Spermatocrit and spermatozoa density in Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua): correlation and variation during the spawning season

The utility of spermatocrit (the proportion of solid packed material in semen after centrifugation) as an indicator of spermatozoa density and male spawning stage was tested in Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua). Semen was collected from captive male cod over three spawning seasons. Spermatocrit was positively and significantly correlated with spermatozoa density measured with a Coulter counter (Multisizer), but not with spermatozoa counts in a haemacytometer. Spermatocrit increased significantly as the spawning season progressed. However, day of season explained only 35% of the variation because spermatocrit varied among individual males. Spermatozoa size remained unchanged throughout the sampling period and was not correlated with spermatocrit, indicating that variation in spermatocrit was due to variation in spermatozoa number and not their size. Spermatocrit is a good estimator of sperm density but is not reliable as indicator of spawning stage because of the variation among individual males.     

Growth testing of two breeds of common carp, Cyprinus carpio L. (Hungarian mirror and Třeboň scaly carp), in ponds with low and high stocking density

The growth of two breeds of common carp, Cyprinus carpio L., was tested in ponds under the climatic conditions of South Bohemia. T?eboň scaly carp (TR) and Hungarian mirror carp (M2) were kept in both low and high stocking densities during the second growing season and then stocked together for communal testing during the third growing season. Before the communal testing, the mean initial weights of fish from low‐ and high‐density stocks differed significantly (374.1 vs. 227.7 g for the TR breed and 766.7 vs. 317.3 g for the M2 breed respectively, P<0.01). After communal testing, mean weights of fish from low‐ and high‐density stocks gained 761.8 vs. 543.8 g for the TR breed and 1339.7 vs. 706.7 g for the M2 breed respectively. These observed weights were also significantly different (P<0.01). However, the test of corrected weight gain, i.e. gain not related to the initial weight of fish, revealed insignificant differences (P>0.01) between the weight gains after correction, i.e. the effect of different initial weights was successfully eliminated. These results seem to confirm the applicability of this method for the assessment of growth of purebred common carp under the climatic conditions of Central European fish farms.     

Effects of density on growth and survival of juvenile Red Swamp Crayfish, Procambarus clarkii (Girard), reared under laboratory conditions

The aim of this study was to quantify the importance of population density on the growth and survival of juvenile red swamp crayfish, Procambarus clarkii (Girard), and to understand the effects of density on both the period between moults and the increment per moult at high densities without food limitation. A laboratory experiment was performed to determine growth and survival of juvenile crayfish at five densities (20, 40, 60, 80 and 100 crayfish m^?2). Density clearly affected crayfish growth. The impact of density on final weight was higher than on total length increase, growth rate and final length (FL) (by decreasing order of effect). When comparing minimum and maximum densities, we observed that FL suffered a 34% reduction. Number of moults, mean intermoult period (IP) and survival were not significantly affected by density. Our results indicated that the IP and the percentage of increment per moult are affected by the size of crayfish before moult and we provide equations for these relations. Our findings are relevant both for crayfish aquaculture management and for the management of wild or harvested rice‐field crayfish populations.     

土壤容重对海涂垦区粉砂土水分垂直入渗特征的影响研究

为探明土壤容重变异对海涂围垦区粉砂土水分入渗性能及变化过程的影响,该文通过室内土柱一维垂直入渗试验,比较分析了围垦区粉砂土和南京菜地黄棕壤不同容重下土壤水分入渗率、累积入渗量及湿润锋等的动态变化。结果表明容重对2种试验土壤入渗过程有较大影响,表征土壤入渗能力的稳定入渗速率、累积入渗量和湿润锋深度均随容重增大递减,呈显著负相关关系。模拟2种土壤入渗过程的考斯加科夫模型中,表征初始入渗速率的参数K值随容重增大递减,而表征入渗能力衰减速度的参数α随容重增大未表现出显著差异。简略的Philip入渗方程的幂级数解可以很好地拟合2种土壤湿润锋深度随时间变化过程,拟合的参数λ和x变化规律表明随着容重的增大,基质势梯度、重力作用都呈逐渐减弱的趋势。采用一维代数模型可以较好的模拟粉砂土入渗剖面含水率分布规律,土壤容重越高,模型的理论值越准确。     

Increasing the stocking density in Paracentrotus lividus larviculture: Effects on survival and metamorphosis rates

The development of sustainable methods for sea urchin juvenile production is currently constrained by high mortality rates during larval growth and the high costs of larval rearing systems management. With the aim of developing a method for the production of juveniles of the purple sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus in a medium‐scale recirculating system, the present study focused on the effects of high stocking densities on larval growth. Plutei larvae were reared at three different densities (up to 7 ind/ml) in a semi‐static culture system. Larval survival and metamorphosis success were evaluated in order to identify the most effective density range. The highest metamorphosis rates (80%–95%) were obtained at 4 and 7 larvae/ml. These results are comparable with (and in some cases higher than) those reported for the same species at much lower larval densities. In conclusion, the rearing conditions tested here show for the first time that a significantly higher (4 ind/ml) stocking density than those of traditional P. lividus rearing methods (based on large volumes and low densities) can be adopted, thus supporting the feasibility of an increase in the final output of competent larvae with no increase in rearing volumes.     

Condition assessment of lamprey populations in the Yorkshire Ouse catchment,north‐east England,and the potential influence of physical migration barriers

• 1. River lamprey (Lampetra fluviatilis) and sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) are designated features of the River Derwent Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and the Humber Estuary (a possible SAC). This study determined the condition of lamprey populations in the Yorkshire Ouse catchment by assessing the species composition, distribution, abundance and size‐structure of larval (ammocoete) populations in five major tributary rivers (Derwent, Swale, Ure, Nidd and Wharfe).
• 2. According to EU condition assessment criteria, Lampetra populations (assumed to be mostly river lamprey) are at present in favourable condition, with site mean (±SE) densities ranging from 2.7 (±1.2) to 160.3 (±50.5) individuals m^?2 (all river means >2 individuals m^?2), and at least two size (≈age) classes present in optimal microhabitats. By contrast, no sea lamprey larvae were recorded, suggesting that populations of this species are in unfavourable condition.
• 3. Actions to protect and enhance nationally or internationally important stocks must be implemented from at least a catchment perspective, because many of the issues affecting such species are not localized. With respect to lampreys, particular attention should be given to protecting spawning and nursery habitats, improving water quality, reducing impingement at abstraction points, preventing exploitation at spawning grounds and increasing passage at potential physical obstructions.

Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

玉米秸秆不同还田方式对黑钙土物理性质和产量的影响

为提高东北玉米集约化生产区秸秆资源利用和培肥土壤,采用大区对比试验,设置常规栽培(对照)、秸秆覆盖还田、秸秆粉碎旋耕还田和秸秆翻埋还田,采用常规方法探索半干旱地区玉米秸秆对土壤物理性质及产量的影响。结果表明:常规栽培方式(对照)土壤容重最大,为1.38g·cm~(-3),其次为覆盖还田、翻埋还田和旋耕还田,与对照相比分别降低了3.00%、8.06%和7.46%。0~20cm土层,吐丝期翻埋还田处理土壤含水量分别比常规栽培、覆盖还田、旋耕还田高12.20%、7.35%和16.30%;成熟期翻埋还田土壤含水量分别比常规栽培、覆盖还田和旋耕还田高18.52%、17.64%和22.63%。20~40cm土层,吐丝期翻埋还田土壤含水量分别比常规栽培、覆盖还田和旋耕还田高14.90%、13.73%和15.82%;成熟期翻埋还田土壤含水量分别比常规栽培、覆盖还田和旋耕还田高14.98%、14.66%和17.82%。覆盖还田处理的行粒数最大,其它还田方式略低。不同方式秸秆还田各处理间玉米产量存在一定差异,其年平均产量最高为秸秆翻埋还田,较对照提高9.6%。     

Soil physical quality of a Brazilian Oxisol under two tillage systems using the least limiting water range approach

Plant growth is directly affected by soil water, soil aeration, and soil resistance to root penetration. The least limiting water range (LLWR) is defined as the range in soil water content within which limitations to plant growth associated with water potential, aeration and soil resistance to root penetration are minimal. The LLWR has not been evaluated in tropical soils. Thus, the objective of the present study was to evaluate the LLWR in a Brazilian clay Oxisol (Typic Hapludox) cropped with maize (Zea mays L. cv. Cargil 701) under no-tillage and conventional tillage. Ninety-six undisturbed soil samples were obtained from maize rows and between rows and used to determine the water retention curve, the soil resistance curve and bulk density. The results demonstrated that LLWR was higher in conventional tillage than in no-tillage and was negatively correlated with bulk density for values above 1.02 g cm⁻³. The range of LLWR variation was 0–0.1184 cm³ cm⁻³ in both systems, with mean values of 0.0785 cm³ cm⁻³ for no-tillage and 0.0964 cm³ cm⁻³ for conventional tillage. Soil resistance to root penetration determined the lower limit of LLWR in 89% of the samples in no-tillage and in 46% of the samples in conventional tillage. Additional evaluations of LLWR are needed under different texture and management conditions in tropical soils.     

Decreasing shrimp (Pandalus borealis) sizes off Newfoundland and Labrador – environment or fishing?

During the 1990s, carapace length statistics including minimum size caught (L_min), mean male and female lengths, size at sex transition (L₅₀) and maximum size (L_max) of northern shrimp (Pandalus borealis) decreased in commercial and survey catches off Newfoundland and Labrador. Decreased growth rates caused by decreases in per‐capita food availability due to large population increases, exacerbated by increased metabolic demands from higher water temperatures in the mid‐1990s, appear to be the main cause of the size decrease. Fishing could have had an accelerating effect on environmentally driven decreases in shrimp growth and size by ‘cropping’ the largest shrimp from the population. The greatest decreases in shrimp size occurred in Hudson Strait and the adjacent northern shelf, the area which also has the highest densities and largest shrimp. We hypothesize that the greater size decrease here resulted from decreased primary production from decreased nutrient flux into the euphotic zone, caused by increased atmospheric warming, freshwater runoff and stratification during the warming trend of the 1990s.     

The larval rearing of the marine ornamental crab, Mithraculus forceps (A. Milne Edwards, 1875) (Decapoda: Brachyura: Majidae)

The goal of this study is to develop a larviculture protocol for Mithraculus forceps, a popular marine aquarium species. Different temperatures (25±0.5°C and 28±0.5°C), stocking densities (10, 20, 40 and 80 larvae L^?1), prey densities (newly hatched Artemia of 1, 4, 7 and 12 nauplii mL^?1) and metamorphosis to crab conditions (Systems A and B) were tested. The best survivorship and faster development were obtained when the larvae were reared at a density of 40 larvae L^?1 for 7 days post hatching (DPH) in System A, at 28°C and fed with 7 mL^?1 of newly hatched Artemia nauplii. After 7 DPH all the megalopa were moved to System B and the same temperature and prey density were maintained. At the end of the experiment, 12 DPH, survivorship of 74.1±4.8% was obtained.