Spatial segregation of striped marlin (Kajikia audax) by size in the eastern Pacific Ocean

Striped marlin (Kajikia audax) is an epipelagic fish distributed in oceanic and coastal waters of the Pacific Ocean. This species is usually found in warm and coastal waters with high primary productivity. The main goal of this study was to describe the spatial segregation of striped marlin by average Eye‐Fork length (EFL) in the eastern Pacific Ocean (EPO) and its relationship with environmental variables using EFL data obtained from tuna purse‐seining and Generalized Additive Models (GAMs). The model suggested that larger individuals of striped marlin were more likely to be found in waters with high Chlorophyll‐a concentration (>2 mg/m³) and with temperatures lower than 25°C, within a region known as the “cold tongue” and the Humboldt current system, while smaller individuals were more likely to be found in warmer and low productive areas within a region known as the “warm pool of the EPO.” We observed that set type caused a large variation on average EFL of striped marlin; larger fish were captured in sets associated with floating objects (natural and manmade), while smaller fish were captured in sets associated with dolphins. Despite this, our findings suggest that striped marlin has a latitudinal gradient in average EFL; larger individuals occurred predominantly south of 10°N, while smaller ones occurred predominantly in coastal waters between 10°N and 20°N, thus demonstrating a spatial segregation of the species affected by its maturity stage.     

The role of dietary methionine concentrations on growth,metabolism and N‐retention in cobia (Rachycentron canadum) at elevated water temperatures

This study determined impacts of dietary methionine concentrations at two temperatures on growth, feeding efficiency and N‐metabolites in juvenile cobia. Methionine concentrations of the experimental diets were deficient (M9; 9 g/kg), sufficient (M12; 12 g/kg) and surplus (M16, 16 g/kg). Water temperature was normal (30°C) or elevated (34°C). Twenty cobia in triplicate tanks were fed the experimental diets for 6 weeks. Both methionine and temperature affected cobia's growth and feeding efficiency. Cobia fed M9 performed lower than the fish fed M12 and M16 diets. Additionally, cobia reared at 34°C performed poorer than at 30°C, probably due to lower voluntary feed intake in the fish reared at 34°C. Protein efficiency ratio and protein productive value in cobia fed M9 diet were less than M12 or M16 diets. This was confirmed with the improved retentions of indispensable amino acids (AAs). No interactions between methionine and temperature were observed in growth and protein accretion. At 30°C, CF improved, while HSI and VSI declined upon methionine supplementation levels. Of which an interaction between temperature and methionine was present. Plasma, muscle and liver free AA and N‐metabolites were affected by methionine and temperature. Furthermore, temperature affected cobia's lipid class composition, resulting in increased phospholipids and cholesterol at 34°C.     

Effects of long-term feed deprivation on body weight loss,muscle composition,plasma metabolites,and intermediate metabolism of meagre (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Argyrosomus regius</Emphasis>) under different water temperatures

The effect of feed deprivation at four water temperatures (17, 20, 23, 26 °C) was investigated in meagre (Argyrosomus regius) of initial mean weight ± SD, 116.16?±?4.74 g, in triplicate groups. Fish were deprived of feed for a period of 60 days and sampled on days 0, 14, 41, and 60, during which body weight, specific growth rate, somatic indices, muscle proximate composition, plasma metabolite levels (total lipids, proteins, cholesterol, triglycerides, glucose), and liver and muscle enzymatic activities [L-lactate dehydrogenase (L-LDH), citrate synthase (CS), malate dehydrogenase (MDH)] were evaluated. Long-term feed deprivation resulted in a significant decrease in body weight, condition factor (CF), hepatosomatic index (HSI), muscle lipids, and plasma metabolites (all except proteins) and increase in muscle moisture. Plasma glucose concentration decreased with time and became significantly lower at 41 and 60 days. Glucose concentration and weight loss expressed a different response in the short term (14 days) than in the long term (14 and 60 days) of feed deprivation, suggesting a change in glucose metabolic profile. After 60 days of feed deprivation, there was an increase in the L-LDH activity in the liver at all temperature levels, which reflects a rising glycolytic potential by activating the carbohydrate metabolism and an ATP-dependent demand. MDH activity increased in the liver and muscle, except at 17 °C in the muscle, which indicates aerobic glycolysis and lipolysis. CS activity in the liver increased after the 60 days, whereas that in the muscle decreased, indicating the muscle is less dependent on aerobic oxidation for energy reserves.     

Effects of ambient gaseous pollutants on photosynthesis,growth, yield and grain quality of selected crops grown at different sites varying in pollution levels

In recent decades, ambient gaseous pollution has increased due to anthropogenic activities worldwide. The studies to evaluate the adverse effects of ambient pollutants on commonly grown food crops are still limited, especially in Asian countries like Pakistan. The present study was conducted to measure the ambient pollutants in different sites of Faisalabad and their impact on growth and yield of wheat, mung bean and peas. Plants were grown in pots and placed at three sites named as control (Wire house of Government College University, Faisalabad), low pollution (LP) (Farm Area of Ayub Agricultural Research Institute) and high pollution (HP) (GT Chowk, Faisalabad) sites. Results showed that ambient ozone (O₃) concentration was highest at HP site followed by LP site and was below AOT40 in control site. Ambient pollutants caused foliar injury in crops and decreased plant height, leaf area, biomass and grain yield. Pollutants caused a reduction in photosynthetic pigments, stomatal conductance and net photosynthetic rate and grain protein contents in all three crops. In conclusion, the ambient O₃ level was highest at HP site, this current O₃ level and other pollutants decreased the growth and yield of important food crops.     

Establishment of a proteomic reference map for the gastrocnemius muscle in the rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus)

In several laboratory and production species, the establishment of a proteome reference map of a specific tissue has been accomplished. The rabbit is widely used as both a production and experimental animal. A lot of physiology research involving the gastrocnemius muscle of rabbit is described, although no reference proteome map is available. In this work, the first reference map of the rabbit’s gastrocnemius muscle using 2D gel electrophoresis and the identification of proteins through peptide mass fingerprinting (PMF) was established. A total of 45 proteins were localized and identified with three major roles: cell structure and contractile apparatus; metabolic and cell defense proteins. A reference map of major proteins expressed is described enabling possible comparisons with other physiological studies.     

Strain-specific sensitivity estimates of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis culture in Greek sheep and goats

The requirements for the isolation of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (Map) may be related to the strain-type [sheep (S)- or cattle (C)-type] and not to the host. The objective of this paper was to estimate and compare strain- and biological sample (faeces or pooled-tissue)--specific sensitivities (Ses) of two solid culture media, Herrold's egg yolk medium (HEYM) and Lowenstein-Jensen (LJ) medium, for the isolation of Map from Greek dairy sheep and goats. From 400 faecal samples collected from sub-clinically infected sheep and goats of four flocks and from 214 pooled-tissue samples (142 from sheep and 72 from goats) collected, at the abattoir, from >1-year-old routinely slaughtered animals, with gross pathology suggestive of paratuberculosis, we isolated 34 Map strains. Of those, by the IS1311 PCR, 18 were categorized into the C-type and nine into the S-type; seven were not typed. We used a Bayesian approach to estimate the strain-specific Ses. SeHEYM-C-faecal=17% (95% credible interval: 7, 40) was higher than SeHEYM-S-faecal=2% (0.3, 11). Also, SeHEYM-C-faecal was higher than SeLJ-C-faecal=4% (1, 12). In pooled-tissue samples, the strain-specific Ses did not differ between the two media.     

Rearing temperature affects Senegalese sole (Solea senegalensis) larvae protein metabolic capacity

The present work examined the short- and long-term effects of three rearing temperatures on protein metabolism and growth trajectories of Senegalese sole larvae using ¹⁴C-labelled Artemia protein as feed. A first feeding trial was performed on larvae reared at 15, 18 and 21 °C (at 26, 17 and 14 days post-hatching (dph), respectively) and a second trial conducted on post-larvae after transfer to the same rearing temperature (~20 °C) (49, 35 and 27 dph, in larvae initially reared at 15, 18 and 21 °C, respectively). Temperature greatly influenced larvae relative growth rate (RGR) and survival, since growth at 15 °C was severely depressed. Protein digestibility and retention was highest at 18 °C during the first trial (85.35 ± 1.16 and 86.34 ± 2.33 %, respectively). However, during the second trial, post-larvae from 15 °C had the highest feed intake and protein digestibility (3.58 ± 1.54 and 75.50 ± 1.35 %, respectively), although retention was similar between treatments. Furthermore, after transfer to 20 °C larvae from 15 °C experienced compensatory growth, which was observed until 121 dph, and confirmed by RGR values, which were significantly higher at 15 ºC than at 21 ºC or 18 ºC. Results from the present study show that Solea senegalensis larval development, survival and protein digestion and retention are highly affected by thermal history.     

Reversible changes in cell morphology due to cytoskeletal rearrangements measured in real-time by QCM-D

The mechanical properties and responses of cells to external stimuli (including drugs) are closely connected to important phenomena such as cell spreading, motility, activity, and potentially even differentiation. Here, reversible changes in the viscoelastic properties of surface-attached fibroblasts were induced by the cytoskeleton-perturbing agent cytochalasin D, and studied in real-time by the quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation (QCM-D) technique. QCM-D is a surface sensitive technique that measures changes in (dynamically coupled) mass and viscoelastic properties close to the sensor surface, within a distance into the cell that is usually only a fraction of its size. In this work, QCM-D was combined with light microscopy to study in situ cell attachment and spreading. Overtone-dependent changes of the QCM-D responses (frequency and dissipation shifts) were first recorded, as fibroblast cells attached to protein-coated sensors in a window equipped flow module. Then, as the cell layer had stabilised, morphological changes were induced in the cells by injecting cytochalasin D. This caused changes in the QCM-D signals that were reversible in the sense that they disappeared upon removal of cytochalasin D. These results are compared to other cell QCM-D studies. Our results stress the combination of QCM-D and light microscopy to help interpret QCM-D results obtained in cell assays and thus suggests a direction to develop the QCM-D technique as an even more useful tool for real-time cell studies.     

Mygalomorph spider community of a natural reserve in a hilly system in central Argentina

Abstract The diversity, abundance, spatial distribution, and phenology of the mygalomorph spider community in the "Ernesto Tornquist" Strict Nature Reserve were analyzed in this study. Located in southwestern Buenos Aires, Argentina, the Reserve is representative of the Ventania system, which is a sigmoidal mountain belt 180 km in length. This exceptional hilly ecosystem is home for many endemic species and rich native fauna and flora. Spider abundance was sampled monthly from October 2009 to October 2010 by hand capture and pitfall traps on grassland slopes. The species recorded in the study area were: Actinopus sp.1 (Actinopodidae); Grammostola vachoni and Plesiopelma longisternale (Theraphosidae); Acanthogonatus centralis (Nemesiidae); and Mecicobothrium thorelli (Mecicobothriidae). Grammostola vachoni and Acanthogonatus centralis were the dominant species in hand capture and pitfall traps, respectively. The seasonal variation, diversity, and abundance of the mygalomorph community are analyzed and discussed here. The Mygalomorphae of the Ventania system comprises an important group of sedentary and cryptozoic spiders that seem to be highly dependent on habitat type and environmental factors.