Peptide profile of the sardine protein hydrolysate affects food utilization and intestinal microbiota of Nile tilapia

The present study evaluated effects of the degree of hydrolysis and peptide profile of sardine (Sardinella sp.) protein hydrolysates (SPH) from muscle tissue wastes on productive performance, body composition, hematological parameters, biochemical parameters of metabolism, antioxidant response, and intestinal microbiology tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). Diets containing three SPH with different degrees of hydrolysis (low: 5.5%; intermediate: 27.9%, and high: 62.5%) were compared to a control diet with fish meal. The experimental design was completely randomized with four treatments and five repetitions. One hundred eighty tilapia juveniles (6.16?±?2.0 g) were distributed in 20 polyethylene tanks of 70 l of useful volume and were evaluated during 56 days. No direct relationship was observed between the degree of hydrolysis of SPH and fish productive performance. Feed consumption was reduced in all diets with SPH (means 53.03 g) compared to the control group (65.91 g), which impaired fish growth and metabolic reserves. Feed utilization was affected by the SPH peptide profile. SPH with a more diverse peptide profile (mean 1.40) had a feed efficiency similar to the control diet (1.22). Changes in biochemical and metabolic parameters in tissues, oxidative response, and microbial populations were observed but may be associated with the low consumption of diets containing SPH. Results suggest that it is necessary to properly characterize hydrolysates and understand their composition before applying fish feed.

     

Conservation of migratory fishes in the Amazon basin

1. The Amazon basin hosts the Earth's highest diversity of freshwater fish. Fish species have adapted to the basin's size and seasonal dynamics by displaying a broad range of migratory behaviour, but they are under increasing threats; however, no study to date has assessed threats and conservation of Amazonian migratory fishes.
2. Here, the available knowledge on the diversity of migratory behaviour in Amazonian fishes is synthesized, including the geographical scales at which they occur, their drivers and timing, and life stage at which they are performed.
3. Migratory fishes are integral components of Amazonian society. They contribute about 93% (range 77–99%) of the fisheries landings in the basin, amounting to ~US$436 million annually.
4. These valuable fish populations are mainly threatened by growing trends of overexploitation, deforestation, climate change, and hydroelectric dam development. Most Amazonian migratory fish have key ecological roles as apex predators, ecological engineers, or seed-dispersal species. Reducing their population sizes could induce cascading effects with implications for ecosystem stability and associated services.
5. Conserving Amazonian migratory fishes requires a broad portfolio of research, management, and conservation actions, within an ecosystem-based management framework at the basin scale. This would require trans-frontier coordination and recognition of the crucial importance of freshwater ecosystems and their connectivity.
6. Existing areas where fishing is allowed could be coupled with a chain of freshwater protected areas. Management of commercial and subsistence species also needs fisheries activities to be monitored in the Amazonian cities and in the floodplain communities to allow assessments of the status of target species, and the identification of management units or stocks. Ensuring that existing and future fisheries management rules are effective implies the voluntary participation of fishers, which can be achieved by increasing the effectiveness and coverage of adaptive community-based management schemes.

     

Temporal progression in migratory status and sexual maturation in European silver eels during downstream migration

The onset of downstream migration of European eels is accompanied by a cessation of feeding and the start of sexual maturation which stresses the link between metabolism and sexual maturation, also suggesting an important role for exercise. Exercise has been tested with eels in swim tunnels and was found to stimulate the onset of sexual maturation. In this study, we have investigated the interplay between migration and maturation in the field during the downstream migration of female silver eels. Temporal changes in migratory status and sexual maturation among silver eels of the upstream Rhine River system over 3 months of the migration season (August, September and October) were determined in biometrical parameters, plasma 17β-estradiol and calcium levels, oocyte histology and gonadal fat levels. Furthermore, the ecological relevant parameters age as determined by otolithometry and health aspects indicated by haematocrit, haemoglobin and swim-bladder parasite load were measured. Silver eels were estimated to be 14 years old. A strong temporal progression in migratory stage was shown over the months of downstream migration. Catches probably represented a mix of reproductive migrants and feeding migrants of which the ratio increased over time. Furthermore, this study confirmed our hypothesis linking the migratory stage to early maturation as indicated by enlargement of the eyes, oocyte growth and fat deposition in the oocytes, exactly the same changes as found induced by exercise but not ruling out environmental influences. Migrants show extensive fat uptake by the oocytes, probably stimulated by the swimming exercise. In addition, at least 83% of the silver eels in this spawning run may have suffered from negative effects of swim-bladder parasites on their swimming performance.