Experimental identification of the actinosporean stage of Sphaerospora renicola Dykova & Lom 1982 (Myxosporea: Sphaerosporidae) in oligochaete alternate hosts

The extrapiscine development of Sphaerospora renicola, a myxosporean parasite of the kidney of common carp, Cyprinus carpio L., was studied in the experimentally infected oligochaetes Tubifex tubifex (Müller) and Branchiura sowerbyi (Beddard). After the infection of these tubificids with homogenized common carp kidneys containing myxospores of S. renicola, the development of actinosporean stages was first observed under light microscopy 8 days after infection in pathogen-free T. tubifex. Infection of B. sowerbyi with mature actinosporean stages was first observed 91 days after infection. At that stage of development, pansporocysts containing neoactinospores filled the intestinal epithelium of the worm. Ninety-five days after infection, pansporocysts containing actinospores and free actinospores were found in the gut lumen of B. sowerbyi. Actinospores of S. renicola emerged from B. sowerbyi after 98 days of intraoligochaete development. These were floating in the water and showed the typical form of neoactinospores. The shape of the spores was triangular in apical view and elliptical in lateral view. The prevalence of infection reached 37%. Control specimens of B. sowerbyi proved to be free of neoactinospores. Except for a single specimen of B. sowerbyi, the only early developmental stages (pansporocysts) were found in T. tubifex.     

Dynamics of experimental production of Thelohanellus hovorkai (Myxozoa: Myxosporea) in fish and oligochaete alternate hosts

The dynamics of development and production of Thelohanellus hovorkai (Myxozoa) were examined to investigate factors inducing haemorrhagic thelohanellosis in carp, Cyprinus carpio L. Fresh actinospores of T. hovorkai were harvested from the oligochaete alternate host, Branchiura sowerbyi, and used for infection experiments with myxosporean-free carp. Visualization of actinospores by fluorescent labelling revealed that sporoplasms penetrated the gill filaments of carp immersed in an actinospore suspension as early as 30 min post-exposure (PE). Plasmodia of T. hovorkai developed in the connective tissues of various organs and matured 3-5 weeks PE; dispersion of myxospores from degenerate plasmodia occurred 5-7 weeks PE. Challenges with a high dose of actinospores (4.5 x 10(6) spores per fish) resulted in the onset of disease, which was more easily achieved by the oral intubation of actinospores than by immersion in an actinospore suspension. Actinosporean-free B. sowerbyi were exposed to different densities of myxospores (10(4)-10(6) spores per oligochaete) and subsequently reared at different temperatures (15, 20, 25 degrees C). At 20 and 25 degrees C, actinospore releases were first detected 40-43 days PE, with multiple peaks of release (max. 7 x 10(5) actinospores day(-1)) during the next 60 days. We concluded that the developmental cycle of T. hovorkai was completed within 3-5 months at 20-25 degrees C, and that the ingestion of large numbers of actinospores orally, possibly by feeding on infected oligochaetes, resulted in a disease condition in carp.     

The life cycle of Chloromyxum auratum (Myxozoa) from goldfish, Carassius auratus (L.), involves an antonactinomyxon actinospore

The myxozoan parasite Chloromyxum auratum Hallett, Atkinson, Holt, Banner & Bartholomew, 2006 , was shown experimentally to have a two‐host life cycle which involved a previously undescribed antonactinomyxon actinospore stage. Myxospores obtained from gall bladders of naturally infected feral goldfish, Carassius auratus (L.), were used to infect samples of mixed species of oligochaete worms obtained from the same locality as the fish: Fern Ridge Dam, Oregon, USA. After some 110 days post‐exposure, actinospores were detected from the water above the oligochaetes. The 18S rDNA sequence of these actinospores was identical to the original myxospores. Spore release was sporadic, of low intensity and short duration, which confounded efforts to identify the host oligochaete species and infect naïve fish. This is the first life cycle that incorporates an actinospore of the collective group Antonactinomyxon, and the first life cycle demonstrated in the laboratory for a species of Chloromyxum.     

The susceptibility of diverse species of cultured oligochaetes to the fish parasite Myxobolus pseudodispar Gorbunova (Myxozoa)

This study provides detailed information on the invertebrate hosts of Myxobolus pseudodispar (Myxozoa) and explores the susceptibility range of several species and analyses the relevance of the species composition of an oligochaete population. Our findings demonstrate that the oligochaete host range of M. pseudodispar is similarly wide as the number of vertebrate host species. Besides Tubifex tubifex and Limnodrilus hoffmeisteri, Psammoryctides barbatus and Psammoryctides moravicus were also found to be susceptible invertebrate hosts. The genetic characterization of the mitochondrial 16S rDNA of T. tubifex sensu lato revealed that lineages I, II and III are susceptible to M. pseudodispar, whereas T. tubifex lineage VI seems to be non‐susceptible. T. tubifex lineage V and L. hoffmeisteri specimens were positive in a M. pseudodispar‐specific PCR, but in most cases, the release of mature actinospores could not be detected. Hence, these non‐susceptible oligochaetes likely serve as `biological filters` as they remove myxospores from the sediment without producing actinospores. Together with the phylogenetic analysis of the susceptible and non‐susceptible oligochaete hosts on the basis of mt 16S rDNA sequences, the route of the development of M. pseudodispar in the oligochaete hosts was tracked by in situ hybridization. According to our findings, the gut epithelia seem to be a portal of entry of the sporoplasms, where the development of the parasite also takes place. The basal lamina seems to be involved in the migration of the parasite, and the worm’s cellular immune response is activated by the infection.     

The life cycle of Henneguya nuesslini Schuberg & Schroder, 1905 (Myxozoa) involves a triactinomyxon-type actinospore

The life cycle of the histozoic myxozoan parasite Henneguya nuesslini was investigated in two salmonid host species. Naive brown trout, Salmo trutta, and brook trout, Salvelinus fontinalis, were experimentally infected in two trials by triactinomyxon type actinospores from naturally infected Tubifex tubifex. In exposed common carp, Cyprinus carpio, no myxospore production was detected. The parasite formed cysts with mature myxospores in the connective tissue of the fish 102 days post-exposure. The morphology of both actinosporean and myxosporean stages was described by light microscopy and a 1417-bp fragment of the 18S rDNA gene was sequenced. Sequence analysis confirmed the absolute congruence of the two developmental stages and assisted in determining species identity. Host range, tissue specificity and myxospore measurements provided sufficiently distinctive features to confirm species validity and were thus crucial for identification. The triactinomyxon spores had 16 secondary germ cells, unique dimensions, a very opaque sporoplasm matrix and three conspicuously protruding, pyriform polar capsules. This is the first record of a Henneguya sp. life cycle with a triactinomyxon-type actinospore, which suggests a close relationship with the Myxobolus group and a polyphyletic origin of the genus Henneguya.     

Complete developmental cycle of Myxobolus pseudodispar (Gorbunova) (Myxosporea: Myxobolidae)

Myxobolus pseudodispar (Gorbunova) is a common parasite of the muscle of roach, Rutilus rutilus L., whereas its actinosporean development occurs in two oligochaete alternate hosts. This paper reports the complete developmental cycle of this parasite in the oligochaete alternate host Tubifex tubifex and the roach. In laboratory experiments, parasite-free T. tubifex specimens were infected by myxospores of M. pseudodispar collected from roach in Lake Balaton. Parasite-free roach fingerlings were infected with floating triactinospores (TAMs) released from oligochaetes on day 69 after challenge. Young plasmodia and spores in roach were first recorded on day 80 post-exposure (p.e.). Myxospores collected from experimentally infected roach initiated a new development in T. tubifex and the resulting TAMs infected roach. No infection of roach resulted from feeding oligochaetes containing mature triactinospores.     

黑龙江勤得利湾底栖动物种群的结构特征

2003年5～9月对黑龙江勤得利湾底栖动物进行调查，结果表明，勤得利湾底栖动物共计5科13种(属)，其中寡毛类1科3种(属)，红羽摇蚊(Ch. gr. plumosus） 幼虫是主要优势种群；勤得利湾底栖动物数量为454．3ind／m^2，生物量为4．4520g／m^2二者季节变动明显，秋季最高，分别为626．8ind／m^2和9．1850g／m^2；生物多样性指数、均匀度指数、丰富度指数均偏低。同时探讨了作为鲟鱼类放养场的底栖动物资源合理利用问题。     

洪泽湖大型底栖动物群落结构及其与环境因子的关系

洪泽湖是我国第四大淡水湖,然而关于洪泽湖大型底栖动物的报道较少。为了研究洪泽湖大型底栖动物群落结构特征及其影响因子,在洪泽湖设置20个采样点,进行了为期1周年的季度调查(2010年5月-2011年2月)。共采集到大型底栖动物14种,寡毛类、摇蚊科幼虫和软体动物分别有5种(占总物种数的35.7%)、3种(21.4%)和6种(42.9%)。河蚬为第一优势种(优势度Y=0.18),其次分别为苏氏尾鳃蚓(0.09)、羽摇蚊(0.07)、霍甫水丝蚓(0.06)和铜锈环棱螺(0.06)。群落的平均密度和平均生物量分别为(45.45±7.38)个/m2和(52.43±12.04)g/m2,其中软体动物平均密度和平均生物量最高[(24.80±6.20)个/m2和(49.55±11.94)g/m2],摇蚊类次之[(13.76±2.87)个/m2和(2.28±0.71)g/m2],寡毛类最低[(6.96±2.41)个/m2和(0.60±0.18)g/m2]。全湖Shannon-Wiener、Margalef和Pielou指数分别为2.69、1.10和0.71,各指数季节差异不明显。冗余分析(RDA)结果共解释物种数据累计方差的35.0%;MonteCarlo检验表明,洪泽湖水体中硝酸盐氮、总氮和化学耗氧量是影响底栖动物群落分布最关键的环境因子(F=2.181～3.277,P<0.05)。     

Effect of Bacillus cereus as a water or feed additive on the gut microbiota and immunological parameters of Nile tilapia

We evaluated the effects of Bacillus cereus, as an additive in water and feed, on the gut microbiota and immunological parameters of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) fingerlings. Experiments were performed in tanks and net cages respectively. Experiment 1: Tilapia were housed in tanks for 42 days, and B. cereus was added to the water at 1.0 × 10⁴ cfu mL^?1 (Treatment 1) and 1.0 ×10⁵ cfu mL^?1 (Treatment 2) weekly. For the control, no probiotic was added. Experiment 2: Tilapia were housed in cages for 42 days, and the feed was supplemented with B. cereus at 1.0 × 10⁷ cfu g^?1 (Treatment 1) and 1.0 × 10⁸ cfu g^?1 (Treatment 2) weekly. For the control, no probiotic was added. Each treatment contained three replicates, with 50 male tilapias per replicate. The fish from the probiotic treatments in both tank and cage experiments had significantly higher serum lysozyme and peroxidase activities than the control. In the cage experiment, alkaline phosphatase and total superoxide dismutase activities in tilapia were significantly higher in probiotic treatments compared with the control. The results of polymerase chain reaction‐denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis showed that B. cereus supplementation in the feed and water affected the autochthonous gut bacteria community of tilapia and stimulated various potentially beneficial bacteria. Therefore, B. cereus, as a water or feed additive, could enhance the immune status and affect the gut microbiota of tilapia. Bacillus cereus was more effective as a feed supplement rather than a water additive for enhancing the immune status of tilapia.     

Jack mackerel <Emphasis Type="Italic">Trachurus japonicus</Emphasis> juveniles use jellyfish for predator avoidance and as a prey collector

ABSTRACT:   Juveniles of carangid fishes including jack mackerel Trachurus japonicus are known to associate with jellyfishes. The function of this association behavior was studied through rearing experiments and underwater visual observations. Association behavior of jack mackerel with moon jellyfish in experimental tanks was more frequent in the presence compared to the absence of predators (chub mackerel Scomber japonicus ). In the experimental tanks, the presence of jellyfish, however, did not mitigate predation by these predators. Although jack mackerel did not feed on the jellyfish itself, they frequently fed on the captured prey ( Artemia nauplii) whilst in the gut cavity of the jellyfish. Underwater observations of giant jellyfish Nemopilema nomurai off Kyoto and Fukui prefectures revealed that approximately 30% of these jellyfish were accompanied by jack mackerel juveniles with body sizes ranging 10–45 mm standard length (SL). Considering that jack mackerel juveniles found in subtidal rocky reefs ranged 40–120 mm SL, we considered that jack mackerel from 10 to 45 mm SL associate with jellyfish as a hiding place as well as a food collector, until they find a suitable reef habitat when they attain approximately 40 mm SL.     

Tubifex production using agro-industrial wastes and raw cattle dung

ABSTRACT

Tubifex (Tubifex tubifex) was cultured in captivity using three different wastes: rice mill sludge (RMS), dairy sludge (DS), and raw cattle dung (RCD). Three experiments were conducted: 10, 20, and 30 days. A total of 100 g of tubifex at 62.5 g m^?2 was inoculated in 1.6 m² fiberglass-reinforced plastic tanks. Comparing all production parameters, RMS > DS > RCD. Growth rate (g m^?2 d^?1) did not differ among durations. RMS- and DS-fed tubifex contained higher protein and fat than RCD-fed tubifex. Efficiency on production of g tubifex per kg of waste material was highest at 10 days, declining with time for all waste materials. This experiment suggests that RMS and DS are effective wastes for tubifex culture, with total production increasing with no reduction in growth rate through 30 days, but with efficiency declining after 10 days.     

Effect of increased water recirculation rate on algal supply and post-larval performance of scallop (Pecten maximus) reared in a partial open and continuous feeding system

In a commercial scallop hatchery spat production depends on a culture system which ensures high survival and good growth. Reuse of water with algae may increase the food exploitation and hence reduce the costs. Post-larvae of great scallop (Pecten maximus) were studied in a commercial hatchery using a partial open and continuous feeding tank system. Three different water recirculation rates (67, 83 and 92%) were tried out in two experiments with post-larvae originating from three spawning groups of ages between 43 and 57 days post-spawn, 316–886 μm shell-height and 1.1–9.6 μg ash-free dry weight. The post-larvae were held in sieves in tanks of 2500 l where a downwelling flow was maintained by airlifts. New water with a mix of monocultured algae was continuously added to the tanks at algal concentrations of 10 and 15 cells μl⁻¹ in experiment 1 (groups 1 and 2) and 2 (group 3), respectively. The algal supply to each sieve was reduced along with increased recirculation rate, but was kept between 6 and 13 cells μl⁻¹. Generally no significant differences in survival, growth or chemical content were found between the three recirculation rates, while few differences were found between and within groups. Large variation in survival was found between and within groups (1–81%). Highest survival was found in experiment 1, and where post-larvae from two settlements were used, the first settlement survived better than the second. The daily growth ranged from 15 to 62 μm shell-height and from 0.3 to 2.6 μg ash-free dry weight. The scallop post-larvae could well be reared at all three recirculation rates studied as an increase from 67 to 92% did not seem to affect the post-larval performance seriously. The algal supply, however, had to be compensated by an increasing number of cells (>10 cells μl⁻¹) when increasing the recirculation rate.     

Different capabilities in utilizing dietary carbohydrate by fingerling and subadult giant gouramy Osphronemus gouramy

ABSTRACT:   Two experiments were conducted to determine the capability of the giant gouramy Osphronemus gouramy to assimilate dietary carbohydrate. In experiment 1, fingerlings with an initial body weight of 29–32 g were fed diets containing 20.8, 35.6, 49.8 and 57.0% carbohydrate three times daily, to satiation, for 40 days. In experiment 2, subadults with an initial body weight of 78.7–79.5 g were fed diets containing 21.2, 30.1, 38.6 and 47.5% carbohydrate three times daily, to satiation, for 60 days. The diets had the same amount of protein and the same energy content. The results of experiment 1 showed that the blood glucose levels of fish fed high carbohydrate diets (49.8 and 57.0%) in the 18 h postprandial were lower than those of fish fed low carbohydrate diets (20.8 and 35.6%). The peak of the blood glucose levels in all treatments was found 5 h postprandial. Experiment 2 showed that the blood glucose level of fish was the same among treatments; and the peak of the blood glucose levels was found 9 h postprandially. It was also found that the protein retention, daily growth rate and feed efficiency of the dietary 20.8% carbohydrate levels in experiment 1 were all significantly higher than in other treatments; whereas those in experiment 2 showed no significant difference among the treatments ( P  > 0.05). In both experiments 1 and 2, lipid retention increased significantly as the dietary carbohydrate level was elevated ( P  < 0.05). It was concluded that fingerlings of giant gouramy have a lower capability for utilizing dietary carbohydrate, and of the treatments, the 20.8% diet was optimal, whereas subadults could utilize diets with higher carbohydrate levels, as high as 47.5%.     

Influence of dietary levels of soybean meal on the performance and gut histology of gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata L.) and European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax L.)

The present study was performed to determine the effect of soybean meal (SBM) on the performance and gut histology of gilthead sea bream and European sea bass. Three isonitrogenous and isolipidic extruded diets (crude protein, 470 g kg⁻¹ diet; crude fat, 200 g kg⁻¹ diet) were formulated containing 0 (0 SBM), 180 (180 SBM) and 300 (300 SBM) g kg⁻¹ diet SBM and tested on both species in two separate experiments. Fish at an initial average weight of around 18 g were randomly allocated to 800 L square tanks connected to a closed recirculating system. The trials lasted 80 days for sea bream and 89 days for sea bass. Fish were hand-fed to apparent satiation. Increasing the level of SBM had no significant effects on the specific growth rate, feed intake and feed conversion rate in both the species. In the sea bream distal intestine, lamina propria was moderately and diffusely expanded in some fish due to an increase in cell infiltration represented by mononuclear cells, this finding being more frequent in animals fed diet 300 SBM. No other morphological alterations in intestinal folds, enterocytes or other inflammation signs were noticed in the sea bream distal intestine of any group. No histological differences were found in sea bass in any experimental group.     

Efficacy of feed‐based adjuvant vaccine against Streptococcus agalactiae in Oreochromis spp. in Malaysia

This study was conducted to determine the systemic, mucosal immunity and protective capacity of the feed‐based adjuvant vaccine (FAV) of Streptococcus agalactiae following oral vaccination against streptococcosis in tilapias. Two hundred and sixteen red tilapia fish were divided into three major groups. Each major group consisted eight tilapia kept in nine 2000 L glass aquaria. At day 0, all fish from the FAV group were fed with feed that had been incorporated with an adjuvant, while fish in the feed‐based vaccine (FNV) group were fed with vaccine incorporated into the pellet without adjuvant. Fish in the control‐unvaccinated group, FC, were fed with normal commercial pellet. Booster dose was performed on day 14 post immunization. Fish from each group were sacrificed on a weekly basis for the entire 7 weeks. Serum, body mucus and gut lavage fluid were evaluated for antibody responses by indirect ELISA, while histological examination was carried out on the gut following intraperitoneal challenge. The FAV group had a significantly higher protection (P < 0.05) following challenge with 3.4 × 10⁹ CFU mL^?1 of live S. agalactiae than FNV group. This level of protection may be due to high antibody responses, increase in size of gut‐associated lymphoid tissue and high number of lymphocytes in the FAV group.     

基于卵黄蛋白原基因表达的水丝蚓促熟南美白对虾研究

针对传统海产亲虾饵料易感染或携带与对虾共患病毒,给育种和苗种繁育工作带来巨大生物安全隐患的问题,以淡水品种水丝蚓作为替代饵料进行南美白对虾亲虾催熟试验,并以卵黄蛋白原基因的表达水平变化验证饵料的催熟效果。设水丝蚓、水丝蚓组合饵料、商业亲虾饲料及传统沙蚕组合饵料等4个饵料组合,分别投喂南美白对虾后备亲虾,测定繁殖性能相关参数,并通过荧光定量PCR技术对各亲虾肝胰腺和卵巢中VTG的表达水平的变化进行了追踪研究。结果显示,水丝蚓组的性腺增重最高,达1 475%,连续产卵率最大,平均为72.08%,与传统沙蚕组合饵料组无显著差异性(P0.05)。南美白对虾肝胰腺和卵巢组织中均存在VTG mRNA,在肝胰腺和卵巢中均呈先上升后下降的表达模式;VTG mRNA的表达量能够一定程度上反映对虾的繁殖性能,有希望发展成为亲虾繁殖性能选育指标;水丝蚓在促进亲虾性腺发育方面效果较传统沙蚕饵料组合好,在改善亲虾产卵效果方面基本与沙蚕组合相当,可作为沙蚕替代饵料用于南美白对虾的亲虾强化培育和催熟。     

Filtering Myxobolus cerebralis Triactinomyxons from contaminated water using rapid sand filtration

Rapid sand filtration was explored as a means of removing Triactinomyxon actinospores (Tams), the waterborne infective stage of the salmonid parasite Myxobolus cerebralis that causes whirling disease, from contaminated water. Preliminarily, a batch of sand was sieved to create 12 size ranges from 180 to 2000 μm. These individual ranges were tested for their efficacy of removing Tams through sand beds either 2 cm or 4 cm deep. The critical size at which no Tams passed through the sand bed was 300 μm at 2 cm depth and 425 μm for 4 cm bed depth. Additional tests evaluated the passage of Tams through filter beds comprised of sand that had all particles smaller than 180 μm removed. With this sand, 0.2±0.5% of Tams passed through a 2 cm bed, and 0.0±0.0% with a 4 cm sand bed. Based on these preliminary results, small (61 cm×15 cm) rapid sand filters were placed in-line with aquaria containing rainbow trout fry. The sand bed depth was 10 cm under which lay 10 cm of aquarium gravel. Four treatments were (1) negative control, (2) positive control, (3) sand of >180 μm, (4) sand of >300 μm. Tams were regularly introduced to the rearing systems above the sand filters. After 60 days, clinical signs of whirling behavior and black tails were seen among the positive controls. A polymerase chain reaction assay for Myxobolus cerebralis 1 month after exposure proved negative for negative controls and the >180 μm group, whereas 10% of the >300 μm group and 71% of the positive controls were infected. Results from the PCR assay at the study’s conclusion indicated the negative controls and >180 μm group were still disease free. All positive control fish were infected, and 49% of >300 μm fish were infected. These results were mirrored by those obtained from a pepsin–trypsin digest assay, except one fish among the >180 μm group was found to be infected. These results demonstrate that sand filtration may be a viable option in treating hatchery water supplies that are contaminated with whirling disease.     

Effects of dietary mannan oligosaccharides in early weaning diets on growth,survival, fatty acid composition and gut morphology of gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata,L.) larvae

Early weaning of marine fish larvae with dry diets delays gut maturation and reduces growth rates. In juvenile and adult forms of several marine fish species, inclusion of dietary mannan oligosaccharides (MOS) improves gut integrity and functionality, but the effects of MOS inclusion in gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata, L.) larval diets have not been addressed yet. Thus, this study assesses the effects of dietary MOS inclusion on survival, growth performance, gut morphology, feed acceptance and quality of gilthead sea bream larvae. For that purpose, 16 days post‐hatched gilthead sea bream larvae were fed four graded levels of MOS (Biomos^®, Alltech, Nicholasville, KY, USA) in weaning diets as follows: 0 g kg^?1 MOS, 0.5 g kg^?1 MOS, 1.5 g kg^?1 MOS and 2 g kg^?1MOS. Dietary MOS did not affect feed acceptance in gilthead sea bream larvae (P > 0.05). MOS supplementation was correlated in a dose‐dependent way with higher larval survival (P = 0.026). After 15 days of feeding, dietary MOS increased whole larvae (P < 0.01) arachidonic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid. Gilthead sea bream larvae fed 2 g kg^?1 MOS presented higher gut occupation with goblet cells after feeding compared with larvae fed the other dietary treatments. Overall, the results suggest that inclusion of MOS in early weaning diets for gilthead sea bream improves essential fatty acid utilization and may promote growth and final survival.     

Effects of dietary keto-carotenoids (canthaxanthin and astaxanthin) on the reproductive performance of female rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum)

The aim of this study was to clarify further the relationship between dietary keto-carotenoids (canthaxanthin and astaxanthin) and reproductive performance in female rainbow trout. Three experiments were undertaken in three successive breeding seasons. In addition to a control diet, fish were fed a canthaxanthin-supplemented diet (200 mg canthaxanthin kg⁻¹ feed, designated as 6mC200) for 6 months prior to spawning (experiment A); the same diet as in A but for either 3 months (3mC200) or 6 months (6mC200) before spawning (experiment B); diets with one of two levels of astaxanthin supplementation, 50 mg (6mA50) or 100 mg (6mA100) kg⁻¹ feed, or a diet with 100 mg canthaxanthin kg⁻¹ feed (6mC100) fed for 6 months (experiment C).
There was no significant influence of carotenoid supplementation on either the frequency of maturing females or the date of maturation. The number of ova per kg of female body weight averaged 2700 and did not vary significantly among fish fed the different diets. Across experiments A, B and C there was no significant difference in egg and larval survival among fish fed carotenoid-supplemented and control diets. In experiment A, 6mC200 females produced smaller eggs than controls but this result was not confirmed in experiments B and C. In general, eyed egg yield appeared partly dependent upon egg size. Alevin weight was also correlated with egg weight. The growth test conducted on fingerlings from experiment B failed to provide any evidence of an effect of feeding carotenoid supplemented diets to the female parent. Pigment analyses conducted on alevins revealed that canthaxanthin fed to the female parent was transferred into the eggs and therefore to the larvae, although canthaxanthin was metabolized within a few weeks after hatching.     

洱海湖滨带大型底栖动物的群落结构

洱海是云贵高原第二大湖泊,拥有生物较为丰富的湖滨带和特有种,如螺蛳(Margarya melanioides)、绘环棱螺(Bellamya limnophila)。2009年5月和12月在洱海湖滨带开展调查,共采集到底栖动物30个分类单元;其中,寡毛类、摇蚊科幼虫和软体动物等主要类群为11种、7种和9种,分别占物种总数的36.7%、23.3%和30.0%,其它动物3种。在密度方面,群落结构以寡毛类为主,平均密度达488个/m2(占总丰度的89.7%),密度峰值出现在弥苴河口(7424个/m2);而在生物量方面则以软体动物占优势,平均生物量为67.26g/m2(占总丰度的91.4%)。按密度的平均相对丰度计算,霍甫水丝蚓(Limnodrilus hoffmeisteri)为第一优势种(平均相对丰度24.4%),其次为异腹腮摇蚊(Einfeldia sp.)(13.2%)、苏氏尾鳃蚓(Branchiura sowerbyi)(11.6%)和正颤蚓(Tubifex tubifex)(11.5%)。按生物量计算,圆田螺(Cipangopaludina sp.)为第一优势种(占总生物量的79.3%),其次为河蚬(Corbicula fluminea)(10.6%)和环棱螺(Bellamya sp.)(6.2%)。洱海的Shannon-Wiener指数平均为1.08,西岸比东岸的生物多样性指数要高。