Quantification of Flavobacterium psychrophilum in rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum), tissues by qPCR

A qPCR assay was developed for rapid and sensitive detection of Flavobacterium psychrophilum, the aetiological agent of bacterial cold-water disease and rainbow trout fry syndrome in salmonid fish worldwide. A set of F. psychrophilum-specific primers based on 16S rRNA gene sequences was designed and validated for specific detection and quantification of DNA isolated from representative strains of F. psychrophilum. The qPCR assay exhibited a high specificity for the 16S rRNA gene of F. psychrophilum (from 4 × 10(8) down to 11 copies per reaction) but not for other Flavobacterium species or other bacteria including fish pathogens. This qPCR-based method proved to be useful in the quantification of the F. psychrophilum titre present within organs dissected out from diseased fish. As the F. psychrophilum genome contains six copies of the 16S rRNA gene, we could infer a limit of detection corresponding to two bacteria per reaction, corresponding to 800 bacteria per fish tissue sample, and therefore 20 F. psychrophilum cells mg(-1) of tissue (for sample weighing 40 mg). The qPCR assay reported here could be a useful tool for veterinary diagnostic laboratories to monitor the F. psychrophilum infection level in fish farms.     

The understudied and underappreciated role of predation in the mortality of fish released from fishing gears

The assumption that animals released from fishing gears survive has frequently been scrutinized by researchers in recent years. Mortality estimates from these research efforts can be incorporated into management models to ensure the sustainability of fisheries and the conservation of threatened species. Post‐release mortality estimates are typically made by holding the catch in a tank, pen or cage for short‐term monitoring (e.g. 48 h). These estimates may be inaccurate in some cases because they fail to integrate the challenges of the wild environment. Most obvious among these challenges is predator evasion. Stress and injury from a capture experience can temporarily impair physiological capacity and alter behaviour in released animals, a period during which predation risk is likely elevated. In large‐scale commercial fisheries, predators have adapted their behaviour to capitalize on impaired fishes being discarded, while in recreational catch‐and‐release fisheries, exercise and air exposure can similarly impede the capacity for released fish to evade opportunistic predators. Owing to the indirect and often cryptic nature of this source of mortality, very few studies have attempted to document it. A survey of the literature demonstrated that <2% of the papers in the combined realms of bycatch and catch‐and‐release have directly addressed or considered post‐release predation. Future research should combine field telemetry and laboratory studies using both natural and simulated predation encounters and incorporate physiological and behavioural endpoints. Quite simply, predation is an understudied and underappreciated contributor to the mortality of animals released from fishing gears.     

Influence of partial substitution of dietary fish oil by vegetable oils on the metabolism of [1-14C] 18:3n-3 in isolated hepatocytes of European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax L.)

The static or declining supply of fish oil from industrial fisheries demands the search of alternatives, such as plant (vegetable) oils, for diets in expanding marine aquaculture. Vegetable oils are rich in C₁₈ polyunsaturated fatty acids but devoid of the n-3 highly unsaturated fatty acids in fish oils. Previous studies, primarily with salmonids, have shown that including vegetable oils in their diets increased hepatocyte fatty acid desaturation. In the present study, we have investigated the effects of dietary partial substitution of fish oil (FO) with rapeseed oil (RO), linseed oil (LO) and olive oil (OO) on the desaturation /elongation and, -oxidation capacities of [1-¹⁴C]18:3n-3 in isolated hepatocytes from European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax L.), in a simultaneous combined assay. Fish were fed during 34 weeks with diets containing 100% FO, or RO, LO and OO, each included at 60% with the balance being met by FO, with no detrimental effect upon growth or survival. The highest total desaturation rates were found in hepatocytes of fish fed FO diet (0.52±0.08 pmol/h/mg protein) and OO diet (0.43±0.09 pmol/h/mg protein), which represented 3.2% and 2.7% of total [1-¹⁴C]18:3n-3 incorporated, respectively. In contrast, lowest desaturation rates were presented by hepatocytes of fish fed LO and RO diets (0.23±0.06 and 0.14±0.05 pmol/h/mg protein, respectively) represented 1.4% and 0.9% of total [1-¹⁴C]18:3n-3 incorporated, respectively. The rates of [1-¹⁴C]18:3n-3 β-oxidized were between 11-fold and 35-fold higher than desaturation. However, no significant differences were observed among β-oxidation activities in hepatocytes of fish fed any of the diets. The present study demonstrated that the European sea bass, as a carnivorous marine fish, presented a ‘marine’ fish pattern in the metabolism of 18:3n-3 to 20:5n-3 and 22:6n-3. This species appeared to have all the enzymic activities necessary to produce 22:6n-3 but presented only extremely low rates of fatty acid bioconversion. Furthermore, nutritional regulation of hepatocyte fatty acid desaturation was minimal, and dietary vegetable oils did not increase desaturase activities, and in RO and LO treatments the activity was significantly lower. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Decadal trends in abundance,size and condition of Antarctic toothfish in McMurdo Sound,Antarctica, 1972–2011

We report the analyses of a dataset spanning 39 years of near‐annual fishing for Dissostichus mawsoni in McMurdo Sound, Antarctica, 1972–2011. Data on total length, condition and catch per unit effort (CPUE) were derived from the > 5500 fish caught, the large majority of which were measured, tagged and released. Contrary to expectation, the length frequency of the McMurdo Sound catch was dominated by fish in the upper two‐thirds of the overall distribution exhibited in the industrial catch for the Ross Sea shelf. Fish length and condition increased from the early 1970s to the early 1990s and then decreased. Fish length positively correlated with Ross Sea ice extent in early spring, a relationship possibly caused by more ice encouraging larger fish to move farther south over the shelf and into the study area. Fish condition positively correlated with the amount of open water in the Ross Sea during the previous summer (Feb), perhaps reflecting greater availability of prey with the higher productivity that more open water brings. Decreasing fish size corresponds to the onset of the fishery, which targets the large individuals. CPUE was constant through 2001 and then decreased dramatically. We hypothesize that this decrease is related to the industrial fishery, which began in the 1996–97 austral summer, and concentrates effort over the ice‐free Ross Sea continental slope. As a result of limited prey choices and close coupling among mesopredators of the region, Antarctic toothfish included, the fishery appears to be dramatically altering the trophic structure of the Ross Sea.     

Life-history variation in perch (Perca fluviatilis L.) in five neighbouring Norwegian lakes

Abstract – We have studied the population dynamics and reproductive biology of perch ( Perca fluviatilis L.) from five neighbouring lakes in Norway. The lakes vary in water quality, varying from strongly acidified (pH≤5.0) to not acidified (pH≥6.0). Estimated annual survival rates did not differ among populations. There was no strong relationship between age at maturity in female perch and acidification. However, age at maturity was lower for female perch from the most acidic lake ( c . 2 years) compared with perch in the four other lakes (2.5–3.5 years). There was no relationship between acidification level and size-adjusted egg size, fecundity or reproductive investment (Gonadosomatic index – GSI). Perch in the most acidified lake showed large variation in egg size, the lowest length-specific fecundity, the highest GSI, and the lowest age at maturity. Environmental stress, such as acidification, induces a number of changes to a lake community. It is therefore difficult to predict how acidification will influence the population dynamics and reproductive biology of a perch population.     

喷雾干燥与冷冻干燥对鱼油微胶囊品质的影响

为深度开发金枪鱼加工副产物,充分利用金枪鱼油所含营养成分,以壳聚糖为壁材,金枪鱼油为芯材,分别采用喷雾干燥法和冷冻干燥法制备鱼油微胶囊,比较两种制备方法对制得微胶囊品质的影响。结果显示:喷干鱼油微胶囊和冻干鱼油微胶囊的包埋率分别为77.26%、63.86%,但后者对鱼油脂肪酸保护更好;前者挥发性成分共有43种,其中酮类物质相对含量最高,占33.01%;而后者的挥发性成分仅有24种,以酯类为主,占52.29%,且没有检测到典型的腥味物质,这可能是由于冻干过程温度较低,抑制了多不饱和脂肪酸的氧化,更能掩盖鱼油不良风味。贮藏试验显示,两种鱼油微胶囊与鱼油相比,过氧化值的增长速度均显著降低(P<0.05);贮存7d后,两种胶囊的二十二碳六烯酸(DHA)和二十碳五烯酸(EPA)保留率分别为82.22%和85.25%,两种制备方法对DHA和EPA保留率的影响不大(P>0.05)。研究表明,两种鱼油微胶囊制备方法对延缓鱼油氧化和掩蔽不良风味有一定作用,对制备鱼油微胶囊具有一定的参考意义。     

Assessing the effects of line capture and barotrauma relief procedures on post-release survival of key tropical reef fish species in Australia using recreational tagging clubs

Abstract  Common coral trout, Plectropomus leopardus Lacepède, crimson snapper, Lutjanus erythropterus Bloch, saddletail snapper, Lutjanus malabaricus (Bloch & Schneider), red emperor, Lutjanus sebae (Cuvier), redthroat emperor, Lethrinus miniatus (Schneider) and grass emperor, Lethrinus laticaudis Alleyne & Macleay, were tagged to determine the effects of barotrauma relief procedures (weighted shot-line release and venting using a hollow needle) and other factors on survival. Release condition was the most significant factor affecting the subsequent recapture rate of all species. Capture depth was significant in all species apart from L. malabaricus and L. miniatus , the general trend being reduced recapture probability with increasing capture depth. Recapture rates of fish hooked in either the lip or mouth were generally significantly higher than for those hooked in the throat or gut. Statistically significant benefit from treating fish for barotrauma was found in only L. malabaricus , but the lack of any negative effects of treating fish indicated that the practices of venting and shot-lining should not be discouraged by fisheries managers for these species.     

Enhancing highly unsaturated ω‐3 fatty acids in phase‐fed rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) using Alaskan fish oils

Rainbow trout, average weight 185–187 g, were fed feeds containing menhaden oil, canola oil or fish oils (pollock, pink salmon or rockfish) produced from Alaskan seafood processing waste as the added oil for 8 weeks, at which time the fish weighed 391–411 g (average 404 g, pooled SE = 5.7). The fish were previously fed from 75 g average weight fed commercial feed containing poultry oil as the added oil. No significant differences were measured in final weight or feed conversion ratio among dietary treatment groups. Significant differences were found in fillet ω‐3 fatty acid (FA) levels from fish receiving fish oil‐supplemented feeds compared to those from fish receiving feeds containing canola oil. Fillet contents of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA; 20:5ω3) and decosahexaenoic acid (DHA; 22:6ω3) were highest in the pollock oil treatment group, although all fish oils increased highly unsaturated ω‐3 FA contents (mg 100 g^?1) of fillets. Fish oil used through the production cycle was reduced by 25% by supplementing feeds with poultry oil during the middle phase of production (75–175 g) compared to using feeds containing fish oil throughout the production cycle. Fish oils recovered from Alaskan seafood processing waste were suitable alternatives to conventional fish oil as ingredients in rainbow trout production feeds.     

黄河干流山西段鱼类组成及群落结构分析

2011年6月3日～6月21日和8月2日～8月20日,调查了黄河干流山西段鱼类组成的现状及群落结构特征。结果表明,全段共采集鱼类42种,隶属5目9科,其中以鲤科鱼类最多,共24种,占总种数的57％。渔获物数据表明,该流域小型鱼类较多,小型化现象明显,优势种为鲤、残、鲶、鲫,和麦穗鱼。物种组成差异和多样性分析结果表明,不同河段鱼类群落有明显的空间分异,风陵渡、刘家畔、关河口、圣天湖物种丰富,多样性水平高,群落结构稳定,而军渡和老牛湾物种少,群落较为简单。与历史资料相比,黄河干流山西段鱼类物种数减少,群落结构发生了较大变化。水体污染、大量水工建筑以及过度捕捞等因素是导致变化的主要原因。     

玻璃钢水槽内大黄鱼养殖环境噪声测量与分析

利用水下声音测量系统,分别记录了开放式圆形玻璃钢水槽内养殖环境噪声和大黄鱼(Larimichthys crocea)摄食过程声音,并进行声压级(sound pressure levels,SPL)计算和频谱特征分析。结果表明:(1)养殖环境噪声SPL约为110.27 d B(d B re:1μPa),包括主频率峰值为100 Hz的养殖工作设备与水槽内壁的低频共振噪声、1 250 Hz的表层水体气泡噪声、1 600~2 500 Hz的曝气石、增氧机、空气压缩机工作噪声;(2)增氧机和曝气关闭时,大黄鱼摄食过程声音SPL约为92.65 d B,高于背景噪声SPL,主要为游泳声音70~500Hz、吞食产生的水体表面搅动与气泡破裂的声音1 000~2 000 Hz、咀嚼颗粒饵料声音2 000~4 500 Hz;(3)增氧机和曝气开启时,背景噪声SPL略高于摄食声音约17.62 d B,且摄食声音无法区别于背景噪声,但并未影响鱼类摄食行为。