Repeated physical disturbances and the stability of sub‐tropical coral communities in Hong Kong,China

• 1. This paper reports on the dynamics of the coral community structure at A Ma Wan (AMW) and A Ye Wan (AYW) in Tung Ping Chau, Hong Kong, focusing on data collected before and after the summer typhoon seasons in 1997 to 1999. This period (1999) experienced the highest frequency of severe tropical cyclones to hit Hong Kong with one cyclone being the strongest to hit in the last 23 years (1984 to 2006).
• 2. This is part of a long‐term monitoring programme of subtropical coral communities that has been set up in AMW since May 1997 and AYW since May 1998 with nine fixed position 40 m long transects and 0.5 m × 0.5 m permanent quadrats laid at 5 m intervals along each transect. A total of 45 scleractinian coral species from 21 genera (12 families) was recorded, with 40 species in AMW and 32 species in AYW recorded at the beginning of the study.
• 3. Multidimensional scaling ordinations showed distinct spatial variations in the coral communities within and between sites. These variations were probably a result of the differential effects of the repeated cyclone impacts on the communities. Cyphastrea serailia, Goniopora lobata, Montipora peltiformis and Pavona decussata were the dominant species most strongly affected by cyclone impacts at AMW, experiencing a 6.2–16.2% loss of mean area cover during the study period. Some dominant species (e.g. P. decussata) in AYW also experienced a 6.5–14.3% loss of mean area cover within the same period.
• 4. Overall, these coral community structures appeared relatively stable and resistant to repeated physical disturbances. However, they may have low resilience towards more severe disturbances in the future. Preserving the resilience of coral communities/species in Tung Ping Chau should be one of the main goals of coral conservation strategies for the island.

Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

How much variation can be explained by seasonal,spatial and environmental effects in nekton assemblages of the Terminos Lagoon?

• 1. The coastline is very sensitive to both climatic and human influences but also provides essential goods and services upon which human welfare depends. Species inhabiting these coastal areas provide valuable resources and enhance ecosystem functioning: it is therefore essential to understand the main factors influencing species abundance patterns. The aim of this study is to estimate the amount of variation in nekton coastal assemblages explained by spatial, temporal and environmental variables.
• 2. Nekton sampling was carried out over 17 months in the Terminos Lagoon, a reserve area situated in the Gulf of Mexico, using a shrimp trawl. At each station, 11 environmental variables were recorded. The influence of seasonal, spatial and environmental variables on nekton species abundance was analysed using Partial Canonical Correspondence Analysis (PCCA).
• 3. The explanatory variables explained only 19.7% of the total observed variation in the nekton community for the Terminos Lagoon. The major part of the explained variation was due to the spatial effect (9.2%), while environmental variables and seasonality explained only 3.6% and 0.8%, respectively, suggesting the necessity to consider experimental fishing design in such artisanal fisheries.
• 4. Results also suggest focusing on more integrative indicators of community structure such as measures of taxonomic diversity based on presence/absence or on measures related to functional attributes of communities rather than using species abundance patterns to predict changes in coastal ecosystems.

Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Supplemental iron and phosphorus increase dietary inclusion of cottonseed and soybean meal in olive flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus)

A long‐term feeding experiment was conducted to investigate the use of cottonseed and soybean meal (CS) with iron and phosphorus supplements in diets for olive flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus). Olive flounder with an initial average size of 28.5 ± 0.35 g (mean ± SD) were divided into 15 groups (three tanks per dietary treatment) and fed 480 g kg^?1 crude protein diets in which each of five isonitrogenous diets was formulated to contain different levels of cottonseed/soybean meal (1 : 1) to replace fish meal (FM) with iron and phosphorus supplementations. The five experimental diets were as follows: diet 1 (control), 0%CS; diet 2, 20%CS; diet 3, 30%CS; diet 4, 30%CS + Fe&P; and diet 5, 40%CS + Fe&P. After 26 weeks of feeding trial, no significant differences were observed in weight gain, feed utilization and survival among all the treatments. The total gossypol accumulation in liver of fish fed diets supplemented with iron was significantly lower than that of fish fed diets without supplementation of iron. The results indicate that the addition of iron in diets could prevent the absorption of free gossypol. The findings in this study suggest that dietary supplements of iron and phosphorus could increase the inclusion of cottonseed and soybean meal for FM replacement in diets for marine fish species.     

Comparative intestinal absorption of amino acids in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), totoaba (Totoaba macdonaldi) and Pacific bluefin tuna (Thunnus orientalis)

The kinetics of amino acid absorption in the proximal section of three fish species were studied using an everted intestine technique and a pancreatic digest of casein (Tryptone), as the model amino acid mixture. Fresh intestine of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) was used to set up the experimental system, and results were compared with those obtained using intestines from totoaba (Totoaba macdonaldi) and bluefin tuna fish (Thunnus orientalis). The kinetics of amino acid absorption was sigmoidal for all amino acids and for each species of fish tested. In general, specific absorptions of essential amino acids were higher than those of non‐essential ones. No correlation between the concentration of amino acids in the Tryptone solution and the corresponding absorptions was found. The maximum specific absorption rates of all amino acids for trout were 10 times higher than those determined for totoaba and bluefin tuna. The relative amounts of the different amino acids preferentially absorbed in all three species were different. Results obtained from the everted technique may be applicable to the design of formulated diets for large fish species with commercial value.     

The pond's shape matters: differential growth,physiological condition and survival of epibenthic Farfantepenaeus aztecus postlarvae

As a function of the water quality provided by square, circular and oval experimental ponds, the growth, survival and oxygen requirements in epibenthic postlarvae of Farfantepenaeus aztecus were analysed in relation to their routine metabolism and apparent heat increment. Temperature, oxygen concentration, pH and salinity were measured daily in two experimental ponds of each shape. The postlarvae oxygen consumption during two 24‐h cycles, their growth, physiological condition and survival and the productivity in the ponds were estimated. Low values of pH, oxygen concentration and phytobenthos productivity, and reduced postlarvae relative growth and survival were observed in the square ponds. We suggest that the latter results from a deficient water circulation related to the effect of the pond's shape on dissolved oxygen levels and, consequently, on growth and survival. The postlarvae routine metabolism, including feeding, varied between 1.91 and 2.25 mg O₂ h^?1 g^?1 wet weight, whereas the minimum oxygen concentration needed in the ponds is approximately 4.25 mg O₂ L^?1. These conditions were achieved in the oval ponds concurrent with higher survival and growth values, in which individuals distributed randomly, for which we suggest that oval‐shaped ponds could be the most adequate for the culture of this and other penaeid species.     

酶法提取椰子蛋白质及其对亚基的影响

研究酶制剂的种类、用量、提取温度、pH、料液比等因素对椰子蛋白质提取率的影响,通过正交试验研究最佳的提取条件。得到的椰子蛋白质进行SDS-PAGE分析,研究酶法提取对椰子蛋白质亚基组成的影响。结果表明,添加质量分数0.3%的风味蛋白酶的提取效果最好,各因素对提取率影响的次序为:料液比>pH>温度>提取时间,其中,料液比和pH对提取率的影响达到了显著水平;最佳工艺参数为:酶质量分数0.3%、50℃、pH8.5、料液比1∶15和时间2h,在此条件下,椰子蛋白质的提取率为78.28%。SDS-PAGE分析表明,风味蛋白酶对椰子蛋白的酶解作用十分显著,与缓冲溶液提取的椰子蛋白质相比,酶法提取的椰子蛋白质中小分子质量亚基含量很高。     

中国野生葡萄醛脱氢酶基因在拟南芥中的过量表达

将质粒pWR306中包含ED35s启动子、Omega元件及TNOS终止子的一段核苷酸序列定向克隆到质粒pCAMBIA1300,构建了植物中间表达载体pWR-II;将重组质粒pGEM-T-ALDH的醛脱氢酶(ALDH)基因片段定向克隆到pWR-II,构建了葡萄ALDH基因的植物过量表达载体pWR-II-ALDH。采用改进冻融法将其导入农杆菌EHA105,采用花序浸蘸法转化拟南芥,获得了潮霉素抗性的转化拟南芥植株。PCR检测证明外源基因已整合进拟南芥基因组,Real-timePCR结果表明ALDH基因在转化植株的表达量远高于野生种。转化植株和野生植株在形态上有一定的差异,说明葡萄ALDH基因在拟南芥中表达对其生长发育有一定影响。     

荔枝的功能及活性成分研究现状

自古以来,中国就有荔枝各组织保健医疗功能的记载。现代医学、营养学、植物化学和药理学为荔枝的医疗和保健功能提供了坚实的证据,其功能活性成分正不断被揭示。对荔枝果肉抗氧化、"上火"和致敏原,果皮抗氧化和抗癌功效,核抗癌、抗病毒、降血糖、调血脂等功能和相关成分研究现状进行了介绍。     

桃花源桃花品种资源及其特殊种质

桃花源现有桃花品种25个,具有花期较早、花期较长、花色淡雅、色调柔和、花型活泼等特点。其中,‘春蕾’、‘单二乔’、‘碗寿粉’为首次报道品种;‘单红’、‘单二乔’雌蕊败育,需冷量极低,流胶病抗性强,具有稳定的秋花特性,是早花、抗流胶病品种选育的良好亲本。     

第8届国际甜椒圃地试验报告

从6个方面对参试品种进行了比较分析,结论认为：除ISPN8#3在陕西岐山试验地表现差以外,其余品种（系）均表现优良。