Incidence of parasitic worms in stomachs of pelagic and demersal fish of the Rockall Trough, northeastern Atlantic Ocean

The incidence of gyrocotyllid worms in chimaeroids and cestode larvae and nematodes in the stomachs of some 13 600 demersal and pelagic fish from the Rockall Trough, northeastern Atlantic is determined. The observations were made in conjunction with a detailed study of the diets of the fish which belonged to 117 species. No dietary sources of the infections could be identified with certainty. Pelagically caught fish, from between the surface and 2500 m depth, had no helminth infestation of their stomachs. Infestations of demersal fish were more pronounced between 1500 and 2900 m than between 500 and 1250 m depth.     

Diets and trophic‐guild structure of a diverse fish assemblage in Chesapeake Bay,U.S.A.

Dietary habits and trophic‐guild structure were examined in a fish assemblage (47 species) of the Chesapeake Bay estuary, U.S.A., using 10 years of data from >25 000 fish stomachs. The assemblage was comprised of 10 statistically significant trophic guilds that were principally differentiated by the relative amounts of Mysida, Bivalvia, Polychaeta, Teleostei and other Crustacea in the diets. These guilds were broadly aggregated into five trophic categories: piscivores, zooplanktivores, benthivores, crustacivores and miscellaneous consumers. Food web structure was largely dictated by gradients in habitat (benthic to pelagic) and prey size. Size classes within piscivorous species were more likely to be classified into different guilds, reflecting stronger dietary changes through ontogeny relative to benthivores and other guilds. Relative to predator species and predator size, the month of sampling had negligible effects on dietary differences within the assemblage. A majority of sampled fishes derived most of their nutrition from non‐pelagic prey sources, suggesting a strong coupling of fish production to benthic and demersal food resources. Mysida (predominantly the opossum shrimp Neomysis americana) contributed substantially to the diets of over 25% of the sampled predator groups, indicating that this species is a critical, but underappreciated, node in the Chesapeake Bay food web.     

The predation of mysids by fish of the Rockall Trough,northeastern Atlantic Ocean

The stomach contents of representatives of approximately 100 species of pelagic and demersal fish caught in the Rockall Trough, northeastern Atlantic ocean, have been examined for the occurrence of mysids. More than 40 species of fish included mysids in their diets. The majority of the 21 species of mysids identified in the stomachs live in close association with the sediment and are rarely caught in pelagic nets. Mysids contributed significantly to the diets of many demersal fish but were not apparently important constituents of the food of pelagic fish.     

The diets of polar cod (Boreogadus saida) from August 2008 in the US Beaufort Sea

Polar cod (Boreogadus saida) play an integral part in the Arctic ecosystems linking the upper and lower trophic levels. Though their estimated biomass is considerable, recent knowledge of their diets in the US Beaufort Sea is sparse. Collections of polar cod from the US Beaufort Sea were made during August 2008 using demersal and pelagic trawls. Polar cod diet composition was quantified as percent prey weight, percent prey count, and frequency of occurrence of prey. The diet composition between the demersal- and pelagic-captured cod showed differences in all these categories. Polar cod captured in the demersal nets primarily fed on fish (by weight), and pelagic cod primarily fed on copepods (frequency of occurrence) and euphausiids (by weight). In general, these dominant preys are different than what has been reported in other studies describing polar cod diets.     

泉州湾海域鱼类多样性及营养级变化

利用2008年5月和10月在泉州湾进行的拖网渔业资源调查资料, 探讨了该海域鱼类群落结构和物种多样性特征。结果表明, 两次拖网调查共鉴定鱼类54种, 隶属于2纲13目32科。其中中上层鱼类12种, 近底层鱼类19种, 底层鱼类23种; 暖水性鱼类40种, 暖温性鱼类14种, 未发现冷温性和冷水性种类; 杂食性鱼类4种, 低级肉食性鱼类37种, 中级肉食性鱼类8种, 高级肉食性鱼类5种。白姑鱼(Argyrosomus argentatus)和叫姑鱼(Johnius belengerii)是5月份最主要的优势种, 凤鲚(Coilia mystus)和龙头鱼(Harpodon nehereus)是10月份最主要的优势种。与1985年的调查资料相比, 泉州湾鱼类组成和优势种发生了很大的变化, 多样性指数由3.05下降到2.32, 均匀度指数由0.76下降到0.58, 营养级指数由2.79下降到2.54。泉州湾鱼类多样性下降的主要原因可能是过度捕捞、水域污染和栖息地丧失等。     

Fish diet composition in floodplain lagoons of an Australian dryland river in relation to an extended dry period following flooding

Floodplain rivers worldwide are threatened by loss of connectivity to their floodplains and hence reduced benefits from floodplain energy subsidies. Dryland rivers with ‘boom and bust’ ecological responses to flooding and extended dry periods may be particularly vulnerable. This paper describes variations in dietary composition of three fish species of contrasting trophic position in dryland floodplain lagoons with variable flood inundation and drying histories. The study species were Ambassis agassizii - a microphagic carnivore, Leiopotherapon unicolor - a carnivore/omnivore, and Nematalosa erebi - an algivore/detritivor. Despite the range of food items recorded in fish guts, each species fed mostly on relatively few food categories and few food items within each category. Most of the spatial (i.e. among lagoons) and temporal dietary variation was associated with different proportional contributions of these food items. Given the absence or low magnitude of flooding during the study period, temporal changes in diets of the three species are probably the result of successional changes in composition of invertebrate prey as the dry season progressed. The focus of each fish species on relatively few food categories and a few reliable food items within each category may be the most profitable foraging strategy when food resources are limiting in progressively drying floodplain lagoons.     

厦门同安湾定置网捕获鱼类的多样性及营养级特征

利用2012年4月至2013年3月在同安湾进行的定置网渔业资源调查资料, 探讨了该海域鱼类多样性及平均营养级特征。结果表明, 周年逐月共鉴定鱼类112种, 隶属于15目53科88属。渔获物组成以沿岸小型底层鱼类为主, 其中中上层鱼类15种, 中下层鱼类18种, 底层鱼类79种; 暖水性种类84种, 暖温性种类28种, 亚热带动物区系特征明显; 杂食性鱼类8种, 低级肉食性鱼类71种, 中级肉食性鱼类30种, 高级肉食性鱼类3种, 以低级肉食性鱼类为主。中华海鲶(Tachysurus sinensis)是夏、秋、冬三季的优势种, 六指多指马鲅(Polydactylus sextarius)、锯脊塘鳢(Butis koilomatodon)和髭缟鰕虎鱼(Tridentiger barbatus)是春、冬两季的优势种。重量和尾数多样性指数最高值均在11月, 分别为3.26和3.29; 最低值均在2月, 分别为1.78和1.77。鱼类种类存在明显的季节更替现象, 其月更替率6月最低, 为40.1%; 3月最高, 达68.6%。鱼类平均营养级也存在明显的季节变化, 其中3月最低, 为3.02; 1月最高, 为3.92; 周年平均营养级为3.52。与2003年调查资料相比, 鱼类种类数明显减少, 鱼类组成和优势种发生了很大的变化, 导致变化的主要原因可能是过度捕捞、栖息地破坏和环境污染等。     

Habitat specialization in tropical continental shelf demersal fish assemblages

The implications of shallow water impacts such as fishing and climate change on fish assemblages are generally considered in isolation from the distribution and abundance of these fish assemblages in adjacent deeper waters. We investigate the abundance and length of demersal fish assemblages across a section of tropical continental shelf at Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia, to identify fish and fish habitat relationships across steep gradients in depth and in different benthic habitat types. The assemblage composition of demersal fish were assessed from baited remote underwater stereo-video samples (n = 304) collected from 16 depth and habitat combinations. Samples were collected across a depth range poorly represented in the literature from the fringing reef lagoon (1-10 m depth), down the fore reef slope to the reef base (10-30 m depth) then across the adjacent continental shelf (30-110 m depth). Multivariate analyses showed that there were distinctive fish assemblages and different sized fish were associated with each habitat/depth category. Species richness, MaxN and diversity declined with depth, while average length and trophic level increased. The assemblage structure, diversity, size and trophic structure of demersal fishes changes from shallow inshore habitats to deeper water habitats. More habitat specialists (unique species per habitat/depth category) were associated with the reef slope and reef base than other habitats, but offshore sponge-dominated habitats and inshore coral-dominated reef also supported unique species. This suggests that marine protected areas in shallow coral-dominated reef habitats may not adequately protect those species whose depth distribution extends beyond shallow habitats, or other significant elements of demersal fish biodiversity. The ontogenetic habitat partitioning which is characteristic of many species, suggests that to maintain entire species life histories it is necessary to protect corridors of connected habitats through which fish can migrate.     

Morphological-dietary relationships within two assemblages of marine demersal fishes

In this study we have used morphological characters related to feeding and prey capture and dietary data to investigate the trophic organization within two assemblages of marine demersal fishes. Morphological and dietary disparities within fish assemblages were estimated from species similarities based on Euclidean distances plus species projections on the principal axes from multivariate analyses. The analyses of the morphological variables indicated that species in each assemblage comprised morphologically distinct groups strongly influenced by trophically linked characters. Stomach content analyses revealed that fish species in each assemblage were classified into three basic feeding groups: polychaete-shrimp feeders, crab feeders and fish feeders. These results indicated that food resource partitioning was operating within each assemblage. However, when morphological and trophic data were compared no significant correlations were found. The results did not particularly support the ecomorphological hypothesis that dietary differences are due to morphological differences, since similar diets do not correspond to similar morphologies. The patterns of trophic organization within the fish assemblages examined, possibly reflect differences among species due not only to the effect of ecological demands on morphology but also by their evolutionary history and constructional constraints imposed by phylogeny. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

海州湾及邻近海域冬季鱼类群落结构及其与环境因子的关系

根据2011年冬季在海州湾及邻近海域进行的渔业资源底拖网和环境调查数据,应用物种多样性指数和多元分析等方法,对该海域鱼类种类组成、多样性和群落结构及其与环境因子的关系进行了研究.结果表明: 该海域冬季捕获鱼类共60种,隶属于10目34科51属,以暖温性和暖水性底层鱼类为主.站位间物种丰富度指数介于1.14～2.84,多样性指数介于1.08～2.64,均匀度指数介于0.41～0.83之间.经聚类分析和非度量多维标度(MDS)分析,该海域鱼类群落在空间上可分为站位组Ⅰ(35° N以北水域站位)、站位组Ⅱ(靠近湾顶的近岸水域站位)和站位组Ⅲ(35° N以南水域站位).鱼类群落种类组成在站位组间及两两间的比较均差异极显著(R=0.45～0.91).典范对应分析表明,底层水温、水深和表层盐度是影响海州湾及邻近海域冬季鱼类群落结构的主要环境因子.     

Trophic complexity of small fish in nearshore food webs

Small nearshore fishes are an important part of lacustrine and functional diversity and link pelagic and benthic habitats by serving as prey for larger nearshore and offshore fishes. However, the trophic complexity of these small nearshore fishes is often unrecognized and detailed studies of their role in food webs are lacking. Here, we examined niche space patterns of small nearshore fish species using Bayesian analyses of carbon and nitrogen stable isotope data in nine freshwater lakes that are among the largest lakes in Minnesota. We found considerable variability in niche areas within species and high variability in niche overlap across species. At the assemblage level, niche overlap (average diet overlap of all species pairs at a lake) decreased as whole-lake species richness increased, possibly indicating a greater degree of resource specialization in more speciose lakes. Overall fish niche space was weakly but significantly related to niche space of their invertebrate prey. Although nearshore benthic resources contributed to fish diets in all lakes, all fish species also had non-negligible and variable contributions from pelagic zooplankton. This inter- and intraspecific variability in trophic niche space likely contributes to the multi-level trophic complexity, functional diversity, and potentially food web resilience to ecosystem changes.

     

Morphological correlates with diet of fish assemblages in brush park fisheries of tropical estuaries

Brush park fishery in Negombo estuary, Sri Lanka is a traditional fishing practice which relies on fishes attracted to artificial woody fish aggregation devices. This study investigates whether constituent species in these brush parks exhibit morphological variations in relation to their dietary habits. Fishes caught in brush parks were sampled from April 2014 to April 2016 covering rainy, intermediate and dry seasons. There were 817 specimens of 46 species belonging to 24 families. From each specimen, 17 morphological attributes were determined and diet composition of each species was analyzed in terms of relative biovolume. Trophic index of each species estimated from the proportions of dietary items and their possible trophic level in the community was significantly related to two body proportions (Maximum body height/Maximum body width and Total length/ Maximum body height) which described shape of fish. Principal component analysis of morphometric attributes and dietary habits indicated that the species in the higher trophic levels are characterized by slender, long-body shapes and those occupy lower trophic levels are predominantly laterally compressed with deep body shapes. As such, structure of coexisting species in brush parks of Negombo estuary is predominantly along the trophic dimension and is related to morphological traits of constituent species. The predictive power of ecomorphological correlates with diets of fish species other than mugilids which are attracted to brush parks, can therefore be considered as a useful tool for conducting rapid ecological assessment.     

Trophic interactions and community structure in the upwelling system off Central Chile (33-39°S)

Trophic interactions and community structure in the upwelling system off Central Chile (USCCh) (33-39°S) are analyzed using biological and ecological data concerning the main trophic groups and the Ecopath with Ecosim software version 5.0 (EwE). The model encompasses the fisheries, cetaceans, sea lion, marine birds, cephalopods, large-sized pelagic fish (sword fish), medium-sized pelagic fish (horse mackerel, hoki), small-sized pelagic fish (anchovy, common sardine), demersal fish (e.g. Chilean hake, black conger-eel), benthic invertebrates (red squat lobster, yellow squat lobster) and other groups such as zooplankton, phytoplankton and detritus. Input data was gathered from published and unpublished reports and our own estimates. Trophic interactions, system indicators and food web attributes are calculated using network analysis routines included in EwE. Results indicate that trophic groups are aligned around four trophic levels (TL) with phytoplankton and detritus at the TL=1, while large-sized pelagic fish and cetaceans are top predators (TL>4.0). The fishery is located at an intermediate to low trophic level (TL=2.97), removing about 15% of the calculated system primary production. The pelagic realm dominates the system, with medium-sized pelagic fish as the main fish component in biomass, while small-sized pelagic fish dominate total landings. Chilean hake is by far the main demersal fish component in both, biomass and yield. Predators consume the greater part of the production of the most important fishery resources, particularly juvenile stages of Chilean hake. Consequently, mortality by predation is an important component of total mortality. However, fishery also removes a large fraction of common sardine, anchovy, horse mackerel, and Chilean hake. The analysis of direct and indirect trophic impacts reveals that Chilean hake is a highly cannibalistic species. Chilean hake is also an important predator on anchovy, common sardine, benthic invertebrates, and demersal fish. The fisheries heavily impact on Chilean hake, common sardine, anchovy, and horse mackerel. Total system biomass (B=476 t km⁻² year⁻¹) and throughput (T=89454 t km⁻² year⁻¹) estimated in the USCCh model are in accordance with models of comparable systems. Considering system attributes derived from network analysis, the USCCh can be characterized as an immature system, with short trophic chains and low trophic transfer efficiency. Finally, we suggest that trophic interactions should be considered in stock assessment and management programs in USCCh. In addition, future research programs should be carried out in order to understand the ecosystem effects of fishing and trophic control in this highly productive food web.     

Immunofluorescent test for simultaneous detection of Edwardsiella ictaluri and Flavobacterium columnare

Enteric septicemia of catfish (ESC) and columnaris disease are 2 bacterial diseases significantly affecting the aquaculture industry, and thus rapid diagnosis of disease is imperative for making judicious management decisions. A rapid indirect fluorescent antibody (IFA) test with antibody conjugated fluorochromes having 2 different spectral properties (Alexa Fluor 488-emitting green fluorescence, and Alexa Fluor 594-emitting red fluorescence) was compared with bacteriological culture (accepted standard) for simultaneous detection of Edwardsiella ictaluri (EI) and Flavobacterium columnare (FC) in 3 groups of experimentally infected channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus Rafinesque), and a fourth group that acquired an aquarium-infection with F. columnare. A total of 303 samples (derived from kidney, brain and nares) from 101 fish were concurrently examined by both tests. Fish in the 3 experimentally infected groups (I to III) were culture positive for the bacteria with which they were infected, and fish in Group IV, (the spontaneously infected fish) revealed F. columnare only. The IFA test compared favorably in sensitivity (EI= 80.7 %; FC = 87.2%) and specificity (EI = 83.9%; FC = 88.9%) with the standard bacteriological culture. The positive predictive value (EI = 96.2% Group I, 90.8% Group II, 93.7% Groups I and II combined; FC = 95.2% Group II, 95.3% Groups II, III and IV combined) was high, while the negative predictive value (EI = 66.7% Group I, 31.3% Group II, 59.5% Groups I and II combined; FC = 73.7% Group II, 72.7% Groups II, III and IV combined) was relatively low. The IFA test will serve as an efficient tool for rapid simultaneous detection of E. ictaluri and F. columnare in outbreaks of disease.     

Variation in the diet of Arctic Cod (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Boreogadus saida</Emphasis>) in the Pacific Arctic and Bering Sea

Arctic cod, Boreogadus saida (Lepechin, 1774), is a nodal species in Arctic marine foodwebs as an important prey of many birds, marine mammals, and other fishes, as well as an abundant predator of zooplankton and epibenthic fauna. We examined the summer diet of Arctic cod across a latitudinal gradient extending from the southern limit of their distribution in the eastern Bering Sea to the northern margins of the eastern Chukchi Sea (ECS) continental shelf. Specimens were collected from demersal and pelagic trawls conducted between 1999 and 2012, and across a range of predator sizes (3–26 cm). Arctic cod diets vary with body size and between regions within the study area, and appear to vary between years in the eastern Bering Sea, indicating opportunistic feeding habits. Constrained Analysis of Principal Coordinates was conducted on ECS demersal samples and revealed consumption of fish and decapod crustacea were positively correlated with Arctic cod length while consumption of euphausiids and copepods had the opposite relationship. The demersal Arctic cod diet in the northern latitudes of the ECS was dominated by copepod consumption (47% by weight, %W), but copepods were less important (12–26%W) in the central and southern latitudes of the ECS and in the northern and eastern Bering Sea—areas where diets were more varied in their composition. High levels of variation in the diet of Arctic cod highlights the need to monitor Arctic cod diets to identify consistently dominant prey types and potential future changes to trophic relationships related to climate change or increasing anthropogenic activity.     

Recharacterization of Pseudomonas fulva Iizuka and Komagata 1963, and proposals of Pseudomonas parafulva sp. nov. and Pseudomonas cremoricolorata sp. nov

Seven Pseudomonas fulva strains obtained from culture collections were taxonomically studied. The seven strains were separated into three clusters (Clusters I to III) on the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequences, and located phylogenetically in the genus Pseudomonas sensu stricto. Further, the strains were classified into 4 groups (Groups I to IV) on the basis of DNA-DNA similarity. As a result, Cluster I was split into Groups I and II. Group I included the type strain of P. fulva and two strains, and levels of DNA-DNA similarity ranged from 88 to 100% among the strains. Group II contained two strains, and the level between the two strains ranged from 91 to 100%. Group III consisted of one strain. Group IV included one strain, and this strain showed a high level of DNA-DNA similarity with the type strain of Pseudomonas straminea NRIC 0164(T). Clusters II and III corresponded to Groups III and IV, respectively. The four groups were separated from one another and from related Pseudomonas species at the level from 3 to 45% of DNA-DNA similarity. The strains of Groups I, II, and III had ubiquinone 9 as the major quinone. According to numerical analysis by the use of 133 phenotypic characteristics, the seven P. fulva strains were split into four phenons (Phenons I to IV). The groups by DNA-DNA similarity corresponded well with the phenons produced by numerical taxonomy, and differential characteristics were recognized. Consequently, Group I was regarded as P. fulva because the type strain (NRIC 0180(T)) of this species was included in this group. Strains in Group II were identified as a new species, Pseudomonas parafulva sp. nov., and the type strain is AJ 2129 (=IFO 16636=JCM 11244=NRIC 0501). NRIC 0181 in Group III was identified as a new species, Pseudomonas cremoricolorata sp. nov., and the type strain is NRIC 0181 (=IFO 16634=JCM 11246). NRIC 0182 in Group IV was identified as P. straminea on the basis of the high level of DNA-DNA similarity with the type strain of this species.     

PLOIDAL CHANGES IN CLONAL CULTURES OF SPIROGYRA COMMUNIS AND IMPLICATIONS FOR SPECIES DEFINITION

A clonal culture of Spirogyra filaments of initially uniform width produced filaments of three additional significantly different widths. Group I filaments of the original clone were 30.9 ± 0.7 μm wide (mean ± SD, N = 50). Group I filaments produced Group II filaments (22.0 ± 1.1 μm) through vegetative growth and sexual reproduction. Zygospores from homothallic Group I filaments produced germlings representative of Groups I and II; zygospores from homothallic Group II filaments produced germlings representative of Group II only. Germlings of Groups III (27.7 ± 1.0 μm) and IV (44.9 ± 0.8 μm) were produced in the cross of I × II. Viable zygospores from homothallic Group III filaments were obtained. Cells of Group IV filaments were initially binucleate and did not conjugate. Of the six intergroup crosses possible, four resulted in conjugation-tube formation only; two crosses yielded zygospores (I × II and III × IV). Germlings from the successful cross of Groups III and IV produced filaments of all four groups. Chromosome counts were: Group I (24), Group II (12), Group III (18), and Group IV (24, one nucleus). Relative nuclear fluorescence values of mithramycin-stained DNA were (mean ± SD, N ≥ 30): Group I (11.1 ± 1.4), Group II (5.7 ± 0.7), Group III (8.8 ± 1.3), and Group IV (10.0 ± 0.9, one nucleus). Cytologically, Group II appears to be a diploid (2x), Group I a tetraploid (4x), and Group III a triploid (3x). Systematically, Groups I, II, and III key out to Spirogyra singularis, S. communis, and S. fragilis, respectively, using Transeau's mongraph of the family Zygnemataceae. These species are interpreted to represent a species complex of S. communis (whose name has priority) with the ancestral haploid (x = 6) missing.     

Growth and dietary utilisation in goldfish (Carassius auratus Linn.) fed diets formulated with various local agro-produces

During a 60 d feeding trial, goldfish (Carassius auratus) measuring 1.66+/-0.02 g by weight and 4.2+/-0.02 mm by length were fed diets containing 23.34%, 26.21%, 29.30%, 32.24% and 42.53% crude protein in Feeds I through V respectively. The four formulated-diets (Feeds I, II, IV and V) contained groundnut oil-cake, wheat bran, soybean meal, fish meal, cod liver oil, vegetable oil and vitamin-mineral mixture with tapioca as binder and a commercially-available diet (Feed III) procured from the market. All the feeds were dispensed twice daily at 4% body weight. Results revealed that the growth (in terms of net weight gain and specific growth rate) and dietary utilisation (in terms of feed conversion ratio, protein retention efficiency and energy retention efficiency) were observed to be significantly greater (p < or = 0.05) in Feed V which contained 42.53% protein followed by Feeds IV, I, II and III, and 7.58%, 6.11%, 6.63%, 7.86% and 7.91% lipid in Feeds I through V, describing clearly the role of a combination of protein and lipid in the diet for growth and feed utilisation. Lowest growth and dietary utilisation was observed in Feed III (the commercial diet). The alkaline and acid phosphatase activities in liver, gill and intestine as also the RNA:DNA ratio in the muscle tissues were greatest in fish fed Feed V, which indicated best growth. It was thus concluded that a protein content of 40-45% in the diet of young goldfish could significantly enhance growth and dietary utilisation.     

Nitrogen and energy balance in growing mink (Mustela vison) fed different levels of bacterial protein meal produced with natural gas

The objective of this study was to estimate the effect of increasing the dietary content of bacterial protein meal (BPM) on energy and protein metabolism in growing mink kits. Sixteen male mink kits of the standard brown genotype were randomly fed one of four diets: A control (Diet I) based on high-quality fish meal, and three experimental diets in which 20% (Diet II), 40% (Diet III) and 60% (Diet IV) of the digested nitrogen (DN) was replaced with BPM. Nitrogen balance and respiration experiments (indirect calorimetry) were carried out when the animals were approximately 9.5, 14.5, 17.5, 23.5 and 28.5 weeks of age. The apparent digestibility of crude protein and energy decreased significantly with increasing dietary BPM. The retained nitrogen was 0.45, 0.54, 0.52 and 0.40 g/kg0.75 on Diets I, II, III and IV, respectively, the observed differences between diets being non-significant (p = 0.06). Heat production (HE) was between 645 and 665 kJ/kg0.75 on all diets (p = 0.78). Retained energy (RE) was approximately 150-160 kJ/kg0.75 on Diets I to III, whereas it was -11 kJ/kg0.75 on Diet IV, the differences being significant (p< 0.001). A lower feed intake and apparent digestibility of energy caused the negative RE on Diet IV. The amount of HE from oxidation of protein decreased from 32.7% on Diet I to 26.6% on Diet IV, and oxidation of fat increased from 53.8% on Diet I to 63.5% Diet IV. In conclusion, protein and energy metabolism remained unaffected when up to 40% of DN was derived from BPM.     

Individuals' diet diversity influences gut microbial diversity in two freshwater fish (threespine stickleback and Eurasian perch)

Vertebrates' diets profoundly influence the composition of symbiotic gut microbial communities. Studies documenting diet‐microbiota associations typically focus on univariate or categorical diet variables. However, in nature individuals often consume diverse combinations of foods. If diet components act independently, each providing distinct microbial colonists or nutrients, we expect a positive relationship between diet diversity and microbial diversity. We tested this prediction within each of two fish species (stickleback and perch), in which individuals vary in their propensity to eat littoral or pelagic invertebrates or mixtures of both prey. Unexpectedly, in most cases individuals with more generalised diets had less diverse microbiota than dietary specialists, in both natural and laboratory populations. This negative association between diet diversity and microbial diversity was small but significant, and most apparent after accounting for complex interactions between sex, size and diet. Our results suggest that multiple diet components can interact non‐additively to influence gut microbial diversity.