Effect of dietary dextrin levels on the growth performance,blood chemistry,body composition,hepatic triglicerides and glycogen of Lebranche mullet juveniles (Mugil liza Valenciennes 1836, Mugilidae)

The effects of increasing levels of dietary dextrin on growth performance, body composition, blood chemistry and hepatic triglycerides and glycogen levels were evaluated for juvenile Lebranche mullet, Mugil liza Valenciennes 1836, Mugilidae). Five diets were formulated to be isonitrogenous (350 g kg^?1) and isolipidic (6 g kg^?1) with increasing dextrin levels (D150: 150 g kg^?1; D200: 200 g kg^?1; D250: 250 g kg^?1; D300: 300 g kg^?1; D350: 350 g kg^?1). The experimental diets were offered to the fish for 34 days, four times per day, until apparent satiation. Each treatment was tested in triplicate, with nine fish per tank (mean weight 4.69 ± 0.31 g). Fish were reared in a recirculating aquatic system of 15 fibreglass tanks each containing 50 L of saltwater. Growth parameters and body composition of the mullets were not significantly affected (P > 0.05) by the dietary treatments. Plasma glucose concentration declined (P < 0.05) when dietary dextrin increased from D250 to D300, but recovered to the previous values (in reference to D150 and D200) when fish were fed with D350. Glycated haemoglobin, plasma proteins, triglycerides and cholesterol showed no significant differences among these treatments. Hepatic glycogen reached a maximum in treatment D250, followed by D350, D200 and D300, with the lowest concentration of liver glycogen found in D150 (P < 0.05). The concentration of liver triglycerides showed an increase (P < 0.05) in treatments D300 and D350 compared with D200. In conclusion, Mugil liza juveniles can be fed diets with high levels of dietary dextrin with no deleterious effects to their growth or plasma biochemistry, hepatic glycogen or triglycerides.     

Aphidophagous predator diagnosis: Key to genera of European chrysopid larvae (Neur.: Chrysopidae)

Keys, based on the morphology of first- and third-instar larvae, are described for distinguishing the 13 genera of European Chrysopidae. The eggs, first-instar larvae and third-instar larvae of all genera are illustrated. Data on the biology and behaviour of the larvae are also presented.

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Résumé Dans ce travail nous présentons les caractères morphologiques des larves de Chrysopes qui sont utilisés dans la détermination des 13 genres qui habitent en Europe, ainsi que des clés pour l'identification des premiers et troisièmes stades larvaires (L-1 et L-3). Les stades L-1 et L-3 de tous les generes étudiés sont illustrés par des figures.

     

Acute effects of extreme pH and its influences on the survival and biochemical biomarkers of juvenile White Shrimp,Litopenaeus vannamei

The White Shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) is reared in several types of systems. Changes in pH in some can produce sub-lethal effects that result in poor growth and survival. The aim of the present study was to determine the acidic and basic pH 50% lethal limits after 96 h exposure (pH_50–96 h) and to evaluate the sub-lethal effects of pH on oxidative stress parameters in juvenile L. vannamei. The experimental design comprised nine treatments with three replications of each. The nine treatments consisted of pH 10.5, 10.0, 9.5, 9.0, 7.0, 5.0, 4.5, 4.0 and 3.5. The treatment at 7.0 was used as the control. The sub-lethal pH tests were: basic pH 9.5, neutral pH 7.0 (control) and acidic pH 4.5. For each experimental pH and sampling point, the hemolymph of six shrimp was collected to determine catalase and glutathione S-transferase’s activities and total antioxidant capacity. The values of lethal pH₅₀ at 24, 48, 72 and 96 h for juvenile L. vannamei had basic pH values equal to 9.82, 9.62, 9.59 and 9.58 and acidic pH values of 3.86, 3.92, 3.94 and 4.04, respectively. The shrimp exposed to basic and acidic pH levels showed antioxidant responses with changes in antioxidant activity.