Shoal Choice in the Banded Killifish (Fundulus diaphanus,Teleostei, Cyprinodontidae): Effects of Predation Risk,Fish Size,Species Composition and Size of Shoals

Banded killifish (Fundulus diaphanus) were presented individually with a choice of shoaling with either of two stimulus shoals which differed in shoal size, species composition, and fish body size, before and after a simulated avian predator attack. When threatened, test fish preferred to shoal with the larger of two conspecific shoals, but only if members of both stimulus shoals were of the same size class as the test fish. Otherwise, they preferred to shoal with similarly sized fish irrespective of shoal size; threat of predation increased the magnitude of this preference. Furthermore, test fish preferred a shoal of similarly sized shiners (Notemigonus crysoleucas) over larger killifish, when shoal sizes were identical. This indicates that body size plays a key role in shoal choice, overriding the effects of shoal size and species preference. Notwithstanding the above, shoal choice was affected by predator threat only when differences between shoal size or body size of stimulus fish were large.     

Cloning, expression in Pichia pastoris, and characterization of a thermostable GH5 mannan endo-1,4-β-mannosidase from Aspergillus niger BK01

Background  

Mannans are key components of lignocellulose present in the hemicellulosic fraction of plant primary cell walls. Mannan endo-1,4-β-mannosidases (1,4-β-D-mannanases) catalyze the random hydrolysis of β-1,4-mannosidic linkages in the main chain of β-mannans. Biodegradation of β-mannans by the action of thermostable mannan endo-1,4-β-mannosidase offers significant technical advantages in biotechnological industrial applications, i.e. delignification of kraft pulps or the pretreatment of lignocellulosic biomass rich in mannan for the production of second generation biofuels, as well as for applications in oil and gas well stimulation, extraction of vegetable oils and coffee beans, and the production of value-added products such as prebiotic manno-oligosaccharides (MOS).