Circulation of the eastern North Atlantic and north-west European continental shelf – a hydrodynamic modelling study

As part of the interdisciplinary investigation of Calanus finmarchicus migrations between oceanic and shelf areas off north-west Europe (the ICOS project), a three-dimensional, prognostic baroclinic circulation model system, consisting of a coarse and a nested fine scale model, was constructed. The aim was to simulate the flow fields around Iceland, the Faroe Islands and the north-west European continental shelf and slope, including the northern North Sea. The coarse scale model covered the northern North Atlantic and provided the far field flow to the finer scale model. The latter was initialized and forced with climatological seasonal (winter and spring) means of temperature, salinity, river run-off, and other parameters necessary for the calculation of heat fluxes. Seasonal average simulations of flow and hydrographic conditions were performed, together with simulations of specific scenarios of uniform wind forcing from different directions. A feature common to all the results was a topographically guided northwards flow along the continental shelf edge, with a southwards counter-flow in the vicinity of the Faroe–Shetland Channel. The extent and strength of the shelf edge current, of its counter flow, and of the re-circulation cell in the northern North Sea, were dependent on the prevailing wind direction. The modelling results were consistent with the accepted circulation patterns in the area, and a comparison with field measurements in the Faroe–Shetland Channel showed that the main characteristics of the flow were well replicated, although the estimated strength of the slope current was somewhat less than in the field observations.     

Channel Characteristics of Low Voltage Power Line

In order to make good use of power line carrier to communicate, it is necessary to analyze the time-variable, impedance,attenuation and noise characteristics of low voltage power line. The waves of every characteristic have been experimented. At the same time, aiming at these characteristics, some available measures are given in order to conquer the disadvantage factors. The experimental results show that some suitable carrier communication modes must be adopted to realize ideally the carrier communication on low voltage power line.     

Effects of exogenous cortisol on the GH/IGF-I/IGFBP network in channel catfish

Glucocorticoids are known to hinder somatic growth in a number of vertebrate species. In order to better understand the mechanisms through which they may act in channel catfish, we examined the effects of feeding cortisol on the growth hormone (GH)/insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I)/IGF-binding protein (IGFBP) network. Fish (30.6 ± 3.0 g) were fed once daily for 4 weeks and treatments included: (1) High-cortisol (dietary cortisol provided at 400 mg/kg feed), (2) Low-cortisol (dietary cortisol provided at 200 mg/kg feed), and (3) Control (commercial catfish feed). Fish fed diets with cortisol weighed approximately 50% less than Controls. Feed intake was reduced by approximately 30% in both treatments of cortisol fed fish compared to Controls. A 20-kDa IGFBP was observed in plasma from High- and Low-treated fish while it was not detected in Control fish plasma. High-cortisol treatment increased pituitary GH mRNA expression approximately 10-fold while liver IGF-I mRNA expression was not different between cortisol-treated fish and Controls. Cortisol treatments decreased plasma levels of IGF-I. These data indicate that feeding cortisol for 4 weeks reduces weight gain, feed intake, and plasma levels of IGF-I and induces a 20-kDa IGFBP. One mechanism through which cortisol may impede growth of catfish is through an increase in a low molecular weight IGFBP which may lead to inhibitory effects on the action of IGF-I.     

马铃薯脱毒小薯雾培结薯特点及增产效果

 采用草炭+ 蛭石双层基质无土栽培和自动控制槽式喷雾栽培两种模式进行马铃薯脱毒小薯结薯数量及小薯质量分布比较, 同期定植, 结果表明70 d 生长期内前者每株匍匐茎数量为15 条, 膨大成薯5. 7 个, 后者匍匐茎数量为97 条, 膨大成薯76 个, 分别是前者的6. 5 倍和13. 3 倍。槽式雾培较基质无土栽培可显著提高脱毒小薯的繁殖系数。     

斑点叉尾鮰TICAM在细菌和病毒感染后的基因表达特征

采用实时定量RT-PCR方法研究斑点叉尾在不同病原(链球菌、嗜水气单胞菌、迟钝爱德华菌、斑点叉尾病毒)感染后TICAM基因在mRNA水平的组织和时空表达特征。感染嗜水气单胞菌可引起TICAM基因在肝脏和脾脏中的上调表达,在注射后24h和12h后上调最大分别为2.3倍和1.9倍;而在头肾和后肠中的表达则下调到感染后48h的0.15倍和24h的0.53倍;感染链球菌后则导致在肝脏、脾脏、后肠和头肾中TICAM基因表达的强烈上调,最大上调幅度为感染后7d肝脏中表达提高了23倍,其次,在脾脏和头肾中基因表达最大可上调到感染前的10倍左右;在感染迟钝爱德华菌后,TICAM基因在肝脏、脾脏、后肠和头肾中表达上调。其中,感染后7d脾脏中的表达提高到感染前的23.1倍。而感染叉尾病毒后,TICAM基因在肝脏、头肾和后肠的表达上调但幅度不大,基因表达在4种组织内表达变化量在1.5～3.7倍范围内波动,而在脾脏中TICAM表达下调,在感染24h后达到最低为感染前的0.13倍。以上实验结果显示,斑点叉尾TICAM基因表达变化与病原感染密切相关,暗示TICAM基因在斑点叉尾天然免疫中起重要作用。     

线粒体DNA分子技术在斑点叉尾鮰物种鉴定中的应用

[目的]应对出口水产品国外技术贸易壁垒,建立一种能被国际上普遍接受的进出口水产品中斑点叉尾鮰物种真伪鉴定方法,该方法也有助于我国水产品行业商业欺诈认定裁决工作。[方法]采用酚-氯仿抽提法提取水产品中基因组DNA,利用自行设计的引物D-loop F/D-loopR,对斑点叉尾鮰及大口鲇、革胡子鲶、鲤和鲫等物种的线粒体DNA D-loop和COⅠ区进行PCR扩增测序比对,根据斑点叉尾鮰物种D-loop区的序列寻找其特异性酶切位点,对D-loop区进行酶切鉴定。[结果]]建立的DNA提取技术可以满足水产品中线粒体D-loop扩增的要求,斑点叉尾鮰D-loop对应的最佳退火温度为54.8℃,其在D-loop序列的200 bp处有一特异性酶切位点EcoRⅠ。[结论]建立的斑点叉尾鮰产品中DNA提取、扩增技术及EcoRⅠ特异性酶切图谱方法,不需测序就能够将斑点叉尾鮰与其他近似物种区分开来,该方法适于进出口水产品贸易中斑点叉尾鮰产品的物种真伪鉴定。     

朱砂叶螨谷氨酸门控氯离子通道GluCl1基因的克隆与序列特征分析

朱砂叶螨是一种分布广泛、危害极大、难以防治和易产生抗性的农业害螨。为了研究朱砂叶螨杀螨剂神经靶标谷氨酸门控氯离子通道,进一步确定阿维菌素对朱砂叶螨的抗性机理,采用同源基因克隆以及RACE技术,克隆朱砂叶螨杀螨剂靶标谷氨酸门控氯离子通道(GluCl1)基因全长,分析其序列特征。结果表明,GluCl1基因序列全长为1856 bp,其中开放阅读框(ORF)为1338 bp,编码455个氨基酸,N端含25个氨基酸的信号肽,有4个跨膜结构域,GenBank登陆号为KC543353。同源比对分析表明,朱砂叶螨与其他蜱螨目GluCl基因有高度的同源性,特别与二斑叶螨的相似度最高。研究还发现朱砂叶螨敏感品系GluCl1第3个跨膜区的G314,与二斑叶螨敏感品系相应位点的氨基酸G323一致,而二斑叶螨抗性品系相应位点突变为D323。本研究进一步证实了G323突变为D323和二斑叶螨对阿维菌素产生抗性有关。本研究为今后建立以朱砂叶螨谷氨酸门控氯离子通道为靶点的选择性杀螨剂体外筛选体系奠定坚实基础。     

Assessing the variability of hydrographic processes influencing the life cycle of the Sicilian Channel anchovy, Engraulis encrasicolus, by satellite imagery

Three oceanographic surveys carried out in the Sicilian Channel during the spawning season (June to July) of anchovy (Engraulis encrasicolus) showed a close relationship between anchovy reproductive strategy and important hydrographic structures. A time series of satellite‐derived sea surface temperature images of the Sicilian Channel were analysed by means of empirical orthogonal functions and the dominant empirical modes were studied in detail. The first empirical mode captured much of the original variance and reproduced the trajectory of the Atlantic Ionian Stream (AIS), the principal hydrodynamic feature of the area. The time coefficients of modes 1 and 2 had seasonal signals which, when combined, accounted for the enhancement of the thermal front, clearly visible off Cape Passero (southernmost coast of Sicily) during summer. As the area constituted the principal nursery ground of the Sicilian Channel anchovy, the combination of the time coefficients of these modes was considered a potential indicator of the food particle concentration usually associated with oceanic fronts, which provided the energy requirements for larval growth. Mode 3 described the north/south displacements of the mean AIS trajectory, which modified the surface temperature regime of the anchovy spawning habitat. Therefore, the time coefficients of this mode were used as a potential indicator of anchovy spawning habitat variability. The capability of time coefficients of modes 2 and 3 to modify the main pattern depicted by mode 1 were tested successfully against in situ oceanographic observations.     

Engineering considerations for water circulation in crawfish ponds with paddlewheel aerators

Engineering considerations for paddlewheel aeration in vegetated shallow water ponds for the production of procambarid crawfish is necessary to ensure cost-effective application. Three experimental ponds (approximately 2 ha each) were planted with rice in August as forage for the resident pond population of red swamp crawfish, Procambarus clarkii, and flooded in October. Two 2.2 kW (3 hp), single-phase electric motor (110 V_ac) paddlewheel aerators were placed in each pond. The aerator rotors were 160-cm long and 95-cm in diameter. The aerator rotor had 36 paddles with half the paddles 27.3-cm long and half 34.9-cm long. Rotor speed was set at 83 rpm and operated at three paddle submergence settings: 7.6, 12.7, and 17.8 cm below the water surface. Over a 20-week period between November and April, channel velocity, head difference, and aerator amperage was measured for both one and two aerators in operation in each pond. Results indicated that circulation of oxygenated water from the aerators can be accomplished as efficiently with a single aerator set at a lower paddle depth (7.6-cm) compared to operating two aerators set at a greater paddle depth (12.7 or 17.8-cm). However, based on the apparent efficiency of the aerators and the calculated channel roughness coefficients values obtained from the channel velocities, paddlewheel aerators are an inefficient option for circulating the pond water especially when rice foliage dominants the total vegetative biomass of the pond.     

Using portfolio theory to assess tradeoffs between return from natural capital and social equity across space

Spatial variance in returns from natural resources, driven by resource dynamics and regulations, can have strong consequences for equitable delivery of value to individuals and communities. Yet resource management models implicitly weight returns equally across space, even when space is explicitly included in model dynamics and policy. Here we translate financial portfolio theory from the temporal to spatial realm and use it to quantify the inherent tradeoff between resource returns and social equity, defined as a more uniform distribution of resource value across space. We illustrate this approach with a marine case study of the Channel Islands, California, USA. Depending on the spatial distribution of resources, increasing spatial equity requires nonlinear reductions in resource returns. Realistic management options, such as effort-based fisheries regulations or marine protected areas, increase or reduce this tradeoff, respectively. We also quantify two critical advantages of portfolio approaches to management: they improve outcomes by avoiding false expectations and increase either resource return or social equity while maintaining the other.