Tolerance to frost and ice encasement in cultivars of timothy and perennial ryegrass during winter

Ice encasement causes major winter damage in grasslands in coastal areas of Northern Scandinavia and may also affect grass performance in a future changing climate. Changes in ice‐encasement tolerance (LD50), frost tolerance (LT50) and water‐soluble carbohydrate (WSC) content were investigated in different cultivars of timothy and perennial ryegrass sampled at three sites with contrasting conditions. Timothy endured ice encasement for 40 d more than ryegrass (maximum LD50 63 vs. 20 d), and a cultivar originating from 69°N tolerated significantly longer periods in ice than a cultivar from 59°N. A similar relationship between cultivar origin and tolerance was observed for ryegrass. The higher LD50 in timothy compared with ryegrass seemed to be associated with a lower rate of change in WSC content during ice encasement, but no apparent relationship was found between WSC content at the start of encasement and plant survival in ice. A significant linear relationship was found between LD50 and LT50 of plants sampled in the field. A differing decline in frost tolerance during ice encasement for the species indicated that timothy is more resistant to dehardening under ice than ryegrass. This study contributes data and functional relationships needed to develop models of grass performance during winter.     

BIOECONOMICS OF CAPTURE-BASED AQUACULTURE OF COD (GADUS MORHUA)

This study formulates and parameterizes a bioeconomic model of capture-based aquaculture (CBA) of cod (Gadus morhua). The model is solved for the optimal harvest pattern and calculates economic profit and net present value for a model farm. The biological sub-model incorporates knowledge from interviews with existing farmers, research trials and existing cod aquaculture literature. Economic components are obtained from interviews and sales statistics from exporters. A farm of the modeled scale is likely to influence market prices, hence sales prices were estimated assuming a supply response based on the price elasticity. Taking into account the opportunity cost of selling the fish directly, NPV is found to be marginally positive. Sensitivity analysis revealed that profitability is sensitive to changes in several parameters. Hence, further research is valuable and care should be taken when considering investments in cod CBA.     

Tissue fluoride accumulation and kidney lesions in freshwater‐reared Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) fed with high dietary fluoride concentrations

Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba) and other marine zooplankton may contain high levels of fluoride. The aim of the present experiment was to determine whether dietary fluoride from Antarctic krill at levels similar to the old and the new EU allowable limits in fish feeds (150 and 350 mg kg^?1) would induce kidney lesions in freshwater‐reared Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar). In addition to the diets containing krill, two high‐sodium fluoride (NaF) diets (1500 and 3500 mg kg^?1) were used to investigate the effect on growth, feed intake, faecal excretion of minerals and accumulation of fluoride in various tissues. No major effects on growth or feed intake were observed. A higher proportion of the ingested fluoride was absorbed in salmon fed with the NaF diets compared with fish fed with krill shell diets. Fluoride accumulated in liver, kidney and especially bone. Faecal excretion of calcium and magnesium was higher for the NaF‐fed fish compared with fish fed with the control and krill shell diets, whereas the levels of these minerals in plasma were unaffected. Dietary fluoride from krill shells did not induce kidney lesions. One‐third of the salmon fed with the highest NaF diet showed signs of crystal formation within the distal tubules and/or collecting ducts in the kidney.     

Importance of broodstock holding temperature on fecundity and egg quality in three groups of photo‐manipulated Atlantic cod broodstock

We conducted a study to evaluate the effects of holding water temperature on the fecundity and egg quality of photo‐manipulated Atlantic cod broodstock. Adult cod Gadus morhua were distributed among several 25‐m³ tanks. Three separate photoperiods were used for each group to obtain three spawning per year (in May, July and December). While photoperiod was controlled, the temperature was not controlled and followed the ambient seasonal pattern. Due to the uncontrolled seasonal temperature used, each spawning group experienced different temperatures at a particular gonadal developmental stage. Otherwise, all groups were treated the same. Results showed that the May and July spawning groups released significantly more eggs per kg of fish (four and three times more respectively) than the December spawning group. The egg fertilization success and proportion of normal eggs were also higher in the May and July groups. Possible reason for the difference may be that the May and July groups experienced lower temperatures (4–7°C) during oocyte maturation and ovulation than the December group (7–9°C). Our results show the importance of using lower/natural temperatures during oocyte maturation and ovulation to obtain good quality eggs in photo‐manipulated cod broodstock.     

Feeding motivation as a personality trait in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus): role of serotonergic neurotransmission

Consistent individual variation in behaviour and physiology (i.e. animal personality or coping style) has emerged as a central topic in many biological disciplines. Yet, underlying mechanisms of crucial personality traits like feeding behaviour in novel environments remain unclear. Comparative studies, however, reveal a strong degree of evolutionary conservation of neural mechanisms controlling such behaviours throughout the vertebrate lineage. Previous studies have indicated duration of stress-induced anorexia as a consistent individual characteristic in teleost fishes. This study aims to determine to what degree brain 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT, serotonin) activity pertains to this aspect of animal personality, as a correlate to feed anticipatory behaviour and recovery of feed intake after transfer to a novel environment. Crucial to the definition of animal personality, a strong degree of individual consistency in different measures of feeding behaviour (feeding latency and feeding score), was demonstrated. Furthermore, low serotonergic activity in the hypothalamus was highly correlated with a personality characterized by high feeding motivation, with feeding motivation represented as an overall measure incorporating several behavioural parameters in a Principle Component Analyses (PCA). This study thus confirms individual variation in brain 5-HT neurotransmission as a correlate to complex behavioural syndromes related to feeding motivation.     

Saponins and phytosterols in diets for European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) juveniles: effects on growth,intestinal morphology and physiology

This study aimed to elucidate the effects of two soy antinutrients, saponins and phytosterols, on growth, intestinal health and function of European sea bass juveniles. Seven fishmeal‐based diets were formulated: a control diet without antinutrients and six experimental diets containing low or high levels of soyasaponins (SapL and SapH, respectively), low or high levels of phytosterols (PhytL and PhytH, respectively) and low or high levels of soyasaponins + phytosterols (SapPhytL and SapPhytH, respectively). A feeding trial was conducted for 59 days after which blood was collected for plasmatic cholesterol quantification and intestinal samples were collected for histology, digestive enzymes activity and gene expression analysis. Histology was also performed at day 15. PhytL resulted in high distal intestine (DI) relative weight and decreased plasma cholesterol, while PhytH caused inflammatory changes in the DI. SapH depressed maltase and alkaline phosphatase activity in DI and the histological evaluation indicated some inflammatory changes. The SapPhytH resulted in decreased maltase activity in the DI and indications of inflammatory changes that were supported by the results on gene expression profiles. The antinutrients tested did not compromise growth, however, caused some gastrointestinal disturbance that may affect fish in the long term.     

Between- and within-site variation of density and bending properties of Picea abies structural timber from Norway

This study provides an analysis on the variability of structural timber of Norway spruce (Picea abies) grown in Norway. Density, modulus of elasticity (MOE) and bending strength were measured on 1188 boards from 205 trees, sampled from 14 sites throughout Southern Norway, Eastern Norway and Trøndelag. The area represents the procurement area for the majority of Norwegian sawmills. The variability of the timber properties was analysed in a linear mixed model where the random variance was divided into variance due to site, variance due to trees and within-tree variance. Models describing variance due to site based on site index, altitude and latitude were developed, and combined with data from the Norwegian National Forest Inventory to estimate mean values and variability of the timber properties. The results showed that major parts of the variance due to site are explained by altitude and site index, and for density also by latitude. Major parts of the variance due to site and the variance due to trees in bending strength and MOE were explained by density.     

Development and comparison of a real-time PCR assay for detection of Dichelobacter nodosus with culturing and conventional PCR: harmonisation between three laboratories

Background

Ovine footrot is a contagious disease with worldwide occurrence in sheep. The main causative agent is the fastidious bacterium Dichelobacter nodosus. In Scandinavia, footrot was first diagnosed in Sweden in 2004 and later also in Norway and Denmark. Clinical examination of sheep feet is fundamental to diagnosis of footrot, but D. nodosus should also be detected to confirm the diagnosis. PCR-based detection using conventional PCR has been used at our institutes, but the method was laborious and there was a need for a faster, easier-to-interpret method. The aim of this study was to develop a TaqMan-based real-time PCR assay for detection of D. nodosus and to compare its performance with culturing and conventional PCR.

Methods

A D. nodosus-specific TaqMan based real-time PCR assay targeting the 16S rRNA gene was designed. The inclusivity and exclusivity (specificity) of the assay was tested using 55 bacterial and two fungal strains. To evaluate the sensitivity and harmonisation of results between different laboratories, aliquots of a single DNA preparation were analysed at three Scandinavian laboratories. The developed real-time PCR assay was compared to culturing by analysing 126 samples, and to a conventional PCR method by analysing 224 samples. A selection of PCR-products was cloned and sequenced in order to verify that they had been identified correctly.

Results

The developed assay had a detection limit of 3.9 fg of D. nodosus genomic DNA. This result was obtained at all three laboratories and corresponds to approximately three copies of the D. nodosus genome per reaction. The assay showed 100% inclusivity and 100% exclusivity for the strains tested. The real-time PCR assay found 54.8% more positive samples than by culturing and 8% more than conventional PCR.

Conclusions

The developed real-time PCR assay has good specificity and sensitivity for detection of D. nodosus, and the results are easy to interpret. The method is less time-consuming than either culturing or conventional PCR.     

基于进化遗传优化的自适应神经模糊推理新系统与地理信息系统的非洲山地土壤有机碳储量估算和绘图

Soil organic carbon (SOC) pool has the potential to mitigate or enhance climate change by either acting as a sink,or a source of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) and also plays a fundamental role in the health and proper functioning of soils to sustain life on Earth.As such,the objective of this study was to investigate the applicability of a novel evolutionary genetic optimization-based adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS-EG) in predicting and mapping the spatial patterns of SOC stocks in the Eastern Mau Forest Reserve,Kenya.Field measurements and auxiliary data reflecting the soil-forming factors were used to design an ANFIS-EG model,which was then implemented to predict and map the areal differentiation of SOC stocks in the Eastern Mau Forest Reserve.This was achieved with a reasonable level of uncertainty (i.e.,root mean square error of 15.07 Mg C ha-1),hence demonstrating the applicability of the ANFIS-EG in SOC mapping studies.There is potential for improving the model performance,as indicated by the current ratio of performance to deviation (1.6).The mnapping also revealed marginally higher SOC stocks in the forested ecosystems (i.e.,an average of 109.78 Mg C ha-1) than in the agro-ecosystems (i.e.,an average of 95.9 Mg C ha-1).     

Utilization of H2SO4‐hydrolysed phosphorus from herring bone by‐products in feed for Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) 0+ postsmolt

The utilization efficiency of phosphorus (P) hydrolysed from herring by‐products in feed for Atlantic salmon 0⁺ postsmolt was studied. Seven diets were produced with a low P level (D1): 5 g soluble P/kg, with P hydrolysed from herring by‐products (D2, D3, D4): 7, 9 and 11 g soluble P/kg, or blue whiting fish bone meal (D5): 9 g soluble P/kg, and with P from NaH₂PO₄ (D6, D7): 9 g soluble P/kg diet. Diet D7 was also added (NH₄)₂SO₄. Fish fed D1 had significantly lower growth compared to D3, D5 and D7, morphological changes in bone consistent with low mineral contents, significantly reduced scale macromineral contents and changes in P markers, that is bone ALP and NaPi in pyloric caeca. The average P retention was 3.6 and 3.2 g P/kg weight gain, respectively, in D2–D7 and in D1. Fish fed D3, D5 and D6 showed similar growth, P digestibility, tissue mineralization, P retention and P excretion. The dietary P requirement in salmon was met between 5.1 and 7.4 g/kg soluble P (DM). This study shows that P hydrolysed from fish bones can be recycled and used as an efficient P source in feed for Atlantic salmon.