Feeding ecology of fishes associated with Egeria spp. patches in a tropical reservoir, Brazil

Abstract –  This research characterised feeding ecology of fishes associated with patches of Egeria najas and Egeria densa , two submerged macrophytes, in Rosana Reservoir, Upper Paraná River basin, Brazil. Fishes were sampled using a 1 m² throw trap in patches of different macrophyte biomass and in three diel periods during a wet season. Fish diet (10 species) was primarily composed of autochthonous items (zooplankton, algae and aquatic insect larvae). Almost all intra-specific diet patterns had moderate to low levels of diet similarity, indicating a high variability in diet. Some species showed no diel patterns in feeding activity, whereas others were primarily diurnal or nocturnal. No differences in feeding activity were observed among habitats of medium and high macrophyte biomasses, and species tended to feed on the same items among these habitats. The most abundant fish species demonstrated low inter-specific diet overlap and appear not to compete for food resources. We suggest that Egeria patches are feeding grounds and shelter for small-sized fish species.     

Assessing adult Trichoptera communities of small streams: a case study from Charnwood Forest,Leicestershire, UK

1. Adult caddisflies were collected using non‐attracting Malaise traps at four sites on a small headwater stream from May to November 1990. Sites S1 and S2 were most natural and upstream of a reservoir; where S3 was located in the bypass channel, and S4, downstream. 2. The flight period for each species is recorded to provide baseline data. Flight activity patterns fall into two groupings: (a) species with a flight activity of 3–4 months, and (b) those species with a short flight period of up to 6 weeks. 3. Sixty‐one species from 15 families were collected, including the endangered Red Data Book species Tinodes pallidulus McLachlan. 4. Significant differences in community parameters are shown among all sites, many species apparently having local catchment areas. The influence of artificial habitats, the open bypass channel and adjacent reservoir, is clearly demonstrated. 5. The data illustrate the potential of using adult caddisflies in conservation assessment of small streams. Working with adults is taxonomically rigorous and they are useful bioindicators of the environmental quality of the valley floor corridor. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Analysis of exotoxins produced by atypical isolates of Aeromonas salmonicida,by enzymatic and serological methods

In this study, exotoxins produced by 62 Aeromonas salmonicida strains and the bacterium Haemophilus piscium were analysed. Enzymatic assays, zymograms and serological detection were used to monitor secretion by bacterial strains of the previously described exotoxins P1, GCAT and AsaP1 and also the extracellular P2 metallo-gelatinase and a serine caseinase, which is different from the P1 protease and has not yet been characterized. Based on the results, the strains were divided into five groups. One comprised the type strains for A. salmonicida ssp. masoucida, H. piscium and 36% of the atypical isolates, and another, a type strain for A. salmonicida ssp. smithia together with 14% of the atypical isolates. A second type strain of A. salmonicida ssp. smithia was grouped with 8% of the atypical isolates. The largest group contained the type strains for A. salmonicida ssp. achromogenes and 38% of the atypical isolates. The type strains for A. salmonicida ssp. salmonicida were in the last group with all the four typical strains and 4% of the atypical isolates. The combination of zymogram and serological detection used is recommended as the most reliable method for characterizing A. salmonicida strains according to their exotoxin secretion.     

Measuring cultured fish swimming behaviour: first results on rainbow trout using acoustic telemetry in tanks

An experiment was conducted to measure swimming activity of rainbow trout (254.0±33.7 g) held in outdoor tanks under three culture conditions with stocking density used to generate differences: 27 (Culture Density 1, CD1), 80 (CD2) and 136 kg m⁻³ (CD3). Fish were fed dry pellets at 1% of tank biomass from 9h00 to 13h00 with automatic feeders. Using acoustic telemetry, fish positions were monitored every 5 s during 48 h for nine fish (three in each treatment). Swimming behaviour was analysed in terms of trajectories: they varied between (i) holding position (high turning angles), (ii) chaotic trajectories (equal use of all turning angles) and (iii) circular swimming (average turning angle of 60°). Space utilisation differed for each culture condition: CD3 conditions induced a prolonged residence time in the central zone of the tank. Rainbow trout swimming activity patterns and levels differed depending on both day–night alternation and culture conditions. All fish reared at CD1 and one reared at CD2 were day-active. All the other fish showed high activity pattern variability and a higher swimming level was observed under CD3. These results illustrate that monitoring fish swimming activity is feasible even under high densities and provide relevant insights on fish activity which can lead to behavioural welfare indices in relation to constraints imposed by culture conditions.     

日本鳗鲡脾脏抗菌肽抗菌活性检测方法的比较

本试验旨在建立一种在日本鳗鲡脾脏抗菌肽分离纯化过程中简便、灵敏的检测其抗菌活性的方法。试验以日本鳗鲡脾脏分子质量小于10 ku的蛋白质为抗菌肽样品,选择琼脂板孔穴扩散法和微孔液体培养法2种传统方法及微量液体培养法为检测方法,比较这3种方法在抗菌肽对3种鳗鲡常见致病菌株(迟钝爱德华菌、气单胞菌、嗜水气单胞菌)抗菌活性检测中的灵敏度和优缺点。结果表明:与琼脂板孔穴扩散法及微孔液体培养法相比,微量液体培养法简便、易于观察结果,具有最高的灵敏度且样品用量最少,适合在鳗鲡脾脏抗菌肽分离纯化过程中跟踪检测抗菌活性,尤其适合分离纯化后期获得微量单一样品抗菌活性的检测。由此得出,微量液体培养法适用于检测日本鳗鲡脾脏抗菌肽的抗菌活性。     

台湾南元花园休闲农场体验活动之检视与分析

台湾南元花园休闲农场除拥有其自身之农场特色外,在经营管理上更有其独到的一面,该文以台湾南元花园休闲农场为个案研究对象,调查其农场基础资源与检视其现有之体验活动,并由调查结果中分析其现有之体验活动是否善用期农场基础资源与符合其农场经营方向,最后将研究结果提供给休闲农场业者在设计体验活动设计时之参考,以提高体验活动的经济价值。     

不同产地高良姜的有效成分分析

建立了高良姜中槲皮素、异鼠李素、高良姜素和山奈素的高效液相色谱分析方法,并对不同产地高良姜中的上述成分进行定量分析。结果表明,海南多地产的高良姜的槲皮素、异鼠李素、高良姜素和山奈素均高于广东徐闻地区,且高良姜素的含量达到了国家药典标准。     

模拟酸雨与凋落物对柳杉幼苗根际土壤酶活性的影响

为了探讨酸雨和凋落物对柳杉Cryptomeria fortunei林地土壤酶活性的影响,以柳杉幼苗根际土壤为材料,采用酸雨(pH 4.0),凋落物(500 g·m-2)和酸雨与凋落物复合等3种处理,测定了短时间(30 d)和长时间(90 d)处理后土壤氧化还原酶和水解酶活性的变化。结果表明:酸雨和凋落物处理对土壤氧化还原酶活性具有不同的影响,酸雨对土壤硝酸还原酶活性无显著影响,凋落物极显著地提高其酶活性,复合处理极显著地降低其酶活性(P<0.01);3种处理均显著提高了土壤多酚氧化酶活性(P<0.05);复合处理对土壤过氧化物酶活性无显著影响,短时间酸雨和凋落物处理均对其具有抑制作用,长时间处理具有促进作用(P<0.05);凋落物处理对土壤过氧化氢酶活性表现为抑制作用,复合处理对其具有极显著促进作用(P<0.01)。在水解酶中,短时间3种处理和长时间复合处理均对土壤脲酶活性具有极显著促进作用(P<0.01);酸雨、长时间凋落物和复合处理对土壤酸性磷酸酶活性具有显著地抑制作用(P<0.05);酸雨和凋落物处理以及长时间复合处理均使土壤蛋白酶活性降低(P<0.05);长时间酸雨处理对土壤蔗糖酶活性具有显著抑制作用,复合处理和短时间凋落物处理具有促进作用(P<0.05)。酸雨和凋落物复合处理柳杉幼苗根际土壤,显著改变了两者对土壤酶活性的影响,说明酸雨和林地凋落物长时间并存,能够缓解两者对除土壤蛋白酶外其他土壤酶活性的不利影响,有助于改善土壤条件。     

氮素形态对紫花苜蓿盛花期生长及结瘤固氮的影响

在完全营养液条件下,采用砂培法,研究了3种氮素形态配比NO3--N,NH4+-N和NO3--N∶NH4+-N为1∶1和0、105、210mg/L 3个氮素水平对紫花苜蓿盛花期生长及结瘤固氮的影响。结果表明:不同形态氮素处理下紫花苜蓿的株高、生物量、根瘤数、根瘤重、固氮酶活性和全氮含量均显著高于CK。同一氮素水平下,株高表现为NO3--N和NH4+-N混合培养下效果最好,NO3--N培养下次之,NH4+-N培养下最低;生物量、根瘤数、根瘤重、固氮酶活性和全氮含量NO3--N和NH4+-N混合培养下效果最好,NH4+-N培养下次之,NO3--N培养下最低;茎叶比则是NO3--N培养下最大,NH4+-N培养下次之,NO3--N和NH4+-N混合培养下的最低,各氮素形态处理间差异显著(P0.05)。随着氮素水平的增加,各形态配比下紫花苜蓿的株高、生物量、根瘤数、根瘤重、固氮酶活性和全氮含量呈现增加的变化趋势,茎叶比呈现减小的变化趋势。NO3--N+NH4+-N的浓度为210mg/L时,紫花苜蓿的株高、生物量、根瘤数、固氮酶活性和全氮含量取得最大值,茎叶比取得最小值,根瘤重则在NO3--N+NH4+-N的浓度为105mg/L时取得最大值,紫花苜蓿在混合态氮培养下生长最好。     

光照对中国对虾稚虾3种消化酶活力的影响

在实验室条件下研究光照(光照周期、光照强度和光色)对中国对虾(Fenneropenaeus chinensis)稚虾3种消化酶(蛋白酶、淀粉酶和脂肪酶)活力的影响。在本实验条件下,主要结果如下:(1)4种光照周期下,对虾3种消化酶的活力差异不显著(P>0.05);(2)在完全黑暗、6μmol.m-2.s-1、30μmol.m-2.s-1和110μmol.m-2.s-1光照强度下,对虾蛋白酶的活力分别为0.361 U.mg-1(protein)、0.081 U.mg-1(protein)、0.088 U.mg-1(protein)和0.273 U.mg-1(protein),完全黑暗和110μmol.m-2.s-1下的活力显著高于其他两个光照强度(P<0.05),且两者间的差异达到显著水平(P<0.05);中国对虾淀粉酶的活力分别为0.386 U.mg-1(protein)、0.095 U.mg-1(protein)、0.111 U.mg-1(protein)和0.315 U.mg-1(protein),完全黑暗和110μmol.m-2.s-1条件下的活力显著高于其他两个光照强度(P<0.05),两者间的差异亦达到显著水平(P<0.05);对虾脂肪酶的活力分别为0.147×10-2U.mg-1(protein)、0.150×10-2U.mg-1(protein)、0.170×10-2U.mg-1(protein)和0.183×10-2U.mg-1(protein),完全黑暗和110μmol.m-2.s-1条件下的活力差异达到显著水平(P<0.05);(3)不同光色下,对虾蛋白酶和淀粉酶的活力差异不显著(P>0.05),脂肪酶的活力则存在一定的差异,蓝光和黄光下,对虾脂肪酶的活力分别为0.093×10-2U.mg-1(protein)和0.107×10-2U.mg-1(protein),显著高于白光和绿光下的活力(P<0.05),但蓝光组和黄光组间的差异不显著(P>0.05)。