双酚A及其类似物对斑马鱼胚胎及幼鱼的毒性效应

为探讨双酚A及其类似物对鱼类早期生长发育的毒性效应,研究了双酚A及其7种类似物对斑马鱼胚胎及仔鱼的毒性效应。通过对胚胎的孵化率、心率、仔鱼体长等指标进行测定分析,结果显示:(1)双酚A及其7种类似物都可使斑马鱼胚胎出现心包水肿、卵黄囊肿、脊柱弯曲和尾部弯曲等症状。(2)综合考虑斑马鱼78 hpf胚胎心率、120 hpf胚胎孵化率及7 dpf仔鱼体长抑制率等指标,8种受试物中双酚P(BPP)的毒性最大,其次是双酚AP(BPAP)、双酚AF(BPAF)、双酚Z(BPZ),然后是双酚A(BPA)、双酚B(BPB)、双酚F(BPF),双酚S(BPS)的毒性最小,每种受试物的浓度与受精卵的孵化率、仔鱼心率呈明显负相关关系,与体长抑制率呈明显正相关关系。8种受试物毒性与辛醇-水分配系数(log K_(OW))呈正相关关系,log K_(OW)越大毒性则越大。     

不同藻密度下诺氟沙星对萼花臂尾轮虫生命表统计学参数的影响

诺氟沙星是一种被广泛使用的抗生素,但其对轮虫的毒性作用尚不清楚。为调查诺氟沙星对轮虫的毒性及其与藻密度之间的关系,以及各试验终点对诺氟沙星污染的相对敏感性,本文以萼花臂尾轮虫为受试生物,研究了不同斜生栅藻密度(1.0×10~6、2.0×10~6和4.0×10~6cells·m L~(-1))下不同浓度(0、5、20、35、50、65和80 mg·L~(-1))的诺氟沙星对其生命表统计学参数的影响。结果显示,与3个藻密度下的对照组相比,暴露于5～80 mg·L~(-1)诺氟沙星溶液中的轮虫生命期望和世代时间显著延长,净生殖率和种群内禀增长率显著提高。5 mg·L~(-1)的诺氟沙星使生命期望和世代时间的延长幅度随着藻密度的升高而增大,但6个处理组的平均提高幅度却随着藻密度的升高而减小; 5 mg·L~(-1)的诺氟沙星对净生殖率和种群内禀增长率的提高幅度随着藻密度的升高而增大,但6个处理组的平均提高幅度却在2.0×10~6cells·m L~(-1)的藻密度下最小,4.0×10~6cells·m L~(-1)的藻密度下最大。1.0×10~6cells·m L~(-1)的藻密度下,诺氟沙星浓度对轮虫后代混交率无显著性影响(P0.05); 2.0×10~6cells·m L~(-1)的藻密度下,暴露于5～35和80 mg·L~(-1)诺氟沙星溶液中的轮虫后代混交率显著降低; 4.0×10~6cells·m L~(-1)的藻密度下,暴露于5、35和80 mg·L~(-1)诺氟沙星溶液中的轮虫后代混交率显著降低。当藻密度为1.0×10~6和2.0×10~6cells·m L~(-1)时,诺氟沙星浓度与轮虫的生命期望、世代时间、净生殖率和种群内禀增长率之间具有显著的剂量-效应关系;当藻密度为4.0×10~6cells·m L~(-1)时,诺氟沙星浓度与轮虫的净生殖率和种群内禀增长率之间具有显著的剂量-效应关系。本研究表明,亚致死浓度的诺氟沙星促进轮虫的存活、发育、孤雌生殖和种群增长,促进作用的幅度受藻密度的显著影响。     

Influence of lignin, pentachlorophenol and heavy metal on antibiotic resistance of pathogenic bacteria isolated from pulp paper mill effluent contaminated river water

Pulp paper mill pollutants are the major source of aquatic contamination having metals, lignin and chlorophenols. Study was conducted to see the effect of these contaminants on antibiotic resistance pattern of isolated bacteria. Pulp paper effluents were evaluated for its physico-chemical properties i.e, BOD 72143 +/- 164.81 to 22.32 +/- 2.48, COD 213136 +/- 583.59 to 60.40 +/- 6.34, total phenol 386 +/- 71.24 to 0.43 +/- 0.0, lignin 26312 +/- 258.59 to 73.67 +/- 31.81and microbial quality i.e. K. pneumonae, S. typhi, S. faecalis, P. aeruginosa, E. coli, Ent. faecalis, A. hydrophila, B. subtilis, S. aureus, Y enterolitica and V vulrificus. Antibiotic sensitivity (10-30 microg), heavy metal resistance (100-1000 microg ml(-1)), lignin (1000-10,000 ppm) and pentachlorophenol (100-1000 ppm) tolerance of bacterial strains were assessed by seven classes of antibiotics. Eleven bacterial isolates were found multidrug resistant towards antibiotics, heavy metal, lignin and PCP. Out of 11 isolates, 90.9% were found resistant against eleven antibiotics which acquired 100% resistant in presence of heavy metal, lignin and chlorophenols. Results also revealed that concentration of lignin (50-350 ppm) and PCP (5-30 ppm) induced maximum growth (273-8050 cfu ml(-1)) of pathogenic bacteria in river water.     

Biological effects of oil on early development of the Baltic herring Clupea harengus membras

The effects of petroleum hydrocarbons from two crude oils and one fuel oil (No. 1) were studied on the ontogenic development of the Baltic herring Clupea harengus membras L. Herring eggs exposed to water-soluble fractions of the oils at the time of fertilization showed no decrease in numbers of fertilized eggs compared to eggs exposed 6 or 72 h after fertilization. During embryongenesis, treatment with 3.1 to 8.9 ppm or 3.3 to 11.9 ppm total oil hydrocarbons from light fuel oil and the two crude oils respectively, gave rise to alterations in embryonic activity, decreased heart rate, and premature or delayed hatching. Although many larvae hatched from eggs exposed to contaminated water (3.1 to 11.9 ppm total oil hydrocarbons), the majority of the (70 to 100%) were malformed or dead 1 day after hatching. Exposure of eggs to 5.4–5.8 ppm total oil hydrocarbons resulted in significantly (P<0.001) decreased lengths of the larvae. Increased temperature (from 9° to 14°C) aggravated the effects of the oils. The results are discussed in relation to the potential effects of oil spills and chronic oil pollution on fish eggs and larvae in the Baltic Sea.     

Variations in physico-chemical and microbiological characteristics of water during breeding of Cyprinus carpio in a closed hatchery system

Physico-chemical and microbial characteristics of culture water were examined during the induced breeding of Cyprinus carpio in a controlled environmental system. Water temperature, dissolved oxygen, nitrate, phosphate, pH, ammonia nitrogen, total bacterial count, hardness, salinity, carbonate and bicarbonate were estimated before and after spawning and hatching. Average alteration in water pH before and after spawning was 7.91-7.57 and 7.86-7.58 respectively. Total hardness, carbonate and bicarbonate showed insignificant variations. Nitrate, ammonia nitrogen and phosphate contents significantly increased after spawning and hatching p < 0.05. The average increase in nitrate was from 2.94 to 8.62 microg l(-1) after spawning and 3.10 to 8.49 microgl(-1) after hatching. Ammonia nitrogen contents were sharply increased from an average of 0.011 to 1.87 mg l(-1) after spawning and 0.013 to 0.56 mg l(-1) after hatching. The average phosphates increased from 2.59 to 4.15 microg l(-1) after spawning and 2.61 to 4.03 microg l(-1) after hatching. Dissolved oxygen was sharply depleted even after a continuous aeration. Temperature played a vital role during breeding. No successful breeding was observed at a temperature of 17 degrees C or below and 31 degrees C or above. There is a significant association between temperature, spawning and hatching (p < 0.05). By optimizing temperature, the breeding success of this carp was achieved with a statistical significance of p < 0.05. Total bacterial count was significantly increased after spawning and hatching. It was related to the amount of discharge and may cause mass mortality of fish embryo and spawn in a closed hatchery system.     

离子液体[C_8 mim]Cl对泥鳅胚胎和仔鱼的毒性

以泥鳅的胚胎及仔鱼为试验材料,选择胚胎发育的4个不同时期(囊胚期、原肠胚中期、神经胚期、尾芽期)及仔鱼期为处理开始的时间点,探讨了离子液体[C8mim]Cl的毒性作用。结果表明,随着[C8mim]Cl浓度增加,泥鳅胚胎的孵化率下降,畸形率上升,具有明显的剂量-效应关系,67~150 mg·L-1的[C8mim]Cl对泥鳅胚胎均表现出明显的致畸毒性效应;随着[C8mim]Cl浓度增加,泥鳅仔鱼死亡率上升,而100~225 mg·L-1的[C8mim]Cl对泥鳅仔鱼具有明显的致畸、致死作用。其中,[C8mim]Cl对孵出期泥鳅仔鱼的24 h、48 h的半致死浓度分别为97.95和86.77 mg·L-1;而[C8mim]Cl对孵出后3 d泥鳅仔鱼的24 h、48 h的半致死浓度分别为73.77和40.98 mg·L-1。由上可知,在一定的剂量内,[C8mim]Cl对泥鳅胚胎及仔鱼的发育有明显的致畸、致死作用,这为离子液体[C8mim]Cl的合理使用提供了理论依据。     

Age and growth of co-occurring larvae of two flounder species,Rhombosolea tapirina and Ammotretis rostratus

Daily growth increments on otoliths were used to age larvae of the pleuronectid fluonders Rhombosolea tapirina Günther and Ammotretis rostratus Günther, collected from Port Phillip Bay, Victoria, Australia, in winter 1984. Daily formation of growth increments was confirmed for R. tapirina by examining the growth of the marginal increment on otoliths of larvae collected over two 24h periods in winter 1985. The first distinctive growth increment was laid down approximately 5 d after hatching, at the onset of external feeding. Growth of flounder larvae was exponential from an early feeding stage to notochord flexion at approximately 30 d after hatching. The specific growth rate was very similar for the two species, at slightly over 4% of standard length per day. Predicted absolute growth rate of R. tapirina larvae increased from approximately 0.10 mm d^-1 in early feeding larvae to approximately 0.23 mm d^-1 in flexion-stage larvae, compared with 0.12 to 0.28 mm d^-1 for A. rostratus larvae of equivalent ages. Exponential models did not adequately describe growth of first-feeding larvae, which was slower than predicted. Growth in the field was faster than that recorded for the same species in the laboratory at higher water temperatures and prey abundances. Otolith growth accelerated markedly in relation to growth in length at the beginning of metamorphosis, causing a significant alteration in the morphology of growth increments, and eventually leading to the cessation of production of visible increments.     

Factors determining the hatching success of Antarctic krill <Emphasis Type="Italic">Euphausia superba</Emphasis> embryo: lipid and fatty acid composition

The present study addresses the effect of maternal diet on hatching success and condition of embryos and larvae of Antarctic krill Euphausia superba. Lipid and fatty acid content and composition were determined in field and laboratory samples. Developmental stages analyzed in embryos included: multiple-cell, gastrula, and limb-bud stages. Larval stages analyzed included: nauplius I, nauplius II, and metanauplius. Laboratory-reared embryos were spawned by gravid females incubated under three feeding groups: (1) phytoplankton mixture, (2) phytoplankton mixture and minced clam, and (3) phytoplankton mixture, minced clam, and commercial larval food. Hatching success was highest in group 3 (100%), lowest in group 1 (0%), and highly variable in field samples (0–48%). Lipid decreased slightly in embryos during embryonic development, while large decreases in lipid were found during nauplius development. High levels of 18:2(n-6), 20:4(n-6), and 22:6(n-3) observed with group 3 samples coincided with high hatching success in krill embryos. The ratio of 22:6(n-3)/20:5(n-3) also correlated to hatching success of embryos. The fatty acid profile of embryos in group 3 was similar to that of the field-collected embryos, reflecting the contribution of the commercial larval food in the maternal diet. In our study, the maternal diet was found to influence the fatty acid composition of embryos and in turn affects the hatching success of krill. Specific polyunsaturated fatty acids appeared to play important roles in embryogenesis in krill.     

Effects of tributyl-tin on a marine microalga, Tetraselimis suecica

Marine pollutants induce changes in microalgal metabolism. In this study effects of tributyl-tin chloride (TBTCl) on a marine microalga Tetraselmis suecica was studied. The changes induced by TBTCI on growth rate, viability and biochemicals were assessed. In acute exposure to TBTCl, EC50 estimated for 24 hr was 2.02 microg ml(-1), whereas total lethality was observed at 4 microg ml(-1). In chronic exposure to TBTCl, at higher concentrations (0.5-1 microg ml(-1)) growth rate, chlorophyll pigments, carbohydrate and protein contents were reduced. The results of this study indicate that TBTCl toxicity made drastic changes in growth and biochemical composition of T. suecica.     

Changes in oxygen consumption and heart rate of the blue swimming crab, Portunus pelagicus (Linnaeus, 1766) following exposure to sublethal concentrations of copper

Weight specific oxygen consumption and heart rates were investigated in blue swimming crab, Portunus pelagicus to indicate the stress in response to increasing salinities (50, 75, 100 and 125%SW) and increasing copper concentration (0, 0.75, 1.5, 3 and 6 ppm copper) at temperature 25 degrees C. Oxygen consumption (micromol.g(-1).h(-1) was measured using closed system respirometer (Strathkelvin Instruments oxygen meter model 781). Heart rates (beat.min(-1)) were recorded using impedance techniques. It has been found that oxygen consumption and heart rate increased with decreasing salinities and increasing copper concentration. The statistic showed weight specific oxygen consumption of P. pelagicus after 96 hr exposure to 6 ppm copper in all salinities were significantly different (P < 0.05) from 0 ppm copper. Mean heart rate of P. pelagicus in 50%SW after 96 hr exposure to 6 ppm copper were significantly different (P < 0.05) from 0 ppm copper.     

氰戊菊酯对斑马鱼和稀有鮈鲫不同生命阶段的毒性效应

为探明氰戊菊酯对鱼类不同生命阶段的毒性效应,以斑马鱼和稀有鮈鲫为测试生物,评价了氰戊菊酯对斑马鱼和稀有鮈鲫不同生命阶段的急性毒性差异。研究发现,氰戊菊酯对斑马鱼和稀有鮈鲫胚胎的96 h-LC50值分别为0.901(0.664~1.22)和0.636(0.233~1.74)mg·L~(-1)。氰戊菊酯对稀有鮈鲫胚胎孵化有明显的促进作用,染毒48 h后,0.188和0.375 mg·L~(-1)氰戊菊酯对稀有鮈鲫胚胎的孵化率分别为88.9%和100%。氰戊菊酯对斑马鱼仔鱼、幼鱼和成鱼的96 h-LC50值分别为0.00340、0.0183、0.00487 mg·L~(-1),氰戊菊酯对稀有鮈鲫仔鱼、幼鱼和成鱼的96 h-LC50值分别为0.0520、0.00277、0.00345 mg·L~(-1)。因此,氰戊菊酯对斑马鱼不同生命阶段的毒性从高到低顺序依次为:仔鱼成鱼幼鱼胚胎,氰戊菊酯对稀有鮈鲫胚胎、仔鱼、幼鱼和成鱼的毒性为幼鱼成鱼仔鱼胚胎。试验结果表明,斑马鱼仔鱼对氰戊菊酯的敏感性高于稀有鮈鲫相应的生命阶段,相对于斑马鱼,稀有鮈鲫胚胎、幼鱼以及成鱼对氰戊菊酯的毒性作用更为敏感,说明氰戊菊酯对斑马鱼和稀有鮈鲫不同生命阶段的毒性效应差异较大。     

吡唑醚菌酯对不同阶段斑马鱼的毒性效应评价

为评价吡唑醚菌酯对鱼类不同生命阶段的毒性效应,以斑马鱼(Brachydanio rerio)为测试生物,测定了其对斑马鱼胚胎、仔鱼(孵化3 d和孵化12 d)和成鱼的急性毒性及对胚胎和仔鱼(孵化3 d)的发育毒性。结果表明,吡唑醚菌酯对斑马鱼胚胎、仔鱼(孵化3 d)、仔鱼(孵化12 d)和成鱼的96 h-LC50分别为0.0578(0.0540~0.0631)、0.0299(0.0282~0.0320)、0.0330(0.0310~0.0350)和0.0756(0.0692~0.0862)mg·L-1,其毒性大小依次为仔鱼(孵化3 d)仔鱼(孵化12 d)胚胎成鱼。与对照组相比,吡唑醚菌酯0.101 mg·L-1处理,可对斑马鱼胚胎24 h自主运动产生显著抑制作用;0.0609、0.0777和0.101 mg·L-1处理,可对斑马鱼胚胎48h心跳速率产生显著抑制作用;0.0609和0.0777 mg·L-1处理,可对斑马鱼胚胎96 h孵化仔鱼体长产生显著抑制作用。在供试浓度下吡唑醚菌酯暴露96 h后,均可对斑马鱼仔鱼(孵化3 d)体重和体长产生明显的抑制效应,对斑马鱼仔鱼(孵化3 d)心跳未产生明显影响。在高浓度下,吡唑醚菌酯可诱导斑马鱼胚胎产生畸形,主要包括心包水肿、卵黄囊水肿等;而对仔鱼(孵化3 d)未观察到明显的致畸效应。     

Effect of temperature on viability and axial muscle development in embryos and yolk sac larvae of the Northeast Arctic cod (Gadus morhua)

Cod (Gadus morhua L.) eggs may develop and hatch within temperatures of −1.5 to 12 °C, but little is known about the effects of very low temperatures on larval characteristics. Eggs of the Northeast Arctic cod (Gadus morhua) were incubated at 1, 5 or 8 °C from Day 1 after fertilisation until hatching, and transferred to 5 °C after hatching. Histological samples of the axial musculature were taken at hatching and 5 d after hatching, and the data on muscle cellularity from these samples were related to survival and hatching, size, developmental data and viability of the yolk sac larvae. All larvae hatched at the same developmental stage. Incubation of eggs at 1 °C produced shorter larvae with a larger yolk sac and more, small deep fibres at hatching than larvae from eggs incubated at 5 or 8 °C. The larval size difference was still present 5 d after hatching, a time at which the larvae from 1 °C-incubated eggs were less developed and less resistant to an acute viability stress test (65 ppt salinity). Although there were no differences between temperature groups in number and size of muscle fibres 5 d after hatching, the deep fibres of the 1 °C-group contained less myofibrils than the two other groups. The phenotype of the larvae at hatching was thus affected within these incubation temperatures. Although all groups were transferred to the same temperature after hatching, the lowest egg incubation temperature (1 °C) still had a negative effect 5 d after hatching, as these larvae were both smaller, less resistant to stress and had less functional muscles at the time of first feeding. Our conclusion is therefore that 1 °C is close to, or below, the lower thermal tolerance limit for normal functional development of Northeast Arctic cod. The results are discussed in relation to larval viability and recruitment of this species in the wild. Received: 4 February 1998 / Accepted: 10 July 1998     

航道疏浚泥悬浮液对黑鲷胚胎的发育及仔鱼摄食生长的影响

采用静水试验法,温度在20℃左右,并保持试验用水溶解氧为饱和溶氧的60%,用疏浚泥悬浮液与过滤海水按等对数间距稀释成4个体积浓度水平(1:2、1:10、1:50、1:200),同时以过滤海水为对照组,每一个浓度组设3个平行样本,对人工养殖的黑鲷Spaptls macrocephalus鱼卵和仔鱼进行毒性试验.试验结果表明:疏浚泥悬浮液对鱼卵孵化有一定影响,但不显著.仔鱼的全长和体重的增长与悬浮液浓度的变化并无十分明显的对应关系,只有当水体中的悬浮液达到一定浓度时,才显现出对仔鱼生长的影响作用.在仔鱼摄食过程中,悬浮液对全长生长产生的抑制或影响作用不显著,但高浓度的悬浮液则对体重增长产生了一定的抑制性,不过这是一种短暂性的影响,随着时间的延长,其作用逐渐减弱或消失.     

Energy substrates for eggs and prefeeding larvae of the dolphinCoryphaena hippurus

Changes in the chemical composition of developing dolphin (Coryphaena hippurus) eggs and prefeeding yolksac larvae were determined in order to estimate probable dietary requirements of first-feeding larvae. Daily dry matter, protein nitrogen (PN), non-protein nitrogen (NPN), lipid, gross energy content, fatty acid and amino acid profiles from Day 1 to Day 2 eggs and Day 1 to Day 3 larvae were compared. Lipid was the primary endogenous energy source accounting for the daily caloric deficit through both the egg and larval stages, except over the day of hatching. The catabolism of lipid by embryos (0.078 cal d^–1) was greater than that by yolksac larvae (0.036 cal d^–1). The higher demand for energy by embryos was related to a greater rate of protein synthesis during the egg stage. The ratio of PN:NPN increased during egg development without change in total nitrogen content, but was constant throughout the yolksac larvae period. The lipid content per embryo did not decrease over the hatching period (Day 2 to 3, postspawning). However, there was a loss in amino acid content not totally accounted for by sloughing of the chorion at hatching. This loss, as protein, accounted for 0.053 cal of gross energy, which represented 70% of the total estimated energy needs of the fish over this period. Loss of non-essential amino acids (25%) was higher than that of essential amino acids (13%). Proline and tyrosine accounted for 32% of the total loss of amino acids at this time. The only preferential use of fatty acids over any period was a small but significant drop in the content of C22:6n-3 prior to the onset of feeding (Day 5, postspawning). It is speculated that the pattern of energy-substrate use of first-feeding dolphin larvae will reflect the pattern of endogenous energy use during the egg and prefeeding yolksac larval stages. Diets or feeding regimens with lipid as the primary energy source, and containing a fatty acid profile similar to that of eggs or yolksac larvae, should be useful in culturing this species, at least during the early feeding stages.     

Effect of temperature on the escape responses of larval herring,Clupea harengus

Herring (Clupea harengus L.) larvae from spring and autumn spawning stocks were reared at different constant temperatures from 5° to 17 °C. At equivalent developmental stages, the spring larvae were longer than the autumn larvae and the larvae reared at low temperatures were longer than those reared at high temperatures. At hatching and at the end of the yolk-sac stage, the larvae were induced, by a probe, to make C-start escape responses, which were recorded and analysed using a high-speed video recording at 400 frames s^-1. The response was rapid and of short duration. The tailbeat frequency and swimming speed were measured during the burst of swimming following the C-start at different test temperatures and in larvae with different temperature histories. The tail-beat frequency was strongly temperature-dependent, rising from 19 Hz at 5 °C to 37 Hz at 17 °C with no effect of temperature history, season or developmental stage. The burst-swimming speed ranged at hatching from 75 to 90 mm s^-1 at 5 °C to 110 to 160 mm s^-1 at 17 °C and at yolk resorption from 90–115 mm s^-1 at 5 °C to 175–190 mm s^-1 at 17 °C. The longer, spring-spawned larvae swam faster than the shorter autumn-spawned larvae. When the swimming speeds were expressed as body lengths (L) s^-1, these differences disappeared. Larvae swam from 7–9 L s^-1 at 5 °C to 15–20 L s^-1 at 17 °C at hatching, and from 8–9 L s^-1 at 5 °C to 15–17 L s^-1 at 17 °C at yolk resorption. There was, however, a significantly faster specific swimming speed by the larvae reared at 12 °C in spring 1991.Honorary Research Fellow of the Scottish Association for Marine ScienceUnfortunately, Karen Fretwell was drowned in an accident on 9 January 1993     

Otolith ring deposition in relation to growth rate in herring (Clupea harengus) and turbot (Scophthalmus maximus) larvae

Larvae of Clyde spring-spawning Clupea harengus L. and hatchery-produced Scophthalmus maximus (L.) were reared from hatching through metamorphosis in 1980 and 1981 in laboratory tanks and in large enclosures under various light, temperature, and feeding regimes in order to study otolith ring deposition and growth under different conditions. Ring deposition and growth rates were significantly affected by rearing conditions in both species. The ring deposition rates observed under the conditions tested ranged from 0.34 to 0.92 rings d^-1 in herring larvae, and from 0.07 to 1.0 rings d^-1 in turbot larvae. Growth rates ranged from 0.11 to 0.42 mm d^-1 in herring and from 0.05 to 0.27 mm d^-1 in turbot. The number of otolith rings was dependent on the growth rate of the individual larva. At the population level, higher ring deposition rates were observed in faster growing populations. In herring larvae, the relationship between average growth rate and average ring deposition rate was logarthmic, reaching an asymptote at 1 ring d^-1 for growth rates approaching 0.40 mm d^-1. The relationship was linear for turbot larvae for the range of growth rates observed.     

Occurrence and behavior of pharmaceuticals in sewage treatment plants in eastern China

The occurrence and removal efficiency of seven pharmaceuticals (norfloxacin, trimethoprim, roxithromycin, sulfamethoxazole, ibuprofen, diclofenac and carbamazepine) were determined in three sewage treatment plants (STPs) with anaerobic/anoxic/oxic, anoxic/oxic and oxidation ditches processes in Xuzhou City, Eastern China. The results showed that seven pharmaceuticals were detected in the influent samples with concentrations ranging from 93 to 2540 ng·L⁻¹. The removal of these substances among the three different STPs varied from 36 to 84%, with the highest performance obtained by the wastewater treatment works with tertiary treatment (sand filtration). Most of the compounds were removed effectively during biologic treatment while sand filtration treatment also made a contribution to the total elimination of most pharmaceuticals. The efficiency comparison of the three sewage treatment processes showed that the STP which employed anaerobic/anoxic/oxic was more effective to remove pharmaceuticals than the oxidation ditches and anoxic/oxic.     

Early growth and mortality of the Caribbean king crab Mithrax spinosissimus reared in the laboratory

The berried females of the Caribbean king crab Mithrax spinosissimus (Lamarck) used in this study were collected from canals on Big Pine Key, Sugarloaf Key and Lower Matecumbe Key (south Florida, USA) on 9 August, 8 October and 15 November 1986. Viable spawns hatched as first zoeae and molted to second zoeae within ca. 10 to 12 h. Most of the larvae reached the megalopa stage 1 d later, and molted to first crab 4 to 8 d after hatching (water temperature: 27.2° to 28.8°C). Low water temperature and/or early lack of food had a negative effect not only on stage duration, but also on the size of the early crab stages. Successful molt to first crabs occurred, however, in the absence of food. The growth rate (carapace length) between molts in early crab stages varied between ca. 20 and 30%. When provided with good water exchange, stocking density could be very high (>22 500 individuals m^-2), with no increase in mortality. The highest mortality rate was recorded when the larvae molted to first crab, and the highest rates of survival were always recorded when feeding was not initiated until after 5 to 8 d after hatching. No cannibalism was observed among larvae, and cannibalism was low in early crab stages. The study indicates that to achieve viable hatches and high larval survival in rearing M. spinosissimus, a continuous and adequate supply of high-quality seawater is a prerequisite both in larviculture and in maintaining brooding females.Contribution No. 93, Department of Oceanography and Ocean Engineering, Florida Institute of Technology     

Physiological and biochemical aspects of embryonic and larval development of the winter flounder Pseudopleuronectes americanus

Eggs and larvae of the winter flounder Pseudopleuronectes americanus Walbaum were hatched and raised in the laboratory under controlled conditions. Biochemical composition was measured during development and found to be similar to that of other species: 65 to 80 percent protein, 15 to 30 percent fat, and 0 to 5 percent carbohydrate. Ash content was 7 to 10 percent of dry weight. The chorion comprised more than half of the weight of an egg and the data suggested that it was possibly a source of nutrition to the developing embryo. The sequence of utilization appeared to be carbohydrate and then protein to hatching, lipid, mixed lipid and protein, the predominantly protein until feeding began. Carbohydrate was accumulated at first feeding and depleted when growth began. Protein and lipid were deposited in approximately constant proportions. Respiration rates of eggs were low, 0.002–0.015 l O₂ egg^-1 h^-1, but rose gradually from fertilization to hatching. Respiration rates of early larvae were from two to eight times that of eggs (0.033–0.131 l O₂ larva^-1 h^-1). Variation in larval respiration rates indicated a three-fold difference in rate according to level of activity. Eggs excreted ammonia at an increasing rate from fertilization to hatching. Larvae excreted ammonia, primary amines, and other unidentified organic nitrogenous substances. Rates of excretion and proportions of excretory products varied with stage of development. Primary amine excretion was variable and a major component in early stages. Ammonia-N excreted was two to 20 times primary amine N excreted. Unidentified substances were the predominant form of N excretion during early feeding. Ammonia accounted for most of the N excreted in older larvae. Early specific growth rates were 2.1 and 5.5%. Net caloric conversion and net and gross nitrogen efficiencies were low in first feeding larvae compared to adult fishes (32.2, 27.7, and 10.7% respectively).Contribution no. 5071 from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution