Ribonucleic acid and protein as indicators of seasonal growth variation in immature snapper (Pagrus auratus)

2002 ◽  
Vol 53 (1) ◽  
pp. 73 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. A. Majed ◽  
R. M. G. Wells ◽  
B. H. McArdle

Total ribonucleic acid (RNA) and total protein content were extracted from the white trunk musculature of wild immature snapper,Pagrus auratus, in order to evaluate protein synthesis as an index of somatic growth and to ascertain the possible effects of temperature fluctuations. Measurements of total RNA and protein from a population of wild fish were monitored over almost two years; they indicated seasonal variations in somatic growth rates that were significantly related to water temperature and body length. The highest values of RNA and protein were recorded in late summer, and were 4.0 and 47.7 g mg–1 dry weight muscle respectively, whereas the lowest values appeared in winter, and were 2.1 and 32.8 g mg–1 respectively (correlation coefficient = 0.8, P <0.0001). These results point to the potential of nucleic acid and protein measurements as indices of fine-scale variation in the growth rates of a commercially harvested species.

1988 ◽  
Vol 68 (4) ◽  
pp. 935-940 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. TOLLENAAR ◽  
T. W. BRUULSEMA

The response of rate and duration of kernel dry matter accumulation to temperatures in the range 10–25 °C was studied for two maize (Zea mays L.) hybrids grown under controlled-environment conditions. Kernel growth rates during the period of linear kernel growth increased linearly with temperature (b = 0.3 mg kernel−1 d−1 °C−1). Kernel dry weight at physiological maturity varied little among temperature treatments because the increase in kernel growth rate with increase in temperature was associated with a decline in the duration of kernel growth proportional to the increase in kernel growth rate.Key words: Zea mays L, period of linear kernel dry matter accumulation, controlled-environment conditions, kernel growth rate


1982 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 40-51 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nancy L. Ostman ◽  
George T. Weaver

Retranslocation from leaves was investigated as a means of retaining nutrients in stands of Quercusprinus L. on two sites in southern Illinois, where wind rapidly moves litter downslope. Foliage samples were collected from late summer until leaf fall to describe the trends of leaf dry weight and nutrient concentration (N, K, P, Ca) changes. Free-falling rain and throughfall were collected to estimate foliar leaching. Foliar concentrations of N, K, and P decreased markedly during senescence while Ca concentrations increased. The pattern of concentration change was unique for each element, and the change in N concentration was closely correlated with change in leaf color. For the study sites as a whole, leaf dry weight decreased to 70% of the original value. Of 84.2 kg N/ha in green foliage, only 22.6% was returned to the site as litter. The canopy gained 0.3 kg N/ha (0.4%) from rainfall. The 78.5% N unaccounted for is attributed to retranslocation. Similarly, from 51.4 kg K/ha; 8.2, P; and 47.8, Ca in green foliage, 9.8, 1.3, and 3.3%, respectively, were removed by leaching; 27.4, 43.7, and 85.1% were returned to the site in litter. The remaining 63.0% K, 55.0% P, and 11.5% Ca unaccounted for is attributed to retranslocation. Retranslocation and leaching of nutrients was greater on the site of higher quality. But on both sites it appears that retranslocation is an important means of retaining and conserving N, K, and P countering the effect of annual litter removal.


Author(s):  
Laura Härkönen ◽  
Pauliina Louhi ◽  
Riina Huusko ◽  
Ari Huusko

Understanding the dynamic nature of individual growth in stream-dwelling salmonids may help forecast consequences of climate change on northern fish populations. Here, we performed an experimental capture-mark-recapture study in Atlantic salmon to quantify factors influencing wintertime growth variation among juveniles under different scenarios for ice cover reduction. We applied multiple imputation to simulate missing size observations for unrecaptured fish, and to account for individual-level variation in growth rates. The salmon parr exhibited substantial body length shrinkage in early winter, suppressed growth through mid-winter, and increasing growth rates in late winter and particularly in spring. Unexpectedly, the presence of ice cover had no direct effects on wintertime growth. Instead, our results implied increasing energetic costs with reducing ice cover: individuals exposed to absent or shortened ice-covered period gained mass at a lowered rate in spring whereas the present, long ice-covered period was followed by rapid growth. This study emphasizes natural resilience of Atlantic salmon to wintertime environmental variation which may help the species to cope with the reductions in ice cover duration due to climate change.


1965 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 671 ◽  
Author(s):  
PJ Reis

The sulphur content of wool was measured during experiments in which the nutritive status of sheep was altered by changes in the amount or composition of the diet. Three experiments were carried out, involving 13 sheep and five diets given at different levels of feeding. Wool grown on delineated areas was collected and its clean dry weight and sulphur content were determined. Wool growth rates varied between 0�3 and 1� 8 mg clean dry wool/cm2/day.


1989 ◽  
Vol 40 (2) ◽  
pp. 293 ◽  
Author(s):  
DR Eagling ◽  
RJ Sward ◽  
GM Halloran

Measurements were made on the effect of barley yellow dwarf virus (BYDV) infection on the early growth of four commercial cultivars of ryegrass (Lolium spp.) under two different temperatures (24�C and 16�C). At 24'C, BYDV infection was associated with reduced root dry weight (30-40%) in all cultivars; the effect of infection on shoot dry weight and leaf area was variable. At 16�C, the effect of BYDV infection was variable, being associated with increases in root dry weight, shoot dry weight, and leaf area in one cultivar (Grasslands Ariki) and decreases in another (Victorian). In two other cultivars, root dry weight, shoot dry weight and leaf area were not significantly affected (P>0.05) by infection with BYDV.At 24�C, the reductions in root dry weight associated with BYDV infection were not concomitant with reductions in the root relative growth rates. Up to at least 28 days after inoculation (46-50 days after germination) reductions in root dry weight were associated with both aphid-feeding damage and virus infection. Experiments with the cultivar Victorian, showed that shoot dry weight was not significantly affected (P>0.05) by feeding with viruliferous (BYDV) or non-viruliferous aphids (Rhopalosiphum padi L.). At 16�C, changes in root and shoot dry weight were associated with changes in the root and shoot relative growth rates.


1979 ◽  
Vol 36 (12) ◽  
pp. 1497-1502 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. J. Buckley

The protein, DNA, and RNA content of larvae maintained at 1.0 plankter/mL increased at the rates of 9.3, 9.9, and 9.8% per day, respectively, for the 5 wk after hatching. Protein reserves of larvae held at 0 or 0.2 plankters/mL were depleted by 45 and 35%, respectively, prior to death 12–13 d after hatching. Starved larvae had similar protein concentrations (percent of dry weight), lower RNA concentrations, and higher DNA concentrations than fed larvae. Larvae held at higher plankton densities had higher RNA–DNA ratios and faster growth rates than larvae held at lower plankton densities. The RNA–DNA ratio was significantly correlated (P < 0.01) with the protein growth rate. The RNA–DNA ratio appears to be a useful index of nutritional status in larval Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) and may be useful for determining if cod larvae were in a period of rapid or slow growth at the time of capture. Key words: RNA–DNA ratio, starvation, protein, nucleic acids, growth, larval fish, Atlantic cod


1955 ◽  
Vol 33 (5) ◽  
pp. 416-428 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. E. Etheridge

Cultures of Fames annosus originating in Europe could not be distinguished from those originating in North America either by colony appearance, growth rate, pH optimum, or cellulolytic activity. Three growth rate types on 2.5% malt agar were recognized and these are ascribed to individual variation rather than to host or geographical influences. Successive subculturing produced variants that fell into three growth classes. Half of the isolates displayed spontaneous, but reversible, changes in growth rate and colony appearance during subculturing and this is discussed from the standpoint of genetical and environmental influences. Cultures displaying different morphological characteristics and linear-growth rates differed little metabolically; each had a similar pH optimum ranging from 4.6 to 5.5, and each proved capable of altering the initial acidity of the medium to a reaction which was more suitable for growth. Two cultures were characterized by double pH optima at 4.6 and 5.5. Cultures having different linear-growth rates produced about the same dry-weight of mycelium on a cellulose substrate in a semisynthetic nutrient solution. On the basis of a statistical analysis of cellulose utilization by representative isolates it was impossible to distinguish between North American and European cultures.


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