Reproductive ecology of the threatened and endemic freshwater mussel Lampsilis bracteata

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Assessment of temperature or salinity effects on larval development by catecholamine‐induced metamorphosis of hatchery‐reared flat oyster,Ostrea angasi (Sowerby 1871) larvae

A need to improve larval rearing techniques led to the development of protocols for catecholamine‐induced settlement of flat oyster, Ostrea angasi, larvae. To further refine these techniques and optimize settlement percentages, the influence of salinity or temperature on development of O. angasi larvae was assessed using epinephrine‐induced metamorphosis. Larvae were reared between salinities of 15–35 and temperatures between 14.5 and 31°C. The greatest percentage survival, growth, development occurred when larvae were reared between 26 and 29°C and between salinities of 30 and 35. Larvae reared outside this salinity and temperature range exhibited reduced growth, survival and/or delayed development. Short‐term (1 h) reduction in larval rearing temperature from 26°C to 23.5°C significantly increased larval metamorphosis without affecting larval survival. Short‐term (1 h) increase in larval rearing temperature from 26°C to 29 and 31°C decreased larval survival and metamorphosis. To ensure repeatability in outcomes, tests showed that larvae sourced from different estuaries did not vary significantly in their metamorphic response to short‐term temperature manipulation and epinephrine‐induced metamorphosis.     

Potential of meat meal to replace fish meal in extruded dry diets for barramundi, Lates calcarifer (Bloch). II. Organoleptic characteristics and fatty acid composition

The organoleptic quality of barramundi fed for 66 days on pelleted diets containing varying amounts of fish meal and meat meal was determined in two experiments (E1 and E2). Each compared four diets: a 430 g kg^?1 crude protein (CP) control diet (containing 35% Chilean anchovy fish meal); two diets containing high inclusions (40% or more) of meat meal; and a proprietary barramundi diet. In E1, the two meat meal diets contained 10% Chilean fish meal whereas the two meat meal diets in E2 had no marine protein ingredients. Panellists identified and rated the colour of flesh, and scored odour, flavour and texture characteristics and overall liking on structured graphic line scales (0–100). Fish fed the high‐meat meal diets were sweeter and firmer than those fed the high‐fish meal control diet in E1 (P < 0.05). Scores for fishy flavour were also highest for the meat meal diets and lowest for the proprietary diet. In both E1 and E2, scores were high (> 60) for overall liking and low (< 10) for undesirable odours and tastes. Exclusion of all sources of marine protein from the diet in E2 did not detract from the sensory value of the fish. The influence of diet on the fatty acid profile of the fish was examined in E2. Compared with fish fed the control diet, the neutral lipid fraction of those fed the meat meal diets had higher proportions of saturated and short‐chain monounsaturated fatty acids at the expense of longer chain fatty acids, especially 22:6n‐3. Polar lipids showed only subtle dietary effects, which were confined to the long‐chain unsaturated fatty acids.     

Fish species incidence patterns in naturally fragmented Chihuahuan Desert streams

We investigated how stream fragmentation affects local fish species persistence and extinction from three Rio Grande systems (Texas, USA) stream reaches with different levels of natural fragmentation. We examined species–volume (SV) relationships of fish assemblages in 42 pools across the watersheds and predicted greater fragmentation would correspond to an increase in the slope of the SV relationship due to decreased within‐reach rescue effects. In addition, we examined relationships among tributary‐specific nested subset patterns, local habitat features and spatial position of the reaches relative to the Rio Grande mainstem to better understand the importance of local and regional processes on fish species richness patterns in the stream reaches. Slopes of the SV curves did not differ among the stream reaches, but the intercepts of the SV curves were significantly different. These results indicated rescue effects among habitats within a stream reach were not apparent; however, rescue effects from the mainstem largely determined the species richness of a given stream reach. The nested subset patterns in all stream reaches were related to several local environmental factors, and large, deep pools provided important aquatic refugia in all three systems. We suggest declines in mainstem and tributary flows will likely continue to impact local and regional fish assemblage attributes. High flow events are important for dispersal and can reset tributary fish communities for the next extinction‐driven, successional cycle.     

Effect of climatic factors on the potency of ioxynil and bromoxynil

Outdoor pot experiments, carried out between 1967 and 1971, mainly with Polygonum lapathifolium L. and Stellaria media (L.) Vill., showed that herbicidal potency of ioxynil and bromoxynil salts and esters was affected by climatic conditions, particularly solar radiation and relative humidity. Multiple regression equations were frequently obtained which accounted for 80% or more of the observed variation in effective dose (ED₉₀). By contrast, experiments in growth cabinets suggested that air temperature was the most important climatic variable; the reasons for this disagreement are discussed. It is concluded that climatic factors affect the potency of ioxynil and bromoxynil via their influence on leaf uptake; ester formulations (emulsions) were much less affected than aqueous salt solutions.     

Optimizing Prepared Feed Ration for Gonad Production of the Green Sea Urchin Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis

Adult green sea urchins Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis were fed three different quantities (0.25, 0.50, 1.00% body weight/d) of a prepared feed during a 12‐wk experiment to determine the effect of food ration on gonad quantity and quality. A diet of kelp, Laminaria longicruris and/or L. digitata, fed at satiation (3% body weight/d) and urchins taken from the wild at the beginning and end of the experiment served as controls. Urchins fed prepared feed or kelp increased their percent gonad yield significantly over the experimental period. Affer 12 wk, individuals fed the prepared diet at 0.50 or 1.00% body weighffd had significantly higher percent gonad yields (mean ± SEM: 23.5 ± 0.6% and 23.4 ± 0.7%, respectively) than urchins fed at 0.25% body weight/d (18.0 ± 1.0%) or control animals given kelp (18.3 ± 0.8%). There was no significant difference in gonad yield between the 0.50 and 1.00% feeding levels. All feeding treatments had significantly higher percent gonad yields than urchins sampled from the wild at the end of the experiment that had recently spawned (2.8 ± 0.5%). There was no significant difference in gonad taste among urchins fed the prepared diet at 0.25% body weight/d, those given kelp, or those collected from the wild at the end of the experiment (good to very good ratings), but all of these treatments had significantly better tasting gonads than urchins given the prepared feed at 0.50 or 1.00% body weight/d (satisfactory ratings). Gonad taste rating of urchins fed a prepared diet was dependent on ration with greater feed amounts leading to worse tasting gonads (linear regression: r²= 0.68, P < 0.01). Gonad color, texture, and firmness did not differ significantly among any of the feed ration treatments or kelp control. Results suggest that the best ration for prepared feed would be 0.50% body weightld since this would optimize gonad yield while minimizing feed costs. Further research on prepared feeds is required to optimize both gonad color and taste.