Circadian heart rate changes and light-dependence in the Mediterranean seabream Sparus aurata

Despite the abundant literature on circadian heart rate rhythms in fish, few studies have attempted to elucidate if such pattern is endogenous or if it is modulated by environmental cues. In this study, heart rates were continuously recorded in Sparus aurata acclimated to different light regimes (normal or shifted LD 12:12 cycle and a pulsed 0.75:0.75 LD cycle) to investigate the endogenous nature and the role of light on the circadian pattern of heart rate. Under LD 12:12, the daily pattern of heart rate showed higher values at night and lower rates during the day (average amplitude of the heart rate change of 10.6 ± 5.7 beats min^–1). The circadian pattern was maintained in animals under constant light but the amplitude was decreased (2.4 ± 1.1 beats min^–1). Light masks the expression of the rhythm because under a pulsed LD cycle, heart rate tracks the pulsed LD phases, increasing during the dark phase and decreasing during the light phase. Besides the ultradian pattern imposed, an underlying circadian rhythm was detected, which indicates that the rhythm is endogenous. However, the strong link between heart rate and light obtained under pulsed LD cycles suggest the timing mechanism to be mostly based on external light reception.     

盐度对黄鳍鲷幼鱼消化酶活性的影响及消化酶活性的昼夜变化

研究了盐度对黄鳍鲷幼鱼主要消化酶(蛋白酶、淀粉酶、脂肪酶)的影响及消化酶活性的昼夜变化。实验设计5、10、15、20、25、30等6个盐度梯度组。结果表明,蛋白酶、脂肪酶的比活在盐度为25时最高,而淀粉酶的比活在盐度为20时最高。各种消化酶在盐度20~30时消化酶比活的平均值要明显高于5~15时消化酶的平均值。对黄鳍鲷消化酶比活昼夜变化的测定表明,蛋白酶、淀粉酶、脂肪酶比活的最高值分别在14∶00、20∶00和18∶00,最低值分别是12∶00、10∶00和6∶00。     

Influence of pH and temperature on force development and shortening velocity in skinned muscle fibres from fish

Three species of fish were studied: Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua), sculpin (Myoxocephalus scorpius) (from the North Sea, temperature 2 to 12°C) andNotothenia neglecta (from Antarctica, temperature –2 to +2°C). Single fast muscle fibres were isolated from anterior myotomes and skinned with detergent in order to directly determine the effects of pH and temperature on force production and shortening velocity.In all species maximum force production (Po) was independent of pH over the range 7.3–8.0. Decreasing the pH from 7.3 to 6.6 reduced maximum force by 28% in fibres fromG. morhua andN. neglecta but had no effect on fibres fromM. scorpius. The depression in maximum force with acidosis was accompanied by a proportional decrease in stiffness and an increase in the rate of force recovery after stretch.Unloaded contraction velocity of cod fibres (Vmax) showed a pH optimum at around pH 7.6 decreasing by 31% at pH 6.6. Vmax of fibres from the other species was independent of pH over the range 6.6–8.0.The effects of pH on Po and Vmax were similar at 0 and 10°C. Thus for maximally activated fibres both force and contraction velocity are independent of temperature induced changes in pH. In some species acidosis depresses contractility and is likely to be a contributory factor to muscle fatigue.     

复合氨基酸、小肽及中草药饲喂鲫试验

以鲫为对象进行投饲试验，研究复合氨基酸、小肽及几种中草药对鲫在摄食方面及生长情况的影响。结果表明，0．1％复合氨基酸组和0．5％木香组的鱼明显集中抢食，15d的摄食率结果为0．1％复合氨基酸组和0．5％木香组的鱼体活力明显强于其他组，即0．1％复合氨基酸和0．5％木香组的鱼增重率和特定生长率（SGR）明显高于其他组。饲料中添加0．5％木香组比对照组增重率高18．9％，比0．1％复合氨基酸组高6．3％，表现出明显的增重作用；而0．5％动物肽纽增重可能由于添加量的不足而没体现出增重作用。     

Effects of lysine and methionine supplementation on growth,body composition and digestive function of grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) fed plant protein diets using high‐level canola meal

A 76‐day feeding trial was carried out to evaluate the effects of Lysine and Methionine supplementation on growth and digestive capacity of grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) fed plant protein diets using high‐level canola meal (CM). Fish with initial average weight 103.9 ± 0.6 g were fed three extruded diets. Fish meal (FM) diet was formulated as the normal control with 40 g kg^?1 FM and 300 g kg^?1 CM; CM diet was prepared by replacing all FM with CM (total 340 g kg^?1) without Lys or Met supplementation; CM supplement (CMS) diet was similar to CM diet but was supplemented with essential amino acids (EAA) to ensure the levels of Lys and Met similar to those in the FM diet. Feed intake, feed efficiency and specific growth rate of the grass carp fed CMS and FM diets were similar (P > 0.05), but higher than those of the grass carp fed CM diet (P < 0.05). The hepatosomatic index, relative gut length, intestosomatic index and intestinal folds height were significantly improved in fish fed FM and CMS diets as compared to CM diet (P < 0.05). Lower activities of trypsin, lipase and amylase in hepatopancreas were observed in fish fed CM diet (P < 0.05). Three hundred and forty gram per kilogram CM without Lys or Met supplementation significantly decreased trypsin, lipase and amylase mRNA levels in hepatopancreas (P < 0.05). These results indicated that the high supply of CM (340 g kg^?1) in plant protein (200 g kg^?1 soybean meal and 100 g kg^?1 cottonseed meal) diets decreased digestive ability through decreasing digestive enzyme activities and enzyme gene's expressions of grass carp, and these side effects can be reversed by supplementing Lys and Met. Therefore, CM could be high level used in a plant protein blend‐based extruded diet for grass carp as long as EAA were supplemented.     

卵形鲳鲶消化酶活性的研究I．成鱼和幼鱼消化酶活性在不同消化器官中的分布及其比较

比较研究了卯形鲳够（Trachinotus ovatus）成鱼和幼鱼阶段消化酶（蛋白酶、淀粉酶、脂肪酶）在不同消化器官中的活性。结果表明：1）成鱼蛋白酶在不同消化器官中的活性大小依次为胃〉前肠〉中肠〉幽门盲囊〉后肠〉肝;淀粉酶活性为前肠〉后肠〉幽门盲囊〉中肠〉肝〉胃;脂肪酶活性为前肠〉中肠〉后肠〉幽门盲囊〉肝〉胃。2）幼鱼蛋白酶在不同消化器官中的活性大小依次为胃〉肠〉幽门盲囊〉肝;淀粉酶活性为肠〉幽门盲囊〉肝〉胃;脂肪酶活性为肠〉幽门盲囊〉肝〉胃。3）成鱼不同消化器官中蛋白酶和淀粉酶的活性均小于幼鱼,成鱼胃和幽门盲囊的淀粉酶活性与幼鱼的差异显著;幼鱼胃脂肪酶活性大于成鱼,但其他器官的活性均小于成鱼。卵形鲳鳕幼鱼不同消化器官中的3种消化酶活性大小顺序与成鱼基本相似。     

Linking spatial pattern of bottom fish assemblages with water masses in the North Sea

Understanding the links between large scale spatial structuring of fish assemblages and shaping factors is essential to develop comprehensive ecosystem-based fisheries management. In this study, we investigated spatial patterns of bottom fish assemblages in the North Sea in relation to prevailing water masses in the region. We based our analysis on catch data from the German Small-Scale Bottom Trawl Survey conducted between 1987 and 2005 and used both ordination techniques and Mantel tests. Spatial variability of bottom fish assemblages was larger than inter-annual variability. Five significantly different bottom fish assemblages were associated with the following prevailing hydrographical regimes: i) the English Channel, ii) Continental Coastal, iii) central North Sea, iv) northern North Sea, and v) northern Atlantic water masses. Associations were generated by gradients in relative proportions of abundant species such as grey gurnard ( Eutrigla gurnardus ), dab ( Limanda limanda ), whiting ( Merlangius merlangus ), haddock ( Melanogrammus aeglefinus ) and Norway pout ( Trisopterus esmarki ). Taking into account large scale spatial structuring of catch data Mantel tests confirmed significant correlation between the fish assemblages and hydrographical variables. In summary, our results strongly support the hypotheses that hydrographical features such as water masses, fronts, and residual currents could shape bottom fish associations in the North Sea. Spatial demarcations of bottom fish assemblages indicated by this study can be used to support ecosystem-based fisheries management strategies.     

海南岛近岸海域鱼类物种组成和多样性的季节变动

根据2006年～2007年间在海南岛近岸海域进行的4个航次底拖网调查资料,分析了该海域鱼类物种组成和生物多样性特征。发现该海域鱼类种类较为丰富,调查共采集到鱼类292种,隶属于21目100科172属;其中暖水性种类数占83.32%,暖温性种类数占16.78%;与中国黄渤海共有种76种,与东海共有种220种,与南海大陆架、大陆坡和南海诸岛海域共有种分别为279种、42种和51种。鱼类优势种[相对重要性指数（IRI）〉500]依次为发光鲷（Acropoma japonicum）、斑鳍天竺鱼（Apogonichthys carinatus）、黄斑鲾（Leiognathus bindus）、皮氏叫姑鱼（Johnius belengeri）、大头白姑鱼（Argyrosomus macrocephalus）、（Therapon theraps）、棕斑腹刺鲀（Gas-trophysus spadiceus）和麦氏犀鳕（Bregmaceros macclellandi）。以生物量为基础采用5个指数研究了该海域鱼类多样性现状,并采用季节更替指数（AI）和迁移指数（MI）对各季节鱼类群落的稳定性进行了分析。结果显示,该海域鱼类多样性水平较高,相邻季节的鱼类物种相似性也较高,随着鱼类的洄游,群落的稳定性出现较大波动。