放牧与围栏羊草草原土壤呼吸作用研究

基于静态箱式法，在内蒙古典型羊草草原围栏与自由放牧样地对土壤呼吸作用及其影响因子进行连续两年野外对比观测。结果表明，围栏内外土壤呼吸作用的日、季动态差异不大，日动态呈单峰型曲线，高峰值一般出现在午间11：0014：00，最低值出现在凌晨1：003：00。从整个生长季节来看，土壤呼吸作用的最大值出现在6月中旬到7月底，随后逐渐降低。整个观测期间围栏与放牧样地土壤呼吸作用平均值分别是219.18 mg CO2•m-2•h-1和111.27 mg CO2•m-2•h-1，围栏样地土壤呼吸作用明显高于放牧样地，可能与土壤含水量改善和生物量增加有关。对影响土壤呼吸作用的因子分析表明，放牧使土壤含水量和相对湿度明显降低，而对气温、大气CO2浓度和光合有效辐射的影响并不大，且放牧使羊草净光合速率的影响明显增加，而对气孔导度和胞间CO2浓度影响不大。围栏样地土壤呼吸作用与各影响因子的相关性从大到小依次为土壤含水量、净光合速率、气温、相对湿度、大气CO2浓度、胞间CO2浓度、气孔导度和光合有效辐射，其中土壤含水量和气温是影响土壤呼吸作用的主要环境因子，净光合速率是主要的生物因子。尽管放牧改变了土壤呼吸速率，但土壤呼吸作用各影响因子的排列顺序基本上没有改变,只是发生了量的变化。选择目前常用的土壤呼吸作用水热因子模型，在放牧与围栏羊草草原分别进行了验证和评估。在低温低湿条件下，土壤呼吸作用主要受温度调控，然而，随着温度升高和水分增加，温度单因子模型不能模拟水分对土壤呼吸作用的激发作用。在干旱半干旱的典型草原区，土壤呼吸作用主要受土壤含水量影响，而如果把温度的调控作用考虑进去能进一步提高模型的预测能力。在围栏样地，水热双因子线性模型的相关系数高于其它模型，可以解释土壤呼吸作用82%以上的变化情况，而对于放牧样地来说，指数模型、指数-乘幂模型和指数-Arrhenius方程的相关系数(R2=0.87-0.88)高于线性模型(R2=0.73-0.79)。 在温室实验中，通过模拟典型草原优势植物种羊草不同密度对土壤呼吸作用的影响，采用根系生物量梯度外推法对羊草种群根呼吸作用与微生物呼吸作用进行了区分。结果表明，羊草根系呼吸速率在生长初期最大, 达到33.5 mg CO2•gDW-1•h-1, 随着植物生长逐渐降低而趋于稳定, 在1.1~2.0 mg CO2•gDW-1•h-1之间变动。整个生长季节根呼吸作用占土壤呼吸总量比例从9.7%逐渐上升到52.9%，平均值为36.8%。尽管随着生长根呼吸速率逐渐降低, 但根系生物量的增加却使根呼吸作用所占比例不断升高。

京北农牧交错区植物功能型研究

植物功能型的研究是全球变化研究当中最重要的创新之一，作为新的研究手段，已经被广泛用来研究全球变化的影响。而关于不同植物功能型对全球变化的生理生态反应、植物功能型对全球变化的适应机制及植物功能型演变在全球变化中的作用等方面的研究报道却很少，相关方面的研究尚处于起步阶段，而这些恰恰是植物功能型研究的基本点和最终目的，尤其对于全球变化预测模型的研究具有深远的意义。因此深入开展区域环境或全球变化下植物功能型的变化和适应机制研究能为最大程度地获得全球变化对未来影响提供重要信息。 　　本研究中我们对京北农牧交错区的植物功能型（光合功能型和形态功能型）进行了研究。利用稳定性同位素判定法对锡林郭勒草原四种不同草地类型植物功能型进行了分析研究，在调查的125种维管植物中有4种C4植物，其中禾本科和藜科各有2种，C4植物约占该地区调查植物总数的3%，C3 植物为94%、CAM植物为3%。研究中发现利用稳定性同位素技术判定CAM类型存在一定的局限性，需要采用辅助实验进行补充。研究结果还表明自东向西，在草甸草原－典型草原－荒漠草原这一系列草原类型中随着降雨量的逐渐降低，植物种类组成逐渐降低，但C4/C3的比例却有升高的趋势，说明植物光合类型的组成与水分梯度相关。在相同的环境梯度下，多年生高禾草和多年生杂类草呈现显著减少的趋势;而一年生杂类草，多年生矮禾草、灌木和鳞茎类植物呈现显著增加的趋势。这些结果为我们预测该地区植物功能型对全球变化影响的响应提供了依据。 　　在北京北部农牧交错区对不同生境类型的植物功能型进行了研究，该区域有C4植物68种。具有C4 植物的科相对集中，主要分布在禾本科（29属43种）、莎草科（4属16种）和藜科（3属5种）。菊科、豆科和蔷薇科这3大科中没有发现C4 植物。C4植物约占该地区调查植物总数的9%，C3 植物为89%、CAM植物为2%。多年生高禾草和多年生杂类草的比例无论从生长条件良好的草地到沙地，还是从草地到弃耕干扰地都呈现显著下降的趋势，而一年生杂类草和一年生禾草的变化却呈相反的变化趋势。C4植物中一年生植物占的比例最大，而且各个生境中C4植物在一年生植物的比例均超过30%，这说明该地区各个生境植被都已有相当程度的退化。上述结果证明植物功能型能在不同生境尺度上反映土地利用的变化。 　　对典型农牧交错区（多伦县）植物功能型研究表明，在该地区调查的11个群落中有4种C4植物（2科3属），其中禾本科3种、藜科1种。 C4 植物约占该地区调查植物总数的4.5%，C3 植物为95%，CAM植物为0.5%。研究结果表明随着土壤水分含量的降低，C4 功能型以及一年生杂草、一年生禾草、多年生矮禾草对群落水分利用的贡献呈现出显著增加的趋势，而多年生杂类草和多年生高禾草则呈现相反的变化趋势。不同植物功能型的水分利用效率是一个相对稳定的指标，可能成为我们进行更大尺度水分变化分析的有力工具。多年生杂类草和多年生高禾草对维持该地区生态系统生产力以及稳定性具有至关重要的作用，随土壤水分的下降，二者的地位和作用均呈现下降趋势，因此可能导致该地区草地生态系统生产力和稳定性的持续下降。在植物功能型鉴定的基础上，分析了多样性与土壤水分和生产力关系，研究发现植物功能型多样性与土壤水分和生产力相关性更为显著。 　　对3个研究地点植物功能型的比较研究发现，就植物光合功能型而言，随降水量减少和温度降低，单子叶C4光合功能型比例呈现显著下降趋势，而双子叶C4光合功能型却呈现显著增加的趋势;植物形态功能型在区域尺度上没有而呈现出明显的变化趋势。研究表明植物光合功能型对于大尺度下环境因子的变化具有敏感的响应，而植物形态功能型可能更适合在中小尺度下研究环境的异质性以及土地利用方式的变化。 　　

内蒙古克氏针茅草原土壤呼吸作用研究

土壤呼吸是陆地生态系统碳循环中的重要环节，是土壤与大气之间碳交换的主要输出途径。草地生态系统土壤呼吸作用研究在全球碳循环研究中占有十分重要的地位和作用。本研究选取我国内蒙古锡林郭勒盟典型草原区内的克氏针茅草原作为研究对象，基于Li-6400-09便携式土壤呼吸观测系统2005年生长季的野外观测资料，研究了克氏针茅草原土壤呼吸速率的日、生长季动态及其影响因子。研究结果表明： (1)　2005年生长季，克氏针茅草原土壤呼吸速率的日、生长季动态均呈单峰型曲线变化;日最大值和最小值分别出现在10:0013:00和凌晨4:00左右;生长季日均最大值(0.14mgCO2m-2s-1)出现在6月份，日均最小值(0.03mgCO2m-2s-1)出现在8月份。与以往典型草原土壤呼吸研究相比，峰值和最低值出现时间均提前。 (2)　在日尺度上，随着生长期的变化，控制土壤呼吸变化的环境因子有所不同。其中生长季初期和末期土壤呼吸速率日动态的限制因子主要为总辐射，而生长季中期，控制因子为气温和土壤含水量(010cm、1020cm)。在整个生长季的尺度上，影响土壤呼吸动态的环境因子主要为土壤含水量(010cm、1020cm、2030cm)、总辐射和土壤温度(10cm、15cm、20cm)，其协同作用可解释土壤呼吸变化的92%。其中约有72％的土壤呼吸作用变异是由表层土壤含水量(010cm、1020cm)和总辐射共同决定的，而010cm土壤含水量可单独解释土壤呼吸生长季变异的51%。 (3)　克氏针茅草原地上生物量的生长季变化呈单峰曲线型，8月份达到峰值。地下生物量和总生物量(地上和地下之和)在整个生长季的变化比较平缓，但在6月份和9月份分别出现一个峰值。其中，地上生物量是决定同一时间不同地点土壤呼吸速率变化的主要影响因素;而地下生物量对同一地点不同时间土壤呼吸速率变化的作用更为显著。其中地下生物量可解释土壤呼吸速率在整个生长季变异的25％。 (4)　通过灰色关联度方法综合分析环境因子与生物因子(地上和地下生物量)得到各影响因子与日均土壤呼吸速率生长季变化密切程度的相对顺序：0~10cm土壤含水量>地下生物量>10~20cm土壤含水量>20~30cm土壤含水量>气温>20cm土壤温度>5cm土壤温度>15cm土壤温度>10cm土壤温度>地上生物量>总辐射。结果表明：在2005年生长季，土壤含水量(0~10cm)是控制克氏针茅草原日均土壤呼吸速率生长季变化的主导影响因素，其次是植被的地下生物量。气温与土壤呼吸生长季变化的密切程度大于各层土壤温度。而地上生物量和总辐射对日均土壤呼吸生长季变化的影响最弱。

内蒙古半干旱温带草原土壤微生物对环境变化的响应

地处干旱半干旱区的我国北方温带草原是欧亚大陆草原生物区系的重要组成部分，对全球变化敏感。土壤微生物在联系生态系统地上和地下部分起着中枢作用，由于其周转速率快，对环境因子变化响应快速，可用来指示短期内环境因子的变化对生态系统的影响。目前关于内蒙古半干旱温带草原的研究主要集中在生态系统地上部分，对地下尤其是土壤微生物对全球变化及人为干扰的响应研究仍然缺乏。本研究选取位于内蒙古多伦县的代表性的半干旱温带草原，通过对多种环境因子变化及人为干扰下土壤微生物量、呼吸、氮可利用性及转化等参数进行测定，旨在探讨全球变化及人为干扰对土壤微生物的影响，为地上植物群落的响应及生态系统地上与地下部分的联系提供机理解释，研究结果如下： 通过研究土壤微生物生物量和呼吸生长季的动态变化，以及它们对地形、火烧、施用氮肥及其交互作用的响应，结果表明，土壤微生物参数在生长季表现出明显的季节变异。土壤微生物生物量碳(MBC)、氮(MBN)分别在坡下比坡上高出14.8%和11.5%。但是，有机碳微中生物量碳的百分比(Cmic/Corg)以及总氮中微生物量氮的百分比(Nmic/Ntot)分别在坡上比坡下高16.9%和26.2%。微生物呼吸(MR)和代谢熵(qCO2)都不受地形的影响。火烧在整个生长季分别提高MBC和MBN29.8%和14.2%，MR和qCO2 则有降低趋势，尤其是在八月份。火烧在坡上提高Cmic/Corg 和Nmic/Ntot，但是在坡下对二者没有影响。氮肥的施用在第一个生长季对所有土壤微生物指标都没有影响。 草原生态中环境因子的空间和时间变异可以影响土壤微生物以及它们对干扰的响应。通过对地形、火烧、施肥进行三年连续处理和观测土壤微生物指标发现，1)土壤微生物参数有明显的年际变异。2)在相对湿润的年份，土壤微生物量在坡下比坡上高，但是Cmic/Corg和Nmic/Ntot 在坡上高于坡下。但在干旱年份里，所有土壤微生物参数都是在坡下高于坡上，且由于地形引起的差异在干旱年份表现更强烈。MBC、MBN、MR 的变异系数在坡上高，表明土壤微生物量和活性在坡下稳定性高。说明了土壤水分含量在半干旱温带草原调节土壤微生物和其稳定性方面起着重要作用。地形对土壤可利用的氮没有影响。3)每年一次的火烧对土壤微生物量、Cmic/Corg、Nmic/Ntot 有正效应但正效应随处理时间延长和处理次数增加而降低。火烧在在第一年内不论在坡上还是坡下都降低MR，但是在干旱年份里，火烧在坡上降低MR，在坡下提高MR。火烧在第二年里在坡下提高了土壤无机氮含量，但在坡上降低了土壤无机氮含量。在第三年，不论坡上还是坡下，火烧使得土壤无机氮含量降低。4)施用氮肥提高土壤无机氮含量，但是它对土壤微生物参数产生负效应，且负效应随着处理时间延长和处理次数的增加而增强。此外，氮肥增加了MBC、MBN、MR的变异系数。 土壤微生物在生态系统碳氮循环中起着关键作用，但是关于氮素添加是否促进或抑制土壤微生物生物量和活动仍然存在争议。在我国北方温带草原的这项研究目的在于探讨土壤微生物沿着一个施氮梯度的响应。本研究设置了每年一次、连续四年的八个水平(0, 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64 g N m-2以尿素形式施入土壤)N处理。并在第三年和第四年测定了土壤微生物生物量碳、氮、磷、微生物呼吸和代谢熵、土壤无机氮、净氮矿化和硝化。大多数测定的微生物参数都在低施氮处理下有所增加，相反在高施氮处理下降低。在取样测定的两年中，对土壤微生物生长和活动的最适施氮量大致为2 g N m-2 y-1；而施氮的阈值在16 和32 gN m-2 y-1之间，在此阈值之上，土壤pH、微生物生物量、微生物呼吸、Cmic/Corg、Nmic/Ntot 急剧降低，相反，土壤无机氮、净氮矿化和硝化急剧增加。土壤微生物对低施氮处理和高施氮处理的特异性响应(Differential Response)可能是由于微生物碳氮限制的转换、以及高施氮处理下土壤pH值降低的毒害影响而引起的。本研究中观察到的土壤微生物沿着施氮梯度的非线性响应有助于解决不同报道及不同生态系统中氮素添加对土壤微生物影响的争议。 气候变化将显著影响陆地生态系统的碳循环。以2005年4月开始的一项野外控制实验为平台，检验我国北方半干旱典型草原土壤和微生物呼吸以及微生物生物量对试验增温和增加降水的响应。在3 个实验年份内(2005-2007 年)测定了整个生长季节的土壤呼吸、微生物呼吸、微生物生物量碳和微生物生物量氮。结果表明，1)受到降水年际波动的影响，土壤和微生物呼吸以及微生物生物量均存在明显的年际变化。2)实验室内沿着一个水分梯度的培养实验揭示了微生物呼吸对温度的响应受到低土壤水分含量的限制。3)在三年时间内，试验增温引起土壤和微生物呼吸以及微生物生物量的显著降低，说明试验增温通过加剧土壤水分胁迫的间接负效应大于温度增加的直接正效应。试验增温所引起的蒸发散的增加导致土壤水分可利用性减少到某一胁迫阈值(Threshold)之下，并因此抑制了植物生长、根系和微生物活动。4)降水增加显著刺激了土壤和微生物呼吸以及其它微生物参数，而且这种正效应随着时间而增强。研究结果表明：在半干旱温带草原，土壤水分在调节土壤和微生物呼吸以及微生物生物量及其对气候变化的响应方面所起的作用比温度更为重要。比较温带草原土壤呼吸与总初级生产力的相对变化显示，相对于光合碳固定而言，增温导致更多而增雨引起较少的呼吸碳损失。这一发现说明：除非降水增加，气候变暖情形下，我国北方的干旱半干旱温带草原将可能作为一个净的碳源。

Dehydration of prawns in tunnel dryers

This paper deals with the dehydration of prawns in a tunnel dryer. Conditions required to produce an end-product of desired colour, shape and texture as well as good reconstitution and organoleptic properties which are not obtained in the normal hot air drying, have been worked out. An initial temperature and relative humidity of 90°C. and 85%-90% respectively and an air velocity not more than 1 metre/second are the essential conditions required. Both temperature and relative humidity are to be reduced to 70°C and 40% respectively after about an hour's operation, till the drying is complete. Flavour of the reconstituted product is close to that of the fresh cooked prawns and the texture is judged to be soft. Drying time required to reduce the moisture content of fresh prawns to 15% level is about 7 hours compared to 6-7 hours in normal hot air drying and more than 36 hours in sun-drying.

Preliminary studies on blanching of prawn

The paper represents results on the studies undertaken to find out the causes of irregular drained weight conditions in commercial canned prawn samples. The tendency of cooked prawn to attain the equilibrium moisture content (72-74% in M. affinis and M. dobsoni) when in contact with brine has been found to be mainly responsible for the loss and gaine in drained weight. Underblanching results in loss of moistures from the meat during processing. It has been found that under standard blanching conditions, which is independent of initial moisture content, salt concentration of the blanch liquor and the temperature of sterilisation, the fluctuation in the drained weight could be avoided.

Studies on the biochemical composition of some freshwater fishes. Pt. 3. Ovary

Biochemical composition of the spent ovaries of 23 different species of freshwater fishes showed a much lower value for protein and fat with higher moisture content than those of the ripe eggs, suggesting an inverse relationship between fat and moisture. Ovaries during the recovering phase showed fairly high values of phosphorus, but lower than those for the ripe eggs. Higher values of calcium and iron in spent ovaries than those in ripe eggs probably suggest that there is a greater requirement of calcium and iron during the spent phase of the gonads.

Surimi based dried fish cake

Minced fish prepared from the fillets of the sciaenid fish (Lutjanus sp.) was washed with cold water (<10 °C) three times. The washed muscle was pressed through a piece of fine cloth to a moisture content around 80%. The pressed cake (Surimi) was ground with 2.5% sodium chloride and 3% tapioca starch. The mixed material was shaped in the form of a cake and left for one hour for the gel to set. The cakes were then steamed. The cooled cakes were cut into pieces of 1 cm length x 1 cm width x 0.5 cm thick. The pieces were either dried in an electrical oven at 50°C or dried in sun to a moisture content of 11-12%. Biochemical, bacteriological and organoleptic evaluation revealed that the cakes were in very good acceptable form for 8 months. The cakes could be rehydrated by soaking in water at ambient temperature for half an hour and boiling in water for 10 minutes.

Nutritional value of some small indigenous fish species (SIS) of Bangladesh

Twenty three small indigenous fish species (SIS) in the size range of 3-18 cm were analyzed for proximate composition and minerals (Ca and P) content to evaluate their nutritive value. The moisture content of different species ranged between 71.00 and 81.94%. In general, small sized fishes showed higher moisture content. The muscle protein content among the species varied widely (16.16-22.28%). In general, the muscle protein content of fishes showed higher value than the whole carcass protein content. The carcass lipid content varied between 1.87 and 9.55% and showed an inverse relationship with the moisture content. The gross energy content ranged from 19.51-27.30 KJ/g on dry matter basis. In the present study, the calcium and phosphorus contents ranged between 0.85-3.20% and 1.01-3.29% respectively. The calcium and phosphorus ratio (Ca/P) varied between 0.44 and 2.00. From the nutritional point of view, it shows that the SIS are good source of protein and minerals especially calcium and phosphorus

Studies on the post-mortem changes in shrimp and prawn during ice storage. Pt. 1. Organoleptic and physical changes

The organoleptic characteristics such as appearance, textural condition, colour and odour indicated that the M. rosenbergii stored in ice for 5-6 days was acceptable for processing in the industry while P. monodon under similar ice storage condition was acceptable for 8-9 days. In both species, samples stored in headless condition in ice had longer shelf life than that of stored in head-on condition. Physical changes were evaluated by determining expressible moisture and breaking strength of sample of muscles. The expressible moisture increased continuously in both samples with the lapse of storage period. The expressible moisture increased up to around 44% in 4-5 days of ice stored M. rosenbergii muscle while it was around 40% in 8-9 days ice stored P. monodon. At the end of 9 days of ice storage, the expressible moisture content in M. rosenbergii increased up to 60%, while it was up to 47% in P. monodon after 11 days of ice storage. The breaking strength declined from 0. 78 kg/cm² to 0.53 kg/cm² in tiger shrimp after 8 days of ice storage, while in case of immediately killed prawn, the breaking strength of muscle was 0.8 kg/cm² which declined to 0.43 to 0.35 kg/cm².

Effect of microwave pasteurisation on the quality of fish chikuwa

Temperature profile of fish chikuwa was taken during microwave cooking at 100 power level for different durations and subjected to organoleptic evaluation. Moisture content and organoleptic quality of fish chikuwa paste mixed with different levels of moisture and cooked at 100 power levels for 6 minutes were analysed. Microwave cooked fish chikuwa with standardized recipe was heated in microwave oven with hot air at different temperature for different durations. Fish chikuwa microwave cooked at 100 power level for 6 minutes had higher scores for all attributes as compared to those cooked for different durations and also fulfill the condition of pasteurisation of fish chikuwa. Fish chikuwa prepared with 35% moisture had better scores for all attributes unlike those of other levels. Heating of microwave pasteurised fish chikuwa at different temperatures for different durations could not achieve the desired brown colour.

Keeping quality of imported dried fish

All imported salted, dried fish samples tested had a salt content below 30% and above 12% and hence met requirements of the proposed standard. Also samples without quality cut tested had a greater salt content than that with quality cut. This indicates that salt contributes to protecting dried fish and hence may be endorsed by sensory evaluation to a certain extent. Samples with quality cut had more moisture than that without quality cut. But all samples with and without quality cut had a moisture content greater than 35% which is the maximum moisture content for such species specified in the standard. Microbiological testing for total counts and Coliform contents too showed that good quality dried fish had counts greater than that specified in the standard. The different species of fish tested had varying lengths of shelf life. But on an average the shelf life of dried fish could be prolonged for about 12 days by re-drying at 45°C for 6 hours, i.e., re-drying at these temperatures without subsequent packing in polythene bags may not be practical for prolonging the storage life of salted/dried fish.

Development of canned products from Indian major carp, catla (Catla catla)

Pieces of catla fish (Catla catla, a major carp of lndian subcontinent) of length 10 to 11 cm and thickness 1.0 to 1.5cm were precooked by two methods; steam precooking and frying. The precooked pieces were packed_in No.1 tall can (30lx411) with various hot filling media like oil, brine, tomato sauce and curry. Cans were seamed by a hand seamer and retorted at 117.2° C (12 psi) for 90 minutes. All the canned products had satisfactory cut-out, biochemical and organoleptic characteristics. Steam precooked canned products had moisture content of 65.6 to 74%, protein content of 20.8 to 22%, fat content of 1.1 to 6.6% and ash content of 2.1 to 2.5%; whereas fried canned products had moisture content of 65.4 to 68.2%, protein content of 21.3 to 22%, fat content of 7 to 10.2% and ash content of 2.1 to 2.7% on wet wt. basis. Salt content in steam precooked and fried canned products varied from 1.2 to 1.9% and 2.0 to 2.5% respectively. All the canned products were organoleptically good. However, degree of preference varied for different products. Canned fried catla in curry was the best product among all types of packs. Among the precooking methods, frying was more efficient than steam precooking in controlling the amount of exudate to a desirable limit in canned products. However, crispness, the characteristic quality for a fried fish, was lost during retorting. There was no change in quality characteristics during a storage period of 3 months at ambient temperature (32±2°C).

Shelf life of dried products from small indigenous fish species under various packing and storage conditions

The overall quality of five SIS products was found in good condition up to 2 months storage on the basis of organoleptic, biochemical and bacteriological characteristics and all the products was excellent in sealed packed condition up to 45 days of storage. However, quality of the products stored in open air atmospheric temperature was found excellent for first 15 days. In an average the initial moisture content was in the range of 13.5 to 15.0% with highest moisture content in puti and lowest in chapila. At the end of the 60 days the moisture content reached to the range of 18.5 to 19.0% which was more or less near the recommended limit of 16% for dried fishery products. The moisture content beyond the recommended limit as the storage period increased further and at the end of 90 days the moisture content increased to the range of 22.9 to 24% when organoleptically the product quality became very poor. The changes in the value of total volatile base nitrogen (TVB-N), peroxide value (PO), moisture and aerobic plate count (APC) of solar tunnel dried products in sealed polythene packages were investigated during 60 days of storage. There was little or no differences in TVB-N, PO and bacterial load of each species packed under various polythene density. The initial TVB-N values were in the range of 10.30 to 12.40 mg/100g of the samples. TVB-N value increased slowly up to the end of the storage period and was to in the range of 46.20 to 57.00 mg/1 00 g of sample. Initially the peroxide values (P.O.) were in the range of 6.54 to 8.40 m.eq./kg oil of the samples. During 60 days of storage, P.O. values increased slowly and at the end of the storage period these values reached to the range of 22.00 to 25.30meq./kg of sample. The initial APC was in the range 5.3xl04-7.3x104 CFU/g. The bacterial load increased slowly and at the end of the 60 days storage period reached to the range 6.6x106 - 8.6x107 CFT/g.

A survey of pest (Dermestes maculatus) infestation of dried preserved Clarias gariepinus: its effect on nutrient quantity and quality

Studies on the nutrient composition of smoked-dried Clarias gariepinus were carried out, to assess the effects of pest infestation on the dried catfish from two different market (Abakpa and Kpirikpiri market) area in Abakaliki Metropolis, Ebonyi State, Nigeria. Fish samples from the two markets where kept for pest to infest it and it were taken to Biochemistry Laboratory of Food Science and Technology in Ebonyi State University to assess the damage of pest on dried catfish using standard methods. There was a significant different among the mean weight of fish from the two markets (Abakpa and kpirikpiri; 19.13kg and 18.98kg respectively) compared with the mean weight of the control 20.09kg. There was a variation in the proximate composition of the fishes from the two markets compared with the control, the decreases of the proximate composition are: crude protein from 60.07% to 40.27%; fat from 8.35% to 5.90%; moisture content from 11.67% to 10.67; fiber from 12.93 to 11.93; ash from 4.02% to 3.54% and carbohydrate 12.67% to 5.89%. The longer the storage periods of the infested smoked fish the more the tissue was degraded. Proper handling and storage of dried catfish are required to prolong the shelf life and nutrient content of dried catfish.