Extrinsic and intrinsic factors influence daily activity of a Mediterranean cyprinid

Factors shaping individual behavior remain poorly understood for European cyprinids. We examined the effects of extrinsic (temperature and year) and intrinsic factors (body size and shoal size) on the daily activity of chub Squalius torgalensis, a critically endangered cyprinid found in the Torgal stream, Portugal. We quantified chub behaviors while snorkeling, using instantaneous sampling of focal individuals, in spring 2009 and 2010. We used Principal Component Analysis to describe individual behavior and assessed competing models relating individual behavior to explanatory variables using Akaike's Information Criterion. Year had a strong influence on chub behavior, with individuals spending more time drift foraging and orienting in 2009, whereas in 2010 they spent more time benthic foraging and cruising. Shoal size did not influence behaviors in 2009, but in 2010 individuals in small shoals foraged benthically and searched with greater frequency than those in large shoals. Individuals increased cruising and decreased searching as they grew in length, but the opposite trend was observed as temperature increased. Our results indicate that both extrinsic and intrinsic factors influence daily activity of chub, with individual behaviors varying between years, and depending upon shoal size, body size and temperature. This suggests that chub display high levels of individual behavioral flexibility, which may be important for fish inhabiting harsh and highly variable Mediterranean streams. Conservation efforts for this species will benefit by integrating behavioral information into management strategies.     

Improvement of the survival in the seven-band grouper Epinephelus septemfasciatus larvae by optimizing aeration and water inlet in the mass-scale rearing tank

The water flow in larval rearing tanks has been indicated to cause mass mortality of the seven-band grouper Epinephelus septemfasciatus larvae. Therefore, a new aerating method was tested in an actual scale intensive rearing tank (8.0 m in diameter, 1.87 m of water depth, 100 m³ of volume), in which an aerator was positioned at the center of the rearing tank surrounding cylindrical drain (1.2 m in diameter) to generate the flow field, and seven larval rearing trials were performed. The survival rate with the former aeration methods were compared, in which several aerators were located in the rearing tank. The survival rate at 10 days after hatching with the new aeration method (61.5±5.1%, n=7) was approximately three times higher than the former methods (21.2±13.7%, n=6). The flow environment of rearing tanks was also examined by quantifying the flow field, and the relationship between the flow field in the rearing tank, behavior of larvae and survival discussed. It was confirmed that the vertical circulating flow was observed in rearing tanks, and determined effectively the survival and the behavior of grouper larvae in patchiness.     

尼罗罗非鱼行为习性及其捕捞渔具的设计

尼罗罗非鱼(OreochromisniloticaL.)属热带性鱼类,为我国1978年从国外引进的优良海淡水养殖对象,具有食性杂、生长速度快、肉质鲜美、经济价值高等优点[1]。目前已在我国数个省、市开展养殖。尼罗罗非鱼性喜群游,其最适生长水温为24～32℃,水温降至14℃时,活动迟缓,停止摄食,水温降至12℃以下时便逐渐死亡[2]。因此,在我国北方地区养殖的尼罗罗非鱼,一般在严冬前开始进行捕捞。水温达到20℃以上时,雄鱼会在池边或者池底挖洞,当遇到外界刺激或拉网捕捞受惊后,便潜入洞中或软泥中。尼罗罗非鱼的这一行为习性给捕捞造成很大困难,因此各地一般…     

Effect of plant density in coupled aquaponics on the welfare status of African catfish,Clarias gariepinus

We investigated the effects of plant density on the welfare of African catfish, Clarias gariepinus, in coupled aquaponics over 85 days. The moderate density (mpd) of basil, Ocimum basilicum, was compared with the high density (hpd) and control (n = 0). The behavior was analyzed by visual and video observations, and after the application of induced stressors, skin injuries, blood glucose, lactate, and plasma cortisol responses were considered. The hpd fish showed the least activity (control: visual 77.8%, video 81.6%; mpd: 74.6%, 82.6%; hpd: 63.2% [p < 0.05], 78.8%). High agonistic behavior (control: 5, 131; mpd: 4, 57; hpd: 1, 45) and the highest number of injuries (control: 3.9; mpd: 2.9; hpd: 3.4) were observed in the control. Glucose and lactate levels did not differ significantly (control: 5.5, 2.6 mmol/L; mpd: 5.6, 2.7 mmol/L; hpd: 5.3, 2.6 mmol/L); however, cortisol levels did (control: 18.8 ng/mL, mpd: 19.9 ng/mL, hpd: 25.8 ng/mL). pH adjustment led to additional stress, resulting in temporal cortisol alterations. While in the control and mpd, low cortisol levels were followed by acute responses and downregulation, the hpd fish showed prior elevation and lagged an acute response. However, comparing injuries and behavioral patterns with control, aquaponics with high basil density influenced African catfish positively.     

与鱼道设计相关的鱼类游泳行为研究

在鱼类生境遭受破坏,渔业资源日益减少的今天,修建鱼道等过鱼设施已成为减缓水利工程建设所致不利影响的重要举措。纵观世界各国,早期的鱼道建设往往因为缺乏对鱼类的了解而最终成为摆设。我国的鱼道建设起步晚,其再度兴起需要更可靠的生物学信息。鱼类的游泳能力及行为关系着鱼道设计的各个方面,决定着设计的成败。文章针对鱼道设计,综述了国内外几十年来鱼类游泳行为的研究成果。鱼类的游泳速度可分为三类,即持续游泳速度,耐久游泳速度和突进游泳速度,其中与鱼道设计密切相关的是后两者。影响鱼类游泳速度的因素既有生物个体因素也有环境因素,主要包括摆尾频率、体长、疲劳时间、温度及耗氧量等。文章最后简述了鱼类行为学在鱼道设计中的应用。我国针对过鱼设施建设的鱼类行为学研究极少,总结国外的研究方法和经验成果可为我国的过鱼设施建设提供生物学基础,促进该领域的发展。     

Behavioral responses of tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) to acute fluctuations in dissolved oxygen levels as monitored by computer vision

Behavioral and ventilatory parameters have the possibility of predicting the stress state of fish in vivo and in situ. This paper presents a new image-processing algorithm for quantifying the average swimming speed of a fish school in an aquarium. This method is based on the alteration in projected area caused by the movement of individual fish during frame sequences captured at given time intervals. The image enhancement method increases the contrast between fish and background, and is thus suitable for use in turbid aquaculture water. Behavioral parameters (swimming activity and distribution parameters) and changes in ventilation frequency (VF) of tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) responded to acute fluctuations in dissolved oxygen (DO) which were monitored continuously in the course of normoxia, falling DO level, maintenance of hypoxia (three levels of 1.5, 0.8 and 0.3 mg l⁻¹) and subsequent recovery to normoxia. These parameters responded sensitively to acute variations in DO level; they displayed significant changes (P < 0.05) during severe hypoxia (0.8 and 0.3 mg l⁻¹ level) compared with normoxic condition, but there was no significant difference under conditions of mild hypoxia (1.5 mg l⁻¹ level). There was no significant difference in VF between two levels of severe hypoxia 0.8 and 0.3 mg l⁻¹ level during the low DO condition. The activity and distribution parameters displayed distinguishable differences between the 0.8 and 0.3 mg l⁻¹ levels. The behavioral parameters are thus capable of distinguishing between different degrees of severe hypoxia, though there were relatively large fluctuations.     

Habitat utilization and vertical movements of white marlin (Tetrapturus albidus) released from commercial and recreational fishing gears in the western North Atlantic Ocean: inferences from short duration pop-up archival satellite tags

Researchers have applied numerous techniques to improve billfish stock assessments, including habitat‐based models that incorporate behavioral and oceanographic parameters to standardize historical catch‐per‐unit‐effort time‐series data. These methods have allowed researchers to account for significant changes in the depths of pelagic longline (PLL) gear deployments over time. This study presents habitat‐use data recovered from high‐resolution 5‐ and 10‐day pop‐up satellite archival tags (PSATs) attached to 47 surviving white marlin released from commercial and recreational fishing gears offshore of the U.S. East Coast, the northern Caribbean, and Venezuela between 2002 and 2004. Data recovered from transmitting tags indicated that white marlin spent nearly half of their time associated with warm, near‐surface waters (<10 m). All fish displayed frequent short duration (mean: 39.8 min) vertical excursions from surface waters to depths averaging 51 m. Qualitative and multivariate classifications of data from completely transmitted movements of surviving white marlin revealed two major types of descents: one pattern was characterized by deep ‘V’‐shaped excursions of relatively short duration (mean: 23.4 min) while the other featured descents that were more broadly ‘U’‐shaped and confined to a specific depth range for an extended period of time (mean: 75.8 min). Based on the frequency, persistence, and patterns of these vertical movements, white marlin appear to direct a considerable proportion of foraging effort well below surface waters, a behavior that may account for relatively high catch rates of white marlin on some deep‐set PLL deployments.     

流速对鲫鱼游泳行为和能量消耗影响的研究

通过自制的鱼类游泳试验装置,研究了流速对鲫(Carassius auratus)游泳行为和能量消耗的影响。结果表明,鲫的摆尾频率、摆尾幅度随游泳速度变化有明显的规律。随着游泳速度的增加,鲫的摆尾频率与幅度都相应地增加。流速小于3倍体长/s与大于3倍体长/s,摆尾频率差异性显著(P<0.05),而摆尾幅度差异性不明显。鲫单位时间耗氧率随着流速的增加而显著增加,并且随着速度的增加,鲫用于游泳所消耗的能量占总能量消耗逐渐趋于稳定,运动净耗氧率最大为90%。水温(16±1)℃时,体长12～20cm鲫的相对极限流速为其(3.85±1.10)倍体长/s,绝对极限流速为(0.66±0.10)m/s;相同流速的温度环境中,随着体重的增加,耗氧量呈增加趋势。在相同的流速下,水温(10±1)℃时的游泳耗氧量小于(16±1)℃,而净耗氧率较大;温度(16±1)℃时,2.5倍体长/s的游泳速度有利于鲫生长代谢的能量积累。     

Describing Human–Wildlife Interaction from a European Perspective

European researchers from both the natural and social sciences show growing interest in studying interactions between society and wildlife. A wealth of theoretical frameworks, concepts, and methods are used, but an integration of perspectives is lacking. This research note summarizes results from two workshops that included 63 delegates from 25 European countries, as well as a follow-up survey of 41 respondents. Two main theoretical approaches to the study of human–wildlife interactions were identified. One approach focuses on the collective societal level relying on theories of governance, social representation, deliberative procedures, and commons theory. The other approach targets individuals or groups, and is based on theories such as the cognitive hierarchy, theory of reasoned action, and theory of planned behavior. Interdisciplinary collaboration is needed to identify the best options for wildlife conservation and management in a more politically integrated Europe.     

异齿裂腹鱼游泳能力初探

为了摸清雅鲁藏布江特有种异齿裂腹鱼(Schizothorax oconnori)的游泳能力,以野生鱼种为实验对象,通过丹麦Loligo System公司的环形试验水槽测试了异齿裂腹鱼的临界游泳速度、突进游泳速度和持续游泳速度。结果显示,异齿裂腹鱼的临界游泳速度随体长的增大而增加,相对临界游泳速度随体长的增大而减小,其临界游泳速度与体长的关系为Y1=-39.369+13.23X-0.371X2+0.004X3(Y1是绝对临界游泳速度,X为体长)。突进游泳速度随体长的增加而近似呈线性递增趋势,而相对突进游泳速度随体长的增大而减小。在三个固定流速(60cm/s、80 cm/s、100 cm/s)下,初步确定60 cm/s为异齿裂腹鱼的持续游泳速度,80 cm/s、100 cm/s为耐久游泳速度。研究成果以期为青藏高原地区鱼类行为学的研究提供基础资料,为鱼道等过鱼设施的设计提供参考资料。