Condition assessment of lamprey populations in the Yorkshire Ouse catchment,north‐east England,and the potential influence of physical migration barriers

• 1. River lamprey (Lampetra fluviatilis) and sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) are designated features of the River Derwent Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and the Humber Estuary (a possible SAC). This study determined the condition of lamprey populations in the Yorkshire Ouse catchment by assessing the species composition, distribution, abundance and size‐structure of larval (ammocoete) populations in five major tributary rivers (Derwent, Swale, Ure, Nidd and Wharfe).
• 2. According to EU condition assessment criteria, Lampetra populations (assumed to be mostly river lamprey) are at present in favourable condition, with site mean (±SE) densities ranging from 2.7 (±1.2) to 160.3 (±50.5) individuals m^?2 (all river means >2 individuals m^?2), and at least two size (≈age) classes present in optimal microhabitats. By contrast, no sea lamprey larvae were recorded, suggesting that populations of this species are in unfavourable condition.
• 3. Actions to protect and enhance nationally or internationally important stocks must be implemented from at least a catchment perspective, because many of the issues affecting such species are not localized. With respect to lampreys, particular attention should be given to protecting spawning and nursery habitats, improving water quality, reducing impingement at abstraction points, preventing exploitation at spawning grounds and increasing passage at potential physical obstructions.

Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Growth and body composition of juvenile white shrimp,Litopenaeus vannamei,fed different ratios of dietary protein to energy

A 10‐week feeding experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of different protein to energy ratios on growth and body composition of juvenile Litopenaeus vannamei (initial average weight of 0.09 ± 0.002 g, mean ± SE). Twelve practical test diets were formulated to contain four protein levels (300, 340, 380 and 420 g kg^?1) and three lipid levels (50, 75 and 100 g kg^?1). Each diet was randomly fed to triplicate groups of 30 shrimps per tank (260 L). The water temperature was 28.5 ± 2 °C and the salinity was 28 ± 1 g L^?1 during the experimental period. The results showed that the growth was significantly (P < 0.05) affected by dietary treatments. Shrimps fed the diets containing 300 g kg^?1 protein showed the poorest growth. However, shrimp fed the 75 g kg^?1 lipid diets had only slightly higher growth than that fed 50 g kg^?1 lipid diets at the same dietary protein level, and even a little decline in growth with the further increase of dietary lipid to 100 g kg^?1. Shrimp fed the diet with 420 g kg^?1protein and 75 g kg^?1 lipid had the highest specific growth rate. However, shrimp fed the diet with 340 g kg^?1 protein and 75 g kg^?1 lipid showed comparable growth, and had the highest protein efficiency ratio, energy retention and feed efficiency ratio among dietary treatments. Triglycerides and total cholesterol in the serum of shrimp increased with increasing dietary lipid level at the same dietary protein level. Body lipid and energy increased with increasing dietary lipid level irrespective of dietary protein. Results of the present study showed that the diet containing 340 g kg^?1 protein and 75 g kg^?1 lipid with digestible protein/digestible energy of 21.1 mg kJ^?1 is optimum for L. vannamei, and the increase of dietary lipid level has not efficient protein‐sparing effect.     

Application of sperm cryopreservation in selective breeding of the Pacific oyster,Crassostrea gigas (Thunberg)

The robustness of Pacific oyster, Crassostrea gigas (Thunberg), sperm cryopreservation in the context of selective breeding based on family lines was investigated. Irrespective of egg density, high fertilization success was achieved with cryopreserved sperm when sperm:egg ratios of 1000:1 to 10 000:1 were used. Variation among replicate runs on the same oyster batches was minimal, indicating that cryopreservation and larval rearing procedures were repeatable. Twenty independent single male–female crosses were made to assess the utility of cryopreserved sperm in selective breeding. The fertility of unfrozen sperm was generally a poor predictor of cryopreserved sperm fertility. Based on D‐larval yields, 17 of the 20 crosses were likely to yield adequate spat for selective breeding (>10⁵ D‐larvae from 1 million eggs), two were marginal (5 × 10⁴ D‐larvae) and one was inadequate (4 × 10³ D‐larvae). An alternative fertilization strategy to improve D‐yield from a given number of sperm was then tested. Fertilizing 10 million eggs at a sperm:egg ratio of 200:1 increased the total D‐yield when compared with fertilizing 1 million eggs at a sperm:egg ratio of 2000:1 for the same male–female pair. We conclude that, despite wide variation in fertility, cryopreserved sperm is useful for family production.     

Variation in growth and aggression of juvenile brown trout (Salmo trutta) from upstream and downstream reaches of the same river

Abstract –  To investigate differences in behaviour and growth between juvenile brown trout from spatially separated reaches, fish were collected from above and below a weir in Silverstream, New Zealand. Population level differences in mass-specific growth rates and aggression level were examined in tank experiments. Monitoring of mass-specific growth rates found that relative growth rates between fish of different sizes varied between fish from the upstream reach but not between fish from the downstream reach. Large individuals grew faster than smaller individuals from the upstream reach but no effect of relative fish size on growth was found among fish from the downstream population, indicating that social organisation in the two populations differed. When tested in pairs, juvenile brown trout from the downstream population were found to be more aggressive than those from the upstream population. Differences in the allometric relationship between growth rate and fish size and in the levels of aggressiveness appear to be related to the failure to form dominance hierarchies among fish from the downstream reach, a fixed behavioural trait most likely related to prior experience of crowding or different genetic backgrounds.     

Differences in swimbladder volume between Baltic and Norwegian spring-spawning herring: Consequences for mean target strength

Fish swimbladders, where present, contribute most to the scattering of sound by fish, as measured by the target strength (TS). The volumes of the swimbladders of two different European stocks of Atlantic herring were compared to consider the effect on estimates of TS. Swimbladder volumes of Baltic and Norwegian spring-spawning herring (Clupea harengus) were measured, together with individual herring fat content. Swimbladder volumes were found to differ significantly between the two herring stocks. Baltic herring have a larger swimbladder volume, which is suggested to be associated with the fish's low fat content, which in turn may be linked to its specific energy budget and the low salinity of the Baltic Sea. A buoyancy model that considered the different salinity conditions and fat proportions was used to evaluate the observed differences in swimbladder volume. The swimbladder volume data were subsequently used to model the mean target strength as a function of depth and growth pattern. Backscattering of the swimbladder was modelled using the modal-series-based deformed-cylinder model (MSB-DCM), describing the swimbladder as a gas-filled, elongated prolate spheroid. The fish body component was modelled as a fluid-filled ellipsoid using the distorted wave Born approximation (DWBA). Modelling results support a different TS-to-size relationship for Baltic herring, with a stronger echo, due to the larger swimbladder. Depth- and length-dependent TS relationships based on the model results are suggested.     

Nutrient Digestibility of Cereal Grain Products and By‐products in Extruded Diets for Nile Tilapia

Apparent digestibility coefficients (ADCs) provide estimates of nutrient availability in feedstuffs and can be used as a tool for selecting ingredients to compound cost‐effective diets for fish. Extrusion process is one factor that could influence ADC values. Thus, a digestibility trial was undertaken to evaluate ADC of protein, energy, and dry matter, and apparent amino acid availability (AAAA) in five cereal grain products/by‐products (corn, wheat middlings, broken rice, rice bran, and sorghum) in compounded diets for Nile tilapia. Chromic oxide was used as an external inert marker. The digestibility values of energy and dry matter in ingredients, in decreasing order, were highest for broken rice (95.34 and 96.45%), sorghum (82.37 and 87.29%), corn (67.34 and 82.21%), rice bran (57.58 and 55.59%), and wheat middlings (48.94 and 45.88%). Protein digestibility value was higher for corn (72.86%) and the lowest value was observed for sorghum (56.77%), while broken rice, wheat middlings, and rice bran presented values ranging from 63.01 to 66.88%. AAAA values were higher for corn (70.05%) and the lowest methionine and cystine availability values were recorded for wheat middlings and broken rice, respectively. Broken rice appears as one of the most indicated ingredient for using in Nile tilapia diets because of its highest values of nutrient digestibility when compared to the other energetic sources. The use of this information should aid more precise and economic diet formulation for Nile tilapia.     

Increasing experimental approaches in stream trout research – 1987–2006

Abstract –  This review of stream trout research literature for the 1987–2006 period covered >1300 papers dealing with 22 relevant topics, when compared with <400 papers on 18 topics in the previous one (1967–1986). The percentage of experimental approaches here quantified for both research reviews was 18% in the 1967–1976 period, increased to 21% in 1977–1986, to 39% in 1987–1996, and up to 43% in 1997–2006. Particular journals in the recent two decadal period published high percentages of experimental papers ( The Journal of Animal Ecology and Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences ; 62.9% and 62.4%, respectively), others, intermediate percentages ( Nordic Journal of Fisheries Research , Transactions of the American Fisheries Society , North American Journal of Fisheries Management and Ecology of Freshwater Fish : 44.1%, 42.4%, 40.5%, and 35.6%, respectively); the remainder covered ≤33%. Research papers on stream 'trouts' published over the last two decades were classified into 22 subject areas for nine major journals separately and combined for 55 other journals. Subject areas dealing with the biology and ecology of trout redds, egg development, alevin emergence and onto fry and parr were the most heavily reported in nine major journals, as well as in all other journals combined. Habitat characteristics and cover use by trout were the next. Atlantic salmon and brown trout were the species with highest publication coverage in nearly all subject areas, with low coverage for all salvelinid (charr) species except brook charr. Research on Atlantic salmon in the UK used experimental approaches in nearly 60% of publications and in mid to high 30% for those on Atlantic salmon and brown trout in Scandinavian countries. Consideration is given to future research needs for stream trouts.     

Acetyl- and butyrylcholinesterase inhibitory activities of sterols and phlorotannins from Ecklonia stolonifera

ABSTRACT:   As part of this study on the isolation of cholinesterase inhibitors from natural marine products, the bioactivity of the ethanolic extracts from 27 Korean seaweeds were screened using acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) inhibitory assays. Ecklonia stolonifera exhibited promising inhibitory properties against both AChE and BChE. Bioassay-guided fractionation of the active n -hexane and ethyl acetate (EtOAc) soluble fractions, obtained from the ethanolic extract of E. stolonifera , resulted in the isolation of the sterols; fucosterol ( 1 ) and 24-hydroperoxy 24-vinylcholesterol ( 2 ), from the n -hexane fraction and the phlorotannins; phloroglucinol ( 3 ), eckstolonol ( 4 ), eckol ( 5 ), phlorofucofuroeckol-A ( 6 ), dieckol ( 7 ), triphlorethol-A ( 8 ), 2-phloroeckol ( 9 ) and 7-phloroeckol ( 10 ), from the EtOAc fraction. Of these, compounds 2 , 9 and 10 were isolated from E. stolonifera for the first time. Compounds 4 – 7 , 9 and 10 exhibited inhibitory potential against AChE, with 50% inhibition concentration (IC₅₀) values of 42.66 ± 8.48, 20.56 ± 5.61, 4.89 ± 2.28, 17.11 ± 3.24, 38.13 ± 4.95 and 21.11 ± 4.16 μM, respectively; whereas, compounds 1 , 2 , 4 and 6 were found to be active against BChE, with IC₅₀ values of 421.72 ± 1.43, 176.46 ± 2.51, 230.27 ± 3.52 and 136.71 ± 3.33 μM, respectively. It has been suggested that the inhibition of these enzymes by the sterols and phlorotannins derived from marine brown algae could be a useful approach for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.     

Inter-river, -annual and -seasonal variability in fecundity of Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., in rivers in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada

Abstract  Fecundity is an integral component of the calculation of Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., egg depositions in rivers. Fecundity determinations can be time consuming and prohibitively expensive in terms of application on a broad scale. Consequently, where river specific and annual data are not available, default means are used in calculations in Newfoundland and Labrador. It is important therefore to know the extent of variability among rivers, years and seasons and the potential error involved in using default values. Annual fecundity data were available for one river in Labrador and nine rivers in Newfoundland. Fecundity was determined from ovaries collected in the recreational fishery in the summer for all 10 rivers. For three of these rivers, fecundity determined from summer sampling was compared with that obtained from sampling at time of spawning in autumn. There was significant variability in fecundity with length as a covariate among rivers, years and seasons. Mean number of eggs per female decreased between 8.3% and 29.0% from summer to autumn while mean number of eggs per cm decreased from 5.0% to 28.5%. Depending on the measure of relative fecundity used (no. of eggs kg⁻¹ or no. of eggs cm⁻¹), results of simulations showed that estimates of egg deposition incorporating defaults can deviate from those obtained by applying year-specific and river-specific values by 50–75%, without adjusting for the seasonal reduction in fecundity, and by 30–50% with an adjustment. A sensitivity analysis revealed that of three parameters used in the calculation of egg deposition (size, percent female and fecundity), fecundity was the most influential.     

Changes in epidemiological patterns of sea lice infestation on farmed Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., in Scotland between 1996 and 2006

Analyses of a unique database containing sea lice records over an 11 year period provide evidence of changing infestation patterns in Scotland. The data, collected from more than 50 commercial Atlantic salmon farms, indicate that both species of sea lice commonly found in Scotland, Lepeophtheirus salmonis and Caligus elongatus, have declined on farms over the past decade. Reductions for both species have been particularly marked since 2001 when more effective veterinary medicines became available. Treatment data were also available in the database and these show a growing trend towards the use of the in-feed medication emamectin benzoate (Slice), particularly in the first year of the salmon production cycle. However, this trend towards single product use has not been sustained in 2006, the latest year for which data are available. There is some evidence of region to region variation within Scotland with the Western Isles experiencing higher levels of infestation. However, compared to the levels observed between 1996 and 2000, all regions have benefited from reduced lice infestation, with the overall pattern showing a particular reduction in the second and third quarters of the second year of production.