Biochemical Changes in Freshwater Prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii During Larval Development

Abstract.— Quantitative changes in the protein, lipid and carbohydrate were studied in the early larval stages of developing freshwater prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii reared under fed and starved conditions to understand the relative importance of these nutrients in energy metabolism of the growing larvae. Larvae obtained from several females were stocked into three 250-L tanks at a density of 30 larvae/L. The feeding regime consisted of newly hatched Artemia nauplii. Protein was always the major organic constituent followed by lipids and then carbohydrates of both fed and starved larvae. Protein levels of both fed and starved larvae increased during development, suggesting an important role in morphogenesis. The decline of lipid during the larval growth that was more rapid for starved larvae, suggests a probable utilization of lipid as the major metabolic source of energy. Carbohydrates formed less than 5 and 2.4% of the larval dry weight of fed and starved larvae, respectively, suggesting their limited role in larval metabolism.     

准噶尔盆地东南缘绿洲-荒漠交错带土壤甲螨群落结构

为了查明准噶尔盆地东南缘绿洲-荒漠交错带土壤甲螨群落特征,2011年4月、7月、9月、11月中旬对该交错带的自然林、灌木林、防护林、荒草原、耕地、菜瓜地和荒漠等7种不同生境进行调查。结果表明:该区域共捕获土壤甲螨成体3767头,28科36属43种,其中覆盖头甲螨、萨勒盖头甲螨、新疆尖棱甲螨和普通尖棱甲螨为优势种,截合若甲螨、长单翼甲螨属、白上罗甲螨大洋亚种为亚优势种,优势种和亚优势种占总数的72.45%。7种不同生境土壤甲螨群落组成和数量分布均有明显的差异(P<0.05),在自然林种类(30种)和个体数(1001头)最多,而在菜瓜地种类(9种)最少,荒漠个体数(118头)最少。不同生境土壤甲螨的个体数具有明显季节变化差异(P<0.05),秋季数量最高、冬季次之、夏季其次、春季最低。MGP分析结果表明,该交错区土壤甲螨群落均属于O型,但G群的种类明显高于M群和P群。甲螨的群落异质性高,各生境间的多样性指数(H)有一定的差异,其中防护林最高,而菜瓜地最低。生境间相似性分析表明,自然林、灌木林、防护林生境之间是中等相似(0.50～0.70),荒漠和荒草原与其他生境间为中等不相似(0.25～0.50)或极不相似(0.00～0.25)。研究表明气候、植被和土壤差异是影响土壤甲螨群落的主要因素。     

额河银鲫食性的初步研究

对额河银鲫的食性和年龄与生长关系进行了调查研究。结果表明：额河银鲫是一种杂食性鱼,它的主要食物组成是藻类、水生植物、原生动物、水生混虫、轮虫以及小鱼等。在食物成分上有性变化。在春季和夏季主要摄性食物而秋季主要摄食动物性食物。     

Amino Acid Composition of Developing Larval Freshwater Prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii

Abstract.— Amino acid profiles of freshwater prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii were determined during early larval stages (I-IX) to provide some baseline biochemical information of the growing larvae. The larvae obtained from several females were stocked into three 250-L tanks at a density of 30 larvae/L. The feeding regime consisted of newly hatched Artemia nauplii and egg custard containing 5% cod liver oil. For each developmental stage, larval samples from each experimental tank were pooled, freeze dried and after acid hydrolysis, the quantification of amino acids was done by a reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography ( N = 2). The highest represented of the total amino acids were for glutamic acid and phenylalanine (with cystine) with ranges from 13.4–16.6 and 9.7–11.5%, respectively, whereas tryptophan (1.4–1.6%). methionine (1.4–2.7%) and histidine (2.9–4.2%) were relatively lower. The levels of the following essential amino acids did not significantly change during larval development: arginine, leucine, phenylalanine (plus cystine), threonine, tryptophan and valine. Despite statistically significant changes that were observed in levels of some amino acids, amino acid composition appeared to be relatively unchanged during the larval growth. The results may suggest that the amino acid requirements of the freshwater prawn is relatively constant during larval life and can be satistied by a suitable protein source that resembles the larval amino acid profile.     

Molecular characterization of microalgae used in aquaculture with biotechnology potential

Microalgae are the main component of first tropic level in aquatic food chain; it is for this reason that they are used as food in aquaculture. Also due to its biotechnological potential properties, they are used in the production of diverse components, dyes, antioxidants, enzymes, emulsifiers, etc. The extended ways of microalgae applications require physiologically and genetically stable cultures as well as correctly identified organisms to guarantee reproducibility and reliability. But the variety of species and the morphological similarity between some of them make difficult the identification of some microalgae. The use of molecular markers has supplied a very useful tool for identification of microalgae in fast mode, such as in classification. The present study has worked on the molecular characterization of main species of microalgae used in aquaculture in base of the molecular markers 18S rRNA and 16S rRNA. Microalgae DNA has been amplified and sequenced, and the resultant sequences were analyzed and reflected in phylogenetic trees. The phylogenetic analyses obtained reflect as both molecular markers allow to differentiate the main genus used in aquaculture.     

Genetic analysis of Aequipecten opercularis and Mimachlamys varia (Bivalvia: Pectinidae) in several Atlantic and Mediterranean localities, revealed by mitochondrial PCR-RFLPs: a preliminary study

Aequipecten opercularis (Queen scallop) and Mimachlamys (Chlamys) varia (Black scallop) are important natural resources occurring in Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts. To develop an optimal sustainable exploitation plan, it is important to study the genetic structure of the different populations. In this study, we used polymerase chain reaction‐restriction fragment length polymorphisms for the determination of the genetic variation and population structure of these two species in different localities. Ten composite haplotypes were generated for A. opercularis and 15 haplotypes for M. varia. Of these, six and four were unique respectively. The analysis of the distribution of the different haplotypes between the localities showed no clear evidence of subdivision in A. opercularis, while in M. varia the results indicated that the two localities analysed should be managed as separate stocks.     

Effects of formalin on total haemocytes count and histopathological changes in the shrimp Litopenaeus schmitti (Pérez‐Farfante & Kensley 1997)

Formalin is used in shrimp industry to eliminate ectoparasites and as a disinfectant. However, the effect of formalin on shrimp's defense mechanism is unknown. Several biomarkers were used to assess the immune response of juveniles of the shrimp Litopenaeus schmitti exposed to different concentrations of formalin (10, 25 and 50 mg L^?1) during 24 and 48 h. Formalin concentrations of 25 and 50 mg L^?1 produced a significant reduction in the total haemocyte count at both 24 and 48 h. Peroxidase and phenoloxidase activity did not show variations. The total protein concentration in haemolymph of shrimps was not significantly different between experimental groups. Histological analysis showed hyperplasia in the gills of animals exposed at 10 mg L^?1 for 24 h; however, the exposure at 25 and 50 mg L^?1 caused necrosis in gills, hepathopancreas and the antennal gland.