Lower prevalence of fin erosion in mature than in immature Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) parr

Samples of hatchery-reared Atlantic salmon parr (age 0+ and 1+) from two different Norwegian river strains were investigated for connections between sexual maturity and prevalence of dorsal fin ray erosion. Mature males showed consistently lower prevalence as well as better recovery than immature males. Among the immature fish, no differences were detected between males and females. The results are discussed relative to morphological and physiological changes in maturing salmon parr.     

Eggs of Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar L) and Trout (S. trutta L); Identification by Phosphoglucoisomerase Zymograms*

Salmonid eggs were collected from spawning redds in the Norwegian rivers Alta, Gaula, and Driva in 1982. Their phosphoglucoisomerase (PGI; E.C. No. 5.3.1.9) patterns, as revealed by isoelectric focusing and histochemical staining, were compared to standard zymograms produced by Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) and trout (S. trutta L.) white skeletal muscle extracts, and to the zymogram in salmon eggs of known origin. In salmon, the egg zymogram was identical with that of muscle. Two types of zymograms, identical with either salmon or trout muscle zymograms and thus regarded as species-determinants, were observed among the eggs from wild fish. Their proportions in the three rivers were as expected from current knowledge of species composition. The present findings are related to previous reports on PGI expression in salmonids. The PGI zymograms are probably diagnostic keys to species for eggs from Norwegian stream-dwelling salmonids, including Arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus L.). Some managemental implications of the present results are briefly discussed.     

Growth of three salmonid species in mono and double culture (Salmo salar L., S. trutta L. and S. gairdneri Rich.)

Juvenile Atlantic salmon, sea trout and rainbow trout were used in an experiment in which two species in each tank were compared with controls of each species separately. Specific growth rate was best in the experimental groups where the two species were reared together. The theory was developed that social facilitation or moderate interaction could cause the better growht. No starvation as a result of competition was discovered in any group.     

Influence of daylength and temperature during formation of seed potatoes on subsequent growth and yields under long day conditions

Production of high quality seed potatoes is normally favoured by a cool climate with minor pest problems. Growth chamber studies aimed to reveal if daylengths (12 and 24 hrs) and temperatures (18/12 and 12/9°C day/night) during production also might influence progeny growth. Results showed no significant carry-over effect from daylength conditions, while growth vigour and yields were affected by parent plant growth temperature. Further experiments, including a greater range of temperatures, different cultivars and measurements of physiological age, are required to discuss theoretical and practical implications of the results.     

Limited Benefit of Marine Protein Hydrolysate on Physical Function and Strength in Older Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Age-related muscle wasting can compromise functional abilities of the elderly. Protein intake stimulates muscle protein synthesis; however, ageing muscle is more resistant to stimuli. This double-blinded, randomized, controlled trial is one of the first registered studies to evaluate the effects of a supplement of marine protein hydrolysate (MPH) on measures of physical function and strength. Eighty-six older adults received nutritional supplements containing 3 g of MPH or a placebo for up to 12 months. Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB), grip strength and gait speed were measured, and dietary intake was registered at baseline, 6 months, and 12 months. No difference was found between the intervention and control groups in mean change in SPPB (independent sample t-test, p = 0.41) or regarding time trend in SPPB, grip strength, or gait speed (linear mixed model). The participants in our study were well functioning, causing a ceiling effect in SPPB. Further, they had sufficient protein intake and were physically active. Differences in physical function between those completing the intervention and the dropouts might also have created bias in the results. We recommend that future studies of MPH be carried out on a more frail or malnourished population.     

Fatty Acid Composition of Unfed Cod Larvae Gadus morhua L. and Cod Larvae Feeding on Natural Plankton in Large Enclosures

Three different groups of cod larvae Gadus morhua L ., feeding on natural plankton in two large enclosures, were analyzed for fatty acid composition through development. Unfed control groups and different size-fractions of plankton were also analyzed. Consistency in changes of fatty acid composition suggests three developmental periods during early larval development. The periods corresponded with dietary shifts in the larvae, but a metabolic origin for changes in certain fatty acids was also evident. In the first period, relative amounts of n-9 monounsaturates decreased, while n-3 polyunsaturates together with certain fatty acids abundant in the small-sized phytoplankton fraction increased. In the second and third periods, relative amounts of the longer n-3 PUFA decreased, while fatty acids of calanoid copepod origin occurred in one group. The consistency in changes of larval fatty acid profiles in cod suggests development in both lipid absorption and lipid metabolism during ontogenesis.     

Differences in the tissue tropism to chicken oviduct epithelial cells between avian coronavirus IBV strains QX and B1648 are not related to the sialic acid binding properties of their spike proteins

The avian coronavirus (AvCoV) infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) is a major poultry pathogen. A characteristic feature of IBV is the occurrence of many different strains belonging to different serotypes, which makes a complete control of the disease by vaccinations a challenging task. Reasons for differences in the tissue tropism and pathogenicity between IBV strains, e.g. a predilection for the kidneys or the oviduct are still an open question. Strains of the QX genotype have been major pathogens in poultry flocks in Asia, Europe and other parts of the world. They are the cause of severe problems with kidney disease and reproductive tract disorders. We analysed infectivity and binding properties of the QX strain and compared them with those of the nephropathogenic strain B1648. As most IBV strains do not infect permanent cell lines and show infection only in primary chicken cells of the target organs, we developed a culture system for chicken oviduct explants. The epithelial cells of the oviduct showed a high susceptibility to infection by the QX strain and were almost resistant to infection by the nephropathogenic B1648 strain. Binding tests with isolated primary oviduct epithelial cells and soluble S1 proteins revealed that S1 proteins of two IBV strains bound with the same efficiency to oviduct epithelial cells. This attachment was sialic acid dependent, indicating that the sugar binding property of IBV spike proteins is not the limiting factor for differences in infection efficiency for the oviduct of the corresponding viruses.     

Recent plant diversity changes on Europe's mountain summits

In mountainous regions, climate warming is expected to shift species' ranges to higher altitudes. Evidence for such shifts is still mostly from revisitations of historical sites. We present recent (2001 to 2008) changes in vascular plant species richness observed in a standardized monitoring network across Europe's major mountain ranges. Species have moved upslope on average. However, these shifts had opposite effects on the summit floras' species richness in boreal-temperate mountain regions (+3.9 species on average) and Mediterranean mountain regions (-1.4 species), probably because recent climatic trends have decreased the availability of water in the European south. Because Mediterranean mountains are particularly rich in endemic species, a continuation of these trends might shrink the European mountain flora, despite an average increase in summit species richness across the region.     

Climatic control of bud burst in young seedlings of nine provenances of Norway spruce

Detailed knowledge of temperature effects on the timing of dormancy development and bud burst will help evaluate the impacts of climate change on forest trees. We tested the effects of temperature applied during short-day treatment, duration of short-day treatment, duration of chilling and light regime applied during forcing on the timing of bud burst in 1- and 2-year-old seedlings of nine provenances of Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.). High temperature during dormancy induction, little or no chilling and low temperature during forcing all delayed dormancy release but did not prevent bud burst or growth onset provided the seedlings were forced under long-day conditions. Without chilling, bud burst occurred in about 20% of seedlings kept in short days at 12 degrees C, indicating that young Norway spruce seedlings do not exhibit true bud dormancy. Chilling hastened bud burst and removed the long photoperiod requirement, but the effect of high temperature applied during dormancy induction was observed even after prolonged chilling. Extension of the short-day treatment from 4 to 8 or 12 weeks hastened bud burst. The effect of treatments applied during dormancy development was larger than that of provenance; in some cases no provenance effect was detected, but in 1-year-old seedlings, time to bud burst decreased linearly with increasing latitude of origin. Differences among provenances were complicated by different responses of some origins to light conditions under long-day forcing. In conclusion, timing of bud burst in Norway spruce seedlings is significantly affected by temperature during bud set, and these effects are modified by chilling and environmental conditions during forcing.     

Is there more in ‘gamete quality’ than quality of the gametes? A review of effects of female mate choice and genetic compatibility on offspring quality

Zygote quality is a major issue in production aquaculture, and has been considered, for example, in terms of lipid content, readiness of the female spawner, potency of the male spawner and other issues. In the mean time, evolutionary biologists have been considering issues of mate choice and genetic compatibility of the parents. This paper gives an overview of the main hypotheses of female mate choice, the reasons for multiple mating of females and their potential effects on offspring quality. I suggest how these ideas, if taken into account in commercial aquaculture, might increase the value added of several species in commercial aquaculture, which is impeded by poor offspring quality. Theoretical and empirical research shows that females in general choose partners actively among different males and that females often mate with multiple males. Both active mate choice and multiple mating improve the quality of the offspring, for example as enhanced survival and growth. Active female choice also occurs at the gamete level, and according to the ‘cryptic female choice hypothesis’, eggs are able to affect which sperm from which male will be fertilized. Several proximate mechanisms regarding how the eggs can affect the sperm have been demonstrated. Improved offspring quality of active female choice, cryptic female choice and multiple mating are all in accordance with the ‘genetic incompatibility hypothesis’. This hypothesis states that the quality of the offspring depends on the degree of intragenomic conflicts due to interactions between maternal and paternal haplotypes, for example as increased immunity against a wider range of pathogens when choosing a mate with different immune‐coding alleles than your own. According to the genetic incompatibility hypothesis, eggs from a particular female are expected to do well when fertilized by a particular male, whereas eggs from the same batch from the same female should do poorly when fertilized by other males. Such sire–dam interactions have been demonstrated empirically. I argue that if such a sire–dam interaction is a general phenomenon, this might have major implications for the commercial aquaculture industry, concerning choice of number of brooders, fertilization method, methods to preserve gametes, spawning protocols and breeding programmes.