Effects of salinity fluctuation in different ranges on the intermolt period and growth of juvenile Fenneropenaeus chinensis

Experiments were conducted to examine the effects of salinity fluctuation on the intermolt period and growth of Fenneropenaeus chi- nensis with an initial body weight of (0.553 2±0.000 1)g (mean plus or minus SE). The salinity (S0) of the control treatment is 30 throughout the experiment, while the treatments S2, S4, S7 and S10 are subjected to different salinity fluctuations, and the ranges are 2, 4, 7 and 10, respectively. After a 30-day feeding trial, the longest and the shortest intermolt periods of the shrimp occur under Treatments S10 and S2, respectively (difference 37.14%). The special growth rates (SGR) of the shrimp under the five treatments are ranked as S7> S4> S2> S10> S0, and the SGR of the shrimp under Treatment S0 is lower than that under Treatments S4 and S7 by 22.36% and 28.11%, respectively (P< 0.05). The minimal feed intake (FI) of the experimental animals occurs in Treatment S0 (84.04% and 88.54% of that under Treatments S4 and S7, respectively) (P< 0.05). There are no significant differences in the food conversion efficiency (FCE) of the shrimp under the five treatments (P> 0.05).

Genetic diversity and differentiation of mud crab Scylla serrata populations from southeastern China

The genetic diversity and differentiation of 6 mud crab Scylla serrata populations from southeastern China are investigated using allozyme electrophoresis. The mean number of alleles per locus population is 1.3 ± 0.1; the percentage of polymorphic loci per population is 27.3; the observed heterozygosity ranges from (0.195±0.083) to ( 0.241±0.090) and the expected heterozygosity ranges from ( 0.105±0.043 ) to ( 0.131±0.047 ). The coefficient of gene differentiation among populations is low (Fst =0.032), indicating that only 3.2 % of the total genetic diversity comes from inter-population, while the remaining 96.8 % comes from intra-population differences. The genetic distance among populations is 0.000-0.008 (the average is 0.002). Gene flow among the populations is large (Nm = 7.56).Genetic structure is very similar among 6 Scylla serrata populations.

Development and ultrastructure of larval skin in Scophthamus maximus

The histological development and ultrastructure of larval turbot skin were studied by both light and transmission electron microscopes.The early larvae showed a complete bisymmetry of skin.The skin of 1-25days old larvae developed slowly and was composed of the thin epidermis of 1-2layers epidermal cells and undeveloped dermis before the metamorphosis.But the skin developed significantly when the.metamorphosis began.Till the completion of metamorphosis(about 60days old),the skin contained 3-4layers epidermal cells and very developed collagenous strata.Wisth the process of metamorphosis,the ocular side skin and blind side skin became different in ultrastructure.Ultrastructural observation showed the epidermis of turbot contained three types of epidermal cells;filament-containing cells,mucus cells and chloride cells.The ocular side epidermis with looser structure consisted one type of filament-containing cells,but the blind side epidermis was structured densely and two types of filament-containing cells were observed in it.Melanophores,iridophores,fibroblasts and other cell types and tisssues were found in the spongiosum of dermis.The distribution of melanophores depended on the larval developing stage and the pigmentation of skin.The differentiation of skin seems to be an adaptation for the change of life style of turbot larvae from pelagic living to benthonic living after the metamorphosis.

Identification of five strains of antarctic bacteria producing low-temperature lipase

Five strains of antarctic bacteria producing extracellular low-temperature lipase are screened from seawater collectedby CTD during the Chinese 18th Antarctic Scientific Expedition. Their phylogenetic positions on the basis ofamplification, comparison and analysis of almost complete 16S rDNA sequence are determined by neighbor-joininganalysis. Phylogenetic analysis indicates that all of these five strains belong to g-proteobacteria. The strains 11102 and 92 are classified as genus Pseudoalteromonas sp. and genus Psychrobacter sp. respectively. The strains 25101, 2221 and 1281 are classified as genus Moritella sp.

Effect of Cd on GSH and GSH-related enzymes of Chlamydomonas sp.ICE-L existing in Antarctic ice

Glutathione(GSH) and GSH-related enzymes play a great role in protecting organisms from oxidative damage. The GSH level and GSH-related enzymes activities were investigated as well as the growth yield and malonyldialdehyde(MDA) content in the Antarctic ice microalga Chlamydomonas sp. ICE-L exposure to the different cadmium concentration in this paper. The results showed that the higher concentration Cd inhibited the growth of ICE-L significantly and Cd would induce formation of MDA. At the same time, it is clear that GSH level, glutathione peroxidases(GPx) activity and glutathione S\|transferases(GST), activity were higher in ICE-L exposed to Cd than the control. But GR activity dropped notably when ICE-L were cultured in the medium containing Cd. Increase of GSH level, GPx and GST activities acclimate to oxidative stress induced by Cd and protect Antarctic ice microalga Chlamydomonas sp. ICE-L from toxicity caused by Cd exposure. These parameters may be used to assess the biological impact of Cd in the Antarctic pole region environment.

Study on genetic diversity of cultivated populations in 4 species of shrimps

Genetic diversity of cultivated populations was investigated using assay of vertical slabpolyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in 4 species of shrimps, which were Penaeus japonicus, Penaeus monodon , Penaeus vannamei and Metapenaeus ensis, The results showed that the mean number of alle-les per locus (A) is 1.3±0.2, 1.3±0.1, 1.3±0.1 and 1.3 ±0.1 respectively; the percentage of polymorphic loci (P0.95) is 12.5, 6.7, 20 and 23.5 respectively; the expected heterozygosity (He) is 0.042±0.034,0.042±0.031, 0.094±0.042 and 0.097±0.047 respectively; and the observed heterozygosity (H0)is 0.029±0.024, 0.028±0.023,0.154±0.082 and 0.150±0.084 respectively. The difference of genetic diversity is obvious in 4 species of shrimps. The degree of genetic diversity is M. ensis > P. vannamei > P. japonicus > P. monodon. In short, the lower level of genetic diversity is estimated in 4 species of shrimps.

Rheological Properties and Structural Changes in Different Sections of Boiled Abalone Meat

Changes in tissue structures, rheological properties of cross- and vertical section boiled abalone meat were studied in relation to boiling time. The adductor muscle of abalone Haliotis discus which was removed from the shell, was boiled for 1, 2, and 3 h, respectively. Then it was cut up and separated into cross- and vertical section meat. When observed by a light microscope and a scanning electron microscope, structural changes in the myofibrils were greatest in the cross section meat compared with the vertical section meat. When boiling time was increased from 1 h to 3 h, the instantaneous modulus E 0 and rupture strength of both section meat decreased gradually with increased boiling time, and no significant differences were observed between these two section meat for the same boiling time. When boiled for 1 h, the relaxation time of cross section meat was much longer than that of vertical section meat. There were no significant changes in the relaxation time of vertical section for different boiling time, but the relaxation time of cross section meat was reduced gradually with increasing boiling time. These results confirmed that the difference in rheological properties between the cross- and vertical section meat was mainly due to the denaturation level of myofibrils when heated for 1 h, as well as due to the changes in the amount of denatured proteins, and the manner in which the inner denatured protein components weve exchanged after boiling time was increased from 1 h to 3 h.

Evaluation of nutrient components of Bangia sp.

General nutrient components including moisture, ash, crude protein, lipid and carbohydrate, inorganic elements, photosynthetic pigments, amino acids and fatty acids of Bangia sp. were analyzed and compared with Porphyra yezoensis. The results indicated that the content of protein, total amino acids and free amino acids accounted for 47.2% , 42.6% and 3.3% in dried Bangia sp. , respectively, all essential amino acids were present in relatively high levels and desirable composition. Lipid was 1.8%, in which the eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) reached 50.5% . In per 100 g dried material, the content of chlorophyll, carotenoids, phycoerythrin and phycocyanin accounted for 766, 208, 4 600 and 2963 mg, respectively. Inorganic elements necessary for human body were found to be abundant in Bangia sp. The results showed that the nutritive value of Bangia sp. was the highest among algae reported so far, and the industry of Bangia sp. was provided with significant economic importance and developing potential.

Advances in the Study on Nutrient Requirements of Grouper (Epinephelus sp.): a Review

The paper reviews the recent advances in studying grouper nutrition requirement for the development of cost-effective and environmentally friendly artificial diets. It consists of seven parts: protein and amino acid, lipid and essential fatty acid, carbohydrate, vitamin, mineral, alternative protein source, broodstock and larval nutrition. The review provides some basic information for further investigation of nutrient requirements of groupers.

Histological Study on the Skin of Japanese Flounder Paralichthys olivaceus

Histological development of Japanese flounder Paralichthys olivaceus larval skin and ultrastructural difference of skin between reared normal and malpigmented Japanese flounder were studied with light microscopy (LM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The results show that the skin develops slowly before the metamorphosis, while at the onset of metamorphosis, the skin develops quickly and becomes complete in structure till about 50 d after being hatched. Ultrastructural observation on the normal and malpigmented skins shows that the iridophore and melanophore are adjacent to each other. Profile and structure of the two kinds of pigment cells are more complete in the skin of normal ocular side than in the skin of pigmented blind side. The ultrastructure of typical chloride cell was observed in the skin of Japanese flounder larvae for the first time.

GROWTH PROMOTION OF RED SEA BREAM, PAGROSOMUS MAJOR, BY ORAL ADMINISTRATION OF RECOMBINANT EEL AND SALMON GROWTH HORMONE

Recombinant eel GH and yeast containing chinook salmon growth hormone (reGH and rcsGH) were incorporated into gelatin and sodium alginate (reGH GS and rcsGH GS) or polymer matrix (reGH HP55) to protect the hormone from proteolytic cleavage in the stomach. The diets containing reGH GS, rcsGH GS, reGH HP55 and free reGH or uncoated rcsGH were administered to red sea bream. Feeding of reGH GS, reGH HP55 and rcsGH GS diets resulted in significant increases in body weight and fork length over those of controls. These results strongly suggest that gelatin and sodium alginate as well as polymer matrix protected the hormone from proteolytic enzymes in the gastrointestinal tract to allow the bioactive hormone to enter the circulation and eventually stimulate fish growth.

Studies on the Effects of Polyaspartate Protease Fertilizer Enhancer in the Absorptions of Soil Nutrition and the Enzymatic Activities of Crops

The effects of polyaspartate protease fertilizer enhancer, made from oyster shell proteins, on the absorption of soil nutrition and the enzymatic activities of crops were studied. It has been found that the enhancer contributes 30%, 50% and 50% augmentation of nitrogen (N), phosphate (P) and potassium (K) absorption respectively and about 20% of nitrate reductase and peroxide enzyme activities of crops. These results show that polyaspartate protease fertilizer enhancer could improve significantly the absorption and utilization efficiencies of soil nutrition and the activities of nitrate reductase and peroxide enzyme of crops, thus elevating the utilization rates of chemical fertilizers to a certain extent.