Changes in Diet and Food Consumption of Largemouth Bass Following Large-scale Hydrilla Reduction in Lake Seminole, Georgia

Largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides Lacepède growth (in length) increased an average of 14% and bioenergetics modeling predicted a 38% increase in total annual food consumption following a large-scale reduction of hydrilla Hydrilla verticillata L.f. Royle in Spring Creek, a 2,343-ha embayment of Lake Seminole, Georgia. Coverage of submersed aquatic vegetation (SAV) declined from 76% to 22% in 1 year due to a drip-delivery fluridone treatment. In contrast, largemouth bass growth only increased an average of 4% and bioenegetics modeling predicted a 13% increase in total food consumption over the same time period in the Chattahoochee River embyament, where SAV coverage naturally declined from 26% to 15%. Diets were collected from a total of 4,409 largemouth bass over a 2.5-year period in the two embayments; the primary diet item (by weight) for largemouth bass in both embayments was sunfish (mostly Lepomis spp.). Diets before and after SAV reduction were generally similar for fish greater than stock-size (≥203 mm) in the Spring Creek arm; however, fewer invertebrates were consumed after SAV reduction. Low diet similarity was observed in smaller fish, caused by a decline in consumption of grass shrimp and sunfishes and an increase in use of damselflies, shiners Notropis spp., and topminnows Fundulus spp. after SAV reduction. Diets were similar between the same time periods for all sizes of fish in the Chattahoochee River arm. These results agreed with many laboratory results describing the effects of aquatic plant density on largemouth bass food consumption and growth, and demonstrated that increased predation efficiency resulting from decreased plant abundance was likely a stronger factor determining growth rates than any potential diet shift that may occur as a result in vegetation decline.     

Distribution and diet of Suwannee bass and largemouth bass in the lower Santa Fe River,Florida

Synopsis Suwannee bass,Micropterus notius, and largemouth bass,Micropterus salmoides, were collected by electrofishing in six habitats in the lower Santa Fe River, Florida during May 1981–March 1982. Both bass species were collected concomitantly in all habitats and habitat segregation was not evident. Crayfish (Procambarus spp.) were the primary food of Suwannee bass. Fish were the primary food of largemouth bass, but crayfish were common in the diet of largemouth bass ≥300 mm long. Suwannee bass have a greater throat width and consumed longer and wider forage than did largemouth bass of equal length. Available evidence suggests that Suwannee bass exhibit a positive selection for crayfish and a diverse forage resource, including abundant crayfish, is necessary for a Suwannee bass to coexist with a largemouth bass. This is Journal Series Number 6034 of the Florida Agricultural Experiment Station.     

Carotenoids in fish. XXVIII. Carotenoids in Micropterus salmoides (Lalépéde) Centrarchidae

The occurrence and contents of carotenoids in different body parts were investigated by column chromatography and TLC in Micropterus salmoides (Lalép).The following carotenoids were found: -carotene, -cryptoxanthin, -cryptoxanthin, echinenone, canthaxanthin, lutein, zeaxanthin, neothxanthin, tunaxanthin, -doradexanthin, -doradexanthin, idoxanthin, astaxanthin, astaxanthin ester, mutatochrome and mutatoxanthin.Their total contents varied within the range of 0.071–1.691 µg/g wet weight.     

Effects of Hunger on Foraging Behavior of Age-0 Smallmouth Bass in a Heterogeneous Environment

We examined how hunger affected habitat use by juvenile smallmouth bass, Micropterus dolomieu, as they moved among a variety of habitat patches. Hungry and satiated fish were placed in an artificial stream that contained three types of habitat patches: pools with uniform depth and low water velocities, mazes with uniform depth and moderate water velocities, and riffle-pool complexes with varying depth and the highest water velocities. Food was only available in the riffle-pool complexes. Hungry fish spent more time in the riffle-pool complex than satiated fish did. However, hungry and satiated fish did not differ in the time it took to exit the pool they were initially placed in, the number of patches entered, or the number of times they moved among patches. Both hungry and satiated fish frequently entered other patches after foraging successfully in the riffle-pool complexes. There was wide variation in foraging behavior among individuals in both treatment groups, and we consistently observed individuals that did not alter their foraging behavior in response to the difference in food availability among patches.     

鰤诺卡氏菌对大口黑鲈头肾巨噬细胞的侵染过程

【背景】鱼类诺卡氏菌病潜伏期和病程较长,感染率和死亡率较高,给水产养殖业带来较大的经济损失,其病原鰤诺卡氏菌(Nocardia seriolae)是胞内寄生菌,侵入细胞后引起慢性感染是主要的致病机制。【目的】构建鰤诺卡氏菌侵染大口黑鲈(Micropterus salmoides)头肾巨噬细胞体外模型,观察鰤诺卡氏菌侵染巨噬细胞的过程并探究鰤诺卡氏菌对巨噬细胞的凋亡作用。【方法】采用密度梯度离心法分离巨噬细胞,通过特异性染色和PCR扩增巨噬细胞表达基因mpeg1对细胞进行鉴定,并通过CCK-8法和氧呼吸暴发活性测定检测巨噬细胞的活性;通过倒置荧光显微镜和流式细胞术观察侵染过程中细菌与细胞的形态与数量变化;通过双荧光流式细胞术检测、乳酸脱氢酶(lactate dehydrogenase, LDH)释放试验及线粒体膜电位检测,探究鰤诺卡氏菌对巨噬细胞的凋亡作用。【结果】从大口黑鲈头肾分离获得纯度高的巨噬细胞,经染色和PCR法鉴定为巨噬细胞;筛选出最优的体外培养条件为1640培养基+1%青霉素链霉素+1%胎牛血清。在脂多糖刺激后,巨噬细胞的氧呼吸暴发能力显著提高(P<0.05)。GFP-鰤诺卡氏菌侵染细胞2 h后细菌被细胞吞噬,4 h细胞变圆且贴壁率降低,6 h细菌大量繁殖并包围细胞,8 h后细胞大量死亡。凋亡相关实验结果表明,侵染初期巨噬细胞凋亡率增加,LDH释放增加,线粒体膜电位下降;随着侵染时间延长,细胞凋亡率下降、LDH释放量及线粒体膜电位下降减少,说明鰤诺卡氏菌对巨噬细胞起先促进后抑制凋亡的作用。【结论】通过密度梯度离心法成功分离大口黑鲈头肾巨噬细胞,并通过鰤诺卡氏菌侵染细胞后初步摸清鰤诺卡细菌在细胞水平的致病机理,建立了鰤诺卡氏菌侵染大口黑鲈头肾巨噬细胞的体外模型;证实了鰤诺卡氏菌可侵染巨噬细胞并抑制细胞凋亡,从而达到在巨噬细胞内存活,为进一步开展鰤诺卡氏菌与巨噬细胞相互作用并阐明鰤诺卡氏菌的致病机制奠定了研究基础。     

The energetic impact of overwinter prey assemblages on age-0 largemouth bass, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Micropterus salmoides</Emphasis>

Synopsis We compared survival, growth, and swimming performance of two size classes of age-0 largemouth bass, Micropterus salmoides, in the spring after being fed diets of bluegill, Lepomis macrochirus, fathead minnows, Pimephales promelas, or invertebrate prey during the winter. Regardless of prey assemblage, survival was uniformly high and independent of size. Length, wet- and dry-mass, and condition was also similar among treatments for both size classes. However, variation in individual performance differed, with the lowest variability in growth occurring among small age-0 largemouth bass in the invertebrate only treatment. Absolute and length corrected swimming speeds of largemouth bass were highest for invertebrate prey assemblages, intermediate for fathead minnow prey, and lowest for bluegill prey. The patterns in growth and spring swimming performance likely reflect the varied nutritive quality of different prey, the ability of largemouth bass to capture different prey, and competition with the piscine prey.     

加州鲈源鰤鱼诺卡氏菌的分离鉴定及致病性

[背景] 鰤鱼诺卡氏菌（Nocardia seriolae）是一种严重危害水产养殖业的病原菌,可引起以体表溃疡、出血及组织器官形成结节为特征的鱼类慢性肉芽肿疾病,目前尚无有效的防治方法。[目的] 明确引起安徽省临泉县某养殖场加州鲈（Micropterus salmonoides）结节病的病原菌,探讨其致病性,为该病的有效防治提供科学依据。[方法] 取肝脏结节病灶接种于TSB培养基分离优势细菌,利用表型检查结合分子生物学方法鉴定分离菌株。进一步通过检测分离菌株的毒力基因、测定其对加州鲈的半数致死量（LD₅₀）以及所感染加州鲈的组织病理学变化与组织载菌量,分析其致病性。[结果] 从病鱼体内分离到一株优势菌株NI,综合NI分离株的表型特性、16S rRNA基因序列与鰤鱼诺卡氏菌参考株相应序列的一致性以及特异性PCR扩增结果,确定其为鰤鱼诺卡氏菌。鰤鱼诺卡氏菌NI分离株携带毒力基因gapA、ibeA和mip,人工回归感染后加州鲈出现与自然病例相似的症状,其对加州鲈的LD₅₀为2.58×10⁶ CFU/尾。组织病理学观察到头肾、心脏、肝脏、胃和脾脏均出现慢性肉芽肿病变,肠管肌层疏松、肠绒毛脱落,肌肉组织中肌纤维疏松、间隙增宽。qPCR检测结果显示,组织中鰤鱼诺卡氏菌载量由高到低依次为头肾、心、肝、胃、脾、肠和肌肉。[结论] 鰤鱼诺卡氏菌是引起此次加州鲈结节病的病原菌,对该菌致病性的研究为加州鲈诺卡氏菌病的防控提供了理论依据。     

Phenotypic variation and vulnerability to predation in juvenile bluegill sunfish (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Lepomis macrochirus</Emphasis>)

Bluegill sunfish (Lepomis macrochirus) are known to diversify into two forms specialized for foraging on either limnetic or littoral prey. Because juvenile bluegills seek vegetative cover in the presence of largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) predators, natural selection should favor the littoral body design at size ranges most vulnerable to predation. Yet within bluegill populations, both limnetic and littoral forms occur where vegetation and predators are present. While adaptive for foraging in different environments, does habitat-linked phenotypic variation also influence predator evasiveness for juvenile bluegills? We evaluate this question by quantifying susceptibility to predation for two groups of morphologically distinct bluegills; a limnetic form characteristic of bluegills inhabiting open water areas (limnetic bluegill) and a littoral form characteristic of bluegills inhabiting dense vegetation (littoral bluegill). In a series of predation trials, we found that bluegill behaviors differed in open water habitat but not in simulated vegetation. In open water habitat, limnetic bluegills formed more dense shoaling aggregations, maintained a larger distance from the predator, and required longer amounts of time to capture than littoral bluegill. When provided with simulated vegetation, largemouth bass spent longer amounts of time pursuing littoral bluegill and captured significantly fewer littoral bluegills than limnetic fish. Hence, morphological and behavioral variation in bluegills was linked to differential susceptibility to predation in open water and vegetated environments. Combined with previous studies, these findings show that morphological and behavioral adaptations enhance both foraging performance and predator evasiveness in different lake habitats.     

Laboratory measurement of preferred body temperature of adult largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides)

Preferred deep body temperatures of adult bass were determined in the laboratory using a horizontal temperature gradient and telemetry. The method used allowed continuous monitoring of body temperatures of adult bass in the gradient. The preferred temperature of adults (range = 27–32°C) was similar to preferenda reported earlier for sub-adults.     

大口黑鲈白皮病病原菌的分离鉴定及药物敏感性试验

【背景】近年,广东、广西等多地养殖的大口黑鲈(Micropterus salmoides)在苗种期间极易暴发白皮病,并且与已报道的症状不同,严重危害大口黑鲈苗种的生产。【目的】确定大口黑鲈苗种白皮病的病原,通过分析生长特性、毒力因子、致病性、组织病理与敏感药物筛选试验,为该病的研究与防控提供科学参考。【方法】从患白皮病大口黑鲈的病灶处分离细菌,结合形态观察、生理生化指标、16S rRNA基因和gyrB基因序列分析等鉴定菌株;绘制菌株的生长曲线,分析温度、盐度及pH对生长的影响;采用平板法检测菌株毒力因子活性,PCR方法检测携带毒力基因的情况;通过浸泡感染试验验证菌株的致病性及其组织病理特征;采用微量稀释法测定菌株对水产常用的10种抗菌药物和6种消毒剂的敏感性。【结果】从患病的大口黑鲈白皮处肌肉分离纯化到优势菌株ZJS18004,经形态特征、生理生化特性、16S rRNA基因和gyrB基因序列分析,鉴定为维氏气单胞菌(Aeromonas veronii);菌株ZJS18004的最适生长温度为30°C,最适pH值为8.0,最适盐度为5‰;在30°C时的生长曲线显示0-1 h是迟缓期,1-5...     

An apparatus for sampling gut contents of large,living fishes

Synopsis Apparatus and methods are described and illustrated for flushing and retaining gut contents from large, living fishes with water supplied by a 12 volt portable pump.     

Feeding rhythm in relation to changing patterns of pH in the gut of Sarotherodon galilaeus (Artedi) of Lake Kainji,Nigeria

Different sizes of Sarotherodon galilaeus of Lake Kainji were caught at different hours to determine their feeding time and feeding intensity in relation to pH. It was found that the fish fed with different intensity during the day, and there was no feeding during the night. The pH values were found to vary with the amount of food in the gut.     

Organochlorine and organophosphorus pesticide concentrations in water,sediment, and selected organisms in Lake Naivasha (Kenya)

Water, sediment, red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) and black bass (Micropterus salmoides) from Lake Naivasha were analyzed for selected organochlorine and organophosphorus pesticide residues. The mean p,p'-DDT, o,p'-DDT and p,p'-DDE residue levels recorded in black bass (28.3 (± 30.0), 34.2 (±54.0) and 16.1 (±16.1) g kg^–1, respectively) and crayfish (4.6 (±5.1), 3.2 (±2.8), and 1.4 (±1.1) g kg^–1, respectively), were higher than previously recorded. This indicated recent usage of technical DDT in the lake's catchment. Levels of p,p'-DDT, higher than those of p,p'-DDE further emphasized this. Mean lindane, dieldrin, -endosulfan and aldrin concentrations in black bass were 100.5, 34.6, 21.6 and 16.7 g kg^–1, respectively. The same residues were detected at lower concentrations in crayfish at 2.0, 2.0, 2.0 and 1.9 g kg^–1, respectively. The higher fat content (3.7 ± 2.7% SD) in black bass (compared to 0.6 ± 0.3% in crayfish) accounted for the significantly higher residue concentrations in black bass. Organophosphate pesticides were the most commonly used pesticides in the lake's catchment, but none was detected in any of the samples. The results indicate that there is need for further work to identify sources and fate of pesticide contaminants, as well as to improve monitoring of pesticide use throughout the catchment.     

Difference in the hypoxia tolerance of the round crucian carp and largemouth bass: implications for physiological refugia in the macrophyte zone

The hypoxia tolerance of larval and juvenile round crucian carp, Carassius auratus grandoculis, and largemouth bass, Micropterus salmoides, was determined using respirometry to examine the potential of hypoxic areas in the macrophyte zone as physiological refugia for round crucian carp. The tolerance, which was measured as the critical oxygen concentration (Pc), was 1.32 mg O₂/l in the round crucian carp and 1.93 mg O₂/l in the largemouth bass. As the round crucian carp tolerated hypoxia better than the largemouth bass, hypoxic areas in the macrophyte zone might function as physiological refugia for round crucian carp.     

Growth responses of fish to changing environmental conditions in a South Carolina cooling reservoir

Synopsis Significant changes in growth of bluegills,Lepomis macrochirus, largemouth bass,Micropterus salmoides, and black crappies,Pomoxis nigromaculatus, were observed in Keowee Reservoir, South Carolina, during the 10 years (1968–1977) following impoundment. During this period the reservoir filled, water temperatures were increased by heated effluent from a nuclear power plant, and threadfin shad,Dorosoma petenense, were stocked. Growth was apparently regulated by abundance and size of prey eaten by fish; elevated water temperatures had no measurable effect.     

A multivariate approach to the feeding habits of small fishes in the Guadalquivir Estuary

In the analysis of the feeding habits of the 11 most abundant fish species in the Guadalquivir Estuary, collected monthly (February 1998 to January 1999) at two different sampling sites, a total of 46 prey taxa were identified. Classifications (based on Bray–Curtis similarities derived from occurrence, number and mass data) of the different fish categories (postlarvae and juvenile–adults of each species) revealed two main trophic guilds, whose preferential prey (SIMPER analysis) were mysids and copepods, respectively. The similarity matrices derived from occurrence, number and mass data were always significantly correlated (RELATE: r >0.636; P <0.01), indicating that a good agreement in feeding patterns emerged from these variables. The seasonal coincidence of maximal fish and key-prey species densities suggests that food availability may be a principal factor influencing the nursery function of the Guadalquivir Estuary.     

Evaluation of entomopathogenic nematodes for suppression of carrot weevil

The potential of entomopathogenic nematodes as biologicalcontrol agents for carrot weevil (Listronotus oregonensis) was evaluated throughboth laboratory and field experiments. In thelaboratory, Steinernema carpocapsae, S. riobrave, S. feltiae, Heterorhabditis megidis, H. bacteriophora, and a control (water only) werecompared in sand and muck soil against adults,and in sand against larvae. All nematodespecies produced high levels of larvalmortality. S. carpocapsae producedsignificantly greater adult mortality in sandthan other species or the untreated control. H. bacteriophora caused low adultmortality in sand, but the greatest adultmortality among treatments in a similar testthat used muck soil; S. carpocapsae wasranked second on muck soil. Other speciesconsistently produced intermediate (H.megidis and S. riobrave) or low (S.feltiae) levels of mortality on bothsubstrates. In the field, we compared theeffect of early season vs. late seasonapplications of H. bacteriophora or S. carpocapsae on carrot weevil mortality andparsley survival and yield. Significantdifferences among treatments in plant survivaland yield were not found; however treatmentsinvolving H. bacteriophora had higherplant survival than other treatments. Earlierapplication of this species was associated withhigher plant survival. S. carpocapsaetreatments had similar plant survival to thecontrol. Mortality of larvae and combinedstages of carrot weevil was significantlygreater at 1 week following H.bacteriophora application than for othertreatments. H. bacteriophora also showedgreater persistence than S. carpocapsaein treated plots. We conclude that H.bacteriophora is a good candidate for furtherevaluation as a biological control agentagainst carrot weevil on muck soils in theGreat Lakes region.     

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简

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。     

Evaluation of the Pro-Lab ID ring system for the identification of medically important yeasts

We evaluated 151 coded isolates of medically important yeast species belonging to the genera Candida, Cryptococcus, Geotrichum, Rhodoturula, Saccharomyces and Torulopsis using the newly developed rapid Pro-Lab Identification Ring, PL 960 system (PLID-Ring). All isolates were concurrently identified by the API 20C and conventional procedures comprising macro- and micromorphology, assimilation and fermentation of various carbon and nitrogen compounds. The PLID-Ring system identified isolates of Candida albicans, C. kefyr, C. krusei, C. lusitaniae, C. parapsilosis, Rhodotorula rubra, and Torulopsis glabrata with 100% accuracy in 24 h. This system identified C guilliermondii and S. cerevisiae isolates with an accuracy of 90% and 86%, respectively, while those belonging to Cr. neoformans, T. candida (= C. famata), C. rugosa and C. tropicalis were identified with 38.4%, 50%, 12.5% and 50% accuracy, respectively. Three isolates of Cr. laurentii were not identified by the PLID-Ring system. The overall accuracy of the PLID-Ring system was 81.45% (123 of 151 isolates). However, the system does not include species such as Cr. laurentii in its data base. When these three Cr. laurentii isolates were excluded from the evaluation, the accuracy of the PLID-Ring system increased from 81.45% to 83.1%.