Fed-batch culture of Candida guilliermondii FTI 20037 for xylitol production from sugar cane bagasse hydrolysate

A fed-batch culture system was used to study xylitol production by Candida guilliermondii FTI 20037 in a synthetic and a sugar cane bagasse hydrolysate medium. The values achieved for xylitol yield and volumetric productivity were, respectively, 0 · 84 g g⁻¹ and 0 · 64 g l⁻¹ h⁻¹ using the synthetic medium and 0 · 78 g g⁻¹ and 0 · 62 g l⁻¹ h⁻¹ using the hydrolysate medium.     

The use of body water, sodium, potassium and calcium content to investigate the nutritional status of first year Atlantic salmon parr in two Scottish Highland streams

Water content of Atlantic salmon parr fell from about 84% at emergence (late May) to just under 79% in September but rose again towards March. Na⁺ content consequently rose from 3·3 mg g⁻¹ dry wt at the beginning of June to 6·2 mg g⁻¹ in early July. It then fell to 4·4 mg g⁻¹ in September, rising again towards March. K⁺ content rose to a maximum in July to stabilize at 16·6 mg g⁻¹ dry wt in September. The resultant Na⁺/K⁺ ratio peaked at 0·43: 1 in mid-June, falling to a minimum in mid-August but rising again in March reflecting changes in the relative proportions of intra and extracellular water. The changes in whole-body chemistry suggest a period of nutritional stress immediately after emergence and during the winter. In streams at higher altitude and of lower nutrient status, nutritional stress during the winter appears to be more severe.     

Endurance swimming of European eel

A long‐term swim trial was performed with five female silver eels Anguilla anguilla of 0·8–1·0 kg ( c . 80 cm total length, L _T) swimming at 0·5 body lengths (BL) s⁻¹, corresponding to the mean swimming speed during spawning migration. The design of the Blazka‐type swim tunnel was significantly improved, and for the first time the flow pattern of a swim tunnel for fish was evaluated with the Laser‐Doppler method. The velocity profile over three different cross‐sections was determined. It was observed that 80% of the water velocity drop‐off occurred over a boundary layer of 20 mm. Therefore, swim velocity errors were negligible as the eels always swam outside this layer. The fish were able to swim continuously day and night during a period of 3 months in the swim tunnel through which fresh water at 19° C was passed. The oxygen consumption rates remained stable at 36·9 ± 2·9 mg O₂ kg⁻¹ h⁻¹ over the 3 months swimming period for all tested eels. The mean cost of transportation was 28·2 mg O₂ kg⁻¹ km⁻¹. From the total energy consumption the calculated decline in fat content was 30%. When extrapolating to 6000 km this would have been 60%, leaving only 40% of the total energy reserves for reproduction after arriving at the spawning site. Therefore low cost of transport combined with high fat content are crucial for the capacity of the eel to cross the Atlantic Ocean and reproduce.     

Effects of regulated discharge on burbot migration

Burbot Lota lota movement and river discharge were studied in the Kootenai River, Idaho, U.S.A. and British Columbia, Canada, downstream of Libby Dam, Montana, U.S.A. A total of 24 adult burbot with transmitters were tracked from 1994 to 2000, for analysis of a travel distance of ≥5 km in ≤10 days termed 'stepwise movement'. Of 44 'stepwise movements', significantly greater movements during pre‐spawning and spawning were observed when average daily discharges from Libby Dam were <300 m³ s⁻¹, with a mean of 176 m³ s⁻¹, similar to pre‐dam conditions. Burbot travelled at a greater rate during all seasons (3·36 km day⁻¹) at discharges >300 m³ s⁻¹(mean = 1·84 km day⁻¹) than at discharges >300 m³ s⁻¹ but no difference was found for the pre‐spawning and spawning period. Burbot that started 'stepwise movements' in low discharge conditions frequently stopped during low discharges.     

Is white muscle anaerobic glycolysis capacity indicative of competitive ability in Arctic charr?

Food ingestion to assess dominance status, indicated that dominant Arctic charr Salvelinus alpinus displayed significantly higher white muscle pyruvate kinase (PK) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activities compared to subordinate fish [PK = 429·57 ± 76·37 v . 331·00 ± 61·73 U g⁻¹ tissue ( P  = 0·022) and LDH = 929·33 ± 61·03 v . 775·25 ± 110·96 U g⁻¹ tissue; ( P  = 0·0007)].     

Fungal endophytes from Acer ginnala Maxim: isolation, identification and their yield of gallic acid

Aims:  The aim of the study was to isolate the endophytic fungi from Acer ginnala and screen isolates rich in gallic acid.
Methods and Results:  After epiphytic sterilization, 145 fungal endophytes were isolated from the stem, annual twig and seed of Acer ginnala . The endophytes were grouped into ten different taxa, Phomopsis sp., Neurospora sp., Phoma sp., Epicoccum sp., Penicillium sp., Alternaria sp., Fusarium sp., Trichoderma sp., Cladosporium sp. and a species of Pleosporales Incertae Sedis , by their morphological traits and ITS-rDNA sequence analysis. The content and yield of gallic acid of 141 isolates were determined by HPLC. On average, the species of Pleosporales Incertae Sedis had the highest content and yield of gallic acid (13·28 mg g⁻¹ DW; 119·62 mg l⁻¹), while Alternaria sp. had the lowest.
Conclusions:  Of 141 fungal endophytes from A. ginnala , Phomopsis sp. isolate SX10 showed both the highest content and the highest yield of gallic acid (29·25 mg g⁻¹ DW; 200·47 mg l⁻¹).
Significance and Impact of the Study:  Endophytic fungi isolated from A. ginnala may be used as potential producers of gallic acid and other compounds with biological activities, or functioned as elicitors to produce natural compounds.     

Energetics and morphology of sockeye salmon: effects of upriver migratory distance and elevation

Depending on population, wild Fraser River sockeye salmon Oncorhynchus nerka travel distances of <100 km to >1100 km and ascend elevations ranging from near sea‐level to 1200 m to reach spawning areas. Populations embarking on distant, high elevation migrations ( i.e . Early Stuart, Chilko and Horsefly populations) began their upriver spawning migrations with higher densities of somatic energy ( c . 9·2 to 9·8 MJ kg⁻¹) and fewer eggs ( c . 3200 to 3800) than populations making shorter, low elevation migrations ( i.e . Weaver and Adams; c . 7·1 to 8·3 MJ kg⁻¹ gross somatic energy and c . 4300 to 4700 eggs). Populations making difficult upriver migrations also had morphologies that were smaller and more fusiform than populations making less difficult migrations, traits that may facilitate somatic energy conservation by reducing transport costs. Indeed, fish travelling long distances expended less somatic energy per unit of migratory difficulty than those travelling shorter distances (2·8 to 3·8 kJ v . 10–1400 kJ). Consistent with evolutionary theory, difficult migrations appear to select for energy efficiency but ultimately fish making more difficult migrations produce fewer eggs, even when differences in body length have been accounted for. Despite large among‐population differences in somatic energy at the start of upriver migration, all populations completed migration and spawning, and subsequently died, with c . 4 MJ kg⁻¹ of energy remaining, a level which may reflect a threshold to sustain life.     

Short‐term freshwater exposure benefits sea lice‐infected Atlantic salmon

Atlantic salmon Salmo salar were infected with sea lice Lepeophtheirus salmonis (0·08 ± 0·007 sea lice g⁻¹) over a period of 4 h. Both infected and non‐infected fish were swim tested in sea water (SW) and fresh water (FW). The ventral aorta of each fish was fitted with a Doppler cuff in order to measure cardiac output, stroke volume and heart rate during swim testing. Blood samples were taken at rest and after exercise. Critical swimming speed of infected fish in SW (2·14 ± 0·08 body lengths, bl s⁻¹) was significantly lower ( P  < 0·05) than infected fish switched to FW (2·81 ± 0·08 bl s⁻¹) and non‐infected fish in SW (2·42 ± 0·04 bl s⁻¹) and FW (2·61 ± 0·08 bl s⁻¹). Cardiac and blood results indicated infected fish exposed to FW did experience stress, but relief from osmotic and ionic distress probably reduces energy expenditure, allowing the increase in performance. As the performance of sea lice‐infected fish improved upon transfer to FW, it is likely that heavily infected salmonids do return to FW to restore compromised osmotic and ionic balance, and remove sea lice in the process.     

Reproductive ecology of the river lamprey

The reproductive ecology of river lamprey Lampetra fluviatilis was investigated during the spawning period 2003 in the River Derwent, north‐east England. Over this period 1199 ± 104 individuals day⁻¹(mean ±  s . d .) were counted on one spawning site (area c . 450 m²), but mark‐recapture estimates suggested that >5000 river lamprey used this site over the same period and egg deposition was estimated as 168 000 eggs m⁻². The operational sex ratio of river lamprey in spawning clusters changed between spawning phases, from domination by females during the nest‐building phase (male : female ratio, 1 : 3·46), to a preponderance of males during the spawning phase (male : female, 1 : 0·37), followed by a return to a majority of females after spawning (male : female, 1 : 3·74). Recapture data showed that >97% of recaptured, tagged males were recorded at two or more nests, whereas almost 50% of recaptured, tagged females were recorded at the same nest, suggesting a promiscuous mating system, with a tendency towards polygyny within the population. Within the lower 80 km of the River Derwent and its tributaries, evidence of river lamprey spawning was found at only six sites, and most spawning (>80% of the observed spawning population) was at one site.     

Production of tylosin in solid-state fermentation by Streptomyces fradiae NRRL-2702 and its gamma-irradiated mutant (γ-1)

Aims:  To develop solid-state fermentation system (SSF) for hyper production of tylosin from a mutant γ-1 of Streptomyces fradiae NRRL-2702 and its parent strain.
Methods and Results:  Various agro-industrial wastes were screened to study their effect on tylosin production in SSF. Wheat bran as solid substrate gave the highest production of 2500 μg of tylosin g⁻¹ substrate by mutant γ-1 against parent strain (300 μg tylosin g⁻¹ substrate). The tylosin yield was further improved to 4500 μg g⁻¹ substrate [70% moisture, 10% inoculum (v/w), pH 9·2, 30°C, supplemental lactose and sodium glutamate on day 9]. Wild-type strain displayed less production of tylosin (655 μg of tylosin g⁻¹ substrate) in SSF even after optimization of process parameters.
Conclusion:  The study has shown that solid-state fermentation system significantly enhanced the tylosin yield by mutant γ-1.
Significance and Impact of the Study:  This study proved to be very useful and resulted in 6·87 ± 0·30-fold increase in tylosin yield by this mutant when compared to that of wild-type strain.     

Reproductive biology of Vinciguerria nimbaria in the equatorial waters of the eastern Atlantic Ocean

Adult Vinciguerria nimbaria in an area of the Atlantic Ocean (0–5°N; 10–20°W), collected from November 1994 to February 1998, exhibited two different patterns in diel behaviour: 'typical' behaviour which consisted of large diel vertical migration and 'atypical', characterized by concentrations of schools that remained in the surface layers during the daytime. The total life span of V. nimbaria was estimated at 6–7 months. Females were mature when they reached 30·6 mm standard length ( L _S), which corresponded to an age of 85 days. Once the females were mature, spawning was continuous in the population as a whole, and V. nimbaria spawned continuously throughout the year. Spawning took place during two restricted times of the day: typical females spawned at dusk and atypical females spawned at dawn. Using the post-ovulatory follicles method, spawning frequency was estimated at 2 days. Batch fecundity was estimated at 1236 oocytes or 1230 oocytes g⁻¹ of total body mass, and egg size was 650 µm whatever the period of the year. The lifetime fecundity of V. nimbaria was estimated at 9000 eggs (109 000 eggs if mortality rate was not taken into account), and the maximum stock egg production of a theoretical cohort occurred at 37 mm L _S. Young adults thus contributed the most to the reproductive output for the survival of the population.     

Reproductive migration of brown trout in a small Norwegian river studied by telemetry

The movement of 34 large (39–73 cm standard length) brown trout Salmo trutta was monitored using radio telemetry for up to 74 days in Brumunda, a small Norwegian river (mean annual discharge 3·3 m³ s⁻¹) flowing into the large Lake Mjøsa. The maximum range of movement in the river was 20 km. No clear relationships existed between individual movement and water discharge, temperature and barometric pressure. Brown trout migrated at all levels of water discharge. At low discharge (<2 m³ s⁻¹) movements were nocturnal. A weir 5·3 km from the outlet restricted ascending brown trout at low ( c . 6° C), but not at high ( c . 8° C) water temperatures. Spawning occurred in September to October and tagged individuals spent 2–51 days at the spawning sites. Mean migration speed from tagging to when the fish reached the spawning area, and from when they left the spawning areas and reached the lake was 1·0 and 2·3 km day⁻¹, respectively. All tagged brown trout that survived spawning returned to the lake after spawning.     

Reproductive biology of the endangered Oxleyan pygmy perch Nannoperca oxleyana Whitley

The reproductive biology of the Oxleyan pygmy perch Nannoperca oxleyana is described from simultaneous studies of wild populations in north-eastern New South Wales and mature fish held in aquaria. In the wild, 50% of males and females matured at total lengths of 24·0–25·9 and 28·0–29·9 mm, respectively. The species displays sexual dichromatism during the spawning season, with males developing more intense red and brown fin and body colouration, and black pelvic fins. Captive male broodfish displayed territoriality during the breeding season, closely guarding sites within artificial, plant-like substrata in which pairs of fish spawned adhesive eggs. Protracted serial spawning of wild and captive fish occurred from September to April and May at mean water temperatures ≥16·6° C and day length ≥10·7 h. Captive broodfish spawned on an average of 57% of days during the 256 day spawning period. Gonado-somatic indices averaged 0·7% for all ripe males and 4·1–4·2% for all ripe females collected. Mean total and batch fecundities of captive females were 1323 eggs per fish and 7·8 eggs per fish per day, respectively, and relative fecundity was 587 eggs g⁻¹ of body mass. Batch fecundity of wild females was estimated at 7·8 eggs per fish. The adaptive significance of this reproductive strategy in a harsh, variable environment is discussed.     

The reproductive success of pike, Esox lucius: aspects of fecundity, egg density and survival

Power-law relationships have been estimated between fecundity and fish length, weight and age for pike from two gravel pit lakes (Main Lake and St Peter's Lake) in Buckinghamshire, England. Relative fecundity, estimated at 17.6 eggs g⁻¹ for Main Lake pike and 19.4 g⁻¹ for St Peter's Lake pike, did not differ significantly between the lakes. Population fecundity for the Main Lake was estimated at 10.6 million eggs and 6.4 million eggs in 1986 and 1987, respectively.
Experimental work involving samples of eggs from 18 artificially fertilized Main Lake female pike showed a significant relationship between egg diameter and female length, and a significant difference between mean egg diameters for 41-cm and 101-cm females. No significant relationships were found between mean egg size and mean fry size, nor between fry length and adult length. Mean size differences between newly hatched, 18-day-old and 41-day-old fry from the 41-cm and 101-cm females were not significant.
Samples of eggs taken at 2-day intervals from 6 April to 5 May in a pike spawning area of the Main Lake revealed clumped distributions of eggs, with average egg densities ranging from 1 to 47 eggs per 0.071 m² (14–671 m ²) on sand and silt substrata. The maximum egg density of 51 per 0.071 m² (729 m⁻²) was found on flooded grass. The stages of development of the eggs were identified over the sampling period. Survival from stage 1 to fry was estimated at 3–6%. Egg losses were estimated at 9–10% day⁻¹.
Egg survival experiments gave overall hatching success rates of 11 % on sand/silt compared with 2.5% on aquatic plants (1986), and 18.9% on undisturbed sand/silt compared with 7.9% on disturbed sand/silt (1987). The effect of siltation on egg hatching is discussed.     

Lipid content and fatty acid composition of target tissues in wild Perca fluviatilis females in relation to hepatic status and gonad maturation

Variation in liver ultra‐structure and composition in relation to energy mobilization was investigated in female perch Perca fluviatilis from the Meuse River between August 2001 and June 2002. In April, just before spawning, the lipo‐somatic index ( I _F) was 0·3%, the gonado‐somatic index ( I _G) was 28% and the total lipid content of the liver was 2·53%. The average areas of lipid droplets and mitochondria were 0·05 and 0·06 μm², respectively. Glycogen supply reached 7·9% of the total area of the hepatocyte. During the sexual resting period, females accumulated energy in perivisceral fat and in the liver to reach 1·6% I _F and 4·85% of liver lipid content in August with lipid droplets average size of 0·09 μm² and glycogen average area of 15%. Liver cells contained a weakly developed rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER) and a great number of small mitochondria (average size 0·02 μm²). The I _G was 0·6% at this time. During the whole annual cycle, the average lipid content of female liver never exceeded 3·9 ± 1·9%. The concentration of docosahexaenoic (DHA), linolenic and linoleic acids increased in mature gonads while linolenic and linoleic acids decreased in the liver during the same period. Fatty acid composition of muscles of perch was characterized by a high content of DHA.     

Physiological impact of sea lice on swimming performance of Atlantic salmon

Atlantic salmon Salmo salar were infected with two levels of sea lice Lepeophtheirus salmonis (0·13 ± 0·02 and 0·02 ± 0·00 sea lice g⁻¹). Once sea lice became adults, the ventral aorta of each fish was fitted with a Doppler cuff to measure cardiac output ( ̇ ), heart rate ( f _H) and stroke volume ( V _S) during swimming. Critical swimming speeds ( U _crit) of fish with higher sea lice numbers [2·1 ± 0·1 BL (body lengths) s⁻¹] were significantly lower ( P  < 0·05) than fish with lower numbers (2·4 ± 0·1 BL s⁻¹) and controls (sham infected, 2·6 ± 0·1 BL s⁻¹). After swimming, chloride levels in fish with higher sea lice numbers (184·4 ± 11·3 mmol l⁻¹) increased significantly (54%) from levels at rest and were significantly higher than fish with fewer lice (142·0 ± 3·7 mmol l⁻¹) or control fish (159·5 ± 3·5 mmol l⁻¹). The f _H of fish with more lice was 9% slower than the other two groups at U _crit. This decrease resulted in ̇ not increasing from resting levels. Sublethal infection by sea lice compromised the overall fitness of Atlantic salmon. The level of sea lice infection used in the present study was lower than has previously been reported to be detrimental to wild Atlantic salmon.     

Specific gravity and vertical distribution of sprat eggs in the Baltic Sea

During peak spawning of sprat Sprattus sprattus in the Baltic Sea in May–June egg specific gravity averaged ± s . d . 1·00858 ± 0·00116 g cm⁻³ but was significantly higher in the beginning and significantly lower towards the end of the spawning season. A close relationship was found between egg diameter and egg specific gravity ( r ² = 0·71). This relationship, however, changed during the spawning season indicating that some other factor was involved causing the decrease in specific gravity during the spawning period. The vertical egg distribution changed during the spawning season: eggs were distributed mainly in the deep layers early in the season, occurred in and above the permanent halocline during peak spawning, and above the halocline towards the end of the spawning season. Consequently, poor oxygen conditions in the deep layers and low temperatures in layers between the halocline and the developing thermocline may affect egg development. Thus, opportunities for egg development vary over the spawning season and among spawning areas, and depending on frequency of saline water inflows into the Baltic Sea and severity of winters, between years.     

Energy density of anchovy Engraulis encrasicolus in the Bay of Biscay

The energy density ( E _D) of anchovy Engraulis encrasicolus in the Bay of Biscay was determined by direct calorimetry and its evolution with size, age and season was investigated. The water content and energy density varied seasonally following opposite trends. The E _D g⁻¹ of wet mass ( M _W) was highest at the end of the feeding season (autumn: c . 8 kJ g⁻¹ M _W) and lowest in late winter ( c . 6 kJ g⁻¹ M _W). In winter, the fish lost mass, which was partially replaced by water, and the energy density decreased. These variations in water content and organic matter content may have implications on the buoyancy of the fish. The water content was the major driver of the energy density variations for a M _W basis. A significant linear relationship was established between E _D g⁻¹ ( y ) and the per cent dry mass ( M _D; x ): y =−4·937 + 0·411 x . In the light of the current literature, this relationship seemed to be not only species specific but also ecosystem specific. Calibration and validation of fish bioenergetics models require energy content measurements on fish samples collected at sea. The present study provides a first reference for the energetics of E. encrasicolus in the Bay of Biscay.     

Influence of egg vitamin A status and egg incubation temperature on subsequent development of the early vertebral column in Atlantic salmon fry

The effect of egg vitamin A (VA) status and egg incubation temperature on the development of spinal disorders was investigated in Atlantic salmon Salmo salar fry. Atlantic salmon eggs were sorted into two groups with high VA (3·3 ± 0·1 μg retinol g⁻¹ dry mass) and low VA (2·2 ± 0·3 μg retinol g⁻¹ dry mass) status before fertilization and incubated at high (14° C) or low (8° C) temperature from 133 day degrees until the onset of feeding. High egg incubation temperatures increased the concentration of retinol in the eggs: the high VA and high temperature group displayed a significantly higher retinol concentration than the high VA and low temperature group ( P  = 0·001). After hatching, all experimental groups increased their retinol concentration. The source of the increased retinol levels was probably retinal, although astaxanthin may also be a VA precursor after hatching. Atlantic salmon fry incubated at high temperatures had increased amounts of notochord tissue. When measuring morphogenic activity in the notochord using the expression of sonic hedgehog ( shh , mRNA), however, no significant difference was found between the experimental groups. No clear effect of VA status or incubation temperature could be found on the formation of the early vertebral column although Atlantic salmon fry incubated at low temperatures had less regular constrictions of the prospective vertebral column than fry incubated at high temperatures.     

The content of prostaglandins and their precursors in Mortierella and Cunninghamella species

Five strains of filamentous fungi belonging to the genera Mortierella and Cunninghamella were examined for the content of dihomo-γ-linolenic, arachidonic, eicosapentaenoic acids and prostaglandins (type E₂ and F _2α). Prostaglandins were detected using an ELISA method in mycelia of all tested strains (range 50–4800 ng g⁻¹ of PGE₂ and 6–30 ng g⁻¹ of PG F _2α). Several micro-organisms also produced prostaglandins in the culture medium (2·2–137·6 μg l⁻¹ for PGE₂ and 0·4–7·8 μg l⁻¹ for PG F _2α).