Biochemical composition of Nephrops norvegicus : changes associated with ovary maturation

Changes in the biochemical composition of the ovary of Nephrops norvegicus (L.) were examined throughout maturation at stations with fast and slow growing individuals in Scottish waters and in the Mediterranean. Ovary index (ovary wt:total body wt) increased significantly with maturation. Lipid, protein and water content of the ovary increased with maturation, while carbohydrate content decreased. Similar changes were also identified in the hepatopancreas. Significant spatial differences in ovary and hepatopancreas composition were identified, which may be related to whole-body growth rate. The ovary maturation scale commonly used for N. norvegicus was shown to reflect biochemically distinct stages in ovary development. Received: 7 February 1997 / Accepted: 25 February 1997     

The search for indigenous dune stabilizers: Germination requirements of selected South African species

The coastline of South Africa is characterized by extensive dune fields which are threatened by development, and thus the demand of stabilization of drift sand will increase. The non-invasive alien grass speciesAmmophila arenaria is at present the dominant sand stabilizer. Due to its foreign origin and invasiveness in North America its use was criticized and indigenous sand-binding species would be preferred. The germination requirements of the nativeArctotheca populifolia, Ipomoea pes-caprae. Myrica cordifolia andScaevola plumieri were investigated. The results showed that for all four species the total germination time and germination phase could be shortened and germination success (number of germinated seeds) improved. The different scarification and stratification treatments broke the dormancy ofI. pes-caprae, M. cordifolia andS. plumieri, whereas the seeds ofA. populifolia were not dormant. Seeds ofI. pes-caprae andM. cordifolia had induced an innate dormancy, respectively, whereas the type of dormancy in seeds ofS. plumieri dormancy processes remained unknown.     

Diel trophic interactions between vertically-migrating zooplankton and their fish predators in an eelgrass community

Diel changes in the composition of crustacean zooplankton and the diets of fish predators from an intertidal eelgrass flat were monitored concurrently. The zooplankton is characterized by two major components. The obligate zooplankters (holoplanktonic calanoid copepods and meroplanktonic decapod larvae) appear to exhibit vertical migration, being present in higher densities near the surface of the water column at night. The facultative zooplankton (amphipods and ostracods) are benthic during the day, but move up into the water column at night. Planktivorous midwaterdwelling fish consume calanoid copepods and decapod larvae during the day and cease feeding or switch their diet to amphipods at night. Benthic-dwelling fish consume some amphipods during both day and night. The factors important in prey selection by fish and the functional significance of vertical migration in both components of the zooplankton are discussed in the light of the changing patterns of fish predation.This paper is Publication No. 183 in the Ministry for Conservation of Victoria, Environmental Studies Series.     

Isolation of a new toxin from the sponge Latrunculia magnifica in the Gulf of Aquaba (Red Sea)

The sponge Latrunculia magnifica was found to be toxic for fish. A toxin has been isolated from this sponge by organic extraction-column chromatography and thin-layer chromatography. Several chemical properties of the toxin were determined by spectroscopic analysis. Toxicity tests were performed on the fish Gambusia affinis. In vitro experiments showed the toxin to be a cholinesterase inhibitor.     

The costs of intersexuality: a crustacean perspective

Increasing concerns over rising intersexuality in the animal kingdom and the ability of certain chemicals to disrupt the endocrine system have demanded a better understanding of the costs associated with such conditions. Whilst intersexuality appears relatively widespread throughout gonochoristic crustaceans, i.e. those crustacean species with two separate sexes, the fitness costs have rarely been reported. Through comparable investigation of normal and intersex specimens of the highly abundant marine/estuarine amphipod Echinogammarus marinus (Leach) these fitness costs were determined. Measurements taken to assess fitness costs included fecundity, fertility and embryonic development, maturation period, and any morphological deformities that might result in reduced pairing success. Results from this study suggest that intersex E. marinus suffer from reduced fecundity and fertility, and mature at a larger size than normal specimens. These fitness costs can also, to a certain extent, be related to the degree of intersexuality. It is suggested that the increased size and morphological abnormalities observed in intersexes may result in reduced pairing success. Investigations into intersex organisms, i.e. those organisms with known dysfunctional endocrine systems, and the costs associated with such conditions, should aid researchers in assessing effects at the population and community level.Communicated by J.P. Thorpe, Port Erin     

Respiration rates of<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Beroe ovata</Emphasis> in the Black Sea

Metabolic rates of the ctenophore Beroe ovata within the length range from 0.4 mm (newly hatched larvae) to 60 mm were investigated. At 20° the respiration rates (Q, µg O₂ ind.^–1 h^–1) of individuals with wet weights (W, mg) less than or greater than 100 mg changed according to the equations Q=0.093W^0.62 and Q=0.016W^0.99, respectively. The weight-specific respiration rate of the juvenile ctenophores with wet body weights of 0.021–100 mg diminished approximately 20-fold (from 0.35 to 0.017 µg O₂ mg^–1 h^–1, respectively), but did not change within the range from 100 to 30,000 mg. The difference in the slope of the regression lines seems to be attributable to the ontogenetic changes in B. ovata metabolism. For the tested temperature range of 10–28°, the mean Q₁₀ coefficient was equal to 2.17±0.5. The basal metabolism of B. ovata narcotised by chloral hydrate was 4.5±0.9 times lower than total metabolism. Such a metabolic range is considered to be characteristic of aquatic invertebrates with high levels of locomotory activity.Communicated by O. Kinne, Oldendorf/Luhe     

Route of egg yolk protein uptake in the oocytes of kuruma prawn,Penaeus japonicus

The route of egg yolk protein uptake into the oocytes of kuruma prawn, Penaeus japonicus, was studied using immunohistochemical and electron microscopical methods. Although a significant immunofluorescence with anti-vitellin-immunoglobulin was observed in the enlarged follicle cells surrounding oil globule stage oocytes of the early vitellogenic ovary, no fluorescence was detected in shrunken follicle cells surrounding oocytes in the yolk granule stage. Electron microscopically, yolk granule stage oocytes have an irregular surface with numerous well-developed microvilli. In contrast, the surface of follicle cells is relatively smooth. The irregular surface of yolk granule stage oocytes was covered with a layer of electron dense material. Similar dense material was found in the spaces between the neighboring follicle cells on the yolk granule stage oocytes. The outer surface of the follicle cells on yolk granule stage oocytes was covered by dense materials which were similar to those found on the irregular surface of oocytes. Micropinocytotic vesicles containing dense material were found in the ooplasm near the irregular surface with numerous well-developed microvilli. Dense material was concentrated in the peripheral part of the small forming yolk bodies of yolk granule stage oocytes. This suggests that the electron dense material, probably egg yolk protein, transferred to the surface of yolk granule stage oocytes from the spaces between the neighboring follicle cells may be incorporated into the ooplasm by pinocytosis through the microvilli and subsequently aggregate to form yolk bodies.     

Interception and dispersal of artificial food falls by scavenging fishes in the abyssal Northeast Atlantic: early-season observations prior to annual deposition of phytodetritus

The hypothesis that the behaviour of deep-sea scavenging fishes is influenced by seasonal input of organic matter from the ocean surface was investigated by observing responses to baits placed on the sea floor at 4800 m depth in the NE Atlantic (48°50′N; 16°30′W) during spring (April 1994). Data from the present study are compared with those from previous studies of the same location made in summer 1989. The first fishes to arrive at baits were the grenadier Coryphaenoides (Nematonurus) armatus and the eel Histiobranchus bathybius, after delays of 28 and 29 min, respectively; these results are not significantly different from those of summer 1989. Similarly, other indices of activity (staying time and swimming speed) showed no evidence of differences between years/seasons. However, the rate of radial dispersal of bait (0.009 m s⁻¹) by C. (N.) armatus was much slower than in all previous studies. A change in the size distribution of C. (N.) armatus to smaller individuals in spring 1994 was also evident. It is suggested that the fish on the abyssal plain may not comprise a steady-state population and that major episodic or seasonal migrations may occur. Received: 18 October 1996 / Accepted: 20 December 1996     

The effect of lead bioaccumulation on haem biosynthetic enzymes in fish

The bioaccumulations of lead in the liver and hepatic microsomes of fish after 1, 3, 7, 14, 28, and 45 days exposure were studied. In addition, the relationship between the bioaccumulated lead in both hepatic microsomes and the liver and their haem biosynthetic enzymes were studied. Lead toxicity was shown to result in a depression of the microsomal mixed function oxidase system, as assessed by a decrease in hepatic microsomal cytochrome P-450 and b5 content and by a decrease in the activity of the enzymes aniline hydroxylase and aminopyrine demethylase. Lead had a more marked effect on cytochrome P-450 than b5. The activity of the rate-limiting enzyme of haem biosynthesis, delta-aminolevulinic acid synthase, was inversely correlated with the microsomal cytochrome P-450 content. The activity of the heam biosynthetic enzymes delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase, coproporphyrinogen oxidase and ferrochelatase were decreased by increasing lead pretreatment. The activity of the haem catabolic enzyme, haem oxygenase, was increased by concentration and length of time to lead exposure.     

Fish in larger shoals find food faster

Summary Experiments on shoaling cyprinids hunting for food on patches in tanks demonstrate and advantage of foraging in a group. Individual goldfish (Carassius auratus) and minnows (Phoxinus phoxinus) in a shoal of conspecifics located food more rapidly as shoal size increased from 2 to 20. although shoaling minnows form polarised schools more readily than goldfish, which rarely do so, both species benefited from the trend of speedier food location with increasing group size.