Long‐term trends and drivers of larval phenology and abundance of dominant brachyuran crabs in the Gulf of St. Lawrence (Canada)

Climate change has led to major shifts in the timing of biological events, with many studies demonstrating earlier phenology in response to warming. However, few of these studies have investigated the effects of climate change on the phenology of larvae in marine species. Phenological shifts can result in mismatches between consumers and prey and hence affect growth and survival of individuals, and ultimately population demography. We investigated the temporal changes in phenology and abundance of the larvae of dominant brachyuran crabs in the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence (eastern Canada) based on plankton collections spanning 1982–2012. The Gulf of St. Lawrence has warmed since the early 1990s, and our analyses revealed that larvae of snow crab (Chionoecetes opilio) and toad crabs (Hyas spp.) exhibited a significant trend towards earlier phenology over the 30‐year study period. This shift in phenology appeared to be a consequence of the effect of climate warming on both the timing of hatching and larval development rate. Larval abundance responded differently by crab taxon to climate warming, likely due to differences in thermal tolerance. The warming trend was unfavourable to snow crab, which is the most cold‐adapted and stenothermic of the taxa examined in this study. The abundance of snow crab larvae was lower when sea ice retreat occurred earlier than day 110 of the year and sea surface temperature was higher than 8.5°C. On the other hand, larval abundance of rock crab (Cancer irroratus), which prefers higher temperatures, was positively related to surface temperature.     

Optimisation of gene expression analysis in Atlantic salmon lenses by refining sampling strategy and tissue storage

Analysis of gene expression in the lens is one of the analytical tools employed to investigate cataract formation in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.). High quality RNA preparations are an essential prerequisite for gene expression analysis. The first aim of the present study was to investigate the possible effects of two methods of tissue preservation on the quality of RNA extracted from Atlantic salmon lenses. RNA was extracted from lenses either stored in RNAlater or flash-frozen in liquid nitrogen. Both tissue preservation methods yielded RNA of similarly high quality. The second aim was to examine if stress related to fish handling and the choice of anaesthesia during the sampling procedure affected gene expression in the lens. Six sampling procedures were tested on groups of sea water adapted Atlantic salmon smolt. Fish were either killed instantaneously (control group) or sampled after 30 min anaesthetised with isoeugenol, after 30 min without anaesthesia, after 120 min anaesthetised with isoeugenol, after 120 min with 15 min anaesthesia with metacaine or after 120 min without anaesthesia. The expression levels of specific genes, of special interest in the study of molecular mechanisms of cataractogenesis, were analysed in lenses by real-time RT–PCR. Fish not anaesthetised had significantly increased levels of heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) mRNA after 30 min compared to the control group. Glutathione reductase (GR) and manganese superoxide dismutase (Mn-SOD) were expressed at significantly lower levels in groups of Atlantic salmon sampled after 120 min anaesthetised with isoeugenol or metacaine, and anaesthetised with isoeugenol, metacaine or without anaesthesia, respectively. The same expression patterns were found in corresponding gill tissues for these two antioxidant genes. In conclusion, preservation in liquid nitrogen instead of RNAlater is recommended due to practical conditions in RNA extraction. A quick sampling protocol with the use of anaesthetics and not exceeding 30 min should be preferred to avoid effects of the sampling procedure on lens gene expression in Atlantic salmon.     

Fuzzy-logic-based feeder system for intensive tilapia production (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Oreochromis niloticus</Emphasis>)

In high-fish-density aquaculture systems, tilapia producers are compelled to provide 100% of food required to obtain profitable growth rates. It is well known that fish have a low food conversion rate and feeding represents the most important expenditure, approximately 40% of total production cost. Therefore, precise quantities of food should be provided to avoid water pollution and economic losses due to food waste when water conditions are inadequate for fish feeding. A way to control food provisions in this work was determined by the conditions of temperature, dissolved oxygen, fish age, and body weight, since these variables have a direct effect on fish metabolism and growth. Thus, a change in metabolism is reflected in a modification of energy requirements and, as a consequence, in variations of food consumption. In this work, a new feeder with fuzzy-logic control algorithms is proposed for fish feeding; this technique allows farmer knowledge to be taken into account in a series of if–then-type rules. To define these rules the temperature and dissolve oxygen were considered in order to provide precise food quantities. The results show minimal differences in growth (P > 0.05) between treatments, important food saving of 29.12% (equivalent to 105.3 kg), and lower water pollution (reduced water dissolved solids and ammonium components) compared with timed feeders. This system provides an important contribution to sustainability of intensive aquaculture systems, increasing productivity and profitability, and optimizing water use.     

A dynamic simulation analysis of Japanese abalone (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Haliotis discus hannai</Emphasis>) production in Chile

In this paper the author develops a dynamic simulation model and uses it to analyze the economics of pond cultivation of Japanese abalone in Chile. The analysis is done in continuous time by defining discounted free cash flows on the basis of explicit relationships between several biological, technical, and economic functions. In a culture batch starting with 600,000 seedlings when abalone has an average length of 19 mm, and the optimal harvest time is day 763 from stocking, harvesting at that optimum time implies a per-unit cost of production of approximately CH$320 per abalone. This includes consumption of 443,644 kg algae per generation, providing approximately 1.46 kg algae per abalone, and an electric energy requirement of about 433,200 kWh. Even at the optimum time of harvest, the profits are rather low. This explains why Japanese abalone culture has been substantially reduced in the north of Chile. To obtain abalones with an average weight of 100 g, harvest should be on day 1,460, when operating net present value is negative. In addition, the effect of changes of some key parameters on the results is analyzed via a sensitivity analysis.     

Rearing juvenile tench (Tinca tinca L.) under controlled conditions using Artemia nauplii as supplement to a dry diet

A 120-day experiment was performed with 4-month-old juvenile tench [initial mean weight: 0.31 g; total length (TL): 32 mm] to evaluate live Artemia nauplii as supplement to a dry diet for salmonids. All groups received the dry diet. Five treatments, differing in the amount of supplemented Artemia, were tested: without supplement, 450, 900, and 1,800 nauplii g⁻¹ initial fish biomass, and nauplii in excess. Groups that received Artemia supplement had significantly higher survival (between 89.4 and 98.7%) compared to those that received dry diet alone (49.2%), while among them there was no significant difference. Juvenile tench fed the dry diet supplemented with Artemia in excess had a specific growth rate (1.98), weight (3.40 g), and TL (63.90 mm) significantly higher than those in the rest of the treatments. The latter three features were not significantly different under limited co-feeding (450, 900, and 1,800 nauplii g⁻¹ biomass) averaging 1.26 specific growth rate, 1.40 g weight, and 48.50 mm TL. Tench fed the dry diet alone grew significantly less than the rest. Thus, the drawbacks of feeding juvenile tench with dry foods originally formulated for other fish species can be overcome by providing a supplement of Artemia nauplii.     

Natural food evaluation and water quality in zero water exchange culture of Litopenaeus vannamei fertilized with wheat bran

The aim of this study was to analyze the influence of organic fertilizer on the availability of natural food (plankton and benthos) and water quality. Two fertilization protocols were adopted using inorganic and organic fertilizers with shrimp (stocked treatment) and their controls (unstocked treatment). Experimental units consisted of 12 circular fiberglass tanks (500 l) with estuarine sediment, individual aeration and no water exchange. In stocked treatments were used 40 juveniles/m², and they were fed with 35% crude protein marine shrimp ration, three times a day. Under the organic fertilization protocol, the plankton showed higher abundance of Nitzschia and rotifers, the phytobenthos consisted mainly of Nitzschia, Amphiprora and Oscillatoria, the epibenthos was represented mainly by nematodes and rotifers, and the macro-invertebrates were mainly oligochaetes. In relation to inorganic fertilization, the plankton was represented mainly by Coscinodiscus and rotifers, the phytobenthos consisted mainly of Amphiprora and Oscillatoria, the epibenthos was represented mainly by nematodes and rotifers, and the macro-invertebrates were mainly oligochaetes. Dissolved oxygen was higher for organic fertilizer (6.16 ± 0.98 mg/l) than for inorganic (5.92 ± 1.19 mg/l) while the other water quality parameters did not present significant differences. Survival was similar in the two fertilization regimes (96.6%). Final body weight was 11.89 ± 1.73 g for the inorganic fertilizers and 12.28 ± 1.71 g for organic fertilizer. It is concluded that wheat bran showed good performance in the water quality without exchange, in the availability of natural food, and in the growth and survival of the shrimps in the microcosms.     

Fate and legacy of an invasion: extinct and extant populations of the soft‐shell clam (Mya arenaria) in Grays Harbor (Washington)

1. The soft‐shell clam, Mya arenaria, was intentionally introduced to Washington State during the mid‐1870s. Presently, extensive shell deposits cover parts of the intertidal flats of Grays Harbor, an estuarine ecosystem that has received much attention because of its role as nursery ground for Dungeness crab (Cancer magister), a commercially significant species. 2. Preliminary observations revealed that shells in the deposits belonged to clams that were much larger than extant conspecifics. Shell deposits and extant populations have spatially disjoint distributions; few individuals are found living within the deposits. The purpose of our study was to determine the cause of the different size characteristics between extinct and extant clams, when and how the deposits originated, and why the extant population does not prosper in what appears to be prime habitat. 3. We (i) surveyed extant populations and shell deposits, (ii) followed the extant population through periodic sampling over a 3‐year period, (iii) investigated growth and survival in extant and extinct populations, (iv) experimentally manipulated growth conditions, and (v) searched archival sources for information about the origin of the deposits. 4. We conclude that extinct clams grew faster and lived longer, apparently because they occupied the best habitats available. Archival records suggest that the population expanded rapidly during the period around 20 years after its introduction, but was decimated between 1895 and 1897 by a mass‐mortality episode that resulted in the formation of the deposits. The population since then has never rebounded in its prime habitat, in spite of potential settlers being regularly available. 5. Dungeness crab larvae settle preferentially in the shell deposits, where the abundance of 0+ age juveniles is orders of magnitude higher than in the adjacent flats. We hypothesize that predation by juvenile crabs limits clam recruitment. 6. The introduction of Mya to Grays Harbor during the 1870s has had long‐lasting effects, which persist a century after their once large populations were decimated by a mass‐mortality event. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

冬小麦预留套行种植模式的超高产生育规律研究

为揭示冬小麦预留套行种植模式的增产机理,以新冬20为材料,以不留套行为CK,在大田条件下系统研究了9行麦空5行(9-5)、5行麦空2行(5-2)两种模式冬小麦的生育规律及茎数、叶面积等的边际效应。结果表明,5-2模式的总茎数、叶面积、干物质积累、产量的边际效应为11.3%～36.0%,远低于9-5模式的57.8%～103.0%,但5-2模式各行茎数、叶面积、干物质积累和籽粒产量等性状较CK有明显改善,籽粒产量达到9 968.7kg.hm-2,较CK增产11.25%。5-2模式产量结构为穗数679.6万.hm-2、穗粒数36.79、千粒重40.75g;最高总茎数达到1 578.7万.hm-2,成穗率为44.2%,最大叶面积指数6.22,总干物质积累量18 124.9kg.hm-2,经济系数0.55。5-2模式各生育时期的茎数、叶面积、干物质积累等边际效应所导致的产量边际效应超补偿了2空行的产量损失,有利于实现冬小麦超高产。     

Synthesis and insecticidal evaluation of N-substituted 2-nitroiminoimidazolidines

N-substituted and N,N′-disubstituted 2-nitroiminoimidazolidines were prepared from 2-nitroiminoimidazoline. The feeding-contact and systemic activities as insecticides of some of these new compounds have been evaluated. © 1998 Society of Chemical Industry