Environmental correlates of body size distribution in Cyprinidae (Actinopterygians) depend on phylogenetic scale

The pattern of increasing species body size with increasing latitude has been noticed in different groups of animals. Here, we used seven key environmental factors and independent contrasts to assess body size latitudinal clines in Cyprinidae at two phylogenetic levels (inter‐ and intragenera), which were defined using a genus‐level supertree. Model selection procedures revealed that environmental factors shaping body size variation in Cyprinidae differed according to the phylogenetic scale considered. At the higher phylogenetic level, we found that both temperature (negative effect) and habitat availability (positive effect of drainage basin surface area) constituted mechanistic explanations of large‐scale body size distribution. No temperature‐related body size cline was observed at the intragenus level. Instead, competitive interaction (negative effect of species richness), habitat availability (positive effect of drainage basin surface area), migration ability and available energy (positive effects of glacial coverage and actual evapotranspiration) constitute alternative explanations at this lower phylogenetic scale. We conclude that (i) at the intergenus level, cyprinids do show a tendency to be smaller at high temperatures and larger at low temperatures, (ii) this tendency no longer exists at the intragenus level, (iii) latitude per se is a weak predictor of body size clines whatever the taxonomic level analysed, (iv) generalising geographical body size patterns may be rendered difficult by the superimposition of a series of mechanisms across different taxonomic scales, and (v) habitat size, here acting positively at both taxonomic scales, may play a major role in shaping riverine species body size clines.     

Current status and prospects of farming the giant river prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii (De Man) in Bangladesh

Giant river prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii) farming plays an important role in the economy of Bangladesh. Presently, it is cultured in around 50 000 ha area with total annual production of 23 240 t. Traditional extensive prawn farming has been expanding over the last three decades through the introduction and adoption of improved culture systems, such as culture of prawn‐carps, prawn‐shrimp‐fish and prawn‐fish‐rice as concurrent and rotational systems. Efforts for the development of improved techniques on broodstock management, seed production and rearing and grow‐out of prawn have been made over the last decade. The outcomes are low‐cost feed for broodstock, production of post‐larvae in net cages (hapa), all‐male prawn culture, periphyton based prawn‐tilapia culture, C/N based prawn culture, organic prawn farming, prawn‐mola culture and prawn‐carp‐mola polyculture. Despite the development of culture technologies, a number of challenges for sustainable development of prawn farming need to be overcome to realize the potentials of this promising sector. Good aquaculture practises at all levels and application of measures for quality control and food safety would ensure sustainable development of prawn farming in Bangladesh.     

Environmental assessment of boreal rivers using fish data – a contribution to the Water Framework Directive

Abstract A fish‐based assessment method was developed to estimate the ecological status of boreal rivers. Electric fishing data were collected from 902 rapids, together with information on the land use, channel modification and water chemistry. Discriminant function analysis was used to select fish variables that most correctly classified the undisturbed reference sites and human impacted sites into exact classes. The relationship between the level of human alteration and fish metrics was examined. Five metrics were selected for the index: the number of fish species, proportion of sensitive species, proportion of tolerant species, density of cyprinid individuals and the density of age‐0+ salmonids. The value for each metric (between 0 and 1) was calculated according to a point estimate for classical probability. The index is used to estimate the ecological classification of rivers according to the EU Water Framework Directive.     

Blood chemistry values of juvenile red pacu (Piaractus brachypomus)

Abstract: Blood samples were collected from 29 juvenile red pacu ( Piaractus brachypomus ), ornamental freshwater fish, to establish baseline blood chemistry values. Mean (minimum-maximum) values, obtained by automated bichromatic analysis and ion selective electrode analysis, were as follows: sodium, 150.4 (146–159) mmol/L; potassium, 3.93 (2.7–5.0) mmol/L; chloride, 138.7 (128–150) mmol/L; total CO₂, 7.5 (6–10) mmol/L; albumin, 0.86 (0.5–1.0) g/dL; lactate dehydrogenase, 237.8 (65–692) IU/L; aspartate aminotransferase, 49.1 (0–125) IU/L; creatinine, 0.31 (0.2–0.4) mg/dL; calcium, 10.80 (9.5–12.5) mg/dL; anion gap, 6.89 (1.2–12.5) mmol/L; and phosphorus, 7.29 (4.1–8.9) mg/dL.     

非洲淡水鳉鱼的生存要素及日常管理研究——以贡氏假腮鳉为例

[目的]探讨非洲淡水鳉鱼的生存要素和日常管理。[方法]以贡氏假腮鳉为例,从水质、水温、光照和日常管理等方面来探讨贡氏假腮鳉的生存要素和日常管理。[结果]贡氏假鳃鳉幼鱼对水质和水温的要求很高。若水温过低,幼鱼的生病几率会大大增加,还可能出现畸变情况。另外,光照对成鱼的色彩也有很大影响。[结论]在贡氏假鳃鳉的日常饲养中,水中的溶氧量一般保持在6 mg/L以上。     

淡水养殖鱼类主要细菌性传染病快速诊断的研究——鱼病诊断箱的应用试验

应用以葡萄球菌Ａ蛋白协同凝集试验（ＳＰＡ－ＣＯＡ）为主要检测手段的鱼病诊断箱，于１９９５￣１９９７年在吉林，辽宁等７省进行现场检测试验。结果，６１个渔场１１个品种的５１６尾病鱼有菌生长的２８５尾，经ＳＰＡ－ＣＯＡ鉴定阳性数为２３９尾，占有菌生长的８３．８６％，１２个渔场５个品种１２１６尾假定健康鱼有菌生长的为２８尾，经ＳＰＡ－ＣＯＡ鉴定阳性数为２２尾，占有菌生长的７８．５７％，认为本诊断箱适用于基     

我国淡水养殖业发展的空间变化影响因素分析

在陆地农业资源退化和人口总量上升的双重压迫下,淡水养殖有望成为支撑我国居民口粮供给的另一支柱产业。基于2007-2014年我国省域淡水养殖面板数据,探寻了我国淡水养殖区域的格局变化,利用全局Moran’s I指数考察淡水养殖区的空间相关性,并通过构建空间杜宾面板模型分析了产业格局变化的影响因素。研究表明:1我国淡水养殖业呈现出"东南热、西北冷"的特点,省域间的空间相关性逐年显著;2淡水养殖资金投入增加、养殖面积扩大、区域经济发展水平提升会对淡水养殖量有正向的作用,体现我国淡水养殖业由粗放经营向集约化经营的转变;3淡水养殖面积负间接效应反映"过度养殖"和环境污染对淡水资源的破坏会减缓淡水养殖业的发展;4淡水养殖业发展和城镇化的进程之间不矛盾,在未来可以稳定持续地提供淡水产品,成为国家粮食安全和食品安全重要保障。最后从合理规划淡水养殖区域格局、平衡省份间技术推广资金投入和加强对水资源污染的监管3个方面提出了推动淡水养殖业发展的政策建议。     

Eco-phenotypic growth in juvenile smooth marron, Cherax cainii (Decapoda: Parastacidae)

Abstract  The smooth marron, Cherax cainii Austin, now occurs in regions of Western Australia that are warmer and drier than those of the natural distribution. Animals sourced along a south to north geographical axis decrease in body mass per unit length. Juveniles reared from gravid females sourced from four sites along this axis were raised in common laboratory conditions for 14 weeks. No differences between sites were observed in body mass, standardised for length, indicating that in situ differences are a phenotypic response to local conditions.     

Larger body size with higher predation rate

Abstract –  Many studies have reported that prey fish increase in body size with an increase in piscivore abundance, and this change may be explained mainly by two processes: release from intraspecific competition because of a reduction in the prey fish population and size-dependent selection by the piscivore. However, the evolutionary mechanism is not yet fully understood. Here, we first show the body-size dynamics of the semelparous gobiid fish Gymnogobius isaza , which is one of the prey fishes of the introduced largemouth bass, Micropterus salmoides . The data show the possibility that the goby body size might have changed in parallel to the number of largemouth bass from 1975 to 2002, which may be one of the best examples of the positive relationship between body size and predation rate. Furthermore, we explored a mathematical model to consider a body-size change of semelparous fish from an evolutionary viewpoint. The model provided the following qualitative predictions: (1) the optimal assimilation rate increases with predation pressure; (2) a rapid large-scale increase in predation pressure may exterminate the prey fish because of delayed evolution of the assimilation rate; and (3) the optimal assimilation rate increases when the prey fish is more likely to die through predation than through natural mortality or when it is difficult to grow larger because of low resource availability or insufficient foraging efficiency. Moreover, we propose a theoretical framework to evaluate the relative effects of ecological and evolutionary processes over the long term.     

The Role of Mangroves in Retaining Penaeid Prawn Larvae in Klang Strait,Malaysia

The mangrove-fringed Klang Strait, Malaysia, retains approximately 65 billion penaeid prawn larvae annually prior to their settlement in coastal nursery grounds. This phenomenon appears to be due principally to tidal currents and lateral trapping in mangrove-fringed channels, the wind playing an insignificant role.