Long-term variation in brown trout, Salmo trutta L., stocking success in a large lake: interplay between availability of suitable prey and size at release

Abstract –  Factors affecting long-term variation in brown trout, Salmo trutta L., stocking success were examined in a large lake, Lake Oulujärvi, in central Finland. Brown trout were stocked in spring (late May to early June) in 1974–1991 and in summer (late June to early July) in 1992–2001. The biomass of the vendace, Coregonus albula (L.), population (prey) at release time had the largest positive effect on stocking success within both periods: biomass of adult vendace in spring and both 0+ and adult vendace in summer. Increasing the size of stocked fish had a positive effect if the vendace available at release were only adults. The increasing trend of predator-catch-per-unit-effort (CPUE) [combined CPUE of northern pike Esox lucius L., burbot Lota lota (L.), and pike-perch Stizostedion lucioperca (L.)] through the study period and its negative effect on trout stocking success suggested an increasing effect of predation within the entire time series.     

利用QuantStudioTM 3D数字PCR分析转基因玉米MON863含量

QuantStudioTM 3D数字PCR (QuantStudioTM 3D digital PCR,3D-dPCR)是一种基于超高密度亲疏水微孔芯片实现数字PCR分液原理的新型核酸绝对定量平台,在转基因生物定量领域具有极大的应用前景.本研究基于3D-dPCR平台,以转基因玉米(Zea mays)MON863混合样品为例,建立基于单重和双重数字PCR体系的转基因生物(genetically modified organisms,GMOs)含量分析方法.与传统qRT-PCR比较发现,在缺乏样品纯度、纯合度信息的情况下,数字PCR能够较好地排除这些因素的影响,测定准确的量值.研究结果表明,QuantStudioTM 3D数字PCR是一种适用于转基因生物含量分析的精确定量方法,还可反映转基因玉米种子的基因型.本研究基于3D-dPCR建立的转基因玉米MON863单重和双重定量方法为转基因检测提供了新的方法和参考.     

Diel differences in blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) dive behavior increase nighttime risk of ship strikes in northern Chilean Patagonia

The northern Chilean Patagonia region is a key feeding ground and a nursing habitat in the southern hemisphere for blue whales (Balaenoptera musculus). From 2014 to 2019, during 6 separate research cruises, the dive behavior of 28 individual blue whales was investigated using bio-logging tags (DTAGs), generating ≈190 h of data. Whales dove to significantly greater depths during the day compared to nighttime (day: 32.6 ± 18.7 m; night: 6.2 ± 2.7 m; P < 0.01). During the night, most time was spent close to the surface (86% ± 9.4%; P < 0.01) and at depths of less than 12 m. From 2016 to 2019, active acoustics (scientific echosounders) were used to record prey (euphausiids) density and distribution simultaneously with whale diving data. Tagged whales appeared to perform dives relative to the vertical migration of prey during the day. The association between diurnal prey migration and shallow nighttime dive behavior suggests that blue whales are at increased risk of ship collisions during periods of darkness since the estimated maximum ship draft of vessels operating in the region is also ≈12 m. In recent decades, northern Chilean Patagonia has seen a large increase in marine traffic due to a boom in salmon aquaculture and the passenger ship industry. Vessel strike risks for large whales are likely underestimated in this region. Results reported in this study may be valuable for policy and mitigation decisions regarding conservation of the endangered blue whale.     

土壤微塑料和农药污染及其对土壤动物毒性效应的研究进展

微塑料和农药可能会在土壤中长期共存,塑料制品的种类和结构差异导致其对化学污染物有不同的亲和力和吸附行为。因此,微塑料可作为农药的载体,与农药形成复合污染,对生物体产生联合毒性效应,进而对食物链乃至人类产生健康危害。本文归纳了微塑料和农药对土壤环境的影响,阐述微塑料吸附农药的机理与研究现状,分析了微塑料和农药对土壤动物的联合毒性效应,指出当前研究存在的问题并对未来研究方向进行展望,为未来研究微塑料与农药在土壤中的环境行为提供重要参考。     

Are survival and reproduction of Enchytraeus albidus (Annelida: Enchytraeidae) at risk by feeding on Bt-maize litter?

Enchytraeids are saprophagous soil organisms, appearing in high abundances and contributing to ecological processes within the soil. For decades they have been used as model species for biological research. In the framework of research on genetically modified plants, however, they have not been considered to date. Following the ISO/DIS guideline, survival and reproduction of Enchytraeus albidus, fed with diets containing Bt-maize (N4640Bt Cry1Ab, DKC5143Bt Cry3Bb1) leaf material were analysed. For comparison, diets with the corresponding untransformed near-isolines (N4640, DKC5143) were examined. Additionally a high quality control diet (oat flakes) was included. Survival and reproduction showed no significant differences between the Cry3Bb1 treatment and the treatment with the untransformed counterpart. For the Cry1Ab treatment survival was significantly higher than for the treatment with the corresponding near-isoline. In contrast, reproduction was significantly lower for the Cry1Ab treatment compared to that for the isoline. For the Cry3Bb1 treatment, no effect was shown on survival or reproduction. For the Cry1Ab variety and its untransformed counterpart, a contrasting result was detected, which is unlikely to be caused by the Bt-protein but rather by differences in other plant components. Overall survival and reproduction were highest for the control.     

Effects of live prey availability on growth and survival in the early stages of cuttlefish Sepia officinalis (Linnaeus, 1758) life cycle

This investigation examined the effects of live prey availability on growth and survival of Sepia officinalis. Two independent experiments, comprising two feed rations each, were performed, using adequate prey size. In the first experiment, cuttlefish hatchlings were fed live mysids, Paramysis nouvelli [(feed ratio I (fr I)], at 15% body weight per day (bw day^?1) (fr I₁₅) and 30% bw day^?1 (fr I₃₀). In the second experiment, juvenile cuttlefish were fed live Atlantic ditch shrimp, Paleomonetes varians (fr II), under the same experimental design. In both experiments, the final mean weight, feeding rate and instantaneous growth rate were higher when animals were fed feed ratio fr II₁₅ and fr II₃₀ (30% bw day^?1). The results indicate that prey availability influenced weight gain, irrespective of the prey used, during the first 2 months of cuttlefish life cycle. This effect seems to be more noticeable when a certain limit of prey is achieved. For cuttlefish fed fr II, the optimal prey density is thought to be under 2.5 g prey L^?1 (i.e. 14 shrimp L^?1). Results indicate that cuttlefish can withstand prey densities up to 120 mysids L^?1 for cuttlefish up to 3 weeks old and 19 shrimps L^?1 for cuttlefish up to 6 weeks old.     

Foraging specialisms, prey size and life-history patterns: a test of predictions using sympatric polymorphic Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus)

Abstract –  We use arguments based on optimal foraging theory to predict body size constraints and the consequences of these on a range of life-history traits in three trophic specialist morphs of Arctic charr, Salvelinus alpinus , living in sympatry in Loch Rannoch, Scotland. As predicted, foraging specialists feeding on small prey items with a narrow size range showed evidence of deterministic growth; the ultimate body size of macrobenthos feeders being larger ( L _∞ = 238 mm) than that of planktivores ( L _∞ = 216 mm). In contrast, the piscivorous morph showed no evidence of reaching a maximal body size.
The two size-constrained morphs (benthivores and planktivores) matured earlier and died younger (living for up to 11 and 7 years, respectively, in this study) than did the piscivorous charr which showed continuous growth up to at least 17 years.
The pattern of annual reproductive investment in maturing individuals was complex. Planktivores invested in larger eggs than the other two forms, but benthivores produced a greater number of eggs than planktivores, which in turn produced more than piscivores. Planktivorous males had a greater investment in mean testis weight than the other two forms.
Lifetime reproductive output was the greatest in the benthivorous charr, intermediate in planktivorous and the lowest in the piscivorous charr when measured either as fecundity or as gonadal weight. We conclude that constraints imposed upon foraging specialists by foraging efficiency is a significant driver of body size and ultimately reproductive investment in gape-limited foraging salmonids.     

微粒饲料替代生物饵料对大黄鱼稚鱼生长、存活和消化酶活力的影响

以初始体重为(1.93±0.11) mg的大黄鱼稚鱼(12日龄)为实验对象,以微粒饲料(micro-diet,MD)分别替代0%、25%、50%、75%和100%生物饵料(live prey,LP),探讨微粒饲料替代生物饵料对大黄鱼稚鱼生长、存活、体成分和消化酶活力的影响.30 d的摄食生长实验表明:微粒饲料替代生物饵料显著影响大黄鱼稚鱼的生长、存活、体成分和消化酶活力.当微粒饲料替代50%和75%生物饵料时,两组间的特定生长率(SGR)差异不显著(P＞0.05),但均显著高于100%替代水平(P＜0.05);同时,75%替代水平SGR显著高于0%和25%替代水平(P＜0.05).存活率在各处理组间的差异关系与SGR的变化趋势类似.鱼体粗蛋白含量随替代水平的升高有下降的趋势,其中50%、75%和100%替代水平鱼体粗蛋白含量显著低于0%和25%替代水平(P＜0.05),而鱼体粗脂肪含量变化趋势与之相反.当微粒饲料替代100%生物饵料时,其胰段和肠段淀粉酶活力显著高于其余各处理组(P＜0.05),而其余各处理组之间淀粉酶活力差异均不显著;微粒饲料替代生物饵料对各处理组蛋白酶活力无显著影响.由此可以看出,大黄鱼苗种生产中,在12日龄以后使用优质微粒饲料替代50%～75%的生物饵料是可行的.     

Evaluation of three phytoplankton species as food for the pearl oyster <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pinctada fucata</Emphasis>

In the pearl cultivation farms of the Ehime Prefecture, Japan, mass mortalities of the pearl oyster Pinctada fucata have occurred since 1994. The occurrences of mass mortality roughly coincided with a shift of the dominant phytoplankton from Skeletonema and Chaetoceros to Chaetoceros and Nitzschia all of which belong to Bacillariophyceae. Hence, we evaluated Nitzschia, together with Chaetoceros and Isocrysis, as food for the oyster. Wet weights, lengths, widths, glycogen contents, and growth rates in terms of wet weight of the oysters in all the feeding treatments were significantly higher than those in the non-feeding treatment. The highest glycogen content (2.34%) and growth rate (2.21 g month⁻¹) were found in the Chaetoceros treatment. Growth rate in the Isocrysis treatment (1.63 g month⁻¹) was also high, although glycogen content in this treatment (0.41%) was low. In the Nitzschia treatment, growth rate of the oyster (0.94 g month⁻¹) was the lowest and glycogen content (0.83%) was also low relative to that in the Chaetoceros treatment. Chlorophyll a concentration in fecal pellets was lowest in the Nitzschia treatment (<2.7 μg mg⁻¹), suggesting more complete digestion of Nitzschia by the oyster. Thus, Nitzschia was edible and digestible but not assimilated by P. fucata. We propose the following scenario for the relationship between Nitzschia dominance and mass mortality. When Nitzschia dominates in a culture area, the physiological condition of P. fucata deteriorates due to low assimilation of Nitzschia by the oyster, followed by susceptibility of the oyster to infection by agents lethal to the oyster.     

大豆深加工产品定性PCR检测影响因素分析

以大豆内源基因（Lectin）、筛选基因35S启动子（Cauliflower mosaic virus 5S,CaMV35S）、NOS终止子（Nopaline synthase,Nos）和外源基因（CP4 EPSPS）为检测对象,对大豆深加工产品的DNA提取方法、PCR扩增条件的退火温度、引物浓度进行探讨,得出不同DNA提取方法、退火温度、引物浓度对大豆加工产品PCR检测的影响,建立了大豆加工食品中转基因成分定性检测体系。检测结果表明,退火温度60℃、引物浓度0．4μM时所建立的定性PCR检测方法能有效检测出大豆加工产品中的转基因成分,而且方法简单、快速有效。