Growth and production of the Amazonian tambaqui in fixed cages under different feeding regimes

Experimental culture of the native Amazonian fish tambaqui, Colossoma macropomum, in fixed cages was carried out over a period of 8 months, in Lake Urubu (Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil), to assess the viability of fixed cage culture of tambaqui and to test the influence of diet on growth rates. Nine synthetic net cages (1 m³) were each stocked with 45-day-old fish (mean weight 3 g; mean total body length 51 mm) at a density of 34 fry m^–3. During the first 2 months of culture, fish were fed a balanced formulated feed on an as-fed basis at the rate of 5% body weight day^–1. During months 3–8 this continued for fish in treatment 1 while those in treatment 2 were fed tropical regional fruits, on a wet weight basis at the rate of 5% body wt day^–1. Fish in treatment 3 were given no supplementary feed. Monthly biometric measurements were made on all fish. Fixed cage fish culture was shown to be a viable and simple technique. Survival in all treatments was 100%. With balanced supplementary feed, production was 14.4 kg m^–3, compared with 4.9 kg m^–3 and 2.1 kg m^–3, respectively, in the treatments where fish were fed with fruits and were not given any supplementary feed.     

Effect of dietary protein/carbohydrate ratio on activities of hepatic enzymes involved in the amino acid metabolism of Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus (L.)

This study investigated the influence of different dietary protein/carbohydrate ratios on activities of enzymes involved in the amino acid metabolism as well as on growth performance and body composition of Nile tilapia (Oreo- chromis niloticus). Fish were fed semi-synthetic diets differing in their protein/carbohydrate ratio. The diets were formulated to be isolipidic and isoenergetic (on the basis of metabolizable energy). Fish were reared individually. After a prefeeding phase, tilapia were randomly assigned to three groups and were fed the experimental diets at a relatively low level. The study lasted 9 weeks. Proximate composition, gross energy content, and activities of aspartate aminotransferase (ASAT) and alanine aminotransferase (ALAT) in the liver of fish were determined. While the mean growth rate and feed conversion efficiency did not differ significantly among the feeding groups, the body composition showed significant differences. The dietary protein/carbohydrate ratio had no significant effect on the protein and energy gain, but the lipid gain was significantly higher in tilapia fed the low-protein diet. The activities of ASAT and ALAT per gram of liver and per gram of soluble protein were significantly increased in fish fed the high-protein diet. There was a significant positive correlation between the activities of ASAT and ALAT. The activities of both enzymes in the liver were significantly higher in fish with a higher protein gain. Measuring the activities of enzymes involved in the amino acid metabolism can provide more information about the metabolic utilized dietary protein.     

福建三沙湾鱼类群落组成特征及其多样性

根据2008年福建海区三沙湾春季和秋季两个季度月鱼类调查资料,分析和研究福建三沙湾鱼类群落结构及生态类型特点。结果表明:渔获鱼类经鉴定共有94种,其中,软骨鱼类的须鲨目、鲼形目和电鳐目各1种;硬骨鱼类的鲈形目最多,47种,其次鲱形目10种,鲽形目9种。以暖水性种类为主,占总种数70.2%,具有明显的热带和亚热带特征。从种类重量和数量组成看,整个调查港湾以具有一定经济价值种类为主,优势种为半滑舌鳎(Cynoglossus sem ilaevis)、硬头鲻(Mugil strongylocephalus)、棘头梅童鱼(Collichthys lucidus)、红狼牙虾虎鱼(Odontam blyopus rubicundus)、大黄鱼(Larim ichthys crocea)、孔虾虎鱼(Trypauchen vagina)、龙头鱼(Harpodon neherus)、棱鮻(Liza carinatus)、海鳗(Muraenesox cinereus)等;总平均资源相对密度为3.49 kg/h,种类多样性指数H为2.017,种类均匀度指数J′为0.820,种类丰富度指数D为2.434。整个海区优势种明显,平均资源相对密度低,多样性指数和均匀度指数分布处于中下水平。     

Shrimp and fish pond soils: processes and management

The pond bottom soil and the accumulated sediments are integral parts of ponds. Concentrations of nutrients, organic matter and microorganism density in the pond bottom are several orders of magnitude greater than in the water. The accumulation of organic sediments may limit pond intensification. The intensive organic matter degradation at the pond bottom and high sediment oxygen demand exceeds the oxygen renewal rate. This leads to the development of anoxic conditions in the sediments and at the sediment–water interface. A series of anaerobic processes, affected by the redox potential of the system, are taking place. A large number of potentially toxic materials are generated. Among those are organic acids, reduced organic sulfur compounds, reduced manganese and sulfides.

Shrimp, as animals that normally live on or near the bottom, are exposed to conditions on the pond bottom. Exposure to toxic materials endanger the well being of the cultured shrimp. Reduced feeding, slower growth, mortality and possibly higher sensitivity to disease are reported.

The rational use of aerators to minimize the area of sludge accumulation, construction of ponds to trap sludge, stirring sediments, chemical poising of the redox system and environmentally accepted treatment and reuse of drained sediments are means to control the conditions at the pond bottom.     

Regulation of growth, fatty acid composition and delta 6 desaturase expression by dietary lipids in gilthead seabream larvae (Sparus aurata)

The Δ6 and Δ5 desaturases and elongases show only very limited activity in marine fish, and little is known of the possibility of enhancing Δ6 desaturase gene expression in these fish. The use of plant oils in marine fish diets is limited by their lack of n−3 highly unsaturated fatty acids (HUFA) despite an abundant content of the 18C fatty acid precursor linoleic and α-linolenic acids. The objective of the present study was to determine the ability of larval gilthead seabream to utilize vegetable oils and assess the nutritional regulation of Δ6 desaturase gene expression. Seventeen-day-old gilthead seabream larvae were fed during a 17-day period with one of four different microdiets formulated with either sardine fish oil (FO), soybean, rapeseed or linseed oils, respectively, or a fifth diet containing defatted squid meal and linseed oil. Good larval survival and growth, both in terms of total length and body weight, were obtained by feeding the larvae either rapeseed, soybean or linseed oils. The presence of vegetable oils in the diet increased the levels of 20:2n−9 and 20:2n−6, 18:2n−9, 18:3n−6, 20:3n−6 and 20:4n−6, in larvae fed rapeseed and soybean oils in comparison to those fed FO. In addition, a sixfold increase in the relative expression of Δ6 desaturase-like gene was found in larvae fed rapeseed and soybean oils, denoting the nutritional regulation of desaturase activity through its gene expression in this fish species. However, feeding linseed oil did not increase the expression of the Δ6 desaturase gene to such a high extent.     

浙江六横岛泥滩潮间带大型底栖动物的群落特征

本文分析了浙江六横岛泥滩潮间带大型底栖动物的种类组成、数量分布和多样性指数等群落特征。3个泥滩潮间带断面调查采获的大型底栖动物共有19种,其中软体动物10种,节肢动物6种,脊索动物2种,环节动物1种。3个泥滩潮间带断面总平均生物量为470.77±314.32 g/m2, 总平均栖息密度为480±248 ind./m2。在各类群底栖动物中,平均生物量及密度都以软体动物居首位。六横岛潮间带大型底栖动物的Shannon-Wiener多样性指数、Margalef丰富度指数和Pielou均匀度指数的分布范围分别在1.97-2.14、1.45-1.67和0.83-0.95,平均值分别为2.06±0.08、1.53±0.12和0.90±0.06。六横潮间带大型底栖动物ABC曲线分析表明底栖动物群落已受到一定程度的污染扰动。     

淡水鲳对九种常用鱼药的敏感性试验

本文报告了敌百虫、孔雀石绿、硝酸亚汞、漂白粉、呋喃唑酮、生石灰和食盐等常用鱼药对淡水鲳的安金浓度依次为0.028ppm、0.0312ppm、0.0865ppm、0.699ppm、16.22 ppm、19.5 ppm、1040 ppm。淡水鲳分别在亚甲基蓝2.1 ppm,硫酸铜硫酸亚铁合剂(5∶2)5.6ppm药液中浸浴240小时,未见异常反应。     

显微注射技术在制备鱼类嵌合体和转基因海水鱼上的应用

以鱼类胚胎细胞和胚胎干细胞为核供体进行细胞移植构建鱼类嵌合体研究方面,现有的成功报道均采用显微注射方法;在转基因海水鱼类研究中,显微注射也是最为常用的技术,本实验室在花鲈胚胎干细胞嵌合体构建和外源基因向花鲈胚胎的转移研究中取得的结果也充分证实,显微注射技术是开展海水鱼类细胞移植和转基因研究的首选技术。     

Relationship between zooplankton abundance and the early marine life history of juvenile chum salmon <Emphasis Type="Italic">Oncorhynchus keta</Emphasis> in eastern Hokkaido,Japan

Interannual variations in abundance, timing of outmigration from rivers, growth rate and condition of juvenile chum salmon (Oncorhynchus keta) were studied in the Nemuro Strait (eastern Hokkaido, Japan) during 1999–2002 to establish a possible relationship to zooplankton abundance. The otolith microstructure of juveniles was examined each year in late June to determine their time and size at sea entry (i.e., outmigration), and to estimate the early marine growth rates. Salmon outmigration peaked in mid- or late May, which coincided, in three of the four study years, with the peak release of juveniles into rivers within the study area. Abundance, growth rate and condition of fish were higher in 2001, when—compared to other years—smaller fish experienced higher growth rates, coinciding with greater zooplankton abundance for that year. Our results suggest that high zooplankton abundance positively influenced juvenile chum salmon growth and the condition of the fish during their early marine life despite their small size at sea entry.