The conservation status of the Nee Soon freshwater swamp forest of Singapore

1. The most important area in Singapore for native aquatic fauna and flora is a relatively intact 5 km² patch of freshwater swamp forest in Nee Soon. 2. The Nee Soon Swamp Forest contains 48% of the primary freshwater fish, 71% of the amphibian, 28% of the reptile and 34% of the bird fauna of Singapore. The swamp also has the highest percentage of native and threatened freshwater fish and crustacean species on the island, as well as being the main (if not the only) habitat of the aquatic plant Hydrostemma. It is also the last refuge of two mammals, the Banded Leaf Monkey, Presbytis femoralis femoralis, and the Cream-coloured Giant Squirrel, Ratufa affinis affinis. 3. The threats to the swamp forest are discussed, and proposals are made to establish the swamp forest as Singapore's second major nature reserve. 4. Study of the swamp forest is essentially still at a survey and discovery phase. The research priorities are to establish detailed species lists, the status of endangered species and the extent of buffer zones. 5. The swamp forest is administered primarily by the newly established National Parks Board, but several other government organizations also have jurisdiction over the land, causing some problems in the management of the swamp. The roles of the university and non-governmental organizations in conducting surveys, drafting recommendations and educating the general public are detailed.     

Mass selection for small‐sized cysts in Artemia franciscana produced in Vinh Chau salt ponds,Vietnam

Unidirectional mass truncation selection for small‐sized cysts was carried out on brine shrimp (Artemia franciscana Kellogg 1906), Vinh Chau strain, Vietnam, through cyst sieving and then culturing the selected individuals (<5% of the population) under field and laboratory conditions over two successive generations (F₁ and F₂). The results showed that at both culture scales, the cyst size of the selected line was smaller (P < 0.05) compared with the control (non‐selected) line, illustrating that there was a response to selection. The cyst size decreased about 3% per generation and the accumulated gain on the target trait was in the range 5.82–6.07% at the end of the selection process compared with the base population. The realized heritability estimation (h²) for cyst size was 0.23 ± 0.06 and 0.74 ± 0.19 in the field trials and 0.34 and 0.51 in the laboratory test for the F₁ and F₂ generation respectively. The variations found between the respective trials may be explained as the result of environmental interaction with the selection process, but the results show that a selection program for small‐sized cysts in Artemia by mass selection is possible.     

Minimising aerobic respiratory demands could form the basis to sub-lethal copper tolerance by rainbow trout gill epithelial cells in vitro

Mechanisms of Cu tolerance were investigated in respiratory epithelial cell cultures, from rainbow trout gills, by studying O₂ consumption and protein synthesis rates, intracellular Na concentration and TER. The lowest concentration found to reduce O₂ consumption was 25 M Cu. This did not affect either protein synthesis rate or intracellular Na concentration and was interpreted in terms of copper tolerance; i.e., how these two energetically demanding processes are maintained despite a reduction in aerobic ATP supply. The relationship between protein synthesis rate and synthesis cost is exponential and the cost of protein synthesis in gill cells was found to be minimal (i.e., this cell occupies a position on the asymptotic section of the protein synthesis rate/synthesis cost model) and unaffected by 25 M Cu. Thus protein synthesis rates could be maintained since any reduction would represent an insignificant energy saving. Intracellular Na concentrations and O₂ consumption rates were linearly correlated suggesting reducing intracellular maintenance costs would have a greater significance in terms of overall energetic conservation. Intracellular Na maintenance costs, calculated from O₂ consumption rates and intracellular Na concentrations, were found to decline after exposure to 25 M Cu. Since TER was unaffected this implied the reduced costs arose from membrane `channel arrest'. Thus the Na/K ATPase energy demands, associated with maintaining intracellular Na concentration, could be reduced by decoupling metabolic demand and membrane function. Therefore this study may demonstrate how the flexibility of cellular energetics enables gill epithelial cells to tolerate sub-lethal Cu.     

The effect of temperature on the clearance of intraperitoneally-injected gonadotropin in the goldfish Carassius auratus

The serum half-disappearance time ($\text{t}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>1</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}$), metabolic clearance rate and volume of distribution of intraperitoneally administered carp gonadotropin (cGtH) and endogenous GtH levels were determined in sexually mature male and female goldfish, Carassius auratus maintained at 12 ± 1°C or 20 ± 1°C. The results indicated that the rate of serum uptake of the injected cGtH from the peritoneal cavity was greater at 20°C than at 12°C in sexually mature male goldfish. Although increased endogenous serum GtH levels and decreased values of serum $\text{t}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>1</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}$ were associated with the elevated temperature, there was no difference in any of the parameters between sexually mature male and female goldfish acclimated to 12°C.     

Large-scale experiment shows that nylon leaders reduce shark bycatch and benefit pelagic longline fishers

We assess the performance of wire leaders, which some jurisdictions have banned to reduce shark mortality from pelagic longline fishing. Experiments were conducted off northeastern Australia on commercial vessels that deployed equal numbers of wire and nylon monofilament leaders randomly along their longlines. Catch rates of several species, including sharks, were lower on nylon than on wire leaders, probably because those animals often escape by biting through the nylon leaders. High bite-off rates indicate that as many animals escape from nylon leaders as are caught on nylon leaders. The fate of escaped animals is not known, although large sharks are more likely to survive than are small animals. By contrast, catch rates of valuable bigeye tuna (Thunnus obesus) were higher on nylon than on wire leaders. Bigeye tuna are probably able to see wire leaders and avoid those hooks. The financial benefits of increased bigeye tuna catches outweigh the costs associated with banning wire leaders, such as increased rates of gear loss. Thus, banning wire leaders is an effective way of reducing shark catches that fishers should be keen to adopt.     

Histological examination of final oocyte maturation and atresia in wild and domesticated Penaeus monodon (Fabricius) broodstock

Oocyte maturation and gonadosomatic index (GSI) of eyestalk ablated Penaeus monodon females collected from the wild and from two first‐generation domesticated lines were assessed. Frequency and diameter of the different oocytes, and the intensity of oocyte atresia, were compared among groups through histological assessments of the sections of the middle ovarian lobe. Digitized images from ovary sections were used to record the frequency and diameter of different oocyte types. Spawning performance of the three groups were expressed in terms of the percentage of females that spawned at least once (productive females), time from eyestalk ablation to first spawning (latency period) and the number of spawnings per female stocked. Final ovarian maturation was attained in all groups, as indicated by the presence of mature oocytes with cortical rods (cortical oocytes), dark‐green ovarian colour and high GSI values (5.83–6.86%). However, domesticated groups presented significant larger immature oocyte types (previtellogenic and yolky oocytes) and smaller cortical oocytes compared with wild females, indicating a reduced vitellogenic activity during final oocyte maturation. Additionally, the frequency of atresia was comparatively higher for both domesticated groups, which could be related to their inferior spawning performance. The implications of these results on the reproductive potential and development of domesticated P. monodon are discussed.     

Contribution of the natural biota associated with substrates to the nutritional requirements of the post-larval shrimp, Penaeus esculentus (Haswell), inhigh-density rearing systems

The contribution of epiphytes associated with physical substrates to the nutritional requirements of post‐larval shrimp, Penaeus esculentus Haswell, was determined in high‐density rearing systems (3000, 6000 and 11 000 m^?3). Stable isotope signatures of epiphytes on polyethylene mesh substrate, AquaMats? and tank walls were compared with shrimp signatures. Two methods were used: the determination of carbon and nitrogen natural abundance ratios; and ¹⁵N‐nitrogen enrichment ratios after the addition of ¹⁵N‐ammonium to tanks. Using the natural abundance technique and a simple mixing model, epiphytes were found to contribute substantially to the carbon requirements of post‐larval shrimp (39–53%). This was despite the addition of formulated feed at satiation levels. There was no indication of a reduced contribution of carbon from epiphytes to shrimp nutrition at higher shrimp densities. The lack of a difference in the ¹⁵N/¹⁴N ratios of the two food sources meant that mixing models could not be used to calculate the contribution of nitrogen from epiphytes vs. artificial feed to shrimp nutrition. Using the ¹⁵N‐nitrogenenrichment method, the amount of nitrogen contributed by epiphytes to shrimp nutrition over 24 h could be determined. This method showed that nitrogen from epiphytes was assimilated by shrimp. ¹⁵N‐enrichment methods provided a more accurate alternative to natural abundance techniques, particularly when the stable isotope signals ofthe food sources are similar. This experiment hasshown the benefits in providing substrates for P.esculentus in high‐density rearing systems to provide an additional food source for shrimp.     

Movement patterns of adult pike (Esox lucius L.) in a Belgian lowland river

Northern pike, Esox lucius, needs different habitats to survive and reproduce and thus depends on the availability and accessibility of these habitats. To efficiently manage pike, information is needed on its spatial and temporal patterns of migration. In this study, we investigated the occurrence of adult pike migration and which environmental variables influenced migration. From December 2010, we followed 15 pike for 1 year by use of radio telemetry in the River Yser, a typical lowland river characterised by anthropogenic impacts such as artificial embankments. Pike migrated most in February and March, which could indicate they frequented spawning habitat in this period. Four environmental variables significantly affected pike migration, ranging from the location where pike were observed (strongest effect), over water temperature and flow to diel water temperature change (weakest effect). The relation between migration and the location where pike were observed could demonstrate that pike preferred specific regions in the river. Increasing water temperature triggered migration for both sexes, and males started migrating at lower temperatures than females, which suggests that males start migrating earlier. This was the only substantial difference observed between male and female pike migration. The results suggest that migration was inhibited by high flow, as no migration was observed at high flow. River managers can use this information to efficiently manage their pike populations, for example, by removing or temporarily opening hydraulic structures like valves, weirs and sluices. This may facilitate access to suitable habitats at moments pike needs these habitats to fulfil its life cycle.