Several micronutrients in the rotifer Brachionus sp. may not fulfil the nutritional requirements of marine fish larvae

The current best practice intensive culture of larval Atlantic cod includes feeding rotifers from onset of exogenous feeding until 25–30 days after hatching. These larvae grow considerably slower and develop higher frequencies of deformities than larvae reared in semi‐extensive systems, using copepods as feed. The present study compares the micronutrient concentrations in rotifers with those of copepods, with the aim of identifying nutrients that may be limiting for normal growth and development of cod larvae. An additional criterion used is the nutrient requirements given for fish in general, by NRC (1993) , as nutrient requirements of cod remains to be determined. Rotifers were fed on four different diets, consisting of baker's yeast with cod liver oil (3.3 : 1 dry weight (DW)/v), baker's yeast with Algamac 2000^TM (3.5 : 1 DW), baker's yeast with live algae Chlorella (4.1 : 1 DW), and Culture Selco 3000^TM (CS). CS was a complete commercial diet for rotifers while the other diets are considered as based on raw ingredients. Compared with copepod nutrient levels, rotifers grown on yeast‐based diets supplemented with either cod liver oil, Algamac 2000 or Chlorella were apparently sufficient for covering the requirements in cod larvae for all the B‐vitamins, except thiamine. Rotifers cultured on the CS diet also had sufficient amounts of thiamine. Of the minerals, only calcium and magnesium were sufficient, using this criterion while iron was on the borderline. However, with reference to the requirements given for larger fish ( NRC 1993 ), only thiamine, vitamin A, manganese, selenium and perhaps copper, appear too low in the rotifers cultured without extra micronutrient supplementation. The other nutrients were present at levels intermediate between copepod and fish requirement levels. This study suggests that it is necessary to develop enrichment techniques to produce rotifers with sufficient amounts of all micronutrients. Such techniques will also be important tools for determining which nutrients are present at levels below the actual requirements in cod larvae.     

青蟹的营养需求研究及其配合饲料研制

青蟹属（Scylla）有锯缘青蟹（Scylla serrata），拟穴青蟹（S．paramamosain），紫螯青蟹（S．tranquebarica）和榄绿青蟹（S．olivacea）等4个种。我国以拟穴青蟹占绝对优势，它有个体大、生长快、适应性强、肉味鲜美、营养丰富等特点，已成为具有重要经济价值的海水养殖蟹类之一。     

石斑鱼的营养需求及其饲料的研制

主要综述了石斑鱼的营养需求及其饲料的研制。主要内容包括：(1)石斑鱼对饲料中蛋白质、脂类、碳水化合物、维生素等的营养需求。(2)石斑鱼饲料的研制概况。(3)针对石斑鱼营养学研究以及目前我国石斑鱼养殖还是以小杂鱼为主,配合饲料使用率很低的现状,对今后开展石斑鱼营养与饲料研究提出了若干建议。     

Developments in the nutrition of Menidia estor Jordan 1880

The Mexican silverside, Menidia estor, is a species with great regional importance and with very high prices in local markets. Unfortunately, due to high fisheries pressure, environmental degradation and pollution, the species has become endangered. Recently, there has been much progress in the biotechnology of this species, aimed at its culture, and the present paper describes the advances in feeding and nutrition of those important fish. M. estor is a stomachless, zooplantophagous fish, which also occasionally feeds on small fish and crustaceans in the adult stage. Studies on the digestive enzymatic activities show high proteolytic capacity and a late or different model of digestive maturation from that described for marine stomach fish. Nutritional studies on M. estor have shown that juveniles have dietary requirements of about 400 g kg^?1 protein and 80 mg kg^?1 vitamin C. The upper level of dietary carbohydrate for good growth and survival for juveniles is about 150 g kg^?1. Based on the high docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) content in flesh when fed on diets low in DHA, it is believed that the species has the capacity to biosynthetize >20‐carbon fatty acids from 18‐carbon fatty acids. The high levels of DHA in flesh makes this fish a very significant potential component of human nutrition. Using these findings the first practical diets for commercial culture of the species have been developed.     

梨果实在贮藏过程中果胶分解酶活性的变化

以苹果梨和新高梨为试材,测定了梨贮藏过程中果胶分解酶的活性变化.结果表明:2品种果实在软化过程中多聚半乳糖醛酸酶(PG)活性均增加且在贮藏后期新高梨的PG活性极显著(p<0.01)高于苹果梨;贮藏性强的苹果梨的β-半乳糖苷酶(β-Gal)活性很低且在贮藏中减少,但贮藏性相对较弱的新高梨的β-Gal活性极显著(p<0.01)高于苹果梨且在可溶性果胶增加的时期达活性高峰;苹果梨的果胶甲基酯酶(PME)活性在贮藏后期有所增加,但新高梨减少.可见,在贮藏过程中PG和β-Gal酶均是梨果实软化的重要酶,但β-Gal的作用比PG酶更重要;PME的活性变化因品种而异,与耐贮性关系不大.     

Conserving indigenous crayfish: stock assessment and habitat requirements in the threatened Austropotamobius italicus

• 1. As part of the Austropotamobius pallipes species complex, the crayfish Austropotamobius italicus is a species of community interest whose preservation requires the designation of Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) (Annex II, EU Habitats Directive). This study aimed at (1) assessing the conservation status of this threatened indigenous species by stock assessment in central Italy and (2) identifying some aspects of its elective habitat.
• 2. Surveys were conducted in nine streams harbouring A. italicus (streams WI) and in 10 streams where crayfish populations became extinct at least 5 years before the study (streams WO).
• 3. The results confirmed that A. italicus is a K‐selected species, with a relatively slow growth rate (males: 0.34; females: 0.37) and a long life expectancy (males: 8.2 years; females: 7.8 years). The extant populations are healthy, showing balanced sex‐ratios and well structured age‐class compositions. Mortality is mainly due to fishing, which is illegal in Tuscany.
• 4. Principal Components Analyses showed that the streams WI and WO differ in the abundance of allochthonous plant detritus but not in the taxonomic composition of their macroinvertebrate communities. Age classes were found to be spatially segregated, juveniles mainly using cobbles as substrates and adults seemingly avoiding them.
• 5. The loss of the pristine riverine landscape seems to have been responsible, together with illegal fishing, for the local extinction of the species. As a consequence, retaining, enhancing, and restoring the habitat and its complexity are required for the preservation of A. italicus.
• 6. The designation of SACs might help in this endeavour if accompanied by programmes aimed at publicizing the need for conservation of this species. Unfortunately, crayfish‐focused projects supported by LIFE in Italy since 1992 (4%) and the SACs involved (1.4%) have been relatively few, despite the poor conservation status of this species and its well recognized ecological role.

Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Effects of different dietary protein and lipid levels on growth, feed utilization and body composition of red porgy (Pagrus pagrus) fingerlings

Two feeding trials were conducted to determine the minimum dietary protein level producing maximum growth, and the optimum protein to energy ratio in diets for red porgy (Pagrus pagrus) fingerlings, respectively. In the first trial, six isoenergetic diets were formulated with protein levels ranging from 400 to 650 g kg^?1 in increments of 50 g kg^?1, and fed for 11 weeks to 2.8 g average initial weight fish. Weight gain, specific growth rate and feed efficiency were significantly higher with diets containing higher protein levels, when compared with dietary levels below 500 g kg^?1. The highest protein efficiency ratios were obtained in fish fed 500 g kg^?1 dietary protein. The minimum dietary protein level producing maximum fish growth was found to be 500 g kg^?1. In the second trial, 15 g average initial weight fish were fed for 12 weeks, six diets containing three different lipid levels (100, 150 and 200 g kg^?1) combined with two protein levels (450 and 500 g kg^?1). Weight gain values increased when dietary lipids increased from 100 to 150 g kg^?1, with a further decrease for 200 g kg^?1 lipids in diets; the lowest fish growth being supported by 200 g kg^?1 dietary lipids. Fish growth was significantly higher when dietary protein increased from 450 to 500 g kg^?1. There was no evidence of a protein‐sparing effect of dietary lipids. Liver protein and lipid contents were low when compared with other fish species. All diet assayed produced high liver glycogen accumulation. The recommended protein and lipid levels in diets for red porgy fingerlings were 500 and 150 g kg^?1, respectively.     

Irrigation scheduling strategies for cotton to cope with water scarcity in the Fergana Valley, Central Asia

The Central Asian countries face high water scarcity due to aridity and desertification but excess water is often applied to the main irrigated crops. This over-irrigation contributes to aggravate water scarcity problems. Improved water saving irrigation is therefore required, mainly through appropriate irrigation scheduling. To provide for it, after being previously calibrated and validated for cotton in the Fergana region, the irrigation scheduling simulation model ISAREG was explored to simulate improved irrigation scheduling alternatives. Results show that using the present irrigation scheduling a large part of the applied water, averaging 20%, percolates out of the root zone. Several irrigation strategies were analyzed, including full irrigation and various levels of deficit irrigation. The analysis focused a three-year period when experiments for calibration and validation of the model were carried out, and a longer period of 33 years that provided for an analysis considering the probabilities of the demand for irrigation water. The first concerned a wet period while the second includes a variety of climatic demand conditions that provided for analyzing alternative schedules for average, high and very high climatic demand. Results have shown the importance of the groundwater contribution, mainly when deficit irrigation is applied. Analyzing several deficit irrigation strategies through the respective potential water saving, relative yield losses, water productivity and economic water productivity, it could be concluded that relative mild deficits may be adopted. Contrarily, the adoption of high water deficit that produce high water savings would lead to yield losses that may be economically not acceptable.     

对花椒收获机研究现状的思考

花椒是我国种植广泛的经济作物.由于花椒收获的农艺要求复杂,使得花椒机械收获的研究起步较晚,花椒收获机的层次低、科技含量不高.为此,探讨了花椒收获机的研究现状及其制约因素,并对今后花椒收获机械的发展进行了理性思考.     

内蒙古玉米机械粒收质量及其影响因素研究

2013～2017年在内蒙古开展9组机械粒收品种筛选与技术集成示范,共获得97个品种/组合139个品次样本数据。收获时采取机械粒收测产方式对其中6组试验进行产量和收获质量测试,结果表明,收获时子粒破碎率均值为9.89%,产量总损失率均值为5.77%,高于国标(GBT-21961—2008)规定≤5%的要求。子粒含水率均值为26.78%,含水率与破碎率、杂质率呈显著正相关。按子粒含水率和单产水平2个指标采用双向平均法作图进行品种分类,对97个供试品种/组合进行初步筛选,吉单66等15个品种表现出子粒含水率低、单产水平高的特点,适合机械粒收。