoscopy revealed a mass protruding into the gastric lumen, with cytologic features suggestive of sarcoma. A partial gastrectomy was performed; the gastric body and antrum were thickened, with a cerebriform appearance of the mucosal surface. Histologic examination revealed a submucosal neoplastic proliferation of fusiform cells variably arranged in irregular bundles and scattered whorls. Fusiform cells strongly reacted to antibodies against vimentin, S100, and neuron-specific enolase; glial fibrillary acidic protein was moderately and multifocally expressed. Pancytokeratin, KIT, α–smooth muscle actin, and desmin were nonreactive. Histologic and immunohistochemical findings suggested a diagnosis of gastric sarcoma with features referable to a non-GIST (gastrointestinal stromal tumor), non–smooth muscle NIMT (non-angiogenic, non-lymphogenic intestinal mesenchymal tumor). The overlying gastric mucosa was thickened by elongated and dilated gastric glands, predominantly lined by intensely periodic acid-Schiff–stained mucous cells. This altered mucosal architecture was suggestive of Ménétrier-like disease. Although this disease has been hypothesized to predispose to gastric adenocarcinoma in dogs, an association with gastric sarcoma has not been documented previously in the veterinary literature, to our knowledge.     

北部湾多齿蛇鲻摄食习性及随生长发育的变化

2008年10月至2009年9月,对北部湾多齿蛇鲻逐月采样共749尾(实胃数408个),通过胃含物分析法研究其摄食习性及随生长发育的变化。结果表明,北部湾多齿蛇鲻捕食种类包括鱼类、头足类以及虾类等饵料生物,其中可鉴定出的鱼类种类有17种。以相对重要性指数百分比为指标,鱼类为最主要饵料(98.8%),其中优势饵料种类有蓝圆鲹(34.9%)、少鳞犀鳕(26.6%)、长颌棱鳀(4.30%)和条鲾(2.5%)。多齿蛇鲻摄食强度、饱满指数和成熟系数的月份差异十分显著,而以Brillouin指数表征的各月份营养多样性则无显著差异。一年中呈现3个产卵高峰期(3-4月、6月及11月),产卵期间摄食强度没有降低,仍然强烈索饵。随着体长的增长,北部湾多齿蛇鲻饵料生物个数变化较小,但平均单个饵料生物质量却明显增加。聚类分析表明,北部湾多齿蛇鲻各体长组间食物组成相近,其中136～255mm各体长组相似性系数均大于60%。     

褪黑素受体MT1和MT2在绵羊胃中的分布及表达

【目的】应用分子生物学技术探究绵羊不同胃室组织褪黑素(MT)特异性膜受体MT1和MT2的分布规律及表达模式,以初步探明绵羊不同胃室组织褪黑素调节胃消化的生物效应机制。【方法】采集绵羊瘤胃背囊、瘤胃腹囊、网胃、瓣胃和皱胃5个组织部位,用ELISA、实时荧光定量PCR、免疫组化和Western blotting方法检测褪黑素特异性膜受体MT1和MT2在绵羊胃组织不同部位的分布规律及表达模式。【结果】ELISA结果显示,绵羊各胃组织中均含有褪黑素,且皱胃中褪黑素含量最高,瓣胃次之,瘤胃背囊、瘤胃腹囊和网胃中均较低。实时荧光定量PCR结果显示,MT1和MT2基因mRNA在皱胃中含量均最高,其次是瘤胃腹囊,在瘤胃背囊和网胃中含量较低。免疫组化结果显示,MT1和MT2蛋白在绵羊各胃组织中均有分布,主要表达于各胃组织的黏膜层,且在皱胃腺体中的分布呈从底部到颈部逐渐增多的趋势。Western blotting结果显示,MT1和MT2蛋白在网胃中表达均最高,瓣胃次之,在瘤胃背囊、瘤胃腹囊和皱胃中表达均较低。【结论】褪黑素在绵羊各胃组织中差异化表达从而发挥多样性生理功能,可能通过与胃组织上特异性受体MT1和MT2结合,通过信号传导系统而调控前胃受食糜刺激后发生反刍生理过程。     

犬胃扩张-肠扭转的风险因子和预防

胃扩张-肠扭转(Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus--GDV)又称为"臌"、"胃扭转"。GDV是一个极其严重,并应视为严重威胁犬生命的紧急事件,是仅次于癌症导致犬死亡的第二大杀手。24%的犬臌是由胃膨胀引起的。但是大多数的情况(75%)是由于胃扭转,弯曲和切断胃内容物的流入和流出。由于胃部膨胀,可旋转90°至360°,固定附着在食道和十二指肠之间缠绕。膨胀的胃妨碍腹部静脉、减少血液返回到心脏,丧失血液供应,导致低血压、胃缺血、休克、脏器损害,要在育种,饲养和管理上加强监管,有效的降低形成和促发GDV风险因子的条件,加强对GDV风险因子的预警和识别,以及发生后的及时发现和立即处理治疗。