Microbial communities in various waters used for fish larval rearing

A major concern in larvae production is a mass mortality caused by fish diseases. In larvae production, pumped‐up natural seawater filtered through a sand filter system is used for fish rearing, and microalgae and rotifer cultures. Here, we investigated the community structures of eukaryotic microbes, as well as total bacteria and vibrios, in various processed ‘waters’ used in a larvae production site. We observed that ultraviolet irradiation of seawater was effective to reduce not only total bacteria and vibrios but also eukaryotic microbes. Moreover, the community structures of total bacteria and vibrios in rearing waters for fish larvae were different from those in rotifer cultures fed with Chlorella, but rather similar to those in natural seawater and microalgae cultures. These results suggest that the bacterial community in rearing waters may originate mainly from natural seawater and then be selected by microalgae in rearing water. Overall, this study provides useful information for avoiding the risk of fish disease outbreaks in a larvae production site.     

2003年夏季东海区带鱼资源状况及其秋冬汛渔况的分析

根据东海区渔业资源动态监测网调查资料,对2003年伏季休渔期间的带鱼资源状况进行了分析,并展望了秋冬汛带鱼生产前景。结果表明,2003年伏季休渔前期(6月),东海区带鱼资源重量密度、资源尾数密度及发生量均比常年偏低、产卵期个体重量较常年偏大,亲鱼量属低水平年份;伏季休渔中期(7月、8月),带鱼的产卵群体比例下降,个体平均肛长偏小。同时,海区的水温较2002年偏低,不利于带鱼生长和发育。预计伏季休渔结束后,渔获状况不容乐观,秋冬汛生产前景将差于2002年。     

基于启发式Johnson算法优化BP神经网络的水产养殖产量预测模型

针对水产养殖产量预测难的现状,提出一种基于启发式Johnson算法优化的反向传播神经网络(BPNN)的产量预测模型。该模型在传统BP神经网络的基础上,针对网络训练时间长、易陷入局部最优的问题,通过启发式Johnson算法降低输入神经元维度,再结合试凑法确定神经网络隐层个数,构建启发式Johnson反向传播神经网络(HJA-BPNN)学习预测模型。实验结果表明,该模型在山东省对虾海水养殖产量预测中,预测的均方根误差小于传统BP神经网络和GM(1,1),且学习效率相比传统BP神经网络有所提升。研究表明,该学习预测模型在大量历史数据的模型构造上有更大的优势,能够缩短建模时间,同时获得良好的预测效果,为水产养殖产量预测提供了一种可行的新方法。     

Technical efficiency of carp production in Nepal: An application of stochastic frontier production function approach*

Abstract

Modern aquaculture is a relatively new activity among Nepalese farmers and a small contributor to the economy. Given the abundance of water resources and fish species, rising demand for fish, and its high profitability, aquaculture has potential for future expansion if it is given appropriate attention from the government. In Nepal, productivity in aquaculture is much lower compared to other countries in the region, which suggests that there is potential for increased fish production through technological progress and improvement in farm‐level technical efficiency. However, no formal analysis has yet been conducted to assess the productive performance of Nepalese aquaculture and its potential for future improvement. Against this background, this paper examines the technical efficiency and its determinants for a sample of fish pond farms from the Tarai region of the country using a stochastic production frontier involving a model for technical inefficiency effects. The estimated mean technical efficiency is 77%, with intensive farms being more efficient than extensive farms. The adoption of regular fish, water, and feed management activities has a strong positive effect on technical efficiency.     

A review of production frontier analysis for aquaculture management

Abstract

This paper examines recent advances in production economics with special reference to efficiency measurement using production frontiers and its implications for aquaculture management. Compared with agriculture and other industries, the use of production frontiers in aquaculture is still very limited. However, in recent years several frontier applications in aquaculture have appeared in the literature, suggesting potential applications of these techniques in aquaculture. A synopsis of stochastic frontier production function model and data envelopment analysis (DEA), the two most popular approaches to efficiency measurement, is presented, followed by a review of recent frontier studies in shrimp, carp and tilapia production. The paper concludes with a brief discussion of future development and prospects of frontier applications for aquaculture management.     

四明湖水库浮游生物现状调查及评价

2006-2007年分4次对余姚四明湖水库水质理化指标、浮游生物群落结构进行了调查,并进行了多样性指数分析及渔产潜力估算。结果表明,四明湖水库浮游植物种类共计8门、47种（属）,其中以绿藻为最优势类群,占总密度的36.2%;浮游动物共计3大类、30种,其中原生动占40%;浮游植物年均生物量为10.20mg/L,浮游动物年均生物量2.36mg/L。从水体理化指标数据来看,四明湖水库水质属于II～IV类;从浮游植物群落结构和多样性指数分析结果来看,水库属于富营养水平;根据相关公式估算四明湖水库的鱼产潜力为20     

湘中农区壶天山羊的生产性能及生态养殖技术研究

通过采用测定200只壶天山羊的体尺体重,统计66胎产仔情况、屠宰6只成年羊,将8只成年杂交羊(壶天羊×马头羊)和50只成年壶天羊作对比等办法,从而真实系统地总结了该山羊的各项生产性能.对以"七化四结合"为主要内容的山羊生态养殖关键技术进行了研究,提出了"羊→沼→稻(菜或草)"生产模式和"企业 农户"的经营模式.     

Heritability and genetic correlation estimates of semen production traits with litter traits and pork production traits in purebred Duroc pigs

We estimated heritabilities of semen production traits and their genetic correlations with litter traits and pork production traits in purebred Duroc pigs. Semen production traits were semen volume, sperm concentration, proportion of morphologically normal sperms, total number of sperm, and total number of morphologically normal sperm. Litter traits at farrowing were total number born, number born alive, number stillborn, total litter weight at birth, mean litter weight at birth, and piglet survival rate at birth. Litter traits at weaning were litter size at weaning, total litter weight at weaning, mean litter weight at weaning, and piglet survival rate from birth to weaning. Pork production traits were average daily gain, backfat thickness, and loin muscle area. We analyzed 45,913 semen collection records of 896 boars, 6,950 farrowing performance records of 1,400 sows, 2,237 weaning performance records of 586 sows, and individual growth performance records of 9,550 animals measured at approximately 5 mo of age. Heritabilities were estimated using a single-trait animal model. Genetic correlations were estimated using a 2-trait animal model. Estimated heritabilities of semen production traits ranged from 0.20 for sperm concentration to 0.29 for semen volume and were equal to or higher than those of litter traits, ranging from 0.06 for number stillborn and piglet survival rate at birth to 0.25 for mean litter weight at birth, but lower than those of pork production traits, ranging from 0.50 for average daily gain to 0.63 for backfat thickness. In many cases, the absolute values of estimated genetic correlations between semen production traits and other traits were smaller than 0.3. These estimated genetic parameters provide useful information for establishing a comprehensive pig breeding scheme.     

The effects of temperature and photoperiod on egg hatching success,egg production and population growth of the calanoid copepod,Acartia grani (Calanoida: Acartiidae)

Calanoid copepods, including species of the genus Acartia, are commonly used as larval diets for marine finfish. This study aimed to determine the separate effects of water temperature (18, 22, 24, 28° ± 0.5°C) and photoperiod (24L:0D; 18L:6D; 12L:12D; 8L:18D; 0L:24D) on Acartia grani egg production (EP), hatching rate (EHR) and population growth. Egg production rate was not affected by the two abiotic parameters. A. grani eggs incubated at T24°C and T28°C were the first to achieve 50% hatching rate (23–25 hr), with significant differences at the end of the experiment (48 hr) between T28°C treatment (EHR 88 ± 5%) and T18°C treatment (EHR 65 ± 2%). However, different temperature regimes did not affect final number of individuals in population growth experiment. Still, when eggs were excluded from data, population at lower temperatures (18°C) was mainly composed by the nauplii stage (72%), while at higher temperatures (24°C and 28°C) more than 60% of the population was composed by copepodites and adults. A. grani subjected to long‐day photoperiods had significantly lower EHR (16.7% at 24L:0D; 20.8% at 18L:6D) than at short‐day photoperiods (52.6% at 6L:18D; 50.0% at 0L:24D). In population growth experiment, eggs were the most common life stage after 12‐day culture. Lowest population number was found at constant light conditions (665.0 ± 197.1), suggesting higher metabolic rates and depletion of energy reserves in long‐day conditions. This study expanded knowledge on the biological response of A. grani to separate temperature and photoperiod regimes, and provided ground to improve the culture of this potential life feed species for hatcheries.     

Application of Azotobacter enhances pond productivity and fish biomass in still water ponds

Two strains (derepressed-nitrogen fixing, Mac-27 and phosphate solubilizing, PS-21) of Azotobacter chroococcum were inoculated in fish culture ponds, singly and in combination with inorganic fertilizers (urea, single superphosphate–SSP). Physico-chemical parameters of pond waters, plankton production and fish biomass were studied. Inoculation of A. chroococcum (Mac-27) enhanced nitrogenase activity and rate of nitrogen fixation. A slight reduction in nitrogen fixation and nitrogenase activity was noticed when urea at 96 kg ha–1 y–1 was mixed with the biofertilizer (Mac-27). Inoculation of PS-21 enhanced phosphate solubilization, but Kjeldahl-nitrogen concentration values remained low in comparison with controls. On the other hand, inoculation of Azotobacter (either strain) enhanced the accumulation of ammonium-N, nitrite-N and nitrate-N. A significant (p < 0.05) reduction in dissolved oxygen (DO) concentration also took place when Azotobacter (both Mac-27 and PS-21) was inoculated in fish ponds. However, when used along with inorganic fertilizers, the reduction was not significant. The pH values were only slightly lowered when the phosphate-solubilizing strain (PS-21) of Azotobacter was inoculated. Inoculation of biofertilizer enhanced plankton production, net primary productivity and fish biomass. However, highest values in most of these parameters were noticed only in ponds that were treated with the higher doses of inorganic fertilizers (urea 192 kg and SSP 1500 kg ha–1 y–1). © Rapid Science Ltd. 1998