International Journal of Aquatic Biology
Volume:2 Issue: 5, Oct 2014

The effects of different cooking methods (deep fat frying, boiling and steaming) on lipid content and fatty acid composition of grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) fillets during chill storage were investigated. Fillet samples were cooked and then stored at + 4°C for 4 days. The control and the cooked fillet samples were analyzed for their chemical characteristics. Twelve fatty acids were identified with 39.11, 15.37 and 45.52 g/ 100 g of saturated (SFA), monounsaturated (MUFA) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) respectively. The n-3/n-6 ratios of raw, deep fried, boiled and steamed samples were 1.12, 0.10, 1.45 and 0.72, respectively. The patterns of changes in fatty acid groups was different in fried, boiled and steamed samples after 1 and 4 days of chill storage. The EPA+DHA/C:16 ratio was higher in boiled and boiled- chill stored samples than steamed and fried samples. EPA+DHA/C:16 ratio for cooked, stored for 1 day and then 4 days were as 0.051, 0.003 and 0.017 for fried, 0.492, 0.583 and 0.489 for boiled and 0.247, 0.037 and 0.149 for steamed samples, respectively. These results showed that the boiled process is better than other cooking processes on the FA pattern of grass cap.

The catch composition of the bottom trawl fishery along the coasts of Karataş was evaluated in the 2002-2003 fishing season. A total of 110 species were registered, the fishes showed the highest diversity (90 species) followed by 15 crustaceans species and 5 species of cephalopods. The highest catch per unit effort (CPUE) value (66.8 kg h-1) was recorded in September when the fishing season was opened and decreased to the lowest value in March (12.5 kg h-1). The average CPUE was 26.3 ± 18.9 kg h-1. The result showed that catch of fish decrease with increasing depth. The highest fish catch (47.42%) was found in 0-20 m depth range. 35.58 percent of the catch was between 20-50 m, and 17.00% between 50-100 m depth. Lessepsian fish comprise 18.90% of all fish in terms of the number of species and 26.66% of the total fish catch.

The effect of microbial load on the condition Index of the edible oyster, Saccostrea cucullata were analysed on monthly basis during 2010 and 2011 from the three different stations (Namkhana, Frasergaunge and Sajnekhali) of Indian Sundarbans. The results showed significant variation with respect to microbial load between stations and seasons, which is reflected in the tissue of edible oyster. Significant positive correlations were observed between microbial load of the ambient environment and the tissue system of oyster. The Condition Index of the oyster species also exhibited negative correlation with the microbial load of oyster tissue, which confirms the negative stress induced by microbes on the growth and survival of the species.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of short-term starvation and re-feeding on oxidative stress in Mesopotamichthys sharpeyi (Günther, 1874). After two weeks adaptation to new conditions, a total number of 270 fingerlings were distributed into nine 300-L fiberglass tanks, equipped with aeration system in three treatments including 4, 8 and 16 days starvation (each in 3 replicates). After starvation, all groups were fed for 32 days. At the beginning of trial and at the end of starvation and re-feeding periods, blood samples were collected, plasma was separated and activity of catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPX) and malondialdehyde (MDA) content were assayed. Based on the results, no significant difference was observed in SOD activity at the end of starvation and also after re-feeding between the different treatments. At the end of starvation the activity of the CAT and GPX increased significantly in 8 and 16 days of starvation groups compared to the base. Moreover, a significant increase in MDA levels of plasma was found during food deprivation. These findings showed that short-time starvation increased antioxidant enzymes activity in plasma of M. sharpeyi but short-term food deprivation and re-feeding periods in this species does not cause disturbances in the antioxidant defense status.

Bones of the pectoral girdle skeleton in representatives of 48 genera in 41 families of eurypterygian fishes were studied. The structure and position of the pectoral girdle is relatively stable in eurypterygians. It consists of the extrascapula, posttemporal, supracleithrum, cleithrum, postcleithrum, scapula, coracoid, actinosts, and fin rays. An ectocoracoid is present in some Gasterosteiformes. Most eurypterygians have a posttemporal with distinct dorsal and ventromedial processes. The dorsal process ligamentously articulates with the epioccipital and the ventromedial process with the intercalary when present, and when absent, with the posteroventral margins of the pterotic and exoccipital. In most taxa, the supracleithrum bears a sensory canal and articulates with the posttemporal anteriorly and with the cleithrum posteriorly. The cleithrum is Y-shaped consisting of the anterodorsal, posterodorsal, and ventral rami. Dorsal and ventral postcleithra are present in some Eurypterygii. The scapula articulates with the cleithrum and bears a foramen which is complete or open anteriorly and bordered by the cleithral ventral ramus. Most taxa have four autogenous actinosts that increase in size gradually from the first to the fourth, but in some, the first actinost is fused. The dorsalmost ray is rudimentary in some taxa.

The present study was conducted to investigate the clinical effects and possible side effects of yarrow extract (Achillea millefolium L.) as feed additive on biochemical blood parameters and growth performance of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Fishes were treated with 0 (control), 0.1, 0.5 and 1% of yarrow extract for 30 days. Plasma alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), creatine kinase (CK), peroxidase activity, total complement and lysozyme activity, glucose, total protein, triglyceride and cholesterol were measured after 15 and 30 days of yarrow treatment. There were no significant changes in the lysozyme activity and glucose levels. Total protein and globulin levels were significantly higher in the fish fed with diets enriched with 1% yarrow extract on day 30. Triglyceride and cholesterol levels was significantly decreased in the fish fed with diets containing 0.5% and 1% yarrow extract on day 30 (P<0.05). LDH, CK and peroxidase activities in the fish fed with diets having 1% yarrow extract were significantly decreased at the end of the experiment (P<0.05). In contrast, a significant increase in AST, ALP and total complement activity was observed in the fish fed with 1% yarrow extract diet, on day 15 (P<0.05). The weight gain and specific growth rate increased and food conversion ratio decreased in in the fish fed 1% yarrow extract on day 30. Condition factor in the fish fed with yarrow extract was significantly higher than control group on 30 day. In conclusion, on the basis of these results, oral administration of yarrow extract up to 0.5% have not side effect on blood biochemical and clinical parameters of fishes. However, oral administration of 1% of yarrow extract caused cytotoxicity and modifications in blood biochemical parameters of fish.

Paracobitis rhadinaea, a member of the family Nemacheiliidae, originally described by Regan in 1906 from Sistan basin, is poorely known by the rare materials. The inadequately studied species is redescribed on the base of freshly collected materials. The species differs from all other Paracobitis species by combination of the following characters: stout and elongated body; large size, up to 288 mm; a fully squamated body; slit like posterior nare; and midlateral series of large, irregular set and shaped dark, brown blotches. P. rhadinaea is endemic to Sistan, Iran.