Fecundity and spawning season of striped mullet (Mugil cephalus L.) in South Carolina estuaries

Fecundity in striped mullet (Mugil cephalus) from South Carolina correlated highly with length and weight, but not with age. Oocyte counts ranged from 4.47 × 105 to 2.52 × 106 in 1998 for fish ranging in size from 331 mm to 600 mm total length, 2.13 × 105to 3.89 × 106in 1999 for fish ranging in size from 332 mm to 588 mm total length, and 3.89 × 105 to 3.01 × 106 in 2000 for fish ranging in size from 325 mm to 592 mm total length. The striped mullet in this study had a high degree of variability in the size-at-age relation-ship; this variability was indicative of varied growth rates and compounded the errors in estimating fecundity at age. The stronger relationship of fecundity to fish size allowed a much better predictive model for potential fecundity in striped mullet. By comparing fecundity with other measures of reproductive activity, such as the gonadosomatic index, histological examination, and the measurement of mean oocyte diameters, we determined that none of these methods by themselves were adequate to determine the extent of reproductive development. Histological examinations and oocyte diameter measurements revealed that fecundity counts could be made once developing oocytes reached 0.400 μm or larger. Striped mullet are isochronal spawners; therefore fecundity estimates for this species are easier to determine because oocytes develop at approximately the same rate upon reaching 400 μm. This uniform development made oocytes that were to be spawned easier to count. When fecundity counts were used in conjunction with histological examination, oocyte diameter measurements, and gonadosomatic index, a more complete measure of reproductive potential and the timing of the spawning season was possible. In addition, it was determined that striped mullet that recruit into South Carolina estuaries spawn from October through April.

水稻OsGSR1调控赤霉素和油菜素内酯信号互作的分子机理研究

赤霉素（gibberellins，GAs）和油菜甾醇（brassinosteroids，BRs）在细胞伸长和植株形态建成等方面发挥重要的生理作用，但它们在分子水平上的相互作用仍然未知。在本实验室前期的芯片工作中筛选到受GA诱导表达的GAST家族基因OsGSR1(GA-stimulated gene in rice) (GenBank AY604180)。该基因全长cDNA为588 bp，编码110个氨基酸，OsGSR1具有GAST家族成员的共同特点。OsGSR1基因的表达受GA3诱导，同时受PAC抑制。基因表达模式分析表明OsGSR1在水稻的根、茎、幼穗和小花等多种组织和器官中表达。前期工作已获得转基因水稻。 本论文研究表明，OsGSR1 RNAi转基因水稻表现为初生根缩短、叶片直立、节间缩短和结实率降低等与GA和BR相关的表型。OsGSR1 RNAi转基因水稻对外源GA3敏感性降低，Real-time PCR分析表明在OsGSR1 RNAi转基因水稻中OsGA20ox2和SLR1的转录水平增高，GC-MS分析显示内源GA4含量增高，这些结果说明转基因材料中GA信号削弱。因此，OsGSR1是GA信号途径的正调控因子。另一方面，实验证据表明，外源BL处理可以抑制OsGSR1基因的表达，OsGSR1 RNAi转基因水稻不但可以响应外源BL处理，并且在叶夹角实验中显现出对外源BL更加敏感的特性。在OsGSR1 RNAi转基因水稻中，BR受体基因OsBRI1与合成基因OsDWARF表达量上调。外源添加BL可以恢复OsGSR1 RNAi转基因水稻矮化表型，上述结果说明OsGSR1可能作用于BR生物合成途径。酵母双杂交筛选、体外Pull-down结果和体内BiFC实验都证实OsGSR1可以与DIM/DWF1互作。在BR生物合成途径中，DIM/DWF1催化从24-亚甲基固醇（24-methylenecholesterol）到油菜甾醇（campesterol）的转化。GC-MS测定内源BRs含量结果进一步证实，转基因水稻中DIM/DWF1催化反应产物积累量减少，说明该反应受到明显抑制。所以，OsGSR1是通过直接作用于BR合成酶来调控BR生物合成。 综上所述，OsGSR1是GA信号途径的正调控因子，并且OsGSR1通过调节SLR1的表达参与到GA信号转导途径。OsGSR1和DIM/DWF1的互作说明OsGSR1直接参与了BR的生物合成过程。因此，我们的实验证明OsGSR1介导了GA和BR这两条激素信号转导途径的相互作用，从而调节了水稻植株的生长发育。

Socio-economic and marketing aspects of Laila and Bottom Long Line fisheries in the Kalpitiya peninsula of Sri Lanka

Surrounding Net Fishery (laila) and Bottom Long Line Fishery which operate in the coastal waters of Kalpitiya Peninsula, compete for the same fish resources, resulting in a fishery dispute between the respective fishermen. Both fisheries target demersal as well as mid pelagic fishes, such as travellys (parava), mullets (galmalu) and barracudas (ulava). As the dispute had an adverse impact on the social harmony in the fishing community of the area, a socio-economic survey was conducted to study the underlying factors and to suggest policy measures to resolve the issue. The laila fishermen were resident fishermen in the Kalpitiya Peninsula while bottom long line fishermen were migratory fishermen from Negombo and Chilaw areas in the west coast of Sri Lanka. The Kalpitiya peninsula is located in the North West coast, some 50 km away from the west coast. Although the educational level and literacy rate of the laila community was below that of the bottom long line community, the laila community was economically better off. The net economic returns from laila fishery were superior to that from bottom long line fishery. The boat owner's and crew's share per operation of laila fishery were Rs.3,736 and Rs.947 respectively. The same figures for bottom long line fishery were Rs.588 and Rs.327 respectively. The resource rent from laila fishery was Rs.5,860, however, and much higher than that for bottom long line fishery (Rs.275), showing that the laila fishery exploits the targeted fish resource at a much higher rate compared to bottom long line fishery. This situation badly affects the equitable distribution of resources between the two fishing communities and results in unequal economic gains. Based on the findings of this study, certain input/output controls are proposed to address this problem, among which is the need to increase license fee for laila fishery units to offset the higher exploitation rate of fish resources.