Breeding and mass scale rearing of clownfish Amphiprion percula: feeding and rearing in brackishwater

Breeding and mass scale larval rearing of clownfish Amphiprion percula is very limited in brackishwater. We designed an indoor program of A. percula culture in brackishwater with a salinity of 24±1, during which the impacts of feed type, water temperature, and light intensity, on the efficiency of its reproduction, were revealed. The fish were accommodated along with sea anemones in fibre glass tanks to determine the influence of brooder diet on breeding efficiency. Higher reproductive efficiency [number of eggs laid (276 22.3 eggs)] was observed when fish were fed live Acetes sp. rather than clam (204 16.4 eggs), trash fish (155 12 eggs) and formulated feed (110 10 eggs). The spawning rate was increased during September and October (water temperature, 28.74 0.55°C) on average of 2.4 spawning per month; and low spawning rate was in January (water temperature, 24.55 0.45°C) on average of 1 spawning per month. Among three light intensities (100, 500, and 900 lx) set to evaluate larval survival rate, larvae showed the highest survival rate (65.5%) at 900 lx. The breeding method specifically in brackishwater developed in the present study is a new approach, will help the people from the regions of estuary and backwater to enhance their livelihood and it will lead to reduce the exploitation from the wild habitat.     

Description of the biology of Caspian vimba, Vimba vimba (Linnaeus, 1758), in Gorgan Bay-Miankaleh Wildlife Refuge (southeast Caspian Sea)

We collected Vimba vimba throughout the spawning season (mid April to mid June, 2007) in Gorgan Bay (south-western Iran) and investigated its age, growth, and reproductive traits. The maximum age was 5⁺ years. Both sexes grew allometrically (positive for males: b=3.140 9 and negative for females: b=2.791 4). The von Bertalanffy growth functions were described by the formulae L _t =32.565(1-e^{−0.184(t+0.530)}) for males and L _t =35.950(1-e^{−0.179(t+0.529)}) for females. The overall sex ratio was balanced, but males were predominant in the smaller size classes and females in the larger size classes. Based on the gonadosomatic index (GSI) values, spawning appears to occur between late April and late May in the bay. The highest mean GSI was 6.44 for males in early May and 20.36 for females in late April. Absolute fecundity varies from the minimum of 5 436 eggs for age 3⁺ fish to the maximum of 36 141 eggs for age 5⁺ fish. Fecundity was also positively correlated with fish size (length and weight). Egg diameter ranged from 1.05 to 1.70 mm in the mean of 1.42 mm. There was no correlation between female size and ova diameter.     

Dietary vitamin A,ascorbic acid and α-tocopherol affect the gonad development and reproductive performance of starry flounder Platichthys stellatus broodstock

The present trial was conducted with starry fl ounder Platichthys stellatus broodstock to evaluate the effects of dietary vitamin A,ascorbic acid,and α-tocopherol on the gonadal development and reproductive performance.8 000 IU/kg diet vitamin A(VA group),500 mg/kg diet ascorbic acid(Vcpp group),or 250 mg/kg diet α-tocopherol(α-TA group)was added into basal diet to create 3 vitamin experimental diets,respectively.Each diet was fed to 450 starry fl ounder broodstock for 104 days.Samples were collected weekly.The gonadosomatic index(GSI)of 3 vitamin experimental groups fi rst decreased and then increased.Maximum GSI of Vcpp group was higher than that of α-TA group but lower than that of VA group.The spawning periods of 3 vitamin experimental groups lasted 49,56,and 45 days,respectively.No mature eggs were observed in the control group during the trial.The absolute fecundity(AF)and relative fecundity(RF)of α-TA group was higher than that of Vcpp group but lower than that of VA group.The results suggest that different vitamins play different roles in the fi sh reproductive process.Vitamin A stimulated the maturation of the ovary,ascorbic acid prolonged the spawning period,and α-tocopherol affected the development of the eggs.     

Spatial distribution of Dactylogyrus wunderi Bychowsky on gills of Abramis brama orientalis Berg (Leuciscinae) in Irtysh River, China

The spatial distribution of the monogenean Dactylogyrus wunderi Bychowsky,1931 on the gill filaments of the bream Abramis brama orientalis Berg(Leuciscinae) inhabiting the Irtysh River of Xinjiang,China was investigated from June to July 2012.D.wunderi was identified by sequencing a fragment of its ITS rDNA region.Sixty-five fish were examined,with 55% testing positive for monogenean infection.The prevalence of the parasite in the left and right gill arches was 46% and 48%,respectively.In fish with a large body length,the prevalence of the parasite and the infection intensity did not significantly differ between the right and left gill arches but both were slightly higher in the former.Among the three size groups of fish(small,medium and large) the prevalence and the intensity of infection were lowest in fish with small body lengths.The distribution of the monogenean population in the host gills showed an aggregate distribution,with little change in the degree of aggregation,suggesting that most hosts were either not or only slightly infected by D.wunderi and that the parasite infected only a few hosts.In addition,differences in D.wunderi infections between gill arches of A.brama orientalis were not significant(P>0.05).     

Reproduction ecology of fishes in Jiaozhou Bay waters

Observations on gonad development of 84 species of marine fishes in Jiaozhou Bay waters showed the breeding periods of more than 50 of these species are mostly from April to August, with peaks between May to June. A great many of the species spawn in the warm season, only a few species in the cold season. The number of spawning species increases with the rise and decreases with the fall in water temperature. The absolute fecundity of 50 teleost species, which usually increases with body length and weight, was estimated to range from about 300 to 9,000,000 eggs. The reproductive patterns of fishes in Jiaozhou Bay waters are discussed. This paper was presented at the IV International Congress of Ecology, held at Syracuse, USA in August, 1986. Contribution No. 1553 from the Institute of Oceanology, Academia Sinica.     

The relationship between fat content and biological parameters of bigeye tuna (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Thunnus obseus</Emphasis>) in the Western Central Indian Ocean

Comparing fat content with physiological status can throw light on the reproduction and feeding behavior of the fish. The biological data of 586 bigeye tuna were collected from the longline fishery in the waters of Western Central Indian Ocean from November, 2012 to March, 2013. The spatial or temporal distribution of the fat content, and the relationships of fat content with gender, round weight, gonadal maturity and fork length were analyzed. A generalized additive model (GAM) was used to analyze the relationships between fat content and fork length (FL), gonadosomatic index (GSI), condition factor (K), and somatic index (SI). Results showed that: 1) the fat content of bigeye tuna was in the range of 3.1%–27.1% with the average 12.8%; 2) there were no significant geographical differences of average fat content (P > 0.05) among 1° squares in general; 3) there were no significant differences (P > 0.05) of the fat content for different genders, months, or gonad maturity stages; 4) there was an extremely significant correlation (P = 0.000) between fat content and FL and GSI. There was no significant correlation (P = 0.051) between fat content and K. There was a significant correlation (P = 0.003) between fat content and SI. The results of this study suggest that the fat content of the matured fish was relatively stable. The survey area was in a spawning region, and the survey period was the spawning season for bigeye tuna.     

鞍带石斑鱼人工繁殖及胚胎发育研究

为建立鞍带石斑鱼(Epinephelus lanceolatus)人工繁殖技术,研究了鞍带石斑鱼亲鱼培育、催产及胚胎发育过程。根据性腺检查及催产结果,判定鞍带石斑鱼在广东的繁殖季节为每年的7-9月份,产卵水温在28~31℃。使用10~12尾雌鱼和3尾雄鱼搭配进行催产实验,亲鱼未出现发情和追尾现象,虽能产卵但均未受精,通过人工授精可得受精卵。对鞍带石斑鱼胚胎发育进行了观察,详细描述从受精卵到初孵仔鱼的28个具体发育时期的形态特征和发育时间,结果表明,将鞍带石斑鱼胚胎发育划分为卵裂期、囊胚期、原肠胚期、神经胚期和器官形成期。在水温(27±0.5)℃、盐度31.0、pH 7.8的海水中,鞍带石斑鱼胚胎历时25 h 40 min完成整个胚胎发育孵化出膜。     

Studies on the eggs and larvae,ofSardinella aurita (Cuv. & Val.) in the fishing grounds of Southern Fujian and the Taiwan Bank

In this paper, the morphological characters of eggs and larvae ofSardinella aurita (Cuvier & Valenciennes), its spawning ground, spawning seasons and spawning conditions have been studied. Sardinella aurita likes to breed in the upwelling area and selects the Waixie fishing ground as its main spawning ground. The months from February to September are its spawning seasons, reaching its peak in April. In the main spawning ground, the temperature of the surface layer was found to be 24.4–25.2°C, the salinity 33.87–34.07%. and the depth of water between 34–60m. The distribution of the larvae is closely related to the distribution of plankton, the path of migration of adult fish, and the current direction of the water system. In order to protect fishery resources, it is necessary to prohibit catching the spawning fish in the Waixie fishing ground in April, and the catching of immatures from March to June. This paper was published in Chinese inOcean. Limn. Sinica 14(3): 240–248, 1983.     

Induced nest spawning and artificial hatching of the fertilized eggs of mudskipper, Boleophthalmus pectinirostris

In this study, nest spawning was successfully induced by exogenous hormone injections and seawater flow stimulation, and optimum condition for hatching fertilized eggs of burrow fish mudskipper,Boleophthalmus pectinirostris, was searched. Apart from spawning inside the nests, females also spawned outside the nests. The percentages of spawned nests were 8.0% to 24.2%. Most eggs were observed adhered to the inner wall of the top half of the nest. Fertilization rates of the nest-spawned eggs varied from 17.3% to 80.8% Females could spawn after being artificially confined inside the‘nests with males at ratios of 1:1 or 1:2, but the spawned eggs were not fertilized. Mean hatching rates of artificially fertilized eggs incubated in round plastic buckets were 32.7%-70.6%, and in the net cages, were 4.2%-20.5%, respectively. Mean hatching rates of nestfertilized eggs incubated in the round plastic buckets were 33.6%-76.3%, and in the net cages, were 5.9%-25.2%.Results showed that round bucket incubation was the best way for hatching fertilized eggs of mudskipper.Keeping the hatching seawater flowing is an important way for increasing the hatching rates of the mudskipper fertilized eggs.     

南海北部陆架区海域深水金线鱼的产卵场

根据 1997年 12月至 1999年 6月在南海北部陆架区海域进行的底拖网渔业资源调查的资料 ,统计分析了南海北部陆架区海域深水金线鱼性腺成熟期的组成及分布、季节性变化和水深变化规律。结果表明 ,南海北部陆架区海域深水金线鱼的产卵场位于广东沿海水深 6 0～ 15 0m海区 ,尤其是珠江口外海区的群体更为密集 ;该生殖群体的产卵期较长 ,且分布范围大 ,未见有显著性变化。     

Induced nest spawning and artificial hatching of the fertilized eggs of mudskipper, Boleophthalmus pectinirostris

In this study, nest spawning was successfully induced by exogenous hormone injections and seawater flow stimulation, and optimum condition for hatching fertilized eggs of burrow fish mudskipper,Boleophthalmus pectinirostris, was searched. Apart from spawning inside the nests, females also spawned outside the nests. The percentages of spawned nests were 8.0% to 24.2%. Most eggs were observed adhered to the inner wall of the top half of the nest. Fertilization rates of the nest-spawned eggs varied from 17.3% to 80.8%. Females could spawn after being artificially confined inside the nests with males at ratios of 1∶1 or 1∶2, but the spawned eggs were not fertilized. Mean hatching rates of artificially fertilized eggs incubated in round plastic buckets were 32.7%–70.6%, and in the net cages, were 4.2%–20.5%, respectively. Mean hatching rates of nest-fertilized eggs incubated in the round plastic buckets were 33.6%–76.3%, and in the net cages, were 5.9%–25.2%. Results showed that round bucket incubation was the best way for hatching fertilized eggs of mudskipper. Keeping the hatching seawater flowing is an important way for increasing the hatching rates of the mudskipper fertilized eggs. Supported by the NSFC (No. 30170739), and also supported by the Provincial Natural Science Foundation of Fujian Province (No. B0210003).     

鱼塭产斑节对虾(Penaeus monodon)催熟繁殖技术研究

以综合催熟措施和移植精荚手术相结合的技术方法，解决了鱼塭产斑节对虾催熟效应期长，产卵率低，易蜕壳失去精荚等难题。使用 ２７８ 尾雌虾，催熟率达９０％ 以上，在４０ ｄ 内共产卵６０８ 尾次，卵量１８ ５３０ 万粒，孵出无节幼体１１ ９９８ 万尾，平均孵化率 ６４．７％ ，平均每尾雌虾孵出无节幼体 ４３．１ 万尾，育成商品虾苗 １ ０２８．５ 万尾，育苗平均成活率 １３．６％ ，试养成活率５７．１％     

中华乌塘鳢个体生殖力的研究

研究了湛江沿海中华乌塘鳢个体生殖力及其与生物学指标的关系。结果表明 :个体绝对生殖力为 840 0～ 3 3 2 70粒 ,个体相对生殖力FL 为 5 67 6～ 1 83 3 2粒 /cm ,Fw为 1 5 5 6～ 482 7粒 /g ;个体绝对生殖力与体长、体重、空壳重、卵巢重呈直线相关 ,与年龄呈二次函数相关 ,与成熟系数和肥满度相关关系不显著 ;个体相对生殖力FL 与各生物学指标正相关 ,Fw除了与卵巢重、肥满度和年龄相关关系不显著外 ,其余均显著相关     

LENGTH FREQUENCY ANALYSIS OF PLEURAGRAMMA ANTARCTICUM,ELECTRONA ANTARCTICA,PROTOMYCTOPHUM BOLINI

British Antarctic Survey(BAS)data collected near the Antarctic Peninsula area were used in this1988/1989 study on the length frequency of three Antarctic fish species(Pleuragramma antarcticum,Electrona antarctica and Protomyctophum bolini)showing that the standard length(SL)of P.Antarcticumranged from 26.0 mm to 161.0 mm,that the 26.0 mm to 54.0 mm SL juveniles could be considered tobe the age group 1 fish,and that the SL of E.antarctica ranged from 39.4 mm to 89.7 mm for themales and 48.0 mm to 118.0 mm for the females,which may contain at least 6 age groups.This ismore than previously thought.P.Bolini had 29.2 mm to 60.2 mm SL and complicated age com-position.     

Ichthyoplankton recruitment from mainstream of the Changjiang River into the Dongting Lake,the second largest freshwater lake in China

Floodplains are important and distinctive ecosystems around the world, and the recruitment of ichthyoplankton from river to floodplain lakes is crucial to maintain this unique ecosystem. However,this process has not been well documented. In this study, ichthyoplankton were sampled to investigate the details of ichthyoplankton recruitment from the Changjiang(Yangtze) River to the Dongting Lake via a floodway channel, the Songzi River, from May to July in 2013 and 2014. During the study period, 41 species of eggs and larvae were sampled. Among the samples, 16 were river-lake migratory species(RL), representing23.5% of the species in the Dongting Lake. In 2013, an estimated 130 million eggs and 3 180 million larvae drifted through the sampling section, and in 2014, an estimated 1 060 million eggs and 1 040 million larvae drifted through the sampling section. The amount of eggs and larvae of RL reached 3 210 million in 2013 and 1 850 million in 2014, respectively. These results demonstrated the importance of ichthyoplankton recruitment from the river to the lake, as species diversity will decrease sharply without this recruitment.Canonical correspondence analysis(CCA) showed that water temperature and water flow are the two most important factors influencing the spawning activities of fish. To maintain the high fish diversity in the Changjiang floodplain, we suggest to irrigate the channel to increase water discharge and increase the transport of ichthyoplankton from the Changjiang mainstream into the Dongting Lake.     

Length frequency analysis ofPleuragramma antarcticum,Electrona antarctica,Protomyctophum bolini

British Antarctic Survey (BAS) data collected near the Antarctic Peninsula area were used in this 1988/1989 study on the length frequency of three Antarctic fish species (Pleuragramma antarcticum, Electrona antarctica and Protomyctophum bolini) showing that the standard length (SL) ofP. Antarcticum ranged from 26.0 mm to 161.0 mm, that the 26.0 mm to 54.0 mm SL juveniles could be considered to be the age group 1 fish, and that the SL ofE. antarctica ranged from 39.4 mm to 89.7 mm for the males and 48.0 mm to 118.0 mm for the females, which may contain at least 6 age groups. This is more than previously thought.P. Bolini had 29.2 mm to 60.2 mm SL and complicated age composition.     

Impact of the Three Gorges Dam on the spawning stock and natural reproduction of Chinese sturgeon in Changjiang River,China

Chinese sturgeon (Acipenser sinensis) is the flagship species of the Changjiang River. The migration route of this species is blocked by the first dam, the Gezhou Dam, and its reproduction is affected by the Three Gorges Dam (TGD), one of the largest dams in the world. We studied the impact of the impoundment of the Three Gorges Reservoir (TGR) since 2003 on the spawning stock and the natural reproduction of the Chinese sturgeon by using our monitoring data from 1997 to 2013. Results indicate that TGR impoundment has delayed the first spawning dates of the fish from middle-late October to late November, decreased the amount of spawning activities from twice to only once each year, and significantly reduced egg production. In particular, the fish did not demonstrate any spawning activities in 2013. Therefore, TGR impoundment significantly affects the natural reproduction of the fish downstream of the TGD. The spawning stock size of the fish is also predicted to further decrease in the future, which will lead to a risk of population extinction. Ecological regulations must be imposed on decreasing the water temperature to 20°C before mid-October and increasing water discharge downstream of the TGD in October to induce spawning of the Chinese sturgeon.     

Reproductive rate of a marine planktonic copepodLabidocera euchaet a Giesbrecht in Xiamen Harbor

Reproductive rate of a marine planktonic copepodLabidocera euchaeta Giesbrecht in Xiamen Harbor bor was studied during the period from April 1986 to August 1987. Results showed that rate of egg production (F, eggs/(♀, d)) was positively correlated with temperature (T,^oC) and body weight of spawning female (Wc, μgC) as:F=0.0637 (T−7)^0.7445 Wc. Each month a maximum rate of egg production occurred at one of the five experimental temperatures (10°, 15°, 25°, and 30°C) near the monthly mean field temperature. The available food density (P, μgC/ml) had significant effect on specific rate of egg production (Fc, %C ♀/d) as:Fc=0.1732 (P-0.0179)/P. The gross efficiency of egg production of ca 62% in carbon was independent of food density snd ingestion rate. Observations on in situ egg production and hatching rate demonstrated that this species reproduces continuously all the year round, with summer as its high reproductive season and winter a low one. Ten generations a year is also suggested based on the number of the peaks of average population egg production rate. This agreed well with the result obtained from the generation-time equations. Egg-laying pattern was also observed and discussed.     

Embryonic development of Pelteobagrus fulvidraco （Richardson, 1846）

1 INTRODUCTION Pelteobagrus fulvidraco (Richardson, 1846) or yellow catfish is slender and scaleless with a gently sloping dorsal profile from anterior to posterior. It is generally black-brown to black-yellow on the back, light yellow on the belly, with …     

Nutrient effects of broodstocks on the larvae in Patinopecten yessoensis

Patinopecten yessoensis is a commercial valuable species. This study deals with the effect of nutrient effects of the broodstock(mainly ovaries) on the larvae. Concentrations of total carbohydrate, total protein and total lipid in the gonads of P. yessoensis from three Hatcheries(Hatchery 1, Hatchery 2, and Hatchery 3) were determined before and after spawning. The relationship between the nutrient concentration in ovaries before spawning(BC) and that of larvae(LC) was assessed as well as the change in nutrient levels in ovaries after spawning(DC). Results indicate that the BC of total carbohydrate(7.66%) and total lipid(14.48%) in ovaries were significantly higher than in testes(5.20%, 5.20% respectively), whereas the BC of total protein in the ovaries was lower(61.76%) than in the testes(81.67%). The different gonadal composition suggests the different nutrient demands between male and female broodstocks in breeding season. P atinopecten yessoensis gonads contained a higher proportion of lipids, in comparison to other bivalves, which might be a response to the low ambient water temperatures. Further analysis of fatty acids showed that the concentrations of n-3PUFA, EPA and DHA in larvae(LC) were positively correlated with BC and DC, indicating the significant nutrient influence of broodstocks on the larvae. As these fatty acids are important in metabolism, and have been demonstrated to be influential to the viability of the larvae, larval growth and the settlement, spat growth, and juvenile survival in many bivalves, they could possibly be used as indexes to evaluate, and predict condition of broodstocks and larvae.