Possible functions of the octavolateralis system in fish schooling

The development of the octavolateralis system in fish ancestors created the phenomenon of sensory reafference associated with the fish's own locomotion. Particularly in fish species living and moving in groups, there is a potential to produce complex pressure waves and other water movements interfering with the octavolateralis perception of critical environmental signals. The hypothesis presented is that the development of the octavolateralis system may have initiated, or been a factor in, the evolutionary development of synchronized group locomotion, eventually leading to schooling behaviour. Theoretical models suggest that schooling may be related to a reduction in masking of environmental signals, as well as to survival mechanisms, e.g. confusion of the lateral line and electro-sensory systems of predators by overlapping pressure waves and overlapping electrical fields. The combined effects of reduced masking and predator confusion may help explain why schooling became an evolutionary success. Including pressure waves and other water movements in the model of join, stay or leave decisions might shed some light on fish shoal assortment. A model encompassing the complex effects of synchronized group locomotion on octavolateralis and electro-sensory perception of both prey and predator fish might increase the understanding of schooling behaviour.     

Production of inbred larvae through self‐fertilization using oocytes and cryopreserved sperm from the same individuals after sex reversal in eastern oyster Crassostrea virginica

The eastern oyster Crassostrea virginica can change sex which makes self‐fertilization possible if sperm can be cryopreserved. In this study, small (~1 year old) and large (~2–3 years old) oysters were biopsied for sperm collection. Survival of the biopsied oysters after 1 year was 50% for small oysters and 17% for large oysters. Oocytes were collected from sex‐reversed females, and self‐fertilized with cryopreserved sperm. Of the 24 cryopreserved samples, 14 individuals had ≤1% fertility when crossed with oocytes from unrelated females, indicating that the cryopreserved sperm had reduced fertility. The other 10 individuals had a fertility of 39 ± 25% when crossed with oocytes from unrelated females (non‐selfing), but showed a significantly lower success of self‐fertilization (12 ± 16%) (P = 0.008), while aliquots of the same oocytes had a fertilization of 83 ± 11% when crossing with fresh sperm. Larvae were produced at day 3 in the self‐fertilized families (12–94% of the fertilized oocytes), and survived to eyed‐larvae stage at days 11–14. Genotyping with 9 microsatellite markers confirmed that the larvae resulted from self‐fertilization in four families. This study demonstrated the feasibility of creating self‐fertilized inbred lines of oysters by use of non‐lethal sperm collection and cryopreservation.     

Establishment of a new cell line susceptible to Cyprinid herpesvirus 3 (CyHV‐3) and possible latency of CyHV‐3 by temperature shift in the cells

A new cell line named CCF‐K104 predominantly consisting of fibroblastic cells showed optimal growth at temperatures from 25 °C to 30 °C. Serial morphological changes in the cells induced by Cyprinid herpesvirus 3 (CyHV‐3) included cytoplasmic vacuolar formation, cell rounding and detachment. Mature virions were purified from CyHV‐3‐infected CCF‐K104 cells by sucrose gradient ultracentrifugation and had a typical herpesvirus structure on electron microscopy. Infectious CyHV‐3 was produced stably in CCF‐K104 cells over 30 viral passages. Our findings showed that CCF‐K104 is a useful cell line for isolation and productive replication of CyHV‐3. A temperature shift from 25 °C to 15 °C or 35 °C did not allow serial morphological changes as observed at 25 °C for 14 days. Under the same conditions, real‐time PCR showed that CyHV‐3 was present with low viral DNA loads, suggesting that CyHV‐3 may establish latent infection in CCF‐K104 cells. Amplification of the left and right terminal repeat sequences of the CyHV‐3 genome arranged in a head‐to‐tail manner was detected by nested PCR following an upshift in temperature from 25 °C to 35 °C. The PCR results suggested that the circular genome may represent a latent form of CyHV‐3.     

Numerical simulation of deformations and forces of a floating fish cage collar in waves

The dynamic behavior of a fish cage collar in waves was investigated using a numerical model based on the finite element method. The floating collar and mooring system were divided into a series of line segments modeled by straight massless model segments with a node at each end. To verify the validity of the numerical model, research data from other authors were cited and compared with the simulated results, the comparison of results showed a good agreement. The numerical model was then applied to a dynamic simulation of a floating cage collar in waves to analyze its elastic deformation and mooring line tension. The simulated results indicated that the greatest deformation of the collar taken place in the position of the mooring line connection point when incident waves were in the same direction. An increase in the length of mooring line would help to decrease the mooring line tension of the collar. Furthermore, the effects of collar dimension, including collar circumference, pipe diameter in cross-section, and pipe thickness, on the dynamic behavior of the floating collar were discussed. The results of this study provided a better understanding of the dynamic behavior of the fish cage collar.     

High yield and rapid growth of Neoparamoeba pemaquidensis in co-culture with a rainbow trout gill-derived cell line RTgill-W1

Neoparamoeba pemaquidensis is an ubiquitous amphizoic marine protozoan and has been implicated as the causative agent for several diseases in marine organisms, most notably amoebic gill disease (AGD) in Atlantic salmon. Despite several reports on the pathology of AGD, relatively little is known about the protozoan and its relationship to host cells. In this study, an in vitro approach using monolayers of a rainbow trout gill cell line (RTgill-W1, ATCC CRL-2523) was used to rapidly grow large numbers of N. pemaquidensis (ATCC 50172) and investigate cell-pathogen interactions. Established cell lines derived from other tissues of rainbow trout and other fish species were also evaluated for amoeba growth support. The amoebae showed preference and highest yield when grown with RTgill-W1 over nine other tested fish cell lines. Amoeba yields could reach as high as 5 x 10(5) cells mL(-1) within 3 days of growth on the gill cell monolayers. The amoebae caused visible focal lesions in RTgill-W1 monolayers within 24 h of exposure and rapidly proliferated and spread with cytopathic effects destroying the neighbouring pavement-like cells within 48-72 h after initial exposure in media above 700 mOsm kg(-1). Disruption of the integrity of the gill cell monolayers could be noted within 30 min of exposure to the amoeba suspensions by changes in transepithelial resistance (TER) compared with control cell monolayers maintained in the exposure media. This was significantly different by 2 h (P < 0.05) compared with control cells and remained significantly different (P < 0.01) for the remaining 72 h that the TER was monitored. The RTgill-W1 cell line is thus a convenient model for growing N. pemaquidensis and for studying host-pathogen interactions in AGD.     

Experimental determinations of factors affecting the sink rates of baited hooks to minimize seabird mortality in pelagic longline fisheries

• 1. An experiment was conducted in Australia's pelagic longline fishery to establish a scientific basis for the introduction of line weighting to reduce seabird mortality. The experiment examined the effects of different bait species (blue mackerel, yellow‐tail mackerel and squid), bait life status (dead or alive), weight of leaded swivels (60 g, 100 g and 160 g) and leader length (distance between leaded swivel and hooks: 2 m, 3 m and 4 m) on the sink rates of baited hooks from 0–6 m deep.
• 2. On average, live bait sank much more slowly than dead bait. The sink rates of individual live bait were highly variable: many were <2 m underwater 18 s after deployment, including some on the heaviest swivels, and some were <10 m deep after 120 s.
• 3. Within the dead bait group, all three swivel weights on 3 m and 4 m leaders sank at similar rates. Initial sink rates (e.g. 0–2 m) were 2–3 times slower than final rates (e.g. 4–6 m) for all combinations of swivel weight and leader length. The fastest initial and final sink rates were associated with heavy swivels placed close to hooks.
• 4. The results show that (a) compared with dead bait, live bait greatly increases the exposure of baited hooks to seabirds; (b) initial sink rates of dead bait are increased by placing leaded swivels close to hooks and final rates by increasing the weight of the swivels; (c) adding weight to long leaders makes little difference to sink rates; and (d) the small (incremental) changes to swivel weights and leader lengths typically preferred by industry will be difficult to detect at sea and unlikely to substantially reduce seabird mortality.
• 5. We suggest that experiments designed to reduce seabird mortality from that associated with 60 g swivels and ～3.5 m leaders (the preferred option by industry) should aim to expedite the initial sink rates as well as rates to deeper depths. This objective could be achieved by including branch lines with ≥120 g swivels ≤2 m in comparative assessments of the effectiveness of line weighting regimes in reducing seabird mortality. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

     

Spatial association between northern fur seal (Callorhinus ursinus) and potential prey distribution during the wintering period in the northern Sea of Japan

Elucidating the response of marine predators to oceanographic features helps in understanding their foraging strategies and the cause of their spatial overlap and interference with fishery activities. Northern fur seal is a highly pelagic species during the wintering period. In recent years, fur seals have consistently been found distributed near the coast of southwest Hokkaido, Japan. Because interference by fur seals with coastal fishery activities has become a serious concern, an understanding is sought as to why fur seals come ashore in this area. We conducted ship‐based observations and estimated fur seal density. To elucidate the spatial and seasonal association of fur seal distribution and ocean environments, we constructed statistical models to describe how potential prey distribution and oceanographic features influenced the fur seal spatial distribution during the wintering period. Fur seal distribution corresponded markedly to potential prey distribution, and they tended to aggregate along the narrow continental shelf that is the main geographic feature of this area, which is 2000 m deep and approximately 10 km from the coast. Walleye pollock [Gadus chαlcogrαmmα (Theragra chαlcogrαmmα)] and arabesque greenling (Pleurogrammus azonus), which are one of the main prey for fur seals, move to the shallow area to spawn on the continental shelf seasonally, so potential prey abundance could be higher in coastal areas than offshore. Moreover, the absence of a mesopelagic biotic community may be one of the main factors in the coastal distribution of the fur seal.     

Establishment,characterization, virus susceptibility and transfection of cell lines from cobia,Rachycentron canadum (L.), brain and fin

Establishment and characterization of two cobia, Rachycentron canadum, cell lines derived from cobia brain (CB) and cobia fin (CF) are described. Caudal fin and brain from juvenile cobia were dissociated for 30 and 10 min, respectively, in phosphate‐buffered saline containing 0.25% trypsin at 25 °C. The optimal culture condition for both dissociated cells (primary cell culture) was at 28 °C in Leibovitz‐15 medium containing 10% foetal bovine serum. The cells have been sub‐cultured at a ratio of 1:2 for more than 160 passages over a period of 3 years. Origin of the cultured cells was verified by comparison of their sequences of mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I genes (cox I) with the cox 1 sequence from cobia muscle tissue. The cell lines showed polyploidy. No mycoplasma contamination was detected. Susceptibility to grouper iridovirus was observed for the CB cell line but not the CF cell line. Both cell lines expressed green fluorescent protein after being transfected with green fluorescent reporter gene driven by the cytomegalovirus promoter.     

聚合7OE亚基1B/1R易位系材料的创制及其品质研究

为提高小麦1B/1R易位系的加工品质,本研究选用高分子量麦谷蛋白亚基组成为1/7+9/2+12的小麦1B/1R易位系品种科农199为母本,与高分子量麦谷蛋白亚基组成为1/7^OE+8^*/5+10的强筋春小麦品种津强6号杂交,利用分子标记在F₄代株系中筛选到一个7^OE亚基基因与黑麦碱基因聚合在同一条染色体上的1B/1R易位系材料。PCR结果显示,该聚合材料和非聚合材料在Glu-A1和Glu-D1位点没有差异。在温室种植条件下,对这些聚合材料和非聚合材料及其亲本进行麦谷蛋白溶胀指数(SIG)测定,结果表明,与1B/1R易位系亲本科农199比较,聚合5+10优质亚基后SIG值显著提高,聚合7^OE优质亚基后,SIG值进一步显著提高,部分聚合材料达到了强筋亲本津强6号的水平。将聚合材料和非聚合材料及其亲本种植于大田,发现聚合5+10和7^OE优质亚基株系的乳酸-SDS溶剂保持力(LA-SDS SRC)和SDS沉降值均显著高于只聚合5+10优质亚基的株系,但未达到强筋亲本...     

几个两系法高产杂交组合的光能利用率初探

:1 998年早、晚季 ,在广州测算了两系法杂交水稻强优组合培矮 6 4S/E32、培矮 6 4S/931 1、粤杂 1 2 2和常规优质高产品种粤香占和高产品种特三矮 2号的光能利用率。结果显示 :早季稻的平均光能利用率为 0 .996 %±0 .0 5 9% ,晚季稻为 0 .843%± 0 .0 2 9% ;早季以培矮 6 4S/E32光能利用率最高 ,达 1 .0 6 2 % ,晚季以培矮 6 4S/931 1最高 ,为 0 .877%。