Life history and production of Capitella capitata (Polychaeta: Capitellidae) in Río de la Plata Estuary (Argentina)

A benthic survey was carried out from November 1998 to December 1999 in the tidal flats of Bahía Samborombón (Río de la Plata estuary, Argentina), in order to study the population structure, reproductive aspects, growth and secondary production of Capitella capitata (Fabricius, 1780). Growth was analyzed using ELEFAN routine, and the secondary production was estimated by Hynes and Coleman's method (1968). C. capitata did not present periods of very important recruitments throughout the year; however, the abundance of smallest size classes was higher during summer and autumn. The summer cohort showed a growth rate (K) of 2.05 and a seasonal growth oscillation (C) of 0.6, pointing out that worms grew very slowly during winter months. The life span of this cohort was 13 months. The autumn cohort showed a lower growth rate (K= 1.5) and its growth was lowest during winter. The life span was 15 months for this cohort. C. capitata in Punta Rasa presented an extended reproductive period, with absence of activity during winter months. The type of eggs and larvae suggest that C. capitata has benthic larval development in the study area, destining its reproductive effort to the production of a low number of eggs, and assuring larvae survival through incubation in brooding tubes. The annual mean biomass in Punta Rasa was 0.117 g m-2 (AFDW), with a mean secondary production of 0.23 g m-2 y-1 and a P/B ratio of 1.96 y-1. The relatively low density, biomass production and P/B ratio of C. capitata in Punta Rasa can be considered as reference values for this species inhabiting undisturbed or moderately disturbed areas.

Successful inoculation of Artemia and production of cysts in the coastal saltpans of Bangladesh II

Bangladesh has no naturally occurring Artemia, and all the growing shrimp hatcheries of the country depend entirely on import of cysts from foreign countries. Following successful inoculation of Artemia and production of cysts for the first time in this country in a coastal saltpan (at Chanua, Banskhali) by the senior author (in 1989-90), a similar second attempt was made under this programme in a saltpan (1000 m super(2)) of Demoshia, Chakaria, Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh between January and April 1992. A total of 1639.9 g (dry weight) of cysts (i.e. 5.46 kg DW/ha/month) have been produced using the Red Jungle Brand, whereas the previous attempt obtained 517 g of cysts (i.e. 2.07 kg DW/ha/month) using the Great Salt Lake Brand.

Induction of mitotic and meiotic gynogenesis and production of genetic clones in rohu, Labeo rohita Ham.

Studies were undertaken to produce genetic clones derived from all homozygous mitotic gynogenetic individuals in rohu, Labeo rohita Ham. ln view of this, attempts were made to interfere with the normal functioning of the spindle apparatus during the first mitotic cell division of developing eggs using heat shocks, there by leading to the induction of mitotic gynogenetic diploids in the F1 generation. Afterwards, viable mitotic gynogenetic alevins were reared and a selected mature female fish was used to obtain ovulated eggs which were fertilized later with UV-irradiated milt. Milt was diluted with Cortland’s solution and the sperm concentration was maintained at 10⁸/ml. The UV-irradiation was carried out for 2 minutes at the intensity of 200 to 250 µW/cm² at 28± 1°C. The optimal heat shock of 40°C for 2 minutes applied at 25 to 30 minutes a.f. was used to induce mitotic gynogenesis in first (F1) generation and at 3 to 5 minutes a.f. to induce meiotic gynogenesis in the second (F2) generation. The results obtained are presented and the light they shed on the timing of the mitotic and meiotic cell division in this species is discussed.

Effect of mola (Amblypharyngodon mola Ham.) on the growth and production of carps in polyculture

The effect of introduction of mola (Amblypharyngodon mala) in polyculture with rohu (Labeo rohita), catla (Catla catla) and mirror carp (Cyprinus carpio var. specularis) was studied in semi-intensive culture system in the pond complex of the Fisheries Faculty, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh. Mala, a small indigenous fish was found to exert a negative impact on growth and production of carps. After four months' rearing, significant difference (P<0.05) was observed in the net production between the treatments.

Effects of periphyton grown on bamboo substrates on growth and production of Indian major carp, rohu (Label rohita Ham.)

The effects of periphyton, grown on bamboo substrates, on growth and production of Indian major carp, rohu, Labeo rohita (Hamilton), were studied in 10 ponds during July to October '95 at the Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh. Five ponds were provided with bamboo substrates (treatment I) and the rests without bamboo substrates (treatment II). It was revealed that there had been no discernible difference in the water quality parameters between treatments. A large number of plankton (30 genera) showed periphytic nature and colonized on the bamboo substrates. The growth and production of fish was significantly (p<0.05) higher in the ponds with bamboo substrates as compared to the ponds without substrates. The net production of rohu in treatment I was about 1.7 times higher than that of treatment II. Fish production was as much as 1899 kg/ha over a culture period of 4 months in the periphyton-based production system.

Growth and production performance of red tilapia and Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus Lin.) under low-input culture system

Comparative production potential of red tilapia (a mutant hybrid of Oreochromis mossambicus) and Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) under low-input aquaculture was studied in six ponds of 360 m² each with an average water depth of 90 cm. Three ponds were stocked with fingerlings of O. niloticus (average weight 11.4±3.48 g) while three other ponds were stocked with red tilapia (average weight 10.72±2.5 g) at a density of 20,000 fingerlings/ha. Supplementary feed consisting of rice bran was given daily at 4-6% of standing biomass. Ponds were fertilized at fortnightly intervals with cattle manure 750 kg/ ha. After six months of rearing, gross fish productions of 3,218 and 3,017 kg/ha were obtained from O. niloticus and red tilapia ponds, respectively. Of this, table size fish (>80 g in size) production amounted to 2,366 and 2,823 kg/ha from O. niloticus and red tilapia culture, respectively. Analysis of cost and benefits showed higher benefit from red tilapia culture.

Growth and production of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus Lin.) in irrigated Boro rice under floodplain environment

The experiment was conducted at BRRI Regional Station, Habiganj during 1994-95 to evaluate the growth and economic performance of Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus, fish reared in the field of irrigated boro rice with different fertilizer levels. Grain yield of rice was not affected by fish culture. It was observed that 50% of recommended fertilizer was enough to produce increased rice yield (8-10 t/ha) at floodplain environment and additional yield was obtained with the increasing fertilizer rates. Results further indicated that O. niloticus could successfully be reared in the field of irrigated boro rice with recommended fertilizer level. Larger size of fingerlings at release had improved recovery percent, body weight gain and higher fish yield. Results also revealed that rice + fish production system produced higher net return than the system with rice alone.

Effect of different feeds on growth, survival and production of African catfish (Clarias gariepinus Burchell)

An experiment was conducted to study the effect of different feeds on growth survival and production of African catfish (C. gariepinus) in six cemented tanks (3m² each) over a period of 120 days. Three different feeds namely Feed A (Saudi-Bangla fish feed, 33.43% protein), Feed B (formulated feed, 40.12% protein) and Feed C (chicken raw intestine, 59.58% protein) were applied to treatments I, II and III respectively. Each of the tanks was stocked with 24 fry with mean initial body weight of 2.56±0.06 g. Feeds were supplied to the fish ad-libitum daily in two instalments. Significantly highest weight gain was obtained in treatment III, however, survival rate was low compared to other treatments. The feed conversion ratio (FCR) values ranged from 2.52-6.4. Survival rate of fish varied between 83 and 96%. Treatment II yielded the highest (5000 kg/ha/120 days) production with the highest survival rate of fish. On the basis of survival rate and production, it is suggested that the formulated feed (Feed B) is suitable for the culture of C. gariepinus in cemented tanks.

Effect of Lates calcarifer seed stocking on the survival and production of Indian major carps reared in a freshwater coastal pond in Konkan region

The experiment indicated feasibility of culturing Indian major carps seed with Lates calcarifer, if the size of Indian major carps is larger. In the present investigation the average growths of Catla catla, Labeo rohita and Cirrhinus mrigala are recorded as 1193, 1120 and 821 g, respectively, during the year 1997-98, 1998-99 and 1999-2000 in 7.5 months. Complete harvesting of L. calcarifer is essential before stocking of new seed. The average growth of L. calcarifer was recorded as about 670 g during the above period. About 5000 numbers of Indian major carps fry per hectare can be stocked under the present culture system

Effects of black Bengal goat manure on growth and production of Genetically Improved Farmed Tilapia (GIFT) starin [sic], Oreochromis niloticus

In a goat-tilapia integrated farming system, the effect of Black Bengal goat manure on the growth and production of Oreochromis niloticus was studied at the Freshwater Substation, Shantahar, Bogra for 4.5 months. The stocking density used in three treatments were, 200 goats and 15,000 GIFT strain/ha (T1); 300 goats and 15,000 GIFT strain/ha (T2); and only 15,000 GIFT strain/ha (T3). The initial individual total length and weight of stocked tilapia were 7.6 cm and 11.34 g, respectively. Twelve ponds each having an area of 40 square meters were used for this trail [sic]. On one side of each pond goat shed was constructed and the space allocated for each goat was 0.75 m x 1.5 m. Newly weaned black Bengal goats of average weight 8.45 kg was used in the trial. Every morning the goats manure was swiped out in ponds through the fixed opening of bamboo made floor of goat shed. Water depth of the ponds was maintained at 0.75 m. The highest fish production was in treatment 1 (1,750 kg/ha) followed by treatment 2 (1,455 kg/ha) and treatment 3 (621 kg/ha). The difference in individual goat weight was not significant (P>0.05) among treatments 1 and 2.

Ecology and production in two sandy beaches of Goa. Part (A) Distribution of bacteria in Colva and Siridaon in relation to certain environmental parameters

Qualitative and quantitative studies on the bacterial flora of two beaches viz., Colva and Siridaon at high tide, mid-tide and low tide levels during the pre-monsoon period were made. Estimations of important nutrients, like inorganic phosphates and nitrates and organic carbon have been made and correlation with the bacterial counts is being attempted. Definite correlation between bacterial population and organic carbon is seen however, no correlation is observed between bacterial counts and other physicochemical parameters.

Nucleotide degradation and production of hypoxanthine in some Indian marine and freshwater fishes

Changes in nucleotides and production of hypoxanthine in rohu (Labeo rohita), mrigal (Cihhrina mrigala) and common carp (Cyprinus carpio) during storage at 2-4°C were examined. Differences were observed between common carp and others. Production of hypoxanthine in pomfret (Stromateus argenteus), cat fish (Arius macronotacanthus), shark (Scoliodon spp.), seer fish (Scomberomorus guttatus), ray fish (Dasyatis imbricata) and prawns (Parapenaeopsis stylifera) was examined during storage at 2-4°C and -28°C. At 2-4°C hypoxanthine increased regularly but at -28°C there was no increase during storage over 28 weeks.