Effects of predator-induced visual and olfactory cues on 0+ perch (Perca fluviatilis L.) foraging behaviour

Abstract –  Foraging juvenile fish with relatively high food demands are usually vulnerable to various aquatic and avian predators. To compromise between foraging and antipredator activity, they need exact and reliable information about current predation risk. Among direct predator-induced cues, visual and olfactory signals are considered to be most important. Food intake rates and prey-size selectivity of laboratory-reared, naive young-of-the-year (YOY) perch, Perca fluviatilis , were studied in experiments with Daphnia magna of two size classes: 2.8 and 1.3 mm as prey and northern pike, Esox lucius , as predator. Neither total intake rate nor prey-size selectivity was modified by predator kairomones alone (water from an aquarium with a pike was pumped into the test aquaria) under daylight conditions. Visual presentation of pike reduced total food intake by perch. This effect was significantly more pronounced (synergistic) when visual and olfactory cues were presented simultaneously to foraging perch. Moreover, the combination of cues caused a significant shift in prey-size selection, expressed as a reduced proportion of large prey in the diet. Our observations demonstrate that predator-induced olfactory cues alone are less important modifiers of the feeding behaviour of naive YOY perch than visual cues under daylight conditions. However, pike odour acts as a modulatory stimulus enhancing the effects of visual cues, which trigger an innate response in perch.     

硝酸银在水稻农杆菌转化中的作用

以籼稻、粳稻两种类型的成熟种子为外植体研究了不同浓度的AgNO3在水稻农杆菌转化中的作用。结果表明，在农杆菌转化前添加AgNO3可以提高愈伤组织诱导率，最适浓度为8～10mg／L，但对愈伤组织的分化没有明显促进作用；转化后添加低浓度的AgNO3可以减轻愈伤组织的褐化，提高抗性愈伤率和绿苗分化率，最适浓度为2-8mg／L。同时发现，无论是转化前还是转化后，添加高浓度的AgNO3对水稻愈伤组织的分化均具有毒害作用。     

Detection of Colletotrichum coccodes and Helminthosporium solani in soils by bioassay

The sensitivity of a bioassay in detecting soil inoculum of Colletotrichum coccodes and Helminthosporium solani was examined using potato minitubers and microplants. Tests were conducted on soils which were collected from fields in which the interval after a previous potato crop differed, and which were also artificially infested with conidia or microsclerotia. For C. coccodes , determining plant infection based on the occurrence of infected roots after 9–12 weeks was a sensitive method for detecting and quantifying the amount of inoculum in soil. Infestations of less than 0·4 microsclerotia per g soil were detected in artificially infested soils. A semiselective medium, developed for isolating C. gloeosporioides from pepper, detected soil infestations by C. coccodes as low as nine conidia or one microsclerotium per g soil in artificially infested soil. For H. solani , infection on minitubers was a sensitive measure, with soil inoculum of fewer than 10 conidia per g soil being detected. Soil infestation could be quantified by assessing the percentage surface area of minitubers covered by sporulating lesions, which was strongly related to the amount of soil infestation. The results of these bioassay tests were compared with published results for real-time quantitative PCR assays on the same soils. The two methods were in good agreement in artificially infested soils, but the bioassay appeared to be more sensitive with naturally infested soils.     

Sex‐dependent responses of perch to changes in water clarity and temperature

Rising temperatures and decreasing water transparency of lakes have strong wide ranging effects on fish. Fish responses to various changes in the environment are usually species‐dependent, but responses may also vary within species. In general, large individuals are considered to be more sensitive to environmental variation due to higher energy demand, than smaller individuals. Similarly, large individuals require more food to maintain bodily functions and are thus more sensitive to resource and food scarcity. These size‐specific responses to environmental gradients are also sex‐dependent in species that exhibit sexual size dimorphism (SSD). We studied in enclosures with short‐term experiments how rising temperatures and decreasing water transparency regulate the feeding rates of female and male European perch (Perca fluviatilis L.). To explore experimental results, we calculated perch SSD in nine lakes with varying environmental conditions using previously collected field data. The results of the experiments revealed that the combined effect of water transparency and temperature on the feeding rate of fish is gender‐dependent: feeding rate of females decreased more than that of males. The experimental results were also supported by field data that revealed a negative relation between water transparency and the magnitude of SSD in perch. Our results suggest that rising temperatures and decreasing water transparency may potentially decrease fish size in a sex‐dependent manner. As female size is one of the main demographic traits determining the reproductive success of a fish population, changing environments may have unexpected and far‐reaching consequences on fish population dynamics.     

二十碳五烯酸甲酯标准样品的研制

以深海鱼油为基础原料,将其皂化水解为游离脂肪酸,经尿素—甲醇包合粗分离后,以硫酸—甲醇甲酯化,再经硝酸银—硅胶柱层析精分离,得到高纯度的二十碳五烯酸甲酯标准物质。经定值检测,确定其化合物纯度≥98%。     

盐胁迫对向日葵幼苗生长及生理特性的影响

以银叶向日葵ARG1807（Wt）为供试材料,陕葵2号的保持系（HA）和恢复系（HL）为对照材料,利用250 mmol·L^-1 NaCl溶液进行盐胁迫处理7 d,分析供试材料与对照材料盐胁迫前后的形态变化以及叶片中的叶绿素、脯氨酸、丙二醛含量及SOD活性等生理指标差异,探究银叶向日葵耐盐的形态和生理基础。结果表明：（1）Wt的株高、叶面积增量以及根、茎、叶生物量分别比未进行NaCl胁迫处理植株（对照,CK）减少24.53%、38.21%、2.59%、5.50%、3.42%,其变化幅度小于HA和HL。(2) 在盐胁迫处理下,各向日葵品种的胞间二氧化碳浓度（Ci）均显著下降,而气孔限制值（Ls）显著上升,说明HA、HL与Wt净光合速率降低主要是由于气孔因素。（3）在盐胁迫下,3个向日葵品种叶片的脯氨酸含量（Pro）、丙二醛含量（MDA）、超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）活性、过氧化物酶（POD）活性以及过氧化氢酶活性（CAT）均发生了显著变化,其中,Wt的脯氨酸含量、SOD活性、POD活性以及CAT活性分别比CK增加279.94%、65.09%、211.11%和55.91%,高于HA 和HL,而MDA含量比CK增加231.10%,低于HA。（4）随着时间的推移,3个向日葵品种叶片失水速率均显著上升,其中,Wt的失水速率一直低于HA、HL。在失水150 min时,HA失水速率最高,达84%,Wt叶片失水最慢,失水速率为69%,说明Wt在保水能力方面具有显著优势。（5）观察向日葵叶片表型发现：Wt的叶片表皮毛长度长,密度明显多于HA和HL,推测这可能是Wt保水性强于HA和HL的原因。分析表明：在盐逆境下,形态指标和生理指标,均为银叶向日葵表现最佳,优势突出,表明其在盐逆境下具有更强的适应能力。     

Gel Properties of Surimi from Silver Carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix): Effects of Whey Protein Concentrate,CaCl2, and Setting Condition

The effects of setting time, whey protein concentrate (WPC), and calcium chloride (CaCl₂) on textural properties of silver carp surimi were investigated. Response surface methodology was used to evaluate and compare the effects of setting time (30–90 min), WPC (1–9% of protein ratio), and CaCl₂ (1–59 mmol/kg) on the gel strength. Models for breaking force, breaking distance, and gel strength of surimi gel were established. The maximum gel strength was achieved at the setting time of 60 min, WPC and CaCl₂ at 5% protein ratio, and 15–18 mmol/kg. CaCl₂ was the most significant factor affecting the gel strength.     

Evaluation of Mixed-Feeding Schedules with Varying Dietary Protein Content on the Growth Performance and Reduction of Cost of Production for Sutchi Catfish,Pangasius hypophthalmus (Sauvage) with Silver Carp,Hypophthalmichthys molitrix (Valenciennes)

Abstract

An on-station pond trial was conducted for 6 months to investigate the suitability of mixed-feeding schedules with varying protein levels on the growth of sutchi catfish, Pangasius hypophthalmuswith silver carp, Hypophthalmicthys molitrixwith a view to minimizing the cost of production. Five different feeding regimes employed were: high protein diet (30% protein, H), low protein (15% protein, L), one day low protein diet followed by one day high protein diet (1L/1H), 7 day low protein diet followed by 7 day high protein diet (7L/7H), and 14 day low protein diet followed by 14 day high protein diet (14L/14H). Ten experimental ponds each of 0.008 ha size were divided into 5 treatment groups each with two replicates. Fishes were stocked at the ratio of 80:20 (sutchi catfish:silver carp) at the total rate of 25,000/ha. Feeding rate was calculated only on the basis of sutchi catfish weight only and fish were fed at the rate of 15,10, 8, and 5% of their body weight for 1st, 2nd, 3rd months, and the rest of the experimental period, respectively. The ranges of water quality parameters during the study period were: temperature 22°C to 32.8°C, dissolved oxygen 4.30 to 7.44 mg/L, pH 6.85 to 7.50, and transparency 21.9 to 32.2 cm. The result of the study showed that significantly (P < 0.05) higher fish weight gain was achieved in feeding schedules of H and 1L/1H and lowest with 14L/14H. The feed conversion ratio (FCR) values ranged between 2.06 and 2.51 with H and 1L/1H showing significantly the best FCR. The FCR values were very low when weight of silver carp was considered which ranged between 1.58 and 1.68. The survival (%) of sutchi catfish were lower (78.1 to 82.5%) compared to that of silver carp (90–95%). The total production of sutchi catfish ranged between 3594 and 7095 kg/ha and silver carp ranged between 1777 and 2220 kg/ha. A simple economic analysis showed that fish in 1L/1H fed alternately with low and high protein diets resulted in the highest net profit. The result of the study suggest that for profitable sutchi catfish farming in Bangladesh, farmers can adopt a mixed-feeding schedule of alternated low and high protein diet instead of continuously feeding a high protein diet.     

应用间接荧光抗体技术快速检测花鲈病原菌——鳗弧菌

以花鲈（Lateolabrax japonicus)弧菌病的病原菌-鳗弧菌（Vibrio anguillarum)W-1为抗原，制备兔抗血清；利用异硫氰酸荧光素标记的羊抗兔免疫球蛋白（FITC-IgG）为荧光标记二抗，并以罗丹明标记的牛血清白蛋白为背景染色，建立检测鳗弧菌的间接荧光抗体快速检测技术。应用该技术对人工感染后的花鲈组织（肌肉、鳃、肠、肾）样品和养殖水体样品进行了鳗弧菌检测，结果显示间接荧光抗体技术不仅可以用于诊断发病的感染花鲈，也可用于检测带菌状态或未发病的感染花鲈。     

白鲢出血病病原菌的鉴定

从患出血病的白鲢体内分离出两株细菌(编号为水_1、水_2),分别感染健康白鲢,人工复制白鲢出血病获得成功。对这两株细菌进行形态、营养需求、生长特性、以及生化反应等观察,作者认为,水_1菌为产碱假单胞菌(Pseudomonas alcaligenes);水_2菌为嗜水气单胞菌(Aeromonas hydrophila)。前者隶属于假单胞菌科(Pseudomonaceae),后者隶属于孤菌科(Vibrionaceae)。