Age and growth of the striped mullet, Mugil platanus (Actinopterygii, Mugilidae), in a southwestern Atlantic coastal lagoon (37°32'S–57°19'W): a proposal for a life-history model

Species of Mugilidae are an important economic resource supporting several small communities in Argentina and Brazil through fishing. The growth parameters of the von Bertalanffy model, age limit ( t _0.95) and natural mortality ( M ) for the striped mullet ( Mugil platanus ) Günther, 1880, in the Mar Chiquita coastal lagoon (37°32'S–57°19'W) were estimated. These results constitute the first estimated values for the species as: L _∞ (cm) = 563.82; K (years⁻¹) = 0.30; t ₀ (years) = −0.057 (age groups 1–8); t _0.95 = 10.07 years and M  = 0.30. Moreover, a hypothetical model is proposed for the life history of the adult stock of M. platanus from the Mar Chiquita coastal lagoon based on CPUE data, environmental parameters, ovarian maturity stages, gonadosomatic indexes, the allometric growth coefficient b and deposition of hyaline or opaque rings in the otholiths. Mugil platanus is therefore regarded as a species of moderate to rapid growth rate, with a relatively low longevity and a high natural mortality rate, compared to other species of Mugilidae.     

Growth and reproduction of Mesopotamian spiny eel (Mastacembelus mastacembelus Banks & Solander, 1794) in Ataturk Dam Lake (Şanliurfa), Turkey

Age at length, growth and reproduction of 220 Mastacembelus mastacembelus specimens from the Atatürk Dam Lake were studied from July 2005 to July 2006. Total lengths and weights ranged from 7.0 to 85.0 cm and from 6 to 1100 g, respectively. Maximum age was 13 years. The regression model fitted to length and weight data was W  =   0.0228  L ^2.43 for males and W  =   0.0029  L ^2.95 for females. The von Bertalaffy growth equations for males and females were L _t  = 99.2 [1−e^{−0.11 ( t −0.12)}] and L _t  = 69.2 [1−e^{−0.26 ( t −0.35)}], respectively. Males dominated especially at an older age; the overall sex ratio was 1 : 0.63 (M:F). The breeding period was from May to July. Fecundity ranged from 2540 to 24 000 eggs per female.     

Swimming performance, oxygen consumption and excess post-exercise oxygen consumption in adult transgenic and ocean-ranched coho salmon

Routine oxygen consumption ( M o ₂) was 35% higher in 1 day starved and 21% higher in 4 day starved adult transgenic coho salmon Oncorhynchus kisutch relative to end of migration ocean-ranched coho salmon. Critical swimming speed ( U _crit) and M o ₂ at U _crit ( M o _2max) were significantly lower in 4 day starved transgenic coho salmon (1·25 BL s⁻¹; 8·79 mg O₂ kg⁻¹ min⁻¹) compared to ocean-ranched coho salmon (1·60 BL s⁻¹; 9·87 mg O₂ kg⁻¹ min⁻¹). Transgenic fish swam energetically less efficiently than ocean-ranched fish, as indicated by a poorer swimming economy at U _crit ( M o _2max     ). Although M o _2max was lower in transgenic coho salmon, the excess post-exercise oxygen consumption (EPOC) measured during the first 20 min of recovery was significantly larger in transgenic coho salmon (44·1 mg O₂ kg⁻¹) compared with ocean-ranched coho salmon (34·2 mg O₂ kg⁻¹), which had a faster rate of recovery.     

Age, growth and feeding of the common stingray (Dasyatis pastinaca, L., 1758) in the Cilician coastal basin, northeastern Mediterranean Sea

Growth and feeding of stingray ( Dasyatis pastinaca ) were studied using 346 specimens from the Cilician Basin coastal area (northeastern Mediterranean). Age classes between 0 to XII were found. The total length of all specimens ranged from 14.6 to 100.9 cm, and total weight was between 22.5 and 6800 g. Total length (TL)-weight (W) and disc width (DW)-weight (W) relationships were W = 0.0033*L^3.1429 and W = 0.0039*DW^3.4914, respectively. The age data, derived from central readings, were used to estimate the von Bertalanffy length and weight growth parameters. The results were L_∞ = 294.9 cm, W_∞ = 198690.1 g, K = 0.029 year⁻¹; t₀ = −2.2 year. The D. pastinaca diet was composed mainly of crustaceans.     

Structural stability of Sclerotium rolfsii ATCC 201126 β-glucan with fermentation time: a chemical, infrared spectroscopic and enzymatic approach

Aims:  Sclerotium rolfsii ATCC 201126 exopolysaccharides (EPSs) recovered at 48 h (EPS I) and 72 h (EPS II) of fermentation, with differences in rheological parameters, hydrogel topography, salt tolerance, antisyneresis, emulsifying and suspending properties, were subjected to a polyphasic characterization in order to detect structural divergences.
Methods and Results:  Fermenter-scale production led to productivity ( P _r) and yield ( Y _P/C) values higher at 48 h ( P _r = 0·542 g l⁻¹ h⁻¹; Y _P/C = 0·74) than at 72 h ( P _r = 0·336 g l⁻¹ h⁻¹; Y _P/C = 0·50). Both EPSs were neutral glucose-homopolysaccharides with a β-(1,3)-glycosidic backbone and single β-(1,6)-glucopyranosyl sidechains regularly attached every three residues in the main chain, as revealed by chemical analyses. The infra-red diagnostic peak at 890 cm⁻¹ confirmed β-glycosidic linkages, while gentiobiose released by β-(1,3)-glucanases confirmed single β-1,6-glycosidic branching for both EPSs.
Conclusions:  The true modular repeating unit of S. rolfsii ATCC 201126 scleroglucan could be resolved. Structural stability was corroborated and no structural differences could be detected as to account for the variations in EPSs behaviour.
Significance and Impact of the Study:  Recovery of S. rolfsii ATCC 201126 scleroglucan at 48 h might be considered based on better fermentation kinetic parameters and no detrimental effects on EPS structural features.     

Effects of temperature, body size and feeding on rates of metabolism in young‐of‐the‐year haddock

The mean rate of oxygen consumption (routine respiration rate, R _R, mg O₂ fish⁻¹ h⁻¹), measured for individual or small groups of haddock Melanogrammus aeglefinus (3–12 cm standard length, L _S) maintained for 5 days within flow‐through respiratory chambers at four different temperatures, increased with increasing dry mass ( M _D). The relationship between R _R and M _D was allometric ( R _R = α  M ^b ) with b values of 0·631, 0·606, 0·655 and 0·650 at 5·0, 8·0, 12·0 and 15·0° C, respectively. The effect of temperature ( T ) and M _D on mean R _R was described by     indicating a Q ₁₀ of 2·27 between 5 and 15° C. Juvenile haddock routine metabolic scope, calculated as the ratio of the mean of highest and lowest deciles of R _R measured in each chamber, significantly decreased with temperature such that the routine scope at 15° C was half that at 5° C. The cost of feeding ( R _SDA) was c . 3% of consumed food energy, a value half that found for larger gadoid juveniles and adults.     

Early growth and juvenile population structure of lemon sharks Negaprion brevirostris in the Atol das Rocas Biological Reserve, off north‐east Brazil

Lemon sharks Negaprion brevirostris were sampled in the Atol das Rocas, a nursery area, on nine occasions from March 1999 to October 2003, during which 157 individuals were tagged and 35 were recaptured. The male : female sex ratio of captured individuals was 1 : 1·12. Mean ±  s . d . growth rates were 24·7 ± 3·4 cm year⁻¹ in total length ( L _T), 20·7 ± 3·2 cm year⁻¹ in fork length, and 19·5 ± 2·7 cm year⁻¹ in precaudal length. There was no significant difference in growth rates between males and females. Mean ±  s . d . increase in mass was 2565 ± 762 g year⁻¹. The von Bertalanffy growth parameters estimated by the Fabens method based on L _T were: k  = 0·077, L _∞ = 399·9 cm and t ₀ = −2·16. Despite the large variation of environmental conditions, particularly of tidal range and currents, and the lack of protective mangrove cover in the nursery area at Atol das Rocas, juvenile lemon sharks grew relatively faster than at other nurseries. Such rapid growth could be a response to abundant food availability or high risk of predation by adults that enter the nursery area.     

Scaling of rectal gland mass in the European lesser-spotted dogfish

In the European lesser-spotted dogfish Scyliorhinus canicula , rectal gland mass in mg ( M _Rg) followed the allometric relationship: M _Rg = 1·15 M ^0·68, where M is body mass (g). The concept of allometric scaling is an important consideration in studies investigating the function of osmoregulatory organs.     

Zn(II)- and Cu(II)-induced non-fibrillar aggregates of amyloid-β (1–42) peptide are transformed to amyloid fibrils, both spontaneously and under the influence of metal chelators

Aggregation of amyloid-β (Aβ) peptides is a central phenomenon in Alzheimer's disease. Zn(II) and Cu(II) have profound effects on Aβ aggregation; however, their impact on amyloidogenesis is unclear. Here we show that Zn(II) and Cu(II) inhibit Aβ₄₂ fibrillization and initiate formation of non-fibrillar Aβ₄₂ aggregates, and that the inhibitory effect of Zn(II) (IC₅₀ = 1.8 μmol/L) is three times stronger than that of Cu(II). Medium and high-affinity metal chelators including metallothioneins prevented metal-induced Aβ₄₂ aggregation. Moreover, their addition to preformed aggregates initiated fast Aβ₄₂ fibrillization. Upon prolonged incubation the metal-induced aggregates also transformed spontaneously into fibrils, that appear to represent the most stable state of Aβ₄₂. H13A and H14A mutations in Aβ₄₂ reduced the inhibitory effect of metal ions, whereas an H6A mutation had no significant impact. We suggest that metal binding by H13 and H14 prevents the formation of a cross-β core structure within region 10–23 of the amyloid fibril. Cu(II)-Aβ₄₂ aggregates were neurotoxic to neurons in vitro only in the presence of ascorbate, whereas monomers and Zn(II)-Aβ₄₂ aggregates were non-toxic. Disturbed metal homeostasis in the vicinity of zinc-enriched neurons might pre-dispose formation of metal-induced Aβ aggregates, subsequent fibrillization of which can lead to amyloid formation. The molecular background underlying metal-chelating therapies for Alzheimer's disease is discussed in this light.     

The use of a surface adhesion immunofluorescent (SAIF) method for the rapid detection of Yersinia enterocolitica serotype O:3 in meat

This study examined the attachment kinetics of Yersinia enterocolitica serotype O:3 to determine the optimum conditions for its isolation from meat enrichment systems using a novel surface adhesion technique. Minced beef was inoculated with Y. enterocolitica at an initial level of 10 cfu g⁻¹ and incubated at 25 °C in an enrichment broth. Yersinia was recovered from enriched samples on polycarbonate membranes by surface adhesion and enumerated using immunofluorescence microscopy. The surface adhesion immunofluorescence technique (SAIF) had a minimum detection limit of approximately 4·0–4·5 log₁₀ cfu ml⁻¹ and provided good correlation between the estimation of the numbers of Yersinia in the enrichment broth derived from plate counts on Yersinia Selective agar (CIN) and those determined by SAIF ( r ² ₌ 0·94; rsd ₌ ± 0·21). A derived regression equation of the SAIF count vs plate counts was used to predict Y. enterocolitica numbers in spiked meat samples stored at 0 °C for up to 20 d. The numbers as predicted by the SAIF method showed good correlation with counts derived by plating techniques ( r ² ₌ 0·78; rsd ₌ ± 0·42). The application of the SAIF technique for the rapid detection of Y. enterocolitica serotype O:3 from meat is discussed.     

Age and growth analysis of the central mudminnow, Umbra limi (Kirtland, 1840)

A rudimentary understanding of age, growth, and life-span is lacking for many non-game fishes. Growth characteristics of the central mudminnow ( Umbra limi ) have not yet been accurately described using reliable hard part analysis. The utility of scales and otoliths as ageing structures and quantified growth was examined in one lake and one stream population of central mudminnow. Scales were found to be of no utility in determining age due to inconsistent formation of yearly annuli and a high incidence of regenerated scales, while otoliths were easily extracted and considered to be an accurate ageing structure. Ages determined from scales were low compared to those from otoliths, and the difference in age interpreted from the two structures increased with fish age. A power function was fitted to describe the length-weight relationship for this species ( a  = 0.0069, b  = 3.175). Von Bertalanffy growth parameters were estimated and compared for each population (Lake: L _∞ = 114.20 mm, K  = 0.30, t ₀ = −0.93; Stream: L _∞ = 77.59 mm, K  = 0.63, t ₀ = −0.76). The lake population showed greater size at age compared to the stream population, especially at older ages, and achieved a larger maximum size. Growth rate was also greater in the lake population (Lake: 1.74; Stream: 1.09 g year⁻¹). Females were larger at age than males in both populations, however all individuals greater than age 3 were males. This work represents the first successful account of central mudminnow growth using hard part analysis.     

Resting spore formation of aphid-pathogenic fungus Pandora nouryi depends on the concentration of infective inoculum

Resting spore formation of some aphid-pathogenic Entomophthorales is important for the seasonal pattern of their prevalence and survival but this process is poorly understood. To explore the possible mechanism involved in the process, Pandora nouryi (obligate aphid pathogen) interacted with green peach aphid Myzus persicae on cabbage leaves under favourable conditions. Host nymphs showered with primary conidia of an isolate (LC₅₀: 0.9–6.7 conidia mm⁻² 4–7 days post shower) from air captures in the low-latitude plateau of China produced resting spores (azygospores), primary conidia or both spore types. Surprisingly, the proportion of mycosed cadavers forming resting spores ( P _cfrs ) increased sharply within the concentrations ( C ) of 28–240 conidia mm⁻², retained high levels at 240–1760, but was zero or extremely low at 0.3–16. The P _cfrs – C relationship fit well the logistic equation P _cfrs  = 0.6774/[1 + exp(3.1229–0.0270 C )] ( r ² = 0.975). This clarified for the first time the dependence of in vivo resting spore formation of P. nouryi upon the concentration of infective inoculum. A hypothesis is thus proposed that some sort of biochemical signals may exist in the host–pathogen interaction so that the fungal pathogen perceives the signals for prompt response to forthcoming host-density changes by either producing conidia for infecting available hosts or forming resting spores for surviving host absence in situ .     

Anion exchange in the giant erythrocytes of African lungfish

Carbon dioxide transport in African lungfish Protopterus aethiopicus blood conformed to the typical vertebrate scheme, implying a crucial and rate-limiting role of erythrocyte Cl^–/HCO₃^– exchange. The rate coefficient for unidirectional Cl^– efflux via the anion exchanger ( k , s⁻¹) increased with temperature in African lungfish, but values were well below those reported in other species. The erythrocytes of African lungfish were, however, very large (mean cellular volume = 6940 µm³), and the ratio of cell water volume to membrane surface area was high ( V _w A _m⁻¹ = 1·89). Hence, the apparent Cl^– permeability ( P _Cl =  kV _w A _m⁻¹, µm s⁻¹) was close to that in other vertebrates. The plot of ln P _Cl against the inverse absolute temperature was left-shifted in the tropical African lungfish compared to the temperate rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss , which supports the idea that P _Cl is similar among animals when compared at their preferred temperatures. Also, Q ₁₀ for anion exchange calculated from P _Cl values in African lungfish was 2·0, supporting the idea that the temperature sensitivity of erythrocyte anion exchange matches the temperature sensitivity of CO₂ production and transport in ectothermic vertebrates.     

Foliar and ecosystem respiration in an old-growth tropical rain forest

Foliar respiration is a major component of ecosystem respiration, yet extrapolations are often uncertain in tropical forests because of indirect estimates of leaf area index (LAI). A portable tower was used to directly measure LAI and night-time foliar respiration from 52 vertical transects throughout an old-growth tropical rain forest in Costa Rica. In this study, we (1) explored the effects of structural, functional and environmental variables on foliar respiration; (2) extrapolated foliar respiration to the ecosystem; and (3) estimated ecosystem respiration. Foliar respiration temperature response was constant within plant functional group, and foliar morphology drove much of the within-canopy variability in respiration and foliar nutrients. Foliar respiration per unit ground area was 3.5 ± 0.2  µ mol CO₂ m⁻² s⁻¹, and ecosystem respiration was 9.4 ± 0.5  µ mol CO₂ m⁻² s⁻¹[soil = 41%; foliage = 37%; woody = 14%; coarse woody debris (CWD) = 7%]. When modelled with El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) year temperatures, foliar respiration was 9% greater than when modelled with temperatures from a normal year, which is in the range of carbon sink versus source behaviour for this forest. Our ecosystem respiration estimate from component fluxes was 33% greater than night-time net ecosystem exchange for the same forest, suggesting that studies reporting a large carbon sink for tropical rain forests based solely on eddy flux measurements may be in error.     

The reproduction, age and growth of the spotted rockling

Biology of the Macaronesian endemic rockling Gaidropsarus guttatus was studied in the Azores. The overall sex ratio from the samples was highly in favour of females (1 : 6·33). The growth parameters were L _∞ = 24·23, k  = 1·219 and t ₀ = −0·059. Fish matured at 15 cm L _T and the spawning season was strongly clustered in April.     

Morphological and geographic variation of the cycad Dioon edule Lindl. (Zamiaceae): ecological and evolutionary implications

The relationship in geographical distribution and morphological variation of leaflet width and length (diagnostic trait), between and within populations of Dioon edule Lindl., has been investigated throughout its known range in eastern Mexico (from the states of Nuevo León to Veracruz, north to south, respectively). A total of 1832 leaflets were measured for width and length from 154 plants distributed amongst five populations using four leaflet replicas from each of three leaves per plant. For leaflet width and length the variation among populations indicated significant stat-istical differences ( F _4,147 = 125.83; P  < 0.0001; R ² = 92.17% and F _4,147 = 9.04; P  < 0.001; R ² = 26.8%), respectively. With respect to leaflet width, the multiple range test showed three groups with a north to south distributional relationship along the range of the species. The correlation coefficient among paired populations, respect to geographical distance and the absolute value of the mean difference of leaflet width in each population, was positive, and different from zero ( r  = 0.82; P  = 0.013). A great variation of important ecological and evolutionary parameters was shown.  © 2003 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2003, 141 , 465–470.     

Biology of the salema, Sarpa salpa (L. 1758) (Pisces, Sparidae) from the middle-eastern Adriatic

Salema Sarpa salpa (Linnaeus, 1758), were caught in the middle-eastern Adriatic Sea from August to November 2004. Length range of the samples was between 10.3 and 43.9 cm, with mean values of 25.5 cm in males, 32.6 cm in females, and 11.4 and 20.2cm in immature and hermaphrodite specimens, respectively. Sex ratio (males : females) was 3.1 : 1. Males were observed up to 37 cm length. Hermaphrodites showed lengths between 18 and 21 cm. The species was characterized by protandric hermaphroditism. Size at sexual maturity was 20.6 cm (2 years old) for males. Total length-total weight relationship for the entire population is described by the parameters a  = 0.00893, and b  = 3.1055. Otolith age readings showed that the population consisted of 15 age groups (1–15 years), including a very high proportion of individuals 1–7 years old. The von Bertalanffy growth parameters were L _∞ = 33.11cm, k  = 0.514, and t ₀ = −0.392 years for males and L _∞ = 40.85cm, k  = 0.179, and t ₀ = −2.606 years for females. Survival rate of females ( S  = 0.870) was much greater than for males ( S  = 0.769).     

Habitat edges as a potential ecological trap for an insect predator

Abstract.  1. Ecological traps, where animals actively select poor habitat for reproduction over superior habitat, are generally associated with birds at forest edges. This study examines oviposition preference, predation, and parasitism rates in the mantid Stagmomantis limbata to determine the potential generality of this phenomenon.
2. Egg case (oothecae) densities were measured across two edge types (cottonwood and desert scrub) within desert riparian ecosystems. A positive edge effect in oothecae density was found with an approximate three-fold increase in density at cottonwood ( X _edge = 0.05 oothecae/100 m² vs. X _interior = 0.015 oothecae/100 m²) and desert scrub ( X _edge = 0.20 oothecae/100 m² vs. X _interior = 0.06 oothecae/100 m²) edges ( P  < 0.01).
3. Rates of bird predation were significantly higher for oothecae at desert scrub edges and showed a trend of higher predation rates at cottonwood edges, suggesting that riparian habitat edges may be acting as an ecological trap for this mantid species. There was no effect of edges on oothecal parasitism rates.
4. These results provide an example of the effect of habitat edges on a generalist insect predator and indicate that an ecological trap may exist with respect to one of its natural enemies.     

Pyridine nucleotide cycle and trigonelline (N-methylnicotinic acid) synthesis in developing leaves and fruits of Coffea arabica

We examined the biosynthesis of trigonelline in leaves and fruits of Arabica coffee ( Coffea arabica ) plants. [³H]Quinolinic acid, which is an intermediate of de novo pyridine nucleotide synthesis, and [¹⁴C]nicotinamide and [¹⁴C]nicotinic acid, which are degradation products of NAD, were converted to trigonelline and pyridine nucleotides. These tracer experiments suggest that the pyridine nucleotide cycle, nicotinamide → nicotinic acid → nicotinic acid mononucleotide (NaMN) → nicotinic acid adenine dinucleotide (NaAD) → NAD → nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) → nicotinamide, operates in coffee plants, and trigonelline is synthesized from nicotinic acid formed in the cycle. Trigonelline accumulated up to 18 µmol per leaf in developed young leaves, and then decreased with age. Although the biosynthetic activity of trigonelline from exogenously supplied [¹⁴C]nicotinamide was observed in aged leaves, the endogenous supply of nicotinamide may be limited, reducing the contents in these leaves. Trigonelline is synthesized and accumulated in fruits during development. The trigonelline synthesis in pericarps is much higher than that in seeds, but its content in seeds is higher than pericaps, so that some of the trigonelline synthesized in the pericarps may be transported to seeds. Trigonelline in seeds may be utilized during germination, as its content decreases. Trigonelline synthesis from [¹⁴C]nicotinamide was also found in Theobroma cacao plants, but instead of trigonelline, nicotinic acid-glucoside was synthesized from [¹⁴C]nicotinamide in Camellia sinensis plants.