Influence of temperature and pH on the effects of zinc and copper on proteolytic activities of the intestinal mucosa of planktivorous and benthophagous fishes and their potential preys

Influences of temperature (0 and 20°C) and pH (3.0, 5.0, and 7.4) on the effect of zinc (Zn) and copper (Cu) on proteolytic activities of intestinal mucosa in planktivorous (blue bream, bleak), bentophagous (bream, roach) fishes and their potential preys (pond snail Limnaea stagnalis, planorbid Planorbarius purpura, dreissena Dreissena polymorpha, midge larvae Chironomus sp., water flea Daphnia longispina and total zooplankton) are revealed in this article. Cu decreases the caseinolytic and hemoglobinolytic activities in both fish and their preys more than Zn at temperature 20°C and pH 7.4. Low temperature intensifies the negative effect of the metals on the protease activity in fish (in the case of Zn 5–10 times, in the case of Cu 5–30 times). In fish prey species, the negative effect of the metals on the proteinase activity may be more significant. The influence of pH on Zn and Cu effects is less pronounced than that of low temperature. Maximum reduction of enzyme activities is observed for the combined action of low temperature and pH as well as of the studied metals.     

δ13C and fatty acid composition of mesopelagic fishes in the South China Sea and their influence factors

Study of the ecology of mesopelagic fishes is central for assessing the active biological pump in the ocean, especially in the mesopelagic layers. The use of δ¹³C and fatty acid analysis can help to analysis the ecology of mesopelagic fishes. Here, we analysed the fatty acid composition of mesopelagic fishes from the continental northern slope of the South China Sea (NSSCS) and compared with nearshore SCS fishes and mesopelagic fishes collected from the Southern Ocean. The mesopelagic fishes had unusually high lipids, which resulted in Δδ¹³C values exceeding 1‰, more than the enrichment factor in the food web. The mesopelagic fishes had higher C18:1n-9/C18:1n-7 and C20:1n-9/ C18:1n-7 ratios compared with other fishes in the SCS, which confirmed that plankton were their main dietary source. The mesopelagic fishes from SCS and Southern Ocean had different ratios of C20:5n-3/C22:6n-3 (EPA/DHA), suggesting geographical locations and diet sources had obvious influence on their fatty acid composition. The SCS mesopelagic fishes had higher C20:4n-6/C22:6n-3 (ARA/DHA) and C20:4n-6/C20:5n-3 (ARA/EPA) ratios than mesopelagic fishes in the Southern Ocean, indicating the influence of physical factors on fatty acid composition. Thus, future studies of the fatty acids in mesopelagic fishes should consider both dietary sources and physical environments.     

A Global Baseline for Spawning Aggregations of Reef Fishes

Abstract: Species that periodically and predictably congregate on land or in the sea can be extremely vulnerable to overexploitation. Many coral reef fishes form spawning aggregations that are increasingly the target of fishing. Although serious declines are well known for a few species, the extent of this behavior among fishes and the impacts of aggregation fishing are not appreciated widely. To profile aggregating species globally, establish a baseline for future work, and strengthen the case for protection, we (as members of the Society for the Conservation of Reef Fish Aggregations) developed a global database on the occurrence, history, and management of spawning aggregations. We complemented the database with information from interviews with over 300 fishers in Asia and the western Pacific. Sixty‐seven species, mainly commercial, in 9 families aggregate to spawn in the 29 countries or territories considered in the database. Ninety percent of aggregation records were from reef pass channels, promontories, and outer reef‐slope drop‐offs. Multispecies aggregation sites were common, and spawning seasons of most species typically lasted <3 months. The best‐documented species in the database, the Nassau grouper (Epinephelus striatus), has undergone substantial declines in aggregations throughout its range and is now considered threatened. Our findings have important conservation and management implications for aggregating species given that exploitation pressures on them are increasing, there is little effective management, and 79% of those aggregations sufficiently well documented were reported to be in decline. Nonetheless, a few success stories demonstrate the benefits of aggregation management. A major shift in perspective on spawning aggregations of reef fish, from being seen as opportunities for exploitation to acknowledging them as important life‐history phenomena in need of management, is urgently needed.     

壬基酚在鱼体组织中的累积及对鱼类性腺的影响

采用HPLC法测定了在一定条件下暴露后鲤鱼和草鱼体内壬基酚的含量和分布,分析了鱼类性腺重量的变化.结果表明,在试验浓度下,20～25d后鲤鱼和草鱼体内的壬基酚可达到累积和释放的动态平衡,其最大累积系数分别为84.3和78.8,累积规律为鲤鱼>草鱼,肝脏>肌肉.受试雌鱼的性腺重量有明显的提高,相当于100ng/L17β-雌二醇(E₂)作用下鱼类性腺重量的34%～41%,表明壬基酚对鱼类具有一定的雌激素活性,且壬基酚的生物累积性和雌激素活性在产生时间和活性数值方面均是同步的和成正相关的.     

Bioaccumulation of heavy metals in fishes from Taihu Lake, China

The Cr,Zn,Cu,Cd,Pb contents were determined in Cyprinus carpio Linnaeus,Carassius auratus Linnaeus,Hypophthalmichthys molitrix and Aristichthys nobilis,which were caught from Meiliang Bay,Taihu Lake,a large,shallow and eutrophic lake of China.The results showed that:(1)the Cr,Cu,Pb,Cd contents in the edible parts of the four fish species were much lower than Chinese Food Health Criterion(1994),but the Zn contents were higher than the Criterion;(2)Cd contents were the highest in the liver of fish,Pb contents were almost the same in all organs of fish,Cr contents mainly enriched in the skin and gonads,Zn contents were the highest in the gonad(♀),and Cu contents were the highest in the liver;(3)the total metal accumulation was the greatest in the liver and the lowest in the muscle.The total metal accumulation was the highest in C.auratus L.This investigation indicated that fish products in Taihu Lake were still safe for human consumption,but the amount consumed should be controlled under the Chinese Food Health Criterion to avoid excessive intake of Zn.     

Biological control experiment of excess propagation of Cyclops for drinking water security

Cyclops of zooplankton propagated excessively in eutrophic water body and could not be effectively inactivated by the conventional disinfections process like chlorination due to its stronger resistance to oxidation. In this study, an ecological project was put forward for the excess propagation control of Cyclops by stocking the filter-feeding fishes such as silver carp and bighead carp under the condition of no extraneous nutrient feeding. The results of experiments with different stocking biomass showed that the propagation of Cyclops could be controlled effectively, and the water quality was improved simultaneously by impacting on nutriment level and plankton community structure at proper stocking density of 30 g/m^3 of water. The growth of Cyclops may not be effectually controlled with lower biomass of fish （10 g）, and the natural food chain relation may be destroyed for Cyclops dying out in water while the intense stocking of 120 g per cubic meter of water. In addition, the high predator pressure may accelerate supplemental rate of nutrients from bottom sediments to water body to add the content of total nitrogen and phosphorus in water.     

论我国鱼类多样性与渔业的可持续发展

本文简要介绍了我国鱼类多样性现状和我国渔业发展中鱼类多样性的保护利用及其效益,并对鱼类多样性保护与利用策略进行了探讨.     

Lag Effects in the Impacts of Mass Coral Bleaching on Coral Reef Fish, Fisheries, and Ecosystems

Abstract:  Recent episodes of coral bleaching have led to wide-scale loss of reef corals and raised concerns over the effectiveness of existing conservation and management efforts. The 1998 bleaching event was most severe in the western Indian Ocean, where coral declined by up to 90% in some locations. Using fisheries-independent data, we assessed the long-term impacts of this event on fishery target species in the Seychelles, the overall size structure of the fish assemblage, and the effectiveness of two marine protected areas (MPAs) in protecting fish communities. The biomass of fished species above the size retained in fish traps changed little between 1994 and 2005, indicating no current effect on fishery yields. Biomass remained higher in MPAs, indicating they were effective in protecting fish stocks. Nevertheless, the size structure of the fish communities, as described with size-spectra analysis, changed in both fished areas and MPAs, with a decline in smaller fish (<30 cm) and an increase in larger fish (>45 cm). We believe this represents a time-lag response to a reduction in reef structural complexity brought about because fishes are being lost through natural mortality and fishing, and are not being replaced by juveniles. This effect is expected to be greater in terms of fisheries productivity and, because congruent patterns are observed for herbivores, suggests that MPAs do not offer coral reefs long-term resilience to bleaching events. Corallivores and planktivores declined strikingly in abundance, particularly in MPAs, and this decline was associated with a similar pattern of decline in their preferred corals. We suggest that climate-mediated disturbances, such as coral bleaching, be at the fore of conservation planning for coral reefs.     

清水江水、鱼体和悬浮物中汞的特征及污染评价

为探明清水江水、鱼体和悬浮物中的汞污染情况,采用地质累积指数、单因子污染指数和潜在生态风险因子对清水江悬浮物进行了汞污染评价以及汞残留指数对清水江鱼体汞进行了污染评价。结果表明,清水江旁海段悬浮物汞污染程度高于清水江下司段,并已达到了重度潜在生态危害水平。然而,清水江水和鱼体未受到汞的污染,分析认为磷化工尾矿可能是加剧清水江悬浮物汞污染的原因之一。     

Effectiveness of terrestrial protected areas for conservation of lake fish communities

Freshwater protected areas are rare even though freshwater ecosystems are among the most imperiled in the world. Conservation actions within terrestrial protected areas (TPAs) such as development or resource extraction regulations may spill over to benefit freshwater ecosystems within their boundaries. Using data from 175 lakes across Ontario, Canada, we compared common indicators of fish‐assemblage status (i.e., species richness, Shannon diversity index, catch per unit effort, and normalized‐length size spectrum slopes) to evaluate whether TPAs benefit lake fish assemblages. Nearest neighbor cluster analysis was used to generate pairs of lakes: inside versus outside, inside versus bordering, and bordering versus outside TPAs based on lake characteristics. The diversity and abundance indicators did not differ significantly across comparisons, but normalized‐length size spectrum slopes (NLSS) were significantly steeper in lakes outside parks. The latter indicated assemblage differences (greater abundances of small‐bodied species) and less‐efficient energy transfer through the trophic levels of assemblages outside parks. Although not significantly different, pollution‐ and turbidity‐tolerant species were more abundant outside parks, whereas 3 of the 4 pollution‐intolerant species were more abundant within parks. Twenty‐one percent of the difference in slopes was related to higher total dissolved solids concentrations and angling pressure. Our results support the hypothesis that TPAs benefit lake fish assemblages and suggest that NLSS slopes are informative indicators for aquatic protected area evaluations because they represent compositional and functional aspects of communities.