鄂尔多斯高原油蒿种群分布格局与群落数量特征对降水梯度的反应

近年来，种群空间分布格局日益为生态学家所重视，已成为生态学发展最快的领域和生态学理论发展的核心之一，群落的植被盖度和生物多样性是生态学研究的常用指标。植物种群分布格局及群落特征是种群和群落对环境条件长期适应和选择的结果，一方面决定于植物自身的生物学特性，另一方面与种群和群落分布的生境密切相关，对于揭示植被对环境的适应规律及它们之间的相互关系具有十分重要的意义。 本文以油蒿种群为研究对象，沿着鄂尔多斯高原从东至西的降水梯度(336～249mm)，应用传统的分布格局检验法以及点格局方法进行油蒿种群分布格局的研究；采用Gleason 指数、Shannon-Wiener 指数、Pielou 指数和Simpson 指数分析比较油蒿群落的生物多样性。从格局分析的尺度问题、严密性以及聚集程度变化趋势等几个方面，对本文采用的种群分布格局分析方法进行比较，为种群分布格局分析方法的选择提供参考。 种群分布格局分析结果表明沿着降水递减的梯度，在小尺度上油蒿种群分布格局表现为由均匀分布向随机分布转变的趋势；在大尺度上则表现为由随机分布向聚集分布转变的趋势。沿降水逐渐减弱的梯度上，油蒿种群的聚集程度逐渐增强。降水梯度对油蒿种群分布格局的影响一方面由油蒿本身的生物学特性决定，在降雨量小的地区，油蒿母株周围幼苗的存活率高，呈现聚集分布格局，而降雨量大的地区，油蒿幼苗存活概率比较平均，形成随机分布格局；其次，降雨量较大的地区，土壤水分资源较充足，油蒿个体较大，个体之间以竞争关系为主，聚集程度较低，降雨量少的地区，油蒿个体较矮小，个体之间为共同抵御恶劣生境，呈现聚集分布的格局。 群落FPC 和生物多样性指数与年平均降水量的回归分析结果显示，降水量越大，植被盖度越高，物种丰富度越大，群落物种分布均匀程度和优势度越低。充足的降雨促进油蒿群落的发育，草本层植物长势更好，生物量增加，群落的结构趋于复杂。 传统的分布格局检验方法和点格局方法在油蒿种群分布格局分析应用中得到的结果具有高度一致性，然而在实际工作中，这些方法之间具有各自的优劣和适应性。 建议在选取种群分布格局的分析方法时，要充分考虑研究目的，根据具体的物种和实验环境确定采用的方法。需在各细微尺度上做种群分布格局分析时，点格局方法优于传统的分析方法；在大范围取样及对工作效率要求较高时，方差均值比率法和聚集强度指数法更适合。由于聚集强度指数法在进行结果判定时比较模糊，建议优先选择方差均值比率法，将聚集强度指数法作为参考。降雨的减少显著改变了植物种群的空间分布格局和群落结构及物种组成，在进行生态恢复时可以参照本文的分析结果进行恢复植被的合理配置。

Ensiled product from fish by microbial fermentation

Fish ensilage for animal feed stuff was prepared from Jew fish (Pseudosciaena spp.) and Silver bellies (Leiognathus spp.) by fermentation with pure culture of Lactobacillus piantarum NCIB 6105. The precooked ensiled product gave better product of fish silage (high content of lactic acid, about 5%). Protein Nitrogen content ranged between 1.76 to 1.94%. During storage for one year, the Protein Nitrogen loss was not significant. The material can be used as a supplemental animal ration.

Growth of juvenile freshwater prawn Macro brachium mslcolmsonii fed with various protein diets containing different biowastes

An experiment was conducted with juvenile prawns Macrobrachium malcolmso11ii, (0:76± 0.01 ro 0.94-::tO.Ol g) w evaluate various protein source diets. Six diets containing 20%, 25%, 30%, 35%, 40%,and 45% of crude protein were formulated, and fed to prawns in the form of pellet to evaluate their suitability. The experiment was designed for 60 days and sampling was made at every 15 days interval. At the end of the study period growth, feed conversion ration (FCR) specific growth rate (SGR), feed efficiency and survival were determined for prawns in each dietary treatment. Among the above five feeds poor FCR and higher weight gain observed in 35% protein diet (B-4). Similarly specific growth rate and feed efficiency are also highest with diet containing 35% protein. The dietary protein levels above 35% exerts a decrease in growth of prawn was observed in the present study. The feed efficiency ratio and protein efficiency ratio decreased with the increased dietary protein levels. It is concluded that 35% protein diet could be suitable with optimum protein supply for Macrobrachium malcolmsonii Therefore, above and below this 35% protein level in the formulated feed leads to metabolic stress which lowers the conversion efficiency and wastage of nutrients.

Effect of feeding frequency on the growth of common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) fry

A laboratory-feeding trail was conducted for 45 days with fry of common carp Cyprinus carpio L. (0.45±0.03g) in aquaria in a static indoor fish rearing system. The fry were fed on a pelleted diet containing 33% crude protein having fishmeal as major protein source. The fish fry in five treatments A, B, C, D, and E, each with two replicates were fed on 5% daily ration divided into different feeding frequencies of 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 times a day respectively in order to observe the growth performance. Each replicate contained 15 fry having total initial weight of 6.87±0.31g. At the end of the feeding trial, significantly different and higher (p<0.05) growth response was observed in treatment C having a feeding frequencies of 4 times a day. Significantly the highest and the lowest percent growth of 334.30 and 218.91% were observed in fish fed on the diet (Treatment C) with 4 times and (Treatment A) 2 times feeding frequencies per day, respectively. Food conversion ratio (FCR) of 1.78 was significantly higher (p

Effect of feed quality restriction followed by realimentation on growth, nutrient utilization, biochemical changes and haematological profiles of Indian major carp, rohu (Labeo rohita H.)

To investigate the effect of protein restriction with subsequent re-alimentation on nutrient utilization, hematological and biochemical changes of Indian major carp, Rohu (Labeo rohita H.), 150 acclimatized Rohu fingerlings (average 20.74 ± 0.13 g) divided into five experimental groups (30 fingerlings in each groups with three replications with 10 fingerlings in each) for experimental trial of 90 days using completely randomized design. Control group (T sub(CPR)) was fed with feed having 30% crude protein at 3% of body weight for 90 days trial period. Other experimental groups T sub(1PR) was alternatively 3 days fed with feed having 20% CP and 30% CP at 3% of body weight, T sub(2PR) was alternatively 7 days fed with feed having 20% CP and 30% CP at 3% of body weight, T sub(3PR) was alternatively 15 days fed with feed having 20% CP and 30% CP at 3% of body weight and T sub(4PR) was alternatively 25 days fed with feed having 20% CP and 30% CP at 3% of body weight during 90 days trial period with daily ration in two equal halves at morning and afternoon. It was noticed that retention of different nutrients was almost similar among all treatment groups indicated improvement of digestibility of nutrients might not be the mechanisms for recovery growth in carps. Increased percent feed intake of body weight (hyperphagia) (4.14 ± 0.30 or 4.94 ± 0.46 and 3.33 ± 0.29), improved specific growth rate (1.86 ± 0.09 or 2.26 ± 0.05 and 1.43 ± 0.01), absolute growth rate (1.57 ± 0.08 or 1.84 ± 0.18 and 1.36 ± 0.12), protein efficiency ratio (1.19 ± 0.11 or1.16 ± 0.12 and 1.05 ± 0.09) were the important mechanism showing better performance index (21.60 ± 1.09 or 23.80 ± 0.21 and 19.45 ± 0.37) through which the experimental groups which were protein restricted and re-alimented at 3 or 7 days alternatively during 90 days trial period could able to compensate the growth retardation and to catch up the final body weight of control (128.68 ± 11.53 g/f) but other experimental groups failed to compensate during 90 days trial period. Result of the present study indicated that deprived fish i.e., fish received alternate 3 or 7 days protein restriction and re-alimentation showed recovery growth had still lower values of Hb (10.21 ± 0.02, and 9.88 ± 0.04 g/dl), hematocrit value (30.62 ± 0.05 and 26.64 ± 0.11%), total erythrocytic count (3.40 ± 0.01 and 3.29 ± 0.01 X10super(6) mm³), plasma glucose (126.93 ± 0.20 and 126.67 ± 0.05 mg/dl), total plasma lipid (1.04 ± 0.01 and 1.02 ± 0.01 g/dl) and liver glycogen (290.10 ± 0.80 and 288.99 ± 0.95 mg/kg) in comparison to control (10.56 ± 0.08 g/dl, 31.68 ± 0.24%, 3.52 ± 0.03 X10super(6) mm³, 128.23 ± 0.25 mg/dl, 1.07 ± 0.01g/dl and 292.00 ± 0.23 mg/kg) at the end of 90 days trial but total plasma protein in deprived group was compensated with advancement of trial period. All hematological and biochemical parameters studied were proportionately lowered in the experimental group got higher degree of deprivation. These findings suggested that with the increase of trial length complete compensation of hematological and biochemical profiles of rohu might be achieved. The results indicated that the implementation of alternative 7 days low and high protein diet feeding during aquaculture of carps could make economize the operation through minimizing the feed input cost.

Optimum dietary carbohydrate to lipid ratio in stinging catfish, Heteropneustes fossilis (Bloch, 1792)

A feeding trial of 8 weeks was conducted in a static indoor rearing system to investigate the optimum carbohydrate to lipid ratio (CHO:L ratio) in stinging catfish, Heteropneustes fossilis. Five iso-nitrogenous (35% crude protein) and iso-energetic (17.06 kJ gˉ¹ gross energy (GE)) fish meal based diets with varying carbohydrate to lipid (CHO:L g/g) ratios of 0.60, 0.98, 1.53, 2.29 and 3.44 for diets 1-5, were tested, respectively. The diets containing a fixed protein to energy ratio (P:E ratio) of 20.50-mg protein kJˉ¹ GE were fed to triplicate groups of 40 fish (per 70-L tank). Fish were fed 5% of their body weight per day adjusted fortnightly. Diet 1, containing 10% carbohydrate and 17% lipids with a CHO:L ratio of 0.60 produced the poorest (p<0.05) growth rates, feed and protein efficiency. Increasing carbohydrate content in the diets to 26% concomitant with a reduction in lipid content to 11% with a CHO:L ration of 2.29 of diet 5 significantly improved (p<0.05) growth rates, feed and protein efficiency. But did not differ with diet 4, containing CHO:L ratio 2.29. A further increase in dietary carbohydrate up to 31% and a decrease in lipids levels to 9% with a CHO:L ratio ranging from 2.29 to 3.44 (diet 4-5) did not significantly improve the fish performance. Apparent net protein utilisation (ANPU) of fish fed diet 5 was higher (p<0.05) than for diets 1 and 2 but did not differ from diets 3 and 4. Higher lipid deposition (p<0.05) in whole body was observed with decreasing dietary CHO:L ratios as increasing lipid levels. Whole body protein of fish fed varying CHO:L diets did not show any discernible changes among the dietary treatments. This study revealed that H. fossilis can perform equally well on diets containing carbohydrate ranging from 26 to 31%, with 9 to 11% lipid or at CHO:L g/g ratio of 2.29-3.44.

Survey of exist specifications morphometric, meristic and inter species molecular genetic on Bream (Abramis brava orientalis) in Anzali wetland, southern coast of Caspian Sea, Aras Dam Lake and Azerbijan Republic

Bream (Abramis brava orientalis) is one of Cyprindae the Caspian Sea and its basin which has a special ecological, biological and economical role. Stock of this fish in the Caspian Sea has reduced during several years for different reason the over fishing, different industrial, agriculture, urban pollution and destroy of the spawning habitat. So that fishery company decided to recover the stock of this fish by the way of artificial reproduction of a Bream couple hunted from south coast of the Caspian Sea (Iran) and setting the fingerling to the rivers and inflow wetlands of the Caspian Sea.This activity has due to 20 tons Bream annual fishing in the Iranian South coast of the Caspian Sea (Gilan province coast and Anzali wetland), The artificial reproduction has decreased Bream population diversity of Caspian sea and Anzali wetland.So it has been declined to improve Braem population diversity by the entrance of Azerbijan republic Bream and encounter to the Caspian sea Bream. Meanwhile there is Bream in the Aras Dam Lake which had been forgotten by the Fishery Company of Iran .For this reason specifications morphometric, meristic and inter species Molecular Genetic have been surveyed in Anzali wetland,Southern coast of Caspian Sea ,Aras Darn Lake and Azerbijan republic during 2003-2005. According to the research on specifications of Morphometric and Meristic of Anzali wetland(120 species),Southern coast of Caspian Sea(90 species), Aras Dam Lake(110 species) and Azerbijan Republic(125 species)has Morphometric and Meristic differences. So that average weight and total length of Anzali wetland Bream respectively was 167 g and 23/76 cm, 102 g and 27/62 cm in Caspian Sea , 461 g and 3 5/38 cm in Aras Darn Lake and 3 4189 g and 15/21 cm in Azerbijan republic (We forced to use 1 year Bream of artificial reproduction in Iran). Also variation coefficient average Morphometric, Morphometric specification Ration and meristic in Anzali wetland Bream was 17/45, 21/56 and 4/63, in Caspian Sea bream 22/58, 15/27 and 3124, in Aras Dam lake Lake 17145. 1.5/27 and 3/57 and Azerbaijan republic Bream 22/29, 19/66 and 4/22. Also Bream of these four regions in general status had Morphometric significant differences based on One Way ANOVA Analysis. Meanwhile Anzali wetland Bream with Caspian Sea Bream from 41 Morphometric surveyed factors in 33 factors, with Aras Darn Lake Bream in 41 factors, with Azerbkjan republic Bream in 41 factors,Caspian Sea Bream with Aras Darn Lake Bream in 36 factors,with Azerbijan republic B ream in 40 factors and A ras Dam L ake Bream with Azerbijan republic Bream in 38 factors had significant statistical differences. These four regions Bream had differences according to the Morphomertric specification ration based on One Way ANOVA Analysis. Also Anzali wetland Bream was surveyed with Caspian Sea Bream from 37 factors i n 27 factors, Anzali wetland Bream with Aras Dam 1ake in 37 factors Anzali wetland Bream with Azerbijan republic Bream in 32 factors,Caspian sea bream with Arsa Dam Lake Bream in 26 factors, Caspian Sea Bream with Azerbijan republic Bream in 29 factors and Aras Dam Lake Bream with Azerbijan republic Bream in 34 factor had significant statistical differences. Based on Meristic factor of four regions bream in 16 surveyed factors in 10 factors had meaningful differences according to the One Way ANOVA Analysis. While Anzali wetland Bream was surveyed with Caspian Sea Bream from in 3 factors,Anzali wetland Bream with Aras Dam lake in 8 factors,Anzali wetland Bream with Azerbijan republic B ream in 6 factors,Caspian Sea bream with Arsa Dam Lake Bream in 6 factors,Caspian sea Bream with Azerbijan republic Bream in 3 factors and Aras Dam Lake Bream with Azerijan republic Bream in 8 factor had significant statistical differences.Meanwihle based on Factor Analysis and Discriminant Breams had differences. Also according to the resrarchs Anzali wetland Bream in 0+ age group till 5+ (6 age groups),Caspian Sea bream in 1+ - 5+(5 age groups),Aras Darn Lake Bream in 1+ - 7+ (7 age groups) and Azerbijan republic Bream for Morphometric and Meristic studies in 1+age group and for molecular Genetic reaserch were in 8+and 9+ age groups. According to the research 4 ecosystems Bream in status of same age, Aras lake Bream were bigger according to weight and length.Also in this research genetic diversity between four population was researched by PCR-RFLP technic on a piece of mitochondrion genome with the length of 3500bp contain of tRNA-leu,tRNA-glu,ND5/6,Cytb. Between 17 used enzyme. 4 enzyme, Dral, Bc11, Haefll and Banff showed diversity in totally 6 composite haplotype was detected. Maximum nucleotide diversity by the value% 0/58 in Azerbijan republic Bream by all haplotype. Aras darn Lake Bream had 2 haplotype and nucleotide diversity of %0/35.Anzali wetland and Caspian Sea Bream had no diversity. Statistical analysis by the usage of Monte Carlo with 1000 repeat showed significant differences between Azerbaijan Bream and other Bream(P<0/0001) but there was no significant difference between 3 regions Bream(P>0/5).

East African Freshwater Fisheries Research Organization Annual Report 1970

The Annual report presents activities carried out by the Organization during the reporting period 1970. It explains the scientific work carried out by the Organization which includes: bottom trawl survey, a limnological survey of Lake Victoria for the period January to December 1970, maturity, sex ration and fecundity of lung fish (protopterus aethiopicus Heckel) from Lake Victoria, On the fish species of Lake Baringo, identification of organisms in Lake Victoria responsible for ecosounder traces, further observations on the ecology of the Nile perch (Lates niloticus Linne) in Lake Victoria and Lake Kioga, fishery economics studies, The African journal of Tropical Hydrobiology and fisheries and observation on fish marketing experiments in Tanzania

Hybridization between Tilapia zillii (Gervais) and Tilapia andersonii (Casteinau) at the Freshwater Fisheries Institute, at Nyegezi, Tanzania

As a part of an overall project on fishculture development techniques in Tanzania, hybridization between Tilapia zillii and Tilapia andersonii was carried out at the Freshwater Fisheries Institute, Nyegezi, Tanzania. T. andersonii, a plankton feeder, is not indigenous to Tanzania but was introduced in 1968 from Zambia for certain specific purpose. T. zillii, a macrovegetation feeder, is present locally and is common. In the present studies T. zillii (245.0 mm/260.0 g) female was hybridized with T. andersonii (288.0 mm/350.0 g) male. Under cement cistern conditions it was only after about four months of acclimatization that hybridization between the two occurred. About 1,637 interspecific hybrid fry were produced in a single brood. Eggs were adhesive and parental care shown by the female, the male being driven away. Growth under cistern conditions was slow, attaining a size of 134.8 mm/44.3 g in 10 months. But this growth rate need not be taken as ideal. In body shape, colouration and other morphometric characters the hybrids had inherited from both parents. The number of gill rakers among the hybrids was eighteen which was intermediate between T. zillii (12) and T. andersonii (27). Among one hundred and seventy two specimens (106.0 mm - 168.0 mm) cut and examined the sex ration was hundred per cent males and all of them were between II and IV stages of maturity. This is the first report of fish hybridization from Tanzania and possibly the first report on hybridization between T. zillii and T. andersonii. The full significanoe of the findings and its role in African fishculture is discussed.

Stress on the ward: evidence of safety tipping points in hospitals

Do hospitals experience safety tipping points as utilization increases, and if so, what are the implications for hospital operations management? We argue that safety tipping points occur when managerial escalation policies are exhausted and workload variability buffers are depleted. Front-line clinical staff is forced to ration resources and, at the same time, becomes more error prone as a result of elevated stress hormone levels. We confirm the existence of safety tipping points for in-hospital mortality using the discharge records of 82,280 patients across six high-mortality-risk conditions from 256 clinical departments of 83 German hospitals. Focusing on survival during the first seven days following admission, we estimate a mortality tipping point at an occupancy level of 92.5%. Among the 17% of patients in our sample who experienced occupancy above the tipping point during the first seven days of their hospital stay, high occupancy accounted for one in seven deaths. The existence of a safety tipping point has important implications for hospital management. First, flexible capacity expansion is more cost-effective for safety improvement than rigid capacity, because it will only be used when occupancy reaches the tipping point. In the context of our sample, flexible staffing saves more than 40% of the cost of a fully staffed capacity expansion, while achieving the same reduction in mortality. Second, reducing the variability of demand by pooling capacity in hospital clusters can greatly increase safety in a hospital system, because it reduces the likelihood that a patient will experience occupancy levels beyond the tipping point. Pooling the capacity of nearby hospitals in our sample reduces the number of deaths due to high occupancy by 34%.

Food Consumption by In Situ Pen-Cultured Planktivorous Fishes and Effects on an Algal Bloom in Lake Taihu, China

Silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) and bighead carp (Aristichthys nobilis) were used as a new pen-cultureed biomanipulation technique to control algal blooms in Meiliang Bay of Lake Taihu. In order to evaluate the capacity of these two fishes to decrease algal blooms, diel feeding samplings were carried out in May (without algal blooms) and September (with algal blooms) in 2005. Based on estimated food consumption by the Elliott-Persson model, silver carp increased daily food consumption from 2.07 g dry weight per 100 g wet body weight in May before the outbreak of algal blooms to 4.98 g dry weight per 100 g wet body weight in September during algal blooms outbreak. However, no obvious variation of food consumption was observed in bighead carp during the study period. This species 1.88 and 1.54 g dry weight of plankton per 100 g wet body weight in May and September, respectively. Silver carp had a higher feeding capacity for plankton than bighead carp. Biotic factors (i.e., fish size and conspecific competition with natural species in the lake) may affect the feeding behaviors of both carps as well as seasonal variation of plankton communities in the pen.

In situ study on the control of toxic Microcystis blooms using phytoplanktivorous fish in the subtropical Lake Taihu of China: A large fish pen experiment

Three large fish pens (0.36 km(2) of each) stocked with silver and bighead carp were set up in Meiliang Bay for controlling toxic Microcystis blooms. The responses of plankton communities and food consumption of silver and bighead carp were studied. Crustacean zooplankton were significantly suppressed in the fish pens. Total phytoplankton biomass, Microcystis biomass and microcystin concentration were lower in the fish pens than in the surrounding lake water, but the difference was not statistically significant. The present stocking density of silver plus bighead carp (about 40 g/m(3) in July) was likely too low to achieve an adequate control of Microcystis. Silver carp fed mainly on phytoplankton but bighead carp mainly on zooplankton: mean zooplankton contribution in the gut was 31.5% for silver carp and 64.7% for bighead carp. Compared with previous studies, both carp species preyed upon more zooplankton because of the abundant food resource. Daily rations of silver and bighead carp were estimated by Egger's model in the main growing season. Filtration rate was calculated from the daily ration and the density of plankton in the lake. During May-October, filtration rates of silver and bighead carp for phytoplankton were 0.22-1.53 L g(-1) h(-1) and 0.02-0.68 L g(-1) h(-1), respectively, and filtration rates for zooplankton were 0.24-0.44 L g(-1) h(-1) and 0.08-1.41 L g(-1) h(-1), respectively. Silver carp had a stronger ability of eliminating phytoplankton than bighead carp. To achieve a successful bioniampulation with a minimum effect of ichthyoeutrophication, the stocking proportion of bighead carp should be controlled in the future practice. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V All rights reserved.

An in situ estimate of food consumption by icefish in Lake Chaohu, China

The icefish (Neosalanx taihuensis) of Lake Chaohu, China, foraged almost exclusively on crustacean zooplankton in both spring and summer. The icefish showed diurnal feeding periodicity, with peak feeding in the morning. No food was observed in icefish guts collected at night. Our results indicate that that the icefish was a particulate feeder and light intensity greatly affected its foraging on zooplankton. Daily consumption of zooplankton by icefish varied significantly both diurnally and among seasons, which ranged from 0.22 to 2.23 g (wet weight) per 100 g wet fish weight at temperatures between 16.3 degrees C (spring) and 28.8 degrees C (summer).

Growth and feed utilization in two strains of gibel carp, Carassius auratus gibelio: paternal effects in a gynogenetic fish

Gibel carp (Carassius auratus gibelio Bloch) is a natural gynogenetic fish which requires sperm of the same or related species to activate egg development. The eggs of one gibel carp were divided into two batches. One batch was 'fertilized' with sperm from gibel carp (strain DD), and the other 'fertilized' with sperm from red common carp (Cyprinus carpio red variety) (strain DR). The juveniles were transferred to the laboratory 36 days post-hatch. Triplicate groups of each strain were fed a formulated diet at either 3% or satiation ration for 8 weeks. At both the restricted and satiation rations, specific growth rate was significantly higher in strain DR than in strain DD. At the 3% ration, there was no significant difference in feeding rate or feed conversion efficiency between the two strains. At the satiation ration, strain DR had a significantly lower feeding rate but higher feed conversion efficiency than strain DD. At the satiation ration, strain DR had a significantly lower intake protein, but higher recovered protein than strain DD. There was no significant difference in faecal protein loss between the two strains. At the 3% ration, strain had no significant effects on intake protein, faecal protein or recovered protein. Neither faecal energy loss nor recovered energy was affected by strain or ration. At both the 3% and satiation ration, final body contents of dry matter and lipid were significantly lower in strain DR than strain DD, while there was no significant difference in protein and energy content between the two strains at either ration level. The results suggested that gibel carp 'fertilized' with sperm of common carp grew faster than those 'fertilized' with sperm of gibel carp through increased feed conversion efficiency and protein retention.

Semi-insulating GaAs grown in outer space

A semi-insulating GaAs single crystal ingot was grown in a recoverable satellite, within a specially designed pyrolytic boron nitride crucible, in a power-traveling furnace under microgravity. The characteristics of a compound semiconductor single crystal depends fundamentally on its stoichiometry, i.e. the ration of two types of atoms in the crystal. a practical technique for nondestructive and quantitative measuring stoichiometry in GaAs single crystal was used to analyze the space-grown GaAs single crystal. The distribution of stoichiometry in a GaAs wafer was measured for the first time. The electrical, optical and structural properties of the space-grown GaAs crystal were studied systematically, Device fabricating experiments prove that the quality of field effect transistors fabricated from direct ion-implantation in semi-insulating GaAs wafers has a close correlation with the crystal's stoichiometry. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.