黄条鰤仔稚幼鱼消化酶活性变化研究

为了解黄条鰤(Seriola aureovittata)早期发育阶段的消化生理特性,测定了黄条鰤胚胎、仔稚幼鱼阶段脂肪酶、淀粉酶、胰蛋白酶和碱性磷酸酶活性变化。结果显示,在黄条鰤仔鱼出膜前胚胎阶段,即能检测到脂肪酶、淀粉酶和碱性磷酸酶活性;初孵仔鱼体内(1 d)初次检测出胰蛋白酶的活性。脂肪酶和碱性磷酸酶比活力在仔鱼孵化后迅速增强(P<0.05),在4 d开口时,2种酶比活力达最高值;淀粉酶比活力在7 d时达最大值;胰蛋白酶比活力在仔鱼阶段缓慢上升,15 d时比活力最大。稚鱼阶段内脏团中脂肪酶、碱性磷酸酶和胰蛋白酶活性基本维持稳定,幼鱼阶段内脏团脂肪酶、碱性磷酸酶和胰蛋白酶活性都呈现上升趋势;稚鱼和幼鱼阶段内脏团中淀粉酶活性下降并基本稳定于较低水平。研究表明,黄条鰤仔稚幼鱼发育过程中,各种消化酶活性变化明显,且与其发育阶段和食性密切相关。在尚未摄食饵料的早期仔鱼体内已存在消化酶,认为其是母源传递而来,不是由外源性饵料所致;幼鱼阶段内脏团脂肪酶、碱性磷酸酶和胰蛋白酶比活力明显提高,这反映出随苗种生长发育,其肠道结构和消化机能逐渐完善,并且对脂肪、蛋白质的需求逐渐增强。     

云龙石斑鱼胃排空特征和摄食消化特性研究

为阐明养殖新品种云龙石斑鱼(Epinephelus moara♀×E.lanceolatus♂)摄食胃排空特征和消化酶活性变化规律,本研究检测了体重为(680.35±39.84)g云龙石斑鱼摄食后胃内容物百分比,比较了线性模型、平方根模型和立方模型对胃排空曲线的拟合程度,分析了云龙石斑鱼摄食后血清中葡萄糖、皮质醇含量和肝脏消化酶活性变化,并对胃排空率与消化酶进行了相关性分析。结果发现,云龙石斑鱼摄食后,胃排空率呈典型的先慢后快再慢的消化类型。3种模型均能拟合云龙石斑鱼的胃排空数据,其中,立方模型拟合效果最佳。由立方模型可知,云龙石斑鱼胃80%排空(食欲基本恢复)时间为9.5 h,100%排空(食欲完全恢复)约为14.8 h。血清中葡萄糖、皮质醇含量及肝脏中消化酶(淀粉酶、糜蛋白酶和脂肪酶)活性在摄食胃排空过程中均呈先升高后降低的趋势。摄食后,血清中皮质醇、葡萄糖含量和肝脏内消化酶活性逐渐升高,0~3 h上升速率较慢,3~6 h内呈急剧上升的变化趋势,且在摄食后6 h,血清中皮质醇、葡萄糖含量和肝脏内消化酶活性达到最高(P<0.05),之后呈显著下降趋势,云龙石斑鱼瞬时排空速率与消化酶活性呈正相关(P<0.05)。综上,基于云龙石斑鱼胃排空特征和摄食消化特性,结合生产实践,在食欲基本恢复后开始投喂,投喂间隔为10 h左右,每日投喂2次,效果最佳。     

黄条鰤 npy基因克隆及其对饥饿再投喂的应答特性

为探究神经肽Y (neuropeptide Y, NPY)在黄条鰤 (Seriola aureovittata)摄食调控中的作用及机制,本研究采用同源克隆的方法获得了黄条鰤 npy基因的开放阅读框(ORF)序列,并利用实时荧光定量PCR技术分析了npy基因的组织分布以及其对饥饿再投喂的应答特性。黄条鰤 npy基因ORF序列长度为300 bp,编码99个氨基酸的前体蛋白,其中包括28个氨基酸的信号肽、36个氨基酸的成熟肽。氨基酸序列同源性比对发现,黄条鰤 npy编码的氨基酸序列与斑马鱼(Danio rerio)等其他硬骨鱼高度保守(>90%);系统进化树分析表明,黄条鰤 npy与高体鰤 (Seriola dumerili)的关系最近。npy mRNA在所检测的12种组织中均有表达,其中,在脑组织表达量最高,在垂体和胃中表达量次之。在饥饿再投喂实验中,饥饿刺激了npy mRNA的表达,特别是饥饿21 d时,实验组垂体npy mRNA表达量显著高于对照组,再投喂7 d后恢复到对照组水平。上述结果表明,npy可能参与了黄条鰤的摄食调控,在饥饿代谢补偿机制中发挥了重要作用。     

黄条仔稚幼鱼消化酶活性变化研究

为了解黄条(Seriola aureovittata)早期发育阶段的消化生理特性,测定了黄条胚胎、仔稚幼鱼阶段脂肪酶、淀粉酶、胰蛋白酶和碱性磷酸酶活性变化。结果显示,在黄条仔鱼出膜前胚胎阶段,即能检测到脂肪酶、淀粉酶和碱性磷酸酶活性;初孵仔鱼体内(1 d)初次检测出胰蛋白酶的活性。脂肪酶和碱性磷酸酶比活力在仔鱼孵化后迅速增强(P<0.05),在4 d开口时,2种酶比活力达最高值;淀粉酶比活力在7 d时达最大值;胰蛋白酶比活力在仔鱼阶段缓慢上升,15 d时比活力最大。稚鱼阶段内脏团中脂肪酶、碱性磷酸酶和胰蛋白酶活性基本维持稳定,幼鱼阶段内脏团脂肪酶、碱性磷酸酶和胰蛋白酶活性都呈现上升趋势;稚鱼和幼鱼阶段内脏团中淀粉酶活性下降并基本稳定于较低水平。研究表明,黄条仔稚幼鱼发育过程中,各种消化酶活性变化明显,且与其发育阶段和食性密切相关。在尚未摄食饵料的早期仔鱼体内已存在消化酶,认为其是母源传递而来,不是由外源性饵料所致;幼鱼阶段内脏团脂肪酶、碱性磷酸酶和胰蛋白酶比活力明显提高,这反映出随苗种生长发育,其肠道结构和消化机能逐渐完善,并且对脂肪、蛋白质的需求逐渐增强。     

怀头鲇幼鱼摄食前后消化酶活性的变化

试验研究了摄食时间对怀头鲇幼鱼胃、肠道中蛋白酶、淀粉酶和脂肪酶活性的影响。结果表明:摄食后怀头鲇幼鱼胃蛋白酶活性下降,之后开始快速上升至摄食后3 h酶活性达到最高峰,与摄食前相比差异显著(P<0.05);而肠蛋白酶活性一直保持上升趋势,摄食后3 h酶活性达到峰值。摄食前后淀粉酶活性变化趋势明显不同,即胃中淀粉酶活性在摄食后1 h出现明显的降低(P<0.05),但该酶活性很快又迅速上升,到摄食后3 h达到最高峰;肠淀粉酶在摄食后表现为先降低后增加的趋势,摄食后5 h达到最高峰;同时发现,摄食前后胃中脂肪酶活性变化较为剧烈,摄食后3 h达到最高峰,而肠道中脂肪酶活性的变化较为缓慢,说明摄食对胃中脂肪酶活性影响较大。     

3种养殖鰤鱼消化相关酶活性的比较分析

为深入了解鰤鱼的消化生理特性,测定并比较分析了3种鰤鱼[高体鰤(Seriola dumerili)、黄条鰤(Seriola lalandi)、五条鰤(Seriola quinqueradiata)]的消化系统(胃、幽门盲囊、前肠、中肠、后肠和肝脏)中5种消化相关酶(胰蛋白酶、脂肪酶、淀粉酶、碱性磷酸酶和酸性磷酸酶)活性与组织分布特点。结果显示,3种鰤鱼中5种消化相关酶主要分布在幽门盲囊、肝脏和肠道中。3种鰤鱼胃组织中胃蛋白酶活性无差异。幽门盲囊中胰蛋白酶活性：黄条鰤>高体鰤>五条鰤(P<0.05),高体鰤肝脏组织中胰蛋白酶活性显著高于其他2种鰤鱼(P<0.05);胃、中肠、后肠组织中α-淀粉酶活性：五条鰤>黄条鰤>高体鰤(P<0.05),幽门盲囊、前肠组织中α-淀粉酶活性：黄条鰤>五条鰤>高体鰤(P<0.05);胃、幽门盲囊组织中脂肪酶活性：黄条鰤>五条鰤>高体鰤(P<0.05),前肠、后肠、肝脏中脂肪酶活性：五条鰤>黄条鰤>高体鰤(P<0.05);3种鰤鱼的酸、碱性磷酸酶活性组织分布趋势基本一致,其中,黄条鰤幽门盲囊组织中酸、碱性磷酸酶活性最高(P<0.05)。研究表明,3种鰤鱼消化相关酶活性的组织分布特点基本一致,幽门盲囊是5种酶作用的主要靶器官,除胰蛋白酶外,高体鰤其他4种酶活性均显著低于其他2种鰤鱼,黄条鰤幽门盲囊和肠道的5种酶活性显著偏高。结果可为揭示鰤属鱼类的消化生理特性、研制适宜鰤属鱼类消化特点和种特异性生长的高效专用配合饲料提供理论依据。     

斑点叉尾对全植物蛋白饲料的胃排空及消化道内容物特性研究

为研究斑点叉尾(鱼回)[体质量(115.55±7.54)g]对全植物蛋白饲料的胃排空,实验比较了3种常用数学模型对其排空曲线的拟合程度,同时探究了摄食过程中消化道内容物的水分、pH和消化酶的变化规律.结果发现,3种数学模型均可较好地描述斑点叉尾(鱼回)胃排空曲线,平方根模型最适于定量描述,指数模型次之,线性模型较差.根据平方根模型分别计算得到斑点叉尾(鱼回)胃50％排空时间为12.8 h(以干重计),完全排空约36 h.在摄食后0～36 h内,内容物水分含量在后肠保持不变,在胃部呈缓慢上升趋势,而在前肠和中肠则呈先上升后下降趋势.消化道各段内容物pH在摄食后3h内均显著下降,3～30 h间总体保持平稳状态,在30 h后又呈显著上升趋势.消化道各段蛋白酶、脂肪酶和淀粉酶比活力在摄食3h内显著上升,并在3～30 h内保持相对稳定水平,摄食30 h后呈显著下降趋势.整个摄食过程中,消化道各段消化酶比活力大小依次为前肠＞中肠＞后肠＞胃.研究表明,斑点叉尾(鱼回)在摄食过程中,消化道各段内容物的水分、pH和消化酶比活力均随时间呈现相应的规律性变化.而这些内环境参数的相互作用,综合影响了特定胃排空时间的形成.     

卵形鲳鲹消化酶活力的研究Ⅵ 饥饿对幼鱼存活和消化酶活力的影响

研究了饥饿对卵形鲳鲹(Trachinotus ovatus)消化器官中主要消化酶(蛋白酶、淀粉酶、脂肪酶)活力的影响。在水温25±0.5℃、盐度20±1条件下,对卵形鲳鲹幼鱼进行短期饥饿处理(0 d、3 d、6 d、9 d、12 d),并分别测定卵形鲳鲹幼鱼的比内脏重与蛋白酶、淀粉酶和脂肪酶3种消化酶的活力。结果表明,随着饥饿时间的延长,卵形鲳鲹幼鱼的比内脏重不断下降,饥饿第0～6天下降速度最快(P﹤0.01),6 d后下降不显著(P﹥0.05);蛋白酶活力表现为饥饿第0～6天不断上升,第9天下降,第12天又显著升高(P﹤0.01),并且饥饿后的蛋白酶活力始终高于对照组(P﹤0.01);淀粉酶活力不断下降,并在第3天下降最显著(P﹤0.01);脂肪酶活力在饥饿前9 d总体上下降,第12天活力明显上升并高于对照组(P﹤0.01)。饥饿第8天开始出现幼鱼死亡,至第12天幼鱼的存活率为64.67%,表明第8天是卵形鲳鲹幼鱼饥饿致死的临界期。     

六斑刺鲀仔稚鱼发育过程中消化酶和非特异性免疫因子的活性变化

为解决六斑刺鲀(Diodon holocanthus)初孵仔鱼高死亡率问题,研究了六斑刺鲀从初孵仔鱼到稚鱼(0～40 d)消化酶活性和非特异性免疫指标的变化。结果显示:六斑刺鲀仔稚鱼全长与日龄呈指数相关。初孵仔鱼体内就可检测到淀粉酶、胃蛋白酶、胰蛋白酶和脂肪酶活性。在整个实验周期内,淀粉酶和胰蛋白酶活性呈现先上升后下降再上升的变化趋势,淀粉酶活性在20 d时达到最高,胰蛋白酶活性在10 d时达到最高,两者整体酶活随日龄都有所增加且胰蛋白酶增加更为明显;脂肪酶活性呈现先下降后上升再下降的变化趋势,1～5 d时酶活性快速降低,5～10 d时又显著升高,15～20 d时又迅速降低并维持在较低水平;胃蛋白酶在1～15 d时活性逐渐上升并在15 d时达到最高,之后缓慢下降并维持低值。溶菌酶(LZM)和免疫球蛋白M(IgM)活性都呈现先上升后下降的变化趋势;IgM活性在10 d时达到最高,LZM活性在5 d时最高,之后两者都波动地缓慢下降并最终维持在较低值。以上结果表明:尚未摄食的六斑刺鲀初孵仔鱼体内已存在各种消化酶,仔稚鱼消化酶活性变化与其发育阶段和饵料种类密切相关。非特异性免疫指标在六斑刺鲀仔稚鱼由内源性营养向外源性营养转变的混合营养期显著上升,之后缓慢下降到较低水平,说明营养转变过程对仔稚鱼的免疫功能影响较大,非特异性免疫指标的升高增强了仔稚鱼的抗病能力,提高了养殖成活率。     

饥饿和再投喂对翘嘴鲌幼鱼消化酶活性的影响

研究了饥饿和再投喂对翘嘴鲌(Cultert alburnus Basilewsky)幼鱼前肠、后肠和肝胰脏消化酶活性的影响.在20.3～24.8℃条件下将375尾翘嘴鲌幼鱼[体质量(4.22±0.29)]分为5组,分别饥饿0 d(对照组)、4 d、8 d、12 d和16d,饥饿后恢复投喂16d.结果显示,饥饿4d、8 d后蛋白酶、淀粉酶和脂肪酶活性均显著下降;饥饿12d后,脂肪酶活性仍显著下降;随着饥饿时间延长,消化酶活性变化趋于平缓.恢复投喂后,蛋白酶活性迅速升高,其中肝胰脏蛋白酶活性(除饥饿4 d组)升至显著高于饥饿前水平,然后逐渐恢复正常;恢复投喂4 d后,除饥饿4 d组后肠、肝胰脏及饥饿12 d组前肠外,淀粉酶活性升至显著高于饥饿前水平,8 d后恢复正常.与淀粉酶活性相似,脂肪酶活性先迅速升至显著高于饥饿前水平,然后再逐渐恢复正常,饥饿4 d组的脂肪酶活性变幅较小,饥饿时间较长的,脂肪酶活性变幅较大.[中国水产科学,2008,15(3)439-445]     

Effects of dietary macronutrient level and feeding frequency on growth and body composition of juvenile rockfish (Sebastes schlegeli)

An 8-week feeding experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of different dietary macronutrient level and feeding frequency on the growth, feed utilization, and body composition of juvenile rockfish. Triplicate groups of fish (body weight of 4.1 g) were fed the experimental diets containing either high levels of carbohydrate (HC, 35%), lipid (HL, 13%), or protein (HP, 55%) at different feeding frequencies (twice daily, once daily, and once every 2 days). Weight gain was affected by feeding frequency but not by dietary composition. Weight gain of fish fed the diets once every 2 days was significantly (P < 0.05) lower than that of other groups. Daily feed intake and energy intake were affected by both dietary composition and feeding frequency. Daily feed intake of fish fed the HC diet was significantly (P < 0.05) higher than that of fish fed the HL and HP diets at the same feeding frequency. Feed efficiency and protein efficiency ratio were affected by both dietary composition and feeding frequency and decreased with increasing feeding frequency in the same dietary composition. Feed efficiency and protein efficiency ratio of fish fed the HC diet were significantly (P < 0.05) lower than those of fish fed the HL diet at the same feeding frequency. Whole-body lipid content of fish fed the HL diet was significantly (P < 0.05) higher than that of fish fed the HC and HP diets at the same feeding frequency. These results indicate that an increase of dietary lipid level compared with dietary carbohydrate level may have the advantage of a protein-sparing effect at same feeding frequency, and a once-daily feeding regime is more effective than twice daily or one feeding every 2 days to improve growth performance of juvenile rockfish grown from 4 to 21 g.     

团头鲂黑素皮质素3型受体基因克隆及表达分析

黑素皮质素3型受体(MC3R)系统与动物摄食行为以及能量调控密切相关。为丰富鱼类MC3R相关基础研究,探索鱼类摄食行为与能量调控机制,本研究克隆了团头鲂(Megalobrama amblycephala)mc3r基因,采用分子生物信息学和相对荧光定量PCR方法分别对氨基酸序列保守结构域、组织表达分布和禁食条件下的表达变化等开展分析研究。结果显示,团头鲂mc3r基因编码区全长984 bp,编码327个氨基酸,与现有报道的MC3R氨基酸序列高度相似,具有典型的7次跨膜结构域。组织表达图谱分析表明,mc3rmRNA在下丘脑、垂体、肝脏和卵巢有相对较高的表达。禁食试验结果显示,下丘脑和垂体中的转录变化与周期性摄食信号相关,其中下丘脑mc3r mRNA在禁食72 h和14 d的表达显著上调(P0.05),垂体mc3r mRNA在禁食72 h和禁食72 h后恢复投喂6 h表达量显著升高(P0.05),而肝脏中mc3r mRNA在禁食48 h和14 d的表达量显著上调(P0.05)。此外,对血液皮质醇和血糖的监测结果显示,两者均在禁食14 d有显著变化,其中皮质醇水平显著高于对照组(P0.05),而血糖水平显著低于对照组(P0.05)。综合本研究结果表明,MC3R在鲤科鱼类中具有高度相似的氨基酸序列和结构域;在组织中的转录表达变化与食物摄取有明显相关性,对调控鱼体摄食行为和能量代谢具有重要作用。     

添加嗜酸乳杆菌对凡纳滨对虾生长、酶活性及相关酶mRNA表达的影响

本实验旨在研究饲料中添加嗜酸乳杆菌(Lactobacillus acidophilus)对凡纳滨对虾(Litopenaeus vannamei)幼虾生长、非特异性免疫酶活性、抗病力和相关酶m RNA表达的影响。选取840尾初始均重为(0.58±0.01)g的凡纳滨对虾幼虾为研究对象,分为7个处理,每个处理3个重复。投喂添加不同比例(0%,0.1%,0.2%,0.4%,0.6%,0.8%,1.0%)嗜酸乳杆菌的饲料,养殖期8周。结果显示:添加不同比例嗜酸乳杆菌对凡纳滨对虾的成活率无显著影响(P0.05)。增重率与特定生长率随添加量的增加呈先上升后下降的趋势,但均显著高于对照组(P0.05),在0.4%组达到最大值;当添加0.2%时,饲料系数最低,其他各组显著低于对照组(P0.05),而蛋白质效率的变化规律则与饲料系数相反。血清酚氧化物酶(phenoloxidase,PO)、碱性磷酸酶(alkaline phosphatase,AKP)和酸性磷酸酶(acid phosphatase,ACP)活性随添加量的增加先升高后降低,分别为0.4%、0.1%和0.2%时,达到最大值。过氧化氢酶(catalase,CAT)、溶菌酶(lysozyme,LZM)和超氧化物歧化酶(superoxide dismutase,SOD)活性,实验组均显著高于对照组(P0.05)。实验组过氧化氢酶(CAT)m RNA表达量和溶菌酶(LZM)m RNA表达量均显著高于对照组(P0.05)。哈维弧菌(Vibrio harveyi)攻毒96 h,对虾存活率随添加量的增加显著升高(P0.05)。以增重率(weight gain rate,WGR)为判断依据,根据折线模型得出,饲料中添加0.23%嗜酸乳杆菌可显著促进凡纳滨对虾生长,并提高非特异性免疫酶活性。     

投喂频率对尼罗系吉富罗非鱼幼鱼胃排空、生长性能和体组成的影响

通过胃排空试验与养殖试验研究了不同投喂频率对尼罗系吉富罗非鱼幼鱼的胃排空、生长性能以及体组成的影响.在试验开始时,观测尼罗系吉富罗非鱼幼鱼的胃内饲料排空情况,胃排空试验结果表明,胃排空率的最佳描述为平方根函数,胃内饲料在饱食投喂后15 h左右完全排空,达到投喂前水平,80％胃排空为9h,也就是投喂后大约9h恢复食欲.360尾试验鱼(初始体质量3.72 g)以不同的投喂频率(1d4次、1d3次、1d2次、2d4次、2d3次、2d2次)分组,每组设立3个平行组,随机养殖于18个网箱中,每箱养殖20尾鱼,按饱食量投饲膨化饲料.养殖期为6周.尼罗系吉富罗非鱼幼鱼在投喂频率为1d4次、1d3次和1d2次时特定生长率和饲料效率显著高于投喂频率为2d4次、2d3次和2d2次时(P＜0.05);投喂频率为1d2次、2d4次、2d3次和2d2次时其摄食量显著低于1d4次和1d3次时(P＜0.05).随着投喂频率降低,鱼体水分含量逐步上升,脂肪和蛋白质含量逐步下降,其中1d4次、1d3次组鱼与2d2次组鱼有显著性差异(P＜0.05).各投喂频率组间的肝体指数无显著性差异(P＞0.05).3.7～48.0 g尼罗系吉富罗非鱼幼鱼的适宜投喂频率为1d2次,较2d2次、2d3次和2d4次时明显提高了生长速度和饲料效率,较1d3次、1d4次摄食量显著降低.2种试验结果较为一致.     

Effect of feeding frequency on growth,feed utilization,body composition and waste output of juvenile golden pompano (Trachinotus ovatus) reared in net pens

A 6‐week feeding trial was conducted to examine the effect of feeding frequency on growth, feed utilization efficiency, body composition and waste output of juvenile golden pompano Trachinotus ovatus reared in net pens. Fish (10.3 ± 0.5 g) were either fed a formulated diet containing 48.4% crude protein and 5.7% crude lipid at 0.5, 1, 2, 3 or 4 meals per day or fed a raw fish feed at two meals per day as a control. The weight gain (WG) increased with increasing feeding frequency from 0.5 to 3 meals per day (P < 0.05), but did not significantly change with the further increase in feeding frequency from 3 to 4 meals per day (P > 0.05). The feed intake (FI) was lower in fish fed at 0.5 or 1 meal per day than in fish fed at 2, 3 or 4 meals per day (P < 0.05). No significant differences were found in the feed conversion ratio (FCR), nitrogen retention efficiency (NRE), condition factor (CF), nitrogen waste output (NWO) and phosphorus waste output (PWO) between fish fed at 1, 2, 3 or 4 meals per day (P > 0.05), whereas no significant difference was found in the phosphorus retention efficiency (PRE) among the feeding treatments (P > 0.05). The body lipid content increased, whereas the contents of moisture and ash decreased, with the increase in feeding frequency (P < 0.05). At the same feeding frequency, fish fed the formulated diet exhibited lower FI, FCR, HSI, body moisture content, NWO and PWO, but higher NRE, PRE, body lipid content and body phosphorus content than those of fish fed the raw fish feed (P < 0.05). These results suggest that the formulated diet can satisfy nutrient requirements of juvenile golden pompano reared in net pens, and the suitable feeding frequency is 3 meals per day.     

Aggressive behaviour and cannibalism in greater amberjack,Seriola dumerili : effects of stocking density,feeding conditions and size differences

Aggressive behaviour, assessed by 24‐h observations, and survival rates, determined in a 2‐week rearing experiment, were examined in greater amberjack, Seriola dumerili, subjected to single and multiple factors (high density, restricted feeding and diverse size). Aggressive behaviour frequency in the group subjected to both restricted feeding and size diversity (FS) was significantly higher than that in the other groups (Tukey, n=4, P<0.05). In the FS group, aggressive behaviour increased with the starvation time from 19 days post hatching (dph) to 23 dph (two‐way analysis of variance, Tukey, n=4, P<0.05), but decreased gradually thereafter to 46 dph. In the rearing experiment, the survival rates for the diverse size and FS groups were lower than those of the control or restricted feeding groups (Kaplan–Meier, log‐rank test, n=100, P<0.01). Daily mortality in all groups was the highest at 24 dph; although dead fish were usually small, disappearance due to cannibalism was not observed during the rearing period. The results indicate that aggressive behaviour in greater amberjack is induced by hunger and size diversity in the early juvenile stages (23 dph). Mass mortality during seedling production was mainly caused by injury and the death of small fish due to aggressive behaviour/cannibalism.     

Effect of cyclical feeding on compensatory growth,nitrogen and phosphorus budgets in juvenile Litopenaeus vannamei

This study assessed the effect of cyclical feeding on compensatory growth, nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) budgets of juvenile Litopenaeus vannamei. A 36‐day growth trial was performed with four different feeding protocols. The control group (S0) was fed to satiation twice every day during the whole experimental period; treatment groups S1, S2 and S3 were fed by the 9, 5 and 3 cycles of 1:3, 2:5 and 3:9 (fasting days:feeding days) respectively. Fasting in S1, S2 and S3 groups did not change the specific growth rate in wet weight (SGR_w), but the feed conversion efficiency (FCE) and protein efficiency ratio (PER) were significantly increased (P < 0.05) in comparison with control. The N and P consumed per unit wet weight gain of shrimp in S1, S2, S3 groups were significantly lower (P < 0.05) than control group by 15.39%, 15.96%, 19.33% for N, and 15.16%, 15.98%, 19.26% for P respectively. The total discharge of N and P (including N and P discharged by faeces (F_N/P), non‐faecal excretions (U_N/P) and exuviations (E_N/P); ) was significantly lower (P < 0.05) in the experiment groups by 19.91–22.07% for N and 18.68–26.37% for P respectively. Overall, the results suggest that the L. vannamei can reach completely compensatory growth, and the total discharge of N and P per unit wet weight gain of L. vannamei significantly decreased by cyclical feeding, which could have a positive effect on the reduced of environmental N and P loading due to the cultured of L. vannamei.     

Effects of feeding frequency on growth,feed efficiency and body composition of juveniles Brazilian sardine,Sardinella brasiliensis (Steindacher 1879)

The Brazilian sardine is the most important fishery resource in Brazil. Their production has declined along the last 30 years due the overfishing, climatic and oceanographic phenomena. This study was carried out to determine the optimal feeding frequency for juvenile Brazilian sardine based on growth, feed efficiency, feed intake and body composition. Six feeding frequencies of one, two, three, four, five and six times a day were evaluated in triplicate tanks for 50 days. Fish with initial mean weight of 3.29 ± 0.56 g were fed daily to apparent satiation. The results showed that fish fed once daily had lower body weight gain, specific growth rate and condition factor (P < 0.05) compared with other treatments. The feed efficiency ratio in fish fed once daily was significantly higher (P < 0.05) than those fed two or more times a day. No significant differences were observed in the coefficient of variation in body weight (P > 0.05) among the treatments. Feed intake was directly proportional to the feeding frequency. Fish fed once daily showed lower hepatosomatic and mesenteric fat indices (P < 0.05) than the other treatments. Neither protein nor ash content of fish were significantly (P > 0.05) affected by feeding frequency. However, the lipid content increased with feeding frequency. The results suggest that the optimal feeding frequency for juvenile Brazilian sardine is at least twice daily.     

The specific dynamic action of southern catfish, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Silurus meridonalis</Emphasis> Chen,fed diets containing either raw or precooked corn starch or glucose

The growth performance of carnivorous southern catfish (Silurus meridionalis) was lower when fed a diet containing glucose as a carbohydrate source than when fed one containing starch. To test whether this decreased growth performance was partly due to higher metabolic costs induced by the fast assimilation of dietary glucose, the postprandial metabolic responses of southern catfish juvenile (36.7 ± 1.9 g) fed diets containing either raw or pre-cooked corn starch and glucose were investigated at 27.5°C. The peak metabolic rate of fish fed a raw corn starch diet was significantly higher than that of fish fed precooked corn starch and glucose diets (P < 0.05). The specific dynamic action (SDA) coefficients (energy expended on SDA as a percentage of energy content of the meal) of fish fed raw or precooked corn starch diets were significantly higher than that of fish fed a glucose diet (P < 0.05). The postprandial metabolic rate of fish fed a raw starch diet displayed a classic response – increased metabolic rate immediately after feeding, followed by a decreased metabolic rate several hours after feeding – as has been documented earlier in this species. However, the postprandial metabolic rate of fish fed a glucose diet had two alternating cycles of increasing and decreasing metabolic rate, which has not been reported previously. This bimodal pattern of the SDA curve was also found in a subsequent experiment in which purified d-glucose (0.1 g dry mass) was packed into sections of grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idellus) intestine (0.05 g dry mass). The results suggest that the digestibility and absorption speed of the dietary carbohydrate has a significant effect on postprandial metabolic response in juvenile southern catfish. The results of this study may provide useful data in terms of the utilization of dietary carbohydrates by carnivorous fishes.     

Dietary Protein Requirement of Juvenile Dianchi Golden‐line Barbell,Sinocyclocheilus grahami

A 10‐wk feeding trial was conducted to estimate the dietary protein requirements of juvenile Dianchi golden‐line barbell, Sinocyclocheilus grahami (initial average weight 7.55 g). Five isocaloric diets were formulated to contain graded levels of protein (29, 34, 39, 44, and 49%). Each diet was fed to triplicate groups of fish in a recirculating rearing system maintained at 18–22 C. Feed intake of fish fed the diet with 39% protein was significantly higher than those fed the diet with 29, 34, and 49% protein (P < 0.05). Weight gain, specific growth rate (SGR), and protein gain significantly increased with increasing dietary protein levels up to 39% (P < 0.05), whereas no significant differences were observed among fish fed the diet with 39, 44, and 49% protein (P > 0.05). In contrast, feed conversion ratio was significantly decreased with increasing dietary protein levels up to 39%. Maximum protein retention and protein efficiency ratio were observed in fish fed the diet with 39% protein. The regression analysis based on SGR and protein gain showed that the dietary protein requirements of juvenile S. grahami were 38.57% or 41.09% (equivalent to ca. 32.94% or 35.42% estimated digestible protein) of diet with a calculated digestible energy of 3.6 kcal/g.