Effect of taurine supplemented practical diet on growth performance and taurine contents in whole body and tissues of juvenile Japanese flounder <Emphasis Type="Italic">Paralichthys olivaceus</Emphasis>

ABSTRACT:   The effect of dietary taurine on juvenile Japanese flounder was determined by feeding three taurine-supplemented experimental diets (TAU) and a commercial diet (CD) to evaluate a practical diet for juvenile Japanese flounder. Juvenile Japanese flounder were reared on the three experimental diets supplemented with taurine at 0, 0.5, 1.0% and CD. These diets were fed to juvenile Japanese flounder of an initial mean body weight of 0.2 g for 6 weeks at 20°C and the taurine contents of the whole body and tissues were analyzed. The final average body weight of juvenile Japanese flounder fed the 1.0% TAU was significantly higher than that of the other groups. Taurine contents in the whole body and tissues increased with the increase in dietary taurine level. These results indicate that juvenile Japanese flounder require at least 15 mg/g taurine in the diet, even though a combined mix of fish, krill and squid meal was the main protein source in the experimental diets.     

Stable isotopes and gut content show diet overlap among native and introduced piscivores in a large oligotrophic lake

Abstract – In past dietary studies kokanee Oncorhynchus nerka were prominent in the diet of Pend Oreille Lake's large piscivores: native bull trout Salvelinus confluentus, cutthroat trout O. clarki and northern pikeminnow Ptychocheilus oregonensis, and introduced lake trout S. namaycush and Kamloops rainbow trout O. mykiss gairdneri. However, kokanee have declined to 10–20% of their former abundance. We therefore initiated this study to understand current predation demands on kokanee and diet overlap among piscivores, using gut content samples and analysis of stable nitrogen (δ¹⁵N) and carbon (δ¹³C) isotopes from the lake's fish and invertebrate community. In gut content samples, kokanee were the main prey item of large [i.e., ≥400 mm total length (TL)] bull and lake trout; a conclusion that was affirmed by stable isotope analysis. Rainbow trout >500 mm TL consumed mostly kokanee, thus there was a high degree of diet overlap among large bull, lake and rainbow trout. Small (i.e., <400 mm TL) rainbow and cutthroat trout diets overlapped, and were composed mostly of littoral benthic invertebrates. However, gut content and stable isotope analysis did not accord for 400–500 mm TL rainbow trout, small lake trout, and large cutthroat trout. In these instances, a linear mixing model using stable isotope results predicted kokanee consumption for each species, but no kokanee were identified in rainbow or lake trout gut content. Gut content and stable isotope analysis of native northern pikeminnow indicated a diet of mostly littoral benthic invertebrates at smaller (100–150 mm TL) lengths, with kokanee becoming more prominent in the diet of individuals >300 mm TL. Percent of kokanee in the diet of northern pikeminnow has declined from a prior study; otherwise piscivore diets have apparently remained unchanged. In this study, judgments as to the feeding of some piscvores, based on gut content alone, would be tenuous because of small sample sizes, but stable isotope analysis provided an efficient means for confirming diets.     

Effects of weaning age and diets on ontogeny of digestive activities and structures of pikeperch (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Sander lucioperca</Emphasis>) larvae

Growth and ontogeny of digestive function were studied in pikeperch (Sander lucioperca) larvae weaned on artificial food at different ages. Three weaning treatments initiated respectively on day 9 (W9), day 15 (W15) or day 21 (W21) post-hatching (p.h.) were compared with a control group, fed Artemia nauplii from first feeding until the end of the rearing trial on day 36 p.h. The digestive enzyme activities and the ontogeny of digestive structures were investigated using enzymatic assays and histological methods. Growth of pikeperch larvae was significantly affected by precocious weaning. Pancreatic (trypsin and amylase) and intestinal (leucine-alanine peptidase, leucine aminopeptidase N and alkaline phosphatase) enzyme activities were detected from hatching onwards, increased at the moment of first feeding and then decreased. Pepsin secretion occurred at day 29 p. h. only, concurrently with the stomach development and differentiation of gastric glands. In the early weaning group (W9) the maturation process of intestinal enterocytes seems to be impaired and/or delayed and several signs of malnutrition were recorded. Except for alkaline phosphatase activity, no differences in enzyme activities and development of digestive structures were observed among the control, W21, and W15 groups. Moreover, at the end of the experiment, no differences in proteolytic activities were observed among larvae from the different treatments, indicating that, in surviving individuals, the digestive structures were properly developed and the larvae had acquired an adult mode of digestion. Based on the artificial diet used, our results suggested that pikeperch larvae can be weaned from day 15 p.h. without significant adverse effect on digestive capacities (except for alkaline phosphatase) or development of digestive tract, while earlier weaning impaired the onset of the maturation processes of the digestive system, both in terms of morphological structures and enzymatic activities.     

Control of phosphorus homeostasis of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) in fresh water

Studies were conducted to determine the absorption, excretion and requirement of dietary phosphorus (P) by Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar). Triplicate groups of salmon parr, initial weight 15 ± 0.5±g , were fed, diets containing 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11 and 13 mg P and 20 KJ of digestible energy (DE) per±g of diet (dry matter basis, DMB) to satiation for 16 weeks. The basal diet containing 4 mg P g^-1 (0.15 mg available P per KJ DE) was supplemented with graded levels of calcium phosphate, Ca(H₂PO₄)²H₂O to formulate the eight experimental diets. The fish were reared in fresh water at a temperature of 15 °C on a 12 h photoperiod. Vertebrae ash increased from 316 to 516 mg g^-1 fat-free dry matter with an increase in dietary P content. P requirement was estimated by using a four-parameter sigmoidal equation. The data suggests that a diet of 0.28 mg available P per KJ DE is needed for Atlantic salmon. Phosphate and calcium levels in plasma and bone increased, whereas levels of magnesium and liver cholecalciferol decreased, with an increase in dietary P.Phosphate excretion in urine and apparent availability of P were determined in deficient and replete fish. In deficient fish, the urine phosphate concentration was 0.10 mmol L^-1 before feeding and 0.25 mmol l^-1 after feeding, whereas in replete fish these concentrations were 1.09 and 5.11 mmol l^-1, respectively. The increase in urine phosphate concentration was higher in replete fish than in deficient fish, however, the apparent absorption of P was found to be significantly lower in replete fish than in deficient fish. These results suggest that similarly to terrestrial vertebrates, P homeostasis in Atlantic salmon is controlled by absorption in the intestine, conservation in the kidney and storage in the bones.     

Manufacturing Different Diet Sizes and Its Effect on Pellet Water Stability and Growth of Three Size Classes of Pacific White Shrimp,Litopenaeus vannamei

Abstract

A feed manufacturing method involving the production of large pellets followed by crumbling to desired diet sizes was used to produce six shrimp diets to determine its effect on growth of three size classes of Pacific white shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei. The six diets containing 45% protein were 0.7 mm crumble, 1.2 mm crumble, 1.7 mm crumble, 2.2 mm crumble, 2.6 mm crumble, and 3.0 mm pellet. These diets were fed to three size classes of shrimp subjected to a four-week growth trial under indoor laboratory conditions. Stocking density was 12 shrimp/aquarium for size class 1 (1.13iö.01 g), 9 shrimp/aquarium for size class 2 (7.31iö.06 g), and 6 shrimp/aquarium for size class 3 (13.12iö. 10 g). Shrimp were fed three times daily and were evaluated for live weight, growth rate, feed conversion ratio (FCR), and survival. Results for shrimp growth appeared to be affected by diet size and pellet water stability. The effects of diet size, however, were more evident on smaller sized shrimp. Weekly growth rates for class 1 and class 2 shrimp indicated significant responses (P < 0.05) to the effects of diet size, while the class 3 shrimp did not show any significant result. The growth rates for both class 1 and class 2 shrimp were lowest at the smallest diet size (0.7 mm crumble) but differed with respect to highest growth rates. The largest diet (3.0 mm pellets) yielded the highest growth rates for class 1 shrimp, while medium sized feed (2.2 mm crumble) produced the best growth for class 2 shrimp. This could be partly attributed to pellet water stability, which had a direct correlation to diet size (r = 0.97). Smaller diet sizes resulting from crumbling larger pellets tend to have lower water stability. The water stability decreased from 82.5% to 76.3% as the 3.0 mm pellets were reduced to 0.7 mm crumbles. Stress cracks are created during crumbling, and surface area to volume ratio are increased as larger particles are reduced to crumbles. These would make smaller diet particles more susceptible to disintegration and nutrient leaching. For class 3 shrimp, the largest pellets produced the highest growth rate. This high growth value, however, was not significantly different (P > 0.05) from growth results produced by the crumbled feed sizes. This observation suggests that diet sizes ranging from 0.7 mm crumble to 3.0 mm pellet could be used for a 13 g shrimp, although preference would be given to larger pellets due to higher growth performance and better pellet water stability. Results for shrimp live weights were similar to results obtained for weekly growth rates. FCR and survival of all shrimp sizes did not show any significant response from the effects of various diet sizes. However, larger shrimp were less efficient in their diet utilization than smaller shrimp.     

Seasonal abundance,diet, and energy consumption of round gobies (Neogobius melanostomus) in Lake Erie tributary streams

Pennuto CM, Krakowiak PJ, Janik CE. Seasonal abundance, diet, and energy consumption of round gobies (Neogobius melanostomus) in Lake Erie tributary streams.
Ecology of Freshwater Fish 2010: 19: 206–215. © 2010 John Wiley & Sons A/S Abstract – The invasive round goby (Neogobius melanostomus) is a benthic invertivore that has become established in many lake and river systems of Europe and the United States, especially within the Great Lakes basin. Multiple reports document its negative impact on benthic macroinvertebrates and fishes in lakes and recent studies show fish and invertebrate communities in streams are equally at risk. We assessed the seasonal abundance of round gobies and their summer diet composition in tributary streams to Lake Erie. Populations of round gobies in the lower reaches of two tributary streams peaked in abundance in early fall, were absent in late winter, and reappeared in early spring, suggesting a possible out‐migration to the lake in winter. Population size distributions show a peak recruitment of young round gobies in July and low‐level recruitment through October. In this study, round gobies obtained most of their energy from amphipods, chironomids, and caddisflies compared to other invertebrates, and midges were consumed in greater proportion than their availability suggesting a preference for these prey. As the stream lacked molluscs, large round gobies remained generalist invertivores without a diet shift to molluscivory as has been reported in lake studies. The observations on recruitment and abundance, and possible out‐migration suggest the lower reaches of tributary streams may act as source populations for lake‐bound round gobies. It may be possible to take advantage of this out‐migration behaviour as a control strategy to capture large numbers of round gobies each winter.     

饲喂玉米型日粮的生长绵羊限制性氨基酸研究

本实验采用９ 只安装有瘤胃、十二指肠和回肠瘘管的生长羯羊， 采用随机区组试验设计，研究了饲喂以玉米、玉米蛋白粉和青干草为基础日粮的绵羊消化道不同部位营养物质流通量，以及由十二指肠瘘管按“递减法”灌注不同氨基酸［Ａ：减赖氨酸（Ｌｙｓ） ；Ｂ：减蛋氨酸（ Ｍｅｔ） ；Ｃ１ ：全量；Ｄ：减苏氨酸（Ｔｈｒ） ；Ｅ：减组氨酸（Ｈｉｓ） ；Ｃ２ ：全量；Ｆ：减精氨酸（ Ａｒｇ） ；Ｇ：减色氨酸（Ｔｒｐ） ；Ｃ３ ：全量］ 对绵羊体内氮沉积、血浆尿素氮（ＰＵＮ） 、血浆游离氨基酸（ＦＡＡ） 浓度等指标的影响。结果表明：饲喂玉米型日粮的绵羊瘤胃食糜流通速率（ Ｋｐ） 为５ ．０９ ％ ～６ ．１５ ％ ／ ｈ ， 进入十二指肠中微生物蛋白占总氮的比例为１７ ．７９ ％ ～３０ ．４３ ％ 。绵羊十二指肠中Ｍｅｔ 、Ｌｙｓ 、Ｈｉｓ 和Ａｒｇ 流量偏低，而Ｌｅｕ 的流量较高。与对照组（Ｃ１ 、Ｃ２ 、Ｃ３） 相比，减少Ｌｙｓ 、Ｍｅｔ 、Ｔｈｒ 、Ｈｉｓ 、Ａｒｇ 和Ｔｒｐ 组的绵羊体内沉积氮（ｇ／ ｋｇ Ｗ０ ．７５） 分别下降２３ ．５０ ％ 、４６ ．６７ ％ 、２８ ．６６ ％ 、１５ ．００ ％ 、１７ ．３３ ％ 和１５ ．８９ ％ ；日增重分别下降３７ ．０４ ％ 、５３ ．１７ ％     

Biochemical indices (RNA/DNA ratio and protein content) in studying the nutritional status of Ruditapes decussatus (Linnaeus 1758) juveniles

In this work, we investigated the nutritional status of Ruditapes decussatus juveniles under different rearing conditions, using biochemical indices (RNA/DNA ratio and protein content) and the linear instantaneous growth rate (IGR). Two experiments were conducted to study the effect of starvation, addition of substrate (sand) as rearing support and diet composition on somatic growth and biochemical indices. Results show that biochemical indices of fed juveniles were significantly (P<0.05) higher. Highest RNA/DNA values and protein content were recorded in fed juveniles reared with substrate (P<0.05); conversely, lowest values were recorded in starved ones reared without substrate. In the second experiment, the highest RNA/DNA ratio was recorded in juveniles fed with control algal mixture composed of species commonly used in bivalve nurseries [Isochrysis galbana (clone T-Iso), Chaetoceros calcitrans and Tetraselmis suecica] and lowest in those fed with algal species isolated from Tunisian coasts. This confirms the usefulness of the RNA/DNA ratio and protein content in the clam's nutritional status evaluation. This assay is useful to provide information about the nutritional status and health of the clam in field conditions.     

不同日粮组成对蛋鸡生产性能及鸡蛋品质的影响

选用５７６只１５４日龄海赛克斯蛋鸡探讨不同日粮组成对蛋鸡生产性能及鸡蛋品质的影响。共计３个处理，每个处理４个重复，每个重复４８只鸡，全阶梯三层笼养，自由采食、饮水，进行产蛋率大于８０％的饲养试验。试验期为４周。试验结束后，对各处理的产蛋率、只日产蛋量、料蛋比、破蛋率、每千克蛋耗料成本及蛋的品质指标进行统计分析。试验结果表明，采食３种日粮的试鸡在产蛋量、破蛋率、采食量等指标差异不显著（Ｐ＞０．０５），但采食无鱼粉日粮的试鸡料蛋比、死淘率最低，每千克蛋饲料成本最低（Ｐ＜０．０５），且产蛋率最高（Ｐ＜０．０５）。蛋形指数、蛋壳厚度、蛋壳强度、哈氏单位４项指标上３个处理间无明显差异（Ｐ＞０．０５）。