Study on macroscopic, microscopic and hormonal changes in gonads of the crayfish Astacus leptodactylus in Aras Dam

This study was carried out to seasonal determination of some morphological characteristics, Seasonal fecundity, Seasonal fluctuations of vertebrate-type steroids and seasonal analysis of gonadal histology in both female and male sexes of freshwater crayfish (Astacus leptodactylus Eschscholtz 1823) in the area of Aras dam Lake. Crayfish were collected respectively in June, August, November (2011) and January (2012). The average length and weight of male crayfish was higher than that of females. %GSI of females fluctuated within an extended range (between 0.6 and 13.5% from June to January). Both of synchronous and asynchronous ovaries were seen in August sampled ovaries; however asynchronous form was higher than another. The annual reproductive cycle of male A. leptodactylus was surveyed by study on the seasonal changes of the external appearance of the testes and vasa deferentia, fluctuations in the gonadosomatic index (GSI%) and the histological analysis of the male reproductive system. Based on the histological differentiation of testis, spermatogenisis devided to 5 separated stages. The findings suggested asynchronous testis in the species A.leptodactylus. The presence of primary spermatophore layer may help keeping spermatozoa alive while the secondary spermatophore layer may produces spermatophore or synthesize of acellular material which forms spermatophre. Pleopodal fecundity was 37.3%lower than ovarian fecundity observed. The significantly higher number of eggs attached to 3rd and 4th pairs of pleopods. The egg number and gonadosomatic index increased with female size while egg weight and egg diameter didn’t increase with female size. Hemolymph levels of 17β-estradiol and progesterone followed a similar fluctuation pattern with % GSI in females, while testosterone didn’t follow the mentioned pattern. The testis of November sampled crayfish presented significantly higher gonadosomatic (%GSI) index (P < 0.05).The most observed gonadosomaticindices were 13.5%(forfemales) and 1.21% (for males, in autumn. Althogh the lowest GSI was (0.50%) formales in spring and (0.26%0 for spent females in January. Testosterone which followed a similar pattern with %GSI in males increased remarkably in November. 17β-estradiol increased strictly in January. The strictly enhancement of the three estroid hormones in January in both male and female sexes could bedue totheir stimulating role in in spermatophre and egg lying in the mating season (In January). Most of the ovaries followed the asynchoronous growth pattern. Also the testes presented asynchoronous growth pattern in autumn.

Patterns of succession in benthic infaunal communities following dredging and dredged material disposal in Monterey Bay

This report is the final product of a two-year study conducted for the Office, Chief of Engineers, by the Moss Landing Marine Laboratories, Moss Landing, California, under Contract No. DACW39-74-C-OI51 with the Environmental Effects Laboratory (EEL), U. S. Army Engineer Waterways Experiment Station (WES), Yicksburg, Mississippi. (PDF contains 192 pages)

Consideraciones sobre las percas (Percichthys colhuapiensis y P.trucha) de la Patagonia norte - Años 1955 a 1957. Comparaciones con material de años recientes.

Este trabajo se basa en los muestreos sobre las percas (Percichthys sp) realizado entre los años 1955 a 1957 por María Luisa Fuster de Plaza y Enrique E. Boschi, ambos investigadores se desempañaban en el Departamento de Investigaciones Pesqueras de la Dirección Nacional de Pesca, dependiente del Ministerio de Agricultura y Ganadería de la Nación de entonces. Las tareas se llevaron a cabo principalmente en varios cuerpos de agua léntica y lóticas de la región de la Patagonia Norte (Provincias de Río Negro, Neuquen y Chubut), y en la provincia de Mendoza. Consisten en datos morfométricos, desarrollo gonadal, fecundidad, contenidos alimenticios, planillas, dibujos, etc. de 80 ejemplares de percas. La autora tuvo a su cargo el análisis de los datos de esos muestreos y las comparaciones con estudios de material más reciente, correspondiente al lago Pellegrini, a partir de 1981.

The extent of the rearrangement of material in Neuwerk/Scharhom flat [Translation from: Hamburger Kuestenforschung 33, 1-24 [p23 only], 1975]

Investigations of the rearrangement of material in Neuwerk/Scharhom flat showed that with the exception of the western border/edge and the parts of the Elbe and Oste shores/banks which lie most seawards, the entire mudflat area is only infrequently exposed to strong hydraulic forces. Only in extreme conditions, which on average occur rarely more than once a year, would the mudflats be severely affected. This partial translation provides the summary of the original article only.

Species-specific effects of four preservative treatments on oocytes and ovarian material of Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua), haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus), and American plaice (Hippoglossoides platessoides)

The lack of information concerning the preservation of ovarian material of fish species inhibits standardization of methods for determining fecundity and measuring oocytes. The effects of four preservatives (10% phosphate-buffered formalin, modified Gilson’s solution, 70% ethanol, and freezing) on ovarian material weight and oocyte size were quantified for prespawning Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua), haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus), and American plaice (Hippoglossoides platessoides). Effects of preservation were similar between Atlantic cod and haddock but different between Atlantic cod and American plaice for nearly all comparisons. Although all treatments affected the weight of ovarian material, freezing caused the most change and formalin caused the least. Such signif icant species-specific effects should be quantified in the calculation of life history characteristics, such as fecundity, to minimize error. This is one of few studies dedicated to evaluating the effects of preservation on oocytes and ovarian material and is the first to evaluate multiple preservatives on species.

La documentación del material vegetal incompleto o fragmentario en la investigación etnobotánica

Este artículo tiene por finalidad mostrar cómo un grupo de investigación dedicado a la etnobotánica resolvió el problema de conservar, ordenar y organizar una colección de material que no reúne las condiciones para ser incorporada en un herbario. Al mismo tiempo, se hace una breve revisión de varios tópicos y referencias sobre los distintos tipos de colecciones que realiza un etnobotánico y se sugieren ideas de cómo proceder con ellas. En apretada síntesis, el material documental que abarca la investigación etnobotánica compromete varios tipos de elementos, todos ellos habitualmente obtenidos in situ: a) material de herbario, b) órganos vegetales, trozos, fragmentos, material semielaborado (fibras, cordeles, etc.), c) material elaborado (artesanías, artefactos u objetos que conforman la cultura material), d) piezas complejas (tejidos, vestimentas, embarcaciones, mobiliario, adornos ceremoniales, etc. ), e) material de descarte o accesorio (tapones, tizones, envoltorios, parasoles, elementos de sostén o apoyo momentáneo, utensilios efímeros, etc.).

Fichas de material

The main purpose in the preparation of the material cards is to help the supplies concerning UDPPE's and Equipesca's staff in the appraisals of the quantity and quality of the strategic fishing materials ordered to them and in the planning of the distribution of such materials through out their national brokerage network. In the other hand the cards will be also helpful in the knowledge of each of those items utilization

Note on additional material of Neballa dahli Kazmi and Tirmizi, 1989 (Leptostraca: Crustacea) from Karachi (northern Arabian Sea)

The first leptostracans Nebalia dahli (Kazmi & Tirmizi, 1989) from the Arabian Sea in mangrove planktonic collection near Karachi were two males, the sex of the juvenile paratype could not be determined at that time. A brief description is given in this paper.

Studies on technological problems associated with the processing of cooked frozen prawns. Pt. 1. Preprocess storage conditions of raw material in relation to quality

The chemical and organoleptic properties of prawn held in ice for different days prior to cooking and the changes after freezing and subsequent storage were studied with three different species of prawn viz. Metapenaeus monoceros, Metapenaeus dobsoni and Parapeneopsis stylifera. The optimum period for which the prawn can be kept under ideal conditions of icing prior to cooking has been worked out.