Intermittent exposure to reduced oxygen levels affects prey size selection and consumption in swimming crab Thalamita danae Stimpson

Portunid crabs Thalamita danae (carapace width: 46–56 mm) were exposed to low oxygen level (4.0 mg O₂ l⁻¹) and hypoxia (1.5 mg O₂ l⁻¹) for 6 h each day with three size classes (large: 15.0–19.9 mm, medium: 10.0–14.9 mm, small: 5.0–9.9 mm) of mussels Brachidontes variabilis offered as food. Consumption rate, prey size preference, and prey handling including breaking time, handling time, eating time and prey value, were studied during the time the crabs were exposed to reduced oxygen levels and results were compared with the crabs maintained at high oxygen level (8.0 mg O₂ l⁻¹) throughout the experiment. Consumption of mussels from all size classes was significantly higher at high oxygen level than at reduced oxygen levels. No mussel size preference was observed for crabs exposed to 4.0 or 8.0 mg O₂ l⁻¹ but those crabs exposed to 1.5 mg O₂ l⁻¹ preferred medium mussels. Both breaking time and handling time increased with mussel size but did not vary with oxygen level. Prey value of each mussel consumed (mg dry wt eaten crab⁻¹ s⁻¹) was calculated by dividing the estimated dry weight of the mussel by the observed handling time. Mean prey value varied significantly with mussel size, with values obtained for large mussels being higher than small mussels at 4.0 and 8.0 mg O₂ l⁻¹; the effect of oxygen level, however, was insignificant. In view of portunid crabs as major predators of mussels, results may help explain dominance of mussels in eutrophic harbours in Hong Kong.     

Seasonal changes in phytoplankton densities in four North Island lakes, 1973–74

In a 1973–74 survey of preserved phytoplankton from Lakes Rotoiti, Rotoehu, Rotoma and Waikaremoana, 205 algal taxa (including 111 Chlorophyta, 56 Chrysophyta, 17 Cyanophyta, 16 Pyrrhophyta, and 5 Euglenophyta) were found. The greatest number of species was found in Lake Rotoehu, but monthly maxima based on cell counts were usually greater in Lake Rotoiti. A summer bloom of the toxic blue‐green alga Aphanizomenon flos‐aquae occurred in Lake Rotoehu. Each lake had its own pattern of dominance. Surface and subsurface samples showed marked differences in species composition and abundance. Diatoms were important winter and spring components, with desmids forming conspicuous subordinates. Cemtium hirundinella was prominent in subsurface layers of Lakes Rotoma and Waikaremoana.

Compound indices (ratios of number of species of most other algae to that of desmids) point to Lake Rotoehu as extremely eutrophic, to Lake Rotoma as moderately eutrophic, and to Lakes Rotoiti and Waikaremoana as oligotrophic rather than meso‐ or eutrophic.     

Prey characteristics and dietary composition in intertidal Astrostole scabra (Echinodermata: Asteroidea)

Dietary composition in juvenile Astrostole scabra at Kaikoura, New Zealand (42°25′S, 173°42′E), changed qualitatively with increased seastar size so that food was partitioned amongst starfish size classes according to a combination of prey species and size. Small A. scabra fed more frequently than large specimens. Size‐discriminant feeding was evident as large Turbo smaragdus and Risellopsis varia, small Melagraphia aethiops, and intermediate sized Micrelenchus dilatatus, Ischnochiton maorianus, Onithochiton neglectus, and Amaurochiton glaucus were consumed in proportions greater than those found in the habitat. Major prey species have both spatial and size refuges from predation.     

Comparative trophic ecology of Cape anchovy Engraulis encrasicolus and Natal anchovy Stolephorus holodon off South Africa’s east coast

The distributional ranges of Cape anchovy Engraulis encrasicolus and Natal anchovy Stolephorus holodon presently overlap at their eastern and western extremes, respectively, off South Africa’s east coast. These species might become more strongly sympatric as a consequence of changed distributions caused by climate change, possibly leading to intensified interspecific competition for trophic and other resources. A comparative analysis of the trophodynamics of the two species, which set out to assess elements of current niche partitioning between them, was conducted through morphological, dietary and stable-isotope analyses of specimens caught off South Africa’s east coast. Cape anchovy have larger gillraker spacing, gain the majority of their dietary carbon from large (>3 000 µm total length) planktonic crustaceans and occupy a higher trophic level than Natal anchovy, which have smaller gillraker spacing and gain the majority of their dietary carbon from planktonic crustaceans of two size classes (900–1 400 µm and 2 800–3 200 µm total length). These results indicate an element of trophic partitioning between the two species that will mitigate against interspecific competition.     

淡水湖泊中类蛭弧菌的分离方法

从贵州阿哈湖、百花湖及云南滇池不同深度的湖水中筛选出2株宿主菌株。经16SrRNA基因序列分析,这2株宿主菌分别鉴定为肠杆菌(Enterobacteriales)和黄色单胞菌(Xanthomonadales)。分别利用这2株宿主菌,从湖水样品中获得到了类蛭弧菌噬菌斑。通过吸光度分析、用淡水类蛭弧菌的特异性引物进行基因扩增、DNA序列分析等一系列方法,证实了所分离的菌株为类蛭弧菌。建立了用同一生长环境中的宿主菌来分离类蛭弧菌的方法,并用该方法从淡水湖泊中分离出了不同类群的类蛭弧菌菌株。     

饵料密度对花鲈仔鱼生长和存活的影响

于2001年12月，在集美大学水产试验场，测定了不同的轮虫密度培育的花鲈(Lateolabrax japonicus)仔鱼的摄食量、生长、存活率和耐饥饿能力。结果表明。饵料密度对花鲈仔鱼的摄食、生长和存活均有较大的影响。在轮虫密度为10个/mL的条件下,仔鱼的摄食量较大、生长最快、存活率最高、耐饥饿能力较强。当轮虫密度为20个／mL时,花鲈仔鱼的存活率降低、耐饥饿能力下降。当轮虫密度低于5个／mL,随着轮虫密度的降低。仔鱼摄食量下降、生长变慢、存活率降低、耐饥饿能力下降。