Wild Eggs Research Articles

Lipid composition of coral propagules and reproductive material in coral restoration nurseries

Coral restoration efforts have rapidly increased worldwide, including the development of several programmes on the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) in recent years. While many restoration programmes utilise in-water nurseries to accelerate coral biomass yields, the impact of nursery environments on propagule quality has not been examined despite the importance of coral fitness for ensuring resistant populations. Here, we investigated two fitness indicators (lipid diversity and tissue protein abundance) of Acropora millepora adults and eggs grown on coral nurseries versus native reef on the GBR, with adults assessed at two sites (Blue Lagoon and Rayban) and eggs assessed at one site (Blue Lagoon). Lipid profiles of adult colonies varied by site and origin (nursery versus wild reef), with adult nursery corals exhibiting an elevated relative abundance of storage lipids (diacylglycerols and triacylglycerols) and lipid classes responsible for regulating membrane structure (phosphatidylcholines and sterol esters), while wild corals were characterised by a greater relative abundance of fatty acids and classes involved in immunoregulation. Comparing eggs from different origins, nursery offspring were richer in energy-storing triacylglycerols, as well as ceramides and phosphatidylcholines essential for membrane structure, while wild eggs had a greater relative abundance of wax ester species also important for energy storage. No differences were found in total protein abundance (adult or eggs) or egg physical characteristics (count and size) between nursery and wild origins. Variations in lipid profiles are consistent with differences in environmental conditions between reef sites and origin (nursery versus wild), highlighting the need to consider site selection and propagation conditions when planning restoration projects. Importantly, these findings demonstrate that the lipid classes with the highest relative abundance in A. millepora nursery and wild eggs differed from those in adults from the same origin, suggesting that propagation origin is more important for driving lipid profiles in coral eggs compared to parental effects.

Mark-Release-Recapture (MRR) of Sterile Male Aedes albopictus (Skuse) in Sri Lanka: Field Performance of Sterile Males and Estimation of the Wild Mosquito Population Density.

Dengue is an important mosquito-borne disease in Sri Lanka. The Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) is an environment-friendly and novel method that can suppress dengue vector mosquitoes in Sri Lanka. This study aimed to evaluate the field performance of sterile males and the density of wild male Aedes albopictus (Skuse) using a Mark-Release-Recapture (MRR) assay. Laboratory-colonized male pupae were exposed to 50 Gy gamma using a Co60 source. Sterile males (approx. 10,000) marked with fluorescent dust were released weekly for 4 consecutive weeks (January-February 2021) in a geographically isolated 30 ha site in Gampaha. Results show sterile males could disperse up to 543.8 m with a mean distance of 255.1 ± 44.6 m and survive up to 6 days with a mean life expectancy of 3.55 ± 2.32 days. A high field mating competitiveness of sterile males based on a Fried value of 0.47 ± 0.007 and significant induced sterility in the wild eggs in the second generation were found. The mean wild male mosquito population density was 163 males/ha. The data generated will be useful for designing future trials in Sri Lanka and other countries with similar situations.

Impacts of Diet on Reproductive Performance of Captive American Alligators (Alligator mississippiensis).

Historically, there has been little success with the captive breeding of American alligators (Alligator mississippiensis) for both commercial and conservative purposes. This study, conducted at Golden Ranch in Gheens, LA, between 2016 and 2022, utilized a newly formulated commercial feed and practical dietary supplementation (crawfish waste products) to enhance egg production, fertility, and hatch rates. The primary focus of this study was to compare the outcome of this captive breeding program at Golden Ranch with a program conducted at Rockefeller Refuge (RR) between 1979 and 1984. Notable success was achieved in terms of reproductive performance in comparison to the captive breeding program conducted at Rockefeller Refuge. In this study, 16.1 hatchlings were produced per nest on Golden Ranch from captive breeders. Additionally, when wild nests from Golden Ranch were incubated in the same controlled environmental chambers, they produced an average of 16.3 hatchlings per nest. This comparison emphasizes the similarity in egg production between captive-bred A. mississippiensis and their wild counterparts. The findings of this study suggest that a closed farming system for A. mississippiensis can be established by employing captive breeders derived from artificially incubated wild eggs. Furthermore, American alligators raised in controlled environmental chambers during their initial three years of life demonstrated adaptability to captive conditions and tolerated stocking rates associated with farming conditions and served as breeding stock.

Restoring eastern hellbender (Cryptobranchus a. alleganiensis) populations through translocation of headstarted individuals

AbstractFreshwater biodiversity is declining at a fast pace despite significant efforts directed toward the management and conservation of aquatic systems. Eastern hellbenders are one of North America's most iconic stream amphibian species, a sentinel of stream health, and are experiencing rapid population declines throughout most of their range. Common conservation strategies include headstarting; however, the success of this strategy for rebuilding hellbender populations and the most optimal release scenarios have largely been unassessed. We use a cohort of 205 animals released in several Ohio watersheds to evaluate the success of headstarting and reintroduction efforts over 3 years. Using PIT‐tag surveys over 25 occasions between July 2018 and November 2021 and capture–recapture models, we found that 3‐year apparent survival post‐release was 0.162 ± 0.061, with lower survival in year 1 (0.383 ± 0.058) and greater in years 2 (0.696 ± 0.086) and 3 (0.609 ± 0.154). Using demographic simulations, we found that releasing cohorts of N = 100 individuals at fewer suitable sites several times (e.g., 3 releases, 2 or 3 years apart) would be a better strategy compared to single release events across multiple sites. Additional simulations showed that eastern hellbender headstarting programs using wild eggs can be highly beneficial in producing more animals reaching adulthood (up to 7 times, if survival in captivity is assumed to be 100%) compared to development in the wild. This study emphasizes the need to monitor the success of reintroduction programs and provides evidence that headstarting can be a viable strategy for rebuilding eastern hellbender populations.

CORRELATION BETWEEN EGG QUALITY PARAMETERS OF WILD GUINEA FOWL NUMIDA MELEAGRIS SOURCED FROM THREE MARKETS IN OGUN STATE, NIGERIA

The potential of Wild Guinea fowl for domestication is still not totally exploited as there are needs for improved variability. This study was done in order to analyze egg features of wild Guinea fowl, Numida meleagris. A total of 27 eggs were obtained from three different markets in Ogun state and they were assessed for both external and internal features. Highest values of Haugh unit, albumen width, albumen height and egg shape index of 89.28%, 41.36mm, 6.34mm and 81.56% were recorded in eggs collected at Sabo market respectively. Highest egg width-37.57mm, egg weight- 34.38g and yolk diameter- 34.94mm were reported from eggs sourced from Itoku market while highest egg length-46.99mm, yolk height-16.29mm, yolk index-48.24% and albumen index- 24% were recorded in eggs obtained at Oke-Aje markets. Eggs internal and external parameters were not significantly different between the three markets (p > 0.05) but correlation between the parameters varied from positive to negative. Considerable association were found between egg shape index and egg’s weight, albumen index and albumen width, weight of eggs and egg length, using Pearson's correlation coefficients with p-value of significance at 0.05 and 0.01. It is concluded that the wild eggs of guinea fowls sourced from the three markets had good quality traits in terms of the Haugh unit.

Assessment of External and Internal Quality Traits of Eggs of Wild Double-spurred Francolinus Pternistic bicalcaratus sourced from three States in Nigeria

This research experiment was carried out to examine egg parameters of wild Double-spurred francolin eggs sourced from three different states. A total of 27 eggs from three states were used in evaluating internal and external traits quality of the wild eggs which components of their internal and external parameters were measured. Collected data was subjected to One-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). Among the states, egg quality parameters were significantly different relative to yolk width and albumen index (p≤0.05) while the egg morphometric parameters relative to egg width (p≤0.01) and egg weight (p≤0.05). Results of Pearson’s correlation coefficients showed significant association (p≤0.05) between egg weight and different external and internal egg quality parameters. This study concluded that wild Double-spurred eggs will be best sourced in Ogun state if domestication objective is based on quality of eggs and best source in Oyo State and Osun state if the objective is on Morphometric parameters.

High survival promotes persistence in a reintroduced population of Common Crane (Grus grus)

Reintroductions are increasingly used for re‐establishing populations, though the documented success rates are variable. Success is typically measured by the survival and breeding success of released individuals and subsequent establishment and growth of the population. However, few studies quantify demographic rates of reintroduced populations of long‐lived species, with slower dynamics and lower reproductive rates, and the demographic rates of subsequent generations, which determine population growth and persistence, are often unknown. We document the success of the reintroduction of the Common Crane Grus grus to south‐west England in the UK, using survival analysis and population modelling to determine whether the overarching aim of establishing a self‐sustaining population is likely to be achieved. Between 2010 and 2014, 93 Common Cranes were hatched from wild eggs, custom‐reared and soft‐released into suitable habitat. Survival of all age‐classes was apparently higher than survival of healthy wild individuals, particularly in juvenile age‐classes, and was higher in females than in males. Productivity was relatively low, but increased with age. Assuming that the demographic rates of subsequent generations are at the levels estimated for the captive‐reared population, slow positive population growth is predicted over the next 30 years. Sensitivity analyses showed that the persistence of this population is sensitive to even a slight decrease in values of adult survival, and growth is impacted to a lesser extent by juvenile survival and levels of productivity. This study highlights the ability to achieve persistence in a reintroduced population despite low levels of productivity when survival is exceptionally high. It also illustrates the need for long‐term monitoring to establish reintroduction success in animals that have slow life histories: 9 years after initial releases, the Common Crane population remains dominated by first‐generation birds and productivity is skewed by transient age‐structure and the late onset of reproductive success.

Proteomic study of Chinese black-bone silky fowl and the ring-necked pheasant egg white by iTRAQ technique

Eggs are the best protein supplements for human beings, which have high nutritional value and are rich in all kinds of essential amino acids. Wild eggs are produced by some rare poultry, considered to have higher nutritional value than ordinary eggs. In this study, black-bone chicken and ring-necked pheasant eggs were selected as samples. Isobaric tags for the relative and absolute quantification labelling techniques (iTRAQ) were used to analyze the protein difference between the two samples. A total of 205 proteins were identified, of which 87 were significantly different. Among those differential proteins, 37 were significantly up-regulated while 50 were significantly down-regulated. Gene ontology (GO) analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis showed that these differentially expressed proteins were closely related to cholesterol metabolism. The expression of some proteins that are adverse to cholesterol metabolism was significantly down-regulated in black bone chickens, such as Apolipoprotein B, Apovitellenin-1, Vitellogenin-1 and Vitellogenin-2. Protein interaction analysis showed that there were strong interactions among these proteins. These results indicated that compared with ring-necked pheasant, black-bone chicken eggs have a stronger ability to metabolize cholesterol and are less likely to cause the increase of plasma cholesterol.

Discovery of central Texas Eurycea eggs in the wild

AbstractEurycea pterophila is a fully aquatic paedomorphic salamander species classified as under review for federal listing and distributed in restricted sections of the Comal River (Comal CO., TX). Unlike Eurycea sosorum, which constitutes the only documented wild sightings of Eurycea eggs in the region, no eggs of Eurycea pterophila have been documented in the wild. During a routine collection of Eurycea pterophila for a captive assurance population, two eggs were found in the Comal River, TX near Spring Island, and successfully raised in captivity. Captive Eurycea pterophila eggs were laid at the same time the wild eggs were found; thus, data are presented here for a comparison.

Using Demography to Evaluate Reintroductions for Conservation of the Endangered Frog, Rana sierrae, in Streams

Reintroductions are an important recovery tool for endangered species but have had varying success. We used demographic data to evaluate the use of reintroductions for the recovery of the federally endangered Sierra Nevada Yellow-legged Frog (Rana sierrae) in stream populations in its northern range where the species is particularly at risk. We conducted a capture–mark–recapture study from 2016–2018 in four diverse streams. One of the streams contained a high abundance of frogs that allowed us to investigate demography in a relatively healthy population. In another of the streams, we tested a reintroduction using captive-reared frogs. We used robust design Huggins and Pradel models to estimate abundance, apparent overwinter survival, recruitment, longevity, and sex ratios. Annual abundance estimates were small, with ≤52 wild adult frogs at three streams and few tadpoles or subadults seen in any of the streams. The oldest frog in our streams was at least 13 yr. Estimates of apparent survival rates of wild adults ranged from 0.55 ± 0.05 standard error (SE) to 0.90 ± 0.05 SE, and estimates of annual recruitment ranged from 0.02 ± 0.11 SE to 0.26 ± 0.03 SE per site. High survival rates leading to long-lived adults may facilitate persistence of these stream populations, whereas low recruitment may limit population growth and recovery. The two largest populations were in intermittent streams, which may reflect their roles as a refuge from fishes. At least 52% of captive-reared frogs survived their first summer after release and at least 36% survived their first winter. Apparent overwinter survival of captive-reared frogs was lower than for wild frogs, ranging from 0.29 ± 0.13 SE to 0.56 ± 0.14 SE. Because of the apparent low survival of wild eggs, tadpoles, and subadults, releasing adults as was done in this study, rather than younger life stages, may be more successful. Our results offer promise for the use of reintroductions to augment depleted populations and suggest that further research on factors affecting recruitment and survival of younger life stages is needed.

Brominated flame retardants in wild bird eggs from the industrialised heartland of South Africa

Brominated flame-retardants (BFRs), including polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD), were analysed in 77 eggs of 13 wild bird species from Gauteng and northern Free State (the industrial heartland of South Africa). BFRs were in all eggs, but not all BFRs were quantifiable. Concentrations ranged between 2.9 and 46 ng g−1 wm (wet mass) and the predominant congeners were BDE-47, -153, -154, -183 and -209. The BFR compositional patterns of the congeners in eggs differed between species, feeding guilds, and habitats. Differences in associations of birds with humans seemed to have as much an influence as the trophic levels occupied by the maternal animals. The congener pattern of BFRs differed between terrestrial and aquatic species. The congener concentrations and patterns also differed from eggs from other countries, suggesting differences in sources. BFR concentrations in eggs from the current study area were below a reported no observed effect level (NOEL; 1 000 ng g−1 wm). Although this suggests that the BFRs do not pose a risk, the NOEL was mostly based on information from birds from moderate and colder climates. This NOEL might not apply to birds from warmer climates with different life histories, as in the current study, because there are currently only draft regulations on importing BFRs or BFR-containing products in South Africa. The BFR-containing products otherwise destined for countries with BFR restrictions in place may now find their way to South Africa. The additional waste these poorly regulated products generate will eventually find their way to landfills ensuring that release to the environment and consequent exposures to biota will continue without effective interventions and waste management. Our findings indicate the need for on-going environmental monitoring to assess trends, identify hot spots, investigate effects, strengthen waste management, and the need to urgently implement the commitments under the Stockholm Convention.

A call for structured decision making in conservation programs considering wild egg collection

Wild egg collection can be a powerful tool in avian conservation management. It can be used to establish and augment captive breeding programs for conservation translocations, mitigate low productivity during incubation in wild populations, and further research on reproductive and environmental biology. Such benefits need to be balanced against potential risks, like detrimental demographic effects on source populations and disease transfer. A lack of thorough consideration and evaluation of associated benefits, risks, and trade-offs may prevent conservation managers from effectively utilising this powerful conservation tool, and may lead to poor management outcomes for wild populations. Structured decision making (SDM) can offer a framework for making decisions in the presence of uncertainty about how a system will respond to different management alternatives. We therefore advocate for the use of SDM to explore whether an egg collection program is a desirable management tool and, if so, to assess how new data iteratively informs decisions throughout all stages of the recovery program. Here, we review the current literature evaluating the practice of wild egg collection, provide an overview of the SDM process, and then use the whooping crane (Grus americana) as an example of how to conduct such an evaluation. Our overall aim is to provide guidance on how SDM can help develop best practice for responsible egg collection from wild populations to enable efficient and effective recovery of endangered avian species.

Effects of 90Sr on Tree Swallow Nestlings Near Groundwater Contaminant Plumes.

Discharge of groundwater contaminant plumes has created elevated concentrations of Sr in some aquatic sediments at Chalk River Laboratories. Tree swallows (Tachycenita bicolor) feed and supply their nestlings almost exclusively with airborne insects that developed as larvae in aquatic sediments. To monitor the uptake and test for potential detriment due to Sr in a terrestrial animal, we measured the gross beta concentrations in the bone of 12-d-old tree swallow nestlings in areas having sediments with elevated levels of gross beta (Sr and Y) and in several control areas where sediment gross beta was primarily due to naturally occurring K. Nesting behavior and reproductive success of the tree swallows were similar regardless of the gross beta concentrations in sediments near their nest boxes. Radiation can damage DNA and cause micronuclei to form in cells, so we examined the frequency of micronuclei in erythrocytes of nestlings. The formation of micronuclei in the erythrocytes of the nestlings was also similar wherever nestlings were analyzed. The results revealed no significant increases even near sediments with the highest gross beta levels. At Perch Lake, where Chalk River Laboratories has a large area of Sr-contaminated sediments, the bones of 12-d-old nestlings contained gross beta concentrations as high as 29 Bq g. This would produce a skeletal dose rate of 9 μGy h, which is one-fourth of the threshold dose rate of 40 μGy h, above which detriment could occur. Failing to find any indication of detriment in the field study, we irradiated wild eggs in the lab and returned them to their nest for natural incubation, hatching, and feeding by the parents. There was an increase in formation of micronuclei following a dose of 3.2 Gy, and the other results were consistent with existing literature.

Nutrient Profiles of Wild and Captive Attwater's and Greater Prairie-Chicken Eggs

Abstract We determined reference levels of minerals, fatty acids, and fat-soluble micronutrients in eggs from wild Attwater's Tympanuchus cupido attwateri and two (Minnesota, Nebraska) greater prairie-chicken T. c. pinnatus populations for comparison with eggs produced by captive Attwater's prairie-chickens to help guide formulation and evaluation of captive diets. Levels of all minerals found in wild Attwater's prairie-chicken eggs were similar to those in at least one of the two greater prairie-chicken populations, but these levels frequently differed between the two greater prairie-chicken populations. Ratios for n-6:n-3 fatty acids were >3 times higher for Minnesota greater prairie-chickens, which had more access to waste grain than Attwater's or Nebraska greater prairie-chickens. Captive eggs had n-6:n-3 ratios 6.7 times the pooled wild samples, while wild eggs had higher levels of anhydrolutein, zeaxanthin, β-carotene, and total carotenoids. More magnesium, zinc, and manganese were observed in wild eggs compared with those produced in captivity. Flaxseed was added to the captive breeder diet in an attempt to lower egg n-6:n-3 ratios, along with additional carotenoids found in marigold extract. These dietary modifications successfully lowered the n-6:n-3 ratio by 46%, but this ratio was still 3.6 times higher in captive eggs, consistent with the grain-based formulation of the breeder diet. Carotenoid additions successfully raised total carotenoids, but increases were primarily for lutein and not zeaxanthin or β-carotene as intended. Variability in egg nutrient composition among the three wild populations suggests that some tolerance exists in maternal diets, but impacts to offspring fitness are unknown. Given the purported importance of maternal nutrition to fitness of embryos and neonate chicks, we suggest additional research is needed to quantify the influence of key nutrient levels on offspring fitness for both captive and wild populations.

Nutrient Content of Brown Marmorated Stink Bug Eggs and Comparisons Between Experimental Uses

Halyomorpha halys (Stål) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), the brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB), has become a major pest. Seven experiments examined the nutrient content of their eggs in the context of female reproductive investment and use for experiments. Among 542 clusters examined, an average egg contained 23.50 ± 0.561 µg lipid, 3.17 ± 0.089 µg glycogen, and 3.08 ± 0.056 µg sugar. Mature eggs within a female’s ovary can make up 61% of her total lipid, 35% of glycogen, and 20% of sugar levels. Eggs obtained from a colony reared on a steady diet are expected to have consistent nutrient content. The age of a parental female only slightly affected the lipid level of oviposited eggs but did not affect glycogen or sugar levels. However, egg nutrient content can differ substantially by the source of the parental females; wild eggs had higher lipid but lower sugar content than colony-produced eggs. Further, the length of time that eggs are frozen influenced egg nutrient content. Freshly laid eggs had higher lipid and lower sugar levels than eggs frozen for 1 or 2 yr. Whether an egg turned grey following removal from cold storage did not affect nutrient content, nor did being frozen within 1 or 3 d of oviposition. The temperature at which eggs were left exposed did not impact egg nutrient content, but glycogen decreased and sugar increased with deployment time. This information combined with how factors affect host selection by natural enemies will help refine future experiments that use BMSB egg clusters.

Fatty Acid Profile of Neutral and Polar Lipid Fraction of Wild Eggs and Hatchlings from Wild and Captive Reared Broodstock of Octopus vulgaris.

The culture of Octopus vulgaris is constrained by unsolved problems in paralarvae rearing, mainly associated to the unknown nutritional requirements of this species in early stages. In this article we studied the fatty acid profile (total, neutral, and polar lipid fractions) in wild eggs and wild hatchlings, collected in Gran Canaria (SW) (Spain) with artificial dens, in comparison to hatchlings obtained in captivity from broodstock fed on trash fish species. Total lipids were 11.5–13.5% dw, with the polar fraction representing a 70.6–75.5% of total lipid, with lower values in wild hatchling in comparison with captive ones. Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) was the main component in neutral and polar fatty acid profile in all samples, underlying its importance in this species. Decreasing levels of saturates and arachidonic acid (ARA) from wild eggs to hatchlings, mainly associated to the polar fraction, suggest their use during embryonic development. In hatchlings, increasing levels of oleic acid in the neutral fraction and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) in the polar fraction, suggests their importance in hatchlings quality. Wild hatchlings showed in the polar fraction higher oleic acid and ARA, and lower DHA/ARA and EPA/ARA ratios in comparison with captive hatchlings, suggesting a difference in paralarvae nutritional status. These results suggest the importance of n-3 highly unsaturated fatty acids (HUFA), oleic acid, and ARA, presented in the adequate lipid fraction, in the diet of broodstock and paralarvae of O. vulgaris.

Unpalatable, yet unprotected: trout reduce survival and development rate of rare toad tadpoles despite chemical defense

Unpalatable prey species often have toxins that protect from direct consumption. However, negative effects of prey manipulation by predators are rarely considered and may understate impacts to unpalatable species. When both prey and predator are species of concern, stronger understanding of the predator–prey relationship is warranted. We explored direct and indirect effects of greenback cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii stomias) on boreal toad (Anaxyrus boreas boreas) tadpole survival, growth, and development, as well as postmetamorphosis survival and growth. We found exposure to O. clarkii stomias delayed metamorphosis by 1–2.5 days and reduced tadpole survival by up to 25%, even though only a single tadpole was consumed. Tadpoles from captive-bred eggs had lower survival, growth, and greater loss in body condition after metamorphosis compared with tadpoles from wild eggs. We found that O. clarkii stomias do not innately avoid A. boreas boreas but instead strike tadpoles to determine prey palatability and repeated gustation likely reduced survival. Our results shed light on unresolved issues with A. boreas boreas captive breeding and demonstrate the nonconsumptive negative impacts of predators.

A comparison of fat-soluble antioxidants in wild and farm-reared chukar partridges (Alectoris chukar)

This study assessed differences in antioxidant (carotenoid, retinol, retinol-ester, vitamin E and coenzyme Q10) composition of egg yolk and tissue in chukar partridges (Alectoris chukar) newly hatched from eggs of birds maintained in captivity on commercial maize-soybean based diets and birds from the wild whose diet was obtained from the natural environment. All eggs were incubated in a commercial hatchery. Day-old chicks from both groups were sacrificed and dissected for antioxidant analysis. Fat soluble antioxidant concentrations of egg yolk and tissues were determined by HPLC. Total carotenoids, retinol, alpha-tocopherol, and total vitamin E concentration of wild egg yolks were significantly higher compared to yolks from farm-reared birds (p<0.05). However, gamma tocopherol, and coenzyme Q10 were not significantly different in the yolks of either wild or farmed birds (p>0.05). The concentration of total carotenoids in all tissues of wild chukar one-day old partridges was significantly higher than in farmed one-day old chukar partridge tissues (p<0.05). Alpha tocopherol, free-retinol, retinol-esters and total vitamin A were significantly higher in most tissues of wild chukar when compared to farmed chicks (p<0.05). Coenzyme Q10 concentrations of heart, kidney and brain tissues of farm-reared chukar day old chicks were significantly higher than tissues from wild birds, although leg and breast tissues of wild chicks were significantly higher than in farmed birds (p<0.05).These findings suggest that maternal access to antioxidants in the diet of farmed chukar partridges could positively influence fat soluble antioxidant concentrations in the egg yolk and tissues of day old chicks.

Observations of multiple pelagic egg masses from small-sized jumbo squid (Dosidicus gigas) in the Gulf of California

ABSTRACTEgg masses of ommastrephid squids are rarely found and not well studied. For the Humboldt squid, Dosidicus gigas, only a single egg mass has been scientifically documented in the wild. Little is known about the size and spatial or temporal distribution of egg masses, or the number of eggs they contain. In this study, we report observations of six egg masses laid in the Gulf of California in May 2015. Egg mass diameters were two to four times smaller in this study compared with the previously observed mass reported in 2008, consistent with the small and large sizes, respectively, of mature female squid captured during each study. Each egg mass contained 17,000–90,000 embryos, one to two orders of magnitude lower than that estimated for the large egg mass previously observed. Egg masses were observed at 9–14 m depth on or near a thermocline. Developmental stages of embryos and paralarvae differed between egg masses. No egg masses were observed in the 13 dives before or the four dives after these masses were found, suggesting that female spawning activity is probably spatially, or perhaps temporally, patchy. Developmental heterochronies in chromatophore development between D. gigas and other ommastrephid squids are discussed. Amphipods and ciliates infested the majority of masses, which is the first documented case of biota associated with wild ommastrephid egg masses.

A Reflection on Park Mokwol's Conception of Children and Genre Consciousness - Focusing on the periods before and after Wild Bird's Eggs and Aquatic Bird's Eggs -

A Reflection on Park Mokwol's Conception of Children and Genre Consciousness - Focusing on the periods before and after Wild Bird's Eggs and Aquatic Bird's Eggs -