Comparisons between the influences of habitat, body size and season on the dietary composition of the sparid Acanthopagrus latus in a large marine embayment

Seasonal samples from Shark Bay on the west coast of Australia were used to determine (1) the habitats occupied by the juveniles and adults of Acanthopagrus latus in this large subtropical marine embayment and (2) the extent to which the dietary composition of this sparid is influenced by habitat type, body length and season. Sampling was undertaken in two habitat types in which A. latus was known to be abundant, namely mangrove (Avicennia marina) creeks and nearby rocky areas, the latter comprising sandstone boulders and/or limestone reefs. The mean total length ±95% CLs of A. latus was far lower in mangrove creeks, 126 ± 6.1 mm, than in rocky areas, 313 ± 4.7 mm. As A. latus attains maturity at ca. 245 mm, the juveniles of this species typically occupy mangrove areas and then, with increasing body size, move to nearshore rocky areas, where they become adults. The species composition of the food ingested by juvenile A. latus in mangrove creeks differed markedly from that of large juveniles and adults in rocky areas. Based on analyses of data for both habitat types combined, this difference was far greater than that between size classes and season, which was negligible. There were indications, however, that, overall within each habitat, the dietary composition did change seasonally, although not with body size. Acanthopagrus latus fed predominantly on mangrove material, sesarmid crabs and small gastropods in mangrove habitats, and mainly on Brachidontes ustulatus in rocky areas, where this mytilid bivalve is very abundant. The mangrove material, which contributed nearly 40% of its overall dietary volume in mangrove creeks, consisted mainly of lateral root primordia. This apparently unique food source for a teleost is presumably ingested through subsurface nipping, which would be facilitated by the mouth and dentitional characteristics of sparids. The almost total lack of correspondence in the dietary compositions of fish in the length class that was well represented in both mangrove and rocky areas illustrates the extent to which this sparid is capable of opportunistic feeding behaviour.     

The First Appearance of Cattle in Denmark Occurred 6000 Years Ago: An Effect of Cultural or Climate and Environmental Changes

Stable carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios from bones of contemporaneous Late Atlantic aurochs and early cattle in eastern Denmark are significantly different and provide information on the origin and feeding strategies of the earliest domestic cattle. The data show that the early cattle were feeding on grass right from the beginning 4000 cal. yr BC. In contrast, the youngest aurochs population primarily browsed and grazed from the dense forest floor resulting in rather negative δ¹³C values measured on bone collagen. The oldest aurochs have similar isotope values to the earlier cattle, whereas the youngest aurochs have similar values to Late Atlantic red deer from the same locality. As eastern Denmark was largely covered by forest, speculations on the origin of the grazing areas are many. The grass may have grown in openings in the forest, at the forest fringe, or more likely on the newly reclaimed coastal land areas exposed by the decreasing rate of eustatic sea‐level rise contemporaneously with isostatic uplift, during the Littorina transgressions. The stable isotope values do not indicate that leaf foddering of the early cattle was of importance.     

Diets of mammalian herbivores in Australian arid, hilly shrublands: seasonal effects on overlap between euros (hill kangaroos), sheep and feral goats, and on dietary niche breadths and electivities

The diets of euros or hill kangaroos (Macropus robustus), domestic sheep (Ovis aries) and feral goats (Capra hircus) in hilly, shrub rangeland in southern Australia were examined in a 12-year study. Levels of dietary overlap between these herbivores, their foraging in relation to resource availability, and the potential for competition in different conditions were also examined. The diet of euros was based around grasses. In dry seasons some shrubs were also eaten but in severe drought grass formed more than 80% of their diet. While grass was important to sheep in wetter conditions, they ate much shrub in dry conditions. Feral goats had broad diets but their preference for browse was high. In drought, euros had only a modest dietary overlap with sheep and goats. Data for dietary niche breadths and electivities pointed to only limited competition between the herbivores.     

Diet and food preference of intertidal Astrostole scabra (Asteroidea: Forcipulata)

Dietary composition in Astrostole scabra was ascertained by regular sampling at four geographically separated locations on the Kaikoura coast between January 1976 and January 1977. A. scabra is a food generalist and scavenger with a diet composed mainly of molluscs and crustaceans belonging to more than 60 genera. The diet was dominated numerically by chitons and trochid molluscs. Several site‐specific differences in dietary composition were apparent. Only Ischnochiton maorianus was a numerically important prey species at all study sites. Dietary diversity and evenness were more or less constant and comparable both seasonally and geographically. The proportion of intertidal seastars feeding fluctuated during the study from a peak of 42% in January to 23.7% in June 1976. Prey species were consumed in proportions independent of their abundance. In the laboratory, A. scabra, free of ingestive conditioning, discriminated between different prey species and preferentially consumed I. maorianus. There were strong prey preferences at the specific, but not at the familial, level.     

不同饵料组成对花鲈幼鱼生长和生理活性影响研究

为探究不同饵料组成对北方人工繁育花鲈(Lateolabrax maculatus)幼鱼生长和生理活性的影响,优化花鲈幼鱼饵料组成,作者采用投喂不同组成的饵料研究其对花鲈幼鱼的生长和消化酶活性的影响,实验采用63日龄幼鱼,设4个处理组,分别组1投喂卤虫(Artemia)、组2高蛋白配合饲料、组3低蛋白配合饲料和组4冰鲜桡足类,共40 d。结果表明,组2的生长速度、最终体长、体质量、特定生长率、绝对生长率、增质量率均大于其余3组,组3的生长状况次之,但与其他2组并无显著性差异(P0.05);除组1的蛋白酶最大活性出现在实验中期,其他3组的蛋白酶变化与其生长状况相符,最大值均出现在103日龄,各组间差异显著;4组的淀粉酶活性呈上升趋势,在103日龄时,组1的淀粉酶活性大于组2,并显著大于组3和组4;组1的脂肪酶活性在实验后期迅速上升,并在103日龄达到最大值,而其余3组的脂肪酶活性呈下降趋势,103日龄时组3和组4脂肪酶活性显著小于组2和组1(P0.05)。研究表明,花鲈幼鱼摄食高蛋白配合饲料生长状况最好,摄食低蛋白配合饲料生长状况次之,摄食卤虫状况最差,出于经济的考虑,建议投喂低蛋白配合饲料。     

Larval life span of the echinoid evechinus chloroticus (val.)

Newly metamorphosed Evechinus chloroticus (Val.) were observed in three larval cultures 36, 30, and 28 days after fertilisation, indicating that the free swimming larval life may last about 1 month.     

真鲷饵料生物褶皱臂尾轮虫和眼点拟微绿藻的大量培养

于1992～1994年 ,在中国水科院黄海水产研究所小麦岛试验基地(青岛)进行的“中日合作真鲷增殖放流项目”执行期间 ,对真鲷饵料生物———眼点拟微绿藻 (Nannochloropsisoculata)和L型褶皱臂尾轮虫 (Branchionus plicatilis)进行了大量培养。眼点拟微绿藻的平均接种密度为1211.3×104个/ml,经5～6d的室内或室外露天培养即可达到平均为2341.0×104 个/ml的收获密度 ;采用眼点拟微绿藻和新鲜面包酵母作为混合饵料 ;褶皱臂尾轮虫 (L型 )培养3～4d即可由接种时平均密度148.0个/ml,增长至平均216.8个/ml的采收密度。眼点拟微绿藻和轮虫的日间增殖密度分别是12.8 %和26.6 %。每生产108个褶皱臂尾轮虫需要消耗0.73m3眼点拟微绿藻 (密度为2000×104/ml)和790.8g 鲜面包酵母。采用此法 ,作者连续3a成功地为每年百万尾以上真鲷苗种提供了足够的生物饵料。总结3a苗种培育和生物饵料培养之间的关系 ,作者认为 ,大规模稳定生产海水鱼类苗种时,育苗与饵料生物培养 (褶皱臂尾轮虫和眼点拟微绿藻 )水体的合理比例应为1∶1～1.5∶3。