Maturity and reproduction of goneplacid crab <Emphasis Type="Italic">Carcinoplax vestita</Emphasis> (Decapoda,Brachyura) in Tokyo Bay

ABSTRACT:     Sexual maturity, morphological sexual dimorphism, and reproduction of the goneplacid crab Carcinoplax vestita were investigated in Tokyo Bay, Japan, from November 2002 to October 2003. The puberty molt in males was evidenced by changes in the relative size of the chelipeds and merus of the walking legs, and was estimated to occur at a size range of 13.20–18.85 mm carapace length. Post-pubertal females were identified by the relative size of the abdomen and puberty was estimated to occur at a size range of 12.81–15.46 mm carapace length. Sexual dimorphism in C. vestita was observed in all features that showed secondary sexual characteristics. Monthly changes of gonad index in males, and of seminal receptacle index and occurrence of sperm plugs in females were synchronized, and indicated that mating was intense in spring. Ovaries began developing in March. Ovigerous females were found in all months except December, but were clearly more abundant between August and October. Fecundity ranged from 7800 to 57 000 mature oocytes per female per batch and was highly correlated with body size. The results suggest that some females may spawn more than one batch per year.     

Mode of resistance to respiration inhibitors at the cytochrome bc1 enzyme complex of Mycosphaerella fijiensis field isolates

Field isolates of Mycosphaerella fijiensis, causing black Sigatoka of banana, were characterised for their sensitivity to different inhibitors of the cytochrome bc₁ enzyme complex (Qo respiration inhibitors, strobilurin fungicides), using physiological, biochemical and molecular genetic methods. Strobilurin‐resistant isolates exhibited very high resistance factors both in mycelial growth inhibition and NADH consumption assays. Cross‐resistance was observed among all Qo inhibitors, including trifloxystrobin, azoxystrobin, famoxadone, strobilurin B and myxothiazol. However, the Qi and the cytochrome aa₃ inhibitors, antimycin A and potassium cyanide, respectively, were not cross‐resistant to Qo inhibitors. In sensitive but not in resistant isolates, mixtures of Qo inhibitors and SHAM, an inhibitor of the alternative oxidase (AOX), were more active than the components alone, indicating that the alternative pathway is essential in metabolism, but not causal for resistance. In the cell‐free NADH‐consumption assay, the Qo inhibitors affected the sensitive but not the resistant isolates, suggesting that AOX was not active in sub‐mitochondrial particles. In whole cells, however, the AOX has a basic expression level and is probably not inducible by trifloxystrobin. Sequencing of the cytochrome b gene of sensitive and resistant M fijiensis isolates revealed a difference in the nucleotide sequence leading to a single amino acid change from glycine to alanine at position 143 in the resistant isolate. This change is known to occur also in the naturally tolerant basidiomycete Mycena galopoda. It is suggested that the field isolates of M fijiensis can acquire resistance to Qo inhibitors due to a target site alteration with a single base pair change. Resistant isolates do not seem to contain a mixture of mutated and non‐mutated DNA, indicating a complete selection of resistant mitochondria and a maternally donated mode of resistance. © 2000 Society of Chemical Industry     

Growth performance,nutrient digestibility and intestinal morphology of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) fed graded levels of the yeasts Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Wickerhamomyces anomalus

In a 10‐week study, we evaluated the effects of replacing 20%, 40% or 60% of fishmeal (present in control diet at 300 g/kg) on a digestible protein basis with yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae or a yeast mixture of Wickerhamomyces anomalus and S. cerevisiae on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, nutrient retention and intestinal health of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Triplicate tanks with 35 rainbow trout (144.7 ± 25.1 g mean ± SEM) were fed rations of 1.5% of total biomass per tank. Replacement of 60% of fishmeal with yeast mixture resulted in lower specific growth rate of 1.0% versus 1.2%/day for other diets. Apparent digestibility coefficients for crude protein and most amino acids were highest in fish fed fishmeal‐based diet, with similar values for fish fed the diet with 20% replacement with yeast mixture. Diet with 20% replacement with yeast mixture resulted in highest phosphorus digestibility. Replacement of 60% of fishmeal with S. cerevisiae resulted in oedematous mucosal fold tips in the proximal intestine. The results of this study suggest that these yeasts can replace up to 40% of fishmeal under current inclusion levels in diets for rainbow trout without compromising growth performance, nutrient digestibility or intestinal health.     

Evaluation of ingredient combinations from differing origins (fishmeal,terrestrial animal and plants) and two different formulated nutrient targets on rainbow trout growth and production efficiency

A 12‐week trial was performed with rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) utilizing combinations of ingredients at two nutrient targets. Ingredient combinations were fishmeal‐based diet (FMD), animal product‐based diet (APD), plant product‐based diet (PPD), novel plant‐based diet (NPD) and potential future plant‐based diet (FPD). Two nutrient concentrations were targeted: 1) to meet published amino acid targets for rainbow trout utilizing approximately 450 g/kg crude protein (400–420 g/kg digestible protein) and 2) to meet the amino acid targets based on ideal amino acid balance of trout muscle for Lys, Met and Thr utilizing approximately 400 g/kg crude protein (370–380 g/kg digestible protein). Interactive effects between ingredient combination and nutrient concentration occurred across all response variables. When diets were formulated to Target 1, fish consuming FMD and APD displayed better weight gain and feed conversion ratio (FCR) than plant‐based diet, while graded effects were found within the plant‐based treatments. When differing ingredient combinations were utilized and formulated to Target 2, fish grew equally well except for the NPD treatment which supported lower growth and higher FCR. Based on the data from the current experiment, one can completely remove fishmeal from trout feeds and reduce protein levels when dietary digestible amino acids are balanced.     

Alternative matrices for cortisol measurement in fish

Plasma cortisol is the most commonly used indicator of stress in fish but, as the blood sampling procedure itself can be a source of stress, it would be helpful to measure cortisol using less invasive matrices. It is also necessary to find alternative matrices as stress indicators in dead fish in which blood sampling is impossible. In the present study, we investigated transport stress in three aquaculture species, European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax L.), common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) and rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss Walbaum), by cortisol determination (radioimmunoassay) in plasma and other matrices (skin mucus, gut content, lateral muscle and caudal fin). Cortisol significantly increased after transport in all species and matrices, except in the sea bass gut content, where it remained unchanged. The three species responded to transport stress by producing different cortisol levels. In conclusion, the significant correlation found between plasma cortisol and most of the other matrices opens up the possibility of using them to evaluate stress in fish: mucus sampling is a less invasive method than blood sampling, and in addition to muscle and fin sampling, it can be used in postmortem fish.     

工程造价对小型水电站方案选择的影响

为了克服工程造价对小型水电站方案选择的不良影响，通过对永安市溪南水电站方案比较选择的分析，说明工程造价对非国有资金投资的小型水电站在方案选择时的不良影响，并提出相应措施，希望能够更好地实现充分利用水能资源，鼓励投资建设有调节性能的小水电站。     

基于黄河泥沙充填复垦采煤沉陷地覆土材料的优选

黄河泥沙充填复垦采煤沉陷地需要覆盖足够厚度的土壤以保证农作物生长,针对济宁市部分采煤沉陷地可取土量不足问题,该文提出利用当地表土、心土和黄河泥沙组配作为覆土材料研究,以达到增加覆盖土壤厚度和改良当地土壤质地的目的。研究表明,覆土材料有利于玉米生长发育,表土、心土和黄河泥沙组配(质量比)为1:1:1.33~1:1:2的覆土材料玉米苗期生物量显著高于对照土壤;组配为1:1:0.86~1:1:2的覆土材料质地为壤土,是较为理想的土壤类型;组配为1:1:0.86~1:1:2的覆土材料容重为1.38~1.41g/cm3,密度为2.64~2.68g/cm3,较为适宜农作物生长。覆土材料可以显著降低当地土壤p H值和电导率,对农作物不产生盐害作用;其入渗性能提升,增加了土壤储水能力,组配为1:1:0.86~1:1:2的覆土材料入渗能力接近多年耕种农田;其水分特征曲线左移,毛管孔隙度、有效水孔隙度和水分常数基本呈现下降趋势,持水和供水能力下降。根据尽量增加黄河泥沙充填层上覆土材料厚度原则,优选出表土、心土和黄河泥沙组配为1:1:2的覆土材料作为黄河泥沙充填复垦采煤沉陷地的覆土材料,可在大田试验中进行进一步的验证。     

自然养蜂管理与蜂产品质量管理的探讨Ⅱ 蜂产品的品质管理与附加价值

 在前文已指出了现代养蜂业存在的问题。一方面,蜂群生产负担过重,造成蜂产品的质量下降。为了解决这个问题,提出根据蜜蜂本身具备的生物学能力,必须恢复自然养蜂的想法。另一方面,养蜂是一种产业,因此,做好生产附加价值比较高的蜂产品是很重要的。因此本文介绍关于提高蜂王浆所具有的抗酸化作用,应用蜂王浆抗菌物质的转基因代替生产,以及作者最新的基础研究成果,提出了自然养蜂与近代科学技术的关系,以及养蜂学和养蜂产业的展望。     

河南隐孢子虫分离株的系统发生

以线粒体功能性蛋白替代氧化酶(alternative oxidase,AOX)为研究对象,对隐孢子虫(Cryptosporidium)分离株进行扩增和测序,并对测得的序列进行种系发育关系研究,以确定不同隐孢子虫分离株之间的进化关系,并以18SrRNA和HSP70基因构建的进化树作参照,评价AOX基因是否适合作隐孢子虫基因分型和进化关系分析的基因座。结果表明,在AOX序列构建的进化树上Cryptosporidum分为两大类:Cryptosporidium baileyi和C.meleagridis处于一个进化枝上,C.hominis、C.suis、C.parvum牛基因型和C.parvum鼠基因型处于另一个进化枝上。在C.parvum内,鼠基因型分离株和猪基因I型(即C.suis)分离株与牛基因型和人基因型(即C.hominis)在AOX基因序列上都存在着差异。鹌鹑源C.meleagridis分离株与禽源C.baileyi3个分离株在AOX基因序列的同源性显著高于前者与C.parvum的同源性,在进化树上C.meleagridis与C.baileyi的亲缘关系也较其与C.parvum密切。AOX基因不仅可作为隐孢子虫分离株种系发育的遗传标记,又为发现隐孢子虫新的遗传特性提供了一种途径。