Influence of β-hydroxy-β-methylbutyrate on nonspecific humoral defense mechanisms and protection against furunculosis in pikeperch (Sander lucioperca)

Studies have shown that in both in vitro and in vivo tests, β‐hydroxy‐β‐methylbutyrate (HMB) increases the nonspecific cellular and humoral immune response and protection against diseases in animals. The present study examines the influence of HMB on nonspecific humoral defense mechanisms and protection against furunculosis in pikeperch (Sander lucioperca). β‐hydroxy‐β‐methylbutyrate was fed in a pelleted ration of 50 mg kg^?1 feed day^?1 for 4 weeks. Blood was drawn from 12 HMB‐fed and control‐fed pikeperch. The lysozyme and ceruloplasmin activities in the plasma, total immunoglobulin (Ig) levels, and total serum protein were analysed prior to and then after 2 and 4 weeks of HMB ingestion. After 4 weeks of HMB ingestion, a challenge test was performed by injecting the fish with live pathogenic Aeromonas salmonicida bacteria. β‐hydroxy‐β‐methylbutyrate at a dose of 50 mg kg^?1 feed resulted in a statistically significant (P<0.05) increase in the lysozyme activity of the plasma, total Ig, and serum protein levels. Additionally, reduced mortality (40%) after the in vivo challenge with pathogenic A. salmonicida suggested that HMB‐activated nonspecific protection against furunculosis in pikeperch.     

Growth, survival and fillet composition of paddlefish, Polyodon spathula (Walbaum) fed commercial trout or catfish feeds

Paddlefish are gaining increasing acceptance as an aquaculture species worldwide. Commercial trout feeds, containing high protein and lipid levels, are currently used in intensive culture; however, nutritional requirements of paddlefish are not currently known. A study was conducted examining the effects on growth, survival and fillet composition of juvenile paddlefish when fed commercial feeds differing in protein and lipid levels. Paddlefish larvae were first stocked in 14.0 m³ round tanks and fed trout starter feeds for 43 days until trained to accept a 1.6 mm pellet. Paddlefish juveniles of mean weight (±SE) 20±0.27 g were randomly stocked into six0.02 ha ponds at 12 500 ha^?1 and fed floating commercial trout or catfish (lower protein and lipid) feeds, twice daily (08:00 and 15:30 hours) for 92–97 days. At harvest, there were no significant differences in final weight, percent survival, specific growth rate , relative growth and feed conversion ratio between treatments, which averaged 223.6 g, 96.2%, 2.5% day^?1, 10.2 and 1.98 respectively. Surface feeding activity index was significantly higher in ponds supplied with catfish feed than in ponds supplied with trout feeds. Relative pellet buoyancy was not a factor in feeding activity. Fulton's condition factor averaged0.238, was not significantly different, and was similar to a reported value for extensively cultured paddlefish (zooplanktivore). There was no significant difference in liver somatic index between treatments, which averaged 1.91%. Percent protein and moisture of fillets averaged 14.9% and 80.9%, respectively, and were not significantly different between treatments. However, lipid content of fillets was significantly higher in paddlefish fed the trout feed (4.45%), compared with paddlefish fed the catfish feed (2.42%). Fillet lipid content for both treatments was higher than reported values for extensively cultured paddlefish. Percent abdominal fat was significantly higher (0.82%) in paddlefish fed the trout feed compared with paddlefish fed the catfish feed (0.52%). Results from this study indicate that paddlefish can be fed a commercial catfish feed labeled to contain 32% protein and 4.5% lipid without adverse effects on growth, survival and fillet composition, lowering production costs.     

A comparison of RNA concentrations and ornithine decarboxylase activity in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) muscle tissue,with respect to specific growth rates and diel variations

RNA concentrations and enzyme activities are often used as indices of recent growth in fish, but few studies have used both methods to assess the same fish. This study measured RNA concentrations and ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) activity in muscle tissue of juvenile Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) to compare their usefulness for reflecting specific growth rates, and to determine whether either growth index was influenced by diel variations or time of feeding. Three groups (n = 54 in total) were fed 1.5% of body weight in commercial pellets in four feedings per day. One group was fed only in the morning (0830–1230h), one in the afternoon (1430–1830h), and one in the morning and afternoon (0830–1830h). At the end of ten days, fish were sampled at three times (0130h, 1030h, 1630h) over a single 24h period. Correlations to specific growth rate were slightly higher for RNA concentrations than for ODC activity, but both were highly significant. RNA and ODC activity were also correlated to each other. These results suggest that RNA concentration and ODC activity, taken together, can be used to monitor changes in both the numbers and activity of ribosomes. For RNA concentrations, there was no evidence of an effect of diel variations or the time of feeding. For ODC activity, a significant diel effect (all feed schedules combined) was detected if one non-growing fish was excluded from the analysis; activity of the enzyme was slightly higher in the sample taken at night (0130h) than in the two daytime samples. Contribution no. 8, Catamaran Brook Habitat Research Project     

Poor maternal nutrition inhibits muscle development in ovine offspring

Background

Maternal over and restricted nutrition has negative consequences on the muscle of offspring by reducing muscle fiber number and altering regulators of muscle growth. To determine if over and restricted maternal nutrition affected muscle growth and gene and protein expression in offspring, 36 pregnant ewes were fed 60%, 100% or 140% of National Research Council requirements from d 31 ± 1.3 of gestation until parturition. Lambs from control-fed (CON), restricted-fed (RES) or over-fed (OVER) ewes were necropsied within 1 d of birth (n = 18) or maintained on a control diet for 3 mo (n = 15). Semitendinosus muscle was collected for immunohistochemistry, and protein and gene expression analysis.

Results

Compared with CON, muscle fiber cross-sectional area (CSA) increased in RES (58%) and OVER (47%) lambs at 1 d of age (P < 0.01); however at 3 mo, CSA decreased 15% and 17% compared with CON, respectively (P < 0.01). Compared with CON, muscle lipid content was increased in OVER (212.4%) and RES (92.5%) at d 1 (P < 0.0001). Muscle lipid content was increased 36.1% in OVER and decreased 23.6% in RES compared with CON at 3 mo (P < 0.0001). At d 1, myostatin mRNA abundance in whole muscle tended to be greater in OVER (P = 0.07) than CON. Follistatin mRNA abundance increased in OVER (P = 0.04) and tended to increase in RES (P = 0.06) compared with CON at d 1. However, there was no difference in myostatin or follistatin protein expression (P > 0.3). Phosphorylated Akt (ser473) was increased in RES at 3 mo compared with CON (P = 0.006).

Conclusions

In conclusion, maternal over and restricted nutrient intake alters muscle lipid content and growth of offspring, possibly through altered gene and protein expression.     

A multiple regression model of oyster growth

A deterministic model of the growth in the sea of Ostrea edulis and Crassostrea gigas has been developed from published information. The model is a multiple regression function in which oyster size and seawater temperature are treated as determinants of instantaneous growth rate. Simulation of commercial cultivation with the model is described.     

An investigation of avoidance by Antarctic krill of RRS James Clark Ross using the Autosub-2 autonomous underwater vehicle

The autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) Autosub-2 was deployed on eight missions ahead of RRS James Clark Ross in the northern Weddell Sea and in the Bransfield Strait, Southern Ocean, to assess avoidance of the research vessel by Antarctic krill Euphausia superba. The AUV was equipped with the same type of scientific echosounder as the research vessel (Simrad EK500 operating at 38 and 120 kHz) and measured the density of krill along transect acoustically (g m⁻² wet mass) prior to the ship’s arrival. We hypothesised that if krill avoided the ship, perhaps in response to radiated noise, then the ship should detect less krill than the AUV which is known to have much lower noise levels than the ship. We were unable to detect any significant difference between the density of krill detected by the ship or the AUV, either at the transect level or at finer scales within transects. We conclude, therefore, that avoidance by krill of RRS James Clark Ross will not significantly bias acoustic estimates of krill abundance by this vessel.     

Social networks in complex human and natural systems: the case of rotational grazing,weak ties,and eastern US dairy landscapes

Multifunctional agricultural systems seek to expand upon production-based benefits to enhance family wellbeing and animal health, reduce inputs, and improve environmental services such as biodiversity and water quality. However, in many countries a landscape-level conversion is uneven at best and stalled at worst. This is particularly true across the eastern rural landscape in the United States. We explore the role of social networks as drivers of system transformation within dairy production in the eastern United States, specifically rotational grazing as an alternative management option. We hypothesize the importance of weak ties within farmer social networks as drivers of change. In Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, and New York, we conducted 53 interviews with confinement, low-intensity, and rotational grazing dairy producers as well as 35 interviews with associated network actors. Though confinement and grazier networks had similar proportions of strong and weak ties, confinement producers had more market-based weak ties, while graziers had more weak-ties to government agencies and other graziers in the region. These agency weak ties supported rotational graziers through information exchange and cost sharing, both crucial to farmers’ transitions from confinement-based production to grazing systems. While weak ties were integral to initial innovation, farmers did not maintain these relationships beyond their transition to grazing. Of equal importance, grazier weak-tie networks did not include environmental organizations, suggesting unrealized potential for more diverse networks based on environmental services. By understanding the drivers, we can identify barriers to expanding weak tie networks and emergent properties in order to create institutions and policies necessary for change.     

Stewardship and management of freshwater ecosystems: From Leopold's land ethic to a freshwater ethic

1. In 1949, Aldo Leopold formalized the concept of the ‘land ethic’, in what emerged as a foundational and transformational way of thinking about natural resource management, biodiversity conservation, and stewardship in terrestrial systems. Yet, the land ethic has inherent linkages to aquatic ecosystems; Leopold himself conducted research on rivers and lakes, and freshwater ecosystems figured widely in his writing.
2. We reflect on the land ethic and other aspects of Leopold's scholarship to identify key messages that provide insight into the stewardship and management of freshwater ecosystems around the globe. We also frame what we call the ‘freshwater ethic’ around Leopold's legacy. Although Leopold could not have envisaged the stressors affecting modern aquatic ecosystems, his core principles remain salient. These apply not only to ecosystem protection, but also to the ethics of modern conservation economics, sustainability, and the protection of natural capital, in which lakes, rivers, and wetlands now figure prominently.
3. We identify key ‘Aldo-inspired’ recommendations for protecting and restoring freshwater ecosystems in the Anthropocene that emanate directly from his writings (e.g. adopt an ecosystem approach, identify win–win–win scenarios, recognize the irreplaceability of wild waters, and strive for freshwater optimism).
4. In an epoch where links between people and nature are becoming more explicit in environmental management, policy, and governance, we suggest that Aldo Leopold's work illustrates how inspirational, seminal thinkers have offered leadership in this domain. We contend that today there is still much that can be learned from Leopold, especially by the next generation of environmental practitioners, to ensure the effective stewardship of our aquatic ecosystems.
5. We submit that the adoption of a freshwater ethic in parallel with Leopold's land ethic will enhance the stewardship of the world's increasingly threatened fresh waters by raising the profile of the plight of fresh waters and identifying enduring actions that, if embraced, will help conserve and restore biodiversity.