Hydraulic compression of mice to 166 atmospheres

Hydraulic uniform compression elicited tremors, uncoordinated limb movements, and tonic convulsions in liquid-breathing mice at pressures ranging from 50 to 100 atmospheres. Such abnormal muscular activity was observed neither in control animals nor in mice caudally to a spinal transection. Uniform compression of isolated preparations of mouse muscle in saline failed to contract at pressures up to 200 atmospheres.     

Effect of Water Exchange and Mechanical Aeration on Grow‐out of the Amazon River Prawn in Ponds

Exchange and aeration of pond water are common practices in semi‐intensive freshwater prawn culture, but there is lack of scientifically based information on the results. We evaluated the effects of water flow through the ponds and mechanical aeration in semi‐intensive cultures of Macrobrachium amazonicum. A total of 40 juveniles/m² were stocked for 4 mo in 12 earthen ponds. Four randomly assigned treatments were applied: no aeration + no water exchange (NN), diurnal aeration + no water exchange (DA), nocturnal aeration + no water exchange (NA), and continuous water flow (CF). Temperature, pH, total suspended solids, and soluble orthophosphate in the water column did not differ among treatments. Dissolved oxygen (DO) concentrations in ponds with nocturnal aeration were significantly higher than in other treatments. The concentration of inorganic nitrogen was significantly higher in the CF treatment, whereas organic nitrogen was higher in treatments NN, DA, and NA. This suggests that primary production is higher in static ponds. Thermal stratification started at 0900 h, and the maximum difference between surface and bottom temperature varied from 1.5 (CF) to 2.8 C (NN). The difference between DO levels in the surface and bottom water of the ponds began to appear at 0800 h and varied from 0.50 (CF) to 5.23 mg/L (NN). Diurnal aeration and high continuous water flow were efficient in disrupting the stratification. No significant difference was found for survival, mean weight, apparent feed conversion rate, and productivity among treatments. Thus, disrupting water stratification, aerating ponds at night, or exchanging the pond water are ineffective in Amazon River prawn farming in semi‐intensive systems, at least for stocking densities lower than 40 individuals/m². About 1000 kg of Amazon River prawn can be produced in static ponds with no aeration in approximately 4 mo. This management strategy saves water and energy and reduces production costs .     

Technical and economic feasibility of integrating seahorse culture in shrimp/oyster farms

Integrated multi‐trophic aquaculture systems (IMTA) are building ecosystems designed to produce aquatic organisms with less environmental impact. We have developed a simple system and a management strategy for introducing seahorse (Hippocampus spp.) culture in shrimp/oyster farms to increase economic sustainability. The system includes broodstock, nursery and grow‐out phases of Hippocampus reidi G. culture. We performed a test in a 42.4‐ha marine shrimp/oyster farm, which showed that this system is technically feasible. Then, we performed a partial budget analysis including cost‐return, cash flow and financial feasibility analysis. More than 12 000 marketable size seahorses may be produced in 402 m² annually. Initial investment was only US$ 21 103.00. The benefit–cost ratio was ~US$ 20.00 for each US$ 1.00 spent, internal rate of return was 131% and payback period <2 years. In conclusion, the introduction of seahorse in shrimp/oyster IMTA system is technically feasible, profitable, resilient and shows high liquidity. This system may be easily established in developing countries and has potential to provide seahorses to supply different markets (live specimens for the marine aquarium trade and dried specimens for traditional Chinese medicine and the curio trade). In addition, it can indirectly contribute to preserve natural populations.     

Cytogenetic studies of Atlantic mojarras (Perciformes – Gerreidae): chromosomal mapping of 5S and 18S ribosomal genes using double FISH

Fish of the family Gerreidae, mainly species of the genera Diapterus and Eugerres, have high potential for cultivation, because of their saline tolerance. A detailed cytogenetic analysis of Diapterus auratus, Diapterus rhombeus and Eugerres brasilianus was conducted using conventional staining, C‐banding, Ag‐NOR, AT/GC‐specific fluorochrome staining and mapping of ribosomal sequences with 5S and 18S rDNA probes. All the species exhibited symmetrical karyotype, 2n = 48 acrocentric chromosomes. Ag‐NORs and 18S rDNA are present in the interstitial position on pair 1 (genus Diapterus) and pair 6 in Eugerres brasilianus. The 5S rDNA sites, located in the interstitial position (pair 11), are conserved in the three species. Heterochromatic regions are similar in the Diapterus species, showing a pattern of reduced and centromeric bands, differing from E. brasilianus, where, in addition to these, more prominent interstitial bands were observed. GC‐rich regions are located at ribosomal sites. Karyotypic comparison between Diapterus and Eugerres reveals similarity in chromosomal macrostructure, differing in C‐positive heterochromatin distribution and position of 18S sites, indicating the occurrence of structural microrearrangements. Although complementary analyses are needed, the similarities observed for these and other species suggest the possibility of breaking postzygotic barriers and their potential use, through induced interspecific or intergeneric hybridizations.     

KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT FOR LAND DEGRADATION MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT: AN ANALYSIS OF CONTEMPORARY THINKING

It is increasingly recognised that land degradation monitoring and assessment can benefit from incorporating multiple sources of knowledge, using a variety of methods at different scales, including the perspectives of researchers, land managers and other stakeholders. However, the knowledge and methods required to achieve this are often dispersed across individuals and organisations at different levels and locations. Appropriate knowledge management mechanisms are therefore required to more efficiently harness these different sources of knowledge and facilitate their broader dissemination and application. This paper examines what knowledge is, how it is generated and explores how it may be stored, transferred and exchanged between knowledge producers and users before it is applied to monitor and assess land degradation at the local scale. It suggests that knowledge management can also benefit from the development of mechanisms that promote changes in understanding and efficient means of accessing and/or brokering knowledge. Broadly, these processes for knowledge management can (i) help identify and share good practices and build capacity for land degradation monitoring at different scales and in different contexts and (ii) create knowledge networks to share lessons learned and monitoring data among and between different stakeholders, scales and locations. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.