Responses of mud snails from low and high imposex sites to sex pheromones

Imposex, male secondary sexual characteristics in female snails, is a morphological indicator of sub-lethal exposure to organotin compounds. The relation between imposex and behavioral responses to sex pheromones was studied. Responses of snails to sex specific pheromones were determined in laboratory assays. Females and males from a low imposex site and females, imposex females and males from a high imposex site were tested. The snails from the low imposex site showed the expected strong behavioral dimorphism with females responding to male pheromone and males responding to female pheromone. In assays using snails from the high imposex site, female and imposex females showed no dimorphism in response to pheromones and males showed a relatively weak dimorphism. As there was no breeding or egg capsule deposition at the high imposex site, we conclude that even the morphologically normal snails were behaviorally and reproductively compromised.     

Feeding ecology of Japanese Spanish mackerel(Scomberomorus niphonius) along the eastern coastal waters of China

Feeding activities provide necessary nutrition and energy to support the reproduction and development of fish populations. The feeding ecology and dietary plasticity of fish are important factors determining their recruitment and population dynamics. As a top predator, Japanese Spanish mackerel(Scomberomorus niphonius) supports one of the most valuable fisheries in China. In this study, the feeding ecology and diet composition of Japanese Spanish mackerel spawning groups were analysed based on samples collected from six spawning grounds along the eastern coastal waters of China during spring(March to May) in 2016 and 2017. Both stomach contents and stable isotope analysis were conducted. Stomach content analysis showed that spawning groups of Japanese Spanish mackerel mainly fed on fish, consuming more than 40 different prey species. Diets were significantly different among sampling locations. The most important prey species were Stolephorus in Fuzhou, Japanese anchovy Engraulis japonicus in Xiangshan, Euphausia pacifica in Lüsi, sand lance Ammodytes personatus in Qingdao and Weihai, and Leptochela gracilis in Laizhou Bay. Stable isotope analysis showed that the trophic level of Japanese Spanish mackerel was relatively high and generally increased with latitude from south to north. In the 1980 s, the diet of Japanese Spanish mackerel was dominated solely by Japanese anchovies in the eastern coastal waters of China. The results in the present study showed that the importance of Japanese anchovies declined considerably, and this fish was not the most dominant diet in most of the investigated waters. Both the spatial variations in diet composition and changes in the dominant diet over the long term indicated the high adaptability of Japanese Spanish mackerel to the environment. Combining the results of stomach analysis and stable isotope analysis from different tissues provided more comprehensive and accurate dietary information on Japanese Spanish mackerel. The study provides essential information about the feeding ecology of Japanese Spanish mackerel and will benefit the management of its populations in the future.     

中华鲟产卵场断面平均涡量计算及分析

选择断面平均涡量作为特征量,对中华鲟栖息地水力学条件进行衡量。在阐述断面平均涡量计算方法的基础上,使用实测流场数据,通过计算获得中华鲟葛洲坝产卵场的断面平均涡量分布,得出产卵场断面平均涡量的范围为0.27/s~0.85/s。鱼卵集中区域的面平均涡量的下限值为0.40/s。指出中华鲟会偏向选择具有较大断面平均涡量位置的上游深度适宜水域产卵。这样的选择有助于提高鱼卵的受精率。     

曼氏无针乌贼(Sepiella japonica)繁殖期行为谱特征的研究

自然海域中曼氏无针乌贼产卵亲体性成熟提前和小型化现象明显，这可能是一种适应性进化，人工干预背景下曼氏无针乌贼繁殖期行为的动态变化值得关注。2020年4-6月室内采用聚焦个体扫描法和定点连续记录法分别观察和记录了曼氏无针乌贼繁殖期的行为活动，并按其生活习性和行为的生物学功能等进行系统化分类，构建了繁殖期行为谱。结果表明，曼氏无针乌贼繁殖期行为谱主要包括三大类12种行为：（1）游泳行为主要分为前进和后退，繁殖期的雌性多处于静潜水底或静浮水中的状态；（2）捕食行为主要分为发现、定位、捕捉和咀嚼等系列动作，曼氏无针乌贼能够快速感知周围17.0-36.0 cm范围内的饵料，捕捉的有效距离为8.0-22.0 cm，能在2.0-10.0 s内完成对饵料的高效捕获；（3）繁殖行为复杂，主要分为求偶、伴游、交配、产卵等，其中求偶行为体现在雄性对雌性的自我展示、追逐配对和争斗护卫等过程，雄性在争斗护卫和伴游过程中的护雌行为尤为激烈。曼氏无针乌贼交配时采用"头对头"的方式，平均交配持续时间42.9 s。曼氏无针乌贼对产卵附着基有选择性且偏好于最初的附卵物，卵群对雌性产卵行为有诱导和刺激作用，每次产卵到附卵过程平均用时108.6 s。曼氏无针乌贼繁殖期行为谱特征的研究可为后续曼氏无针乌贼行为机制和基于全生活史的资源保护等方面提供理论依据。