Alteration of certain blood parameters of freshwater teleost <Emphasis Type="Italic">Mystus vittatus</Emphasis> after chronic exposure to Metasystox and Sevin

Indiscriminate use of pesticides has elevated the risk of contamination of environment and aquatic habitat. Considering the above fact, the present study has been under taken to investigate the alteration of some blood parameters of freshwater teleost Mystus vittatus after chronic exposure to sublethal concentrations of Metasystox (4 ppm.) and Sevin (7 ppm.) individually. The main alterations observed in certain haematological parameters were clotting time (CT), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), haemoglobin percentage (Hb%), red blood corpuscles (RBCs), white blood corpuscles (WBCs), pack cell volume (PCV), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH) and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC). Alterations in organic constituents of blood, such as glucose, blood urea, total plasma protein and cholesterol, and in inorganic constituents, such as calcium, iron, magnesium, and phosphorus, were also studied. Alteration of enzymes such as glucose-6-phosphatase (G-6-pase), fructose-1-6-diphosphatase (F-1-6-dipase), serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT) and serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT) were also studied, so that the changes in the blood biochemistry due to the pesticidal stress could be understood. Results indicated that CT, WBCs, MCH, MCHC, glucose, blood urea, cholesterol, magnesium and SGOT were increased, whereas other parameters were found to be decreased in both cases. Possible reasons for the above elevation are discussed in the light of available literature.     

Development of a whole-body cortisol extraction procedure for determination of stress in golden shiners, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Notemigonus crysoleucas</Emphasis>

Baitfish such as golden shiners are subjected to stress during harvesting, grading, and transport. Their small size makes it difficult to measure the stress response with the biological indicator cortisol using conventional assay methods for plasma. This paper examines the development and validation of methods for whole-body cortisol extraction from individual baitfish. Three types of extracts were tested: (1) an ethyl ether unaltered extract (UA); (2) an extract reconstituted in phosphate buffered saline (PBS); (3) an extract that had been increased in volume by the addition of food-grade vegetable oil (VO). These extracts were evaluated using validation tests with radioimmunoassays (RIA) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). The UA extract produced inadequate volumes of extract for multiple assays and could not be used for the determination of cortisol in a single fish. The PBS reconstitution method failed the precision recovery of serial dilutions (62.3%), linearity (R ²: 0.7864), and parallelism validation tests. The VO volume-boosting method passed all validation tests [intra-assay coefficent of variation (%CV): 16.3 for ELISA and 5.9 for RIA; inter-assay %CV: 10.3; spiked recovery: 102.0%; dilution recovery: 93.0%; linearity R ²: 0.9435; log of serial dilutions was parallel] and provided enough extract for multiple assays from an individual baitfish. Based on these results, we conclude that the VO volume-boosting method presents a means for determining cortisol from individual baitfish using either RIA or ELISA assays.     

Genetic identification of native populations of fluvial white-spotted charr <Emphasis Type="Italic">Salvelinus leucomaenis</Emphasis> in the upper Tone River drainage

ABSTRACT:   Stocking of exogenous, hatchery-reared white-spotted charr Salvelinus leucomaenis has been conducted throughout much of their range in Honshu Island, Japan, to increase angling opportunities. Although the native charr populations are thought to have declined because of hybridization with introduced fish, their distribution and genetic status have been uncertain. Fine population structures of charr in the upper Tone River drainage were examined using mitochondrial DNA and microsatellite analyses so as to clarify the presence of native populations. One common mtDNA haplotype was detected in all populations in the Ohashi River and Watarase River, and four and one tributary populations were monomorphic for such haplotypes, respectively. However, several haplotypes, considered to have originated from stocked hatchery fish, were observed in the stocked and the remaining populations. Judging from the genetic integrity over a fine geographic scale, the former were considered as indicative of native populations and the latter as admixtures with hatchery fish. Comparisons of genetic diversity, deviations from the Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium, principal component analysis, and relatedness estimations based on microsatellite DNA can also provide evidence for distinguishing native populations from those influenced by hatchery fish.     

Assessment of marine thraustochytrid <Emphasis Type="Italic">Schizochytrium limacinum</Emphasis> OUC88 for mariculture by enriched feeds

ABSTRACT:   In the present study, Schizochytrium limacinum OUC88, a thraustochytrid with high content of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6 n −3), was used as feed for rotifer Brachionus plicatilis and Artemia franciscana . The rotifer and Artemia were harvested at 3, 6, 9, 12, 18, and 24-h intervals, analyzed for fatty acid composition, and compared with the control which fed on yeast only. The highest DHA content resulted from an enrichment period of 12 h for both fed organisms, reached 13.4 and 10.9% of the total fatty acids (TFAs) in rotifers and Artemia nauplii, respectively, and the DHA level reduced sharply if enrichment time was longer than 12 h. The pseudoalbinism rate of turbot Scophthalmus maximus juveniles fed enriched rotifers and Artemia nauplii reduced greatly (40% lower than in control group). Thus, enrichment of rotifers and Artemia nauplii by DHA-rich Schizochytrium limacinum OUC88 may provide a practical strategy for feeding fish juveniles in aquaculture.     

Oyster greening by outdoor mass culture of the diatom Haslea ostrearia Simonsen in enriched seawater

Oyster greening was first described in the seventeenth century as a natural phenomenon. However, it has recently been discovered that the diatom Haslea ostrearia Simonsen causes greening by synthesis of a blue pigment designated as ‘marennine’. This phenomenon, which involves massive proliferation of H. ostrearia in oyster ponds, was not understood or controlled by oyster farmers in the Marennes‐Oléron region (Atlantic coast of France). As greening oysters improved their market value, they tried to develop empirical methods to guarantee oyster fattening and improve profits. In this context, the present study investigated the feasibility of mass culture of diatoms outdoors in 10‐m³ ponds, using enriched seawater. Different biotic and abiotic parameters were monitored daily to determine the influence of the day–night temperature range. After 8 days, H. ostrearia was the dominant diatom species (66%), reaching a mean cell concentration of 2 × 10⁵ cell mL^?1 and a marennine concentration of 3.4 mg L^?1. Although intensive greening was obtained, further studies are required to optimize the production stages before this technology can be transferred to oyster farmers.     

What are the prospects for black bream Acanthopagrus butcheri (Munro) aquaculture in salt‐affected inland Australia?

Black bream are a highly regarded sport and table fish, and there has been considerable interest in their aquaculture potential for the salt‐affected agricultural regions of inland southern Australia. In many ways they are an ideal candidate species for inland saline aquaculture because they appear to be very hardy, hatchery techniques are well established for them, and high survival rates have been maintained under a variety of culture conditions and feeding regimes. However, their slow growth rate needs to be increased by at least 33% for black bream to become an economically viable aquaculture species. Growth is amenable to genetic improvement, and sub‐adult growth rate shows moderate heritability and no adverse genetic correlations with other production traits. Nevertheless fillet yield is comparatively low, and in conjunction with unpredictable and early sexual development in culture, industry‐scale meat production remains problematic. These obstacles, however, do not preclude the use of black bream as a recreational fish species for inland saline waters, where their stocking may provide an additional source of rural income and relieve fishing pressure on depleted estuarine populations.     

Efficacy of Mineral Oil-Insecticide Mixtures for Protection of Potato Tubers Against PVY and PVM

The impact of a dozen mixtures of the most commonly applied aphicides: Mospilan 20 SP (acetamiprid), Pirimor 500 (pirimicarb) and Karate Zeon 050 CS (lambda-cyhalothrin), combined with the mineral oil Sunspray 850 EC, was researched in field conditions to assess their effectiveness in limiting potato tuber PVY, PVM and PLRV infection. In spite of the greatest reduction in the number of aphids occurring following application of Mospilan 20 SP, this treatment was not as effective in limiting PVY infection as, for example, applying Sunspray 850 EC mineral oil. Mineral oil, when used on its own or in a mixture with Pirimor 500 WG, was found to be the most effective measure for limiting PVY infection (the incidence of tubers infested with PVY was reduced by 64 % relative to control, i.e. no protection). A slightly weaker effect was observed in the case of a combination of the mineral oil with full doses of Karate Zeon 050 CS with a half of a dose of Mospilan 20 SP insecticide, however only for protection against PVY. A similar trend was observed for PVM even though a significant difference was only observed for Sunspray 850EC?+?Pirimor 500WG. In conclusion, the application of insecticide mixtures with mineral oil in protecting against PVY infection is not always as effective as the application of the oil itself only. Addition of the insecticide may sometimes improve the efficacy of protection, however, due to the extra costs involved, not always does it have to be economical.     

Intra-specific variation of wheat grain quality in response to elevated [CO2] at two sowing times under rain-fed and irrigation treatments

In order to investigate the intra-specific variation of wheat grain quality response to elevated atmospheric CO₂ concentration (e[CO₂]), eight wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)cultivars were grown at two CO₂ concentrations ([CO₂]) (current atmospheric, 389 CO₂ μmol mol⁻¹vs. e[CO₂], FACE (Free-Air CO₂ Enrichment), 550  ±  10% CO₂ μmol mol⁻¹), at two water levels (rain-fed vs. irrigated) and at two times of sowing (TOS₁, vs. TOS₂). The TOS treatment was mainly imposed to understand whether e[CO₂] could modify the effects of timing of higher grain filling temperatures on grain quality. When plants were grown at TOS₁, TKW (thousand kernel weight), grain test weight, hardness index, P, Ca, Na and phytate were not significantly changed under e[CO₂]. On the other hand, e[CO₂] increased TKW (16%), hardness index (9%), kernel diameter (6%), test weight (2%) but decreased grain protein (10%) and grain phytate (11%) at TOS₂. In regard to grain Zn, Mn and Cu concentrations and some flour rheological properties, cultivar specific responses to e[CO₂] were observed at both sowing times. Observed genetic variability in response to e[CO₂] in terms of grain minerals and flour rheological properties could be easily incorporated into future wheat breeding programs to enable adaptation to climate change.     

Climate change’s impact on irrigation system and farmers’ response: a case study of the Plaichumpol Irrigation Project,Phitsanulok Province,Thailand

The Plaichumpol Irrigation Project, in Nan Basin of Thailand, is selected as a case study of impact study, where farmers depended on both surface and groundwater sources (especially in the dry year), to assess the impact on irrigation systems. The study used the MRI-GCM data to project the future climate condition and assess the impact on irrigation systems focusing on water shortage and groundwater pumping aspects in the selected consecutive dry years. The responses from farmers on the impact and adaptation were also gathered via site interviews and analyzed. Based on the bias-corrected MRI-GCM data, the annual rainfall in Nan Basin will decrease in the near future (2015–2039), compared with the past average data (1979–2006), while the rainfall will increase in the far future (2075–2099) compared with past. Water supply from dam will decrease in wet season and dry season, while water demand in both of near future and far future will increase in wet season and dry season. Less water shortage and groundwater pumping in both near-future and far-future periods are expected in the future consecutive dry years compared with the past, though the groundwater is still an important supplementary irrigation water source in the dry year. From the field interview, the farmers are ready to adapt to the changing situations and join in the water use meeting to follow up with irrigation officers about the adjustment of plant calendar and water allocation due to the climate change and to prepare adaptation measures as necessary.