Condition assessment of lamprey populations in the Yorkshire Ouse catchment,north‐east England,and the potential influence of physical migration barriers

• 1. River lamprey (Lampetra fluviatilis) and sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) are designated features of the River Derwent Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and the Humber Estuary (a possible SAC). This study determined the condition of lamprey populations in the Yorkshire Ouse catchment by assessing the species composition, distribution, abundance and size‐structure of larval (ammocoete) populations in five major tributary rivers (Derwent, Swale, Ure, Nidd and Wharfe).
• 2. According to EU condition assessment criteria, Lampetra populations (assumed to be mostly river lamprey) are at present in favourable condition, with site mean (±SE) densities ranging from 2.7 (±1.2) to 160.3 (±50.5) individuals m^?2 (all river means >2 individuals m^?2), and at least two size (≈age) classes present in optimal microhabitats. By contrast, no sea lamprey larvae were recorded, suggesting that populations of this species are in unfavourable condition.
• 3. Actions to protect and enhance nationally or internationally important stocks must be implemented from at least a catchment perspective, because many of the issues affecting such species are not localized. With respect to lampreys, particular attention should be given to protecting spawning and nursery habitats, improving water quality, reducing impingement at abstraction points, preventing exploitation at spawning grounds and increasing passage at potential physical obstructions.

Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Effects of stocking density on haematological parameters,growth and fin erosion of great sturgeon (Huso huso) juveniles

The influence of stocking density (1, 2, 4, 6 and 8 kg m^?2) was investigated on haematological parameters, growth and fin erosion of great sturgeon (Huso huso) juveniles for a period of 8 weeks. The mean weight of fish at the start of trial was 93.13±1.04 g. After 8 weeks of rearing, the mean weight was 362.4, 319.7, 267, 242.1 and 211.1 in densities 1–8 kg m^?2 respectively. The results of this study showed that growth parameters, including condition factor, weight, weight gain, feed conversion ratio, specific growth rate and body weight increase, had a statistically significant difference among treatments (P<0.05). A significant difference (P<0.05) was observed in haematocrit, but the other haematological parameters, including red blood cells, white blood cells (WBC), haemoglobin concentration, mean corpuscular haemoglobin, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration and differential WBC count, showed no significant effect with stocking density (P>0.05). At the end of the experiment, stocking density had no significant effect on plasma cortisol and glucose concentration. The fin length (dorsal, anal, ventral, pectoral and caudal) of fish was measured to calculate the fin index. According to this index, dorsal, anal, ventral and pectoral fins showed no significant difference among treatments (P>0.05), but the erosion of the caudal fin was significantly different between fish held on 6 and 8 kg m^?2 (P<0.05). These results showed that rearing density has a major effect on the growth indices of H. huso. Unlike many other fish, great sturgeon exhibited lower stress responses to high stocking density. This indicates that they are more tolerable to rearing conditions in high stocking densities. With respect to the various effects that density causes on growth, fin erosion and physiological and haematological parameters, better understanding of these phenomena considering different levels of density could have a beneficial impact on many rearing steps of this species.     

干旱地区土壤保墒增墒的有效措施

旱灾是制约辽西地区农业发展的重要因素。针对辽西干旱地区农业生产实际,介绍深松和坐水播种技术及其作用,并通过应用试验以验证其对土壤的保墒增墒效果。试验结果表明,在干旱条件下采用这两种技术可有效改善土壤情况,为种子发芽出苗创造适宜的环境条件。     

Effects of stocking density on the survival, growth, size variation and condition index of juvenile rabbitfish Siganus rivulatus

Spinefoot rabbitfish, Siganus rivulatus, is an economically important species of herbivorous fish that is relatively easy to rear and thus considered to be suitable for aquaculture. Juveniles are generally reared in nursery systems before being stocked into growout cages or ponds. We report here our evaluation of the effects of stocking density on the survival, growth, feed efficiency and condition index of S. rivulatus juveniles in nursery tanks. The experiment was conducted in a recirculating system of twelve 52-l aquaria connected to a biological filter and a sand filter. Juvenile fish (average weight 6.5 g) were stocked into aquaria at four stocking densities (10, 20, 30, and 40 fish/aquarium) with three replicate aquaria per treatment. Diet was provided at 3% body weight daily divided into two feedings. Fish were weighed weekly for 8 weeks and the diet increased accordingly. Survival was greater than 95% in all treatments, with no significant differences observed among treatments. There were also no differences in specific growth rate (SGR 2.12–2.27) of the fish among treatments. Growth rate was linear during the 8 weeks in all treatments, and harvested biomass increased proportionally to stocking density (198, 401, 600 and 785 g per increasing stocking density, respectively). Feed efficiency (FE 0.67–0.71) of the fish did not vary significantly among treatments. The coefficient of variation was high (35–41%) among the harvested fish, but it also did not differ significantly among treatments. The final condition indices of the fish in all treatments were similar to each other but significantly greater than the initial values (P < 0.05). The results suggest that there is no apparent effect of stocking density at the levels tested on the survival and growth of juvenile rabbitfish.     

田间条件下水稻根系分布及其与土壤容重的关系

 采用大田和筒栽方法研究了超高产三系杂交稻协优9308和两系杂交稻两优培九在穗分化期和开花期根系生长和分布及土壤容重对根系分布的影响。结果表明，在田间条件下，土层15 cm内水稻根系占根系总量的89%～98%，深层根系丛间比丛中比例高。不早衰的协优9308根系生长量较两优培九大。土壤容重提高，根系总生长量下降，且深层根系的量和比例下降。就深耕法对水稻根系生长和分布的影响进行了讨论。     

播量和施肥对甘啤6号产量和品质的影响

为筛选出河西地区啤酒大麦高产优质栽培的适宜播量和施肥组合,以当地啤酒大麦主栽品种甘啤6号为材料,采用正交设计,研究了播量、氮肥、磷肥对该品种产量、籽粒品质及麦芽品质的影响。结果表明,播量、氮肥、磷肥组合对大麦产量、籽粒品质和麦芽品质影响显著。就产量而言,最佳播量为525 万粒·hm^-2,施氮最佳水平为180 kg·hm^-2,P₂O₅最佳水平为90 kg·hm^-2;对产量的影响表现为播量>氮肥>磷肥。播量在375万～525万粒·hm^-2范围内,籽粒蛋白质含量随播量的增加而下降,但播量达到600万粒·hm^-2时蛋白质含量又有所增加。籽粒蛋白质含量随着氮肥施用量的增加呈直线上升趋势,适量施磷可以在保证产量的同时,抑制蛋白质含量的增加;对蛋白含量的影响表现为氮肥>播量>磷肥,对千粒重的影响表现为播量>磷肥>氮肥。综合来看,在播量为525万粒·hm^-2、施氮量为120 kg·hm^-2、P₂O₅施用量为210 kg·hm^-2条件下,甘啤6号具有较高的籽粒产量和较低的蛋白质含量,且千粒重、整齐度和主要麦芽品质均达国家优级水平,因此该处理可作为河西地区甘啤6号实现高产优质的适宜播量与施肥组合。     

Agronomic Practices Influence Maize Grain Quality

Abstract

Maize grain yields have increased dramatically over the past fifty years, and concurrently end-uses have proliferated requiring special quality characteristics. Plant breeders have developed many specialty types of maize, all of which are influenced by the agronomic practices used to produce the crop. Grain yield increases have resulted in lower protein concentration except when the yield increase resulted from nitrogen fertilizer application. Irrigation improves the biological value of protein, while higher nitrogen application rates alter the amino acid balance thereby reducing the nutritional value. Kernel breakage susceptibility and kernel density increase with higher nitrogen fertilizer application rates, and are reduced by irrigation. Extractable starch and oil concentration are largely influenced by hybrid choice, but small production practice effects have been documented. Essential mineral nutrient levels are often influenced by soil or foliar fertilizer application. The production of aflatoxin can be reduced by irrigation or other strategies to avoid water stress during grain fill. Although genetics usually exerts the largest effect on maize grain quality, agronomic practices are also important.     

Porosity and capillarity of weft knitted spacer structures

A geometrical model of weft knitted spacer structures made with mono-filament yarn has been analysed to understand the spacer yarn path. Theoretical models have been created to predict the porosity and the radius of the capillaries of a knitted spacer structure depending on their geometrical parameters, such as course spacing, wale spacing, stitch length, fabric thickness, count of yarn and fibre density. Polyester knitted spacer fabrics were produced with different parameters; their porosity was determined by measuring the weight and compared with the theoretical porosity. The validity of the model was confirmed by experimental results. The porosity of knitted spacer structures made out of mono-filament yarn can be maintained above a certain level by adjusting the fabric parameters such as fabric thickness, course spacing and wale spacing.     

Culture of Eriocheir sinensis Larvae in Ponds in Greenhouse

A total of 15 pools were selected from a greenhouse, and they were randomly and evenly divided into three groups. In each group, one stocking density of Eriocheir sinensis was arranged. The results showed that after 45-d culture, the crab number per kilogram reached about 300 with survival rate of about 20%; the initial stocking density had significantly effect on the body size of E. sinensis on sel , instead on the survival rate of E. sinensis larvae. Therefore, it is feasible to conduct the culture of E. sinensis larvae in a pool in greenhouse.     

晚播条件下施氮量对稻茬小麦氮素吸收及产量的影响

为给安徽省江淮稻麦轮作区域晚播稻茬小麦高产栽培的氮肥合理施用提供依据,选用当地主栽品种扬麦18和皖垦麦076为试验材料,设置5个施氮水平(0、90、180、270和360 kg·hm~(-2)),分析施氮量对晚播小麦氮素积累与分配、糖氮比、氮素同化酶活性及产量的影响。结果表明,增施氮肥能显著提高小麦各器官的氮积累量以及营养器官花前贮存氮素转运量、转运效率和转运氮素对籽粒氮素的贡献率,氮素收获指数随着施氮量的增加而降低。随施氮量的增加,小麦各生育时期不同器官的糖氮比值显著降低。小麦的氮素分配比例在生育前期以叶片最高,成熟期籽粒中氮素分配比例显著高于其余部位,而小麦的可溶性糖分配比例在生育前期以茎鞘最高,成熟期籽粒较高。在0～270 kg·hm~(-2)施氮量范围内,增施氮肥后,两个小麦品种的硝酸还原酶、谷氨酰胺合成酶和谷氨酸合成酶活性均显著提高,穗数、穗粒数和籽粒产量均明显增加。继续增加施氮量至360kg·hm~(-2)时,氮素同化酶活性和产量无显著变化,说明施氮过多对小麦氮素同化和产量无益。土壤氮贡献率、氮肥农学利用效率和氮素偏生产力均随施氮量增加而降低。推荐江淮区域稻茬小麦晚播条件下适宜施氮量为180～270kg·hm~(-2)偏下限,可兼顾高产及氮素高效吸收和利用。