Research Progress of Rice-Fish Integrated Farming

Rice-fish integrated farming （RFIF） can change the agricultural production pattern from mono-farming model to the co-farming model, and the stereoscopic and integrated farming system established by RFIF can change the flat production to the stereoscopic production. Therefore, RFIF is the important development direction for agriculture to change pattern and adjust structure. In order to further promote development of the research and application of RFIF, the general development situation of RFIF in China was reviewed; the effects of RFIF on increasing farmer income and enhancing agricultural efficiency were clarified. The technologies matched with RFIF, such as rice paddy engineering technology, safe plant protection technology, security fertilization technology, fish disease prevention and control technology and water quality management technology, were summarized, and the supporting role of RFIF for agriculture was pointed out. In addition, the development prospect of RFIF was proposed, as well as the key research direction of RFIF.

The Research Progress of Polyploid Induction to Eriocheir sinensis

Polyploidy induction to aquatic animals is a kind of biological technology with important economic value,its induction methods include physical method,chemical method and biological method. There have been mroe reports about aquatic animals polyploid induction in fish and shellfish,by contrast,in decapod crustaceans,researches about polyploid induction are relatively little,currently only in Eriocheir japonicus,Fenneropenaeus chinensis and Macrobrachium rosenbergii. Through heat shock to induce polyploid of crabs,50% of triploid and 52% of tetraploid can be obtained,and through cytochalasin B（ CB） solution treatment to induce fertilized eggs of crabs,it can also get 58. 18% of triploid and 57. 89% of triploid. By adding KCl solution to a certain salinity of seawater to induce crab triploid,100% of triploid induction rate was obtained after exploring the optimum time and concentration of induction. In this paper,the author summarized the principle,methods and development process of polyploidy induction,and compared each induction method and their inducing effects,aimed at providing the reference for researchment of polyploidy induction of crabs.

Otolith microchemical evidence revealing multiple spawning site origination of the anadromous tapertail anchovy(Coilia nasus)in the Changjiang(Yangtze)River Estuary

The estuarine tapertail anchovy(Coilia nasus)is a high-value commercial fish.Estimating the spawning site or hatchery origin and habitat is essential for its conservation.This study aimed to determine the habitat use and life history characteristics of C.nasus from the Changjiang River Estuary.We investigated the environmental signatures of strontium(Sr)and calcium(Ca)in the otoliths of the collected specimens using electron probe microanalysis;additionally,we examined their gonadal maturity stage.Our results indicate that the 31 adult C.nasus specimens used in this study could be classified into two types based on their otolith Sr:Ca concentration ratios and their gonadal maturity stage.The long freshwater early life history type(Type LF)had wider central region in the otolith with low Sr:Ca concentration ratios ranging from 1.24±0.62 to 1.92±0.78 and a bluish pattern of low Sr content level.These fish are of riverine origin and had a relatively long early life history in freshwater and low gonadal maturation when captured.The short freshwater early life history type(Type SF)had a shorter central region in the otolith with low Sr:Ca concentration ratios ranging from 1.35±0.5 to 2.82±0.97 and a correspondingly bluish pattern.These fish also had a relatively short-term early life history in freshwater and high gonadal maturation when captured.The results of the otolith microchemical analysis indicated that Type LF and Type SF originated in spawning/hatching sites far from and close to the estuary,respectively.The mature gonads of Type SF fish indicated that they may breed in areas close to the estuary,whereas the immature gonads of Type LF fish indicated that they may breed in areas far from the estuary.This study is the first to reveal that the Changjiang River Estuary contains stocks of anadromous C.nasus originating in different spawning sites during the same season.The estuarine habitat plays a critical role in the connectivity between freshwater recruitment and the marine resources available to adult spawners of this commercially valued species.From a conservation perspective,this study provides important information for identifying anadromous C.nasus stocks originating in different spawning sites in the Changjiang River Basin.

Chemical Composition of Sphyraena barracuda with Different Area, Size and Season, in Sudanese Red Sea Coast

This study aims to determine the effect of area, size and season on chemical composition of Sphyraena barracuda from Sudanese Red Sea Coast. A total of 180 fish samples were collected from Port Sudan and Sawakin fishing sites during the winter and summer of 2020-2021. The fishes sample ranged between (30 - 50) cm in total length and (250 - 1000) gm in body weight of small size, and ranged between (60 - 90) cm in total length and (1250 - 250) gm in body weight for large size. Fish flesh was subject to gross chemical analysis. Moisture, protein, fat, ash, acidity and pH were determined. The results indicated a significant effect by area, season and size. The different areas had a significant effect on crude protein and ash;higher parameter value is found in Sawakin. Higher chemical parameters were showed in winter than in summer. Also, size had a significant effect in all parameters (except moisture), fat and ash were high in large size. The study has concluded that the large size fishes of S. barracuda with high nutritional value when caught in winter from the southern region of Sawakin.

Mussel meat protein: Extraction, processing, nutrition value, and application in food products

The rapidly increasing global population has resulted in an increased demand for proteins in the human diet.The mussel meat protein is an affordable,abundant,sustainable,and environmentally friendly source of proteins suitable for human consumption.This review described the composition and characteristics of mussel meat proteins,as well as methods for sufficiently isolating and extracting these proteins.Several non-thermal processing technologies including high-pressure homogenization and ultrasonication are introduced for the mussel meat protein modification,and the impact of these processing treatments on the structure and functional properties of mussel meat proteins is also discussed.Moreover,the production of bioactive peptides with various kinds of biological activities from mussel meat proteins is highlighted.Finally,industrial and commercial applications of mussel meat proteins and their derived bioactive peptides in food formulations are discussed.The research findings demonstrated that homogenization and ultrasonication treatments could induce the change in protein conformation and significantly improve the functionality of mussel meat proteins.Enzymatic hydrolysis and fermentation are effective approaches to produce bioactive peptides with multiple biological activities from mussels.Mussel meat proteins exhibit considerable nutritional and functional values compared to other widely used protein sources.Therefore,mussel meat protein could be used as a sustainable alternative protein resource in food applications.

Unravelling habitat use of Coilia nasus from the Rokkaku River and Chikugo River estuaries of Japan by otolith strontium and calcium

The migratory history of the engraulid fish Coilia nasus in the Rokkaku and Chikugo River estuaries of the Ariake Sea, Japan was assessed using otolith strontium（Sr） X-ray intensity maps and strontium：calcium（Sr：Ca） ratio life history transects by an electron probe microanalyzer（EPMA）. The results showed that seven of the ten specimens from the Rokkaku River Estuary（LJC） and all 15 specimens collected in the Chikugo River Estuary（ZHC） had low Sr：Ca ratios（≤3） at the central otolith area, indicating their riverine origin and initial freshwater residence. After the first regime shift adjacent to natal regions, the Sr level mapping displayed a wide variety of color patterns, and the Sr：Ca ratios obtained by the line transect analysis could be divided into one to six significantly different phases indicative of gradual life history transition. The other three specimens from the Rokkaku River Estuary had high Sr：Ca ratios（3–6.7） at the central otolith area but showed alternating changes between low and high values outside the natal region, suggesting that estuarine-origin individuals occurred in the Rokkaku River Estuary. The two-dimensional maps of the Sr level and average of the otolith Sr：Ca ratios along the life-history transects could be used as effective tools for reconstruction of past habitat use of the tapertail anchovy in estuaries of the Ariake Sea, Japan.

Variations of oceanic fronts and their influence on the fishing grounds of Ommastrephes bartramii in the Northwest Pacific

Two predominant currents, the warm Kuroshio Current and the cold Oyashio Current, meet in the North- west Pacific Ocean. The dynamics of physical oceanographic structures in this region, including frontal zones and meandering eddies, result in a highly productive habitat that serves as a favorable feeding ground for various commercially important species. Neon flying squid, Ommastrephes bartramii, is an im- portant oceanic squid, which is widely distributed in the North Pacific Ocean. Based on the catch data col- lected by Chinese squid jigging fleets and relevant environmental data, including sea surface temperature （SST） and fronts （represented by gradients of SST and thermocline） during 1998-2009, the variations of oceanic fronts and their influence on the fishing grounds of O. bartramii were evaluated, and the differ- ences in distribution of fishing grounds of O. bartramii in 2000 and 2002 were compared by describing the differences in vertical temperature between 0-300 m. It was found that the preferred horizontal tem- perature gradient of SST for O. bartramii tended to be centered at 0.01-0.02~C/nm, which attracted nearly 80% of the total fishing effort, and the preferred horizontal temperature gradients at the 50 m and 105 m layers were mainly located at 0.01-0.03~C/nm, which accounted for more than 70% of the total fishing effort during August-October. The preferred vertical temperature gradient within the 0-50 m layer for O. bartramii tended to be centered at 0.15-0.25~C/m during August and September and at 0.10-0.15~C/m in October, implying that the mixed surface layer was distributed at depths of 0-50 m. It was concluded that the vertical temperature gradient was more important than the horizontal temperature gradient in playing a role in forming the fishing ground. The results improved our understanding of the spatial dynamics of the 0. bartramii fishery.

Migration and population structure characteristics of the small yellow croaker Larimichthys polyactis in the southern Yellow Sea

Monthly fishery survey data of the small yellow croaker Larimichthys polyactis in the southern Yellow Sea from2003 and 2013 were employed to evaluate the variation in the resource distribution and biological characteristics（especially body length and sex ratio） in the population on a decadal scale.The results indicated that the small yellow croaker migrated from the Shawai fishing ground to the Dasha fishing ground in spring and was mainly distributed in the central and western parts of the Dasha fishing ground in April and May.Larimichthys polyactis in the Dasha fishing ground migrated eastward to offshore wintering grounds in autumn and reached the central Dasha fishing ground in October and November.The small yellow croaker entered the western waters of the Shawai fishing ground in winter.A large number of age 0＋ fish occurred in the Shawai and Jiangwai fishing grounds in October of 2003 and 2013.The body lengths of the spawning stock and wintering stock in 2013 were larger than those in 2003,and the monthly sex ratios（female to male） were significantly less than 1 in both years.The monthly distribution of this fish in the southern Yellow Sea was consistent with a previous finding that ＂the stock migrated between the wintering grounds in the west of Jeju Island and the Lüsi spawning grounds＂ but tended to move more northward,with the spawning grounds extending outward.In the past decade,body length variation experienced a decline after an increase,rather than a steady decrease.The sex ratio in the single-stick stow net showed a tendency to increase over the decade,but was either less than or more than 1 depending on the fishing gear;therefore,further studies should be conducted to determine the sex structure.

Migration patterns and habitat use of the tapertail anchovy Coilia mystus in the Oujiang River Estuary and the Zhujiang River Estuary, China

Habitat use of the tapertail anchovy(Coilia mystus Linnaeus, 1758) from the Oujiang River Estuary and the Zhujiang(Pearl) River Estuary was studied by examining the environmental signatures of Sr and Ca in otoliths using electron probe microanalysis. Individuals from the Oujiang River had higher and varied Sr:Ca ratios(expressed as(Sr:Ca)×1 000, 3.83–13.0 average) in the otolith core regions, suggesting that they were born in brackish or sea waters, and that a freshwater habitat might not be necessary for egg hatching and larval growth.While, individuals from the Zhujiang River had lower Sr:Ca ratios(0.39–2.51 average) in the core regions,suggesting a freshwater origin. After hatching, anchovies from the Zhujiang River migrate downstream to the river estuary close to brackish water. Our results demonstrated varied habitat use for spawning during stages of early life history between the two populations, and suggested that such variations are promoting diversity of life history strategies of this species.

Genetic mapping and QTL analysis for body weight in Jian carp (Cyprinus carpio var.Jian) compared with mirror carp (Cyprinus carpio L.)

We report the genetic linkage map of Jian carp(C yprinus carpio var. Jian). An F1 population comprising 94 Jian carp individuals was mapped using 254 microsatellite markers. The genetic map spanned 1 381.592 c M and comprised 44 linkage groups,with an average marker distance of 6.58 c M. We identified eight quantitative trait loci(QTLs) for body weight(BW) in seven linkage groups,explaining 12.6% to 17.3% of the phenotypic variance. Comparative mapping was performed between Jian carp and mirror carp( Cyprinus carpio L.),which both have 50 chromosomes. One hundred and ninety-eight Jian carp marker loci were found in common with the mirror carp map,with 186(93.94%) showing synteny. All 44 Jian carp linkage groups could be one-to-one aligned to the 44 mirror carp linkage groups,mostly sharing two or more common loci. Three QTLs for BW in Jian carp were conserved in mirror carp. QTL comparison suggested that the QTL confidence interval in mirror carp was more precise than the homologous interval in Jian carp,which was contained within the QTL interval in Jian carp. The syntenic relationship and consensus QTLs between the two varieties provide a foundation for genomic research and genetic breeding in common carp.

Effects of environmental variations on the abundance of western winter-spring cohort of neon flying squid(Ommastrephes bartramii) in the Northwest Pacific Ocean

During 1995-2011, annual production of winter-spring cohort of Ommastrephes bartramii for Chinese squidjigging fishery has greatly fluctuated, which is closely related to the environmental conditions on the spawning and fishing grounds. To better understand how squid recruitment and abundance were infuenced by ocean environmental conditions, biological and physical environmental variables including sea surface temperature （SST）, SST anomaly （SSTA）, chlorophyll a （Chl a） concentration and the Kuroshio Current were examined during years with the highest （1999）, intermediate （2005）, and lowest （2009） catches. Catch per unit effort （CPUE） of the squid-jigging vessels was used as an indicator of squid abundance. The results indicated that high SST and Chl a concentration on the spawning ground in 1999 resulted in favorable incubation and feeding conditions for squid recruitment. Whereas the suitable spawning zone （SSZ） in 2009 shifted southward and coincided with low SST and Chl a concentration, resulting in a reduction in the squid recruitment. The small difference of SSZ area in the three years suggested the SSZ provided limited influences on the variability in squid recruitment. Furthermore, high squid abundance in 1999 and 2005 was associated with warm SSTA on the fishing ground. While the cool SSTA on the fishing ground in 2009 contributed to adverse habitat for the squid, leading to extremely low abundance. It was inferred that strengthened intensity of the Kuroshio force generally yielded favorable environmental conditions for O. bartramii. Future research are suggested to focus on the fundamental research oil the early life stage of O. bartramii and mechanism of how the ocean-climate variability affects the squid abundance and spatial distribution by coupling physical model with squid biological process to explore transport path and abundance distribution.

Standardization of CPUE for Chilean Jack Mackerel (Trachurus murphyi) from Chinese Trawl Fleets in the High Seas of the Southeast Pacific Ocean

The generalized linear model(GLM) and generalized additive model(GAM) were applied to the standardization of catch per unit effort(CPUE) for Chilean jack mackerel from Chinese factory trawl fishing fleets in the Southeast Pacific Ocean from 2001 to 2010 by removing the operational,environmental,spatial and temporal impacts.A total of 9 factors were selected to build the GLM and GAM,i.e.,Year,Month,Vessel,La Ni a and El Ni o events(ELE),Latitude,Longitude,Sea surface temperature(SST),SST anomaly(SSTA),Nino3.4 index and an interaction term between Longitude and Latitude.The first 5 factors were significant components in the GLM,which in combination explained 27.34% of the total variance in nominal CPUE.In the stepwise GAM,all factors explained 30.78% of the total variance,with Month,Year and Vessel as the main factors influencing CPUE.The higher CPUE occurred during the period April to July at a SST range of 12-15℃ and a SSTA range of 0.2-1.0℃.The CPUE was significantly higher in normal years compared with that in La Ni a and El Ni o years.The abundance of Chilean jack mackerel declined during 2001 and 2010,with an increase in 2007.This work provided the relative abundance index of Chilean jack mackerel for stock assessment by standardizing catch and effort data of Chinese trawl fisheries and examined the influence of temporal,spatial,environmental and fisheries operational factors on Chilean jack mackerel CPUE.

Fishery Biology of Jumbo Flying Squid Dosidicus gigas off Costa Rica Dome

The jumbo flying squid(Dosidicus gigas) population was surveyed with the help of Chinese squid jigging vessels off the Costa Rica Dome(4°–11°N, 90°–100°W) in 2009 and 2010. The daily catch of D. gigas in the two survey cruises ranged from 0 to 5.5 t and was mostly obtained from the areas bounded by 6°–9°N and 91°–94°W and by 6°30′–7°30′N and 96°–97°W. The sea surface temperature in the areas yielding the most catch ranged from 27.5 to 29℃. The sex ratio of the total catch was 3.75:1(female: male). The mantle length of the squid ranged from 211 to 355 mm(male) and from 204 to 429 mm(female) with an average of 297.9 and 306.7 mm, respectively. In the relationship of the mantle length(mm) and body weight(g) of the squid, there was no significant difference between sexes. The female and male were at a similar maturity, and most individuals are maturing or have matured with a few females being spent. The size(mantle length) and age at the first sexual maturity were 297 mm and 195 d in females, and less than 211 mm and 130 d in males, respectively. Most of the sampled stomachs(70.6%) had no food remains. The major preys of the squids were fish, cephalopods and crustaceans, with the most abundant Myctophum orientale and D. gigas. The preys in more than 65% of the non-empty sampled stomachs evidenced the cannibalism of D. gigas. The results improved current understanding of the fishery biology of D. gigas off the Costa Rica Dome, which may facilitate the assessment and management of relative fishery resources.

Isolation and characterization of AHL-degrading bacteria from fish and pond sediment

Quorum sensing (QS) disruption is considered as a potential alternative strategy to combat bacterial diseases in aquaculture. In this study, we isolated and identified bacteria degrading QS molecules from pond sediment and fish intestine. A total of 132 strains were obtained in the enrichment culture, of which two strains were identified as Enterobacter sp. f003 and Staphylococcus sp. sw120, being isolated from the fish intestine and pond sediment, respectively. We found that strains f003 and sw120 could degrade acyl-homoserine lactones (AHLs) and cause no hemolysis of sheep red blood cells. The AHL lactonase (aiiA) homologous gene in the two strains was detected in PCR amplification and the high-degrading activity to N-hexanoyl-L-homoserine lactone (C6-HSL) and AHLs secreted from pathogenic Aeromonas hydrophila was assessed. Meanwhile, the artificial infection of cyprinid Carassius auratus gibelio with intraperitoneal injection showed that the two strains were avirulent. Therefore, the obtained indigenous bacteria are candidate probiotics against pathogenic A. hydrophila in aquaculture.

Modeling Monthly Spatial Distribution of Ommastrephes bartramii CPUE in the Northwest Pacific and Its Spatially Nonstationary Relationships with the Marine Environment

There are substantial spatial variations in the relationships between catch-per-unit-effort(CPUE) and oceanographic conditions with respect to pelagic species. This study examines the monthly spatiotemporal distribution of CPUE of the neon flying squid, Ommastrephes bartramii, in the Northwest Pacific from July to November during 2004–2013, and analyzes the relationships with oceanographic conditions using a generalized additive model(GAM) and geographically weighted regression(GWR) model. The results show that most of the squids were harvested in waters with sea surface temperature(SST) between 7.6 and 24.6℃, chlorophyll-a(Chl-a) concentration below 1.0 mgm^(-3), sea surface salinity(SSS) between 32.7 and 34.6, and sea surface height(SSH) between-12.8 and 28.4 cm. The monthly spatial distribution patterns of O. bartramii predicted using GAM and GWR models are similar to observed patterns for all months. There are notable variations in the local coefficients of GWR, indicating the presence of spatial non-stationarity in the relationship between O. bartramii CPUE and oceanographic conditions. The statistical results show that there were nearly equal positive and negative coefficients for Chl-a, more positive than negative coefficients for SST, and more negative than positive coefficients for SSS and SSH. The overall accuracies of the hot spots predicted by GWR exceed 60%(except for October), indicating a good performance of this model and its improvement over GAM. Our study provides a better understanding of the ecological dynamics of O. bartramii CPUE and makes it possible to use GWR to study the spatially nonstationary characteristics of other pelagic species.

Morphological beak differences ofloliginid squid, Uroteuthis chinensis and Uroteuthis edulis, in the northern South China Sea

The mitre squid(U roteuthis chinensis) and the swordtip squid( U. edulis) are Indo-Pacific cephalopod species that are abundant in the western Pacific Ocean. They are currently exploited in the East and South China Seas and make up a significant portion of the Chinese neritic squid catch. Beaks, the feeding organs of squid, are important for individual size and biomass estimation because of their high resistance to degradation in predator stomachs and consistent dimensions. In this study, 104 U. chinensis and 143 U. edulis individuals were sampled from northern South China Sea with mantle length from 70 to 260 mm and 96 to 284 mm, respectively. The results indicated that morphological beak values were greater for U. edulis, compared to U. chinensis, for upper hood length(UHL), upper crest length(UCL), upper lateral wall length(ULWL), lower crest length(LCL), and lower lateral wall length(LLWL). According to principal component analysis, UHL/ML, UCL/ML, ULWL/ML, LCL/ML, LLWL/ML and LWL/ML could represent the characteristics of beaks for U. chinensis, while UHL/ML, UCL/ML, ULWL/ML, LHL/ML, LCL/ML and LLWL/ML could represent it for U. edulis. According to Akaike's information criterion(AIC) values, a power function was the most suitable model for U. chinensis, while a linear function was the most suitable model for U. edulis. The beak variable-mantle length ratio(beak variable/mantle length) declined with the increasing of mantle length and declined sharply at the early stage of growth in both beaks and species. The ratio changed quickly after achieving the mantle length of 140 mm for U. chinensis, while the ratio changed quickly after 170 mm for U. edulis. Beaks in both species experienced sharper changes through maturity stage I to II than other maturity stages. This study gives us basic beak morphology information for U. chinensis and U. edulis in the East and South China Seas. Geometric morphological methods combined with dietary analysis should be used in the future.

Occurrence of Bothriocephalus acheilognathi (Cestoda, Bothriocephallidea) in grass carp Ctenopharyngodon idella in the Changjiang River drainage

Bothriocephalus acheilognathi is a potentially serious pathogen in wild or cultured fish in worldwide distribution. We examined 58-farmed grass carp from Nanchang in the Changjiang (Yangtze) River drainage, from which 20.7% were found to harbor the parasite with an infection intensity of 36.9 ± 54.7. The parasites were identified based on morphology and rDNA ITS sequence analysis. The present report represents the first record of the parasite in grass carp Ctenopharyngodon idella in the river drainage.

Molecular cloning,tissue expression of gene Muc2 in blunt snout bream Megalobrama amblycephala and regulation after re-feeding

Mucins are important components of mucus,which form a natural,physical,biochemical and semipermeable mucosal layer on the epidermis of fish gills,skin,and the gastrointestinal tract. As the first step towards characterizing the function of Muc2,we cloned a partial Megalobrama amblycephala Muc2 cDNA of 2 175 bp,and analyzed its tissue-specific expression pattern by quantitative real-time PCR(qPCR). The obtained sequence comprised 41 bp 5′-untranslated region(5′-UTR),2 134 bp open reading frame encoding a protein of 711 amino acids. BLAST searching and phylogenetic analysis showed that the predicted protein contained several common secreted mucin-module domains(VWD-C8-TIL-VWD-C8) and had high homology with mucins from other vertebrates. Among four candidate reference genes(β- Actin,RPI13α,RPII,18S) for the qPCR,R PII was chosen as an appropriate reference gene because of its lowest variation in different tissues. M. amblycephala Muc2 was mainly expressed in the intestine,in the order(highest to lowest) middle-intestine > fore-intestine > hind-intestine. Muc2 was expressed relatively poorly in other organs(brain,liver,kidney,spleen,skin and gill). Furthermore,after 20-days of starvation,M. amblycephala Muc2 expressions after refeeding for 0h,3 h,16 h,3 d,and 10 d were significantly decreased in the three intestinal segments(P <0.05) at 16 h,and were then upregulated to near the initial level at 10 d.

The impact of spatial scale on local Moran's I clustering of annual fishing effort for Dosidicus gigas offshore Peru

The spatial scale(?shing grid) of ?sheries research af fects the observed spatial patterns of?sheries resources such as catch-per-unit-ef fort(CPUE) and ?shing ef fort. We examined the scale impact of high value(HH) clusters of the annual ?shing ef fort for Dosidicus gigas of fshore Peru from 2009 to 2012.For a multi-scale analysis, the original commercial ?shery data were tessellated to twelve spatial scales from 6′ to 72′ with an interval of 6′. Under these spatial scales, D. gigas clusters were identi?ed using the Anselin Local Moran's I. Statistics including the number of points, mean CPUE, standard deviation(SD),skewness, kurtosis, area and centroid were calculated for these HH clusters. We found that the z-score of global Moran's I and the number of points for HH clusters follow a power law scaling relationship from2009 to 2012. The mean ef fort and its SD also follow a power law scaling relationship from 2009 to 2012.The skewness follows a linear scaling relationship in 2010 and 2011 but ?uctuates with spatial scale in2009 and 2012; kurtosis follows a logarithmic scale relationship in 2009, 2011 and 2012 but a linear scale relationship in 2010. Cluster area follows a power law scaling relationship in 2010 and 2012, a linear scaling relationship in 2009, and a quadratic scaling relationship in 2011. Based on the peaks of Moran's I indices and the multi-scale analysis, we conclude that the optimum scales are 12′ in 2009 ? 2011 and 6′ in 2012, while the coarsest allowable scales are 48′ in 2009, 2010 and 2012, and 60′ in 2011. Our research provides the best spatial scales for conducting spatial analysis of this pelagic species, and provides a better understanding of scaling behavior for the ?shing ef fort of D. gigas in the of fshore Peruvian waters.

Using Different Standardized Methods for Species Identification:A Case Study Using Beaks from Three Ommastrephid Species

The cephalopod beak is a vital hard structure with a stable configuration and has been widely used for the identification of cephalopod species. This study was conducted to determine the best standardization method for identifying different species by measuring 12 morphological variables of the beaks of Illex argentinus, Ommastrephes bartramii, and Dosidicus gigas that were collected by Chinese jigging vessels. To remove the effects of size, these morphometric variables were standardized using three methods. The average ratios of the upper beak morphological variables and upper crest length of O. bartramii and D. gigas were found to be greater than those of I. argentinus. However, for lower beaks, only the average of LRL(lower rostrum length)/LCL(lower crest length), LRW(lower rostrum width)/LCL, and LLWL(lower lateral wall length)/LCL of O. bartramii and D. gigas were greater than those of I. argentinus. The ratios of beak morphological variables and crest length were found to be all significantly different among the three species(P < 0.001). Among the three standardization methods, the correct classification rate of stepwise discriminant analysis(SDA) was the highest using the ratios of beak morphological variables and crest length. Compared with hood length, the correct classification rate was slightly higher when using beak variables standardized by crest length using an allometric model. The correct classification rate of the lower beak was also found to be greater than that of the upper beak. This study indicates that the ratios of beak morphological variables to crest length could be used for interspecies and intraspecies identification. Meanwhile, the lower beak variables were found to be more effective than upper beak variables in classifying beaks found in the stomachs of predators.