Failure of low-velocity swimming to enhance recovery from exhaustive exercise in largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides)

This study was intended to discover whether forcing largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) to swim at 0.5 body lengths/second following exercise would expedite recovery relative to fish recovered in static water. Exercise resulted in a suite of physiological disturbances for largemouth bass that included a depletion of anaerobic energy stores, an accumulation of lactate, and increased cardiac output. At 1 h following exercise, exhaustively exercised largemouth bass forced to swim exhibited expedited recovery relative to fish in static water, evidenced by lower concentrations of lactate in white muscle, elevated concentrations of phosphocreatine in white muscle, and reduced concentrations of glucose in plasma. By 4 h postexercise, largemouth bass forced to swim during recovery exhibited signs of physiological disturbance that were absent in fish recovered in static water. These signs of disturbance included a loss of osmotically active particles from plasma, elevated lactate in plasma, reductions of phospocreatine in white muscle, and increased cardiac output. These results are discussed in relation to the body of work with salmonid fishes showing physiological benefits to recovering fish in flowing water.     

在低蛋白质饲料中补充必需氨基酸对大口黑鲈生长、体组成和免疫指标的影响

为了研究在低蛋白质饲料中补充晶体必需氨基酸对大口黑鲈生长、体组成和免疫指标的影响,根据鱼体的必需氨基酸组成模式设计了7种等能的试验饲料。其中4种饲料（45CP、40CP、35CP和30CP）的粗蛋白质水平分别为45%、40%、35%和30%,另3种饲料（40AA、35AA和30AA）是在低蛋白质饲料（40CP、35CP和30CP）的基础上添加必需氨基酸,使它们的必需氨基酸含量与45CP（对照组）相一致。用上述饲料对初始体重为（10.13 0.01） g的大口黑鲈进行了89d的饲养试验。饲养试验在室内循环水养殖系统中进行,每种饲料设3个重复,每重复放养30尾鱼。方差分析显示:试验鱼的生长性能、饲料效率、全鱼和肌肉的粗蛋白质含量、成活率以及免疫指标均随着饲料蛋白质含量的降低而显著降低（P0.05）。添加必需氨基酸的35AA和30AA的饲料效率和蛋白质保留率分别显著高于对应的未添加必需氨基酸的35CP和30CP组（P0.05）,但仍显著低于45CP组（P0.05）。40AA的试验鱼血清溶菌酶活性和血清补体活性与45CP组差异不显著（P0.05）。35AA和30AA组的头肾白细胞呼吸爆发活性显著高于35CP和30CP组（P0.05）。30AA组的全鱼粗蛋白质含量以及肥满度显著高于30CP（P0.05）。各组试验鱼的水分和灰分均无显著差异（P0.05）。回归分析显示:在低蛋白质饲料中补充晶体必需氨基酸对大口黑鲈幼鱼的生长、饲料效率和蛋白质保留率所产生的影响与其引起增加了的饲料蛋白质水平而不是饲料的必需氨基酸水平正相关。研究表明,在低蛋白质饲料中补充的晶体必需氨基酸对大口黑鲈的生长、体组成和免疫指标产生的有益作用不及等量的以蛋白质为来源的必需氨基酸。       

Density-dependent changes in individual foraging specialization of largemouth bass

 Individual foraging specializations are an important source of intraspecific variability in feeding strategies, but little is known about what ecological factors affect their intensity or development. We evaluated stomach contents in marked individual largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) and tested the hypothesis that diet specialization is most pronounced during periods with high conspecific densities. We collected diet data over 10 years from an unexploited population of largemouth bass that displayed a greater than threefold variation in density. Although diet composition of the aggregate bass population did not change during the study, bass body condition was inversely correlated with population size. Individual marked bass exhibited high diet consistency (diet overlap between successive captures) during years with high population densities. Diet overlap between randomly assigned pairs of bass was not correlated with population size. We did not detect the expected positive relationship between diet breadth and population size. Our analyses demonstrate that population responses to density changes may represent the sum of many unique individual foraging responses and would be obscured by pooled sampling programs. Behavioral flexibility of individuals may contribute to the ability of largemouth bass to function as a keystone predator in many aquatic communities. Received: 29 March 1996 / Accepted: 8 January 1997     

Sub-lethal ammonia toxicity in largemouth bass

Guidelines for ammonia toxicity in fish are often determined using static exposure tests with immature fish over a 96-h period. These results may not be relevant to aquaculture, hauling or angling tournament scenarios where mature fish can be exposed to ammonia for shorter durations, often following additional stressors such as handling. The current study sought to quantify (1) the impact of ambient ammonia on the ability of largemouth bass to recover from exercise, (2) the behavioural response of largemouth bass to elevated ambient ammonia and (3) the concentration of ammonia that can accumulate in a live-release vessel at an angling tournament. After approximately 3 h, total ammonia (T(amm)) concentrations in a live-release vessel at an angling tournament were almost 200 muM. Exposure of fish to 1000 microM T(amm) (a value approximately 80% below the criteria maximum concentration for largemouth bass) caused significant reductions in ventilation rates, and increases in erratic swimming and irregular ventilation. Exposure to 100 microM T(amm) impaired the ability of largemouth bass to recover from exercise relative to fish recovering in fresh water. Therefore, sub-lethal ambient ammonia concentrations cause physiological disturbances that can impair the recovery of largemouth bass from exercise.     

Effects of nutritional status on metabolic rate, exercise and recovery in a freshwater fish

The influence of feeding on swimming performance and exercise recovery in fish is poorly understood. Examining swimming behavior and physiological status following periods of feeding and fasting is important because wild fish often face periods of starvation. In the current study, researchers force fed and fasted groups of largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) of similar sizes for a period of 16 days. Following this feeding and fasting period, fish were exercised for 60 s and monitored for swimming performance and physiological recovery. Resting metabolic rates were also determined. Fasted fish lost an average of 16 g (nearly 12%) of body mass, while force fed fish maintained body mass. Force fed fish swam 28% further and required nearly 14 s longer to tire during exercise. However, only some physiological conditions differed between feeding groups. Resting muscle glycogen concentrations was twofold greater in force fed fish, at rest and throughout recovery, although it decreased in both feeding treatments following exercise. Liver mass was nearly three times greater in force fed fish, and fasted fish had an average of 65% more cortisol throughout recovery. Similar recovery rates of most physiological responses were observed despite force fed fish having a metabolic rate 75% greater than fasted fish. Results are discussed as they relate to largemouth bass starvation in wild systems and how these physiological differences might be important in an evolutionary context.     

大口黑鲈对六种非粮蛋白源的表观消化率

实验以0.1%三氧化二钇(Y₂O₃)为外源指示剂, 用“70%基础饲料+30%待测饲料原料”的方法配制实验饲料。测定初始体重为(19.28±0.10) g的大口黑鲈(Micropterus salmoides)对荚膜甲基球菌蛋白、乙醇梭菌蛋白、黄粉虫粉、酶解大豆、小球藻和棉籽浓缩蛋白的干物质、蛋白质、脂肪、能量和氨基酸的表观消化率。结果显示, 6种实验原料干物质的表观消化率在37.27%—86.43%(荚膜甲基球菌蛋白>乙醇梭菌蛋白>酶解大豆>黄粉虫粉>小球藻>棉籽浓缩蛋白), 其中荚膜甲基球菌蛋白干物质的表观消化率最高, 乙醇梭菌蛋白次之, 黄粉虫粉、酶解大豆和小球藻之间没有显著性差异, 均显著高于棉籽浓缩蛋白(P<0.05); 蛋白质的表观消化率在79.97%—88.45%(荚膜甲基球菌蛋白>乙醇梭菌蛋白>黄粉虫粉>酶解大豆>小球藻>棉籽浓缩蛋白), 其中荚膜甲基球菌蛋白和乙醇梭菌蛋白均显著高于酶解大豆、小球藻和棉籽浓缩蛋白(P<0.05); 脂肪的表观消化率在51....     

大口黑鲈的卵巢发育周年变化及反季节繁殖研究

文章研究了华中地区池塘养殖大口黑鲈(Micropterus salmoides)卵巢的发育规律, 分析了水温与光照条件变化对卵巢发育的影响, 探究了大口黑鲈反季节繁殖的方法, 旨在充分利用本地区的气候条件, 化劣势为优势, 从根本上解决本地大口黑鲈产业所面临的问题。实验采用形态学、组织学等方法比较分析了大口黑鲈卵巢发育特征, 采用人工控温和人工促熟的方法探究了温度和性激素对大口黑鲈性腺启动发育的影响。研究发现, 华中地区大口黑鲈雌鱼性腺指数(GSI)周年变化在0.63%—7.95%, 10月中旬至12月初水温由20.6℃降至11.0℃期间, 卵巢开始发育至Ⅲ期, 并以Ⅲ期越冬, 至4月中旬繁殖产卵, 5月底结束, 繁殖前约80%的雌鱼绝对繁殖力在4.5万—6.5万粒, 但受水温升高的影响, 卵巢中15%成熟卵母细胞未能产出而逐步退化, 产卵结束时仍有一半以上卵未产出(GSI为4.6%); 雌鱼GSI与肠系膜脂肪系数(MFI)、肝体比(HSI)在10月份至次年4月份呈显著负相关(P<0.05), 表明在此期间, 机体储存的营养物质部分转移至性腺, 优先保证性腺发育。在大口黑鲈反季节繁殖实验中, 采用井水[水温(20±1)℃]降温和控温处理的方法能够促进大口黑鲈性腺的启动发育, 经过3个月处理, 控温组雌鱼卵巢发育至Ⅳ期末, GSI达到4.06%, 而对照组雌鱼卵巢处于Ⅲ期, GSI为2.52%, 两组差异显著(P<0.05), 两组雄鱼精巢均发育至Ⅳ期末, 控温组GSI达0.89%, 对照组为0.73%, 这表明可以通过温度处理来调控大口黑鲈性腺的发育。最后针对反季节繁殖中亲本的培育方法和处理时间等进行了总结, 以期为后续培育反季节大口黑鲈提供依据。     

Energy metabolism in largemouth bass (Micropterus floridanus salmoides) from stressed and non-stressed environments: adaptations in the secondary stress response

White muscle proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, adenylates, phosphagen and the AEC, (adenylate energy charge) were measured in bass inhabiting stressful and non-stressful environments. Within an environment, in June stressed bass had higher carbohydrates, while non-stressed bass had lower ATP, total adenylates and AEC. Comparisons between environments revealed: non-stressed bass had higher ATP/ADP and AEC's in May, CrP/ATP in June, and protein in July; while stressed bass had higher carbohydrate in June and lipid in July. Other metabolites varied insignificantly. AEC's of both groups were within the optimal range indicating physiological compensation (adaptation) of energy metabolism (secondary stress response) occurred in bass inhabiting the stressful environment.     

The effect of season and location on phosphoadenylate concentrations and adenylate energy charge in two species of freshwater clams

Summary Concentrations of phosphoadenylate nucleotides and the adenylate energy charge ((ATP+1/2ADP)/(ATP+ADP+AMP)) have been suggested as sensitive integrating measures of the energy state of organisms. This synoptic study investigated the seasonal and spatial variation of phosphoadenylate concentrations and AEC in two freshwater bivalve molluscs, the paper-shell clam, Anodonta imbecillis and the asian clam, Corbicula fluminea. Concentrations of all three adenylates, as well as the total adenylate concentration and adenylate energy charge of both species varied seasonally. These fluctuations were closely related to reproductive periods in both species. Total adenylate concentrations and ATP concentrations were slightly negatively correlated with shell length in A. imbecillis but the ADP and AMP concentrations and AEC were not significantly correlated with shell length. In C. fluminea the AEC was negatively correlated were positively correlated with shell length. Neither species exhibited significant differences in AEC between two collection locations. When C. fluminea collected from the Savannah River were acclimated and fed in the laboratory their AEC increased significantly.     

大口黑鲈MyoD cDNA的克隆和序列分析

MyoD基因是生肌调节因子MRFs家族的主要成员之一,是脊椎动物胚胎期肌肉发育的主导调控基因之一,对骨骼肌的形成和分化起主要作用。采用RT-PCR和RACE方法获得大口黑鲈MyoD基因的cDNA序列长为1 157bp,其中3'非编码区为314bp,开放阅读框长843bp,编码280个氨基酸。结构分析表明该肽链无信号肽,第1～110个氨基酸为MyoD基因的Basic区(碱性氨基酸区),第124～167个氨基酸为MyoD基因的HLH结构(螺旋环螺旋结构)。通过对比分析已知GenBank中其它脊椎动物MyoD基因发现,该基因编码的氨基酸肽链随动物由低等向高等进化有加长的趋势,且核苷酸以及推测的氨基酸同源性和动物之间的亲缘关系相一致;大口黑鲈MyoD基因的克隆为研究该基因打靶和鱼类肌肉发育调控机理奠定基础。     

Considerations of blood parameters of largemouth bass, Micropterus salmoides

To evaluate physiological stress resulting from environmental influences, a haematological study of a natural population of largemouth bass, Micropterus salmoides , was undertaken to establish a 'normal' blood profile. Several parameters including haemoglobin concentration, haematocrit, erythrocyte count, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular haemoglobin, mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration, plasma protein concentration and glucose levels were investigated. Haematocrit, haemoglobin, and total plasma protein were positively correlated with fish length. Haemoglobin and haematocrit were positively correlated with fish age while mean corpuscular haemoglobin, concentration was negatively correlated with fish age. Both haemoglobin and haematocrit values were related to erythrocyte counts.     

饲料中添加胆酸钠对大口黑鲈生长及糖代谢的影响

为探究胆酸(Cholic acid, CA)作为饲料添加剂对大口黑鲈(Micropterus salmoides)生长及糖代谢的影响, 实验以饲料中添加300 mg/kg胆酸钠(Sodium cholate, CAS)作为胆酸钠组, 以不添加胆酸钠作为对照组。在饲养8周后, 分析胆酸钠对大口黑鲈生长性能、肠道菌群、糖代谢及与糖代谢相关酶的活性和基因表达的影响。结果显示: 与对照组相比, 胆酸钠组中大口黑鲈的生长指数和体成分的变化均没有显著差异; 胆酸钠组中大口黑鲈的肠道菌群组成无显著差异; 胆酸钠组中肝糖原含量和肝中糖原合成酶(Glycogen synthase, GCS)的活性显著增加, 肝中糖原分解酶糖原磷酸化酶a(Glycogen phosphorylase a, GPa)活性无显著变化, 而胆酸钠组中肌糖原含量、肌肉GCS与GPa的活性无显著差异; 胆酸钠显著促进肝中糖异生途径中果糖-1,6-二磷酸酶(Fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase, FBPase)和葡萄糖-6-磷酸酶(Glucose-6-phosphatase, G6Pase)基因的表达; 胆酸钠显著降低肝中糖酵解基因丙酮酸激酶(Pyruvate kinase, PK)和肌肉中己糖激酶(Hexokinase, HK)基因的表达; 同时, 研究还发现饲料中胆酸钠的添加可以显著降低肝中胆汁酸受体法尼醇受体(Farnesoid X receptor, FXR)基因的表达量, 而不改变肠道FXR的表达量。研究表明: 在饲料中添加300 mg/kg胆酸钠可以促进大口黑鲈肝脏糖异生, 抑制肝脏和肌肉糖酵解, 并促进鱼体肝糖原的合成。这些糖代谢的变化与肠道菌群没有直接关系, 但可能与肝中FXR的表达量降低有关。     

The influence of environmental temperature and oxygen concentration on the recovery of largemouth bass from exercise: implications for live–release angling tournaments

The impact of variation in water temperature and dissolved oxygen on recovery of largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides from exercise was examined. For this, largemouth bass were first exercised and recovered for either 1, 2 or 4 h at ambient water temperatures (25° C) in fully oxygenated water. Results showed that exercise forced fish to utilize anaerobic metabolism to meet energy demands, and resulted in reductions in anaerobic energy stores adenosine triphosphate (ATP), Phosphocreatine (PCr) and glycogen. Exercise also resulted in a seven‐fold increase in lactate within white muscle. After 2 h of recovery in oxygenated water at acclimation temperature, physiological recovery from exercise was under way, and by 4 h most variables examined had returned to control levels. Next, largemouth bass were exercised at ambient temperatures and recovered for 2 h in environments with either elevated temperature (32° C), reduced temperature (14 and 20° C), hypoxia or hyperoxia. Both elevated and reduced temperature impaired recovery of tissue lactate and tissue ATP relative to fish recovered in water at acclimation temperature, while hyperoxic water impaired recovery of tissue ATP. Moderately hypoxic waters impaired the recovery of plasma glucose, plasma lactate and tissue PCr relative to fish recovered in fully oxygenated water. Results from this study are discussed in the context of critical oxygen and temperature guidelines for largemouth bass. In addition, several recommendations are made concerning remedial treatments used in livewells (tanks) during angling tournaments when fish are recovering from exercise associated with angling.     

The influence of littoral zone coarse woody habitat on home range size, spatial distribution, and feeding ecology of largemouth bass (Micropterus?salmoides)

Coarse woody habitat (CWH) may be a critical feature of lakes that influences fish distributions, movement patterns, and feeding habits. We used radio telemetry to examine the role of CWH in determining the movements of largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides Lacepede) in the context of two whole-lake experiments that provided a gradient of four lake basins varying in natural and manipulated CWH. We also conducted diet studies on largemouth bass in these lakes to test for correlates among consumption rate and prey selectivity with bass behavior. Our results indicated that largemouth bass in basins with lower CWH abundances had larger home ranges, spent more time in deep water, were more selective predators, and showed lower consumption rates. Largemouth bass in basins with higher CWH abundances showed the opposite patterns. Low CWH abundances were correlated with a shift in largemouth bass foraging behavior from sit-and-wait to actively searching. This increased activity, coupled with the potential decline of prey fish species in the absence of CWH, may decrease largemouth bass growth potential regardless of the prey type consumed. Our results suggest that lakeshore residential development and associated removals of CWH from lakes may influence fish behavior, while CWH augmentation may reverse some of those changes. Handling editor: Steven Declerck     

Quantitative determination of the soluble O antigen of Salmonella serogroup B and of specific antibodies in different classes by using immunoenzyme analysis

The results of measurements of S. typhimurium O-antigen and specific IgA-, IgG- and IgM-antibodies in 115 serum samples from patients with salmonellosis induced by group B salmonellae are analyzed. As determined in this study, the concentrations of IgA-antibodies ranged 0-15 micrograms/ml, the minimal diagnostically significant value being 3.6 micrograms/ml; the concentrations of IgG-antibodies ranged 0-13 micrograms/ml, the minimal diagnostically significant value being 1.3 micrograms/ml; and the concentrations of IgM-antibodies ranged 0-50 microgram/ml, the minimal diagnostically significant value being 5.0 micrograms/ml. The minimal diagnostically significant concentration of O-antigen, determined in selected serum samples obtained from healthy donors, was 0.1 microgram/ml. There is a significant correlation between the concentrations of IgA-, IgG- and IgM-antibodies, but the concentrations of these antibodies do not correlate with the concentration of soluble O-antigen. The study showed that the simultaneous determination of S. typhimurium O-antigen and specific antibodies in the material under test significantly enhances the effectiveness of the serodiagnosis of the disease.     

大口黑鲈生长相关标记的聚合及其效果分析

为了解与大口黑鲈(Micropterus salmoides)生长性状相关分子标记优势基因型的聚合效果, 研究选择先前已获得的13个与生长性状相关的分子标记, 位于PCK1、HSBP1、FOXO3b、MYH、HSC70-1、CTSB、HBP、POU1F1、PACAP、IGF-I、ghrelin、ApoproteinA1和MSTN基因上。在40尾亲本群体中对各标记的基因型进行检测, 选择可聚合优势基因型最多的2对亲本分别构建家系。在9月龄时, 从2个家系子代中分别采集305尾和266尾个体进行生长性状测量和各标记的基因型分析。家系1子代个体中含生长相关优势基因型的数量为0—6个, 对应的个体数依次为8、26、75、74、76、35和11, 对应的平均体质量依次为185.03、196.46、198.73、212.59、222.66、235.54和261.27 g。家系2子代个体中含生长相关优势基因型的数量为1—6个, 对应的平均体质量依次为184.43、213.17、243.77、249.98、252.11和266.00 g。个体中生长相关优势基因型聚合数量多少与生长性状呈正相关, 提示通过对生长相关优势基因型进行聚合可获得生长性状优良的大口黑鲈, 为大口黑鲈分子标记辅助育种的应用提供科学依据。     

Clinical use of unbound plasma cortisol as calculated from total cortisol and corticosteroid-binding globulin

A method to calculate unbound cortisol from total cortisol (measured by competitive protein binding) and CBG (measured by radial immunodiffusion) based on the binding equilibrium has been evaluated. The calculated results (y) correlate well with those (x) obtained by centrifugal ultrafiltration at 37 degrees C (y = 1.04 x - 2.11 ng/ml; r = 0.975; n = 150). The concentration of CBG is similar in normal men (37.7 +/- 3.5 (SD) micrograms/ml; n = 12) and women (39.5 +/- 3.7 (SD) micrograms/ml; n = 7) and shows no diurnal variation, but marked diurnal variation is observed for total cortisol (193.7 +/- 35.0 (SD) ng/ml at 08.00 h vs 43.2 +/- 23.3 (SD) ng/ml at 22.00 h; n = 19) and particularly for unbound cortisol (16.5 +/- 5.6 (SD) ng/ml at 08.00 h vs 2.3 +/- 1.8 (SD) ng/ml at 22.00 h; n = 19). The concentration of CBG (89.1 +/- 11.2 (SD) micrograms/ml) and of total cortisol (395.6 +/- 103.3 (SD) ng/ml at 08.00 h; 110.3 +/- 16.6 (SD) ng/ml at 22.00 h) are clearly elevated in estrogen treated women (n = 11) but unbound cortisol levels (17.2 +/- 7.7 (SD) ng/ml at 08.00 h; 2.5 +/- 0.5 (SD) ng/ml at 22.00 h) are similar to the control group. The concentration of CBG is significantly decreased in patients with Cushing's syndrome (33.2 +/- 5.6 micrograms/ml; n = 17) and unbound cortisol is relatively more elevated than total cortisol in these patients. In adrenal insufficiently CBG is normal, but total and unbound cortisol are markedly decreased. There is a significant decrease of CBG in hyperthyroidism (35.7 +/- 5.5 micrograms/ml; n = 22), in cirrhosis (32.0 +/- 8.0 micrograms/ml; n = 14) and in renal disease and a significant increase in patients treated with antiepileptic drugs (47.5 +/- 6.3 micrograms/ml; n = 14), but total and unbound cortisol are normal in all these conditions. We conclude that unbound cortisol can be calculated in a simple and reliable way from total cortisol and CBG and permits a better evaluation of adrenal function, particularly in patients with altered CBG concentrations.     

Blood lead concentration,blood pressure,and renal function.

Blood lead concentrations were related to blood pressure and indicators of renal function in a clinical survey of 7735 middle aged men from 24 British towns. There was no overall evidence that blood lead concentrations were associated with systolic or diastolic blood pressure (r = +0.03 and +0.01, respectively). In the 74 men with a blood lead concentration of 1.8 mumol/l (37.3 micrograms/100 ml) or more there was some suggestion of increased hypertension, but this did not reach significance. Blood lead concentration did not have any relation with serum creatinine concentration. Moderate increases in blood lead concentration were associated with small increases in mean serum urate concentration and small decreases in mean serum urea concentration; these associations were both reduced when alcohol consumption was taken into account. There is no indication that exposure to lead at concentrations commonly encountered in British men is responsible for impaired renal function or increased blood pressure.     

Gape Limitation, Prey Size Refuges and the Top–down Impacts of Piscivorous Largemouth Bass in Shallow Pond Ecosystems

Top–down control of phytoplankton biomass through piscivorous fish manipulation has been explored in numerous ecological and biomanipulation experiments. Piscivores are gape-limited predators and it is hypothesized that the distribution of gape sizes relative to distribution of body depths of prey fish may restrict piscivore effects cascading to plankton. We examined the top–down effects of piscivorous largemouth bass on nutrients, turbidity, phytoplankton, zooplankton and fish in ponds containing fish assemblages with species representing a range of body sizes and feeding habits (western mosquitofish, bluegill, channel catfish, gizzard shad and common carp). The experimental design consisted of three replicated treatments: fishless ponds (NF), fish community without largemouth bass (FC), and fish community with largemouth bass (FCB). Turbidity, chlorophyll a, cyclopoid copepodid and copepod nauplii densities were significantly greater in FC and FCB ponds than in NF ponds. However, these response variables were not significantly different in FC and FCB ponds. The biomass and density of shallow-bodied western mosquitofish were reduced and bluegill body depths shifted toward larger size classes in the presence of largemouth bass, but the biomass and density of all other fish species and of the total fish community were unaffected by the presence of largemouth bass. Our results show that top–down impacts of largemouth bass in ecosystems containing small- and deep-bodied fish species may be most intense at the top of the food web and alter the size distribution and species composition of the fish community. However, these top–down effects may not cascade to the level of the plankton when large-bodied benthivorous fish species are abundant.     

Effect of physical training on the responses of serum adrenocorticotropic hormone during prolonged exhausting exercise

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of physical training on the responses of serum adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and cortisol concentration during low-intensity prolonged exercise. Five subjects who had fasted for 12 h cycled at the same absolute intensity that elicited 50% of pre-training maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max), either until exhaustion or for up to 3 h, before and after 7 weeks of vigorous physical training [mean daily energy consumption during training exercise, 531 kcal (2230 kJ)]. In the pretraining test, serum ACTH and cortisol concentrations did not increase during the early part of the exercise. Increases in concentrations of both hormones occurred in all subjects when blood glucose concentration decreased during the later phase of the exercise. The mean values and SEM of serum ACTH and cortisol concentrations at the end of the exercise were 356 ng.l-1, SEM 79 and 438 micrograms.l-1, SEM 36, respectively. After the physical training, VO2max of the subjects improved significantly from the mean value of 50.2 ml.kg-1.min-1, SEM 2.5 to 57.3 ml.kg-1.min-1, SEM 2.0 (P less than 0.05). In the post-training test, exercise time to exhaustion was prolonged in three subjects. Comparing the pre- and post training values observed after the same length of time that the subjects had exercised in the pre-training test, the post-training values of serum ACTH (44 ng.l-1, SEM 3) and cortisol (167 micrograms.l-1, SEM 30) concentration were less than the pre-training value (P less than 0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)