Fish Tissue Monitoring in Iowa, 2006

Iowa has nearly 72,000 miles of streams. With one week of camping, miles of paddling, on-going educational opportunities, and hundreds of dedicated and hard-working Iowans, Project AWARE can make a difference – one stretch of river, one week a year, one piece of trash at a time. If it seems like a vacation to the participants…it is. They just learn and improve the river as they go.

A fish-specific transposable element shapes the repertoire of p53 target genes in zebrafish.

Transposable elements, as major components of most eukaryotic organisms' genomes, define their structural organization and plasticity. They supply host genomes with functional elements, for example, binding sites of the pleiotropic master transcription factor p53 were identified in LINE1, Alu and LTR repeats in the human genome. Similarly, in this report we reveal the role of zebrafish (Danio rerio) EnSpmN6_DR non-autonomous DNA transposon in shaping the repertoire of the p53 target genes. The multiple copies of EnSpmN6_DR and their embedded p53 responsive elements drive in several instances p53-dependent transcriptional modulation of the adjacent gene, whose human orthologs were frequently previously annotated as p53 targets. These transposons define predominantly a set of target genes whose human orthologs contribute to neuronal morphogenesis, axonogenesis, synaptic transmission and the regulation of programmed cell death. Consistent with these biological functions the orthologs of the EnSpmN6_DR-colonized loci are enriched for genes expressed in the amygdala, the hippocampus and the brain cortex. Our data pinpoint a remarkable example of convergent evolution: the exaptation of lineage-specific transposons to shape p53-regulated neuronal morphogenesis-related pathways in both a hominid and a teleost fish.

Fish Kills in Iowa, 2008

This monthly report from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources is about the water quality management of Iowa's rivers, streams and lakes.

Common Iowa Fish, 2008

This monthly report from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources is about the water quality management of Iowa's rivers, streams and lakes.

Insights into low fish mercury bioaccumulation in a mercury-contaminated reservoir, Guizhou, China.

We examined Hg biogeochemistry in Baihua Reservoir, a system affected by industrial wastewater containing mercury (Hg). As expected, we found high levels of total Hg (THg, 664-7421 ng g(-1)) and monomethylmercury (MMHg, 3-21 ng g(-1)) in the surface sediments (0-10 cm). In the water column, both THg and MMHg showed strong vertical variations with higher concentrations in the anoxic layer (>4m) than in the oxic layer (0-4 m), which was most pronounced for the dissolved MMHg (p < 0.001). However, mercury levels in biota samples (mostly cyprinid fish) were one order of magnitude lower than common regulatory values (i.e. 0.3-0.5 mg kg(-1)) for human consumption. We identified three main reasons to explain the low fish Hg bioaccumulation: disconnection of the aquatic food web from the high MMHg zone, simple food web structures, and biodilution effect at the base of the food chain in this eutrophic reservoir.

Efecto de la proporción sexual, densidad y edad de los reproductores en la producción de semilla de Tilapia nilotica (Pisces, Cichlidae)

En el Laboratorio de Huachipa del Instituto del Mar del Perú, en el período comprendido entre octubre de 1980 y agosto de 1982, se realizaron varios experimentos a fin de determinar el efecto del tipo de estanque, densidad de carga y calidad y cantidad de fertilizante en el crecimiento y la producción de Tilapia nilotica. Estos experimentos arrojaron una diferencia no significativa entre los tratamientos, por lo cual se halló una cifra general promedio de crecimiento y producción que permitió su comparación con las cifras de producción obtenidas en otras áreas del mundo, un peso individual promedio de 203.4 g, una producción total de 2,038 Kg/ha/272 días, y una producción neta de 5.6 Kg/ha/día. Cifras que quedan dentro del rango reportado por el ICA (International Center for Aquaculture) para clima templado; similares a las obtenidas en países de Europa Central y la China, y notablemente bajas comparadas con los 20 Kg/ha/día producidos en Israel. Se identifican la mala condición de los estanques utilizados, la baja densidad de carga aplicada, la baja calidad del fertilizante y el clima de la zona, específicamente la presencia de nubosidad, como los factores de mayor incidencia en los resultados poco satisfactorios.

Crecimiento y producción de Tilapia nilotica (Pisces, Cichlidae) en el laboratorio de Huachipa

En el Laboratorio de Huachipa del Instituto del Mar del Perú, en el período comprendido entre octubre de 1980 y agosto de 1982, se realizaron varios experimentos a fin de determinar el efecto del tipo de estanque, densidad de carga y calidad y cantidad de fertilizante en el crecimien­to y la producción de Tilapia nilotica. Estos experimentos arrojaron una diferencia no significativa entre los tratamientos, por lo cual se halló una cifra general promedio de crecimiento y producción que permitió su comparación con las cifras de producción obtenidas en otras áreas del mundo, un peso individual promedio de 203.4 g, una producción total de 2,038 Kg/ha/272 días, y una producción neta de 5.6 Kg/ha/día. Cifras que quedan dentro del rango reportado por el ICA (International Center for Aquaculture) para clima templado; similares a las obtenidas en países de Europa Central y la China, y notablemente bajas comparadas con los 20 Kg/ha/día producidos en Israel. Se identifican la mala condición de los estanques utiliza dos, la baja densidad de carga aplicada, la baja calidad del fertilizante y el clima de la zona, específicamente la presencia de nubosidad, como los factores de mayor incidencia en los resultados poco satisfactorios.

Observations of flying-fish (Exocoetidae) between northern Peru and Panama, october - december 1977

Estudio de observación de los peses voladores durante la travesia del CSS BAFFIN entre Panamá y el norte del Perú

Distribution and abundance of six species of fish larvae in peruvian waters and their relationship with physical and biological environment

Estudio de muestras recolectadas con el BIONESS a varias profundidades en trece estaciones.

Stocks assesment, biomass and fish production in two mediterranean basins (NE Spain)

In order to evaluate the success of the reintroduction of the Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) in the Empordh wetlands (Parc Natural dels Aiguamolls de I'Empordhà), and the Muga and Fluvih basins, density of fish, biomass and production in the Muga and Fluvia Rivers have been estimated, since fishes represent the principal prey in the otter diet. 12 study sites were selected in order to survey the main flows in both basins. Electrofishing surveys were conducted by blocking off the station with barrier nets, which was performed upon 3 successive catches. The density estimated presents a range of 1,136-1 25 ind .ha' in the Muga basin, 4,49-163 ind.ha' in the Fluvih basin and 3,76-52,2 ind.ha' in the Empordh wetlands. Estimated biomass ranges are 0,616-277,6 g.m2, 8,79-351,2 g.m2, and 5,7-108 g.m-2 respectively. These density anfi biomass ranges are similar to other results obtained from rivers inhabited by the Eurasian otter in NE Spain

Fish ecology in Lake Banyoles (NE Spain): a tribute to Ramon Margalef

Lake Banyoles is the second largest lake in the Iberian Peninsula and due to this relative uniqueness, its peculiar geological origin, and its considerable age attracted the early attention of the late Professor Ramon Margalef. One of the first papers by Margalef was on the biota of Lake Banyoles and two of the first four Ph.D. theses that he supervised were about the limnology of this lake. Unfortunately, the uniqueness of this lake also implied that it was the first place of introduction into the Iberian Peninsula of several exotic fish species, early in the XXth Century and nowadays the lake fish assemblage is dominated by invasive species, and some native ones have been extirpated. Although the limnological studies in Lake Banyoles were pioneering within the Iberian Peninsula, studies on fish ecology of the lake did not start until 1989. Thereafter, four Ph.D. theses have been completed on different aspects of the fish assemblages of Lake Banyoles. The aim of this paper is to provide a short overview of this research, largely brought about by the considerable limnological information previously available for this lake, thanks to the insightful, pioneering work of Professor Margalef

Effect of Bacillus sphaericus Neide on Anopheles (Diptera: Culicidae) and associated insect fauna in fish ponds in the Amazon

ABSTRACTWe analyzed the effects of Bacillus sphaericus on Anopheles larvae and on the associated insect fauna in fish farming ponds. Five breeding sites in the peri-urban area of the city of Manaus, AM, Brazil, were studied. Seven samples were collected from each breeding site and B. sphaericus was applied and reapplied after 15 days. The samples were made at 24 h before application, 24 h post-application and 5 and 15 days post-application. We determined abundance, larval reduction and larval density for Anopheles, and abundance, richness, Shannon diversity index and classified according to the functional trophic groups for associated insect fauna. A total of 904 Anopheles larvae were collected and distributed into five species. Density data and larval reduction demonstrated the rapid effect of the biolarvicide 24 h after application. A total of 4874 associated aquatic insects belonging to six orders and 23 families were collected. Regression analysis of diversity and richness indicated that the application of the biolarvicide had no influence on these indices and thus no effect on the associated insect fauna for a period of 30 days. B. sphaericus was found to be highly effective against the larvae of Anopheles, eliminating the larvae in the first days after application, with no effect on the associated insect fauna present in the fish ponds analyzed.

Fish populations surviving estrogen pollution.

Among the most common pollutants that enter the environment after passing municipal wastewater treatment are estrogens, especially the synthetic 17α-ethinylestradiol that is used in oral contraceptives. Estrogens are potent endocrine disruptors at concentrations frequently observed in surface waters. However, new genetic analyses suggest that some fish populations can be self-sustaining even in heavily polluted waters. We now need to understand the basis of this tolerance.

Un nuevo muestreador de huevos de peces pelagicos a bordo del BIC Jose Olaya Balandra: CUFES (Continuous Underway y Fish egg Sampler)

El IMARPE cuenta con un nuevo muestreador de huevos de peces pelágicos, con características diferentes aquéllas de las redes convencionales.

Fish oil for prevention of sudden death in hemodialysis patients?

Friedman et al. report that hemodialysis patients with the highest levels of n-3 fatty acids had impressively low odds of sudden cardiac death. The study is limited by a small sample size, and the analysis relies on only a single baseline measurement of blood levels. Recent randomized evidence indeed fails to support that n-3 fatty acids may prevent sudden death in nonrenal patients. More evidence is needed to advocate fish oil in this setting.