Biochemical stimuli for feeding in Acanthaster planci (L.)

The typical feeding response of the Crown of Thorns Starfish Acanthaster planci (L.) can be induced by mucoproteins of molecular weight greater than 200,000 daltons found in mucus obtained from corals of the genera Acropora and Fungia.     

Caddis larvae (Trichoptera) as predators of fish eggs

SUMMARY. Eggs of bullhead ( Cottus gobio ) were found with damaged shells and with the contents removed. Experiments in laboratory aquaria indicated that the damage was caused by caddis larvae and that the type of caddis involved in egg predation might be identified by the nature of the shell damage.     

Intra- and interspecific interactions of Apodemus sylvaticus (L.) and A. flavicollis (Melchoir) under laboratory conditions

Miller (1967) has indicated that the coexistence of Apodemus sylvaticus and A. flavicollis may be possible if A. flavicollis, a species with a more restricted niche, is competitively superior in interspecific encounters. Intra- and interspecific behaviour of male and female A. sylvaticus and A. flavicollis was examined in dyadic encounters in a small arena. Interactions between conspecifics indicate that intraspecific behaviour in A. sylvaticus and A. flavicollis is similar but, in interspecific interactions there were more submissive and agonistic acts, and less introductory and amicable behaviour. A. flavicollis was dominant to A. sylvaticus in 63 out of 70 encounters and A. sylvaticus dominant in only one. This superiority may contribute to the persistence of small, localized populations of A. flavicollis despite the presence of A. sylvaticus.     

Potential predation pressure of littoral mysids on herring (Clupea harengus membras L.) eggs and yolk-sac larvae

The predation potential of littoral mysid shrimps (Mysidacea) on Baltic herring (Clupea harengus membras L.) eggs and yolk-sac larvae was studied experimentally. The results showed that littoral mysids feed actively on both eggs and yolk-sac larvae. It was shown that Neomysis integer preys on eggs, which are not attached to the substrate. Alternative food (yolk-sac larvae or zooplankton) did not decrease feeding rate on eggs. Only gravel as a bottom material lowered the ingestion rate to nearly zero. The largest of the mysid species Praunus flexuosus ate yolk-sac larvae more than other mysids and most efficiently. Mysids switched to feed on eggs when larvae and eggs were offered simultaneously, thus predation focused on eggs. It is possible that hydrodynamic signals of moving larvae induced mysids to prey and eggs were easier prey to catch as well as more numerous. In addition egg size is optimal and the nutritive value (measured as C:N ratio) is better compared with larvae. The results indicate that mysids may have local effects on populations of Baltic herring by eating the early life stages, mostly eggs. Especially when large swarms of N. integer shoal in the spawning areas. However, the effect on recruitment of herring is still hard to evaluate.     

Studies in the biochemistry of cirripede eggs. IV. The free Amino-acid pool in the eggs of Balanus balanoides (L.) and B. balanus (L.) during development

Changes in the ‘free’ amino acids, betaine, and trimethylamine oxide during the development of the eggs of Balanus balanoides (L.) and B. balanus (L.) have been determined; the results are given in terms of μM/g dry wt, μM/g water, and μM/10⁶ eggs. The amino acids are derived from the yolk proteins the net composition of which is known. Free amino acids are present in considerable quantity, as is commonly the case with crustacean tissue. Changes in the individual amino acids are discussed. B. balanus eggs contain large, and relatively constant, amounts of sarcosine; its function is unknown but large quantities are present in the more highly evolved cirripedes so far examined. A possible relation between betaine glycine, and sarcosine relative to choline metabolism is considered. Large amounts of taurine are present. There is a striking increase in β-alanine in the late stages of development; in B. balanoides it comes to be the most, and in B. balanus the third most common amino acid; its possible involvement in purine metabolism is considered. The relation between the amounts of the various entities in the eggs and in the bodies of the adult are examined.     

The escape response of food-deprived cod larvae (Gadus morhua L.)

The escape response of Atlantic cod larvae (Gadus morhua) 25 and 47 days post hatch (dph) - either fed or deprived of food for three days - was studied. Larval escape responses were provoked by water movement from the suction of a fixed-position pipette. Escape latency, distance, speed, burst speed, and vertical and lateral escape angles were quantified using motion tracking software designed for 3-D silhouette video recordings. Escape performance, expressed as escape distance and escape speed, improved with age. The escape angles were normally distributed and highly variable, ranging from − 170° to 170° and − 40° to 105° for lateral and vertical escape angles respectively. No food deprivation-induced effects in any of the behaviours were found, suggesting that there are no condition-related behavioural effects (size-independent effects) in escape response performance after 3 d of food deprivation. This may reflect a negligible difference in the cost/benefit equation for fed vs. food-deprived larvae in performing an escape response when under attack.     

The ultrastructure of the statocysts in the pediveliger larvae of Pecten maximus (L.) (Bivalvia)

The pediveliger of Pecten maximus (L.) has a pair of statocysts situated at the base of the foot on either side of a bilobed pedal ganglion. The statocysts consist of a spherical sac connected to the mantle cavity by a cylindrical ciliated canal. Within the sac there are statoconia which are variable both in shape and structure. The cells of the sac are joined by septate desmosomes. There is a non-ciliated cell in each sac containing a variety of granules some of which resemble certain of the statoconia. The remainder of the sac is composed of hair cells, which bear a circular array of radiating cilia. The basal bodies and horizontal striated roots of these cilia are directed radially. The hair cells give rise to thin processes which probably join together to form the static nerve. This nerve runs from the static canal to the pleural ganglion.     

The annual pyloric cycle of Asterias rubens L. (echinodermata: Asteroidea)

Observations of biochemical changes in the pyloric caeca of Asterias rubens L. in different nutritional states and at different stages of the reproductive cycle show the existence of an annual cycle in the pyloric caeca. This pyloric cycle is closely related to that of the gonads. During the gonadal rest (May to September, when the gonads are barely visible) the pyloric caeca grow and store glycogen. During gonadal activity (October to April), they progressively autolyse and first accumulate, then liberate, lipid reserves. This winter pyloric autolysis provides the gonads with the structural material necessary for their annual growth. The summer pyloric growth must be interpreted as the accumulation of the structural material. Under normal conditions, during gonadal rest, the pyloric glycogen reserves ensure the survival of the animal. Pyloric lipid reserves appear only at the beginning of gonadal activity. Their synthesis is intimately related to the start of the gonadal activity of which they are the principal energy source. We believe that the pyloric cycle is under control of hormones that could be transported through the haemal system.The pyloric caeca are the only reserve organs of starfish. Neither the other digestive organs nor the body wall accumulate energy reserves. During starvation of medium duration (2 to 4 weeks) the pyloric caeca suffice to ensure the survival of the animal by liberating their reserve material and simultaneously starting to autolyse. During prolonged starvation, general autolysis occurs and the size of the starfish diminishes.     

Blood group B-specific lectin of Plecoglossus altivelis (Ayu fish) eggs

A lectin that agglutinates human blood group B erythrocytes but not blood group A and O erythrocytes was isolated from eggs of Ayu sweet fish (Plecoglossus altivelis). The lectin also agglutinates Ehrlich ascites carcinoma cells but not rat ascites hepatoma AH109 or rat sarcoma 150 cells tested. The lectin agglutination was most effectively inhibited by monosaccharides with the first type of configuration, i.e., L-rhamnose, L-mannose and L-lyxose at a concentration of 0.03 mM. The lectin agglutination was moderately inhibited by monosaccharides with the second type of configuration, i.e., D-galactose, D-fucose and D-galacturonic acid at a concentration of 0.4 mM. However, the agglutination was not inhibited by various other monosaccharides and oligosaccharides that have other types of configuration. The basis for an apparent B-specific hemagglutination may be due to the steric similarity of the C₂ and C₄ of the galactosyl series, the B-specific determinant, and the L-rhamnosyl series, which are the best inhibitors of the lectin activity. The lectin was affinity purified on an L-rhamnosyl-Sepharose column and was characterized as a homogeneous low molecular weight protein (M_r 14 000) with an abundance of hydrophobic amino acids and dicarboxylic amino acid.     

Biochemical investigation of two responses involved in the feeding behaviour of Acanthaster planci (L.). II. Isolation and characterization of chemical stimuli

Feeding behaviour is induced in the crown-of-thorns starfish, Acanthaster planet (L.), by two kinds of chemical stimulus originating in coral. One is macromolecular, and the other of low molecular weight, largely accounted for by small peptides and amino acids.It is found that, under experimental conditions, starfish rapidly habituate to a chemical stimulus which at first strongly induces feeding behaviour.The pronounced withdrawal response which occurs when a crude extract of coral is applied to the starfish (a response apparently identical with that evoked by contact with live coral) is caused by a component which corresponds closely in chromatographie behaviour with proline. Proline itself produces the response, but is present at too low a concentration in coral to account for the observed activity.     

Observations on the settlement of the brachiolaria larvae of Stichaster australis (Verill) and Coscinasterias calamaria (Gray) (Echinodermata: Asteroidea) in the laboratory and on the shore

The settling behaviour is described and substratum preferences of advances brachiolaria larvae of Stichaster australis (Verrill) and Coscinasterias calamaria (Gray) were determined with larvae reared in the laboratory and the results correlated with field observations of habitat preferences of juvenile starfish at Maori Bay on the west coast of Auckland, New Zealand.C. calamaria larvae settled on almost any hard substratum provided it was coated with a ‘primary’ film. Recently metamorphosed C. calamaria could not be found at Maori Bay and it is inferred that there is low recruitment from the plankton to the Maori Bay population.S. australis larvae would only settle, metamorphose, and feed on the encrusting coralline alga Mesophyllum insigne (Foslie) Adey. Nursery areas of offshore boulders covered with this alga are present at Maori Bay and these were found to support populations of juvenile starfish. M. insigne appears to provide a stable and abundant food source for juvenile S. australis.     

Local immune response against larvae of Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus in Bos taurus indicus and Bos taurus taurus cattle

Bos taurus indicus cattle are less susceptible to infestation with Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus than Bos taurus taurus cattle but the immunological basis of this difference is not understood. We compared the dynamics of leukocyte infiltrations (T cell subsets, B cells, major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II-expressing cells, granulocytes) in the skin near the mouthparts of larvae of R. microplus in B. t. indicus and B. t. taurus cattle. Previously naïve cattle were infested with 50,000 larvae (B. t. indicus) or 10,000 larvae (B. t. taurus) weekly for 6 weeks. One week after the last infestation all of the animals were infested with 20,000 larvae of R. microplus. Skin punch biopsies were taken from all animals on the day before the primary infestation and from sites of larval attachment on the day after the first, second, fourth and final infestations. Infiltrations with CD3⁺, CD4⁺, CD8⁺ and γδ T cells followed the same pattern in both breeds, showing relatively little change during the first four weekly infestations, followed by substantial increases at 7 weeks post-primary infestation. There was a tendency for more of all cell types except granulocytes to be observed in the skin of B. t. indicus cattle but the differences between the two breeds were consistently significant only for γδ T cells. Granulocyte infiltrations increased more rapidly from the day after infestation and were higher in B. t. taurus cattle than in B. t. indicus. Granulocytes and MHC class II-expressing cells infiltrated the areas closest to the mouthparts of larvae. A large volume of granulocyte antigens was seen in the gut of attached, feeding larvae.     

Detrimental effects of Ulva lactuca (L.) exudates and low oxygen on estuarine crab larvae

Conventional theory postulates that associations between marine macrophytes and animals are generally positive. This paper presents evidence, however, that a common species of green macroalga, Ulva lactuca (L.), is detrimental to estuarine invertebrates due to the production of toxic exudates and low oxygen tensions which occur in the seaweed beds at night. Bioassays of the responses of zoeae of five species of estuarine crabs (Callinectes sapidus Rathbun, Carcinus maenas L., Eurypanopeus depressus Smith, Neopanope texana savi Smith and Rhithropanopeus harissii Gould), using water in which Ulva lactuca was cultured for 24 h, produced 100% mortality after 22 days. No crabs survived the molt into megalopa. Hypoxic water, 0.5 ± 0.3 ppm oxygen, caused a decline in larval activity (movement), but there was no mortality over an 8-h period, Ulva-water purged to 0.4 ± 0.1 ppm oxygen caused 100% mortality in 13–40 min. These synergistic effects could be critical in estuaries where dense U. lactuca beds cause periods of low dissolved oxygen. We hypothesize larval recruitment may be limited in such systems, particularly in areas where flushing is poor.     

Effects of commercial trawling activities in the diet of the flat fish Citharus linguatula (Osteichthyes: Pleuronectiformes) and the starfish Astropecten irregularis (Echinodermata: Asteroidea)

This study assesses the effects of commercial trawling on benthic fauna, by analysing differences in the population structure and diet of benthic organisms inhabiting fishing grounds. The study is focused on two epifaunal species collected from a fishing ground in the north-western Mediterranean, which included a portion of un-trawled seabed used as a reference of undisturbed community. The selected species were the flatfish Citharus linguatula, more abundant at the undisturbed site and previously characterised as a surface predator and vulnerable to trawling, and the starfish Astropecten irregularis, which dominated the epibenthic community and had been characterised as an opportunistic species with low vulnerability to trawling. Both species were selective feeders and ingested similar prey species at each of the two sites, although differences in the relative prey abundance found in the stomachs occurred between sites. A. irregularis at the fished site mainly ingested gastropods, whereas higher proportion of bivalves was ingested at the undisturbed site. C. linguatula diet mainly composed of crustaceans at both sites, but there was an increase in the ingestion of small fish at the fished site. Moreover, prey ingestion of these two species generally increased with fishing activity. Trawling appears to modify the diet of these two species in terms of relative abundance of ingested prey, nevertheless, increased opportunism due to trawling disturbance was not detected and the density of these predators over fishing grounds was more closely related to their vulnerability to trawling.     

Influence of sex and dietary fat on the group effect in larvae of Acheta domesticus (L.)

Larvae of Acheta domesticus show the group effect when reared in pairs on an artificial diet with the opposite sex, but not when reared with the same sex. When wheat-germ oil is added to the artificial diet, all paired larvae exhibit the group effect, regardless of sex. Dietary fat also improves survival and growth, but the identity of the component(s) producing these results has not been determined. The possible roles of linolenic acid and linolenic acid synthesis in this insect are discussed.     

Ozone gas affects physical and chemical properties of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) starch

In this experiment, bread wheat flour and isolated wheat starch were treated with ozone gas (1,500 mg/kg at 2.5 L/min) for 45 min and 30 min, respectively. Starch was isolated from treated flour. Ozone treated starch and starch isolated from ozone treated flour had similar chemical and physical properties. Chemical analysis of starch isolates indicated depolymerization of high molecular weight amylopectins; with a subsequent increase in low molecular weight starch polymers as a result of starch hydrolysis. Ozone treatment resulted in elevated levels of carboxylic groups and decreased total carbohydrate content in amylopectin fractions. ¹H NMR results indicated formation of a keto group [(1→4)-3 keto] at the H-2 terminal (proton at C-2 position) and β-glucuronic acid at the H-1 terminal (proton at C-1 position). DSC transition temperatures and change in enthalpy were not affected by ozone treatment. Increased swelling power and RVA breakdown were observed in starch from ozone treated samples.     

Seasonal modulation of plasma antifreeze protein levels in Atlantic (Anarhichas lupus) and spotted wolffish (A. minor)

The Atlantic and spotted wolffish (Anarhichas lupus and A. minor, respectively) inhabit the cold waters of the northeast Atlantic Ocean. Although both species experience subzero water temperatures during winter, the Atlantic wolffish, which occupies shallower waters than the spotted wolffish, faces the greater threat of coming into contact with ice and freezing. This laboratory study was designed to determine whether these species differed in their abilities to resist freezing by examining the seasonal changes in blood plasma freezing points, antifreeze protein (AFP) activity and Na⁺ and Cl⁻ concentrations when exposed to seasonally cycling water temperatures and photoperiod. The plasma of both species showed distinct seasonal cycles in all parameters with the highest values occurring during the winter. However, of the two species, only the Atlantic wolffish produced sufficient AFP to protect the fish down to the freezing point of seawater (− 1.80 °C). The levels of AFP in the spotted wolffish were too low to impart any significant improvement in their resistance to freezing (approximately − 0.8 °C).When wolffish were maintained in warm water under a seasonally changing photoperiod, the amplitude of the seasonal cycle in AFP activity was greatly reduced, indicating that low water temperatures are necessary to maximize plasma AFP levels. However, despite being maintained in warm water, plasma levels of AFP activity began to increase over summer values at the same time of year as did the fish exposed to seasonally changing water temperatures. This suggests that photoperiod plays a major role in the timing of the annual AFP cycle.