Egg quality determination based on the shape of the lipid vesicle in common dentex, Dentex dentex

The shape of the lipid vesicle (the ratio between the maximal and the minimal diameter and the shape coefficient) of the eggs of Diplodus puntazzo and Sparus aurata is correlated with larval survival rate (%) and can be used as an egg quality marker as reported previously by Lahnsteiner and Patarnello (2005) . In the present study, this method for egg quality determination has also been validated for common dentex, Dentex dentex, after introducing several modifications in the calculation and evaluation procedure in order to obtain higher sensitivity. In the present study, it could be demonstrated that the shape of the lipid vesicle is not only correlated with the hatching rate but also with the survival rate of 1, 2 and 3 days post hatch larvae and therefore it can also be used as an indicator of larval viability at early stages of development.     

Optimal dietary lipid level for large yellow croaker (Pseudosciaena crocea) larvae

A 30‐day feeding experiment was conducted in blue tanks (70 × 50 × 60 cm, water volume 180 L) to determine the effects of dietary lipid levels on the survival, growth and body composition of large yellow croaker (Pseudosciaena crocea) larvae (12 days after hatchery, with initial average weight 1.93 ± 0.11 mg). Five practical microdiets, containing 83 g kg^?1 (Diet 1), 126 g kg^?1 (Diet 2), 164 g kg^?1 (Diet 3), 204 g kg^?1 (Diet 4) and 248 g kg^?1 lipid (Diet 5), were formulated. Live feeds (Artemia sinicia nauplii and live copepods) were used as the control diet (Diet 6). Each diet was randomly assigned to triplicate groups of tanks, and each tank was stocked with 3500 larvae. During the experiment, water temperature was maintained at 23(±1) °C, pH 8.0 (±0.2) and salinity 25 (±2) g L^?1. The results showed that dietary lipid significantly influenced the survival and growth of large yellow croaker larvae. Survival increased with the increase of dietary lipid from 83 to 164 g kg^?1, and then decreased. The survival of larvae fed the diet with 83 g kg^?1 lipid (16.1%) was significantly lower than that of larvae fed other diets. However, the survival in larvae fed the diet with 16.4 g kg^?1 lipid was the highest compared with other artificial microdiets. Specific growth rate (SGR) significantly increased with increasing dietary lipid level from 83 to 164 g kg^?1 (P < 0.05), and then decreased. The SGR in larvae fed the diet with 164 g kg^?1 lipid (10.0% per day) was comparable with 204 g kg^?1 lipid (9.6% per day), but were significantly higher than other microdiets (P < 0.05). On the basis of survival and SGR, the optimum dietary lipid level was estimated to be 172 and 177 g kg^?1 of diet using second‐order polynomial regression analysis respectively.     

Allometric and ontogenetic patterns related to feeding of a neotropical fish, Satanoperca pappaterra (Perciformes, Cichlidae)

Abstract –  This study aims to analyse whether Satanoperca pappaterra changes its feeding habit throughout ontogenetic development, and whether morphological ontogenetic patterns are related to its feeding habit and food capture. We collected 258 individuals in the Cuiabá river basin (Brazil) for analyses. There was a weak relationship between diet and body size, as evidenced by size class and multivariate analyses, and niche breadth did not vary strongly during ontogenetic development. Eight morphometric variables were measured in each individual. We found an isometric relationship for mouth height and width, and for head length. We found positive allometry for snout length and body height in relation to body length, whereas this relationship for intestine length and eye diameter showed negative allometry. These results suggest that morphology and consequently diet vary weakly during ontogenetic development of S. pappaterra .     

Spatial integration of freshwater fish markets in the Northern Baltic Sea area

Freshwater fish species and Baltic salmon (Salmo salar) are important to small-scale fisheries in Finland and Sweden. The formerly local markets for these species have expanded as trade has been opened up to international competition. In this study we use cointegration analysis to test the spatial integration of freshwater fish markets in Finland and between Finland and Sweden. The analysed fish species are salmon, perch (Perca fluviatilis), pikeperch (Sander lucioperca), European whitefish (Goregonus lavaretus) and pike (Exos lucius), and the data covers ex-vessel prices from 1993 or 1995 to 2004. We found that the regional prices in Finland were cointegrated. This indicates that the prices are determined on a single market in Finland. Moreover, the study suggests that Finnish and Swedish markets in Baltic salmon, whitefish, pikeperch and perch were partially integrated, while integration of pike markets could not be found. The political implication is that an essential part of the local small-scale fisheries’ operational environment is determined outside the national borders.     

Reproductive seasonality in a swamp-locked African cichlid

Abstract –  This study quantified the seasonal pattern of reproduction in a swamp-dwelling population of the African cichlid Pseudocrenilabrus multicolor victoriae. In the hypoxic waters of the Lwamunda Swamp, Uganda, P. multicolor was reproductively active throughout the year, even during the peak of the dry seasons. However, the degree of activity was seasonal, with rainfall providing a predictor of the percentage of ripe, mature females. There was no correlation between aquatic oxygen availability dissolved oxygen (DO) and either adjusted mean gonad mass or percentage of mature females, suggesting that DO is not limiting reproductive activity in this system. Reproductively mature females were larger during drier periods and may maximise their lifetime reproductive success by producing young throughout the year; but with a lower brooding efficiency. A comparison with Welcomme's (1969) study of a river-swamp system feeding Lake Victoria suggests that reproductive patterning is variable among populations of P. multicolor and may reflect adaptive response to chronically hypoxic conditions in the Lwamunda Swamp.     

The ‘pole-hooking’ method: A novel and economical technique for in situ tagging small to medium-sized fishes

We describe a new manual procedure for catching and tagging fish underwater, the ‘pole-hooking’ method, and demonstrate and discuss its advantages over standard tagging techniques (i.e. hook-and-line fishing). The new technique was designed for tagging Acanthistius brasilianus [Cuvier, M., Valenciennes, L.B., 1828. Histoire Naturelle des Poissons. Museau de Histoire Naturelle, Paris], a small to medium-sized fish inhabiting rocky reefs of the Argentine coast. The pole-hooking method minimizes injuries, avoids fast depressurization of fish and allows registration of the precise location of capture and release. In addition, the equipment needed is very simple and economical. The mean number of fish tagged per minute using this methodology on shallow rocky reefs (up to 25-m depth) was similar to that obtained during hook-and-line fishing sessions (ca. one tagged fish every 3 min), given similar densities of A. brasilianus in the fished reefs.     

微粒饲料替代生物饵料对大黄鱼稚鱼生长、存活和消化酶活力的影响

以初始体重为(1.93±0.11) mg的大黄鱼稚鱼(12日龄)为实验对象,以微粒饲料(micro-diet,MD)分别替代0%、25%、50%、75%和100%生物饵料(live prey,LP),探讨微粒饲料替代生物饵料对大黄鱼稚鱼生长、存活、体成分和消化酶活力的影响.30 d的摄食生长实验表明:微粒饲料替代生物饵料显著影响大黄鱼稚鱼的生长、存活、体成分和消化酶活力.当微粒饲料替代50%和75%生物饵料时,两组间的特定生长率(SGR)差异不显著(P＞0.05),但均显著高于100%替代水平(P＜0.05);同时,75%替代水平SGR显著高于0%和25%替代水平(P＜0.05).存活率在各处理组间的差异关系与SGR的变化趋势类似.鱼体粗蛋白含量随替代水平的升高有下降的趋势,其中50%、75%和100%替代水平鱼体粗蛋白含量显著低于0%和25%替代水平(P＜0.05),而鱼体粗脂肪含量变化趋势与之相反.当微粒饲料替代100%生物饵料时,其胰段和肠段淀粉酶活力显著高于其余各处理组(P＜0.05),而其余各处理组之间淀粉酶活力差异均不显著;微粒饲料替代生物饵料对各处理组蛋白酶活力无显著影响.由此可以看出,大黄鱼苗种生产中,在12日龄以后使用优质微粒饲料替代50%～75%的生物饵料是可行的.     

鱼类解偶联蛋白（UCP）基因研究新进展

通过生理性解偶联调节氧化磷酸化效率可能是进化早期发展起来的一种普遍策略,对生命的存在至关重要. 解偶联蛋白（uncoupling protein,UCP）家族是位于线粒体内膜的转运蛋白,哺乳动物基因组中已发现5个成员,其中UCP1~UCP3紧密相关,而UCP4和UCP5（即BMCP1,brain mitochondrial carrier protein-1）与它们差异较大. UCP1~UCP4不仅在哺乳类、鸟类等恒温脊椎动物中普遍存在,而且在鱼类等变温动物中也被证实存在,但UCP5目前仅在哺乳类中被发现. 哺乳动物褐色脂肪组织的UCP1,介导呼吸链产生的质子梯度泄漏,使氧化产生的能量以热的形式散发,但鱼类等变温动物UCP1的功能尚待进一步研究确立. UCP2和UCP3在产热、控制活性氧生成、脂肪酸氧化以及肥胖、糖尿病的发生中均发挥重要作用,二者的转录调节较复杂. UCP4和UCP5与其他UCP关系较远,UCP4仅在脑中表达,而UCP5在脑中高表达,它们的功能还不十分明确,但研究表明很可能与UCP2和UCP3的功能相似.