Feces Production and Ammonia Excretion of Pacific Abalone,Haliotis discus hannai,Fed Kelp,Laminaria japonica,in Relation to Water Temperature and Shell Length

Nitrogen excreted by aquatic animals mainly takes the form of metabolic wastes such as feces and ammonia, which is accumulated in the intensive aquaculture system and causes serious environmental contamination. So it is very important to determine the waste excretion characteristics of aquatic animals for the development of practical and nonpolluting land‐based aquaculture. Abalone has a unique feeding habit and feeding regime, different from those of finfish; abalone gnaw feed seaweed to produce feces and ammonia continuously. In this study, the rates of feces production and ammonia excretion of pacific abalone, Haliotis discus hannai, of three shell lengths (3, 5, and 7 cm) were investigated under three different temperature conditions (12, 16, and 20 C). All experiments were performed in triplicate in a semirecirculating aquaculture system. Feces were collected for 5 d, and ammonia concentrations (total ammonia nitrogen [TAN]) in the tank inlet and outlet were monitored every 4‐h interval for 24 h at the fourth day of the feces collection. The regressions for the weight‐specific feces production rate (g feces/kg abalone/d) and the weight‐specific TAN excretion rate (mg TAN/kg abalone/d) in relation to water temperature (T, C) and shell length (L, cm) were weight‐specific feces production rate = exp(1.575 ? 281.2/T² – 0.142L), r² = 0.9550, and weight‐specific TAN excretion rate = exp(5.052 ? 277.1/T² ? 0.136L), r² = 0.9598. Pacific abalone produced 108.3–111.7 g feces and excreted 3.83 g TAN/kg seaweed ingested (dry weight).     

Effect of oestradiol-17β immersion treatments on sex reversal of mud loach, Misgurnus mizolepis (Günther)

Mud loach, Misgurnus mizolepis (Günther), were sex reversed using the immersion technique. Fry were raised in water containing 50, 100 or 200 μg oestradiol-17β I^?1 for 1, 2 or 3 weeks. Survival rates decreased as dose and duration of treatment increased: in most instances they were significantly (P < 0.05) lower than those of the controls. Growth rates were unaffected except for fish in the 200 μg I^?1 treatments. The 200 μg T^?1 treatments for 2 and 3 weeks produced monosex female populations. The 100 μg I^?1 treatment for 3 weeks produced 99% females and 1% intersex individuals. Histologically, ovaries of sex-reversed fish were similar to those of normal females. Morphologically, however, they were different in that the ovaries of sex-reversed fish were not connected to the genital pore. The hormone treatments affected the size and morphology of the pectoral fins, which exhibit sexual dimorphism in mud loach.     

Geography limits island small‐scale fishery production

Interacting social and ecological processes shape productivity and sustainability of island small‐scale fisheries (SSF). Understanding limits to productivity through historical catches help frame future expectations and management strategies, but SSF are dispersed and unaccounted, so long‐term standardized data are largely absent for such analyses. We analysed 40 years of trade statistics of a SSF product that enter international markets (sea cucumber) from 14 Pacific Island Countries and Territories (PICT) against response variables to test predictors of fishery production: (i) scale, (ii) productivity and (iii) socio‐economics. Combined production in PICT peaked over 20 years ago, driven by exploitation trends in Melanesia that accounted for 90% of all production since 1971. The size of island fisheries (as measured by total exports), and the duration and magnitude of fishery booms were most influenced by ungovernable environmental variables, in particular land area. The large and high islands of Melanesia sustained larger booms over longer periods than atoll nations. We hypothesize that land area is a proxy for land‐based nutrient availability and habitat diversity, and therefore the productivity of the shallow water areas where SSF are operating. PICT need to tailor management based on the intrinsic productivity of shallow inshore habitats: harvests from atoll nations will need to be smaller per unit area than at the high islands. Particularly countries with low productivity fisheries must consider the crucial economic “safety nets” that export SSF make up for dispersed island populations and incorporate them into broader development and island resilience strategies.     

Growth performance,oxidative stress,and non-specific immune responses in juvenile sablefish, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Anoplopoma fimbria</Emphasis>, by changes of water temperature and salinity

Juvenile sablefish, Anoplopoma fimbria (mean length 15.5 ± 1.9 cm, mean weight 68.5 ± 4.8 g), were used to evaluate the effects on growth, oxidative stress, and non-specific immune responses by changes of water temperature (8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, and 20 °C) and salinity (100 (35.0), 90 (31.5), 80 (28.0), 70 (24.5), 60 (21.0), 50 (17.5), and 40% (14.0) (‰)) for 4 months. The growth performance was significantly increased at the temperature of 12 and 14 °C, and the feed efficiency was notably decreased at the temperature of 18 °C. The growth performance and feed efficiency were also significantly decreased at low salinity. The antioxidant responses such as superoxide dismutase and catalase were significantly increased by the high temperature and decreased by the low salinity. The immune responses such as lysozyme and phagocytosis were elevated by the temperature of 18 °C and decreased by the salinity of 50%. The results of this study indicate that the growth performance of juvenile sablefish, A. fimbria, is influenced by the temperature and salinity, and the excessive temperature and salinity levels can affect the antioxidant and immune responses.     

Efficacy of a polyvalent injectable vaccine against Flavobacterium psychrophilum administered to rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss L.)

Flavobacterium psychrophilum is one of the most important pathogens affecting cultured rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Recent information from UK salmonid farms showed country‐wide distribution of genetically and serologically divergent clones, which has hampered the development of a vaccine for rainbow trout fry syndrome. The current study assessed the efficacy of an injectable polyvalent vaccine containing formalin‐inactivated F. psychrophilum in rainbow trout. The vaccine was formulated with an oil adjuvant (Montanide ISA 760VG) or formalin‐killed cells alone. Duplicate groups of trout (60 ± 13 g) were given phosphate‐buffered saline or vaccine formulated with Montanide by intra‐peritoneal (i.p.) injection and challenged by intra‐muscular (i.m.) injection with a homologous and a heterologous isolate of F. psychrophilum at 525 degree days post‐vaccination (dd pv). Significant protection was achieved in vaccinated fish (p = 0.0001, RPS 76% homologous, 88% heterologous). Efficacy of the adjuvanted vaccine was also demonstrated by heterologous challenge at 1155 dd pv resulting in 100% protection, whereas survival in the un‐adjuvanted group was not significantly different from control fish. Levels of specific antibody at 1155 dd pv, as measured by ELISA, were significantly higher in the fish vaccinated with adjuvant when compared with unvaccinated fish.     

Successful treatment of gastrocnemius muscle rupture in a long-tailed goral rescued from a live trap: a case report

We describe a case of gastrocnemius muscle rupture in a goral that got caught in a live trap set up to capture wild boars. We established a diagnostic method based on clinical signs and imaging examination findings, including magnetic resonance imaging for gastrocnemius muscle rupture with symptoms such as hindlimb lameness and plantigrade posture of unknown cause in wild animals. Although this condition is rare, this report will help veterinarians diagnose several diseases of the musculoskeletal and nervous systems in wild animals. This is the first report of successful diagnosis and treatment of gastrocnemius muscle rupture in gorals in Korea.     

Rainfall,Stemflow, and Throughfall Chemistry at Urban- and Mountain-facing Sites at Mt. Gokurakuji,Hiroshima, Western Japan

Rainfall, stemflow, and throughfall were collected from 1996 to 1999 at two types of forest sites: (1) forests near the traffic roads and urban areas and (2) forests away from the urban areas at Mt. Gokurakuji, Hiroshima, western Japan in order to estimatethe effects of anthropogenic activities on atmospheric deposition. Rainfall deposition for major ions showed small differences between the sites. The NO₃ ^- and SO₄ ^2-concentrations in stemflow were higher at the urban-facing slope than at the mountain-facing slope. Throughfall deposition of NO₃ ^- and SO₄ ^2- was also higher at urban-facing slopes. Net throughfall (NTF) deposition (throughfall minus rainfall) of NO₃ ^- and SO₄ ^2- accounted for 77 and50% of the total throughfall deposition on urban-facing slopes, respectively, while it accounted for 44 and 23% on themountain-facing slopes, respectively. These results indicated a higher contribution from dry deposition on urban-facing slopes compared to mountain-facing slopes. Atmospheric N (NO₃ ^- +NH₄ ⁺) deposition from throughfall was estimated to be around 17–26 kg N ha^-1 yr^-1 on urban-facing slopes, which was greater than the threshold of N deposition that could cause nitrogen leaching in Europe and the United States. The highload of atmospheric N deposition may be one of the factors bringing about the decline of pine forests on urban-facing slopesof Mt. Gokurakuji.     

Shallow lateral flow from a forested hillslope: Influence of antecedent wetness

A 5-m-wide soil pit at the base of a forested hillslope in coastal British Columbia was instrumented for studying subsurface flow processes during rainstorms. Three typical, low-intensity autumn rainfall events with different antecedent moisture conditions are assessed. Outflow from the organic horizon was captured and measured by a single trough, and outflow from the mineral horizon (above compact glacial till and bedrock) was measured separately for three adjacent sections of the soil pit. For two storms that were preceded by dry conditions, lateral outflow from the organic horizon occurred, although the water table did not rise up to the organic horizon. However, the calculated effective contributing area was small (<0.7 m²) and the effective contributing slope length was short (<0.15 m). Furthermore, volumes of outflow from the organic horizon during these storms were more than 400 times less than during a later storm with wet antecedent conditions. During this later storm, a portion of the outflow from the organic horizon may have been generated as saturated overland flow due to the rising water table. The calculated effective contributing area (>170 m²) and the effective contributing slope length (>36 m) were substantially greater for the “wet” antecedent storm compared to the “dry” storm events. Shallow lateral flow over unsaturated soil is therefore unlikely to be a significant contributor to storm runoff at such forested sites. Flow at the organic horizon–mineral soil interface may contribute to interconnected preferential flow pathways during wetter antecedent conditions.     

Optimization of extraction of phenolic compounds from flax shives by pressurized low-polarity water

Pressurized low-polarity water (PLPW) extraction of phenolic compounds from flax shive was investigated using statistically based optimization and the "one-factor-at-a-time" method. Extraction variables examined using central composite design (CCD) included temperature, flow rate, and NaOH concentration of the extracting water. Extraction of phenolic compounds including p-hydroxybenzaldehyde, vanillic acid, syringic acid, vanillin, acetovanillone, and feruric acid was affected by temperature and NaOH concentration; and extraction of all phenolic compounds, except ferulic acid, increased with temperature and NaOH concentration of the extracting water. Flow rate had little effect on concentration of phenolic compounds at equilibrium, but the extraction rate at the early phase was higher for higher flow rates. The mechanism of PLPW extraction of flax shive phenolics was also investigated using a two-site kinetic model and a thermodynamic model. To determine the extraction mechanism, flow rate was varied from 0.3 to 4.0 mL/min while temperature and NaOH concentration were fixed at 180 degrees C and 0.47 M, respectively. The flow rate tests showed the extraction rates of total phenolic (TP) compounds increased with flow rate and can be described by a thermodynamic model. The results from the thermodynamic model demonstrated that a K(D) value of 30 agreed with the experimental data in the flow rate range of 0.3-4.0 mL/min. When the effect of the three independent variables was evaluated simultaneously using CCD, a maximum TP concentration of 5.8 g/kg of dry flax shive (DFS) was predicted from the combination of a high temperature (230.5 degrees C), a high initial concentration of NaOH (0.63 M), and a low flow rate (0.7 mL/min). Maximum TP concentration of 5.7 g/kg of DFS was obtained from extraction conditions of 180 degrees C, 0.3 or 0.5 mL/min, and 0.47 M NaOH at equilibrium. A second-order regression model generated by CCD predicted a maximum TP concentration of 5.8 g/kg of DFS under the same extraction conditions, which is well matched with the results from experimental data.     

Differences in the Volatile Compositions of Ginseng Species ( Panax sp.)

The volatile compositions in dried white ginseng according to species ( Panax ginseng , Panax notoginseng , and Panax quinquefolius ) were analyzed and compared by applying multivariate statistical techniques to gas chromatography-mass spectrometry data sets. Main volatile compounds of ginseng species in the present study were sesquiterpenes, such as bicyclogermacrene, (E)-β-farnesene, β-panasinsene, calarene, α-humulene, β-elemene, etc. In particular, α-selinene, α-terpinolene, β-bisabolene, β-phellandrene, β-sesquiphellandrene, zingiberene, germacrene D, limonene, α-gurjunene, (E)-caryophyllene, δ-cadinene, (E)-β-farnesene, α-humulene, bicyclogermacrene, longiborn-8-ene, β-neoclovene, and (+)-spathulenol were mainly associated with the difference between P. ginseng and P. notoginseng versus P. quinquefolius species. On the other hand, the discrimination between P. ginseng and P. notoginseng could be constructed by hexanal, 2-pyrrolidinone, (E)-2-heptenal, (E)-2-octenal, heptanal, isospathulenol, (E,E)-2,4-decadienal, 3-octen-2-one, benzaldehyde, 2-pentylfuran, and (E)-2-nonenal.