Seasonal changes in circulating growth hormone (GH), hepatic GH-binding and plasma insulin-like growth factor-I immunoreactivity in a marine fish,gilthead sea bream,Sparus aurata

We have studied the seasonal relationship between growth and circulating growth hormone (GH), hepatic GH-binding and plasma insulin-like growth factor-I immunoreactivity in gilthead sea bream,Sparus aurata. The seasonal increase in plasma GH levels preceded by several weeks the summer increase in growth rates. In contrast, a marked increase in hepatic GH-binding with a high degree of endogenous GH occupancy was found during the period of maximum growth which suggests an enhanced sensitivity of liver to GH action. Thus, circulating levels of immunoreactive IGF-I, probably derived from the liver in response to GH action, were positively correlated with growth throughout the experimental period although a consistent relationship between growth and circulating GH was not found. In spite of this, we consider that, in gilthead sea bream, as in several other teleosts, the availability of endogenous GH can limit growth. Thus, under environmental conditions of suboptimal growth, a single intraperitoneal injection of recombinant rainbow trout GH (rtGH) induced over the dose range tested (0.75, 1.5, 3 μg g BW⁻¹) an increase in plasma IGF-I-like immunoreactivity comparable to that seen during the period of maximum growth.     

Seasonal changes in proteolytic enzymes of yellowtail Seriola quinqueradiata (Temminck & Schlegel; Carangidae) fed extruded diets containing different protein and energy levels

Seasonal variations in pepsin, trypsin and chymotrypsin activities and protein digestibility were studied in yellowtails (Seriola quinqueradiata) reared for 1 year with extruded diets containing different levels of protein. Trypsin and chymotrypsin storage levels in the digestive tissues of starved fish were affected by seasonal changes in water temperature. Actual digestion activities of trypsin and chymotrypsin were low at lower water temperatures, but pepsin activity in the stomach tissue was not affected by low temperatures. On the other hand, trypsin and chymotrypsin activities in the intestinal contents were higher during lower water temperature months, while pepsin activity in the stomach contents was low at lower water temperatures. Apparent protein digestibility (APD) did not differ among the dietary treatments in the higher water temperature months, while in colder months it was higher in fish fed diet 1 than in fish fed diets 2 and 3. The APD values reflected pepsin activity in the stomach contents in all sampling months. Therefore, lower APD in colder months seems to be attributed to lower protease activity in the gastric digesta, implying that enhanced pepsin secretion from the stomach tissue might improve protein digestibility and growth performance in yellowtails during winter.     

椒江口海域浮游动物群落季节变化特征

依据2010年4月、7月和11月对浙江鱼山渔场-椒江口近海海域的海洋调查资料,分析该海域浮游动物生物量、丰度、优势种和多样性指数等生态特征的季节变化及其与浮游植物丰度之间的关系。结果表明:浮游动物生物量、丰度、优势种和多样性指数均存在明显的季节变化,其中春季浮游动物生物量和丰度均是3个季节最高,丰度的高值区位于调查海域的南部,中华哲水蚤(Calanus sinicus)占绝对优势;夏季浮游动物生物量和丰度次之,丰度的高值区在大陈岛西南海域,以中华哲水蚤、太平洋纺锤水蚤(Acartia pacifica)、精致真刺水蚤(Euchaeta concinna)和海龙箭虫(Sagitta nagae)占优势;秋季浮游动物生物量和丰度最低,丰度分布较为均匀,以肥胖箭虫(Sagitta enflata)和双生水母(Diphyes chamissonis)占优势。浮游动物丰度调查结果与同时期浮游植物丰度的调查结果相比,3个季节浮游植物与浮游动物丰度的高值区并不一致,这是因为影响浮游植物丰度的主要因素是营养盐和光照,而浮游动物的分布主要是受水团和海流的影响。上述生态特性的季节变化规律与椒江口海域的季节性水团变化密切相关,春季以低温低盐性质的沿岸流为主,夏季受高温高盐性质的台湾暖流水影响,水团的转换使调查水域的营养盐、温度、盐度和透明度等发生变化,从而进一步影响到浮游动物的生态特征。     

Annual dynamics of marine birnavirus (MABV) in cultured Japanese flounder <Emphasis Type="Italic">Paralichthys olivaceus</Emphasis> and sea water

ABSTRACT:   Seasonal changes in the infection state of marine birnavirus (MABV) in Japanese flounder Paralichthys olivaceus and in rearing sea water are described. Sea water and 10–11 healthy fish were sampled monthly from April 2002 to February 2003. The MABV genome was detected throughout the year in > 80% of the fish examined at each sampling. The virus was isolated from the liver, kidney, and spleen, but not from the brain. The detection rate in each organ increased from April to October, and then decreased. Detection of virus antigen by the indirect fluorescent antibody technique also showed that the virus was present from spring to autumn (June–September) in the liver, kidney, and spleen, but not the brain. Sequence analysis of the MABV genome at the VP2–NS region revealed two specific mutations compared to the standard yellowtail strain (Y-6). It is suggested that the infection state of MABV in Japanese flounder changes to a latent or persistent infection after autumn. MABV was detected in sea water between September and February, suggesting that virus particles in the environment are relatively higher during cool seasons.     

The nature of hematological response in fish

Hematological status was examined in rainbow trout,Oncorhynchus mykiss, held for 3–4 weeks under temperature, photoperiod and P_{O 2} conditions approximating those of their winter, spring and summer habitats. The most striking change observed was in red cell population composition. In winter fish mature cells were predominant; juvenile and developing erythrocytes characterized spring and summer animals. Hemoglobin, hematocrit and both mean erythrocytic volume and hemoglobin were modestly lower in spring and summer than in winter fish. Red cell numbers were not significantly affected. These observations suggest that avoidance of viscosity-based increases in circulatory work cost is more advantageous than elevation of blood O₂-carrying capacity. Although hemoglobin isomorph profiles were significantly altered, there is little evidence that such changes are of critical adaptive importance. Given presumed age-based reduction in gas transport effectiveness, the replacement of mature and senescent cells by more metabolically-competent juvenile cells appears to be the pivotal event in hematological response. Leucocyte counts were significantly elevated in spring and summer as compared to winter fish. Lymphocyte/heterophil ratios declined from 8.27 in winter fish to 3.13 in summer trout. Thrombocyte, monocyte, eosinophil and basophil abundances were little changed.     

黄海中部小黄鱼的食物组成和摄食习性的季节变化

根据2001年3月至2002年1月在黄海中部海域进行的4个季节的定点底拖网调查,应用聚类分析、单因素方差分析和列联表检验等方法,对小黄鱼(Pseudosciaena polyactis Bleeker)的食物组成和摄食的季节变化进行研究.结果表明,小黄鱼摄食的饵料种类有30余种,甲壳类(磷虾类和虾类)和鱼类是其主要的饵料类群,二者在食物中所占的重量百分比之和为97.45%.优势饵料种类有太平洋磷虾(Euphausia pacifica)、脊腹褐虾(Crangon affinis)、细螯虾(Leptochela gracilis)和赤鼻棱鳀(Thryssa kammalensis).小黄鱼的摄食强度有显著的季节变化,秋季最高,春季和冬季较低.食物组成也随季节的不同而有所变化,夏季主要以虾类为食,其它季节则主要以磷虾类为食.聚类分析的结果表明,小黄鱼春、夏季的食物组成与秋、冬季相比,存在较大差异.通过与历史资料进行比较发现,黄海小黄鱼的食物组成发生了较大的变化,其中鳀鱼(Engraulis japonicus)在食物中所占的比例有明显的下降.     

Impact of novel endophytes in perennial ryegrass on herbage production and insect pests from pastures under dairy cow grazing in northern New Zealand

Perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) infected with a novel endophyte (AR37 or AR1), Wild‐type endophyte or no endophyte (Nil) was sown with white clover (Trifolium repens L.) in autumn 2005. The pastures were rotationally grazed by dairy cows from 2005–2009. Annual dry matter (DM) yield did not differ but AR37 pastures had a higher ryegrass tiller density, especially after the 2008 summer drought (+130%), and less white clover than did AR1 pastures. Concentrations of alkaloids produced by the Wild‐type association (lolitrem B, ergovaline) followed the same seasonal trends as did the AR37 alkaloids (epoxy‐janthitrems) but summer drought reduced concentrations of lolitrem B and epoxy‐janthitrems to less than half the mid‐summer (February) peak concentrations in the other years. Insect pests were monitored annually between 2006 and 2009. Tiller damage by Argentine stem weevil (Listronotus bonariensis (Kuschel)) was significantly reduced by all endophyte treatments. African black beetle (Heteronychus arator (F.)) populations in soil samples increased during the experiment with Nil > AR1 > Wild‐type = AR37. Root aphid (Aploneura lentisci (Pass.)) infestations followed the pattern AR1 > Nil > Wild‐type = AR37. A lower pest pressure from all insect pests in AR37 pastures is likely to have contributed to this treatment having the highest ryegrass tiller densities.     

不同类型连作晚稻机插安全齐穗期和适宜播栽期的研究

以五优308(杂交籼稻)、甬优2640(籼粳杂交稻)、嘉优2号(杂交粳稻)为材料,通过2年的播种期试验和秧龄弹性试验,研究了3种不同类型的连作晚稻在金华地区作机插的安全齐穗期和适宜播栽期。试验结果表明,不同类型连作晚稻机插产量均随着播种期的推迟而降低;在18 d秧龄条件下,五优308、甬优2640和嘉优2号于7月3日、7月6日和7月9日之前播种,能安全齐穗,五优308产量最高,嘉优2号最耐迟播,但产量水平明显低于五优308和甬优2640;五优308在秧苗素质、秧龄弹性方面明显差于甬优2640,五优308适宜机插的秧龄为12~20 d,甬优2640为17~27 d。五优308秧龄超过21 d之后,抽穗期推迟,安全齐穗风险加大,产量水平明显低于甬优2640。