Evaluation of Decapsulated Artemia Cysts in Hatchery Diets for Channel Catfish Ictalurus punctatus Fry and Effects on Subsequent Fingerling Production

Abstract.— Two 10-d hatchery growth trials were conducted to determine if differences in growth, body composition, and survival existed among catfish fry Ictalurus punctatus fed a diet of 100% catfish-starter (CS) or CS in combination with decapsulated Artemia cysts (DAC) at 25%, 50 % , or 75% of diet weight. A 120–d production trial was undertaken immediately following the first hatchery trial to evaluate the effects of diet on production characteristics (survival, length, weight, feed conversion ratio, and total yield) of fingerling catfish produced from hatchery-raised fry. Fry fed diets containing DAC weighed 61–98% more ( P < 0.05) than fry fed only CS. The size differential of DAC-fed fry was maintained through 120 d of growth in simulated nursery ponds (0.001-ha earthen-bottom pools). The increased growth of fry fed DAC might have been related to differences in dietary lipid content, amino acid composition, or digestibility of CS and DAC. Body weights of fingerlings produced under simulated production conditions from fry fed hatchery diets containing 50% and 75% DAC were 17% and 25% higher, respectively, 130 d post-hatch, than fingerlings produced from fry fed only CS. In addition, the total yield of fingerlings produced from fry fed 75% DAC was 17% greater that that of fingerlings produced from fry fed only CS. The increased performance of fingerlings produced from DAC-fed fry could have resulted from their larger size at stocking, since larger fry might be capable of capturing natural food organisms and ingesting prepared diets more effectively than smaller fish. CS-DAC diet combinations could be used to increase weight gain of hatchery-raised fry if the cost-benefit ratio of adding DAC to the standard hatchery diet warrants its use.     

Effect of landscape position on the sediment chemistry of abandoned-channel wetlands

The nature of sediments in abandoned channels is an important component of their development as floodplain wetlands. The texture, organic matter, phosphorous, potassium, and nitrogen content of sediments were determined for abandoned channels along the Iowa and Cedar Rivers near their confluence in Iowa. Differences in the levels of these constituents were examined among categories of three landscape gradients: present connectivity to the river, time since abandonment, and proximity to agricultural land use. Local scale processes of ecological development are seen in the importance of time for increased organic matter and nitrogen. Basin scale processes of sediment transport and deposition are revealed by the importance of connectivity for decreases in these two elements, and by the counter-intuitive findings for nitrogen and especially phosphorous and potassium in relation to agricultural proximity. Location on a floodplain is important for differentiating development, but it cannot be reduced to univariate gradients.     

Treatment of granular cell tumor via complete right lung resection in a horse

A 7-year-old warmblood mare was referred because of a respiratory tract disorder; pulmonary granular cell tumor was diagnosed. Pulmonary granular cell tumor is a locally invasive but rare type of tumor with low metastatic potential. The entire right lung was resected to ensure removal of all neoplastic tissue. The horse recovered well and has minimal difficulties functioning with one lung. Most of these tumors are diagnosed during postmortem examination. To our knowledge, this is the first report of pulmonary granular cell tumor treated by complete lung resection in a horse.     

Effects of Environmental Sodium Chloride on Percent Hatch, Yolk Utilization, and Survival of Channel Catfish Fry

Abstract.— Only limited research has addressed the effect of salinity on hatching of channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus eggs, and no studies have evaluated the effect of salinity on fry development and survival. This study was undertaken to determine the effect of environmental sodium chloride (0, 1, 2, and 4 g/L. NaCl) on percent hatch, yolk utilization, and survival of channel catfish fry. Experiments were conducted in recirculating systems using seven egg masses (1–2 d old). Each egg mass was divided into smaller portions which remained undissociated or were dissociated with sodium sulfite (NaSO₃). Eggs were incubated until hatching. Wet and dry weights were obtained for sacfry at 1 and 5 d post-hatch to determine wet weight gain and dry weight loss, and fry were sampled 7 d after initiation of exogenous feeding to determine survival. Percent hatch, yolk utilization, and survival of fry hatched from undissociated eggs were greatest at 1 g/L NaCl. In addition, treatment of eggs with NaSO₃ significantly reduced percent hatch at all NaCl levels. Although our results indicate that addition of NaCI to hatchery water supplies can increase production of channel catfish fry, additional research is needed before this practice can be recommended on a commercial basis.