Blood and haemoglobin meal as protein sources in diets for gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata): effects on growth, nutritive efficiency and fillet sensory differences

Two parallel experiments were conducted to evaluate the effect of partial substitution of fish meal by two different animal protein sources, blood meal (B) and haemoglobin meal (H) at 0, 50 and 100 g kg⁻¹ of level inclusion in diets for gilthead sea bream, considering a long feeding period for juveniles (Trial 1) and a short feeding period (Trial 2) for on-growing fish. In Trial 1, 33 g juveniles were fed for 242 days and the fish fed with 5% and 10% of haemoglobin dietary inclusion obtained less growth, although feed efficiency, protein efficiency ratio and muscle composition were similar in all diets. In Trial 2, 179 g initial weight fish were fed for 164 days and growth of fish fed H10 showed the lowest growth, although nutrient efficiency and muscle composition were not affected significantly. The results of these experiments demonstrated that blood meal can substitute fish meal (up to 10%) with no effect on performance, but may lead to sensory differences compared with fish fed diet 0, while the inclusion of 5% blood meal had no effect on growth or sensory characteristics. Fish fed 10% haemoglobin inclusion had the poorest growth values.     

Allometric and ontogenetic patterns related to feeding of a neotropical fish, Satanoperca pappaterra (Perciformes, Cichlidae)

Abstract –  This study aims to analyse whether Satanoperca pappaterra changes its feeding habit throughout ontogenetic development, and whether morphological ontogenetic patterns are related to its feeding habit and food capture. We collected 258 individuals in the Cuiabá river basin (Brazil) for analyses. There was a weak relationship between diet and body size, as evidenced by size class and multivariate analyses, and niche breadth did not vary strongly during ontogenetic development. Eight morphometric variables were measured in each individual. We found an isometric relationship for mouth height and width, and for head length. We found positive allometry for snout length and body height in relation to body length, whereas this relationship for intestine length and eye diameter showed negative allometry. These results suggest that morphology and consequently diet vary weakly during ontogenetic development of S. pappaterra .     

Spatial integration of freshwater fish markets in the Northern Baltic Sea area

Freshwater fish species and Baltic salmon (Salmo salar) are important to small-scale fisheries in Finland and Sweden. The formerly local markets for these species have expanded as trade has been opened up to international competition. In this study we use cointegration analysis to test the spatial integration of freshwater fish markets in Finland and between Finland and Sweden. The analysed fish species are salmon, perch (Perca fluviatilis), pikeperch (Sander lucioperca), European whitefish (Goregonus lavaretus) and pike (Exos lucius), and the data covers ex-vessel prices from 1993 or 1995 to 2004. We found that the regional prices in Finland were cointegrated. This indicates that the prices are determined on a single market in Finland. Moreover, the study suggests that Finnish and Swedish markets in Baltic salmon, whitefish, pikeperch and perch were partially integrated, while integration of pike markets could not be found. The political implication is that an essential part of the local small-scale fisheries’ operational environment is determined outside the national borders.     

Reproductive seasonality in a swamp-locked African cichlid

Abstract –  This study quantified the seasonal pattern of reproduction in a swamp-dwelling population of the African cichlid Pseudocrenilabrus multicolor victoriae. In the hypoxic waters of the Lwamunda Swamp, Uganda, P. multicolor was reproductively active throughout the year, even during the peak of the dry seasons. However, the degree of activity was seasonal, with rainfall providing a predictor of the percentage of ripe, mature females. There was no correlation between aquatic oxygen availability dissolved oxygen (DO) and either adjusted mean gonad mass or percentage of mature females, suggesting that DO is not limiting reproductive activity in this system. Reproductively mature females were larger during drier periods and may maximise their lifetime reproductive success by producing young throughout the year; but with a lower brooding efficiency. A comparison with Welcomme's (1969) study of a river-swamp system feeding Lake Victoria suggests that reproductive patterning is variable among populations of P. multicolor and may reflect adaptive response to chronically hypoxic conditions in the Lwamunda Swamp.     

The ‘pole-hooking’ method: A novel and economical technique for in situ tagging small to medium-sized fishes

We describe a new manual procedure for catching and tagging fish underwater, the ‘pole-hooking’ method, and demonstrate and discuss its advantages over standard tagging techniques (i.e. hook-and-line fishing). The new technique was designed for tagging Acanthistius brasilianus [Cuvier, M., Valenciennes, L.B., 1828. Histoire Naturelle des Poissons. Museau de Histoire Naturelle, Paris], a small to medium-sized fish inhabiting rocky reefs of the Argentine coast. The pole-hooking method minimizes injuries, avoids fast depressurization of fish and allows registration of the precise location of capture and release. In addition, the equipment needed is very simple and economical. The mean number of fish tagged per minute using this methodology on shallow rocky reefs (up to 25-m depth) was similar to that obtained during hook-and-line fishing sessions (ca. one tagged fish every 3 min), given similar densities of A. brasilianus in the fished reefs.     

鱼类解偶联蛋白（UCP）基因研究新进展

通过生理性解偶联调节氧化磷酸化效率可能是进化早期发展起来的一种普遍策略,对生命的存在至关重要. 解偶联蛋白（uncoupling protein,UCP）家族是位于线粒体内膜的转运蛋白,哺乳动物基因组中已发现5个成员,其中UCP1~UCP3紧密相关,而UCP4和UCP5（即BMCP1,brain mitochondrial carrier protein-1）与它们差异较大. UCP1~UCP4不仅在哺乳类、鸟类等恒温脊椎动物中普遍存在,而且在鱼类等变温动物中也被证实存在,但UCP5目前仅在哺乳类中被发现. 哺乳动物褐色脂肪组织的UCP1,介导呼吸链产生的质子梯度泄漏,使氧化产生的能量以热的形式散发,但鱼类等变温动物UCP1的功能尚待进一步研究确立. UCP2和UCP3在产热、控制活性氧生成、脂肪酸氧化以及肥胖、糖尿病的发生中均发挥重要作用,二者的转录调节较复杂. UCP4和UCP5与其他UCP关系较远,UCP4仅在脑中表达,而UCP5在脑中高表达,它们的功能还不十分明确,但研究表明很可能与UCP2和UCP3的功能相似.     

Effects of an extreme flash flood on the native fish assemblages across a Mediterranean catchment

Abstract  The effects of an extreme flash flood on the native fish assemblages across a Mediterranean catchment in Southwest Portugal were investigated. The fish community structure and habitat were surveyed at 10 sites pre- and post-flood. Overall species richness and rank abundances changed little after the flood, despite there being a consistent decline in the abundance of small cyprinids. Pre- and post-flood habitat correlates of abundance changed for at least some species, and variability in assemblage structure was associated with flood, depth and pH. These results indicate that extreme floods occurring early in the wet season may have little disruptive effects on the overall structure of native fish assemblages in Mediterranean streams, although may at least partially influence population dynamics for some species. Habitat quality and complexity are likely to play a role in mediating species responses to flooding.     

海南西岛九孔鲍养殖水体中细菌胞外产物的分析

2004年11月,自海南西岛的鲍养殖水体中分离出90株菌株。TCBS和2116E培养基分别分离40株(弧菌)和50株(异养菌)。比较了不同分离方法所得到的2批菌株分泌胞外产物的能力。试验结果表明,鲍苗掉板死亡期间,养殖水体中TCBS培养基分离的菌株能分泌脂肪酶、淀粉酶、磷脂酶和明胶酶的比例总体上高于2116E培养基分离的菌株,2116E培养基分离的菌株中能分泌溶血素的比例要略高于TCBS培养基分离的菌株。总体上,后者具有较强分泌胞外产物的能力。因此,这部分具有较强分泌胞外产物能力的菌株应视为鲍苗的潜在致病菌。此外,在对鲍的细菌性病害研究中,除了具有较强分泌胞外产物的菌株外,养殖环境中的菌群结构也是不可忽视的因素。     

不同光照周期下鲇幼鱼的日摄食节律

水温(23±1)℃,研究了鲇幼鱼自然光照、持续光照(自然光或日光灯作光源)和持续黑暗条件下的日摄食节律.试验结果表明,3种光照周期下,鲇幼鱼昼夜均有连续摄食特性,期间具有明显的摄食高峰(夜间)和低谷(白天),鲇幼鱼有明显的日摄食节律;持续黑暗与自然光照周期下的鲇幼鱼日摄食节律基本一致,持续光照与自然光照周期下的鲇幼鱼日摄食节律有所差异.研究证明,鲇幼鱼在3种光照周期下均属于典型的夜晚摄食类型;光照周期的改变对鲇幼鱼的日摄食率无显著影响(P>0.05).