Fish meal replacement with rice protein concentrate in a practical diet for the Pacific white shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei Boone, 1931

Replacement of fish meal (FM) with rice protein concentrate (RPC) as a practical diet for the Pacific white shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei, was evaluated. Five isonitrogenous (36.6% protein) diets, formulated by replacing 0, 25, 50, 75, and 100% of FM by RPC, were fed to shrimp (initial weight of 6.99 ± 0.08 g) five times daily to satiation for 60 days. Relatively high final weight (FW 17.64–18.25 g) and weight gain (WG 10.81–11.39 g) were obtained in treatments up to 50% of the plant protein inclusion. Above this inclusion level, FW (14.93–14.35 g) and WG (7.68–7.23 g) were reduced. Survival was high (≥95%) and similar for all diets. There were no significant differences (P > 0.05) in tail-muscle composition (moisture, protein, lipid, and ash) among different dietary treatments. Dispensable and indispensable amino acids of the tail muscle of shrimp fed with 25, 50, and 75% RPC were significantly higher than the FM (0%) and 100% RPC diets. A decreasing trend in apparent digestibility coefficient (excluding dry matter) for crude protein (90.52–52.41), ether extract (94.11–80.03), organic matter (87.25–50.16), and gross energy (89.41–55.24) was observed at higher RPC inclusion rates. The results suggest that RPC meal can be a potential candidate for FM replacement up to 50% of the protein in shrimp diets.     

Dietary simultaneous replacement of fish meal and fish oil with blends of plant proteins and vegetable oils in yellowfin seabream (Acanthopagrus latus) fry: Growth,digestive enzymes,antioxidant status and skin mucosal immunity

A 56‐day nutritional research was performed to examine the influence of alternative vegetal protein and lipid sources on performance of yellowfin seabream fry (Acanthopagrus latus) (0.5 ± 0.0 g). In this regard, five isoproteic (Ca. 500 g/kg) and isolipidic (Ca. 150 g/kg) diets were formulated in which fish meal (FM) and fish oil (FO) were simultaneously replaced with blends of plant proteins (PP, soybean meal and corn gluten) and vegetal oils (VO, canola and soybean oils) at 20% (SR20), 40% (SR40), 60% (SR40) and 80% (SR80) levels, respectively; meanwhile, a control diet (SR0) was formulated based on FM and FO. Growth and feed utilization were not influenced by experimental diets. The fatty acid profile of fillet drastically altered by dietary treatments. Fish fed with the SR60 and SR80 feeds had higher total protease, trypsin and α‐amylase activities than other treatments. The antioxidant enzyme activities and glutathione content in liver were enhanced in fish fed with the SR40, SR60 and SR80 diets. Skin mucosal immune parameters including total protein content, alkaline phosphatase and alternative complement pathway activities in the control group were relatively lower than the vegetal treatments. According to these results, it is recommended that 410 g/kg of FM and 45 g of FO/kg can be replaced with alternative vegetal sources in diet for A. latus fry.     

Protein and energy nutrition of brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) at optimal and elevated temperatures

The digestible protein (DP) and digestible energy (DE) requirements for maintenance and growth of brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) were determined using a factorial model at either optimum (15 °C) or elevated temperature (19 °C). Several key parameters of the factorial model were measured using a series of inter‐related studies. The maintenance requirements for DP and DE were 0.10 gDP kg^?0.69 day^?1 (15 °C) and 0.31 gDP kg^?0.78 day^?1 (19 °C), and 34.86 kJDE kg^?0.84 day^?1 (15 °C) and 46.14 kJDE kg^?0.86 day^?1 (19 °C). The total requirements for DP were 0.10 gDP kg^?0.69 day^?1 + 2.14PG (protein gain) (15 °C) and 0.31 gDP kg^?0.78 day^?1 + 1.98PG (19 °C). The total requirements for DE were 36.86 kJDE kg^?0.84 day^?1 + 1.58EG (energy gain) (15 °C) and 46.14 kJDE kg^?0.86 day^?1 + 1.64EG (19 °C). The partial efficiencies for growth were 0.47 (15 °C) and 0.51 (19 °C) for protein, and 0.63 (15 °C) and 0.61 (19 °C) for energy. Nutrient gain was lower at the elevated temperature; however, feed formulation for brook trout should be adjusted to match changes in nutrient requirements at different culture temperatures. The protein and energy requirements model will be useful for developing commercial feeds and feeding charts for brook trout.     

A spatial analysis of land cover patterns and its implications for urban avifauna persistence under climate change

Context

Although biodiversity in cities is essential to ensure the healthy functioning of ecosystems and biosecurity over time, biodiversity loss resulting from human interventions in land cover patterns is widespread in urban landscapes. In the Southern Hemisphere, climate change is likely to accelerate the process of landscape upheavals, and consequently biodiversity loss.

Objectives & Methods

The aim of this research is to test the potentials of landscape pattern composition and configuration in safeguarding indigenous avifauna against the local impacts of climate change in urban landscapes, with reference to New Zealand. To build up a platform for landscape pattern interpretation, the literature was reviewed and semi-structured interviews with six subject-matter experts were conducted to provide information about the most important avifauna in the study area, key information on their ecological traits and niches, possible impacts of climate change on their primary habitats, and spatial requirements for ongoing species survival as the climate continues to change. A spatial analysis of land cover patterns was undertaken in Wellington, New Zealand using GIS and FRAGSTATS.

Results

Although there are still opportunities for biodiversity conservation in the study area, the current land cover patterns are unlikely to safeguard the selected species against climate change impacts.

Conclusions

Eight implications for avifauna persistence under climate change are discussed for the first time in relation to a New Zealand context. These implications can give rise to a higher level of informed decision-making on a wide range of practices for biodiversity conservation related to uncertainties associated with climate change.

     

Development of Rose Bengal test against mallein test for rapid diagnosis of equine glanders

Tropical Animal Health and Production - Burkholderia mallei, the etiologic agent of the disease known as glanders. Clinical and bacteriological diagnosis of glanders is difficult in the early...     

春花生秧与夏花生秧的营养价值评价及瘤胃降解率比较

本试验旨在研究春花生秧与夏花生秧的常规营养成分,并应用康奈尔净碳水化合物-蛋白质体系(CNCPS)评价其营养价值及其在奶牛瘤胃中降解特性的差异。采集河南地区春花生秧样品16个,夏花生秧样品28个,测定其干物质(DM)、粗蛋白质(CP)、中性洗涤纤维(NDF)、酸性洗涤纤维(ADF)、粗脂肪(EE)、钙(Ca)、磷(P)、粗灰分(Ash)、酸性洗涤木质素(ADL)、淀粉、中性洗涤不溶氮(NDFIP)、酸性洗涤不溶氮(ADFIP)、非蛋白氮(NPN)、可溶性蛋白(SCP)含量及总能(GE)。选取3头装有永久性瘤胃瘘管的中国荷斯坦干奶牛,饲喂同一种全混合日粮(TMR),采取尼龙袋法测定花生秧的DM、CP、NDF和ADF在奶牛瘤胃中的72 h降解率,并计算其降解参数及有效降解率,应用CNCPS计算其碳水化合物和蛋白质组分,评定花生秧的营养价值。结果表明:1)春花生秧的CP、Ash、Ca、SCP含量极显著高于夏花生秧(P <0.01),NDF、ADF、ADL含量和GE极显著低于夏花生秧(P <0.01),P含量显著低于夏花生秧(P <0.05)。2)春花生秧的DM、CP、NDF、ADF有效有降解率显著高于夏花生秧(P <0.05)。3)春花生秧的快速降解真蛋白质(PB1)、中速降解真蛋白质(PB2)、快速降解碳水化合物(CA)、非结构性碳水化合物(NSC)含量极显著高于夏花生秧(P<0.01),NPN(PA)、碳水化合物、中速降解碳水化合物(CB2)含量显著低于夏花生秧(P<0.05),不可降解真蛋白质(PC)、不可降解碳水化合物(CC)含量极显著低于夏花生秧(P<0.01)。由此可见,春花生秧的营养价值优于夏花生秧,且瘤胃降解率均高于夏花生秧,其在瘤胃中的利用率较好,饲用价值更高。     

Pigmentation and growth performance in the blue gourami,Trichogaster trichopterus,fed marigold,Calendula officinalis,powder, a natural carotenoid source

The present study aimed to determine the effects of different levels of marigold, Calendula officinalis, powder, 0 (control), 0.5% (M0.5), 1.5% (M1.5), and 2.5% (M2.5), on pigmentation and growth performance of the blue gourami after a 70‐day trial. At the end of the experiment, no significant differences (p > 0.05) were found in fish growth performance and body compositions. Color parameters (L*, a*, and b*) were weekly evaluated by examining a point posterior to the fish operculum. The marigold‐fed fish were darker than the control fish at Weeks 9 and 10. Yellowness intensity of the M2.5 was significantly higher than the other treatments at Week 9. Skin and caudal fin total carotenoids, astaxanthin, canthaxanthin, and β‐carotene contents of the treatment M2.5 were significantly different (p < 0.05) compared to the other treatments. Muscle total carotenoids, astaxanthin, and canthaxanthin contents of the marigold‐treated fish were significantly (p < 0.05) higher than the control group. Muscle β‐carotene contents of the treatments M1.5 and M2.5 were significantly (p < 0.05) higher than the control group. This study shows that marigold powder may be considered an efficient natural carotenoid source for pigmentation in blue gourami.     

Essential oil composition and antimicrobial activity of Oliveria decumbens

The essential oil of Oliveria decumbens was investigated for its components and antimicrobial activity against six bacteria and two fungal strains. The essential oil was characterized by a high amount of oxygenated monoterpene components of which thymol (47.06%) and carvacrol (23.31%) were the major components. The oil exhibited high antimicrobial activity against all tested Gram+ and Gram- bacteria and fungal strains.     

Expression of garlic leaf lectin under the control of the phloem-specific promoter Asus1 from Arabidopsis thaliana protects tobacco plants against the tobacco aphid (Myzus nicotianae)

BACKGROUND: To check for correlation between the insecticidal properties and the specificity of lectins, a comparative study was made of the insecticidal activities of two garlic lectins with different biological activities.RESULTS: The insecticidal activity of the garlic (Allium sativum L.) leaf lectin ASAL and bulb lectin ASAII towards the tobacco aphid Myzus nicotianae Blackman was studied using bioassays with transgenic tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L. cv. Wisconsin 38). Bioassays were started with newborn nymphs of the tobacco aphid. Although during the first 7-8 days when nymphs developed to adults there were no apparent effects, part of the nymphal population was found to develop into winged (alate) forms. Later it became clear that transgenic plants expressing ASAL and ASAII had a significant effect on the reproduction capacity of the resulting adults, with a reduction of up to 40%. Different life table parameters such as prereproductive time, intrinsic rate of natural increase, generation time and doubling time were significantly affected (P < 0.05) in aphids grown on transgenic plant material expressing ASAL and ASAII.CONCLUSION: Bioassays with tobacco plants expressing ASAL and ASAII demonstrated a significant impact on the population growth of M. nicotianae. Therefore, both lectins can be considered as valuable candidate aphid control agents.     

Agent-specific responses in the cingulate cortex during economic exchanges

Interactions with other responsive agents lie at the core of all social exchange. During a social exchange with a partner, one fundamental variable that must be computed correctly is who gets credit for a shared outcome; this assignment is crucial for deciding on an optimal level of cooperation that avoids simple exploitation. We carried out an iterated, two-person economic exchange and made simultaneous hemodynamic measurements from each player's brain. These joint measurements revealed agent-specific responses in the social domain ("me" and "not me") arranged in a systematic spatial pattern along the cingulate cortex. This systematic response pattern did not depend on metrical aspects of the exchange, and it disappeared completely in the absence of a responding partner.