Vertical distribution of jack mackerel Trachurus japonicus larvae in the southern part of the East China Sea

ABSTRACT:   The vertical distribution of jack mackerel Trachurus japonicus larvae was described based on discrete depth sampling using a MTD net system from the surface down to 100 m depth at 13 stations in the southern East China Sea between 27 February and 10 March 2002. Of the 20 782 fish larvae collected, T. japonicus larvae were most abundant, accounting for 37.0% of the total catch. The average abundance of the larvae was 419.0 individuals/10 m², with the average (± standard deviation [SD]) body length of 2.6 ± 0.3 mm (range 1.8–7.5 mm). The larvae were concentrated in the mixed layer, with peak densities in the 10–30 m layer. The average (±SD) weighted mean depth was 21.5 ± 7.8 m. There was no evidence of either diel or ontogenetic vertical migration for the early larvae of <5 mm. More than 90% of the T. japonicus larvae were collected in the water temperature ranging from 21 to 23°C. Vertical profiles of the larval densities and chlorophyll a coincided with each other, which might reflect the abundance of their main prey organisms, copepod nauplii and copepodites, since copepod production is known to be closely related with the chlorophyll a concentration.     

Potential distribution and population trends of the smalltail shark Carcharhinus porosus inferred from species distribution models and historical catch data

1. Updated distribution ranges are crucial for conservation status assessments. Comprehensive analyses combining published literature and available data on historical catches and species distribution models (SDMs) are effective tools that could improve the prediction of more realistic scenarios for some species, especially those with limited information available and facing multiple threats.
2. The present study aimed at generating an updated distribution for the smalltail shark Carcharhinus porosus, one of the most threatened and understudied shark species of the western Atlantic Ocean. Estimates of the key areas for this species conservation based on the SDMs, and trends in catch probabilities throughout its distribution range are provided.
3. Four algorithms (BIOCLIM, Domain, Mahalanobis, and Maximum Entropy) were used to model the distribution of C. porosus and calculate its habitat suitability based on marine environmental variables. To assess historical catch probability trends, we built a generalized linear model from published and grey literature data. This analysis was used to estimate catch probability as an indication of population trends.
4. SDMs suggest that the northern coast of South America (NCSA) harbours the most suitable habitats for C. porosus in the world, which was expected given its historically high catch rate in this region. In addition, there was a continuously declining catch probability trend starting in the 1970s. However, the decline was smaller for the NCSA as compared with the Gulf of Mexico and the eastern South America coast.
5. Results indicate that the NCSA should be considered the currently most important area in the world for this species conservation. Furthermore, the lack of data throughout Central and South American marine regions hampers the evaluation of extinction risk throughout its updated distribution. Thus, research in these areas is urgently required for a more comprehensive conservation status assessment.

     

Lipid distribution in branching coral Montipora digitata

>ABSTRACT: The lipid profile was studied along the branch length, from the top, middle to base portion, of coral Montipora digitata to gain more insight into the physiological significance of lipids in the coral energy budget. The lipids of M. digitata consisted of seven major lipid classes: polar lipid, sterol, free fatty acid, unknown lipids 1 and 2, triacylglycerol (TG), and wax ester. The concentration of storage lipids, TG, and wax ester showed a top–base gradient along the length, whereas the levels of free fatty acid and unknown lipids showed a base–top gradient. The proportions of polar lipid and sterol in the top portion of the branch were slightly higher than those in the base portion. This observation appeared to be compatible with the view that the increased energy expenditure for proliferation enhanced the mobilization of the storage fuel lipids of wax ester and TG rather than the structure lipids of polar lipids and sterols at the top portion of the branch. Compositions of fatty acid also showed a length-wise diversity. The top portion had a lower proportion of palmitic acid (16   :   0) in all lipid classes of fatty acid ester, suggesting that this fatty acid was preferentially mobilized at the top portion, probably for the growth of coral cells.     

Visualisation of standardized life-history patterns

The life‐history patterns of fish and invertebrate species are complex. But much of this complexity can be captured in simple diagrams of coastal transects, where juveniles usually occur in larger numbers in shallow waters, while adults generally inhabit deeper, offshore waters. Iconographic representations of generalized life‐history patterns and depth profiles, with specific key life‐history parameters can capture much of these standardized patterns, including spawning areas, nursery/juvenile distributions, adult distributions and spawning migrations. Several examples presented here from a wide range of habitats and ecosystems (temperate and tropical waters, demersal, deep water, pelagic and coral reefs), including an example of different stocks of the same species, illustrate some general patterns with regard to water depth and distance from shore. The present approach should be viewed as a first step towards obtaining standardized patterns about key life‐history parameters, and will hopefully lead to incorporation into management of life‐history interconnectivity between different fishery sectors or gears. This may contribute to sustainable, ecosystem‐based approaches to management by informing policy options when faced with decisions to rationalize overcapitalized fisheries.     

Properties of scallop mantle collagen: its content,tissue distribution and thermal behavior

ABSTRACT:   To obtain fundamental information for the effective use of scallop Patinopecten yessoensis mantle, which is one of the underutilized marine resources. Some properties of collagen contained in the mantle were examined by chemical and histochemical techniques. Collagen content in the mantle varied annually, ranging from 0.98 to 1.72% of wet tissue, 7.7 to 12.6% of dry tissue and 13.5 to 26.5% of total protein, being relatively in high level of collagen content of invertebrate muscles. Collagen fiber was densely distributed in the inner connective tissue matrix of the mantle pallial, in contrast to the inner fold part which was rich in muscle fibers. The collagen contained in the crude collagen fraction (residue after alkali extraction), prepared from the mantle, was revealed to have considerably low solubility on hot-water extraction, constantly less than 20% of the total collagen at the temperatures in the range of 20–90°C.     

养殖环境细菌微生物气溶胶粒径分布及其健康危害评估

为深入了解畜禽舍环境中气载细菌微生物的空气动力学粒径分布规律,并评估其潜在的健康危害风险,采用Andersen-6级微生物空气采样器以血-琼脂培养基、沙氏培养基和高氏合成1号培养基为采样介质,对鸡舍、猪舍、牛舍环境中空气样品进行系统定点取样、测定及分析。研究结果表明,鸡舍环境中气载需氧菌含量最高,猪舍次之,牛舍最低;空气细菌粒径分布均为第Ⅰ级最高,鸡舍空气粒径呈偏态分布,牛舍、猪舍分别在第Ⅲ级和第Ⅳ级出现第2个峰值。携带细菌可吸入微粒在猪舍环境中比例最大。空气真菌与放线菌均在第Ⅳ级最高,携带真菌和放线菌可吸入粒子的比例显著大于细菌（P<0.05）。鸡舍、猪舍、牛舍空气微生物粒径各级分布比例基本一致。在鸡舍、猪舍、牛舍每天约有6.1×105CFU、4.7×104CFU和3.6×104CFU气载细菌微生物可分别进入人和动物小支气管或直接进入肺泡,从而对人和动物健康构成潜在危害。     

洋山港海域表层海水中重金属及石油烃污染周年监测与评价

为阐明洋山港建设运营期间对其所在海域产生的环境影响,在对2012年洋山港海域水体中溶解性重金属及石油烃进行周年监测的基础上,对洋山港海域重金属污染现状及特征进行了分析和评价。结果表明,洋山港海域主要重金属污染物为Hg,其余污染物依次为Cu、Pb和Zn;通过聚类分析将全年污染时段分为上半年(2012年1至5月)和下半年(2012年6至12月)两个阶段,时间分布及灰色聚类评价显示较严重的污染情况主要集中出现在上半年,空间分布显示小洋山码头沿岸及大洋山岛东南一带出现污染物高值区。鉴于洋山港正处于运营与建设同时进行的特殊阶段,需及时监测控制港区的污染物含量,本文提出采用GM(1,1)改进模型中发展系数的概念,深入研究污染物的变化趋势及规律。结果表明,监测海域各重金属污染物中Hg、Cr和Cd较难消除,应重视加强其防治措施。     

Tissue-specific expression of the NOD-like receptor protein 3 in BALB/c mice

Activation of the innate immune system requires recognition of pathogen-associated molecular patterns, such as NOD-like receptors. The NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome is involved in induction of the pro-inflammatory cytokine, IL-1β, and subsequent inflammatory responses. NLRP3 inflammasome plays important roles in the inflammatory and innate immune responses associated with autoimmune/inflammatory syndrome. However, analysis of the tissue distribution and expression profiles in BALB/c mice is still incomplete. In this study, we investigated the tissue distribution and expression pattern of NLRP3 in BALB/c mice to further elucidate its function in innate immunity in this commonly used laboratory animal model. NLRP3 mRNA expression levels and tissue distribution of the protein were investigated by real-time quantitative PCR and immunohistochemical analyses, respectively. NLRP3 mRNA expression was higher in the kidney and inguinal lymph nodes than in other tissues. Cytoplasmic expression of NLRP3 was detected in the epithelial reticular cells of the spleen and thymus, lymphocytes in the inguinal lymph nodes, cardiac muscle cells, cerebral cortex neurons, alveolar macrophages, renal tubule cells and liver sinusoidal endothelial cells. The results of this study will assist investigators in interpreting site-specific functions and roles of NLRP3 in inflammatory responses.     

Experimental oral transmission of largemouth bass virus

Largemouth bass virus (LMBV) is a recently discovered iridovirus that causes a fatal disease of largemouth bass, Micropterus salmoides (Lacepède). Fish can become infected by waterborne LMBV, but oral transmission of this virus has not been demonstrated previously. Largemouth bass were gavaged with guppies, Poecilia reticulata Peters, which had been injected with LMBV, and then sampled periodically during a 7‐week observation period. The dose of LMBV averaged 10^5.6 tissue culture infectious doses – 50% cytopathic endpoint (TCID₅₀) per largemouth bass. Five of 24 largemouth bass exposed to LMBV became infected with the virus, but none of the fish had clinical signs typical of LMBV disease. Virus titres in largemouth bass were highest in swim bladder (10^5.5–9.5 TCID₅₀ g^?1) and were 10^5.2 TCID₅₀ g^?1 or lower in cutaneous mucus, head kidney, trunk kidney, spleen, gonad and intestine. These results indicate that LMBV can be transmitted orally to largemouth bass, but further study is needed to determine the factors affecting pathogenicity of the virus.     

南海主要珊瑚礁(鱼旨)科鱼类的组成与分布

1998年3~5月和1999年5~6月,采用手钓、延绳钓和刺网3种作业方式在西沙的浪花礁、华光礁、琛航岛、永兴岛、北礁和南沙的渚碧礁、南薰礁、东门礁、美济礁、赤瓜礁、永署礁、华阳礁等12座珊瑚礁水域进行了2个航次的鱼类资源调查,捕获科鱼类6属25种,渔获量计942尾256.4kg;其中在南沙调查区捕获6属22种,共641尾205.5kg,优势种依次为尾纹九棘鲈、蜂巢石斑鱼、六角石斑鱼、黑边石斑鱼;在西沙调查区捕获6属14种,共301尾50.9kg,优势种依次为尾纹九棘鲈、六角石斑鱼、黑边石斑鱼、蜂巢石斑鱼,同时分析了主要种类尾纹九棘鲈、六角石斑鱼和蜂巢石斑鱼的生物学特征。