Growth and survival of the juvenile yellowleg shrimp Farfantepenaeus californiensis cohabiting with the green feather alga Caulerpa sertularioides at different temperatures

This study was performed to determine the growth and survival patterns of the juvenile yellowleg shrimp Farfantepenaeus californiensis cohabiting with the green feather alga Caulerpa sertularioides over a range of temperatures (18, 22, 25, 28 and 32°C) found throughout the year in the Gulf of California. From an initial weight of 46 ± 10 mg, shrimp cohabiting with green feather algae increased in weight by an average of 0.57 (±0.07), 5.44 (±0.45), 6.36 (±0.37), 7.66 (±0.26) and 5.96 (±0.59) g at 18, 22, 25, 28 and 32°C, respectively, whereas shrimp grown without seaweed increased in weight by an average of 0.28 (±0.026), 2.66 (±0.24), 3.15 (±0.49), 4.00 (±0.67), and 3.54 (±0.09) g respectively. Statistically significant differences were observed for the growth rates of juvenile yellowleg shrimp in the presence of C. sertularioides and peak growth was observed at 28°C in experiments with macroalgae. No significant differences were observed for shrimp survival except at 32°C without macroalgae, where survival was lower. These results suggest a beneficial and growth‐promoting effect of cohabitation with live C. sertularioides on F. californiensis.     

Histopathological changes in the gills and liver of Prochilodus lineatus from the Salado River basin (Santa Fe, Argentina)

This study evaluated the histopathological changes in gills and liver of Prochilodus lineatus inhabiting the Salado River basin. Fish were collected in four different sampling stations. The histological lesions in the tissues were examined under light microscopy and evaluated with quantitative analyses. The morphometric analysis of the gills showed a significant shortening of secondary lamellae and a lower percentage of area for gas exchange in fish from station 1 (an urban area, located near the mouth of the Salado River) in comparison with fish gills from the reference site (station 4, a relatively pristine area). Moreover, a significantly higher area occupied with necrotic foci and the occurrence of an important inflammatory response were observed in fish liver of station 1 than the samples caught from other stations. Thus, histopathological evidences showed differences among sites, which could be related to different environmental conditions.     

基于灰色神经网络与马尔科夫链的城市需水量组合预测

【目的】针对城市需水量预测系统具有非线性和随机波动性的特点,建立基于马尔科夫链修正的组合灰色神经网络预测模型,以提高模型的预测精度。【方法】比较分析灰色GM(1,1)模型、BP神经网络模型以及二者线性组合的灰色神经网络预测模型的预测效果,建立基于马尔科夫链修正的组合灰色神经网络预测模型,并以榆林市2000-2009年的用水量实际数据为研究对象,通过实例比较分析模型的检验预测精度。【结果】经马尔科夫链修正处理后,建立的基于马尔科夫链修正的灰色神经网络组合模型的预测精度更高,预测误差的绝对值均小于4%,且均方差σ为1.00,小于组合灰色神经网络模型与GM(1,1)模型、BP神经网络模型预测误差值的均方差。【结论】基于马尔科夫链修正的组合灰色神经网络需水量预测模型,对城市需水量的预测优于灰色神经网络及各单项预测模型,不仅预测精度高,而且能同时反映出数据序列发展变化的总体趋势和系统各状态之间的内在规律,适合描述随机波动性较大的预测问题。     

Effective use of glucose rather than starch in formulated semimoist diets of common octopus (Octopus vulgaris)

The aim of the present work was to test the capacity of Octopus vulgaris to use carbohydrates supplied in three diets: a diet without added carbohydrates (diet C0: 500 g kg^?1 water, 200 g kg^?1 gelatine, 100 g kg^?1 egg yolk powder, 50 g kg^?1 freeze‐dried Sardinella aurita and 150 g kg^?1 freeze‐dried Todarodes sagittatus) and two obtained by substituting 50 g kg^?1 of T. sagittatus by glucose (diet GLU50) or by starch (diet STA50). The most stable and best‐accepted diet was STA50 (SFR 1.26%BW day^?1) although there were no significant differences in the growth rates obtained with the three diets: 10.12 g day^?1, 9.37 g day^?1 and 11.22 g day^?1 for C0, GLU50 and STA50, respectively (P > 0.05). The feed efficiency indices were better for GLU50, of particular note being the protein productive value of 71.88% and a feed conversion ratio lower than 1. Protein and lipid digestibility were similar in all the three diets (96–98% for proteins and 85–94% for lipids), whereas carbohydrate digestibility was higher in GLU50 (98%) than in C0 (84%) and STA50 (0.33%). The content of carbohydrates increased in muscle and the digestive gland as a consequence of the increased carbohydrates intake.     

Structural development of Pacific red snapper Lutjanus peru from hatching to the onset of first feeding

Successful rearing of larval fish requires culture conditions and feeding strategies matching the ontogenetic status of larvae. This study describes the external morphology and development of organs and structures involved in the feeding process (i.e. sensorial organs, mouthparts and digestive system) from hatching until first feeding in Pacific red snapper. Hatching occurred 26 h after fertilization at 26°C and total length (TL) was 2.45 ± 0.08 mm. The larvae showed an undifferentiated eye and digestive tract. At 48 hah, TL was 3.31 ± 0.12 mm. Yolk and oil globule were still present. The mouth was still closed, but the Meckel's, quadrate, hyoid and hyomandibular cartilages were present. The retina was formed by 5 layers, and a thin layer of pigment epithelium was observed in the outer nuclear layer (ONL). At 70 hah, TL was 3.44 ± 0.22 mm. A remnant of oil globule was still present. The mouth and anus were open. At 93 hah, the number of cones in the ONL of the retina have increased and there was more pigment in the pigment epithelial layer. A joint between Meckel's and the quadrate cartilage and also a joint between the hyomandibular cartilage and the skull were present. The presence of live feed was detected in the digestive tract of these larvae. Based on these observations, the Pacific red snapper larvae is functional to start ingesting live feed between the 3rd and 4th day after hatching.     

Precision phenotyping of imidazolinone-induced chlorosis in sunflower

Chlorosis level is a useful parameter to assess imidazolinone resistance in sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.). The aim of this study was to quantify chlorosis through two different methods in sunflower plantlets treated with imazapyr. The genotypes used in this study were two inbred lines reported to be different in their resistance to imidazolinones. Chlorosis was evaluated by spectrophotometrical quantification of photosynthetic leaf pigments and by a bioinformatics-based color analysis. A protocol for pigment extraction was presented which improved pigment stability. Chlorophyll amount decreased significantly when both genotypes were treated with 10 μM of imazapyr. Leaf color was characterized using Tomato Analyzer^® color test software. A significant positive correlation between color reduction and chlorophyll concentration was found. It suggests that leaf color measurement could be an accurate method to estimate chlorosis and infer chlorophyll levels in sunflower plants. These results highlight a strong relationship between imidazolinone-induced chlorosis and variations in leaf color and in chlorophyll concentration. Both methods are quantitative, rapid, simple, and reproducible. Thus, they could be useful tools for phenotyping and screening large number of plants when breeding for imidazolinone resistance in this species.     

The antioxidant system of sterlet seminal fluid in testes and Wolffian ducts

Oxidative stress is a possible source of spermatozoa function deterioration. Seminal fluid (SF) protects spermatozoa against reactive oxygen species (ROS) attack during development in testes and transit through the reproductive tract. Spermatozoa curvilinear velocity and percent of motile cells as well as changes in thiobarbituric acid-reactive substance (TBARS) content, superoxide dismutase, and catalase activity, and uric acid concentration in SF were evaluated in sterlet sperm collected from testes 24 h after hormone induction of spermiation and from Wolffian ducts at 12, 24, 36, and 60 h after hormone injection (HI). While testicular spermatozoa motility was not initiated in activating medium, Wolffian duct sperm showed low motility at 12 h, significant increase at 24 and 36 h, and decrease at 60 h. Testicular SF was characterized by the highest level of TBARS and activity of studied enzymes compared with SF from Wolffian duct sperm at 24 h post-HI. In fluid from Wolffian duct sperm, a significant increase in TBARS content was shown at 36–60 h post-HI. In contrast to testicular SF, in SF from Wolffian duct sperm, this increase was not counterbalanced by changes in the studied variables of antioxidant system. This may be the source of the observed decrease in spermatozoa motility parameters 60 h post-HI. The results may confirm a dual role of ROS in fish sperm physiology. The data with respect to decrease in sturgeon spermatozoa motility parameters at 60 h post-HI should be taken into account in artificial sturgeon propagation.     

Motility parameters of perch spermatozoa (Perca fluviatilis L.) with cryoprotectors addition

The addition of cryoprotectants during the freezing of semen in liquid nitrogen protects spermatozoa from the negative influence of freezing. Every species needs an appropriate cryoprotectant that has to be experimentally selected. Semen obtained from five perches was diluted with the Kobayashi buffer solution at 1:9 ratio. To determine the influence of cryoprotectants on spermatozoa motility parameters, the same type of buffer solution was applied with the addition of methanol, dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and dimethylacetamide (DMA) using the concentration of 10, 5, 2.5 %, respectively, glycerol (15; 7.5 %), sucrose and trehalose (0.45; 0.225; 0.113 M). After the preparation of such tests, parameters of spermatozoa motility were measured, using the CASA system (Image House CRISMAS Company Ltd.). Among used cryoprotectants, methanol did not cause any effect on the sperm motility parameters. The lowest percentage concentrations of DMA, DMSO, glycerol, sucrose and trehalose did not significantly influence the percentage of motile spermatozoa. Higher concentrations of these compounds considerably lowered all motility parameters. As for glycerol and saccharides, their addition resulted in the lowering of the spermatozoa motility possibly due to a higher viscosity of the solution. However, DMA and DMSO were most probably toxic to perch sperm cells. The obtained results indicate that the best cryoprotectant to be used with perch spermatozoa is methanol.     

Early development and allometric growth patterns in burbot Lota lota L.

This study analyzed the morphological development and allometric growth patterns of Lota lota L. (burbot) larvae reared under controlled laboratory conditions. From hatching to day 50, twenty larvae were sampled each [between 1 and 14 days post-hatch (DPH)] or every second day (between 14 and 50 DPH) and measured under a stereoscopic microscope using analytic software. Based on the external morphology, the different stages during early development of burbot were identified: yolk sac larva 0–8 DPH [3.92–4.37 mm total length (TL)]; preflexion larva 9–26 DPH (4.57–12.06 mm TL); flexion larva (between notochord degradation and its replacement with rays) 28–34 DPH (14.00–16.34 mm TL) and postflexion larva/juvenile 36–50 DPH (18.20–29.27 mm TL). Allometric growth patterns of some parameters (e.g., total length, head length, body length, tail length, head depth, body depth, eye diameter) were modeled by a power function and described by the growth coefficient. Organogenesis and changes of body proportions in burbot larvae were more rapid and complex during the yolk sac and preflexion phase of development as larvae developed most of their sensorial, feeding, respiratory and swimming systems and after notochord flexion, when most morphological changes were related to the progressive transformation from pelagic larva to demersal larva/juvenile.