Effect of young-of-the-year walleye (Percidae: Stizostedion vitreum) on plankton dynamics and water quality in ponds

To understand the impact of young-of-the-year (YOY) fish on food web dynamics and water quality, we stocked larval walleye (9 mm TL) (Stizostedion vitreum) in six experimental ponds using two fish densities (10 and 50 fish m^–3) with three replicates. At high fish density, the average abundances of cladocerans and copepods and the Secchi depth were lower whereas abundances of rotifers and algae, gross primary productivity (GPP), pH and total phosphorus concentration were higher than at low fish density. Fish impact on bacterial abundance, dissolved oxygen, nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations, however, was not significant. The within treatment measurements of all variables except GPP were significantly different over time. Our results indicate that YOY walleye predation at high density can affect plankton community by reducing large zooplankton biomass and water clarity, and increasing phytoplankton abundance. The impact of YOY piscivorous fish on plankton should be considered when biomanipulation is applied for improvement of water quality.     

The release of nutrients and organic matter from aquaculture systems in Nordic countries

The extent of the environmental impact of an aquaculture development is mainly dependent on husbandry, feeding technique, feed composition and site selection. Feed composition, digestibility and feed conversion coefficient are of paramount importance for the level of discharge of wastes derived from fish farming. These determine the release of nutrients (e.g. phosphorus and nitrogen) and organic material. Excretion products (in particular waste feed and faeces) may cause changes in the ecosystem. However, the overall environmental load derived from aquaculture is comparatively small when compared to other waste loads from communities, industries, agriculture and forestry. The amount of phosphorus and nitrogen in feeds has decreased to 1 % and 7%, respectively, while feed conversion efficiency due to high energy feeds has improved to values around 1.2 in most salmon farming operations. This has greatly reduced overall environmental loads, which are presently calculated with 10 kg phosphorus and 60 kg nitrogen per tonne of fish produced. The organic wastes per tonne produced are presently estimated to reach 2500 kg wet weight per tonne live weight fish. System design and site selection are additional important considerations which influence greatly the level of environmental impact. The advantage of land-based systems over water-based systems is the fact that water treatment of effluents is possible in such systems, thereby greatly reduction total loads to receiving waters. The paper mainly focusses on nutritional aspects of environmental load.     

Addition of dissolved nitrogen and dissolved organic carbon from wild fish faeces and food around Mediterranean fish farms: Implications for waste-dispersal models

Leaching of ammonium (NH₄⁺) and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) from food pellets used at three fish farms in the Mediterranean Sea and the faeces of four different species of farm-associated wild fish (Trachurus mediterraneus, Mugil cephalus, Trachinotus ovatus and Boops boops) were determined. They were placed in seawater and agitated slowly (5 cm s^− 1) to reflect natural conditions during their fall to the sediment. Two temperatures were tested, 25 °C and 15 °C, to assess the influence of seasons on leaching rates. Leaching from fish faeces was generally higher compared to food pellets. T. mediterraneus faeces leached more NH₄⁺ and DOC than M. cephalus, T. ovatus and B. boops. The results showed that there is an important addition of NH₄⁺ and DOC to the water column during sinking of the faeces and that this is species-dependent. Water turbulence and faeces composition seemed to have a higher influence than temperature on the leaching process. Due to the high abundance and biomass of farm-associated fish in the Mediterranean and their capacity to remove waste, they appear to be an important component for models that predict the impact of aquaculture. Large biomasses of wild fish at fish farms may reduce the impact on benthic systems but increase the nitrogen and carbon loads into the water column, affecting the pelagic system and modifying the spatial dispersion of wastes.     

Food consumption and faecal deposition of plant nutrients by black swans (Cygnus atratus Latham) in a shallow New Zealand lake

Deposition of faeces by black swans (Cygnus atratus Latham) feeding on benthic algae in a shallow New Zealand lake was determined by collection of faeces from the lake bottom and from the shore. The two methods showed good agreement after adjustment for the weight loss on immersion. The mean daily faecal output per swan was 52 g dry weight. The nitrogen content of the faeces averaged 2.3% of dry weight, and was dominated by soluble organic nitrogen (59% of total N). Phosphorus averaged 0.44% of dry weight, with 66% of it being particulate, and 30% soluble reactive phosphorus. Although faecal inputs of total phosphorus were sufficient to generate concentrations of 15–30 mg m^–3, the faecal contributions of both N and P were only a minor component of the fluctuations observed in the lake, and were also small in relation to the total nutrient pool in the water and benthic algae. Waterfowl faeces appear to have low ratios of N to P, which will favour dominance of the phytoplankton by cyanobacteria in lakes where the faecal component of nutrient loads is large. The few data available suggest that the nitrogen content of waterfowl faeces is largely independent of that in their food. Food consumption, calculated by using cellulose as an indigestible faecal marker, was 104 g dry weight swan^–1 d^–1, a figure that appears low in relation to those for other swan species. Even the highest published figure for food intake by a swan is only about one half of the corresponding average metabolically-adjusted figures for geese, and we caution against the uncritical use of bioenergetic models for determining rates of food consumption and defaecation.     

Occurrence of phosphorus and its potential remohilization in the littoral sediments of a productive English lake

SUMMARY. 1. Vertical profiles of pH were measured at nine shallow water (<5m) locations in Esthwaite Water. These indicate strong gradients of pH near the sediment water interface suggesting a marked buffering capacity of the sediments.
2. Thirteen littoral sediment cores were horizontally sectioned and sequentially extracted (0.5 M NaHCO₃, 0.1 M NaOH, 1 M HCI) and analysed for soluble reactive phosphorus. The core sections were also analysed for total phosphorus and per cent organic content to determine the vertical and areal variability of phosphorus within the littoral sediments of Esthwaite Water.
3. The rate of release of phosphorus from intact sediment cores was measured in the laboratory as a function of the pH of overlying water, yielding the relationship log K=0.54 pH−3.94, K=mg Pm⁻²day⁻¹. The maximum release rate measured was 75 mg P m⁻² day⁻² at pH = 10.5.
4. Experiments on sediment slurries indicate that the release of phosphorus at pH 10 is rapid with approximately 50% of the total NaHCO₃+ NaOH extractable phosphorus being released within 3 h.
5. Phosphorus release from the littoral sediments may equal or exceed external sources plus hypolimnetic inputs during periods of high pH associated with times of maximum algal biomass.     

Daily carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus budgets for the Mediterranean planktivorous damselfish Chromis chromis

The planktivorous damselfish Chromis chromis is one of the most numerous fish species in the Mediterranean rocky littoral, yet the role this species plays in the overall functioning of the ecosystem is poorly understood. In this study nitrogen, carbon and phosphorus budgets were constructed for C. chromis from the Bay of Calvi, Corsica and an attempt was made to resolve the possible fates of these nutrients from ingested materials, to somatic growth (P_s), reproductive tissues (P_r), respiration (R), assimilation (A′), faeces (F) and dissolved wastes (U). C. chromis were estimated to consume on average 4.7% of their own body mass of zooplankton per day, in two separate feeding episodes — at dawn and at dusk. This is equivalent to 8288 individual copepods or 42.1 mg carbon, 9.7 mg nitrogen, 0.8 g phosphorus. 44% of all phosphorus ingested was shown to be excreted as dissolved waste, and 46% as faeces; this may be of considerable importance in the Mediterranean, where littoral macrophytes are often severely phosphorus-limited. 85% of all nitrogen was excreted as dissolved waste (mostly ammonia) and local nutrient enrichment may enhance littoral primary productivity, particularly around C. chromis night-shelters.     

Protein digestion and proteolytic activity in the digestive tract of an omnivorous cyprinid

1. In adult and juvenile roach (Rutilus rutilus) feeding on meal worms or grass and acclimated to temperatures between 6 and 20 degrees C the following variables were determined: pH, protein and proteolytic activity of gut fluid and faeces, food consumption, duration of gut passage and efficiency of protein assimilation. 2. Proteolytic enzymes of fish are very stable against autolysis but they disappear in posterior portions of the intestine, suggesting the existence of a pinocytotic process. 3. In herbivorous roach as well as in adult carnivorous roach feeding at 20 degrees C this results in very low proteolytic activities in the faeces, whereas in juvenile fish and in adults feeding on meal worms at lower temperatures, the process of reabsorption seems to be less efficient. 4. Daily production of proteases as well as "daily proteolytic duration" are higher in herbivorous than in carnivorous roach. 5. For the same amount of protein consumed, fish feeding on grass require 10 times higher proteolytic activities than fish feeding on meal worms.     

Kinetics of nitrogen and phosphorus release in varying food supplies byDaphnia magna

Rates of nitrogen and phosphorus release from individualDaphnia magna were determined by measuring ammonia and soluble reactive phosphorus in successive 10-min incubations in small (0.05 ml) vessels after the animals were removed from their food. Release rates of both nutrients were generally highest initially and decreased with time after removal. The ratio of nitrogen to phosphorus released increased with time after animals were removed from an artificial detritus/bacterial food; ratios were lower and changed with time less for animals fed algae. These data suggest errors may be introduced by assumptions of constant stoichiometry for nutrient release in varying environments.GLERL Contribution No. 268     

Changes in phosphorus and nitrogen cycling following food web manipulations in a shallow Dutch lake

1. The flow of phosphorus and nitrogen through the food web of the shallow, eutrophic lake Wolderwijd was analysed for 2 different years before and for 1 year after food web manipulation.
2. After fish removal the water became clear and the growth of macrophytes began. Fish removal resulted in a significant reduction of the total nutrient pool in the water, but differences between the nutrient cycles before and after the experiment were mainly caused by a gradual change driven by a reduced phosphorus input.
3. The zooplankton biomass before and after food web manipulation did not change significantly. Unfavourable food conditions and predation by young fish limited zooplankton biomass after the food web manipulation.
4. After fish removal benthic algae, fish, zoobenthos and macrophytes form the largest pools of nutrients apart from the sediment top layer. However, they contribute only little to nutrient cycles in the water column.     

Changes in phosphorus and nitrogen cycling following food web manipulations in a shallow Dutch lake

1. The flow of phosphorus and nitrogen through the food web of the shallow, eutrophic lake Wolderwijd was analysed for 2 different years before and for 1 year after food web manipulation.
2. After fish removal the water became clear and the growth of macrophytes began. Fish removal resulted in a significant reduction of the total nutrient pool in the water, but differences between the nutrient cycles before and after the experiment were mainly caused by a gradual change driven by a reduced phosphorus input.
3. The zooplankton biomass before and after food web manipulation did not change significantly. Unfavourable food conditions and predation by young fish limited zooplankton biomass after the food web manipulation.
4. After fish removal benthic algae, fish, zoobenthos and macrophytes form the largest pools of nutrients apart from the sediment top layer. However, they contribute only little to nutrient cycles in the water column.     

Environmental remediation potential of Perinereis aibuhitensis (Polychaeta) based on the effects of temperature and feed types on its carbon and nitrogen budgets

The effects of three temperatures (15°C, 20°C and 25°C) and four feed types (artificial feed, AF; sediment, SM; fish faeces, FF; and fish meat, FM) on the growth, carbon budget and nitrogen budget of the polychaete Perinereis aibuhitensis were evaluated over a 35 day period. The final body weight and specific growth rate (SGR) of P. aibuhitensis were significantly affected by temperature and feed types (T, F?=?15.831, P?=?0.000; Feed, F?=?81.827, P?=?0.000), but the interaction between these factors was not significant (F?=?0.435, P?=?0.848). The worms achieved the highest SGR in the AF group at 20°C. However, the SGR in the SM group was only half that of the other groups. The food conversion efficiency (FCE) was significantly lower at 25°C than at 15°C and 20°C (P?P?=?0.000), with a mean of 39.83%. The apparent digestibility rate (ADR) at 25°C was significantly higher than at 15°C and 20°C (P?相似文献   

硝化细菌对加州鲈池塘水质影响及底质净化作用

为研究有益菌硝化细菌(Nitrifying bacteria)对加州鲈(Micropterus salmoides)高密度养殖池塘水质及底质的影响,在模拟加州鲈高密度养殖池塘单独施用硝化细菌,通过检测养殖水体pH、氨氮(NH4+-N)、亚硝酸盐氮、总氮(TN)及总磷(TP)等水质指标,底质沉积物中有机物、全氮及全磷等指标以及池塘浮游动植物量,以评价硝化细菌处理对加州鲈高密度养殖水体水质影响及底质净化作用。结果表明,硝化细菌能够稳定养殖水体pH,降低水体亚硝酸盐氮浓度,减缓养殖水体TN浓度上升,去除底质沉积物中有机物及全磷含量,有机物去除率达54.17%,全磷去除率达43.34%。硝化细菌处理前期浮游动植物总量高于对照池塘,后期逐渐减少并趋于稳定。     

Nonfaecal and faecal losses of Pomadasys commersonni (Teleostei: Pomadasyidae) feeding on the surf clam, Donax serra

1. The nonfaecal and the faecal production of Pomadasys commersonni, a marine teleost, were investigated at 15, 20 and 25 degrees C. 2. Nonfaecal nitrogen excreted by starved and fed P. commersonni consisted mainly of ammonia-N. 3. The mass component b of the equation, AE = aMb (AE, ammonia-N in Mg-N/hr; M, fish mass in g) ranged from 0.68-0.72 and 0.71-0.75 for starved and fed fish, respectively, and was temperature-independent. 4. The mean percentage of the food energy lost as nonfaecal energy (exogenous plus endogenous) was 4.38 +/- 2.68%. 5. The faeces had a low energy content and ranged from 2.09 to 4.25 kJ/g. 6. Assimilation efficiencies showed some variation and ranged from 7.34 to 99.34% for dry matter and from 96.02 to 99.89% for energy. 7. The mean combined energy loss was 11.77% of the ingested energy.     

Dissolved reactive phosphorus release from sediments beneath a freshwater cage aquaculture development in West Scotland

Sediments below Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) smolt cage rearing units in Loch Tralaig, a small freshwater loch in Western Scotland, were studied to assess the potential for waste products, such as fish faeces, uneaten or egested feed pellets, to release dissolved reactive phosphorus (DRP) from sediments.Replicate cores were incubated in the dark at 10 °C for 10 days, with the overlying water column constantly aerated. In a parallel experiment, cores were incubated under the same conditions, but with a 5 % formalin solution added to the overlying water to inhibit microbial activity.Results indicated that DRP release rates from unsterilised aerobic sediments beneath cages is an order of magnitude higher than those at a control site. Biotic activity is therefore seen to be of little influence in controlling aerobic release of DRP from undercage sediments.     

饲料中豆粕替代鱼粉蛋白对异育银鲫生长、代谢及免疫功能的影响

本实验评价了饲料中豆粕替代鱼粉蛋白后对异育银鲫的生长、饲料利用、氮代谢和鱼体免疫力等的影响。实验设计4种等氮等能的饲料,每种3个重复,分别以豆粕替代饲料中鱼粉蛋白的0%（对照,D1）、20%（D2）、80%（D3）和100%（D4）。实验在半循环水养殖系统持续16周,鱼的初重约2.32g,实验期间水温23－30℃。结果表明,随着饲料中豆粕含量的升高,摄食率显著升高(P＜0.05),特定生长率、饲料转化效率、蛋白沉积率和能量沉积率显著降低(P＜0.05);蛋白表观消化率显著升高,干物质和能量表观消化率则显著降低(P＜0.05);总氮摄入量、表观氮摄入量、粪氮排出量、非粪氮排泄量、总氮沉积率均随着饲料中豆粕含量的升高呈显著降低到的趋势(P< 0.05),生产每千克鱼的氮排放量则随着饲料中豆粕含量的升高显著升高(P< 0.05);血清葡萄糖和甘油三酯的含量显著升高,而胆固醇的含量显著降低(P＜0.05);血清的溶菌酶显著降低,超氧化物岐化酶逐渐升高(P＜0.05)。     

The effect of different fertilizer treatments on water quality parameters in rice-cum-fish culture systems

A rice–fish culture experiment was conducted to determine the effects of different fertilizer treatments on water quality parameters, i.e. dissolved oxygen, temperature, pH and conductivity, as well as the nutrients nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus. Data gathered were subjected to analysis of variance. Dissolved oxygen, nitrogen and potassium concentrations showed significant differences (P<0.5) among the various rice‐cum‐fish management systems, with the highest mean concentration in the fish‐only management system. The insignificant difference (P>0.05) in the oxygen concentration between rice‐only and rice‐cum‐fish management systems was probably due to the narrow spacing of rice cultivars (20 × 20 cm). Under different fertilizer treatments, dissolved oxygen, nitrogen and potassium concentrations were not significantly different (P>0.05), indicating that different fertilizer treatments had no effect on their concentrations. Mean temperature, pH, conductivity and phosphorus concentrations in all rice‐cum‐fish management systems and fertilizer treatments did not differ significantly (P>0.05) from each other. This might possibly be due to the hydrogeology and climatic conditions of the area. However, all levels of studied water quality parameters were tolerable to the fish (Oreochromis niloticus) in the rice–fish ecosystem. There was no significant difference (P>0.05) in rice yield between the rice–fish management system and the rice‐only management system. However, there was a significant difference (P<0.05) under different fertilizer treatments, with nitrogen/phosphorus/potassium (NPK) (20 : 10 : 10) giving the highest production of an estimated 14.36 kg ha^?1 year^?1, indicating that fertilizer treatments had an effect on the rice yield. Fish growth was not significantly different (P>0.05) under different rice–fish management systems, but was significant (P<0.05) under different fertilizer treatments. Chicken manure gave the best growth with 17.7±5.97 g; estimated fish yields were 343 and 602 kg ha^?1 year^?1 in fish monoculture and rice–fish culture respectively. It is recommended that farmers who are more inclined to fish or rice production in integrated rice‐cum‐fish management systems could use chicken manure and NPK (20 : 10 : 10) respectively.     

Temporal focusing of nitrogen release by a periodically feeding herbivorous reef fish

The reef-dwelling jewel damselfish Plectroglyphldodon lacrymatus (Quoy & Gaimard) exhibited a marked diel periodicity in nitrogenous excretion and defecation rates. This temporal “focusing” of soluble and particulate-faecal nitrogen release on the latter part of the day correlated strongly with the pattern of feeding activity. There was a lag after feeding began each day of ≈ 5–6 h before defecation accelerated, but no such lag was apparent in the case of excretion. Both excretion and defecation, however, did lag behind feeding at the end of the day, for they remained above their respective minimum rates for ≥ 8 h after feeding had ceased. Gut evacuation rates were variable, while the excretion of nitrogenous waste appeared to take ≈24 h and to be subject to a physiological rhythm. Defecation, most of which occurred at a single site in each territory, was far more important in the generation of nitrogen by the fish than was excretion. In laboratory experiments the faeces took up ammonium, but in the field most faeces were probably removed quickly by ophiocomine brittlestars and pulled down into interstices of the reef. Nearly all of the nitrogen egested, but perhaps only one-third of that excreted, was transferred initially to the reef framework below the fish's territory.     

General empirical models for predicting the release of nutrients by fish,with a comparison between detritivores and non‐detritivores

1. We derived models of nutrient release [nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P)] by fish based on studies that directly measured the release rates from 56 species across a broad range of fish mass, feeding histories and temperature. 2. We developed four separate models of nutrient release from multiple regression analysis: detritivore release rates of N and P, and non‐detritivore release rates of N and P. 3. Fish mass explained most of the variance (78–92%) in release rates. 4. Our predicted rates of release of P by fish (g ha^?1 day^?1) were similar to observed rates in the literature from other lakes. 5. The influence of a shift in diet (planktivory to detritivory) by a single species (gizzard shad, Dorosoma cepedianum, a facultative detritivore) on nutrient release rates was estimated. During periods of detritivory, gizzard shad accounted for on average 39% (<1–96%) of all nutrients released by the fish assemblage, and increased total fish assemblage release rates on average by 59% (<1–331%) compared to when gizzard shad were modelled as planktivores. 6. These models provide a rapid means for predicting the release of nutrients by fish assemblages and may facilitate more comprehensive comparisons of nutrient cycling by fish with other internal pathways.     

Anaerobic organic acid production of food waste in once-a-day feeding and drawing-off bioreactor

Acidogenesis of food waste was studied in a 2-L reactor with semi-continuous mode operation (once-a-day feeding and draw-off) for maximum 65 days to examine optimal volatile acid compositions for biological nitrogen removal (BNR) and enhanced biological phosphorus removal (ENPR). Various operational parameters of hydraulic retention time (HRT), organic loading rate (ORL), pH and temperature were investigated for soluble chemical oxygen demand (SCOD), volatile fatty acid composition, nitrogen and phosphate. The yields (gTVFA/g VS) and the volumetric productivity (gTVFA/d L) increased with HRT from 0.26-0.32, 1.25-1.50 (at 4 days) to 0.36-0.39, 1.71-1.83 (at 12 days). However, the acetate fraction (%) decreased with HRT from 35.7-37.5 at 4 days to 23.5-25 at 12 days. The yields decreased with increase of organic loading from 0.34-0.37 at 5 g/L d to 0.29-0.30 at 13 g/L d and the productivity increased from 1.63-1.65 to 3.61-3.75. The yield and productivity were highest at 35 degrees C among 25, 35 and 45 degrees C. The yield and productivity at pH 5.5 and 6.0 were best and very similar to each other. The condition of 35 degrees C, pH 6.0, HRT 8 days, ORL 9 g/L d resulted in TVFA, SCOD, acetate and butyrate of 25, 39.5, 12 and 5.25 g/L, respectively.     

Trophic changes,without changes in the external nutrient loading

The impact of the fish population on trophic properties of lake water, was experimentally studied in an oligotrophic Swedish forest lake. Biotic changes following fish removal resulted in a development in oligotrophic direction as shown by the drop in limnetic primary production, pH, total phosphorus, total nitrogen and the increased transparency.