Dietary protein level and natural food management in the culture of blue (Litopenaeus stylirostris) and white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) in microcosms

The effect of dietary protein level and natural food management on the production parameters of blue and white shrimp, as well as on water quality, was evaluated in a microcosms system (plastic pools simulating aquaculture ponds). Two experimental trials were carried out in the facilities of DICTUS, University of Sonora, Northwest México. Treatment with low protein diet (LP) consisted of a low protein input (diet with 250 g kg^?1 crude protein) through the culture period; treatment with high protein diet (HP) consisted of a high protein input (diet with 400 g kg^?1 crude protein) through the trial, and finally treatment VP consisted of an adjustment of protein input (diets with 250, 350 or 400 g kg^?1 crude protein), depending on the abundance of biota (zooplankton and benthos) in the system. Each species responded differently to the treatments. For blue shrimp, low protein input resulted in the lowest final body weight (12.9 ± 0.6 g) and biomass (696.0 g pool^?1). Survival and feed conversion ratio were similar in the three treatments. For white shrimp, the best growth, biomass and food conversion ratio were obtained in the low protein input treatment. Water quality parameters such as nitrate, ammonia and organic matter during the two trials, were better for LP and VP treatments. White shrimp seems to have lower protein requirements than blue shrimp. For the blue shrimp culture, adjusting protein input according to natural food abundance (zooplankton and benthos) in the system, seems to be advantageous because of the possibility of getting a production similar to that obtained with a high protein input through the farming period, but at lower feed cost, and with a lower environmental impact. It is concluded that a high protein input through the whole farming period is not the best feeding strategy for any of the two species.     

Growth changes in bighand thornyhead <Emphasis Type="Italic">Sebastolobus macrochir</Emphasis> off the Pacific coast of northern Honshu,Japan

ABSTRACT:     The biomass of bighand thornyhead Sebastolobus macrochir was increased by the high recruitment success of the 1999–2002 year classes off the Pacific coast of northern Honshu, Japan. In this study, the growth of bighand thornyhead was examined over a 9-year period from 1996 to 2004 in this area. The growth of the 1999 year class and the 2000–2002 year classes was reduced at 3 and 2 years old, respectively, while the 1999–2002 year classes were smaller than the 1993–1998 year classes. In 2-, 3- and 4-year-old fish, the relationship between abundance and mean standard length was expressed by negative linear regressions, while fish became smaller when abundance of the year class was larger. Mean bottom temperatures were stable at depths of 350–900 m; variations in water temperature were small in the main distribution area of bighand thornyhead. We discuss the factors affecting the growth of bighand thornyhead via changes in the demersal fish community and feeding habits.     

A synthesis of the life history and ecology of juvenile Pacific herring in Prince William Sound,Alaska

Physical and biological variables affecting juvenile Pacific herring (Clupea pallasi) in Prince William Sound (PWS) from 1995 to 1998 were investigated as part of a multifaceted study of recruitment, the Sound Ecosystem Assessment (SEA) program. Though more herring larvae were retained in eastern PWS bays, ages‐0 and ‐1 herring used bays throughout PWS as nursery areas. Water transported into PWS from the Gulf of Alaska (GOA) contributed oceanic prey species to neritic habitats. Consequently, variations in local food availability resulted in different diets and growth rates of herring among bays. Summer food availability and possible interspecific competition for food in nursery areas affected the autumn nutritional status and juvenile whole body energy content (WBEC), which differed among bays. The WBEC of age‐0 herring in autumn was related to over‐winter survival. The limited amount of food consumption in winter was not sufficient to meet metabolic needs. The smallest age‐0 fish were most at risk of starvation in winter. Autumn WBEC of herring and winter water temperature were used to model over‐winter mortality of age‐0 herring. Differences in feeding and energetics among nursery areas indicated that habitat quality and age‐0 survival were varied among areas and years. These conditions were measured by temperature, zooplankton abundance, size of juvenile herring, diet energy, energy source (GOA vs. neritic zooplankton), WBEC, and within‐bay competition.     

Life history and ecology of the glowbelly <Emphasis Type="Italic">Acropoma japonicum</Emphasis> in the Uwa Sea,Japan

ABSTRACT:   The life history and ecology of the glowbelly Acropoma japonicum a commercially important fishery resource, were investigated in the Uwa Sea, Japan. Newly settled juveniles (0⁺) appeared at the end of the breeding season and reached maturity in the next season, i.e. when they became yearlings (1⁺). The yearlings made a gametic effort comparable to that of older fish. During the breeding season, the somatic conditions were more deteriorated for males than for females. That the deterioration of male somatic conditions was not attributable to a sexual difference in energy gain from feeding suggests that the males incurred higher energetic costs of reproduction despite their relatively low gonadosomatic indices. Such an energy depletion may increase the mortality risk, resulting in female-biased sex ratios in the older age classes. Most of the 1⁺ fish disappeared in winter following their first breeding. For A. japonicum , the observed precocity and short life span is notable because it is a higher consumer that is generally expected to show later maturation and longer life. As possible explanations for their disappearances, predation and postbreeding emaciation were less likely. While fishing is one of the most influential factors, the possibility of age-specific migration toward deeper waters remains to be examined.     

Polka-dot grouper, Cromileptes altivelis, can utilize dietary fat efficiently

Polka‐dot grouper, Cromileptes altivelis, a highly‐prized fish in Asian live fish markets, is a slow‐growing species. Long‐chain (LCF) or medium‐chain fatty acids (MCF) were fed to polka‐dot grouper (14 g initial weight) for 8 weeks to see if growth could be stimulated. Five dietary treatments were compared: a control diet with low fat (56 g kg^?1) or diets that contained either moderate (150 g kg^?1) or high (300 g kg^?1) supplements of fat that were added either as olive oil for the LCF or coconut oil for the MCF. Control fish performed well; they grew at 2.2 g week^?1, had a dry matter feed conversion ratio of 1.0 and deposited dietary protein and energy at efficiencies of 25 and 26%. Fish fed LCF at moderate levels performed better than controls but, when fed LCF at high levels or MCF at any level, their performance was inferior to controls. We conclude that dietary supplementation with 150 g kg^?1 of LCF stimulates growth and improves protein retention of polka‐dot grouper whereas higher levels, or the same or higher levels of MCF, depress performance.     

Inherent variation in growth efficiency of African catfish Clarias gariepinus (Burchell, 1822) juveniles

Understanding the major causes of growth variation is crucial for the success of fish farming since its reduction contributes to maximize production efficiency, reduce food waste and improve water quality. The growth variation observed in aquaculture has been associated with the establishment of social hierarchies. However, some studies suggest that this variation may not be mainly a consequence of social hierarchies but mainly a result of inherent (genetic) differences. This study investigates the magnitude of individual responses, independently of group effects (fish housed individually), in growth efficiency and feeding behaviour of African catfish Clarias gariepinus (Burchell 1822). Despite the low variation in initial body weight (6.5%) and cumulative feed consumption (7.5%) over the experimental period, catfish exhibited high variation in final body weight (18.1%), specific growth rate (17.2%) and feed conversion ratio (27.9%), suggesting that individual variation in growth efficiency is important in determining growth rate. This individual variation may be related with individual differences in protein/fat deposition since faster growing fish deposited more protein and less fat than slower growing fish. Pronounced individual differences in feeding behaviour (reaction towards feed and time spent eating) were also observed and correlated with individual differences in growth efficiency. Fast eaters were the fast growers. We suggest that the growth variation observed in African catfish may be inherent and that the use of grading to increase uniformity should be further investigated.     

运输应激对比格犬血常规及生化指标的影响

为了研究运输应激伴随的冷应激、驱赶、捕捉及饲料改变等多重应激对比格犬血常规和血液临床生化指标造成的影响,并且评估1周适应性饲养时间的合理性。以30只比格犬作为试验对象,对其适应性饲养前后的血常规和血液临床生化指标进行检查,并对数据进行分析发现,适应性饲养前犬的血常规和生化指标都有显著变化,1周的常规适应性饲养后,犬应激症状消失,血常规和生化检查指标均回复正常;这说明应激对比格犬造成了显著的影响,1周的适应性饲养是合理且必须的。     

马鞍列岛海洋特别保护区斑头六线鱼的摄食习性

为了解马鞍列岛海洋特别保护区岩礁生境斑头六线鱼的摄食习性,基于2009年3月~2010年2月多网目组合刺网调查获取的252尾斑头六线鱼样本,研究了斑头六线鱼的饵料组成和摄食策略。结果表明斑头六线鱼主要摄食端足类的麦秆虫,是以麦秆虫为主食的狭食性鱼类。斑头六线鱼摄食种类随季节变化,春季、夏季和秋季主要摄食端足类,表现为狭食性的摄食特性,冬季主要摄食蟹类、腹足类和其他类,表现为广食性的摄食特性。     

宁夏干旱风沙区5种灌木保水剂造林试验与饲用价值研究

选择红柳(Tamarix ramosissima)、紫穗槐(Amorpha fruticosa)、柠条(Caragana korshinskii)、梭梭(Haloxylon ammodendron)、花棒(Hedysarum scoparium)5种宁夏干旱风沙区的主要造林灌木,采用法国SNF(爱森)保水剂和北京"清华绿宝"高效抗旱保水剂,通过蘸根法进行田间造林种植试验,以筛选出在干旱条件下提高苗木成活率的最佳方法,并对5种灌木的粗蛋白(crude protein,CP)、中性洗涤纤维(neutral detergent fiber,NDF)、酸性洗涤纤维(acid detergent fiber,ADF)、全量钙和全量磷的含量进行了测定。试验结果表明,使用SNF保水剂蘸根处理的成活率为39.60%,与CK相比提高了79.27%,与"清华绿宝"保水剂相比提高了44.90%。采用SNF保水剂蘸根处理,不仅可以提高造林成活率还可以节省保水剂用量,操作简单,适宜大面积的造林推广。5种灌木的粗蛋白与纤维比顺序为:柠条(0.46)紫穗槐(0.35)梭梭(0.24)花棒(0.22)红柳(0.17)。柠条、紫穗槐、梭梭都是优质的饲料资源。     

家蚕种质资源品种的人工饲料摄食性研究

采用山东省蚕业研究所现有低成本人工饲料饲养本所家蚕资源品种,研究其摄食性,结果杂交种优于日系与中系,在收蚁与1龄期间是日系明显优于中系,至3龄起蚕日系的存活率也是明显高于中系,而在2龄期间存活下来的中系家蚕对人工饲料的摄食性优于日系。