Influence of water management,photoperiod and aeration on growth,survival, and early spat settlement of the hatchery-reared green mussel,Perna viridis

In an attempt to induce early spat settlement and improve mussel seed production, this study aims to determine the influence of water management, photoperiod, and aeration, on the growth, survival and settlement of green mussel (Perna viridis). Water in the pediveliger rearing tanks was changed every day, every 3 days and every 5 days for the water-management experiment. Pediveligers were exposed in 24L:0D h (light: dark), 12L:12D h and 0L:24D h conditions for the photoperiod experiment. Three aeration intensities were also tested—mild (10 L h−1), moderate (20 L h−1), and strong (30 L h−1). This study demonstrated that changing water every 3 days was effective in maintaining the rearing water quality and improving the growth and survival of P. viridis larvae. Highest growth and survival rates were observed in P. viridis spats grown in 0L:24D h photoperiod. There was no significant difference in the settlement rate of larvae exposed to different photoperiods. Mild aeration has shown to improve the growth of P. viridis larvae, but higher survival and settlement rates were attained in the strongly-aerated conditions. Therefore, when the larvae start to settle, it is recommended to expose them to darkness, change the water every 3 days and provide a strong aeration to be able to attain high survival and settlement rates, and bigger spats.     

Pollution control options for Australian prawn farms

Abstract

The adverse environmental consequences of shrimp farming in Asia and South America have caused widespread public concern. One of the main environmental impacts is the high nutrient load that is discharged from ponds, as part of the management routine aimed at maintaining pond water quality. In Australia, where there is a high level of community awareness of the problems associated with eutrophication, the Environmental Protection Agencies are faced with the difficult task of determining effluent control policies for the emerging prawn industry.

According to the standard environmental economic arguments relating to the design of pollution control instruments, the choice of the best policy instrument depends upon the nature of the pollution problem, the costs of abatement and the transactions costs associated with administering the policy. Thus, in order to assess the appropriateness of alternative pollution control instruments it is necessary to examine the nature of the pollution problem, the technologies available for abatement, the accuracy and cost of monitoring and enforcement.

These practical aspects are examined from the perspective of the intensive prawn aquaculture industry. While there are insufficient data to conduct an empirical analysis of the relative effectiveness of alternative control measures, some of the key issues that need to be considered in designing such policies are highlighted. These issues are reviewed in the context of proposed changes to policy regulating prawn farms in Queensland.     

Mortality associated with melarsomine dihydrochloride administration in two North American river otters (Lontra canadensis) and a red panda (Ailurus fulgens fulgens).

Two adult North American river otters (Lontra canadensis) and an adult red panda (Ailurus fulgens fulgens) at three separate institutions died within 22 hr after receiving single 2.5- to 2.7-mg/kg doses of melarsomine dihydrochloride administered in the epaxial musculature as a treatment for filarid nematodes. One otter had a suspected Dirofilaria immitis infection, the other had a confirmed D. lutrae infection, and the red panda had a confirmed Dirofilaria sp. infection, presumably with D. immitis. Postmortem examinations revealed similar gross lesions, although they were less severe in the red panda. The trachea and primary bronchi contained abundant foamy fluid, the lungs were mottled with areas of consolidation, and the pulmonary parenchyma exuded abundant fluid at the cut section. Histologic evaluation revealed acute pulmonary edema, which resulted in respiratory failure and death. There may have been direct pulmonary cellular toxicity of melarsomine dihydrochloride or a severe systemic anaphylactic reaction to antigens released after parasite death. An idiosyncratic drug reaction or a low therapeutic index of melarsomine probably caused the death of the three individuals. Melarsomine dihydrochloride use should be avoided in North American river otters and red pandas.     

Hematologic and plasma biochemical changes associated with fenbendazole administration in Hermann's tortoises (testudo hermanni).

Toxicosis associated with benzimidazole anthelmintics has been reported with increasing frequency in zoologic collections. Clinical signs, clinicopathologic abnormalities, and gross and histologic lesions are primarily the result of damage to the gastrointestinal and hematopoietic systems. Profound leukopenia, especially granulocytopenia, is the most common and severe clinicopathologic change associated with benzimidazole administration. Death usually occurs from overwhelming systemic bacterial and/or fungal infections secondary to severe immunosuppression. In this 125-day study, six male Hermann's tortoises (Testudo hermanni) were treated orally with two 5-day courses of fenbendazole 2 wk apart at a dosage of 50 mg/kg. Serial blood samples were used to assess hematologic and plasma biochemical changes before, during, and following the treatment period. Although the tortoises remained healthy, blood sampling indicated an extended heteropenia with transient hypoglycemia, hyperuricemia, hyperphosphatemia, and equivocal hyperproteinemia/hyperglobulinemia, which were considered to be in response to fenbendazole administration. Changes in several other clinicopathologic parameters appeared to correlate with fenbendazole administration. The hematologic and biochemical changes seen in the healthy animals in this study should be considered when treating compromised tortoises with fenbendazole. Hematologic and plasma biochemical status of tortoises/reptiles should be determined before treatment and monitored during the treatment period. The risk of mortality of an individual from nematode infection should be assessed relative to the potential for metabolic alteration and secondary septicemia following damage to hematopoietic and gastrointestinal systems by fenbendazole.     

The behavior of clomazone in the soil environment

BACKGROUND: Clomazone is a herbicide used to control broadleaf weeds and grasses. Clomazone use in agriculturally important crops and forests for weed control has increased and is a potential water contaminant given its high water solubility (1100 µg mL^?1). Soil sorption is an environmental fate parameter that may limit its movement to water systems. The authors used model rice and forest soils of California to test clomazone sorption affinity, capacity, desorption, interaction with soil organic matter and behavior with black carbon. RESULTS: Sorption of clomazone to the major organic matter fraction of soil, humic acid (HA) (K_d = 29–87 L kg^?1), was greater than to whole soils (K_d = 2.3–11 L kg^?1). Increased isotherm non‐linearity was observed for the whole soils (N = 0.831–0.893) when compared with the humic acids (N = 0.954–0.999). Desorption isotherm results showed hysteresis, which was greatest at the lowest solution concentration of 0.067 µg mL^?1 for all whole soils and HA extracts. Aliphatic carbon content appeared to contribute to increased isotherm linearity. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that clomazone does not sorb appreciably to sandy or clay soils. Its sorption affinity and capacity is greater in humic acid, and consequently clomazone has difficulty desorbing from soil organic matter. Sorption appears to follow processes explained by the dual‐mode model, the presence of fire residues (black carbon) and a recently proposed sorption mechanism. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry     

Soluble and Insoluble Dietary Fiber Content and Composition in Oat

Six oat genotypes were grown in nursery yield trials during 1989-1992 at Lisbon, ND. Groats were analyzed for soluble and insoluble dietary fiber content and composition. Genotype-by-growing year interaction was not significant for soluble or insoluble dietary fiber. Soluble and insoluble dietary fiber differed with genotype (6.0–7.1% and 4.1– 4.9%, respectively) and with growing year (6.0–6.9% and 3.9–5.2%, respectively). The genotype-by-growing year interaction was significant for soluble β-glucan content but not for total neutral sugar or uronic acid content of the soluble dietary fiber. Genotypes did vary in total neutral sugar content but not in uronic acid content. The genotype-by-growing year interaction was not significant for total neutral sugar, β-glucan, uronic acid, or Klason lignin content of insoluble dietary fiber. Genotypes did vary in total neutral sugar, β-glucan, and Klason lignin content but not in uronic acid content of insoluble dietary fiber. The neutral sugar content of soluble dietary fiber was composed of glucose, arabinose, xylose, and galactose. The neutral sugar content of insoluble fiber was composed of glucose, arabinose, and xylose. The content and composition of soluble and insoluble dietary fiber varied with oat genotype. Therefore, oat genotypes could be bred for specific dietary fiber content and composition.     

Modeling production of antifungal compounds and their role in biocontrol product inhibitory activity

Partial least squares (PLS) regression modeling was used to relate the antifungal activity of Bacillus subtilis solid-state fermentation extracts to the individual high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) peaks from those extracts. A model was developed that predicted bioassay inhibition based on the extract HPLC profile (R(2) = 0.99). Concentrations of the members of the antifungal lipopeptide families iturin A and fengycin were found to correlate positively with extract inhibition, but a peak with unidentified chemical composition (designated as peak 48) showed the strongest correlation with extract inhibition. HPLC data were used to construct models for the production of iturin A, fengycin, and peak 48 as a function of the substrate moisture content, incubator temperature, and aeration rate in the solid-state bioreactors. Maximum production of all compounds occurred at the highest moisture content (1.7 g/g dry basis) and lowest incubator temperature (19 degrees C) tested. Optimal aeration rates for the production of the two known lipopeptides and peak 48 were 0.1 and 1.5 L/min, respectively.