Changing of fat content and fatty acid profile of reared pike (Esox lucius) fed two different diets

Fat content and fatty acid profile of two pike yearling groups grown on two different diets were compared. The groups originated from culture on artificial feed. One group (cultured pike fed first pellet then prey‐fish (PF)) was fed with natural food, live prey‐fish, while the other one (cultured pike fed exclusively pellet (PP)) by trout feed through a 3‐month experimental period. Growth of pike was lower with PP than with PF. The trout feed resulted in an increase of the fat content of fillet and the formation of abdominal fat depots. Feeding of natural food decreased the fat content. The proportion of the saturated fatty acids in fillet was higher in the (PF) group. The n‐6 fatty acids (arachidonic C20:4n‐6 and docosatetraenic C22:4n‐6 acids) were lowest in PP‐fed pike. Regarding total n‐3 fatty acids ratio there was no significant difference between the groups, but the level of α‐linolenic (C:18:3n‐3) acid showed significant difference among groups.     

Effects of live prey availability on growth and survival in the early stages of cuttlefish Sepia officinalis (Linnaeus, 1758) life cycle

This investigation examined the effects of live prey availability on growth and survival of Sepia officinalis. Two independent experiments, comprising two feed rations each, were performed, using adequate prey size. In the first experiment, cuttlefish hatchlings were fed live mysids, Paramysis nouvelli [(feed ratio I (fr I)], at 15% body weight per day (bw day^?1) (fr I₁₅) and 30% bw day^?1 (fr I₃₀). In the second experiment, juvenile cuttlefish were fed live Atlantic ditch shrimp, Paleomonetes varians (fr II), under the same experimental design. In both experiments, the final mean weight, feeding rate and instantaneous growth rate were higher when animals were fed feed ratio fr II₁₅ and fr II₃₀ (30% bw day^?1). The results indicate that prey availability influenced weight gain, irrespective of the prey used, during the first 2 months of cuttlefish life cycle. This effect seems to be more noticeable when a certain limit of prey is achieved. For cuttlefish fed fr II, the optimal prey density is thought to be under 2.5 g prey L^?1 (i.e. 14 shrimp L^?1). Results indicate that cuttlefish can withstand prey densities up to 120 mysids L^?1 for cuttlefish up to 3 weeks old and 19 shrimps L^?1 for cuttlefish up to 6 weeks old.     

Foraging specialisms, prey size and life-history patterns: a test of predictions using sympatric polymorphic Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus)

Abstract –  We use arguments based on optimal foraging theory to predict body size constraints and the consequences of these on a range of life-history traits in three trophic specialist morphs of Arctic charr, Salvelinus alpinus , living in sympatry in Loch Rannoch, Scotland. As predicted, foraging specialists feeding on small prey items with a narrow size range showed evidence of deterministic growth; the ultimate body size of macrobenthos feeders being larger ( L _∞ = 238 mm) than that of planktivores ( L _∞ = 216 mm). In contrast, the piscivorous morph showed no evidence of reaching a maximal body size.
The two size-constrained morphs (benthivores and planktivores) matured earlier and died younger (living for up to 11 and 7 years, respectively, in this study) than did the piscivorous charr which showed continuous growth up to at least 17 years.
The pattern of annual reproductive investment in maturing individuals was complex. Planktivores invested in larger eggs than the other two forms, but benthivores produced a greater number of eggs than planktivores, which in turn produced more than piscivores. Planktivorous males had a greater investment in mean testis weight than the other two forms.
Lifetime reproductive output was the greatest in the benthivorous charr, intermediate in planktivorous and the lowest in the piscivorous charr when measured either as fecundity or as gonadal weight. We conclude that constraints imposed upon foraging specialists by foraging efficiency is a significant driver of body size and ultimately reproductive investment in gape-limited foraging salmonids.     

Life-history variation in relation to nest site abundance in males of the freshwater goby Tridentiger brevispinis

Abstract –  Age at maturity in males of the freshwater goby Tridentiger brevispinis , a species with exclusive paternal care, was investigated in two populations in Lake Biwa, Japan, that differed markedly in nest site abundance. At Ohmi-maiko, where nest sites were scarce, most males matured at age 3, and mean body size of males guarding eggs in nests was larger than that of males sampled randomly (including both guarding and nonguarding males) in the population. Conversely, at Minamihama, where nest sites were abundant, many males matured at age 1, and there was no difference in body size between guarding males and males collected randomly. The slope of regression lines between body size of the guarding male and the number of eggs in his nest was greater in Ohmi-maiko than in Minamihama. These results suggest that the shortage of nest sites enhances reproductive success in larger males, probably through male–male competition for nest sites and female mate choice for larger males. I conclude that in nest spawners, the availability of nest sites should strongly affect life-history traits of males through sexual selection.     

Evaluation of three phytoplankton species as food for the pearl oyster <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pinctada fucata</Emphasis>

In the pearl cultivation farms of the Ehime Prefecture, Japan, mass mortalities of the pearl oyster Pinctada fucata have occurred since 1994. The occurrences of mass mortality roughly coincided with a shift of the dominant phytoplankton from Skeletonema and Chaetoceros to Chaetoceros and Nitzschia all of which belong to Bacillariophyceae. Hence, we evaluated Nitzschia, together with Chaetoceros and Isocrysis, as food for the oyster. Wet weights, lengths, widths, glycogen contents, and growth rates in terms of wet weight of the oysters in all the feeding treatments were significantly higher than those in the non-feeding treatment. The highest glycogen content (2.34%) and growth rate (2.21 g month⁻¹) were found in the Chaetoceros treatment. Growth rate in the Isocrysis treatment (1.63 g month⁻¹) was also high, although glycogen content in this treatment (0.41%) was low. In the Nitzschia treatment, growth rate of the oyster (0.94 g month⁻¹) was the lowest and glycogen content (0.83%) was also low relative to that in the Chaetoceros treatment. Chlorophyll a concentration in fecal pellets was lowest in the Nitzschia treatment (<2.7 μg mg⁻¹), suggesting more complete digestion of Nitzschia by the oyster. Thus, Nitzschia was edible and digestible but not assimilated by P. fucata. We propose the following scenario for the relationship between Nitzschia dominance and mass mortality. When Nitzschia dominates in a culture area, the physiological condition of P. fucata deteriorates due to low assimilation of Nitzschia by the oyster, followed by susceptibility of the oyster to infection by agents lethal to the oyster.     

玉米秸秆分解过程中细菌群落组成演化特征

【目的】土壤中存在着大量的分解秸秆的微生物。研究秸秆分解过程中细菌群落组成的演化规律,对了解和调控农田微生物群体组成以促进秸秆分解具有重要意义。【方法】试验于2014年10月至2015年10月在河南省农业科学院原阳试验基地进行,将成熟期玉米秸秆(茎和叶)烘干,剪成长1~2 cm、宽0.3~1 cm的碎片,称12 g样品(相当于8 t/hm^2)装入15 cm×10 cm的尼龙网包(孔径0.04 mm)内,于10月5日冬小麦出苗后埋置在小麦垄间。分别于埋置后0、1、2、4、7、10和12个月收集秸秆包和土壤样品。测定秸秆样品干物质量和碳氮含量,选择埋置了0、2、4、7和12个月的秸秆及其土壤样品分析细菌丰度及群落组成。【结果】秸秆埋入土壤后的前2个月内分解最快,然后逐步减慢,在1、2、4、7、10和12个月后分别降解了总生物量的19.2%、32.9%、44.2%、52.2%、66.8%和73.8%。秸秆埋入土壤后,秸秆和土壤中细菌丰度均显著增加,分别于第4和7个月达到最高后开始下降。秸秆细菌的丰度指标OTUs、ACE、Chao1和多样性指标Shannon随试验时间的延长逐步增加,而Simpson指数随试验时间延长逐步降低,而土壤中这些指标在试验过程中没有显著变化。与刚埋置秸秆时相比,埋置2个月后的秸秆细菌Bacteroidetes门相对丰度明显增加,主导细菌群为Bacteroidetes和Proteobacteria门。Actinobacteria丰度在埋置2个月后明显降低,然后又随试验时间延长逐步增加。Planctomycetes、Saccharibacteria、Verrucomicrobia、Acidobacteria、Chloroflexi和Gemmatimonadetes丰度在原始秸秆中较低,埋入土壤后随试验时间延长逐步增加。Sphingobacteriia、Gammaproteobacteria、Alphaproteobacteria和Flavobacteriia主导前期细菌纲组成,而Actinobacteria、Anaerolineae和Bacilli纲丰度在后期逐步增加。秸秆分解速率主要受其碳含量影响,秸秆细菌群落组成前期与秸秆碳含量相关,后期与秸秆氮含量相关。随着试验的进展,秸秆细菌群落组成与土壤中的细菌群落组成趋同。【结论】秸秆埋入土壤后前2个月的分解速率最高,随后逐步降低。秸秆分解前期细菌群落由富营养型组分Bacteroidetes和Proteobacteria门和Sphingobacteriia、Gammaproteobacteria、Flavobacteriia和Alphaproteobacteria纲主导,随后被逐步增加的贫营养型组分Actinobacteria、Acidobacteria、Chloroflexi、Saccharibacteria门和Deltaproteobacteria、Actinobacteria纲等代替。秸秆碳氮含量变化是影响秸秆分解及其过程中细菌群落演化的主要原因。     

县级测土配方施肥指标体系建立研究—以江苏省江都市水稻为例

以江苏省江都市水稻为例,基于地力差减法预测氮肥用量、 养分丰缺指标法预测磷钾肥用量,构建县域测土配方施肥指标体系,研究分析20052011年测土配方施肥田间试验示范。结果表明,当种植水稻预测目标产量为6825~9270 kg/hm2（平均为8145 kg/hm2）,氮肥推荐用量为146.42~57.4 kg/hm2（平均为207.5~ kg/hm2）。磷钾肥施用标准: 当有效磷含量高于21 mg/kg,不推荐施用磷肥;当有效磷含量在17~21 mg/kg时,推荐施磷（P2O5）量为40.5 kg/hm2;当有效磷含量在10~17 mg/kg时,推荐施磷（P2O5）量为 48 kg/hm2;当有效磷含量低于10 mg/kg 时,推荐施磷（P2O5）量为64.5 kg/hm2。当速效钾含量高于140 mg/kg,不推荐施用钾肥;当速效钾含量在115~140 mg/kg时,推荐施钾（K2O）量为 22.5 kg/hm2;当速效钾含量在60~115 mg/kg时,推荐施钾（K2O）量为40.5 kg/hm2;当速效钾含量低于60 mg/kg 时,推荐施钾（K2O）量为 82.5 kg/hm2。同时对施肥指标体系建立进行校验分析,结果表明基于试验建立施肥指标体系是可行的,从而为构建县域测土配方施肥指标体系提供了方法,达到因土施肥的目的。     

C and N natural abundance of the soil microbial biomass

Stable isotope analysis is a powerful tool in the study of soil organic matter formation. It is often observed that more decomposed soil organic matter is ¹³C, and especially ¹⁵N-enriched relative to fresh litter and recent organic matter. We investigated whether this shift in isotope composition relates to the isotope composition of the microbial biomass, an important source for soil organic matter. We developed a new approach to determine the natural abundance C and N isotope composition of the microbial biomass across a broad range of soil types, vegetation, and climates. We found consistently that the soil microbial biomass was ¹⁵N-enriched relative to the total (3.2 ‰) and extractable N pools (3.7 ‰), and ¹³C-enriched relative to the extractable C pool (2.5 ‰). The microbial biomass was also ¹³C-enriched relative to total C for soils that exhibited a C3-plant signature (1.6 ‰), but ¹³C-depleted for soils with a C4 signature (−1.1 ‰). The latter was probably associated with an increase of annual C3 forbs in C4 grasslands after an extreme drought. These findings are in agreement with the proposed contribution of microbial products to the stabilized soil organic matter and may help explain the shift in isotope composition during soil organic matter formation.     

Correlation between earthworms and plant litter decomposition in a tropical wet forest of Puerto Rico

Earthworms are recognized to play an important role in the decomposition of organic materials. To test the use of earthworms as an indicator of plant litter decomposition, we examined the abundance and biomass of earthworms in relation to plant litter decomposition in a tropical wet forest of Puerto Rico. We collected earthworms at 0–0.1 m and 0.1–0.25 m soil depths from upland and riparian sites that represent the natural variation in soils and decomposition rates within the forest. Earthworms were hand-sorted and weighed for both fresh and dry biomass. Earthworms were dominated by the exotic endogeic species Pontoscolex corethrurus Müller; they were more abundant, and had higher biomasses in the upland than in riparian sites of the forest. Plant leaf litter decomposed faster in the upland than riparian sites. We found that earthworm abundance in the upper 0.1 m of the soil profile positively correlated with decomposition rate of plant leaf litter. Ground litter removal had no effect on the abundance or biomass of endogeic earthworms. Our data suggest that earthworms can be used to predict decomposition rates of plant litter in the tropical wet forest, and that the decomposition of aboveground plant litter has little influence on the abundance and biomass of endogeic earthworms.     

断奶前后仔猪十二指肠、空肠和回肠SGLT1 mRNA表达的变化及半胱胺的影响

研究断奶前后仔猪十二指肠、空肠和回肠SGLT1mRNA表达丰度的变化,并同时观察半胱胺对其表达的影响,从分子水平探讨半胱胺对断奶仔猪葡萄糖吸收的影响与可能的机制。新生仔猪随机分为对照组和实验组,12日龄(D12)起对照组饲喂基础乳猪料,实验组在基础乳猪料中添加120mg/kg半胱胺,两组仔猪均于35日龄断奶,每组分别于断奶前1周、断奶当天、断奶后3d、1周以及断奶后10d随机选取仔猪各6头,宰杀后采集十二指肠、空肠和回肠粘膜,采用RT-PCR方法测定钠-葡萄糖共转运载体1(sodium-glucosecotransporter1,SGLT1)mRNA表达的相对丰度。结果表明,回肠SGLT1mRNA的表达量最高,空肠其次,十二指肠最低;SGLT1mRNA在不同肠段的表达呈现截然不同的发育模式,十二指肠SGLT1mRNA表达量在45d显著上升(P<0.05),而空肠则在42和45d时显著下降(P<0.01),回肠SGLT1mRNA表达在整个实验期间无显著变化;此外,日粮添加半胱胺显著提高38d十二指肠以及42和45d空肠SGLT1mRNA表达,而对回肠SGLT1mRNA表达无显著影响。小肠SGLT1mRNA表达以及日粮添加半胱胺促进SGLT1mRNA表达的作用均呈现时空特异性规律。