Comparative ontogenetic behavior and migration of kaluga, Huso dauricus, and Amur sturgeon, Acipenser schrenckii, from the Amur River

We conducted laboratory experiments with kaluga, Huso dauricus, and Amur sturgeon, Acipenser schrenckii, to develop a conceptual model of early behavior. We daily observed embryos (first life phase after hatching) and larvae (period initiating exogenous feeding) to day-30 (late larvae) for preference of bright habitat and cover, swimming distance above the bottom, up- and downstream movement, and diel activity. Day-0 embryos of both species strongly preferred bright, open habitat and initiated a strong, downstream migration that lasted 4 days (3 day peak) for kaluga and 3 days (2 day peak) for Amur sturgeon. Kaluga migrants swam far above the bottom (150 cm) on only 1 day and moved day and night; Amur sturgeon migrants swam far above the bottom (median 130 cm) during 3 days and were more nocturnal than kaluga. Post-migrant embryos of both species moved day and night, but Amur sturgeon used dark, cover habitat and swam closer to the bottom than kaluga. The larva period of both species began on day 7 (cumulative temperature degree-days, 192.0 for kaluga and 171.5 for Amur sturgeon). Larvae of both species preferred open habitat. Kaluga larvae strongly preferred bright habitat, initially swam far above the bottom (median 50-105 cm), and migrated downstream at night during days 10-16 (7-day migration). Amur sturgeon larvae strongly avoided illumination, had a mixed response to white substrate, swam 20-30 cm above the bottom during most days, and during days 12-34 (most of the larva period) moved downstream mostly at night (23-day migration). The embryo-larva migration style of the two species likely shows convergence of non-related species for a common style in response to environmental selection in the Amur River. The embryo-larva migration style of Amur sturgeon is unique among Acipenser yet studied.

Ontogenetic behavior and migration of Chinese sturgeon, Acipenser sinensis

The Chinese sturgeon, Acipenser sinensis, is an anadromous protected species that presently only spawns in the Yangtze River. Using laboratory experiments, we examined the behavioral preference of young Chinese sturgeon to physical habitat (water depth, illumination intensity, substrate color, and cover) and monitored their downstream migration. Hatchling free embryos were photopositive, preferred open habitat, and immediately upon hatching, swam far above the bottom using swim-up and drift. Downstream migration peaked on days 0-1, decreased about 50% or more during days 2-7, and ceased by day 8. Days 0-1 migrants were active both day and night, but days 2-7 migrants were most active during the day. After ceasing migration, days 8-11 embryos were photonegative, preferred dark substrate and sought cover. Free embryos developed into larvae and began feeding on day 12, when another shift in behavior occurred-larvae returned to photopositive behavior and preferred white substrate. The selective factor favoring migration of free embryos upon hatching and swimming far above the bottom may be avoidance of benthic predatory fishes. Free embryos, which must rely on yolk energy for activity and growth, only used 19 cumulative temperature degree-days for peak migration compared to 234 degree-days for growth to first feeding larvae, a 1 : 12 ratio of cumulative temperature units. This ratio suggests that sturgeon species with large migratory embryos, like Chinese sturgeon, which require a high level of energy to swim during migration, may migrate only a short time to conserve most yolk energy for growth.

Growth performance of juvenile white sturgeon as affected by feeding regimen

Juvenile (mean +/- SE, 8.6 +/- 0.1 g) white sturgeon Acipenser transmontanus were fed for 8 weeks under one of six feeding regimens: continuously 24 h/d (C24); continuously 12.8 h/d during the day (C12/D), continuously 12.8 h/d at night (C12/N), 6 meals/d (M6), 4 meals/d (M4), and 2 meals/d (M2). Specific growth rate, feed efficiency, and body lipid content were significantly (P < 0.05) affected by the feeding regimen. These variables were highest in the C24 group and lowest in the M2 group; fish in the M6 group showed the second best performance. Specific growth rate and feed efficiency in terms of wet weight in the M6 groups were not significantly different from those in the C24 groups, but specific growth rate in terms of energy and energy retention efficiency were significantly lower. Feeding regimen had no effect on condition factor, hepatosomatic index, coefficient of variation in final body weight, and protein and ash contents. There was no significant difference in these indexes between 12.8-h/d continuous feeding by day or by night. It was concluded that continuous feeding for 24 h/d was the optimum feeding regimen for juvenile white sturgeon.

哀牢山金山丫口夜间网捕鸟类多样性及其影响因素

2007 年9 月5 日至11 月5 日和2008 年9 月3 日至11 月7 日期间，主要利用灯光诱捕，对云南省新平县哀牢山金山丫口（23°57′N, 101°30′E）夜间迁徙鸟类多样性进行调查。同时记录网捕鸟类的时序和几种主要鸟类的迁徙时序。分析各种因子（地理、温度、湿度、雾天、风向、风力以及月相周期）对夜间网捕鸟类数量和种类的影响。 2 年期间共网捕鸟类7943 只，129 种，分别属于14 目23 科。雀形目鸟类占总网捕数量的58.9%。网捕数量超过1%的科共10 个科。网捕数量占总网捕数量1%以上的共14 种。其中红尾伯劳Lanius cristatus、小杜鹃Cuculus poliocephalus、红喉歌鸲Luscinia calliope 三者的数量超过网捕鸟类总数的5%。所有网捕鸟类中，东洋型鸟类占最多共54 种，占41.85%。 2 年期间网捕鸟类多样性指数H′为2.60989，均匀度指数J 为0.29063，优势度指数C 为 0.22503，G-F 指数为0.71366。2007 年的优势指数C 和G-F 指数较2008 年高，但2008 年的 Shannon-Wiener 指数和Pielou 指数较2007 年高。红尾伯劳是造成两年多样性测度指数差异的主要原因。云南省不同“打雀山”夜间捕获鸟类的种类和数量存在差异。地理和气候可能是造成这些差异的主要因素。 2 年工作期间将观察时间平均分为早期（9 月3 日至9 月24 日）、中期（9 月25 日至10 月16 日）、晚期（10 月17 日至11 月8 日）三个时期。早期网捕鸟类数量最多5263 只，多样性指数最低，优势度指数最高；中期记录的种类最多86 种，多样性指数和均匀度指数中期最高。造成这种差异的主要原因是早期红尾伯劳的数量尤其突出。单独分析2007 年和2008 年各时期，除了2007 年晚期种类最多67 种以外，其余变化都与2 年总体一致。每个时期都有部分鸟类数量达到高峰，而也有部分鸟类数量处在低谷期。飞经哀牢山金山丫口的秋季夜间迁徙鸟类开始迁徙的时间大致在8 月中旬，结束在11 月下旬。每种鸟类的迁徙持续时间不一致，其中迁徙持续时间超过30 天的鸟有36 种。同种鸟类不同年份迁徙时间不一致。夜间每个时段捕获数量和种类有差异，在夜间20:00-22:00 和凌晨04:00-06:00 捕获数量和种类较多。24:00-02:00 网捕鸟类数量和种类最少。调查结果显示不是所有鸟类都是整夜迁徙，夜间开始迁徙较早的鸟类清晨也停止迁徙较早，夜间开始迁徙较晚的鸟类清晨停止迁徙较晚。除红喉歌鸲以外的4 种鸟，它们的迁徙时间是从9 月前至11 月后。红尾伯劳、小杜鹃以及大杜鹃的迁徙高峰期是9 月上旬至9 月中旬。厚嘴苇莺Acrocephalus aedon 的迁徙高峰期为 9 月中旬至10 月下旬。红喉歌鸲的迁徙时间是9 月下旬至11 月上旬后，迁徙高峰期为整个 10 月。5 个优势种都是整夜迁徙，不过每种鸟的迁徙高峰时段和低谷时段不一致。红尾伯劳、小杜鹃、大杜鹃在20:00-22:00 捕获数量最多；红喉歌鸲、厚嘴苇莺在凌晨04:00-06:00 捕获数量最多。红尾伯劳、红喉歌鸲、大杜鹃在24:00-02:00 捕获数量最少；厚嘴苇莺在22:00-24:00 捕获数量最少；小杜鹃在凌晨02:00-04:00 捕获数量最少。对5 个优势种在各迁徙时期的体重进行分析，采用双样本T 检验（Independent-Samples T Test）表明：红喉歌鸲和小杜鹃早中晚期的体重差异极为显著（P<0.01）。运用单因素方差分析（One-Way ANONA）表明：小杜鹃早中晚期的体重变化极其显著（P<0.01）。进一步采用双样本T 检验（Independent-Samples T Test）：小杜鹃晚期体重与早期和中期体重差异都极其著（P<0.01），早期与中期的体量没有显著差异（P>0.01）。其余3 个优势种各时期体量差异不显著（P>0.01）。影响夜间网捕鸟类种类和数量的因素较多。地理特点是影响夜间网捕鸟类种类的主要因素。气候条件是影响夜间网捕鸟类种类和数量的重要因素。风向和风力对夜间网捕数量和种类都有极其显著的影响（P<0.01），其中风向对其影响比风力大，西南风时夜间网捕鸟类数量和种类较多。雾天对夜间网捕数量和种类影响极其显著（P<0.01），大雾天气夜间网捕鸟类数量和种类较多。月相周期对夜间网捕数量及其种类的影响极其显著 (P<0.01)，新月和残月期间夜间网捕鸟类数量和种类较多。温湿度对夜间网捕鸟类数量和种类影响不显著(P>0.05)。除此之外，光也是捕获夜间鸟类的必要条件。

青藏高原东部植物生态特征在季节性雪厚度梯度上的变化

本文以青藏高原东部的高山草甸为研究对象，设置早融、中间及晚融三个融雪部位，采用实验室测量、野外测量、野外样方调查相结合的 方法，从个体、种群和群落的水平上比较研究了高山雪场植物在同一雪场样地中不同融雪梯度上的特征变异及适应，结果表明： 从早融到晚融的梯度上，随着融雪时间的逐渐推迟，表土日温差降低，冻融交替的强度减弱，土壤水份逐渐增加，总N、总P、总K 以及 可溶性的N、P 和pH 变化不明显，土壤有机质及可溶性的K 和Ca 逐渐降低。冻融交替强度上的差异以及土壤水分差异被认为是融雪梯度上 影响植物生长的主要原因。 从早融到晚融的梯度上，伴随着生态因子的改变，几种常见植物的个体特征也发生相应的变化。首先，物候期推迟。植物开始生长的时间 一般要推迟将近二十天，但同一种植物在不同的融雪部位上的衰老期趋于一致，这预示着在晚融部位同一植物的生长期要缩短。其次，个体生 长特性发生改变。黑褐穗苔草（Carex atrofusca subsp. minor (Boott) T.Koyama）和西北黄芪（Astragalus fenzelianus Pet.-Stib.）的个体生长（株高、单株叶数、单叶面积和地上生物量）表现为逐渐增加的趋势；斑唇马先蒿（Pedicularis longiflora Rudolph var. tubiformis (Klotz.) Tsoong）和川西小黄菊（Pyrethrum tatsienense (Bur. et Franch.) Ling ex Shih.）则表现为逐渐降低的趋势；长叶火绒草（Leontopodium longifolium Ling）在融雪梯度上的变化趋势不明显。再次，从繁殖特性来看，大卫马先蒿（Pedicularis davidii var. pentodon Tsoong）的单株花数、单花种子数、种子千粒重及种子萌发率随融雪的推迟呈现为逐渐增加的趋势；圆穗蓼（Polygonum macrophyllum D.Don）的种子（小坚果）千粒重和萌发率也表现为逐渐增加，其余繁殖特征变化不明显。 在种群层次上，几个常见物种的分布格局随着融雪的推迟都发生一定的变化，基本上表现为从早融的集群分布到中间或晚融部位的随机分布。物种间的联结性也发生较大的变化，由早融部位的总体上的正关联逐步过度到晚融部位上的总体上的负关联。特定种对间的联结性也发生较大的变化。恶劣环境条件（如剧烈的冻融交替）的影响以及对恶劣条件适应被认为是分布格局及种间联结性发生变化的主要原因。 在群落层次上，物种多样性的变化表现为单峰曲线的格局，即在中间部位多样性最高。早融部位强烈的冻融交替和晚融部位缩短的生长季是早融及晚融部位物种多样性不高的重要原因。几乎所有的只出现在一个融雪部位（雪深级别）上的物种都发生在中间融雪部位。这说明，中等的雪深更有利于许多高山植物的存活，而过浅过深的积雪都不利于植物的生存。另外，相距较近的融雪梯度之间的物种相似性较大，而相距较远的梯度之间物种的替代率较高，物种的相似性较小。在群落的生物量方面，地上生物量随融雪的推迟而升高，地下生物量随融雪的推迟而下降，地上与地下生物量之总和随着融雪的推迟而下降，地下生物量与地上生物量之比随着融雪的推迟而下降。早融部位的地上生物量主要集中于地上0-10cm 的范围内，表明在早融部位植物地上部分有变矮的趋势；早融部位的地下生物量在土壤各深度分布相对较均一，而晚融部位地下生物量则主要集中于地下0-10cm 的范围内。生物量的变化趋势主要与雪场中各部位的土壤水分含量及地表日温度差异有关，是植物适应特定环境的结果。 To detect the plants’ responses to snow-cover gradients in an alpine meadow of eastern Tibetan plateau, laboratory method and field sample plot method were employed, and three gradeients （early-, medium and late-melting）were established in a natural snowbed. The measurements were carried out for two years and was done on three levels——individual, population and community. The results are shown as follows : From early- to late-melting gradients, daily ground temperature difference between day and night decreased, amplitude of freeze-thaw alternation weakened, soil organic matter contents and soluble K and Ca decreased, while soil water content increased. Total N, total P, total K，pH soluble N and soluble P kept constant from early- to late-melting portions. Among these factors, the changes of intense freeze-thaw alternation and soil water contents were considered as main factors affecting plants’ growth. From early- to late-melting portions, all phenological phases postponed, e.g. phase of plant emergence postponed almost twenty days. However, the same species’ individuals at different portions withered in step, which implied that the individuals at late-melting portion possessed shorter growing season length. Along the same gradient, both Carex atrofusca subsp. minor (Boott) T. Koyama and Astragalus fenzelianus Pet.-Stib. increased their individual growth, whereas Pedicularis longiflora Rudolph var. tubiformis (Klotz.) Tsoong and Pyrethrum tatsienense (Bur. et Franch.) Ling ex Shih. decreased their individual growth. Unlike the four plants mentioned above, Leontopodium longifolium L. did not show any evident change. As to reproductive charateristics, the flowers per individual, the number of seeds per flower, the thousand seed weight and the seed germination rate of Pedicularis davidii var. pentodon showed an increasing trend; and Polygonum macrophyllum D.Don also increased its thousand seed weight and seed germination rate along the same gradient. However, the other reproductive charateristics of Polygonum macrophyllum D.Don did not change significantly. At population level, the distribution pattern of several selected species changed from cluster pattern to random pattern as the snowmelt postponed. Overall association among the species changed from positive to negative along the same gradient. Further, interspecific association also changed evidently. Adverse circumstances such as intense freeze-thaw alternation were considered as primary factors resulting in changes of population distribution pattern and interspecific association. At the level of community, species diversity showed a pattern of a unimodal trend, i.e. the highest diversity occurred at medium snow depth，perhaps because of intense freeze-thaw alternation at early-melting portions and the shortest growing season at late-melting portions. Almost all species that only appeared at one snowmelt portion occurred at medium portion, indicating that medium snow depth was more suitable for many species’ survival. Species replacement from one snowmelt portion to its neighboring portion seldom took place. However, while distance between two portions became farther, species replacement between the two portions occurred more frequently. As for biomass, aboveground biomass increased from early- to late-melting portions, whereas belowground biomass, total biomass and the ratio of belowground to aboveground all decreased along the same snow gradient. A majority of aboveground biomass distributed in a height range of 0-10 cm, suggesting that height of plants inhabiting early-melting portion be shorter compared with other portions. In addition, belowground biomass at early-melting portion was evenly distributed at different soil depth in comparison with aboveground biomass, whereas belowground biomass at late-melting portion concentrated 0-10cm soil layer below ground. The changing trend of biomass was also related to two factors. One was soil water content, and the other topsoil temperature difference between day and night.

长白山红松针阔混交林CO_2通量的日变化与季节变化

Diurnal and seasonal variation of CO_2 flux above the Korean Pine and broad_leaved mixed forest in Changbai Mountain were expounded according to the measurements by eddy covariance technique. The results showed that the diurnal variation during growing season was closely correlated with photosynthetically active radiation (PAR). The forest assimilated the CO_2 in daytime and released in night. The maximum uptake occurred about 9 o'clock of local time in clear day. Assimilation was synchronous to PAR in cloudy day. The night respiration increased with increasing of shallow soil temperature. The CO_2 flux also had obviously seasonal variation that was mainly controlled by temperature. Relationship between monthly net exchange of CO_2 and monthly mean air temperature fit cubic equation. Remarkable uptake occurred in blooming growing season,May to August,and weak respiration occurred in dormant season,October to March,and relatively big release happed in October. Assimilation and respiration were nearly balanced during the transition of growing and dormant seasons. The annual carbon uptake of the ecosystem was-184 gC·m -2 .

Photochemistry of Halogens in the Marine Atmosphere

Diatomic halogen molecules diffusing into the marine atmosphere are photodissociated to atoms in daylight more rapidly than they undergo other fates. The geochemistry of ‘gaseous halogens’ is considered in terms of photolysis rates and the secondary reactions of the atoms produced. Diatomic halogens could be photolyzed predominantly by day and adsorbed on aerosol by night without yielding diurnal variations in currently measurable variables. Halogen atoms in the marine atmosphere react with ozone more rapidly than with other marine tropospheric constituents, this reaction yielding haloxy radicals that are also reactive.

Characterization of cyclic arylether ketone (sulfone) containing hexafluoroisopropylidene unit by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry

The cyclic aryletherketone( sulfone) oligomers containing hexafluoroisopropylidene unit were characterized by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-night mass spectrometry(MALDI-TOF-MS) using Na+ and Ag+ as cationization agents. The affinities of cyclic oligomers to the cation were studied. The analysis result showed that 1,8,9-dithranol, in the presence of silver trifluoroacetate, was very effective for the characterization of cyclic arylether ketone ( sulfone) containing hexafluoroisopropylidene unit.

Studies on extracting solutions of endohedral rare-earth metallofullerenes by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry

Thirteen extracting solutions of rare-earth metallofullerenes containing La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm and Yb respectively have been investigated by means of matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-night, mass spectrometry. The influences of the positive-ion/negative-ion mode, laser intensity, matrix and mass discrimination to the analytical results are studied, based on which the optimal analytical conditions have been determined. The results show that the extracting solutions contain large quantities of rare-earth metallofullerenes brs;des empty fullerenes, On the basis of comparing their relative intensities, the different structure stabilities and solubilities of metallofullerenes with different rare-earth metals encapsulated into the fullerene cages, as well as some possible reasons to those differences, are discussed.

Control of reproduction rhythmicity by environmental and endogenous signals in Ulva pseudocurvata (Chlorophyta)

A field population of Ulva pseudocurvata Koeman et C. Hoek (hereafter termed Ulva) at Sylt Island (North Sea, Germany) exhibited biweekly peaks of gametophytic reproduction during the colder seasons and approximately weekly peaks during summer. The reproductive events lasted 1-5 d and were separated from each other by purely vegetative phases. Under constant conditions in the laboratory, a free-running rhythm was observed with reproductive peaks occurring approximately every 7 d. When artificial moonlight was provided every 4 weeks, fewer reproductive events occurred, and the reproductive rhythm became synchronized to the environmental artificial moonlight rhythm. In the laboratory, apical disks were entirely converted into reproductive tissue after 8 d cultivation, while almost all basal disks stayed vegetative, which prevented the entire loss of the vegetative thallus during reproductive events. Seasonal size reduction of the thallus occurred from late autumn onward and was determined to be controlled by a genuine photoperiodic response, since size reduction could be induced from May onward by experimental short-day (SD) treatment but was prevented in a long-day (LD) or night-break regime (NB). A daily fine-tuning occurred with gamete release early in the morning at the first sign of daylight, following an obligatory dark ("night") period of at least 1 h duration. No release took place if the overnight dark phase was replaced by continuous light. Blue, green, or red light all triggered gamete release after a dark phase at an irradiance of 0.1 mu mol photons . m(-2) .s(-1), while 0.001 mu mol photons . m(-2) . s(-1) was equivalent to a dark control.

Photoperiodic long-day control of sporophyll and hair formation in the brown alga Undaria pinnatifida

Two photoperiodic responses, the development of sporophylls and hairs, have been quantified in sporophytes of the brown alga Undaria pinnatifida. In a final experiment, the algae were cultivated in outdoor, 2000-L seawater tanks in a greenhouse for up to 12 weeks, and daylength was regulated by automatic blinds mounted on top of the tanks. Vegetative young sporophytes were treated under short-day (SD; 8 h light per day) or long-day conditions (LD; 16 h light per day), at 12 h light per day or in a night-break regime (NB; 8 h light per day, 7.5 h dark, 1 h light, 7.5 h dark). The earliest sporophyll development was observed 6, 7 or 9 weeks under LD, NB or SD conditions, respectively. After 12 weeks the sporophylls were significantly longer and wider under LD or NB conditions than in the SD regime, and only half of the experimental algae had formed sporophylls under SD conditions, but all algae under LD or NB conditions. In a foregoing 7-week culture experiment performed in 300-L indoor tanks, enhanced sporophyll formation had also been observed under LD and not under SD conditions (NB omitted). In both experiments, blade elongation rates remained high until the end of the experiments in SD, but declined during sporophyll initiation in LD, NB or at 12 h light per day. Another difference caused by photoperiod was observed in regard to the development of surface hair spots which occurred in both experiments on the blades in LD, NB or at 12 h light per day with identical densities, but were completely lacking under SD conditions. It is concluded that U. pinnatifida is a facultatative long-day plant in regard to reproduction forming vigorously sporophylls in long days, and an obligate long-day plant in regard to hair formation.

Size and time of day affect the response of postlarvae and early juvenile grooved tiger prawns Penaeus semisulcatus De Haan (Decapoda:Penaeidae) to natural and artificial seagrass in the laboratory

Juvenile tiger prawns (Penaeus semisulcatus De Haan and P. esculentus Haswell) show a strong association with vegetated habitats and are rarely caught on non-vegetated areas. This pattern of distribution may be caused by postlarvae selecting vegetation when they settle, or to differences in post-settlement mortality in different habitats. In this study, we examined whether the postlarvae and early juvenile stages of P. semisulcatus would distinguish between seagrass (Zostera capricorni Aschers) without epiphytes, artificial seagrass and bare substratum in the laboratory. The responses of prawns reared from the egg to different stages of postlarval and juvenile development were tested to determine whether, and when, each size class showed a response to a particular habitat. Five size classes of postlarvae (average carapace lengths [CL] of 1.2, 1.4, 1.6, 1.7 and 2.0 mm) were offered a choice between Z. capricorni and bare sand. Small size classes of postlarvae either did not respond to Z. capricorni (1.2 and 1.6 mm CL), or were more abundant on bare substratum than Z. capricorni. In contrast, the largest size classes of postlarvae (1.7 and 2.0 mm CL) were more abundant on Z. capricorni during the day but not at night. The behaviour of postlarvae changed markedly at a size of 1.7 mm CL (22 days from the first nauplius): smaller postlarvae frequently swam in the water column; 1.7 and 2.0 mm CL postlarvae spent much more. time resting on the substrate and perched on seagrass leaves. This size at which postlarvae first respond to seagrass during the day, and show mainly benthic behaviour, is similar to the size at which they are found on shallow seagrass beds in northern Australia. Large postlarvae (2.7 mm CL) and juveniles (4.1 mm CL) both were more abundant on artificial seagrass than bare sand during the day but not at night, indicating that they respond to structured habitats. When large postlarvae (2.4 mm CL) and juveniles (3.5 mm CL) were offered a choice between Z. capricorni without epiphytes and artificial seagrass, they were more abundant on the Z. capricorni, which suggests that chemical cues from seagrass may explain some of the responses of P. semisulcatus to seagrass. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.

Settling abalone veliger larvae in a free-swimming microalgal culture

In the current abalone hatchery in China, insufficient diatoms on vertically placed corrugated pvc plates at later stage often could not support the growth of postlarvae up to the stage that they can feed on live macroalgae. As a result, stripping the spats (35 mm) off by anaesthetization and switching the diet from live diatoms to artificial powdered diet in combination has to be performed in most of the abalone farms. This manipulation normally leads to more than 50% mortality. Here we report the direct use of the unicellular green alga Platymonas helgolandica Kylin var. tsingtaoensis as a potential alga to be used to settle the veliger larvae of the Pacific abalone Haliotis discus hannai and to feed the postlarvae. Settlement rate of 2-day-old veliger larvae in mono culture of P helgolandica could be as high as 92% ( +/- 4.2%) on day 10 in small scale trials, higher than that in the selected benthic diatom strain (53.6% +/- 12.7%) when settled in the water in which bacteria propagation was controlled by treatment of 2 ppm of benzylpenicillinum calcium and streptomycin sulfate. Postlarvae fed solely on P. helgolandica or the selected benthic diatom Navicula-2005-A grew at rates of 40.1 ( +/- 1.9) and 45.8 (+/- 13.4) mu m day(-1), respectively, when raised at 22 degrees C until day 50 postfertilization. P. helgolandica was shown to have distinct diurnal settling rhythm characterized with a peak of settled cells in the middle of the night for cell division and a peak of free-swimming cells in the middle of the day. High density of attached P. helgolandica cells on the inner surface of the culture facility in the night fits the nocturnal feeding behavior of the abalone spats. Judged by the promising larvae settling rate, growth and survival rates of the postlarvae fed with this alga, the free-swimming micro-green alga P. helgolandica constitutes a potential species for settling the veliger larvae and for supporting the growth of postlarvae as well. (c) 2006 Published by Elsevier B.V.

Growth, pigmentation and activity of juvenile Japanese eels in relation to temperature and fish size

The growth and activity of juvenile Japanese eels Anguilla Japonica in different pigmentation stages from the glass eel to the elver stage were studied in the laboratory at 15, 20 and 25degrees C. The growth and activity of the eels were significantly influenced by both temperature and fish size. Growth rate generally declined with increasing fish size, and fish were least active and experienced a low growth during the pigmenting stage at all temperatures. They were nocturnal and spent significantly more time moving (swimming, feeding and moving over the substratum) at 20 and 25degrees C than at 15degrees C at night within each pigmentation stage. Accordingly, they grew significantly Faster at 20 and 25degrees C than at 15degrees C throughout the study. The development of pigmentation appeared to be dependant on water temperature but not on fish size. This study suggested that the growth and activity of juvenile Japanese eels were positively correlated, because fish were least active and grew slowest at low temperature (15degrees C) or during the pigmenting stage at all temperatures. (C) 2003 The Fisheries Society of the British Isles.

Effects of different light sources and illumination methods on growth and body color of shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei

Shrimps Litopenaeus vannamei with initial body weight of 2.108 +/- 0.036 g were sampled for specific growth rates (SGR) and body color measurements for 50 days under different light sources (incandescent lamp, IL; cool-white fluorescent lamp, FL; metal halide lamp, MHL; and control without lamp) and different illumination methods (illumination only in day, IOD, and illumination day and night, IDN). Body color of L. vannamei was measured according to the free astaxanthin concentration (FAC) of shrimp. The SGR, food intake (FI), feed conversion efficiency (FCE) and FAC of shrimps showed significant differences among the experimental treatment groups (P < 0.05). Maximum and minimum SGR occurred under IOD by MHL and IDN by FL, respectively (difference 56.34%). The FI of shrimp for the control group did not rank lowest among treatments, confirming that shrimp primarily use scent, not vision, to search for food. FI and FCE of shrimps were both the lowest among treatment groups under IDN by FL and growth was slow, thus FL is not a preferred light source for shrimp culture. Under IOD by MHL, shrimps had the highest FCE and the third highest FI among treatment groups ensuring rapid growth. FAC of shrimp were about 3.31 +/- 0.20 mg/kg. When under IOD by MHL and IDN by FL, FAC was significantly higher than the other treatments (P < 0.05). To summarize, when illuminated by MHL, L. vannamei had not only vivid body color due to high astaxanthin concentration but also rapid growth. Therefore, MHL is an appropriate indoor light source for shrimp super-intensive culture. SGR of shrimp was in significantly negative correlation to FAC of shrimp (P < 0.05). Thus, when FAC increased, SGR did not always follow, suggesting that the purpose of astaxanthin accumulation was not for growth promotion but for protection against intense light. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.