Symbiotic N<Subscript>2</Subscript> fixation and nitrate utilisation in irrigated lucerne (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Medicago sativa</Emphasis>) systems

Symbiotic N₂ fixation by lucerne (Medicago sativa) has capacity to provide significant inputs of N to agro-ecosystems, and the species has also been shown to scavenge soil mineral N and thus act as a sink for excess reactive N. The balance between these two N cycle processes was investigated in an extensive irrigated lucerne growing region where nitrate contamination of groundwater has been reported. We sampled 18 permanent pure lucerne stands under irrigation for standing dry matter, total shoot N, and N₂ fixation using ¹⁵N natural abundance along with activity of the inducible enzyme nitrate reductase as indicators of use of soil NO₃⁻ by lucerne. On average 65% of lucerne N was obtained from symbiotic N₂ fixation. Converting standing dry matter estimates to annual N₂ fixation amounts we calculated average N₂ fixation of 311 kg N/ha, including N in roots and nodules. Uptake of N from soil by lucerne was calculated to be 181 kg N/ha/year. We were not able to identify the source of this soil mineral N, although nitrate reductase activity of lucerne was higher than that of non-N₂ fixing species examined.     

Effect of ammonia and nitrite on vigour,survival rate,moulting rate of the blue swimming crab <Emphasis Type="Italic">Portunus pelagicus</Emphasis> zoea

The effects of ammonia and nitrite on vigour, survival rate, moulting rate of zoea of blue swimming crab, Portunus pelagicus, were studied. A total of five nitrite-N treatments (26.67, 53.34, 106.68, 213.36, 426.72 mg/l) and a control (no nitrite-N added) were set up for the acute nitrite-N toxicity experiment; a total of five ammonia-N treatments (8.43, 16.86, 33.72, 67.44, 134.88 mg/l) and a control (no ammonia-N added) were set up for the acute ammonia-N toxicity experiment. The results showed that the vigour, survival rate and moulting rate of zoea of the blue swimming crabs exposed to over 53.34 mg/l were significantly different (P < 0.05) from the control group. The zoea LC₅₀ values (mg/l) of nitrite-N were 179.47, 76.56, 66.70, 37.49, 25.01, 25.35, 25.34 mg/l for 24, 36, 48, 60, 72, 84, 96 h, respectively. The vigour, survival rate and moulting rate of zoea of the blue swimming crabs exposed to over 16.86 mg/l were significantly different (P < 0.05) from the control group. The zoea LC₅₀ values (mg/l) of ammonia-N were 51.04, 39.62, 38.72, 24.43, 16.90, 13.42, 11.16 mg/l for 24, 36, 48, 60, 72, 84, 96 h, respectively. The zoeae are highly sensitive to ammonia and nitrite, and the toxicity of ammonia and nitrite on Portunus pelagicus decrease with development of this crab.     

人工养殖西伯利亚狍肠道微生物组成的雌雄差异

肠道微生物是一个复杂的生态系统,与宿主的健康、疾病以及其他因素有着密切的关系。目前,关于肠道菌群结构和功能的研究较多,但是对西伯利亚狍肠道菌群的研究还未见报道。西伯利亚狍(Capreolus pygargus)属于反刍动物,有独特的消化特性和微生物群来帮助它们适应高纤维的食物。本研究利用高通量测序技术在Illumina MiSeq平台上对14只狍肠道微生物进行16S rRNA基因分析。结果表明:个体样本中门类组成的差异,雌性个体JY3和雄性个体JY9除Firmicutes,Bacteroidetes,Proteobacteria这3类菌群外,其他门类菌群所占比例都很低。在科水平上,雌性个体中Ruminococcaceae在JY7和JY13肠道内含量相对较少,Bacteroidaceae在JY7,JY10和JY13中含量较高。雄性个体中Ruminococcaceae在JY11和JY14肠道内含量较少,Prevotellaceae在JY4中含量较少。在属水平上,雌性个体特有的菌属为Roseburia,Alloprevotella,Lachnospiraceae_incertae_sedis和Coprococcus;雄性个体特有的菌属为Fusobacterium,Succiniclasticum,Streptococcus和Clostridium sensu stricto。Alpha多样性分析表明,Ace指数范围2128.93—772.98,Chao1指数范围2128.89—785.27,Shannon指数范围5.44—3.78,Simpson指数范围0.07—0.01。在不同物种分类水平上,雌雄狍肠道内的优势菌群有些不同。PCoA(principal co-ordinates analysis)分析显示,狍样本几乎混在一起,没有明显差异。     

Physiological response of one of South Africa’s premier freshwater sport angling species,the Orange-Vaal smallmouth yellowfish Labeobarbus aeneus,to catch-and-release angling

The practice of catch-and-release fishing has been widely promoted by angling fraternities as a fisheries manage- ment tool. The aim of this investigation was to determine the physiological response of Orange-Vaal smallmouth yellowfish, Labeobarbus aeneus, to catch-and-release angling in the Vaal River, South Africa. Fish were collected using standard fly-fishing techniques, anaesthetised in clove oil and blood was drawn from the caudal vein; thereafter the fish were weighed, measured, revived and released. Blood plasma was analysed for concentra- tions of glucose, cortisol and lactate to determine the effects of angling duration, fish size and water tempera- ture. Larger fish were angled for a longer duration compared with smaller fish. Levels of glucose were affected by water temperature (influenced by time of year). Plasma glucose concentrations decreased with greater angling duration. Few individuals (n = 12) showed increased plasma cortisol concentrations. In extended-capture fish (angled for >1 min), lactate concentrations increased significantly above values for rapid-capture fish (angled for >30 s). These data suggest that catch-and-release causes physiological stress to fish, but nonetheless this practice can be a valuable fisheries management tool to ensure the sustainability of fish populations. Other factors beyond the ‘angling’ time are likely to contribute to physiological disruptions in homeostasis and therefore handling and air exposure of angled fish should be included in future catch-and–release angling studies. In addition, the longer-term impact of angling on fish health should also be determined.