Diving behavior of immature, feeding Pacific bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus orientalis) in relation to season and area: the East China Sea and the Kuroshio–Oyashio transition region

Twenty‐four archival tags were recovered from Pacific bluefin tuna previously released off Tsushima Island in the East China Sea. By analysis of the time‐series data of the pressure and the ambient and internal temperature from the 24 tags, we examined the relationship between the tuna's pattern of diving and the thermocline depth. In the East China Sea, diving and feeding events occurred throughout almost the entire day in both winter and summer, suggesting that the purpose of diving is for feeding. In summer, the feeding frequency was greater than that in winter, which corresponds to the fact that growth is more rapid in summer than in winter. During summer in the Kuroshio–Oyashio transition region, on the other hand, feeding events were much more frequent than those in the East China Sea, in spite of a lower diving frequency. The mean horizontal distance traveled was also significantly higher and it seems that in this area they may move horizontally to feed on prey accumulated at the surface. We conclude that, in addition to the ambient temperature structure, the vertical and horizontal distribution of prey species plays an important role in the feeding behavior of Pacific bluefin tuna. One bluefin tuna migrated to the Oyashio frontal area, where both the horizontal and the vertical thermal gradients are much steeper. The fish spent most of the time on the warmer side of the front and often traveled horizontally to the colder side during the day, perhaps to feed. This implies that there is a thermal barrier effect, in this case from the Oyashio front, on their behavior. The frequency of feeding events was low, although all the monitored fish dived every dawn and dusk, irrespective of the seasons or location. It is possible that these twice‐daily diving patterns occurred in response to the change in ambient light at sunrise and sunset.     

Transfer of toxaphene and chlordane into farmed rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum) via feed

The study was carried out to quantitate the transfer of toxaphene and chlordane compounds from commercial fish feed into the edible part of rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum) under normal rearing conditions. Trout were fed with unspiked high energy feed for salmon (fat content 26–30%) over a period of 19 months. The average weight of trout increased from 10 g to more than 2092 g, reaching sizes of 51 cm length. Considerable amounts of toxaphene and chlordane residues were transferred from fish feed into trout muscle. Toxaphene concentrations increased up to 8.6 µg (Σ toxaphene indicator compounds 1–3) kg^?1 wet weight (w.w.) and chlordane reached 5.3 µg Σoxy‐, trans‐, cis‐chlordane + t‐nonachlor kg^?1 w.w. Results are also discussed on the contaminant levels based on the fat content and the effect of sexual maturation is considered in this study. The data allow the establishment of transfer rates for toxaphene and chlordane congeners from high energy diet into the edible part of farmed rainbow trout.     

Influences of feeding frequency of extruded pellet and moist pellet on growth and body composition of juvenile Japanese flounder <Emphasis Type="Italic">Paralichthys olivaceus</Emphasis> in suboptimal water temperatures

This study was carried out to investigate the influences of feeding frequency of extruded pellet and moist pellet on growth and body composition of juvenile flounder (initial mean weight 6.3 g) in sub optimal water temperatures. A 2 (diets: extruded pellet and moist pellet)×2 (feeding frequencies: two and three times daily)×2 (water temperatures: 12 and 17°C) factorial design with three replications was used. After 60 days of feeding, the feeding frequency did not significantly affect growth performance of fish. Weight gain, daily feed intake, feed efficiency and protein efficiency ratio were significantly (P<0.05) higher for fish reared at the higher water temperature. At the same water temperature, weight gain, feed efficiency, and protein efficiency ratio were significantly (P<0.05) higher for fish fed the extruded pellet than moist pellet. The results of this study indicate that feeding frequency of two times daily is sufficient for optimal growth of juvenile flounder when reared in suboptimal water temperatures, and an increase in water temperature from 12 to 17°C improved growth and feed efficiency.     

Dietary value of benthic diatoms for post-larval abalone <Emphasis Type="Italic">Haliotis diversicolor</Emphasis> associated with feeding transitions

ABSTRACT:   The feeding behavior and growth of post-larval Haliotis diversicolor with initial shell lengths (SL) of approximately 500 μm (Exp. 1-1 and 1-2), 800 μm (Exp. 2), and 1200 μm (Exp. 3) were studied in a laboratory setting while they fed on four species of benthic diatom Achnanthes longipes , Cocconeis sublittoralis , Cylindrotheca closterium , and Navicula ramosissima . Exp. 1-1 and 1-2 revealed no marked differences in post-larval growth rates (mean 24–39 μm SL/day) among the diatom species. However, marked differences in growth rates among the species were revealed in Exp. 2 and 3. Three species, A. longipes , Co. sublittoralis, and Cy. closterium , produced faster growth (Exp. 2 mean 29–51 μm/day, Exp. 3 mean 36–44 μm/day) than N. ramosissima (Exp. 2 mean 18 μm/day, Exp. 3 mean 23 μm/day). Post-larvae fed N. ramosissima had lower digestion efficiency (42.8%) than those fed other diatom species (90.7–100%). Diatom extracellular substances appeared to be principally used from post-settlement to 800 μm SL, and diatom cell contents were required to produce rapid growth of larger post-larvae (>800 μm SL). It is likely that the availability of each diatom for post-larvae was affected by diatom morphology, attachment strength, frustule strength, and post-larval size.     

Contrasting intraspecific dietary shifts in two terapontid assemblages from Australia’s wet‐dry tropics

Abstract – This study assessed the size‐related patterns of dietary resource use in terapontid assemblages from two north Australian wet‐dry tropical river systems exhibiting contrasting long‐term flow regimes. Substantially higher size‐related dietary divergence in the form of additional trophic guilds and lower levels of dietary overlap were evident among terapontids from the comparatively stable Daly River system, particularly during the dry season. Relatively restricted expression of size‐related dietary shifts in conjunction with higher levels of dietary overlap and no significant seasonal effects on dietary overlap were features of assemblage interaction in the highly variable Burdekin River. Results highlight size‐related dietary shifts as a complex aspect of terapontid trophic habits, and one that can exhibit considerable spatial dynamism.     

制备K700bp成探针与美意和平湖两品系西蜂RAPD-PCR扩增产物及它们基因组DNA分子杂交的研究

Ｋ７００ｂｐ 是高产蜜西蜂引物Ｋ（５’－ ＣＧＧＣＣＣＣＴＧＣ－ ３’） ，通过ＲＡＰＤ－ ＰＣＲ 扩增出来的一个特有ＤＮＡ 片段。然后将Ｋ７００ｂｐ 制备成探针再与高、低产蜜西蜂的ＰＣＲ 产物及它们的基因组进行杂交。结果Ｋ７００探针只与高产蜜西蜂的ＰＣＲ 产物及其基因组杂交，证明Ｋ７００ｂｐ 确实是高产蜜西蜂的一个特有ＤＮＡ 片段。     

自动化玉米移栽机送苗装置的研究

玉米是我国主要农作物之一,其生产效率与生产质量的好坏,直接关系着我国粮食安全。传统的玉米播种方式,不仅生产效率、作业质量和标准化程度均比较低,无法实现高效率全自动大面积玉米播种或者套种的实际需求。在新时期,随着城镇化进程加快,农村劳动力日益短缺,加上社会经济发展与科学技术的进步,为我国玉米移栽机自动化技术开发设计提供了必要的支撑条件。为此,对我国东北地区玉米试验田进行相关研究,就自动化玉米移栽机及其送苗装置技术的研发、设计进行探究,并重点阐述其基本工作原理。     

Low-protein supplement increases protein retention and reduces the amounts of nitrogen and phosphorus wasted by rainbow trout fed on low-fat herring

The growth, food utilization and amounts of nitrogen and phosphorus lost into the water by rainbow trout (initial size 485 g) fed on low-fat Baltic herring and supplemented with a low-protein dry diet fed separately were studied in an 18-week net cage trial. Similarly to balancing protein and nonprotein energy in full diets, giving nonprotein energy in different feeds several hours apart improved the protein retention of low-fat herring to a level comparable to a commercially available dry diet control. The amounts of nitrogen and phosphorus lost into the water were also reduced to the same extent. The losses from the plain herring-feeding were twice as high. The improved protein retention and reduced nutrient losses were accompanied by 15–25% reductions in growth of the fish compared with the control dry diet. The growth of the fish fed on plain herring was 14% lower than the growth on the dry diet control.     

微量元素─氨基酸螯合物及其在畜禽饲养中的应用

综述了微量元素氨基酸螯合物的化学生物学特性及其在畜禽饲养中的应用效应。     

Feeding patterns in five predatory fishes of the high Paranà River floodplain (PR, Brazil)

Abstract— Between March 1992 and February 1993 five piscivorous fish species, Acestrorhynchus lacustris (Reinhardt, 1874), Hoplias malabaricus (Bloch, 1794), Rhaphiodon vulpinus Agassiz, 1829, Salminus maxillosus , Valenciennes, 1840 and Plagioscion squamosissimus (Heckel, 1840), of the high Paranà River floodplain showed a wide total prey spectrum though only three to four taxa were dominant in their diet. Shrimp, Macrobrachium amazonicum , were also common to the majority of species. Seasonal and spatial variations occurred throughout the study period probably due the availability of prey species. The main resources shared by the predators were also the most abundant in the area, with consumption markedly focused on prey about 5.0 cm long. Detrended correspondence analysis was effective in discriminating two groups of predators species that exploited distinct microhabitats. The predators with the least scores consumed small characids that inhabit mid-water or the littoral region, whereas those with the largest scores consumed prey associated to the bottom.