Density‐independent and density‐dependent factors affecting temporal changes in spatial distributions of eastern Bering Sea flatfish

The general warming of the eastern Bering Sea (EBS) and the wide range of abundance exhibited by several eastern Bering Sea flatfish motivated an examination of how density‐dependent and density‐independent factors may influence the spatial distributions of EBS flatfish. In this study, EBS trawl survey data from 1982 to 2006 were used to examine how temporal changes in the distributions of six flatfish species groups [yellowfin sole (Limanda aspera), rock sole (Lepidopsetta sp.), flathead sole (Hippoglossoides sp.), Alaska plaice (Pleuronectes quadrituberculatus), arrowtooth flounder (Atheresthes sp.), and Greenland turbot (Reinhardtius hippoglossoides)] are related to temporal changes in the location of the ‘cold pool’ (bottom water < 2°C), and how the area occupied by flatfish are related to the cold pool and population abundance. Rock sole and flathead sole distributions have generally moved northwest since 1982 and are significantly correlated with the movement of the cold pool, whereas arrowtooth flounder avoid the cold pool and their area occupied is inversely related to the size of the cold pool. The area occupied by arrowtooth flounder and rock sole are also significantly related to stock abundance. Multivariate statistical models indicate that the location of rock sole is more strongly related to stock abundance than to the cold pool, whereas the area occupied by arrowtooth flounder is more strongly related to the area of the cold pool rather than abundance. The temperatures occupied by several flatfish stocks indicate a substantial variability in suitable temperatures. These results suggest that a complex suite of density‐dependent and density‐independent factors may determine the response of EBS flatfish spatial distributions to increasing temperatures.     

Effect of feed restriction on the growth performance of turbot (Scophthalmus maximus L.) juveniles under commercial rearing conditions

Two trials were performed to study the effect of periodic feed deprivation (trial 1) or feed restriction, followed by satiation feeding (trial 2) on the growth performance of turbot juveniles under commercial rearing conditions. In trial 1, duplicate groups of 350 fish with an initial weight of 62 g were fed a commercial diet to apparent visual satiation for 7, 6, 5 or 4 days a week for 83 days. At the end of the trial, fish weight was directly related to the number of feeding days but feed efficiency and protein efficiency ratio were not affected by treatments. At the end of the trial, there were no differences in whole‐body composition among groups. In trial 2, duplicate groups of 500 fish with an initial weight of 33 g were fed a commercial diet to satiation (100%) or feed restricted to 90%, 80% and 70% of satiation for 90 days. Thereafter, all groups were fed to satiation for 34 days. During the feed restriction period, growth was directly related to feed intake, while during the satiation feeding period, it was inversely related to the previous feeding level. At the end of the trial, the final weight was not different among groups. At the end of the feed restriction period, whole‐body lipid content showed a trend to decrease with an increase in the feed restriction level. The results of this study indicate that under practical conditions, turbot juveniles should be fed daily as even cycles of short periods of feed deprivation negatively affect growth, while not improving feed efficiency. On the contrary, even after a relatively long feed restriction period, fish shows compensatory growth, and this may be used as a feed management strategy for controlling fish production in commercial farms.     

基于层次分析法的大菱鲆工厂化养殖风险评估

水产养殖过程中面临诸多的风险,为了量化水产养殖风险中的影响因素,评估风险等级,有效规避风险,以山东地区大菱鲆工厂化养殖为例,从自然、市场、操作和政策4个方面,运用层次分析法,建立风险评价指标体系,通过问卷调查的方式,基于专家调查法,对各风险因素的影响程度打分,分析和反馈专家意见,整理和分析获得的数据资料。结果表明:当前大菱鲆工厂化养殖风险为BB等级,养殖风险较高,其中市场价格的风险影响最大,饲料价格、病害和环境污染成为较严重的风险因素。最后,分别从养殖单位、政府机构以及水产养殖行业三方面提出相应的措施建议。面对养殖中危害较大的自然风险和市场风险,对于大菱鲆养殖户而言,把握市场行情,通过多种渠道获得市场供求信息而做出生产销售决策,可以有效避免市场价格波动带来的损失。从政府层面来看,可以通过推动水产养殖政策性保险的实施,及时发布市场供求信息,合理规划养殖规模,控制养殖产量,有效降低风险给养殖单位带来的损害。从海水养殖行业角度看,环境污染、病害以及持续上涨的饲料价格成为养殖行业普遍存在的隐患。海水养殖行业需以技术更新为重任,从养殖生产技术、疫苗防治、鱼粉替代品研发等方面,全面提高水产养殖技术,规避行业面临的养殖风险。     

Soybean protein concentrate as a protein source for turbot Scophthalmus maximus L.

In the first of two experiments, the effect of a gradual substitution of dietary fish meal with soybean protein concentrate (SPC) on growth, feed consumption and protein digestibility was examined in 13 g turbot Scophthalmus maximus. Five isonitrogenous and isoenergetic diets (50% protein and 22 kJ g^?1) containing SPC at protein replacement levels of 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100% were offered by hand twice daily. Growth rates of fish fed diets with zero and 25% replacement were not significantly different, with SGRs of 2.47 and 2.28, respectively. At higher replacement levels, growth rates decreased significantly with SGRs of 2.00, 1.33 and 0.68, respectively. Feed conversion ratios increased with soya replacement, with values of 0.68, 0.75, 0.89, 1.27 and 2.32, respectively, although there was no significant difference between the first two. Feed consumption rates remained constant up to 50% replacement, above which they decreased significantly, possibly because of reduced diet palatability. Apparent protein digestibility (APD) was not affected by the incorporation of SPC and ranged from 82.8 to 87.5%. Results suggest that protein catabolism increases in SPC‐rich diets, possibly because of rapid assimilation and utilization of the methionine supplement. In the second experiment, the importance of amino acid supplements and the beneficial effects of protecting these, either by coating them in protein or incorporating them in a protein–lipid emulsion, was investigated. Growth data provided some indication that the utilization of SPC may be improved by incorporating the methionine and lysine supplement in a protein–lipid emulsion prior to diet preparation, although this finding was not found to be statistically significant (0.1 < P < 0.2).     

Comparative study on the effects of chelated or inorganic manganese in diets containing tricalcium phosphate and phytate on the growth performance and physiological responses of turbot Scophthalmus maximus

A growth trial was conducted to evaluate the effects of chelated (Mintrex^? Mn, Mn‐M) or inorganic (MnSO₄·H₂O, Mn‐S) manganese (Mn) on growth, feed utilization, tissue Mn deposition and liver superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in turbot Scophthalmus maximus. A semi‐purified basal diet was formulated to be deficient in Mn (3.7 mg kg^?1) and contained tricalcium phosphate and sodium phytate at levels of 20 and 5 g kg^?1, respectively. Ten other diets were made by adding five levels (5, 10, 20, 35 and 55 mg Mn kg^?1 diet) of either the Mn‐M or Mn‐S to the basal diet, respectively. The 11 experimental diets were fed to groups of turbot (mean initial weight: 4.6 g) for 8 weeks. Results showed that the specific growth rate (SGR), feed intake, whole body Mn/vertebra Mn concentration and Mn‐SOD activity in liver were significantly improved by Mn supplementation (P < 0.05). On the basis of SGR, vertebra Mn concentration or liver Mn‐SOD activity data, dietary Mn requirement was estimated to be 10.5, 46.3 or 12.9 mg kg^?1 for turbot fed Mn‐S, and the same was estimated to be 7.6, 43.0 or 22.5 mg kg^?1 for turbot fed Mn‐M, respectively. There was no significant difference in growth, feed intake, whole body Mn concentration or vertebra Mn concentration between the two dietary Mn sources (P > 0.05).     

Study of the distribution of active caspase‐3‐positive cells in turbot,Scophthalmus maximus (L.), enteromyxosis

Enteromyxosis caused by Enteromyxum scophthalmi is one of the parasitizations with a higher economic impact on turbot, Scophthalmus maximus (L.), aquaculture. This myxosporean produces severe catarrhal enteritis with abundant inflammatory infiltrates in the lamina propria‐submucosa (LP), epithelial detachment and leucocyte depletion of the lymphohaematopoietic organs. Some advances made on the pathogenesis pointed to a role of apoptosis in the enteromyxosis. Therefore, the main aim of this work was to employ the TUNEL assay and the anti‐(active caspase‐3) immunohistochemical assay to detect apoptotic cells in both healthy and E. scophthalmi‐infected turbot in order to establish the presence and distribution of apoptotic cells during development of the disease. More apoptotic cells located within the gastrointestinal epithelium were observed in the initial stages of the infection in E. scophthalmi‐infected turbot compared with non‐infected turbot. As the infection progressed, a higher degree of apoptosis occurred in the epithelium of folds heavily parasitized. In the severely infected turbot, apoptosis was also found among the leucocytes of the intestinal inflammatory infiltrates. Moreover, the number of active caspase‐3‐positive cells in the lymphohaematopoietic organs tended to increase with disease severity. In view of the results, increased apoptosis in the epithelium may favour the scaling that occurs during enteromyxosis and cell death of leucocytes in the intestinal LP, contributing to leucocyte depletion in severe cases.     

Immunohistochemical characterization of polyclonal antibodies against Enteromyxum leei and Enteromyxum scophthalmi (Myxozoa: Myxosporea), intestinal parasites of fish

The enteric myxozoan parasites Enteromyxum leei (Diamant, Lom et Dyková) and Enteromyxum scophthalmi Palenzuela, Redondo et Álvarez‐Pellitero are responsible for high weight loss in infected fish, which leads to subchronic disease and low mortality rates in gilthead sea bream (GSB), Sparus aurata L., and to high mortality rates in turbot, Psetta maxima (L.). The detection of initial parasite stages in histological sections is particularly difficult, but can be simplified by means of specific antibodies. Rabbit polyclonal antibodies (pAbs) were raised against E. scophthalmi and E. leei, and direct enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and immunohistochemistry were used to characterize their sensitivity and specificity. Both pAbs were adsorbed (apAb) with non‐infected intestines to avoid non‐specific labelling of fish tissues and to improve their specificity. The highest titre obtained in ELISA was 1: 32 000 for apAb‐Eleei and 1:16 000 for apAb‐Escoph. Working dilutions in immunohistochemistry were 1:1000 for apAb‐Eleei and 1:8000 for apAb‐Escoph. Both apAbs labelled proliferative and sporogonic stages with high specificity. apAb‐Escoph was very specific, whereas apAb‐Eleei cross‐reacted with Sphaerospora dicentrarchi Sitjà‐Bobadilla et Álvarez‐Pellitero and Sphaerospora testicularis Sitjà‐Bobadilla et Álvarez‐Pellitero, suggesting the presence of shared antigens. These pAbs stand as new tools for antigenic characterization and the diagnosis of both Enteromyxum species.     

Alleviation effect of dietary cerium and its complex with chitosan oligosaccharide on cadmium accumulation in juvenile turbot,Scophthalmus maximus L., under cadmium stress

An 8 weeks feeding trial was conducted to investigate the effect of dietary cerium (Ce) and its complex with chitosan oligosaccharide (COS‐Ce) on growth performance and cadmium (Cd) accumulation of turbot, Scophthalmus maximus L. under Cd stress. The basal diet (Diet 0) was formulated without Cd and cerium as the control. Seven other experimental diets (Diets 1–7) were formulated with supplementation of 50 mg Cd²⁺/kg feed, 50 mg Cd²⁺/kg and 50 mg Ce³⁺/kg feed, 50 mg Cd²⁺/kg and 100 mg Ce³⁺/kg feed, 50 mg Cd²⁺/kg and 200 mg Ce³⁺/kg feed, 50 mg Cd²⁺/kg and 50 mg COS‐Ce/kg feed, 50 mg Cd²⁺/kg and 100 mg COS‐Ce/kg feed, and 50 mg Cd²⁺/kg +200 mg COS‐Ce/kg feed. Results of the present study showed that, compared with the control group, the condition factor in fish fed the diet with 50 mg Cd²⁺/kg feed (Diet 1) was significantly lower, whereas the Cd concentration in liver and kidney of fish fed the diet with 50 mg/kg Cd²⁺ (Diet 1) was significantly higher (P < 0.05). The high Cd accumulation of fish fed diets with sole 50 mg/kg Cd (Diet 1) could be significantly decreased by 51.72% after supplementation of 200 mg COS‐Ce/kg in the diet (Diet 7). These results suggested that elevated COS‐Ce could effectively protect against dietary Cd accumulation in turbot.     

ICP-MS法测定大菱鲆饲料中微量元素的含量

采集辽宁葫芦岛地区10个大菱鲆养殖场的13份配合饲料样品和4份冰鲜野杂鱼样品,利用微波消解-电感耦合等离子体-质谱法(ICP-MS)检测样品中11种微量元素Cu、Zn、Fe、Mn、Co、Se、Cr、Pb、Cd、Hg、As的含量。结果表明:11种微量元素在大菱鲆配合饲料中的平均浓度顺序为Fe(719 mg/kg),Zn(122 mg/kg),Mn(32.4 mg/kg),Cr(8.35 mg/kg),Cu(7.31 mg/kg),Se(1.48 mg/kg),Pb(0.503 mg/kg),Cd(0.462 mg/kg),Co(0.422 mg/kg)和Hg(0.036 mg/kg)。除Cr外,配合饲料中微量元素水平均高于冰鲜鱼,差异极显著(P0.01);饲料质量评价结果显示,大菱鲆配合饲料中微量元素含量的变异程度比较稳定,潜在有毒元素Pb、Cd、Hg、As的含量均低于水产配合饲料安全限量,且大多数必需元素的最低含量均高于推荐剂量;相对于冰鲜野杂鱼,配合饲料能够为大菱鲆生长提供更为充足的必需元素,但Fe、Cr、Se存在超标现象。     

Plankton composition and biomass development: a seasonal study of a semi‐intensive outdoor system for rearing of turbot

Plankton food web dynamics were studied during a complete production season in a semi‐intensive land‐based facility for rearing of turbot (Scophthalmus maximus) larvae. The production season was divided into three production cycles of 3–5 weeks. Phytoplankton biomass (using chlorophyll a as biomass proxy) peaked in each production cycle. However, the maximum biomass decreased from spring (18 μg chlorophyll a L^?1) to fall (ca. 7 μg chlorophyll a L^?1), simultaneous with a decline in the concentration of dissolved nitrogen in the inoculating water. During the three production cycles, we observed decreasing copepod nauplii concentration from spring to fall in the rearing tanks. The decreasing nitrogen gave increasing carbon to chlorophyll a ratio in the seston (from 23 in spring to 73 in fall). The pool of free amino acids in seston was constant. We suggest that the decreasing nitrogen input in the inoculating water reduces the quality of the phytoplankton and thus the growth potential of the prey for fish larvae, copepods.