Field Distribution of END Phenomenon-Negative Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus

Field isolates of BVDV which do not show the exaltation of Newcastle disease virus (END) phenomenon (END^–) are rarely reported. In this study, 45 BVDV field isolates from cattle in Hokkaido prefecture in Japan were analyzed by the reverse plaque formation method, the END method and observation of cytopathic effects. END^– virus was detected in 34 of 45 isolates (75.6%), although 35 of 45 field isolates contained END phenomenon positive virus as the predominant virus population. We propose that END^– viruses are widely distributed in the field and that it is possible that the mixture of biologically distinct BVDV correlates with the appearance of disease in infected animals.     

Transformation processes involving mercury species in the atmosphere — results from a literature survey

Mercury is released into the atmosphere from natural and anthropogenic sources. Once in the air, Hg species will be dispersed, chemically and physically transformed, and transported over varying distances (regional, continental and global scales) while concurrently being subjected to removal processes. Modeling of the aerial transport and deposition of Hg to receptor sites offers an attractive approach for integrating existing experimental data and represents an important tool for advancing our understanding of environmental Hg pollution. Comprehensive modeling efforts of the atmospheric pathways and fate of this heavy metal require knowledge of its atmospheric chemistry. To update and consolidate available information relevant to the atmospheric chemistry of Hg, a computer-assisted search was undertaken of the primary scientific literature published during the last ten years. Selected results from this literature survey are presented in this paper.     

Cryopreservation diluents for spermatozoa of Sakhalin taimen <Emphasis Type="Italic">Hucho perryi</Emphasis>

To develop a suitable cryopreservation diluent for spermatozoa of the endangered Sakhalin taimen Hucho perryi, all possible combinations of cryoprotectants (glycerol, dimethyl sulfoxide [DMSO], methanol) and extenders (fetal bovine serum [FBS], 300 mM glucose solution [GS], artificial seminal plasma for masu salmon) were examined by observing sperm motility 10 s after thawing. Spermatozoa cryopreserved with diluents such as mixtures of 10% glycerol plus 90% FBS, 10% DMSO plus 90% FBS, and 10% methanol plus 90% GS showed the highest motility. The maximal post-thaw motility was observed at 10% among all concentrations (0, 5, 10, 15 and 20%) of these three cryoprotectants. No significant difference among three diluents was observed in motility at 10 s. Mixtures of 10% glycerol plus 90% FBS, 10% DMSO plus 90% FBS, and 10% methanol plus 90% GS are suitable cryopreservation diluents for Sakhalin taimen spermatozoa.     

Effect of oral administration of a single bolus of six different protein sources on digestive physiology of red seabream Pagrus major juveniles

Fish Physiology and Biochemistry - To reveal direct effects of various protein sources on digestive physiology of red seabream, Pagrus major (38.5 ± 0.4&nbsp;g), six different...     

Environmental determinants of growth rates for larval Japanese anchovy Engraulis japonicus in different waters

Do disparate mechanisms determine growth rates of fish larvae in the different regions? The relationship between growth rates and environmental factors (sea temperature and food availability) was examined for larval Japanese anchovy Engraulis japonicus in geographically and environmentally different waters, through sagittal otolith microstructure analysis. Recent 3‐day mean growth rates directly before capture were positively related with sea‐surface temperature (SST) but not with food availability (plankton density) for the larvae in the Kuroshio Extension and Kuroshio–Oyashio transition regions of the western North Pacific. On the contrary, variations in recent growth rates were attributed to food availability (plankton density) as well as SST for the larvae in the East China Sea. In the shirasu fishing ground in Sagami Bay, larval growth rates were variable under the influences of both SST and food availability (feeding incidence). On the surface, the growth–environment relationships seemed to differ among regions. However, a definite general pattern of the dome‐shaped relationship between recent growth rates and SST was observed when all the regions were combined. Growth rates were similar even among clearly different regions if at the same SST. Overall, growth rates roughly increased with SST until they reached the maximum at SST of 21–22°C (i.e. optimal growth temperature), and declined when SST went over 21–22°C. On the contrary, no clear relationship was observed between growth rate and plankton density or between SST and plankton density. Therefore, the apparent among‐region differences would be firstly caused by the differences in regional SST range. The systematic mechanism of growth determination for widespread pelagic fish species larvae would be run by primarily sea temperature and secondarily food availability, at the species level.     

Acoustic observations of fish schools and scattering layers in a Kuroshio warm-core ring and its environs

Biological sound scattering characteristics in a frontal region between warm and cold waters were examined at the southern edge of a Kuroshio warm-core ring off Sanriku, the northeast coast of Japan. The scattering strength was low in the surrounding cold water and high in the warm-core ring. The depth and thickness of sound-scattering layers changed in accordance with the vertical structure of the water mass during the day or at night. Intense, thick scattering layers were observed on the warm-water side of the front and farther inside the warm-core ring. Fish schools were distributed in the mixed layer warmer than 17°C at depths of 10-30m above the scattering layers on the warm-water side of the front.