Mercury methylation by fish intestinal contents.

A new radiochemical method has been applied to the examination of mercury methylation in fish intestinal contents. Intestinal contents of six freshwater fish species were found capable of converting 203Hg2+ to CH3203Hg+. This activity was observed in fish from five of six lakes tested whether or not there was mercury pollution. Bacterial activity in the intestinal contents is most likely responsible for this methylation. Methylating activity of piscivors increased with decreasing quantity of intestinal contents. Generally, pike and walleye intestinal contents methylated a larger fraction of 203Hg2+ than those of whitefish and suckers. These data contradict the previous general conclusion that there is no mercury methylation in fish.     

Digestibility of chitin in cod,Gadus morhua,in vivo

Sixteen cod,Gadus morhua (L.), were individually fed a single ration of shrimps,Crangon allmanni. Four fish were killed and examined 6, 12, 24 and 48 h after the fish had been fed. Chitinase activities were measured in the extracts of stomach contents, stomach tissue, pyloric caecae, intestinal contents and intestinal tissue. The level of enzyme activity in different parts of the digestive tract was shown to be dependent on the phase of the digestive process. High concentrations of the chitin degradation product N-acetyl-D-glucosamine were determined in the stomach and in the intestinal contents. Based on the chitin concentration in the food organisms and the individual food uptake, the amount of chitin consumed by each fish could be calculated. Only up to 9% of the ingested chitin was recovered from the intestinal contents of the fish at any given time after feeding (6, 12, 24 and 48 h). In addition, only 2.4% of the chitin consumed with the food could be recovered in the collected faeces of the fish. The 4 cod killed 48 h after feeding had completely emptied their stomach. Chitin digestion in these fish was calculated to have been 90%.     

The effects of various diets on chitinase and ß-glucosidase activities and the condition of cod, Gadus morhua (L.)

Groups of cod, Gadus morhua (L.), were fed exclusively on fish, crustaceans, or crustacean shells for a period of 3 weeks. Chitinase and ß-glucosidase activities were measured in enzyme extracts of stomach contents, stomach tissue, pyloric caeca, intestinal contents, and intestine tissue, and compared to the enzyme activities of control fish starved over the same period. Fulton's condition factor K , liver lipid content and liver water content were determined to estimate the effects of the diets on the condition of cod.
general, the highest chitinase activities were measured in samples of cod that had been fed on whole crustaceans. In this feeding group, there was also a remarkable increase of activity by a factor of four to eight in the pyloric caeca, compared to the group fed on fish and the control group, respectively.
Measurements of ß-glucosidase activity revealed no similar dependence on food quality, ß-glucosidase occurrence seemed to be mainly restricted to the pyloric caeca and the intestine of cod.     

Changes in the Intestinal Microbiota of Wild Atlantic cod Gadus morhua L. Upon Captive Rearing

The commensal microbiota plays an important role in the well-being of the host organism, and it would be worthwhile to know the tenacious communities among them. Therefore, a study was undertaken to examine the changes in constitution of the intestinal microbiota of wild fish consequential to captivity. At first, the composition of intestinal microorganisms of Atlantic cod caught from the coastal area off Bod?, Norway, was examined. Thereafter, the changes in the bacterial community of the captive fish after offering them artificial feed or subjecting them to starvation were studied. The microbiota from the intestinal contents and wall segments were analyzed quantitatively by spread plate technique and DAPI staining and qualitatively by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis. The study revealed that the counts of intestinal microbes in wild-caught Atlantic cod were not affected by captive rearing for 6?weeks, either when fed or when starved. However, the diversity of intestinal bacterial community was reduced in response to artificial feeding, whereas the change was restricted upon starvation.     

Marine food and diet overlap of co-occurring Arctic charr Salvelinus alpinus (L.), brown trout Salmo trutta L. and Atlantic salmon S. salar L. off Senja,N. Norway

Summary Stomach contents analyses and other biological information of Arctic charr (Savelinus alpinus (L.)), brown trout (Salmo trutta L.) and small Atlantic salmon (S. salar L.) caught 1982–85 close to the Åelv estuary (69°N) on the island of Senja, N. Norway are presented, and extracts of a 1975–85 fishing log given. this appears to be the first case study of the feeding habits of all three European anadromous salmonids in marine sympatry, and also one of very few reports on the marine food of the Arctic charr from Europe. The general feeding habits of the charr were similar to that found in N. Canada. Pelagic fish (herring, sand-eel) seem to be preferred. Plankton (crab megalopae, krill) and hyperbenthos (amphipods, mysids) are also taken, especially when suitable fish are scarce. In 1985 high herring densities provided superabundant food, and diet overlap between charr, trout and salmon was high. Salmonid nursery rivers are abundant in N. Norway and during summer the three species coexist in a near-shore, surface-oriented pelagic guild of fishes. The salmon seems to be a relatively specialized piscivore, while the trout takes a wider range of fish and also invertebrate prey. The charr probably is the most euryphagous of the three, being able to exploit the more marginal parts of the prey resources of their common habitat.     

Cellulolytic and Pectolytic Activity of Cylindrocarpon destructans (Zins.) Scholt. Isolates Pathogenic and Non-Pathogenic to Fir (Abies alba Mill.) and Pine (Pinus sylvestris L.)*

In studies on cellulolytic and pectolytic activity of C. destructans, it was found that only one of the twenty isolates studied exhibited cellulolytic activity. The total activity of this isolate was similar in media with CMC and powdered cellulose. The specific activity was, however, two times higher with powdered cellulose. All isolates identified as pathogenic to fir and to pine produced pectolytic enzymes. Not all of them, however, exhibited exo- and endo-PMG activity. In general, an increase of total activity of exo-PMG was accompanied by an increase in the specific, activity. Of the non-pathogenic isolates, only one did not show pectolytic activity. The results of our studies have revealed that there exist no significant differences in pectolytic activity between the isolates pathogenic and non-pathogenic to fir and pine. Also, the isolates belonging to both groups were not cellulolytic except one non-pathogenic.     

Gastric emptying rate in Pleuronectes platessa L.

X-ray studies of gastric emptying of Pleuronectes platessa force-fed a moist, artificial diet give the relationship:
where GET is gastric emptying time (h), S is meal size (g), W is body weight (g) and T is temperature (°C).
The corresponding gastric emptying curve is predicted to be:
where stomach contents (g net weight) are S ₀ at start and S_t at time th. Direct observations of residual stomach contents using serial slaughter are in close agreement with the predicted curve, save for small plaice (below 50 g body weight) which empty at only 50–60% of the rate found in larger fish.
The small effects of body weight on gastric emptying rate may reflect the relatively small role of the stomach [Volume (ml) = 0.024 body weight (g)] in digestion when compared with other flatfish.
The emptying curve established here can be used in field studies to estimate feeding rate on natural food items, provided fish greater than 50 g body weight are used and the energy density of the food is greater than 0.5 kcal/g wet weight. Smaller fish will have emptying rates which are only 30–60% of those found in larger fish; the change appears to be abrupt and corresponds to the size at which young plaice move offshore from their nursery grounds.     

Stomach pH,feeding rhythm and ingestion rate in Oreochromis niloticus L. (Pisces: Cichlidae) in Lake Awasa,Ethiopia

Fish were caught in February and October, 1985 with gill and trawl nets at different time intervals. The length and weight of the fish, the stomach pH and the weight of the stomach contents were determined. The feeding pattern of O. niloticus was observed to have a diel rhythm. The stomach became more acidic towards the afternoon and most of the evening. The pH of the stomach had a significant regression on stomach fullness. The feeding rate of O. niloticus in Lake Awasa was estimated from daily feeding periodicity and rate of gastric evacuation. The fish ingests 11.5% of their wet body weight daily at an average water temperature of 21.5 °C. It is believed that the fish ingests and assimilates adequate supply of energy (9.1 KJ/day) for growth, maintenance and other energy requiring activities of the fish.     

Mechanisms of digestion in the marine herbivore, the luderick, Girella tricuspidata (Quoy and Gaimard)

The effect of feeding frequency on the mechanisms of digestion in the mucosa and contents of the gastrointestinal tract of the luderick, Girella tricuspidata (Quoy and Gaimard), was determined. Use was made of the variation in utilization frequency of Enteromorpha intestinalis by C. tricuspidata fed according to two different regimes to determine the importance of these digestive mechanisms in algal digestion.
The contents of the oesophagus and stomach of fish fed ad libitum were consistently acidic whilst those from fish deprived of food were highly variable and more alkaline. The contents of the pyloric caeca. intestine and rectum were slightly alkaline in both groups.
The number of microorganisms found in the digestive tract increased with a reduction in food availability. There was no significant cellulase activity in any of the animals tested.
Amylase and lipase were found in the pyloric caeca, intestine and rectum, but were not present in the oesophagus or stomach. Lipase activities were highly variable. Although some protease was found in the posterior portion of the gut, the majority of the activity occurred in the oesophagus and stomach.
Generally, amylase, lipase, and protease activities were unaffected by a change in the feeding regime of the fish from being fed ud libitum to being fed for a period of 24 h every 5 days. It is concluded that a reduced activity of enzymes that hydrolyse algal cell contents is not the reason for the lower utilization efficiency of food-deprived fish.
It is clear that the only difference in digestive mechanisms between fish fed ad libitum and fish fed infrequently is the variation in pH of the foregut. It is considered likely that the increased acidity of the foregut of animals fed ad Iibilum facilitates hydrolysis of the algal cell walls and allows greater utilization of algae by these fish.     

Effects of diets containing soybean meal on trypsin mRNA expression and activity in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L)

Atlantic salmon develop subacute enteritis in the distal intestine (DI) when fed diets containing soybean meal (SBM) at high levels, a condition accompanied by increased trypsin activity in the DI intestinal content compared to fish fed conventional fishmeal (FM) based diets. To further investigate the responses of Atlantic salmon to dietary SBM, we measured trypsin activity in intestinal contents, quantified pancreatic trypsin mRNA expression, surveyed trypsin mRNA expression in selected tissues and characterized active forms of trypsin in the intestinal wall and brain. Enzyme measurements showed that trypsin activity in the intestinal content of SBM fed fish was lower in the proximal segments of the intestine, but higher in the DI compared to FM fed fish. The difference in enzyme activity was not reflected in a differential expression of pancreatic trypsin mRNA between fish fed the different diets (FM or SBM). Trypsin mRNA was expressed in 18 different tissues (esophagus, stomach, pancreas, pyloric tissue, midintestine, distal intestine, liver, head kidney, kidney, heart, spleen, thymus, brain, eye, gills, gonads, muscle and skin) but was most prominently expressed in tissues of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and brain. We report for the first time an upregulation of trypsin-like activity in the DI wall using an in-gel trypsin activity assay, as well as modulated activity in the brain of fish fed SBM. The increased activity in the DI wall may contribute to disease severity and higher trypsin activity in the intestinal content.     

大黄蒽醌提取物对饲养建鲤生长的影响

将750尾建鲤(Cyprinus carpio var.jian)随机分成5组。一组为对照组,投喂基础日粮。另外4组为实验组,投喂的基础日粮中分别添加0.5%、1.0%、2.0%、4.0%大黄蒽醌提取物。连续投喂70d后,测定鱼的生长、免疫相关因子、肠道菌数量及肉质等。结果表明,与对照组相比,添加大黄蒽醌提取物提高了鱼体增重率、饲料转化效率、溶菌酶活性、一氧化氮浓度、超氧化物歧化酶活性,促进了肠道有益菌增加,抑制有害菌生长,降低了丙二醛含量及鱼体死亡率,但是与大黄蒽醌提取物的添加水平不成线性关系;其中1.0%实验组肝胰脏溶菌酶与超氧化物歧化酶活性最高,血清丙二醛含量最低;2.0%实验组增重率、血清一氧化氮浓度与超氧化物歧化酶活性、肝胰脏一氧化氮浓度、肠道乳酸杆菌数量最高;添加1.0%~2.0%大黄蒽醌提取物显著提高了肌肉粗脂肪含量。因此,添加1.0%~2.0%大黄蒽醌提取物能改善肠道的微生态平衡,提高机体免疫机能,改善肉质,促进鱼体生长。     

The effects of food type, meal size and body weight on digestion and gastric evacuation in turbot, Scophthalmus maximus L.

Experiments were conducted on a size range of turbot using whole prey organisms. Stomach contents were serially sampled at intervals after feeding on a range of meal sizes of sandeels and sprats. Gastric evacuation was essentially linear with time, though some fluctuations were observed. Control over evacuation appeared to be by regulation of the processes leading to chyme production. Close agreement between evacuation rate and the satiation feeding rate of fish in laboratory experiments was observed. Implications of these findings for techniques of estimating the feeding rates of natural fish populations are discussed.     

The adaptation of digestive enzymes to temperature, season and diet in roach, Rutilus rutilus L. and rudd Scardinius erythrophthalmus L. 1. Amylase

Seasonal changes of the amylolytic activity in the gut content of roach and rudd in four Tyrolean lakes and the adaptation of the amylase to four acclimation temperatures and to different natural foods were studied. In roach amylolytic activity varied with the environmental temperature. Between September and October, however, enzyme activity shifted to a higher level where it remained for the entire cold season. In rudd, which has almost the same seasonal pattern of amylolytic activity as the roach, the activity of the enzyme is independent of environmental temperature. This suggests an endogenous rhythm of enzyme activity. Under natural conditions the roach, but not the rudd, has a higher amylolytic activity when feeding on animals and a lower activity when feeding on detritus. The laboratory experiments revealed no significant differences in amylase activity between fish feeding on animals and those feeding on plants, although in both species the enzymatic activity was lowest when Chara served as food.     

Cellulolytic and non-cellulolytic bacteria in rat gastrointestinal tracts.

Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium species were the predominant organisms isolated from small intestinal (jejunal) contents of rats, and lactic acid was the only organic acid detected. The numbers of cellulolytic bacteria in small intestines were low (approximately 10(3)/g). The fermentation in ceca was different from that in intestines, as, in addition to small amounts of lactic acid, high concentrations of volatile fatty acids were detected. The mixed cecal microflora was able to digest cellulose (pebble-milled Whatman no. 1) and cabbage. High numbers of cellulolytic bacteria were found (0.5 X 10(8) to 12.2 X 10(8)/g; 6% of total viable bacteria). The predominant celluloytic organism isolated was Bacteroides succinogenes. Ruminococcus flavifaciens was isolated from a few animals. The kinds and numbers of the predominant non-cellulolytic organisms isolated from rat ceca were similar to those described by previous workers.     

Wood-eating catfishes of the genus Panaque: gut microflora and cellulolytic enzyme activities

Fresh gut contents of the wood-eating loricariid Panaque and a generalized loricariid Liposarcus sp. had enzymatic activity directed against both cellulose and hemicellulose. Aerobic cultures made from the guts of Panaque exhibited growth on a minimal salts medium containing only crystalline cellulose as a carbon source as well as on a variety of other substrates containing carbon polymers found in wood. Anaerobic cultures made from Panaque guts only grew with glucose as a carbon source. Cultures of whole gut contents grown on a yeast extract basal salts medium had significant cellulolytic activity. However, no culture of individual microbes had significant cellulolytic activity, suggesting that any cellulose breakdown which occurs in loricariid guts is by a consortium of micro-organisms. A variety of aerobes, microaerophiles and facultative anaerobes were found in the guts of Panaque ; several of these bacteria appear to be new species.     

A radiographic estimation of the effect of temperature on gastric emptying time in Sarotherodon niloticus (L) × S. aureus (Steindachner) hybrids

A radiographic technique was used to determine temperature effects on gastric emptying time in S. niloticus/aureus hybrids. Stomach evacuation times for 30 g fish fed 3% of their body weight were 8.5 h at 30° C, 10.8 h at 25° C and 16.4 h at 20° C. Hence, there was a negative correlation between stomach evacuation time and temperature. The Q ₁₀ between 20 and 30° C was calculated to be 1.92. Similar relationships were found for intestinal evacuation and total evacuation.
The data were used to estimate maximum daily feed intake levels of fish within the size range studied. Levels for 30 g fish were 8.5% body weight at 30° C, 6.6% at 25° C and 4.4% at 20° C. However, the optimum feeding regime should take account of the feeding behaviour of the animals.     

Estimation of digestion rates for herring Clupea harengus L. feeding on fish larvae

Two methods for estimating digestion rate were evaluated and the digestion rate to disappearance was estimated to be 0·30 h⁻¹ for herring Clupea harengus feeding on capelin Mallotus villosus larvae. Due to high individual variability in feeding rates in schooling fish species, groups should be fed in separate tanks and stomach contents collected from each group at a predetermined time.     

Volatile fatty acids and anaerobic fermentation in temperate piscivorous and omnivorous freshwater fish

Endproducts of anaerobic fermentation, volatile fatty acids (VFAs), occur in the intestines of fish but no direct comparisons exist between VFA levels in fish with differing feeding ecologies during different seasons. We measured intestinal concentrations of six types of VFA in the upper and lower intestines of two freshwater omnivores ( Cyprinus carpioi and Dorosoma cepedianum ), and one piscivore ( Micropterus salmoides ) during the spring, summer and autumn. Acetate occurred in all species, and was highest in M. salmoides . In all species, concentrations were similar between upper and lower guts and higher during the summer. All three species contained anerobic bacteria and C. carpio and D. cepedianum contained cellulolytic types. Scanning electron microscopy revealed extensive colonization and suggested microbial breakdown of digesta in M. salmoides . In radio-tracer experiments, C. carpio dosed orally with [2–¹⁴C] acetate contained label in liver, muscle and blood tissues. Amounts of intestinal VFA did not appear to increase in species with refractile diets, and low VFA in D. cepedianum suggests fermentation plays a minimal role in the nutrition of this species. Low levels of intestinal VFA during cool seasons are consistent with the hypothesis that temperature limits fermentation in these Species.     

The feeding ecology of Pleuronectes platessa L., Limanda limanda (L.) and Scophthalmus rhombus (L.) in Carmarthen Bay, South Wales, U.K.

To assess the feeding habits of plaice, Pleuronectes platessa L., and dab, Limanda limanda (L.), within Carmarthen Bay, three sampling techniques were used: benthic trawling and surf-zone push-netting were undertaken during the feeding season for the gut contents of plaice and dab (age groups 0-IV) and of 0-group brill, Scophthalmus rhombus , to be analysed in detail, and a benthic macro-fauna grab survey covered the trawled ground to assess the distribution of food species in relation to gut contents. Plaice consumed commonly-occurring food species whereas dab took any available food. The main items were the same for both species, but secondary food preferences differed. Variations in gut contents within species, for the same sized fish, chiefly resulted from the spatial distribution of fish and not seasonal variations in the benthic macro-fauna. The length and not the age of fish primarily determined the selection of food organisms.