Routine metabolism of larval green sturgeon (Acipenser medirostris Ayres)

Routine metabolic rates of green sturgeon (Acipenser medirostris) from hatching to 31 days post hatch (dph) were determined under normoxic conditions. During the endogenous feeding stage that comprised period from hatching to 15 dph, the oxygen consumption rate (MO₂, μg O₂ larva⁻¹ h⁻¹) increased 5-fold before yolk reserves became exhausted and MO₂ rates steady. The allometric relationships between MO₂ and body mass had mass exponents greater than 1.0 (b=1.64±0.21) and equal to 1.0 (b=1.04±0.07) during the endogenous and exogenous feeding phases, respectively. The magnitude and changes of MO₂ rates in green sturgeon larvae reflected their early ontogeny, especially during the endogenous feeding phase when the increase in metabolic rates was associated with organogenesis, acquisition of organ functions, and the conversion of yolk sac into new tissues. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Schwermetall‐ und schadstoffbelastung im unteren odertal und konsequenzen für die grünlandnutzung

Anthropogen verursachte Stofffrachten haben seit Beginn der Industrialisierung zur Sedimentation und Anreicherung von Schwermetallen und Schadstoffen in der weitgehend naturbelassenen Flussaue der unteren Oder geführt. Für die Grünlandnutzung in diesem Bereich des heutigen Deutsch‐Polnischen Nationalpark ergeben sich folgerichtig Einschränkungen in Form des Verbots der Milchproduktion. Boden‐, Sediment‐ und Pflanzengehalte sind seit 1990 raumbezogen analysiert worden. Hohe Gehalte im Boden haben nicht zwangsläufig hohe Pflanzengehalte bewirkt, wohl aber war sichtbar, dass die Gehalte in Senkenarealen meist höher als auf den übrigen Flächen lagen. Überhöhte Gehalte in den Pflanzen im Sinne der deutschen Futtermittelverordnung traten vor allem bei Cadmium und Mangan auf. Extensive Weidehaltung mit Mutterkühen, Mast‐ und Jungrindern ist unter Ausgrenzung von Problembereichen möglich.     

Development of Digestive Enzymes in California Halibut <Emphasis Type="Italic">Paralichthys californicus</Emphasis> Larvae

California halibut Paralichthys californicus is an important commercial species with high aquaculture potential in Baja California Sur, México. To optimize the feeding process using live prey and/or inert diets, we evaluated alkaline proteases, pepsin, trypsin, chymotrypsin, leucine aminopeptidase, lipase, α-amylase, and acid and alkaline phosphatase activities on starved larvae and larvae fed live prey. Highest activities were observed for alkaline protease, trypsin, chymotrypsin, leucine aminopeptidase, and alkaline phosphatase in feeding larvae than starved larvae on day 4 after hatching. At day 5, a sizeable increase in all enzymatic activities was detected in feeding larvae. Alkaline protease, trypsin, chymotrypsin, and alkaline phosphatase decreases progressively from day 5 until day 18. At day 18, a slight pepsin activity was observed. This was considered an indicator of the start of digestive system maturation. We concluded that total enzymatic equipment for this species is complete between day 18 and 30 after hatching. Based on this evidence, early weaning from live prey to inert feed would be possible at this time.     

Osmoregulation in juvenile Siberian sturgeon (Acipenser baerii)

The osmoregulation capabilities of juvenile Siberian sturgeon exposed to three experimental osmolalities (22, 250 and 387 mOsmol kg⁻¹) were studied over a 45-day period. Growth performance, haematological parameters, ion concentrations, gill and spiral valve Na⁺-K⁺-ATPase activities, as well as gill and spiral valve histology, were measured. At the end of the period, the plasma osmolality of fish kept in 250 and 387 mOsmol kg⁻¹ was higher than that of fish kept in 22 mOsmol kg⁻¹. Similar trends were observed in electrolyte concentrations. Spiral valve and gill Na⁺-K⁺-ATPase activity varied with exposure time and environmental salinity. Shortly after being transferred to hyperosmotic media, spiral valve Na⁺-K⁺-ATPase activity fell, while gill Na⁺-K⁺-ATPase activity remained constant. At the end of the experiment, gill Na⁺-K⁺-ATPase activities in fish kept in isosmotic and hyperosmotic media had increased in comparison to those of the control fish. Moreover, spiral valve Na⁺-K⁺-ATPase activities recovered and were similar to those recorded in fish kept in hyposmotic environments. Although some of the morpho-physiological mechanisms were operational in juvenile Siberian sturgeon in their adaptation to hyperosmotic media, fish cannot be considered hyperosmotic regulators as they were unable to maintain their plasma osmolality and electrolyte equilibrium in salinities higher than 250 mOsmol kg⁻¹. This suggests that the culture of juvenile Siberian sturgeon in brackish environments is unlikely to be successful. However, our data indicate that in natural environments, juvenile Siberian sturgeon in migratory populations (Ob and Lena Rivers) would be able to migrate successfully into estuarine brackish grounds with a salinity of up to 9%. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Langjähriger witterungseinfluss auf das grünland in zwei verschiedenen landschaftsgebieten

Langjährige Beobachtungen der Witterungsfaktoren Temperatur und Niederschlag auf Ertrag und Pflanzenbestand von zwei Dauergrünlandstandorten verschiedener Klimagebiete wurden ausgewertet. Anlaß war das Phänomen, daß im Erzgebirge der Ertrag trotz hoher Stickstoffdungung nach dem 3. Versuchsjahr sukzessive abfiel und nach dem 12. Jahr wieder anstieg. Als Vergleich bot sich nahezu gleich bewirtschaftetes Grünland im Havelländischen Luch an.

Die Ursache fur die Ertragsdepression wurde zunächst in einer Umschichtung der Pflanzenbestände vermutet. Schließlich wurde ein Zusammenhang zwischen Witterung und Ertrag am Beispiel der Abweichungen von den Mittelwerten gefunden.     

Optimal dietary carbohydrate‐to‐lipid ratios for silvery‐black porgy (Sparidentex hasta) juveniles

Four isonitrogenous diets containing different carbohydrate:lipid (CHO:L) ratios (0.3, 0.6, 1.1 and 1.8) were tested in triplicate groups (16 fish per replicate) of silvery‐black porgy juveniles for 8 weeks. Growth performance was not affected by different dietary CHO:L ratios (P > 0.05); however, the viscerosomatic index, the intraperitoneal fat, whole‐body lipid, energy and n‐3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids levels increased with decreasing dietary CHO:L ratios (P < 0.05). Fish fed with 1.8 CHO:L diet had the lowest apparent digestibility coefficients of protein and lipid, as well as the lowest plasma haemolytic and lysozyme activities (P < 0.05). Red blood cell counts and plasma glucose levels were higher in fish fed with 1.1 and 1.8 CHO:L ratio diets than in the other groups (P < 0.05). Plasma alkaline phosphatase and alanine aminotransferase, as well as the level of lipid peroxidation and total antioxidant capacity in the liver and plasma increased as dietary CHO:L ratios decreased (P < 0.05). The results of the current study indicated that the diets with CHO:L ratios between 0.6 and 1.1 are optimal for silvery‐black porgy, whereas higher ratios may result in hyperglycaemia and immune suppression, and lower CHO:L ratios may lead to oxidative stress and liver dysfunction.     

Nile tilapia broodfish fed high‐protein diets: Digestive enzymes in eggs and larvae

The aim of this study was to assess the activity of gastric, pancreatic and intestinal digestive enzymes during the embryonic and larval development of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) GIFT strain Aqua America^® 1 obtained from a broodstock fed two levels of crude protein (CP). A total of 72 females and 24 males, 10 hapas, two CP levels (32% and 38%) and six phases of embryonic (cleavage, blastula, gastrula) and larval (hatching, 7 and 10 days post hatch, dph) stages were used. The eggs were collected in cleavage, blastula and gastrula stages, 300 mg was collected, and kept in cryogenic tubes in liquid nitrogen. For the samples at larval stage, the remaining eggs were separated according to crude protein level and kept in hatcheries and samples were collected on 7 and 10 dph the same way as before. A total of 48 samples were collected: at each protein level (32% and 38% CP), four samples were collected in each phase of embryonic and larval development. Statistical differences were not observed during embryonic development for acid proteases, trypsin, amylase and lipase activity at both levels of crude protein (32 and 38% CP). Differences for acid proteases were noticed on 7 dph; trypsin and amylase on 7 dph and 10 dph. Significant differences on blastula and 7 dph for protease; as for aminopeptidase, there was significant difference on 7 dph. The data indicated early appearance of digestive enzymes in Nile tilapia broodfish receiving 32% CP taking into account the rapid growth and development of this species.     

Effects of dietary protein and essential amino acid deficiencies on growth,body composition,and digestive enzyme activities of silvery-black porgy (Sparidentex hasta)

International Aquatic Research - A 6-week feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the effects of protein-free (PF) and essential amino-acid-deficient (EAAD) diets on the growth performance and...     

Dietary nucleotide mixture effects on reproductive and performance,ovary fatty acid profile and biochemical parameters of female Pacific shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei

The effects of different dietary nucleotide mixture (NT) levels (0, 2, 4 and 6 g/kg) were investigated on the reproductive performance, fatty acid profile and biochemical parameters in Litopenaeus vannamei female that were co‐fed with fresh food (two times daily) and experimental diets (two times daily) for 30 days. Sampling was carried out at the first day of the trial, before eyestalk ablation (ESA) (day 21) and after ESA (day 30). Reproductive performance parameters including the hepatopancreatic index, absolute fecundity, egg diameter and latency period were higher in the NT‐supplemented groups than the control group (p < .05). Total n‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in the ovaries, especially eicosapentaenoic acid, were higher in the NT‐supplemented groups than in the control (222.6 ± 7.3 versus 204.7 ± 3.0 mg/g extracted lipid) (p < .05). Total hemocyte count, granular cells, plasma glucose (Glu), total protein (TP), calcium (Ca²⁺), total cholesterol (Chol), triglyceride (Tg) and high‐density lipoprotein (HDL) levels were significantly increased in the NT‐supplemented groups in comparison with the control group (p < .05). After ESA, the concentration of plasma Glu, TP, Chol and Tg significantly decreased, but HDL levels increased in all groups (p < .05). These results suggested that the application of dietary NT may present a novel strategy for increasing reproductive performance and health status in L. vannamei.