Polyculture of giant freshwater prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergii, with Indian major carps: a case study

A study conducted in a 450 m² earthen pond to evaluate the production potential of giant freshwater prawn (stocked at 20,000 juveniles/ha) and Indian major carps, catla and rohu (stocked at 5000 juveniles/ha in 2:1 proportion) revealed that in nine months growing period, catla and rohu attained average sizes of 357 and 746 g, respectively, while prawn weighed 48.32 g. The growth of rohu was much faster than catla as indicated by higher relative and absolute weight gains. The total fish production per hectare was estimated to be 2418 kg and prawn production stood at 780 kg with excellent survival of both the fish (>98%) and prawn (>80%).

Effects of physiological doses of vitamin D sub(3) (Cholecalciferol) on induced molting and growth in giant freshwater prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergii (de Man)

Effects of three different doses of vitamin D sub(3) on molting, growth, and calcium and phosphate composition of tissue and molt during the grow-out of the giant freshwater prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii (average weight 10.56 ± 0.20 g), obtained from a grow-out pond, were studied. Intramuscular doses of vitamin D sub(3) (100, 500 and 2000 IU/kg body weight) were given on the 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th, 9th, 11th, 13th, 15th, 20th, 25th and 30th days. All the experimental animals were fed with a basal diet containing fish meal, shrimp meal, wheat flour, groundnut de-oiled cake, soybean meal and wheat bran at 3% of the body weight. The numbers of molts were recorded as 20±0.50, 29±1.16, 51±1.87, and 30±1.60 in control, 100, 500 and 2000 IU/kg body weight physiological doses, respectively. Maximum growth was recorded in prawns given 500 IU/ kg dose. Survival was between 58.33 ± 9.13 and 77.77 ± 8.61%. The ash content and calcium level increased significantly (p<0.05) and recorded the highest values in 500 IU/kg physiological dose. However, the inorganic phosphate (P sub(i)) content recorded the highest values in tissue in 2000 IU/kg dose (p<0.05, F = 50.60613). There is no significant difference in calcium contents (p>0.05) in both tissue and molt at 500 and 2000 IU/kg doses. It was found that a higher physiological dose (2000 IU/kg) of vitamin D sub(3) increased the rate of mortality. Results have shown that vitamin D sub(3) has a positive impact on the growth and survival of M. rosenbergii and it interferes with the metabolism of Ca and P sub(i), in tissue, and alters molting frequency. Results on physiological dose suggest an alternative and effective dietary supplementation method of vitamin D sub(3) in the grow-out phase of M. rosenbergii.

A guide to the freshwater fauna of Ceylon. Supplement 1.

This is the first of a series consequent to "A guide to the freshwater fauna of Ceylon" by A. S. Mendis and C. H. Fernando, Bull. Fish. Res. Stn. Ceylon No. 12, 160 pp. (1962). The purpose of this series is to make the above-mentioned work more comprehensive. The present supplement is restricted to the Arthropoda.

Some marine algae from Ceylon - 2. Laurencia lamouroux

The herbarium material belonging to the genus Laurencia kept at the Royal Botanical Gardens, Peradeniya together with my collections of material belonging to this genus from various parts of Ceylon have been examined. Most of the material belonging to the genus Laurencia had been incorrectly identified and their true identity has been determined. A key to the Ceylon species of Laurencia is given.

A Guide to the freshwater fauna of Ceylon. Supplement 2

This is the second supplement to "A guide to the freshwater fauna of Ceylon" by A. S. Mendis and C. H. Fernando, Bull. Fish. Res. Stn., Ceylon, No. 12, 160 pp. (1962). In the present supplement additions and corrections are made in the sections on Protozoa, Annelida and Arthropoda. The sections on Platyhelrainthes and Nematoda have been expanded and the Acanthocephala added. A list of species recorded and the hosts of the parasitic forms are included. In the "Guide", the insects with only larval stages in aquatic habitats were mentioned only briefly and no species lists were included. In this supplement this gap is largely filled by added notes and inclusion of species lists of all these groups except the Neuroptera, Lepidoptera, Tabanidae, Syrphidae and Stratiomyidae. The orders Neuroptera and Lepidoptera have relatively few members in freshwater habitats and the families Tabanidae, Syrphidae and Stratiomyidae have forms with larvae in aquatic habitats and also in moist places which are not true freshwater habitats. At this time, it is not possible to separate those forms living in freshwater habitats. Short diagnoses of six additional families are given, namely, the ixidae, Psychodidae, Tabanidae Stratiomyidae, Rhagionidae and Sciomyzidae. Keys are provided for the Odonata and Ephermeroptera larvae down to the family level. An attempt has been made to make the references more comprehensive. Works dealing specifically with the Ceylonese fauna are of course included, but in addition those which are of use in diagnosis of local genera and species have been cited.

A Preliminary study of the defensive spines of some Malayan freshwater fishes

The defensive spines of fifteen Malayan freshwater fishes have been studied morphologically. The classification of spines has been slightly modified from the previous work of Fernando and Fernando (1960). They are divided into simple, denticle-bearing and venom-carrying. The simple spines are further sub-divided into single and multiple and the denticle-bearing into Bagriid and Clariid types. The latter agree morphologically with the venom-carrying spines of previously studied forms and may be a degenerate condition. Simple spines occur singly in the Cyprinidae where they are found at the anterior end of the dorsal fin. A spine of similar structure occurs in the catfish Glyptothorax. In the families Anabantidae, Cichlidae and Mastacenbelidae simple spines occur as a series. Denticle-bearing spines occur in the catfishes (Order-Nematognathi). Those having denticles on one face occur in the Bagridae, Siluridae, Sisoridae, and Akysidae. They are referred to as Bagriid type. In the other type denticles occur on the anterior and posterior faces of the spine. They are referred to as Clariid type. None of the Malayan species studied had venom-carrying spines and they are unlikely to be found in the freshwater species. The functioning of the defensive mechanism whose morphological bases are spines is discussed and the relation between the size and habitat on the effectiveness of the spines is mentioned. The evolution of defensive spines is discussed briefly.

East African Freshwater Fisheries Research Organization Annual Report 1967

Throughout the year the Fisheries Departments of Tanzania and Uganda continued to forward to EAFFRO data on the commercial fisheries of the lake. Regular records of commercial fishing activity In Kenya waters have not been received, appropriate information has been made available on request from the Chief Fisheries Officer. None of the research staff at EAFFRO have been assigned to a detail ed survey of the statistica1 data available, although severa1 research officers have taken the opportunity of analysing the data appropriate to their own research programmes. As recorded in the last Annual Report, an important feature of the UNDP Lake Victoria Fisheries Research Project will be to undertake the relevant statistical surveys essential to the proper.

A guide to the freshwater fauna of Ceylon. Supplement 3

This supplement to the “Guide to the freshwater fauna of Ceylon” by A. S. Mendis and C. H. Fernando. Bull Fish. Res. Stn. Ceylon 12, 160 pp. (1962) includes a number of additional records to the fauna and nomenclatural changes designed to bring the names of the Rotifera, and Hydracarina up to date. This latter involves a complete change in naming of Rotifera to keep in line with modern nomenclature synonymizing species where necessary. A major study on the water mites of India by Cook (1067) has necessitated considerable changes in the naming of Ceylonese species. Besides the Rotifera and Hydracarina the Ilemiptera-Heteroptera have received attention as regards the Corixidae and new generic and specific records from published and unpublished material has been included. A major difficulty in studying freshwater animals (for that matter any animals) is the lack of suitable illustrations of local forms. An attempt has been made to fill this gap for the Rotifera and Turbellaria, It is hoped that in future supplements other groups can be similarly dealt with.

East African Freshwater Fisheries Research Organization Director's report 1976

The Annual report covers Research work of the Organization carried out during the period 1975. Its explains the following research work: Haplochromis Studies, Electrophoresis,The Ecology of Haplochromis in the northern waters of Lake Victoria Limnology, Aquatic Pollution and Biochemical Studies The Biology of Synodontis in Lake Victoria Riverine Fisheries, Inshore Fishery of the Kenyan-Waters of Lake Victoria Biostatistics, the Inshore Fisheries of the Western part of Lake Victoria, The Offshore Fisheries of Kenyan Waters of Lake Victoria Lake Mobutu Sese Seko: Stock Assessment and Ecological Studies Fishery Economics, The Biology of Bagrus docmac in Lake Victoria Fishery Resource Surveys of Lake Wamala and Kijanebalola

The freshwater fisheries of Ceylon

Based on our present knowledge a comprehensive account of the freshwater fisheries of Ceylon is given. The material for the present paper comes from data gathered by the authors over a period of fifteen years on the general setup of the fisheries and specific research carried out on a few major aspects of the fisheries. All the previous published work is gathered together. Most of the data available to the authors has been from the Polonnaruwa area, namely Parakrama Samudra and Minneriya tanks and Senanayake Samudra in the Gal-Oya Valley. Studies have also been made on Tilapia mossambica because of its great importance to the fisheries in general.

Some freshwater mollusca from Ceylon with notes on their distribution and biology

Very few records of freshwater molluscs of Ceylon are available in several publications and although they are of importance as food for fishes and vectors of parasites we know little of their role in these capacities in Ceylon. The present paper is to be considered more as a pointer to the group than as a study of the freshwater molluscs of Ceylon. The author collected freshwater molluscs during surveys made for the study of systematics and distribution of various freshwater invertebrates. Material of freshwater molluscs purchased by the Museum in Leiden and labelled Ceylon was also seen by the author. The nomenclature used in this paper has been simplified by the omission of sub-generic and sub-specific names. The sub-generic divisions are dealt with critically for the Gastropoda by Wenz (1938-1944) and Zilch (1959-1960).

Hydrobiology of Colombo (Beira) Lake, 1. Diurnal variations in temperature, hydrochemical factors and zooplankton

An extensive study of the hydrobiology of the Colombo Lake was initiated by the authors in May 1969 as a contribution to the International Biological Program (Productivity of freshwater communities) by the Department of Zoology, Vidyalankara University of Ceylon, Kelaniya. The Colombo Lake often referred to as the Beira Lake covers an area of approximately 160 acres. The water is usually very turbid with a greenish blue appearance due to the presence of large quantities of blue green algae.

Systematic study of the blue green algae of Ceylon kept at the herbarium of the Royal Botanical Gardens, Peradeniya

The collection of blue green algae kept at the herbarium of the Royal Botanical Gardens, Peradeniya, was collected by Ferguson more than 70 years ago. Since then many changes have taken place in the taxonomy of the blue green algae. West (1902), Lemmermann (1907), Wine (1915), Crow (1923), Bharadwaja (1934) and Holsinger (1935) had described some of the blue green algae of Ceylon. While examining the collections of blue green algae kept at the herbarium, the authors found that most of the identifications were incorrect and required revision. In the present paper 20 blue green algae are described. The classification and key to the species are based on the characters given by Desikachary (1959). Blue green algae are important to fisheries since Chanos larvae feed on them.

Colour patterns in Ceylonese freshwater crabs (Potamonidae)

In the present paper some preliminary remarks are made on the colour patterns of all the Potamonidae of Sri Lanka. In the opinion of the author more detailed studies will show that the colour pattern of each species is a useful diagnostic aid even with difficult species like those belonging to the "Ceylonensis" complex (Fernando, 1960). Fernando (1960, 1961) has described the species of Potamonidae. Eight species are known all belonging to the genus Paratelphusa. Only one species has been illustrated in colour so far (Fernando, 1960). Black and white pictures of all the other species except Paratelphusa soror (Zenthner) have been given in Fernando (1961). Paratelphusa soror is illustrated in the present paper.