Larval feeding behaviour of the endangered fish golden bubblebee goodeid, Allotoca dugesi, implications for conservation of an endangered species

Abstract To improve survival of cultured juvenile fishes, it is important to understand prey preferences and predation behaviour of fish larvae. In this study, the feeding behaviour and prey preference of Allotoca dugesi (Bean), a small fish species endemic to Mexico and currently threatened with extinction are presented. Three zooplanktonic prey, viz. Brachionus calyciflorus (Pallas) , Moina macrocopa (Goulden) and Daphnia pulex (Leydig) were tested. The mean size (standard length ± SE, mm) of the larvae ranged from 9.0 ± 0.1 mm at week 1 to 18 ± 2 mm at the end of the experimental period (8 weeks). The gape size (mean ± SE) increased from 0.125 ± 0.002 mm at the first week to 2.300 ± 0.361 mm by the eighth week. Capture success (capture/attack) ranged from 0.80 to 0.98 with Brachionus , 0.72–0.94 with Moina and 0.17–0.46 with Daphnia . Prey preference experiments were conducted using B. calyciflorus, M. macrocopa and D. pulex at a fixed ratio of 5 : 2 : 2 ind. mL⁻¹, respectively, and revealed a positive selection for rotifers and Moina , but avoidance of Daphnia . The results are discussed with reference to conservation efforts for Allotoca dugesi .     

生物电化学系统还原二氧化碳产甲烷研究进展

生物电化学系统还原CO2合成燃料或有机化工产品近年来已成为环境微生物学的研究热点。首先就生物电化学系统的工作原理、生物电化学系统还原CO2产甲烷的阴极功能微生物、生物电化学系统还原CO2产甲烷的机制、生物电化学系统的反应器及影响生物电化学系统还原CO2产甲烷的因素等方面的研究进展进行了综述,然后分析了生物电化学系统还原CO2产甲烷存在的问题,并讨论了其今后的重点研究方向,以期为生物电化学系统还原CO2产甲烷研究提供参考。     

世界罗非鱼捕捞和养殖的动态特征研究

罗非鱼类原产于非洲和东南亚，具有生长迅速、耐粗食、肉质好等优点，目前已成为世界渔业的重要鱼品。世界罗非鱼生产以捕捞和养殖两种方式进行。九十年代，世界罗非鱼养殖业迅速崛起，养殖产量开始逐渐超过捕捞产量。世界罗非鱼养殖主要品种是尼罗罗非鱼。与此同时，世界罗非鱼的加工与贸易，亦有比较快速的发展。根据1981—2002年FAO关于罗非鱼捕捞和养殖的统计资料，分析了世界罗非鱼产业的动态特征，目前中国罗非鱼养殖年产量世界第一，有必要继续关注和提升中国罗非鱼养殖业发展的世界地位。     

Response of hot pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) to mulching practices under planted greenhouse condition

Mulch is considered a desirable management technology for conserving soil moisture, improving soil temperature and soil quality. This study aimed to investigate soil conditions and hot pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) performance in terms of leaf photosynthetic capacity, fruit yield and quality, and irrigation water use efficiency (IWUE) under such practices in greenhouse condition. A field experiment across 3 years was carried out with four types of mulch (without mulch [CK], wheat straw mulch [SM], plastic film mulch [FM], and combined mulch with plastic film and wheat straw [CM]). Mulch could improve soil physical properties regardless of mulch materials. FM and CM treatments improved soil moistures status and soil temperature in comparison to CK control, while SM increased soil water content and decreased soil temperature. Mulch increased leaf net photosynthesis rate (P_N), stomatal conductance to water vapor (gs), intercellular CO₂ concentration (Ci), and transpiration rate (E), but declined instant water use efficiency (WUEi). No significant effect of mulch application on chlorophyll fluorescence was existent for the entire growth season. Fruit yield and irrigation water use efficiency (IWUE) showed some increment under all the mulch conditions. Compared to CK, the yield was enhanced by 82.3%, 65.0%, and 111.5% in 2008; 38.1%, 17.4%, and 46.5% in 2009; and 14.3%, 6.5%, and 19.6% in 2010 under SM, FM, and CM conditions, respectively. Although FM produced better fruit quality than other treatments, CM is the recommended practice for hot pepper cultivation in greenhouse condition due to working well to facilitate soil condition (moisture and temperature), plant growth, and marketable yield.     

橘园土壤中嘧菌酯的残留消解动态分析

为了了解嘧菌酯在柑橘园土壤中的消解动态规律,采用气相色谱-电子捕获检测法,对贵州、湖南、浙江3地的橘园土壤中嘧菌酯残留进行了检测,并建立了嘧菌酯在土壤样品中的残留检测体系.结果表明,在试验检测条件下,嘧菌酯的最小检出量为1×10-11 g,相对保留时间为4.86 min;添加回收率为98.3％～105.4％,变异系数为5.0％～7.2％,标准偏差为5.15％～7.15％,均能达到我国农药残留检测的要求;湖南、浙江、贵州柑橘园土壤中嘧菌酯的消解半衰期分别为14.0、13.2、11.6d.这表明在自然条件下,嘧菌酯在土壤中消解较快,不会造成土壤中累积性残留污染.     

迪北地区致密砂岩气藏测井评价新技术

迪北地区侏罗系阿合组属于致密裂缝性砂岩储层,沉积相类型以辫状三角洲平原为主,岩性复杂,粒度变化大,岩石骨架受多种矿物影响。利用元素俘获测井(ECS),结合常规测井资料分析岩性对储层有效性的影响,为评价储层孔隙度提供准确的骨架参数。同时,裂缝是改善该区储层渗透性的重要因素,裂缝的发育程度决定了储层的渗流能力,引入EARTH IMAGER新型油基钻井液成像测井仪,并利用岩心标定成像,有效解决了裂缝的识别问题。     

Pseudorabies virus infection in mink: a host-specific pathogenesis

Pseudorabies virus (PRV) is an alphaherpesvirus that causes a neurological disease in many wild and domestic animals. The neuropathology elicited by PRV is quite consistent regardless of the host with the only exception of mink, in which it is characterized by a vasculopathy rather than by an encephalitis. In this study, we aimed to investigate the underlying pathogenic mechanism(s) of PRV infection in mink by using immunohistochemistry and laser capture microdissection (LCM) on material from naturally and experimentally infected animals. The inflammatory reaction induced by PRV was minimal or absent not only in the nervous system, where we identified a low number of macrophages and a few T lymphocytes, but also in the primary replication site, the oropharyngeal mucosa; however, the number of PRV-infected cells detected by immunohistochemistry was extremely high both in the peripheral mucosa and in the nervous tissue. On the other hand, the vascular pathology included parenchymal hemorrhages of various degrees and, in specific cortical areas of the brain, fibrinoid degeneration of the capillary walls. Detection of viral antigens by immunohistochemistry revealed infection of endothelial cells of capillaries situated both in the oropharyngeal mucosa and in the brain stem; the presence of PRV DNA in vessels was further demonstrated by PCR performed on LCM samples of brain capillaries. These results can be interpreted as supporting the idea that the different pathology of the disease in mink may be the consequence of an increased endotheliotropism of PRV in this species. Infection of the vessel wall may then lead to vascular pathology and impairment in endothelial cell function, resulting in a weak immune response to infection.     

Who benefits from international tourism in small Pacific islands? Value capture in the hotel industry in Hawaii

There is a consensus among small Pacific islands that the extent to which they benefit from international tourism largely depends on how much of the value created by tourism remains in the local economy. This study examines how the value created in the hotel industry is distributed among the key stakeholders in a small Pacific island context. We used aggregated income statements of full-service and limited-service hotels from the STR Inc., a hotel industry data company, to calculate the value distribution among the key stakeholders in the hotel industry of a small Pacific island. We found that labour and owners captured most of the value created, whereas hotel management companies and franchisors captured a small share of the value. Our results suggest that tourism workers' ability to take united action and hence to negotiate higher wages will result in higher value capture by local labour and less value leaking out of the local economy. Our results also reveal that foreign ownership in the hotel industry is the single largest cause of economic leakages. The study has several implications for the tourism-based growth policies in small Pacific islands.     

Optimization of the stocking parameters for mud spiny lobster Panulirus polyphagus (Herbst, 1793) capture‐based aquaculture in tropical open sea floating net cages

Mud spiny lobsters, Panulirus polyphagus (Herbst, 1793), were reared at four different stocking sizes and stocking densities in open sea cages to evaluate their effects on growth performance. To evaluate the effect of stocking size on the growth performance, the lobsters were segregated into four different treatment groups according to size and were stocked at a density of 300 animals per cage. To evaluate the effect of stocking density on the growth performance, lobsters of 81–100 g were stocked in four different stocking densities, i.e. 16/m², 24/m², 32/m² and 40/m². The results showed that the growth rate of (60–80 g) size group, was significantly higher compared to the size groups, i.e. 101–120 g and 121–140 g comprising of larger individuals. The final body weight, though significantly higher in 81–100 g as compared to 60–80 g, the growth performance (i.e. weight gain percentage (WG %) and specific growth rate (SGR)) were not significantly different. The density‐dependent influence on growth performance was evident in this study. The WG % and SGR during 90 days’ culture period was significantly higher in 24/m² compared to other groups. This study provides crucial information about the appropriate stocking density and stocking size of lobsters at the field level, which would help to promote sustainable lobster cage farming by maximizing the production potential of the system.