Location,location, location: changes in the diversity of animal resources exploited by Tardiglacial humans in northern Spain

Prey diversity of Homo sapiens in north Iberia exhibited shifts associated with climate warming after the Last Glacial Maximum, as deduced from animal remains obtained from Upper Palaeolithic caves in Asturias (northern Spain). Significant association of prey diversity and river proximity was found during adverse climate conditions, indicating opportunistic predation. A high increase of prey diversity was found when small animals (including fish) were taken into account in archaeological records, highlighting the importance of this type of prey in Palaeolithic diets. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Effects of diet and body size on phosphorus utilization of Liza haematocheila T. ＆ S.

A 21-d laboratory experiment was conducted to study, the phosphorus （P） utilization of two different diets by redlip mullet Liza haematocheila T. ＆ S. Sand-filtered water in salinity 30 and temperatare 25℃ was used. Twenty-nine fish individuals were divided into three groups： 11 to group 1 （G1） fed on diet 1, 11 to group 2 （G2） fed on diet 2, and 7 to contrast group. Diet 1 was a commercial feed, more valuable in nutrition than diet 2 that similar to natural detritus. The results show the intake phosphorus （IP） of G1 was significantly higher than that of G2, and both increased linearly with body size at a certain amount of diet. The retention phosphorus （RP） in fish of G1 was lower than G2. The relationship between retention phosphorus and body size was positive and stronger in G2. Significant difference in faecal phosphorus （FP） was found between G1 and G2. Body size significantly impacted the excretion phosphorus （EP） in G1 but G2. The loss of intake phosphorus in G1 was 10.83-20.27 mg per g fish weight gain, higher than that in G2 for 6.63-9.56. Of the phosphorus, about 10% was allocated into growth, 50% in faeces, and the rest lost in excretion. The main part of phosphorus was lost in faeces but excretion. The phosphorus budget of the fish could be described as 100IP = 7.40RP ＋ 47.39FP ＋ 36.63EP （Diet 1） or 100IP = 11.93RP ＋ 56.64FP ＋ 21.76EP （Diet 2）.     

Distribution characteristics of zooplankton biomass in the East China Sea

On the basis of the data of oceanographic survey in the East China Sea in four seasons during 1997-2000 (23°30'~33°00'N, 118°30'-128°E), the variation of total biomass and diet biomass of zooplankton and their spatial-temporal distribution and relationship with the fishing ground of Engraulis japonicus are approached and analyzed. The results show that the average biomass is 65.32 mg/m3 in four seasons, autumn (86.18 mg/m3) being greater than summer (69.18 mg/m3) greater than spring (55.67 mg/m3) greater than winter (50.33 mg/m3). The average value of diet zooplankton biomass is 40.9 mg/m3. The trends of horizontal distribution both in the total biomass and the diet biomass of zooplankton are similar. The high biomass region (250-500 mg/m3) is very limited, only accounting for 1% of the investigation area. Seasonal variation of the biomass is very remarkable in the west and north parts of East China Sea coastal waters ( 29°30'N,125°E). The horizontal distribution of diet zooplankton depends on the     

Diets of Steller sea lions off the coast of Hokkaido,Japan: An inter‐decadal and geographic comparison

Inter‐decadal and geographic variations in the diets of Steller sea lion, Eumetopias jubatus, were examined based on the contents of 408 stomachs collected from coastal areas around Hokkaido Island during the periods 1994–1998 and 2005–2012. The most important prey species in the 1990s were gadid fishes (walleye pollock [Gadus chalcogrammus], Pacific cod [Gadus microcephalus] and saffron cod [Eleginus gracilis]). The frequency of occurrence and gravimetric contribution of gadids decreased in the 2000s latter period at three study sites (Rausu, Shakotan and Rebun) and were replaced by Okhotsk Atka mackerel (Pleurogrammus azonus) and smooth lumpsucker (Aptocyclus ventricosus). However, analysis based on gravimetric composition indicated that the dietary diversity of prey showed only a slight inter‐decadal difference, reflecting the wide diversity of prey ingested during both study periods. These results indicate that Steller sea lions along the Hokkaido coast are opportunistic feeders that utilize a wide variety of prey, and appear to feed mainly upon prey that is easily obtained.     

A model that helps explain Sr-isotope disequilibrium between feldspar phenocrysts and melt in large-volume silicic magma systems

Feldspar phenocrysts of silicic volcanic rocks are commonly in Sr-isotopic disequilibrium with groundmass. In some cases the feldspar is more radiogenic, and in others it is less radiogenic. Several explanations have been published previously, but none of these is able to accommodate both senses of disequilibrium. We present a model by which either more- or less-radiogenic feldspar (or even both within a single eruptive unit) can originate. The model requires a magma body open to interaction with biotite- and feldspar-bearing wall rock. Magma is incrementally contaminated as wall rock melts incongruently. Biotite preferentially melts first, followed by feldspar. Such melting behavior, which is supported by both field and experimental studies, first contaminates magma with a relatively radiogenic addition, followed by a less-radiogenic addition. Feldspar phenocrysts lag behind melt (groundmass of volcanic rock) in incorporating the influx of contaminant, thus resulting in Sr-isotopic disequilibrium between the crystals and melt. The sense of disequilibrium recorded in a volcanic rock depends on when eruption quenches the contamination process. This model is testable by isotopic fingerprinting of individual feldspar crystals. For a given set of geologic boundary conditions, specific core-to-rim Sr-isotopic profiles are expectable. Moreover, phenocrysts that nucleate at different times during the contamination process should record different and predictable parts of the history. Initial results of Sr-isotopic fingerprinting of sanidine phenocrysts from the Taylor Creek Rhyolite are consistent with the model. More tests of the model are desirable.     

凡纳滨对虾亲虾常用天然饵料营养成分的比较研究

分析比较了凡纳滨对虾亲虾培育中 4 种常用天然饵料———长吻沙蚕 Glycera chirori 、双齿围沙蚕Perinereis aibuhitensis、近江牡蛎Crassostrea rivularis (去壳)和杜氏枪乌贼Lol igo duvancelii 的营养成分及组成。结果表明,杜氏枪乌贼的蛋白质(78. 41%)和胆固醇(16.1 mg·g-1 )含量最高;双齿围沙蚕的 EPA 和 DHA 含量最高(分别为 14. 15%和12.97%),∑n 3/∑n 6值为5. 79;长吻沙蚕的 EPA和 DHA含量略低(分别为 12. 36%和11.54%),但其∑n 3/∑n 6值最高,为 7.06;长吻沙蚕的α 生育酚含量最高,为 47.72mg·kg-1,以下依次为双齿围沙蚕(43.02mg·kg-1 )、近江牡蛎(42.31mg·kg-1 )、杜氏枪乌贼(38.93mg·kg-1)。双齿围沙蚕具有最高的抗坏血酸含量,为 110.12mg·kg-1,以下依次为长吻沙蚕(100.06mg·kg-1)、杜氏枪乌贼(91.41mg·kg-1 )、近江牡蛎(33.75mg·kg-1 )。通过比较这些天然饵料的营养组成并结合已有研究结果,认为杜氏枪乌贼具有较高的蛋白质和胆固醇含量及理想的氨基酸组成,是凡纳滨对虾亲虾的优质蛋白质和胆固醇来源;而长吻沙蚕和双齿围沙蚕具有高含量的EPA和DHA,以及更高的∑n 3/∑n 6值,是凡纳滨对虾亲虾的最佳高度不饱和脂肪酸来源。此外,2 种沙蚕的α 生育酚和抗坏血酸含量较高,对凡纳滨对虾     

赤点石斑鱼人工配合饵料中蛋白质最适含量的研究

本文探讨了不同蛋白质含量的配合饵料对赤点石斑鱼（Epinephelusakaara）生长的影响。通过60d度验得出：在各配合饵料组中，蛋白质含量为49．52％的试验的相对增重率（46．84％）体长相对增长率（15．96％）、蛋白质效率（60．35％）和饵料转化率（29．85％）等均为最佳。配合饵料组鱼体肌肉营养成分（蛋白质、脂肪、氨基酸和鲜味氨基酸）也均优于对照组，而更接近野生鱼。经回归方程分析，赤点石斑鱼人工配合饵料中蛋白质最适含量为48．37％～49．24％。     

Food choices,health and environment: Effects of cutting Europe's meat and dairy intake

Western diets are characterised by a high intake of meat, dairy products and eggs, causing an intake of saturated fat and red meat in quantities that exceed dietary recommendations. The associated livestock production requires large areas of land and lead to high nitrogen and greenhouse gas emission levels. Although several studies have examined the potential impact of dietary changes on greenhouse gas emissions and land use, those on health, the agricultural system and other environmental aspects (such as nitrogen emissions) have only been studied to a limited extent. By using biophysical models and methods, we examined the large-scale consequences in the European Union of replacing 25–50% of animal-derived foods with plant-based foods on a dietary energy basis, assuming corresponding changes in production. We tested the effects of these alternative diets and found that halving the consumption of meat, dairy products and eggs in the European Union would achieve a 40% reduction in nitrogen emissions, 25–40% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and 23% per capita less use of cropland for food production. In addition, the dietary changes would also lower health risks. The European Union would become a net exporter of cereals, while the use of soymeal would be reduced by 75%. The nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) of the food system would increase from the current 18% to between 41% and 47%, depending on choices made regarding land use. As agriculture is the major source of nitrogen pollution, this is expected to result in a significant improvement in both air and water quality in the EU. The resulting 40% reduction in the intake of saturated fat would lead to a reduction in cardiovascular mortality. These diet-led changes in food production patterns would have a large economic impact on livestock farmers and associated supply-chain actors, such as the feed industry and meat-processing sector.