An environmentally based growth model that uses finite difference calculus with maximum likelihood method: its application to the brackish water bivalve Corbicula japonica in Lake Abashiri, Japan

We present a growth analysis model that combines large amounts of environmental data with limited amounts of biological data and apply it to Corbicula japonica. The model uses the maximum-likelihood method with the Akaike information criterion, which provides an objective criterion for model selection. An adequate distribution for describing a single cohort is selected from available probability density functions, which are expressed by location and scale parameters. Daily relative increase rates of the location parameter are expressed by a multivariate logistic function with environmental factors for each day and categorical variables indicating animal ages as independent variables. Daily relative increase rates of the scale parameter are expressed by an equation describing the relationship with the daily relative increase rate of the location parameter. Corbicula japonica grows to a modal shell length of 0.7 mm during the first year in Lake Abashiri. Compared with the attain-able maximum size of about 30 mm, the growth of juveniles is extremely slow because their growth is less susceptible to environmental factors until the second winter. The extremely slow growth in Lake Abashiri could be a geographical genetic variation within C. japonica.

Individual growth rates and movement of juvenile white shrimp (Litopenaeus setiferus) in a tidal marsh nursery

We measured growth and movements of individually marked free-ranging juvenile white shrimp (Litopenaeus setiferus) in tidal creek subsystems of the Duplin River, Sapelo Island, Georgia. Over a period of two years, 15,974 juvenile shrimp (40−80 mm TL) were marked internally with uniquely coded microwire tags and released in the shallow upper reaches of four salt marsh tidal creeks. Subsequent samples were taken every 3−6 days from channel segments arranged at 200-m intervals along transects extending from the upper to lower reach of each tidal creek. These collections included 201,384 juvenile shrimp, of which 184 were marked recaptures. Recaptured shrimp were at large an average of 3−4 weeks (range: 2−99 days) and were recovered a mean distance of <0.4 km from where they were initially marked. Mean residence times in the creek subsystems ranged from 15.2 to 25.5 days and were estimated from exponential decay functions describing the proportions of marked individuals recaptured with increasing days at large. Residence time was not significantly correlated with creek length (Pearson=−0.316, P=0.684 ), but there was suggestive evidence of positive associations with either intertidal (Pearson r=0.867, P=0.133) or subtidal (Pearson r=0.946, P=0.054) drainage area. Daily mean specific growth rates averaged 0.009 to 0.013 among creeks; mean absolute growth rates ranged from 0.56−0.84 mm/d, and were lower than those previously reported for juvenile penaeids in estuaries of the southeastern United States. Mean individual growth rates were not significantly different between years (t-test, P>0.30) but varied significantly during the season, tending to be greater in July than November. Growth rates were size-dependent, and temporal changes in size distributions rather than temporal variation in physical environmental factors may have accounted for seasonal differences in growth. Growth rates differed between creeks in 1999 (t-test, P<0.015), but not in 1998 (t-test, P>0.5). We suggest that spatial variation in landscape structure associated with access to intertidal resources may have accounted for this apparent interannual difference in growth response.

Magnitude and distribution of sea turtle bycatch in the sea scallop (Placopecten magellanicus) dredge fishery in two areas of the northwestern Atlantic Ocean, 2001–2002

In May 2001, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) opened two areas in the northwestern Atlantic Ocean that had been previously closed to the U.S. sea scallop (Placopecten magellanicus) dredge fishery. Upon reopening these areas, termed the “Hudson Canyon Controlled Access Area” and the “Virginia Beach Controlled Access Area,” NMFS observers found that marine turtles were being caught incidentally in scallop dredges. This study uses the generalized linear model and the generalized additive model fitting techniques to identify environmental factors and gear characteristics that influence bycatch rates, and to predict total bycatch in these two areas during May-December 2001 and 2002 by incorporating environmental factors into the models. Significant factors affecting sea turtle bycatch were season, time-of-day, sea surface temperature, and depth zone. In estimating total bycatch, rates were stratified according to a combination of all these factors except time-of-day which was not available in fishing logbooks. Highest bycatch rates occurred during the summer season, in temperatures greater than 19°C, and in water depths from 49 to 57 m. Total estimated bycatch of sea turtles during May–December in 2001 and 2002 in both areas combined was 169 animals (CV=55.3), of which 164 (97%) animals were caught in the Hudson Canyon area. From these findings, it may be possible to predict hot spots for sea turtle bycatch in future years in the controlled access areas.

浑善达克沙地植被恢复中几个问题的研究

浑善达克沙地位于内蒙古自治区锡林郭勒高原中部，是我国温带草原区最主要的沙地之一。由于沙质土壤特性和大陆性季风气候等自然条件的限制，长期过度放牧导致了沙地植被退化、固定沙丘活化等一系列环境问题，进而威胁到区域生态安全和可持续发展。恢复和重建退化了的沙地植被，防止沙漠化的进一步扩大已经刻不容缓。 本论文的目的是揭示沙地植被类型与环境的生态关系、沙地植物群落结构特点以及播种时期对沙地人工草地青贮玉米产量的影响，为在沙漠化防治中选择合适的治沙物种、制定合理的植被恢复方案、确定符合当地气候特点的人工草地最佳播种时间等提供理论依据。论文包括三方面的内容：1浑善达克沙地中部丘间低地植物群落分布与土壤环境因子关系;2浑善达克沙地中部植物群落物种多样性与土壤环境因子关系;3播期对浑善达克沙地青贮玉米产量的影响。 对在浑善达克沙地中部丘间低地上获取的102个植物群落样方进行了分析，按照样方中建群种和优势种的重要值把它们归属于28个植物群落类型。对102个群落样方进行去趋势典范对应分析（DCCA），结果表明DCCA排序轴第一轴主要代表地下水位的变化梯度;第二轴主要代表土壤的全氮含量和有机质含量的变化梯度;第三轴则代表土壤溶液的酸碱度值，即地下水位、土壤有机质、全氮含量和土壤溶液酸碱度影响沙地丘间低地植物群落的分布格局。 对流动－半流动沙丘、固定沙丘、丘间低地和淖尔边缘湖沼等四种生境的物种多样性研究结果表明，分布在流动沙丘－半流动沙丘的植物群落的物种丰富度指数和物种多样性指数最低，生态优势度指数较高，均匀度指数相对较高;固定沙丘的物种丰富度指数、物种多样性指数和均匀度指数较高，优势度指数较低;丘间低地和淖尔边缘湖沼的植物群落的物种丰富度指数，多样性指数低于固定沙丘的，但是高于流动－半流动沙丘的，优势度指数高于固定沙丘的，均匀度指数低于流动－半流动沙丘的。各个指数和土壤环境因子的相关分析表明，土壤溶液的酸碱度、土壤全氮和有机质含量与物种多样性有着较强的相关关系。 人工草地青贮玉米分期播种的实验结果显示:随着播期的推迟,英红玉米的地上生物量由2453±161kg/hm2降至1055±68kg/hm2;巴贮玉米的地上生物量由2159±65kg/hm2降至1016±70kg/hm2。两个品种的叶面积和株高都随着播期的推迟逐渐下降。5月27日和6月4日播种的青贮玉米的株高、叶面积和地上生物量显著高于6月11日和6月18日播种的青贮玉米的株高、叶面积和地上生物量（p＜0.05）。实验结果表明将当前生产实践中播种时间由6月中旬提前至5月底和6月初可以显著提高种植青贮玉米的产量。

Role of rainfall in the breeding of Labeo rohita (Ham.), Cirrhinus mrigala (Ham.), Catla catla (Ham.), at Damdama (Haryana), a semi-arid zone

The role of several environmental factors on the breeding and hatching of fish has been studied by many earlier investigators. Perfection in the hypophysation technique has helped to some extent in by-passing the environmental variables such as temperature, light and rain. With the use of a modern fish hatchery, it is possible to attain maximum success in breeding and hatching, even without rains; reference is given to studies carried out regarding the role of rainfall in the breeding of Labeo rohita, Cirrhinus mrigala, Catla catla.

苋属入侵种的可能分布区预测及相关环境因子分析

苋属（Amaranthus）约40种，世界均有分布。我国有20种，分布很广，其中外来种为17种(11种为入侵种)，危害旱田作物、果树、茶树和蔬菜。反枝苋（Amaranthus retroflexus L.）是苋属入侵种中发生频率最多、分布最广、危害最严重的杂草。本文首先基于反枝苋在世界范围内4207个实际分布点及其对应的气候、地形和土壤三类要素28个环境因子的定量关系，利用主成分分析确定了影响其分布的主要环境因子，据此估测其中心可能分布区和最大可能分布区，并与实际分布点进行比较;然后利用GARP生态位模型和地理信息系统(GIS)对影响苋属8个入侵种地理分布的环境因子进行分析并对其全球可能分布区进行预测，并根据苋属入侵种与环境因子的关系对8个苋属入侵种进行聚类分析;最后基于Receiver Operating Characteristics(ROC)分析对GARP模型及GIS模型对反枝苋全球可能分布区的预测结果进行精度检验和比较，结果表明： (1) GIS模型预测显示14个环境因子在决定反枝苋全球分布格局中起着重要作用。反枝苋中心可能分布区位于新西兰南部、澳大利亚东南部、南美洲北部少数地区、北美洲西北部及东南部部分地区、欧洲大部分地区和中国东南部。最大可能分布区位于南美洲中南部、北美洲大部分、非洲北部小部分、澳大利亚南部及北部少数区域、欧洲大部分地区和亚洲大部分地区及中国除西藏、青海、新疆、四川西部以外的地区。中心可能分布区的预测结果与实际分布点吻合较好，而最大可能分布区则过于广阔。 (2) GARP模型预测显示14个环境因子中雨日频率，极端低温，海拔这三个环境因子的影响较为重要，是苋属8个入侵种分布的主要限制因子。聚类分析表明8种苋属入侵种按欧式距离的长度可分为三类：第一类：反枝苋、凹头苋;第二类：刺苋、皱果苋、尾穗苋;第三类：绿穗苋、白苋、北美苋。 ROC分析结果显示GARP模型对反枝苋的可能分布区模拟效果（AUCGARP=0.857）好于GIS模型，其中GIS模型对反枝苋中心可能分布区的模拟效果(AUCGIS-CENTER=0.832)好于最大可能分布区(AUCGIS-MAX=0.778)。 苋属8个入侵种均有分布的地区为澳大利亚沿海地区，新西兰，中国东南沿海，欧洲西部，南美洲部分国家，美国，非洲中部。 (3)两种模型所预测的反枝苋的可能分布区有很大程度的重合性，GARP模型预测的可能分布区大于GIS模型预测出的中心可能分布区，但小于GIS模型预测出的最大可能分布区，且和实际分布点拟合程度较好。

Morphometric studies in Penaeus merguiensis from Ratnagiri waters for selection of the brood stock in genetic improvement programmes

Studies on genetic improvement of penaeid prawns for the character higher tail weight using methods of selective breeding were undertaken. Prior to the actual breeding experiments it was necessary to find out the quantum of available variability in the character tail weight amongst the natural populations of Penaeus merguiensis from the Indian waters. Thirteen morphometric variables were measured and various statistical analyses were carried out. The tail weight showed almost double values of coefficient of variation in the females than the males (C.V. 20.37 and 11.08 respectively). The combination of the characters viz. sixth segment length (SSL), sixth segment depth (SSD) and posterior abdominal circumference (PAC) gave the highest R super(2) values. These variables were easy to measure and gave maximum variation in the character tail weight without sacrificing the breeders in the brood stock. The quantitative character tail weight was influenced by both genetic and environmental factors was statistically ascertained by applying 2-Factor analysis.

Reproductive engineering in crustacean aquaculture

Crustacean aquaculture industry in India suffers greatly from lack of technological developments. A major constraint in this enterprise is the limitation of seed stock availability. A critical appraisal is made of the techniques used in the manipulation of reproductive processes in order to augment year-round production of seeds. A new possibility of induced ovarian maturation in crustaceans is by administering steroid hormones of vertebrate source. Environmental factors are known to govern the gametogenic cycle of marine crustaceans. Cryopreservation of male gametes and artificial insemination by way of spermatophore transfer could solve some of the problems of mating under laboratory conditions.

Importance of live feed organisms in prawn hatcheries: a review

Live food organisms play a vital role in the artificial propagation of penaeid prawn seeds. The methods practiced for the culture of phyto and zooplankton for rearing prawn larvae through their various developmental stages are reviewed. Selection of a suitable species depends mainly on the culture characteristics, local environmental factors and the food requirements of the species of prawns cultured. Suitability of a few species isolated from Karwar waters is discussed.

油菜内源和外源蛋白的表达及环境因素的影响

植物与昆虫的互作关系是个长期进化的过程，虫害给农业生产带来巨大损失。本研究以甘蓝型油菜（Brassica napus）为例，研究了不同环境条件和遗传背景下外源基因的表达与效用，同时利用蛋白质组技术，研究了虫害损伤模拟条件下植物可能存在的内源抗性机制。甘蓝型油菜中转入了人工合成的Bt（Bacillus thuringiensis）杀虫基因，能使植物产生抗虫蛋白抵御虫害。我们在湖北湖南两个实验点进行了大田实验，按植株生长发育的4个不同时期从转基因植株的叶片上采样，研究抗虫蛋白在植物体内的表达动态。植株顶部第三片展开叶的Bt毒蛋白浓度在结荚期前随植物生长而不断增加，而在结荚期出现或增或减的现象。采样叶片的可溶性总蛋白浓度含量一直呈增加的趋势，直到结荚以后出现含量的明显降低。同时，收集了转基因油菜与湘油15号在田间自然杂交形成的杂交后代种子用于栽培，用GFP仪检测杂交后代的绿色荧光蛋白（green fluorescent protein），并用聚合酶链式反应（polymerase chain reaction, PCR）检测并确认带有转基因的杂交植株。为了检测带有转基因的杂交后代油菜中Bt毒蛋白的杀虫效率，用对Bt毒蛋白敏感的试虫品系——初孵棉铃虫幼虫（Helicoverpa armigera）进行杀虫活性检测实验。结果表明，携带Bt基因的杂交湘油及其转基因亲本对试虫的体重增长量均产生了负面影响，可以推断在调查取样的植株生长发育阶段，转基因杂交后代与其转基因亲本植株的杀虫效率没有显著差异。转基因植物及其杂交后代中抗虫蛋白的持续表达及田间带有转基因的自播植物的出现会使害虫产生耐受抗性的潜在可能性增加。 相对于人为增加的抗虫基因，植物在长期对抗昆虫的过程中也进化形成了自我防御机制，能够产生特异的抗性蛋白来应对昆虫的取食。本研究用机械损伤模拟害虫取食，对比了油菜受到物理损伤前后可溶性总蛋白的含量变化并试图通过蛋白质组学技术来检测可能发生变化的蛋白质。Bradford定量测定发现，同一植株同一叶片损伤前后可溶性总蛋白含量差异显著，损伤后蛋白表达量显著增高。蛋白质组双向凝胶电泳及其差异分析显示，损伤前后有8个蛋白质点发生明显的上调或下调。选择其中2个差异蛋白点经过MALDI-TOF质谱鉴定，它们分别是Rubisco小亚基前体以及果糖－1，6－二磷酸醛缩酶和粪卟啉－3－氧化酶的混合物，这些蛋白质在其他植物的抗逆研究中也有报道，它们可能在油菜叶片应答机械损伤过程中对维持植物的生理功能也有重要作用。

浑善达克沙地榆树树干液流动态研究

本文应用Granier热扩散技术对内蒙古浑善达克沙地榆树疏林林分进行树干液流通量研究，分别选择胸径大小占林分80%以上林木的三种胸径级（15-25cm，25-35cm，35-45cm）榆树样树各三株，应用Granier探针进行每隔15min的树干液流测定，同步测定林分环境因子，包括空气温度、相对湿度、土壤温度、土壤湿度、光合有效辐射、风速等10余个环境因子，在生长季节进行了5个月的测定，详细研究和分析了榆树树杆液流特征，其中包括昼夜变化趋势和规律、不同天气状况下的液流密度变化特点以及在生长季不同时期的液流密度变化规律，阐述了不同胸径级榆树树干液流变化特征。同时利用连续获得的树干液流通量与环境因子数据，分析了树干液流通量与环境因子的关系，阐明不同时期影响树干液流通量变化的主导因素，以及树干液流密度对环境因子的响应规律。并通过钻取样地内的树木生长年轮芯测定了榆树不同径级的边材面积，建立边材和胸径的关系方程，估算了不同胸径林分的边材面积以及冠层蒸腾的季节动态。 在晴朗的白天，不同胸径级榆树的树干液流密度变化曲线均呈单峰曲线，只是峰值持续的时间不同。不同胸径级榆树树干液流密度变化具有明显的昼夜节律性。在生长季结束后液流并不是马上停止，而是有微弱的波动。阴雨天液流密度变化曲线均不规则且液流密度值较小，甚至出现多峰曲线，而且峰值明显;液流密度的变化出现较大的波动性，夜间却有液流发生，而且值较晴天的夜间液流密度稍大。 林分不同胸径级榆树树干大径级木、中径级木和小径级木液流通量特征表现为: 榆树大径级木液流密度的峰值大于中等木，中等木峰值大于小径级木，差异明显;大径级木由于年龄较大，液流密度曲线变化平缓，没有明显的峰值，呈弧形曲线; 而且不同年龄的树木反映差别比较大，但是总体趋势还是受胸径的影响。 随季节推移生长季各月份液流密度均值基本逐渐减小，进入生长季末期(10月)基本处于微弱波动状态。液流通量月平均值最大值一般都出现在6-8月，大径级木、中径级木和小径级木各月液流通量变化差异较大。日液流通量比较分析得出，大径级木日液流通量最大值分别为394.53，中径级木为66.04，小径级木为63.56 kg∙ d-1。综合分析对不同胸径树木影响较大的环境因子为VPD，PAR，Ta; 但是在不同生长季节，对不同类型树木起主要作用的环境因子也不尽相同，但是PAR与VPD是其中基本主要起作用的两个因子。 通过建立边材与胸径的关系方程，得出边材和胸径关系(R2=0.99)。通过经验公式计算得出，林分生长期的蒸腾耗水量相当于2.24mm/day, 低于当地同期降雨量2.78mm/day.

Avaliaçāo preliminar do estado da exploraçāo de Kapenta (Limnothrissa miodon, Boulenger 1906), em cahora bassa com base em dados históricos de captura e esforço de 1995-2000

The fishing of kapenta (Limnothrissa miodon, Boulenger 1906) on the Cahora Bassa Dam started around 1992, when considerable stocks of this species were discovered in the lake. The species is believed to have successful established in the Dam following a natural introduction through a downstream movement from Kariba dam where it was introduced in 1967/68. Fisheries statistics on the kapenta fishery have been collected since 1993 by the Ministry of Fisheries through the Provincial Offices for Fisheries Administration of Tete (SPAP - Tete) but only data from 1995 onward are available on the database of the Ministry of Fisheries and these are the data that was used for compiling the present report on which trends of fishing effort, catch and CPUE are analyzed. Catch and effort have increased with time, from a minimum of the 4 thousand metric tons for an annual fishing effort of 36 fishing rigs in 1995 to a maximum of 12 tons for a fishing effort of 135 rigs while CPUE followed a decreasing trend during the same period. Correlation analysis between catch and effort suggests that probably environmental factors may have influence on catch variation than the increase on fishing effort. Two models were applied for calculating MSY and FMSY resulting in two pairs of roof leading to two scenario of fisheries management. 10137 tons and a FMSY of 177 fishing rigs were computed using Schaefer model while 11690 tons and a FMSY of 278 were obtained using Fox model. Considering the differences between the two results and considering the fact that the two models have no differences in terms of precision and the fact that their determination coefficient are not different it is suggested, using the precautionary principle that result from Schaefer model be a adopted for fisheries management purpose.

National Agricultural Research Organisation. National Fisheries Resources Research Institute Annual Report 2007/2008

During the reporting period, NaFIRRI realigned its projects under ARTP II extension to focus on: 1. Determination of appropriate technologies and methods for harvesting and conservation of fish species in the Albert and Kyoga Systems 2. Impact of policies and technologies on livelihoods 3. Generation of knowledge for the management of aquatic invasive weeds and their hot spots in Lakes Albert and Kyoga 5. Determination of environmental factors influencing productivity for fisheries in Lakes Albert and Kyoga Systems 6. MSI - Nile perch project 7. Adaptation and Facilitating Dissemination of Appropriate technologies for harvesting Commercial Species 8. Identification of fish species suitable for culture and marketing, and promotion of their commercial culture in the Eastern AEZ.

Association of haplotypes spanning PDZ-GEF2, LOC728637 and ACSL6 with schizophrenia in Han Chinese

Background: Schizophrenia is a complex genetic disorder caused by multiple genetic and environmental factors. Several lines of linkage and association studies have repeatedly suggested that the chromosome 5q22-33 region is implicated in the aetiology of s

Strikingly different penetrance of LHON in two Chinese families with primary mutation G11778A is independent of mtDNA haplogroup background and secondary mutation G13708A

The penetrance of Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON) in families with primary mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutations is very complex. Matrilineal and nuclear genetic background, as well as environmental factors, have been reported to be involved in d