亚硝酸盐胁迫对草鱼肝脏泛素-蛋白酶体系统的影响

为了探究亚硝酸盐胁迫对草鱼(Ctenopharyngodonidellus)肝脏泛素-蛋白酶体系统(ubiquitinproteasomesystem,UPS)的影响,将草鱼随机暴露于0、0.5、20mg/L的亚硝酸盐溶液中,在12、24、48、96h后采集肝脏样品,检测血液的生化指标,nrf2、hsp70和UPS相关基因的表达,泛素化蛋白的含量以及肝脏的组织学变化。结果显示:在亚硝酸盐胁迫12h,血清皮质醇含量呈现显著的剂量依赖式升高,且在24h和48h显著高于对照组。谷丙转氨酶和谷草转氨酶的含量在96h显著性降低。暴露12h时,20mg/L暴露组的nrf2、hsp70的表达量显著性高于对照组,ub、chip、psma2、psmc的表达水平和泛素化蛋白的含量在20mg/L亚硝酸盐胁迫24h均出现显著升高。在高浓度亚硝酸盐胁迫96h后,肝细胞出现明显的空泡化。研究表明,亚硝酸盐胁迫使草鱼产生了显著的应激反应,造成了肝组织损伤,使肝脏UPS活性上升。     

急性拥挤胁迫对鲤血液中皮质醇及几项生化指标的影响

通过对鲤(Cyprinus carpio)3 h急性拥挤胁迫(密度70g/L)实验,并在胁迫开始前(对照)、胁迫结束后的第0至168 h采样测量几项血液指标。实验结果显示在3 h拥挤胁迫结束之时(0 h),鲤血清皮质醇、血糖和乳酸水平均显著高于胁迫前对照值(P<0.05),而游离脂肪酸水平极显著低于对照值(P<0.01)。之后这些指标继续发生波动,但一段时间后均可恢复至对照水平并保持稳定。实验期间血清甘油三酯和胆固醇水平并未出现显著变化(P>0.05)。该结果提示3 h拥挤胁迫可引起鲤体内血清皮质醇水平及部分血液生化指标发生改变,这可能是为了弥补应激期间机体对能量需求的增大。     

亚硝酸盐氮胁迫对鳙血液生化指标以及组织HSP70 mRNA表达水平的影响

为了探讨亚硝酸盐氮胁迫对鳙[初均重:(180.05±0.092)g]血液生化指标和组织热休克蛋白70基因表达水平的影响,实验选用170尾鳙,暴露于48.634 mg/L亚硝酸盐氮96 h后,进行96 h恢复实验。并在胁迫0、6、12、24、48、72和96 h以及恢复12、24、48、72和96 h时采集样品。结果显示,胁迫6 h后,血清皮质醇含量和谷丙转氨酶活性显著升高;胁迫12 h后,血清中葡萄糖含量显著升高;胁迫24 h后,血清总胆固醇含量开始显著降低;胁迫48 h后,血清总蛋白和甘油三酯含量开始显著降低,三碘甲状腺原氨酸含量和谷草转氨酶活性则显著升高;胁迫72 h后,血清低密度脂蛋白和高密度脂蛋白含量开始显著降低。恢复96 h后,鱼体血清生理指标大多都已恢复至胁迫前水平,而组织热休克蛋白70 mRNA表达水平的差异显示,头肾抗亚硝酸盐氮响应最快,其次为鳃和肠道,而脾脏热休克蛋白70 mRNA表达水平在恢复12 h时显著升高;恢复96 h后,除鳃组织外,肾脏、肠道和脾脏的热休克蛋白70 mRNA表达量均恢复至胁迫前水平。研究表明,亚硝酸盐氮对鳙的蛋白质代谢、脂质代谢和糖代谢均产生影响,并且诱导部分组织热休克蛋白70 mRNA的表达,而鳙对水体中高浓度的亚硝酸盐氮应激6 h即可产生快速应答,并启动防损伤自我保护机制,促进新陈代谢水平,保护机体免受应激损伤。     

运输对养殖黄颡鱼血液生化和肌肉物性分析指标的影响

测定了在10.4~11.2℃下运输4 h后不同时间(0 h、1 h、3 h、6 h、12 h、1 d、3 d、7 d和20 d)养殖黄颡鱼(Pelteobagrus fulvidraco)血液生理生化指标和肌肉物性分析指标的变化。结果显示,运输引起了黄颡鱼血清皮质醇和血糖浓度的显著升高(P0.05),在运输结束12 h后恢复到正常水平。运输后鱼体血清超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶(GSH-Px)活性和总抗氧化能力(T-AOC)均有显著性升高,随着恢复时间的推移逐渐回降到正常水平;但过氧化物酶(POD)活性并未出现显著性差异,维持稳定的水平。运输后肌肉硬度、弹性、胶黏性、凝聚性、咀嚼性、回复性等物性分析指标均显著性降低。除了凝聚性和咀嚼性之外,其他肌肉物性分析指标在运输结束72 h后恢复到正常水平。研究表明,长途运输造成了养殖黄颡鱼的应激反应,对肌肉物性特征产生了显著的影响,但运输后的恢复可使鱼体抗氧化能力和肌肉物性分析指标回复到正常水平。     

草鱼hsp70和hsp90对温度急性变化的响应

为研究不同温度条件下草鱼热休克蛋白(hsp70和hsp90)的表达模式,了解草鱼对温度的耐受和适应机理,实验将在20℃下驯化的草鱼在7个实验温度(22,24,26,28,30,32和34℃)中热激3h,然后20℃恢复2h,取肝脏,肌肉和鳃测定hsp70和hsp90表达.结果表明,hsp70和hsp90表达量随着温度升高而上升,当温度达到34℃时,肌肉与鳃热休克蛋白基因表达量显著下降,草鱼耗氧率、热休克蛋白表达和死亡率之间的关系符合氧限制热耐受理论(OCLTT).基于OCLTT理论,草鱼生理临界温度为28℃,当温度超过28℃,热休克蛋白表达所需能量主要由无氧代谢提供,进而导致体内氧自由基和变性蛋白的增加,影响草鱼的生长和存活.     

丙氨酰—谷氨酰胺投喂方式对建鲤生长和抗急性拥挤胁迫能力的影响

以初始体质量为(33.52±0.17)g建鲤为研究对象,在室内单循环养殖系统中进行8周(w)生长试验,分别配制成添加0.0%(对照)和0.5%(试验)丙氨酰—谷氨酰胺(Ala-Gln)的等氮等能(35%CP、17 kJ/g)饲料,采用5种投喂方式:连续8 w投喂对照饲料(Ⅰ);试验饲料2 w间隔投喂(Ⅱ);前4 w投喂试验饲料,后4 w投喂对照饲料的间隔投喂(Ⅲ);前4 w投喂对照饲料,后4 w投喂试验饲料的间隔投喂(Ⅳ);8 w连续投喂试验饲料(Ⅴ)。养殖试验结束时,进行急性拥挤胁迫试验。探讨Ala-Gln投喂方式对建鲤生长和抗急性拥挤胁迫能力的影响。结果表明,Ala-Gln连续投喂和间隔投喂组的生长都显著高于对照组(P<0.05)。2 w间隔投喂的特定生长率都显著高于4 w间隔和连续8 w投喂的饲料组(P<0.05);前4 w间隔投喂组的特定生长率要显著高于8 w连续投喂组(P<0.05)。血清皮质醇和血糖分别在急性胁迫后恢复0和1 h时达到高峰,血清HSP70在胁迫后恢复1～12 h都保持较高水平,然后下降,胁迫后恢复48 h达到胁迫前的水平。各种投喂方式组的血糖和血清皮质醇含量都显著低于对照组(P<0.05)。胁迫后恢复期,血糖迅速升高幅度最小的是2 w间隔投喂组,最先恢复到胁迫前状态的是2 w间隔投喂组和前4 w投喂的4 w间隔投喂组。胁迫后恢复期,各投喂组的血清HSP70都显著高于对照组(P<0.05),胁迫后恢复48和72 h时,后4 w投喂的4 w间隔投喂组和连续8 w的投喂组的血清HSP70显著高于对照组(P<0.05)。     

拥挤胁迫后鲫鱼血液皮质醇和溶菌酶水平的变化及对病原的敏感性

分别在拥挤胁迫后第3、10、20、30天对鲫鱼(Carassiusauratus)血液皮质醇水平和血液溶菌酶水平进行了检测,并在每次采集血样后用嗜水气单胞菌(Aeromonashydrophila)进行人工感染以评估鱼体抵抗力。结果显示,血液皮质醇水平在胁迫后几天内显著升高(P<0.005),随后虽有所下降,但至第30天高密度组仍保持较高水平(216.32±11.91)ng/mL。实验初期,血液溶菌酶水平小幅升高,但经过长时间的拥挤后,高密度组血液溶菌酶活性受到极大抑制,显著低于同期对照组(P<0.01)。攻毒后的死亡率与胁迫时间成正相关,在最后一次采样期,高密度组死亡率高达58.3%,而同期对照组仅为16.7%,两者具统计学差异(P<0.01)。实验表明,经过拥挤胁迫后,鲫鱼血液皮质醇水平和溶菌酶水平均发生了变化,短期内,两者成正相关,而长期胁迫则表现为负相关。另外,拥挤胁迫也引起了鱼体抵抗力的下降。     

大型围栏养殖模式下2种规格斑石鲷耐高温研究

鱼类作为水生变温动物,围栏圈养环境海水温度的突变会对其机体正常的生理活动产生显著影响。本研究以2种规格斑石鲷(Oplegnathus punctatus)为实验对象,分析了急性高温(32℃)胁迫后1、3、6 h,恢复正常温度(25℃)后6 h和12 h时,其呼吸频率、血清中葡萄糖(GLU)和皮质醇(COR)含量、血液中红细胞(RBC)和白细胞(WBC)数目、血红蛋白(HGB)含量、红细胞积压(HCT)以及肝脏热休克蛋白(hsp70、90) mRNA表达量的变化。结果显示,32℃高温条件下,2种规格斑石鲷呼吸频率呈先升高后降低的变化趋势,其中,50 g和200 g斑石鲷分别在0.3 h (20 min)和1 h时呼吸频率达最高值(P<0.05)。2种规格斑石鲷COR和GLU浓度皆呈先升高后降低的变化趋势,50 g斑石鲷COR浓度在1 h时显著高于其他处理组(P<0.05),GLU浓度在6 h时显著高于其他处理组(P<0.05);200 g斑石鲷COR浓度在1 h时显著低于50 g斑石鲷血清COR浓度(P<0.05),恢复6 h后,COR浓度与对照组相比无显著差异(P>0.05),GLU浓度在高温胁迫期间一直处于较高水平,恢复12 h时与对照组相比无显著差异(P>0.05)。高温胁迫过程中,50 g斑石鲷WBC、RBC、HGB含量呈先上升后下降的趋势,200 g斑石鲷WBC、RBC、HCT处理组与对照组相比无显著差异(P>0.05),HGB含量呈先上升后下降的趋势,3 h时显著高于对照组(P<0.05)。高温诱导2种规格斑石鲷肝脏组织中hsp70和hsp90 mRNA表达量皆呈先上升后下降的趋势,hsp70和hsp90 mRNA表达量分别在3 h和1 h达到最高(P<0.05)。上述指标在恢复正常温度(25℃) 12 h后,恢复至正常水平,同对照组无显著差异(P>0.05)。综上,急性高温刺激显著增加了2种不同规格斑石鲷的呼吸频率、COR和GLU含量,上调了肝脏hsp70和hsp90 mRNA表达,小规格的斑石鲷应对高温胁迫具有更强适应调节能力。相关结果为斑石鲷大型围栏养殖提供了有效数据支撑,同时也为进一步阐明斑石鲷高温耐受调控机制奠定了基础。     

急性温度胁迫对妊娠期许氏平鲉血清皮质醇和血液生理指标的影响

为探究鱼类对温度突变水体的适应性和恢复性,将妊娠期许氏平鲉由正常水温(16℃)直接转入高温(25℃)和低温(7℃)水体,急性胁迫2h后再恢复至16℃,检测恢复期第0、6、12、24、48和72h时妊娠期许氏平鲉血清皮质醇和血液生理指标的变化情况。结果显示,25℃急性胁迫导致2尾鱼发生产仔行为;25℃和7℃急性胁迫后的恢复过程中,血清皮质醇(COR)、血糖(GLU)、球蛋白(GLB)、丙氨酸氨基转移酶(GPT)、天门冬氨酸氨基转移酶(GOT)和白细胞(WBC)水平均显著升高(P<0.05),总蛋白(TP)、白蛋白(ALB)、总胆固醇(TC)及甘油三酯(TG)水平显著降低(P<0.05),血清Ca₂₊、Mg₂ 和P水平无显著变化;红细胞(RBC)和血红蛋白(HGB)水平在25℃胁迫后明显上升(P<0.05),而在7℃胁迫后显著下降(P<0.05)。与急性低温胁迫相比,急性高温胁迫对妊娠期许氏平鲉机体生理情况的影响更显著。除COR和无机离子外,多个生理指标在72h后仍未恢复至正常水平。研究表明,急性温度胁迫导致妊娠期许氏平鲉生理状况和代谢水平受到显著影响,甚至发生提前产仔行为。在养殖生产中,对于进入生殖期的雌鱼,应密切监测水温变化,尤其是水温的上升,以减少温度应激导致的妊娠损伤。     

维生素C对急性低温胁迫下珍珠龙胆石斑鱼HPI轴及生理生化的调控

为初步探讨急性低温胁迫下饲料中添加维生素C(VC)对珍珠龙胆石斑幼鱼HPI(下丘脑—垂体—肾间组织)轴及相关生理生化指标的调控作用,以初始体质量为(50.40±0.4)g的珍珠龙胆石斑鱼幼鱼为研究对象,配制VC含量分别为0、38、76、152、304 mg/kg的5组等氮等能的实验饲料,在养殖12周后进行急性低温(17°C)胁迫实验。结果显示,D38组增重率显著高于D152和D304组。不同水平VC对幼鱼生长无显著作用;不同水平VC对脑促肾上腺皮质激素释放因子(CRF)、血清中促肾上腺皮质激素(ACTH)、肾上腺素(EPI)和皮质醇(cortisol)浓度均无显著性变化;D0和D38组皮质醇浓度应激后均显著高于应激前。血清T3浓度随VC水平增加呈上升趋势;T4浓度不受VC水平的影响。各组T3、T4浓度在应激前后无显著差异;血清TSH浓度随VC水平增加呈先上升后下降的趋势;应激后各组TSH浓度均显著高于应激前。各组间肝脏GCK和HK浓度均不受VC水平影响,除D76组外,其他各组应激后GCK浓度均显著低于应激前;D76组HK浓度应激前后差异显著。急性低温胁迫后,各组肝脏PEPCK浓度均低于应激前,其中D38和D304组应激前后差异显著。研究表明,饲料中添加VC对急性低温胁迫下珍珠龙胆石斑鱼HPI轴相关激素酶活性可进行调控,并对鱼体甲状腺体具有一定保护作用,使胁迫后的鱼体达到生理稳态平衡,增强鱼体耐受性。     

Antifreeze proteins in the urine of marine fish

Several species of marine teleosts have evolved blood plasma antifreeze polypeptides which enable them to survive in ice-laden seawater. Four distinct antifreeze protein classes differing in carbohydrate content, amino acid composition, protein sequence and secondary structure are currently known. Although all of these antifreezes are relatively small (2.6–33 kd) it was generally thought that they were excluded from the urine by a variety of glomerular mechanisms. In the present study antifreeze polypeptides were found in the bladder urine of winter flounder (Pseudopleuronectes americanus), sea raven (Hemitripterus americanus), ocean pout (Macrozoarces americanus) and Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua). Since the plasma of each of these fish contains a different antifreeze class it would appear that all four classes of antifreeze can enter the urine. The major antifreeze components in the urine of winter flounder were found to be identical to the major plasma components in terms of high performance liquid chromatography retention times and amino acid composition. It is concluded that plasma antifreeze peptides need not be chemically modified before they can enter the urine.     

Characteristics of the marine environment and algal blooms in Gamak Bay

This study was conducted to gain insight into the characteristics of algal blooms in relation to the marine environment of Gamak Bay. From the first known occurrence of algal blooms in 1984 until 2006, 23 causal species have been identified, the most common ones being Prorocentrum sp., Cochlodinium polykrikoides, Chaetoceros sp., Skeletonema costatum, and Heterosigma akashiwo. A principal component analysis indicated that blooms of these species develop under different conditions in terms of water temperature, salinity, precipitation, and insolation. Field data showed Cochlodinium polykrikoides to be favored by high temperatures and to be euryhaline, whereas Skeletonema costatum appeared to be eurythermal and euryhaline. Prorocentrum sp. and Chaetoceros sp. appeared to be stenothermal and stenohaline. Finally, Heterosigma akashiwo appeared at the lowest temperature and highest salinity of the five species and was classified here as stenothermal and stenohaline.     

Influence of the antibacterial herbs, Solanum trilobatum, Andrographis paniculata and Psoralea corylifolia on the survival, growth and bacterial load of Penaeus monodon post larvae

The indiscriminate use of antibiotics and chemicals in shrimp hatcheries has led to biomagnification and that in turn could lead to rejection of a whole consignment. The application of the bioencapsulation technique as a tool for curative treatment in shrimp larvae was investigated. Herbs having antibacterial properties such as Solanum trilobatum, Andrographis paniculata and Psoralea corylifolia (methanolic extracts) were bioencapsulated in Artemia and fed to Penaeus monodon post larvae PL 1–25. The post larvae were reared in a medium inoculated with pathogenic bacteria such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella typhi and Vibrio sp. Post larvae reared in the non-inoculated water and fed with non-enriched Artemia exhibited 90% survival, highest specific growth rate (12.43%) and reduced bacterial load. P. monodon reared in the bacterial inoculated water and fed with the non-enriched Artemia exhibited the lowest survival (10–30%), specific growth rate (8.42–9.1%) and increased bacterial load (2.86 × 10³ to 3.76 × 10⁵ cfu/g). The methanolic extracts of the herbs helped to increase survival and specific growth rate and reduced bacterial load in the P. monodon culture system. Among the three herbal extracts, P. corylifolia enriched Artemia fed post larvae showed the tendency to higher survival (>50%), growth rate (11.5 averaged) and low bacterial load (1.12 × 10⁵ cfu/g). This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Bioaugmentation in the growth and water quality of livebearing ornamental fishes

Bacillus subtilis isolated from the intestine of Cirrhinus mrigala (Hamilton) was incorporated into the rearing water of Poecilia reticulata (Peters), Poecilia sphenops (Valenciennes), Xiphophorus helleri (Heckel) and Xiphophorus maculatus (Gunther) at four different concentrations (5 × 10⁸ cells ml⁻¹, 5 × 10⁷ cells ml⁻¹, 5 × 10⁶ cells ml⁻¹ and 5 × 10⁵ cells ml⁻¹) and its effect on fish growth performance and survival, water quality parameters and bacterial population of water were assessed. The results showed that the addition of bacterial cells in the rearing water resulted in greater survival and a faster growth rate and, hence, greater length and weight increments of the livebearers. The use of a bioaugmentor in the rearing water of the livebearing fishes resulted in significantly lower (P < 0.05) concentrations of dissolved organic matter and total ammonium nitrogen. The counts of motile aeromonads and total coliforms recorded in the water of bioaugmented tanks were also lower than that in the control tank. Bioaugmentation between 10⁶ and 10⁸ cells ml⁻¹ in the rearing water is sufficient in establishing a bioaugmentor and the use of a higher concentration of bacterial cells did not always lead to significantly better results.     

青岛斋堂岛附近海域薛氏海龙繁殖生物学

根据2015年3-5月在青岛斋堂岛附近海域使用张网采集的1250尾薛氏海龙(Syngnathus schlegeli)样本,分析了该水域薛氏海龙的性比、副性征、性腺指数、性腺成熟度与卵径、育儿袋中胚胎等繁殖生物学特征。结果表明,青岛斋堂岛附近海域薛氏海龙春季繁殖种群雌雄比例分别为63.28%和36.24%,未成年个体占0.48%,雌雄比为1.75:1,明显偏离1:1的性别比例;繁殖群体中雄性个体的性腺指数始终保持在较低水平,为0.01%~4.85%,雌性个体相对较高,为0.05%~128.99%,二者差异极显著(P0.01);组织学观察发现,性腺在3—5月份迅速发育成熟,雄性排精后精巢腔中仍剩余较多精细胞,表明雄性个体为多次排精;雌性Ⅲ~Ⅳ期卵巢中均分布有不同时相的卵子,且卵径分布呈现两个峰值,表明雌性个体为分批产卵;根据雌性个体V期卵巢中成熟卵子的卵粒数与雄性个体育儿袋中的平均怀卵数基本相同,育儿袋中胚胎的发育阶段也基本一致,推测其交配模式可能为一雄一雌制,抑或是雄性在同一天内与多个雌性交配的一雄多雌制。斋堂岛附近海域薛氏海龙的交配模式还有待室内行为观察并结合微卫星标记等手段进一步确认。     

东太平洋公海茎柔鱼种群遗传结构初步研究

根据2009年7月到10月我国大型鱿钓渔船在东太平洋(81.9°～94.9°W,8.9°N～11.3°S)秘鲁和哥斯达黎加外海作业期间采集的样本,利用线粒体DNA细胞色素b基因的724 bp部分序列,分析了采自秘鲁7个采样点和哥斯达黎加3个采样点的155个个体的序列多样性与种群遗传结构.结果显示,724 bp片段中发现了16个变异位点,155个个体出现43个单倍型.序列多样性分析结果揭示,155个个体的平均单倍型多样性指数为0.873,核苷酸多样性指数为0.003 69.群体间共享6个单倍型,秘鲁外海茎柔鱼群体享有最多特有单倍型(20个).分子方差分析揭示,82.70％的遗传变异性出现在种群内;群体间的FST分析揭示部分秘鲁群体与哥斯达黎加群体,部分秘鲁群体间存在着显著的遗传分化;而哥斯达黎加群体内部不存在显著的遗传分化.     

二氧化锗对共培养萱藻丝状体和硅藻生长的影响

为抑制萱藻丝状体保存和扩增过程中出现的小伪菱形藻与碎片菱形藻的生长,本实验应用实验生态学方法,分别建立了丝状体与小伪菱形藻、丝状体与碎片菱形藻、丝状体与小伪菱形藻和碎片菱形藻的共培养体系,研究了1.00～4.00μg/mL二氧化锗(GeO_2)对共培养条件下丝状体生长发育及附生硅藻生长的影响。结果显示:(1)处理萱藻丝状体和硅藻共培养体系的适宜GeO_2浓度为1.00～2.50μg/mL,各实验组14 d的硅藻抑制率均高于67.33%±5.18%,且丝状体生长发育良好,2.00μg/mL为最适浓度,此浓度下丝状体日均增长率最高,在各培养体系中均大于11.00%,且诱导后孢子囊枝比例和孢子囊直径分别为57.47%±5.31%和(24.55±1.01)μm,与对照组差异不显著;(2) 3.50和4.00μg/mL GeO_2虽对硅藻抑制效果更佳,但同时也会抑制丝状体生长和后期孢子囊的形成与发育,其中4.00μg/mL GeO_2可导致丝状体死亡;(3)碎片菱形藻较小伪菱形藻对GeO_2更敏感。实验14 d,各浓度GeO_2对碎片菱形藻的抑制率为(82.10%±2.40%)～(96.35%±0.79%),均高于同浓度GeO_2对小伪菱形藻的抑制率;同时在丝状体与小伪菱形藻和碎片菱形藻的共培养体系中,碎片菱形藻占硅藻比例随GeO_2浓度升高而相应下降。     

Use of ongrownArtemia in nursery culturing of the tiger shrimp

Juvenile and adultArtemia produced in a semi flow-through culture system were used as food for postlarval shrimp. The growth performance of shrimp reared on such ongrownArtemia live prey is identical to the growth obtained when feeding newly hatchedArtemia. However, a significantly better stress resistance is obtained when the postlarvae are exposed to a low salinity in a stress test. Besides nutritional and energetic advantages, the use ofArtemia biomass for feeding postlarval shrimp also results in improved economics as expenses for cysts and weaning diets can be reduced.     

Environmental factors affecting the susceptibility of barramundi to Streptococcus iniae

A long-term environmental study was conducted to evaluate the significance of water temperature, pH and salinity on the prevalence of Streptococcus iniae mortalities in barramundi sea-cage facilities. It was determined that there is a strong association between temperature and increased mortality, specifically between 25 and 28 °C. Temperatures outside of that range result in decreased mortalities attributed to S. iniae. There was no statistical significance between pH or salinity and S. iniae induced mortality (p > 0.05), although acidic conditions (< pH 6) occurring due to anthropogenic disturbances did result in acute mortalities and S. iniae was recovered from approximately 70% these fish. Laboratory challenge studies confirmed the temperature dependence of S. iniae infections as well as the increased susceptibility of barramundi to S. iniae during acid water conditions.     

Replacement of Artemia with Moina micrura in the rearing of freshwater shrimp larvae

The effect of an abrupt change in the live diet of shrimp larvae was investigated by replacing Artemia with Moina micrura. The control treatment consisted of feeding Artemia throughout the rearing period (regime A), while in the other treatments the onset of Moina feeding was arbitrarily chosen at larval stages iv (A3M), vi (A5M), viii (A7M) and x (A9M). No significant differences ( = 0.05) were observed among the treatments during larval production, mean stage development (MSD) and growth of postlarvae. The mean (SD) yields of postlarvae (PL) were 11.97 (1.98), 15.10 (2.92), 14.72(1.56), 13.51 (1.74) and 12.70 (1.40) PL l^–1 respectively for the feeding regimes A3M, A5M, A7M, A9M and A. Up to stage v, the ingestion rate in the Moina treatment was as low as 0.01–0.47 larva^–1 h^–1 compared with that in the Artemia treatment (0.29–1.77 larva^–1 h^–1). However, the ingestion of Moina increased from stage vi–vii onwards.