Feeding Response Research Articles

The Effect of Squid Oil on Feed Against the Response of Eating Cantang Grouper (Epinephelus fuscoguttatus x Epinephelus lanceolatus)

This study aims to determine the dose of squid oil attractant to increase the feeding response of grouper Epinephelus fuscoguttatus x Epinephelus lanceolatus. This research was conducted in March 2020 at the Fish Seed Center, Pengujan Village, Bintan Regency, Riau Islands Province. The method used was an experimental method with a completely randomized design (CRD) with 4 treatments and 3 replications, where treatment K: (Megami feed without attractants), treatment A: (Megami feed + 6 ml/kg of squid oil), treatment B : (Megami feed + 9 ml/kg squid oil), treatment C: (Megami feed + 12 ml/kg squid oil). Data analysis with Analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Duncan's continued test, showed that the fastest response of fish to feed was at a dose of 12 ml/kg or treatment C was the fastest treatment, the results obtained were at the level of feed consumption (99.23 ± 0.67%) and survival rate (100 ± 0.00%).

Response of foliar feeding of Bioregulator and Micro nutrient on soil health and yield attributes of mustard (Brassica juncea L. Czern) var. Nandi-321

Response of foliar feeding of Bioregulator and Micro nutrient on soil health and yield attributes of mustard (Brassica juncea L. Czern) var. Nandi-321

Plant-based protein ingredients can successfully replace fish meal in the diet of ballan wrasse (LABRUS BERGYLTA) juveniles

The production of ballan wrasse is hampered by the poor growth and feeding performances and lack of robustness of the species in culture, which is often attributed to sub-optimal nutrition. The commercial marine finfish diets used in ballan wrasse hatcheries, rich in marine ingredients, may not fulfil the species nutritional requirements. This study aimed at evaluating the effects of plant-based ingredients inclusion on the growth, survival, feeding response and digestibility of the species. Simultaneously, the effects of two dietary protein levels were investigated. Ballan wrasse juveniles at approximately 5 g were reared at 15 °C for 70 days. Three Marine Protein:Plant Protein ratios (3.4, 1.6 and 0.9) and two protein contents (51 and 59% CP) were studied, resulting in five experimental diets and one commercial control diet, tested in triplicate. The partial replacement of fish meal by plant-based ingredients was shown to not compromise growth, survival and feed efficiency. Fish fed the Standard CP diets (51% CP) showed a significantly lower FCR (1.2 ± 0.1) compared to fish fed High CP diets (59% CP) (1.4 ± 0.2). Regarding daily feed intake, fish fed the Standard CP diets ate less (1.4 ± 0.2% day−1) than fish fed the High CP diets (1.6 ± 0.1% day−1). Signs of enteritis were observed in two out of three High CP diets. The use of plant-based ingredients, more cost-effective and sustainable than fish meal, has a great potential for the species as they reflect better natural feeding of wild populations thus may promote the hatcheries productivity by reducing feed costs while improving their sustainability index. The study shows that a potential route for optimising diet formulation for ballan wrasse may lie within carbohydrate and lipid contents. Overall, this research contributes to the development of ballan wrasse on-growing feeds to promote the development of ballan wrasse aquaculture and its benefits on sea lice mitigation.

Maternal postnatal depression and offspring depression at age 24 years in a UK-birth cohort: the mediating role of maternal nurturing behaviours concerning feeding, crying and sleeping

Background: Maternal postnatal depression (PND) is a risk factor for offspring depression in adulthood. However, few longitudinal studies have examined the role of maternal nurturing parenting behaviours in the association between maternal PND and offspring depression in adulthood. Methods: We examined pathways from maternal PND measured using self-reported Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale at 8 weeks to offspring ICD-10 depression diagnosed using the Clinical Interview Schedule-Revised computerised assessment at 24 years through maternal-reported nurturing behaviours concerning feeding, sleeping and crying measured from pregnancy to age 3 years 6 months in 5,881 members of the UK-based birth cohort study, the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children. Results: The fully adjusted model revealed an indirect effect from PND to adult offspring depression through the combination of all parenting factors (probit regression coefficient [ B]=0.038, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.005, 0.071); however, there was no evidence of a direct effect from early maternal PND to offspring depression once the indirect effect via parenting factors was accounted for ( B=0.009, 95%CI -0.075, 0.093). Specificity analyses revealed indirect effects through maternal worries about feeding ( B=0.019, 95%CI 0.003, 0.035, p=0.010) and maternal perceptions and responses to crying ( B=0.018, 95%CI 0.004, 0.032, p=0.012). Conclusions: The adverse impact of maternal PND on offspring depression in early adulthood was explained by maternal nurturing behaviours concerning feeding, crying and sleeping in early childhood. Residual confounding and measurement error likely limit reliable conclusions. If found causal, interventions providing support to reduce worries around maternal nurturing behaviours and treating depression could reduce adverse outcomes in adult offspring of depressed mothers.

Kajian kinerja pertumbuhan dan kelangsungan hidup ikan kerapu macan (Ephinephelus fuscogusttatus) menggunakan pakan hewani yang berbeda

The tiger grouper (Epinephelus fuscoguttatus) is an economically important fish whose fry still relies on natural catches. Several species of grouper are very potential to be cultivated because of their fast growth, efficient feed conversion, and high selling value. The purpose of this study is growth performance and survival rate tiger grouper (Epinephelus fuscoguttatus) used different live feed. The research design used in this study was a Completely Randomized Design with 3 treatments 3 replications and continued with LSD test if there were differences. The treatments given are treatment A (Snail), treatment B (Chicken Intestine), and treatment C (Caterpillar Maggot). Parameters observed were length increase, weight gain, survival, feed response, and water quality. The results of this study indicate that the highest increase was found in the treatment of C: 4,04 cm and the lowest was in treatment B: 3 cm, the highest weight gain was found in the treatment of C: 3,73 grams, and the lowest was in treatment B: 2,18 grams. The survival rate for all treatments is 100%. During this study the temperature ranged (28.6-31.8 oC), pH (6.7-8.2), DO (6.3-8.1 ppm), and salinity (23-27 ppt).Keywords: growth, live feed, survival rate, tiger grouper.

Cyclic thermal fluctuations can be burden or relief for an ectotherm depending on fluctuations’ average and amplitude

Abstract Predicting the implications of ongoing ocean climate warming demands a better understanding of how short‐term thermal variability impacts marine ectotherms, particularly at beyond‐optimal average conditions during summer heatwaves. Using a globally important model species, the blue mussel Mytilus, in a 5‐week‐long experiment, we (a) assessed growth performance traits under 12 scenarios, consisting of four thermal averages (18.5, 21, 23.5 and 26℃) imposed as constant or daily fluctuating regimes with amplitudes of 2 or 4℃. Additionally, we conducted a short‐term assay using different mussel individuals to (b) test for the species capacity for suppression and recovery of metabolic performance traits (feeding and aerobic respiration) when exposed to a 1‐day thermal fluctuation regime (16.8–30.5℃). Using this high‐resolution data, we (c) generated short‐term thermal metabolic performance curves to predict and explain growth responses observed in the long‐term experiment. We found that daily high‐amplitude thermal cycles (4℃) improved mussel growth when fluctuations were imposed around an extreme average temperature of 26℃, representing end‐of‐century heatwaves. In contrast, thermal cycles negatively affected mussel growth at a less extreme average temperature of 23.5℃, resembling current peak summer temperature scenarios. These results suggest that fluctuations ameliorate heat stress impacts only at critically high average temperatures. The short‐term assay demonstrated that during the warming phase, animals stopped feeding between 24 and 30℃ while gradually suppressing respiration. In the subsequent cooling phase, feeding and respiration partially and fully recovered to pre‐heating rates respectively. Furthermore, nonlinear averaging of short‐term feeding responses (upscaling) well‐predicted longer term growth responses to fluctuations. Our findings suggest that fluctuations can be beneficial to or detrimental for the long‐term performance of ectothermic animals, depending on the fluctuations' average and amplitude. Furthermore, the observed effects can be linked to fluctuation‐mediated metabolic suppression and recovery. In a general framework, we propose various hypothetical scenarios of fluctuation impacts on ectotherm performance considering inter‐ or intra‐species variability in heat sensitivity. Our research highlights the need for studying metabolic performance in relation to cyclic abiotic fluctuations to advance the understanding of climate change impacts on aquatic systems. A free Plain Language Summary can be found within the Supporting Information of this article.

Fish Ingest Microplastics Unintentionally.

Microplastics (size of plastic debris <5 mm) occur in various environments worldwide these days and cause detrimental effects on biota. However, the behavioral responses of fish to microplastics in feeding processes are not well understood. In the present study, juveniles from four fish species and two common shapes of microplastics were used to explore fish feeding responses. We found swallowing-feeding fish ingested more pellets than filtering- and sucking-feeding fish. With high-definition and high-speed observational experiments, we found that all species did not actively capture microfibers; instead, they passively sucked in microfibers while breathing. Surprisingly, fish showed a rejective behavior, which was spontaneously coughing up microfibers mixed with mucus. Nevertheless, some of the microfibers were still found in the gastrointestinal tracts and gills of fish, while abundances of ingested microfibers were increased in the presence of food. Our findings reveal a common phenomenon that fish ingest microplastics inadvertently rather than intentionally. We also provide insights into the pathways via which microplastics enter fish and potential strategies to assess future ecological risk and food safety related to microplastics.

Maternal postnatal depression and offspring depression at age 24 years in a UK-birth cohort: the mediating role of maternal nurturing behaviours concerning feeding, crying and sleeping.

Background: Maternal postnatal depression (PND) is a risk factor for offspring depression in adulthood. However, few longitudinal studies have examined the role of maternal nurturing parenting behaviours in the association between maternal PND and offspring depression in adulthood. Methods: We examined pathways from maternal PND measured using self-reported Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale at 8 weeks to offspring ICD-10 depression diagnosed using the Clinical Interview Schedule-Revised computerised assessment at 24 years through maternal-reported nurturing behaviours concerning feeding, sleeping and crying measured from pregnancy to age 3 years 6 months in 5,881 members of the UK-based birth cohort study, the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children. Results: The fully adjusted model revealed an indirect effect from PND to adult offspring depression through the combination of all parenting factors (probit regression coefficient [ B]=0.038, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.005, 0.071); however, there was no evidence of a direct effect from early maternal PND to offspring depression once the indirect effect via parenting factors was accounted for ( B=0.009, 95%CI -0.075, 0.093). Specificity analyses revealed indirect effects through maternal worries about feeding ( B=0.019, 95%CI 0.003, 0.035, p=0.010) and maternal perceptions and responses to crying ( B=0.018, 95%CI 0.004, 0.032, p=0.012). Conclusions: The adverse impact of maternal PND on offspring depression in early adulthood was explained by maternal nurturing behaviours concerning feeding, crying and sleeping in early childhood. Residual confounding and measurement error likely limit reliable conclusions. If found causal, interventions providing support to reduce worries around maternal nurturing behaviours and treating depression could reduce adverse outcomes in adult offspring of depressed mothers.

Disturbance-Mediated Changes in Coral Reef Habitat Provoke a Positive Feeding Response in a Major Coral Reef Detritivore, Ctenochaetus striatus

Coral reefs are undergoing global phase shifts from coral-dominated to algae-dominated stages. The negative effects of this substratum shift on the diversity and abundance of fish have been well documented, but the influence on fish feeding is less studied, which may limit a deeper understanding of trophic pathways in such a disturbed system. In this study, we investigated the feeding response of a numerically dominant fish species Ctenochaetus striatus to different substrate types, including hard coral, short algal turfs (SATs, &amp;lt;5 mm), and long algal turfs (LATs, &amp;gt;5 mm), on reefs in the South China Sea. The biomass of C. striatus showed an inverted U-shaped relationship with coral coverage and a significant positive correlation with SAT coverage (p &amp;lt; 0.05), indicating that rising SAT coverage associated with moderate coral loss provoked a feeding response in C. striatus. Stomach contents of C. striatus, analyzed using high-throughput sequencing (HTS), were dominated by algal sequences (relative read abundance, RRA &amp;gt; 80.0%), including macroalgae, filamentous algae, and microalgae (e.g., Symbiodinium and Prorocentrum). The sequence number and diversity of microalgae (mainly dinoflagellates) tended to be abundant (RRA 13.5–36.5%) with increased SAT cover, but brown algae sequences (RRA 17.2–57.8%) or green algae sequences (RRA &amp;gt; 50.7% except one site) dominated the stomach content DNA in reefs with high coral cover and high LAT or macroalgal cover, respectively. Considering the limited ability of C. striatus to remove mature algae, macroalgal DNA might be from algal debris. Our results indicate that C. striatus populations respond positively to conditions of moderate coral loss through increases in body condition identified as increased biomass. These responses are correlated to the expansion of SAT’s as coral cover declined, however, this relationship reverses if coral loss is high due to the succession of LAT’s over SAT’s and a corresponding decrease in the quality of food available. Our use of HTS has nevertheless identified the importance of detritivory in the flow of energy through reefs in the Anthropocene which are increasingly becoming depauperate in hard coral.

Effects of dietary Papaveraceae extract on growth, feeding response, nutritional quality and serum biochemical indices of striped catfish (Pangasianodon hypophthalmus)

Herbal extracts have been proven to improve immunity, growth rate and appetite, as well as being antihepatotoxic they are important alternatives to synthetic antibiotics and chemotherapeutics. In this study, Papaveraceae extracts (PE), as alkaloids (quaternary benzophenanthridine and protopine) source were incorporated into the diet of striped catfish, Pangasianodon hypophthalmus, to assess their effects on growth, feed utilisation and digestibility, body composition, product quality and pathogen response. PE was supplemented at 0.7 g/kg (HLPE) and 0.35 g/kg (LLPE) in 30%–35% proteinous diet for 126 days, to determine the effects relative to control group (CC). Growth performance of P. hypophthalmus, measured by weight gain, was improved by 35 % and 25 % in LLPE and HLPE, respectively, compared to CC. The highest protein digestibility, thermal growth coefficient and feed conversion ratio was found in LLPE group. There were no significant differences to proximate composition and colouration of P. hypophthalmus fillets fed PE. After challenging with Aeromonas hydrophila, serum biochemical indices decreased significantly in HLPE treated group. To avoid deleterious effects on P. hypophthalmus fillets and nutritional quality, 0.35 g/kg PE can recommend as safe and economically viable dose for commercial pangasius farming, although curative action against A. hydrophila may require higher dose.

Twelve-Month Efficacy of an Obesity Prevention Program Targeting Hispanic Families With Preschoolers From Low-Income Backgrounds

ObjectiveAssess effects of an obesity prevention program promoting eating self-regulation and healthy preferences in Hispanic preschool children. DesignRandomized controlled trial with pretest, posttest, 6- and 12-month assessments. Fourteen waves, each lasting 7 weeks. SettingFamilies recruited from Head Start across 2 sites. ParticipantsTwo hundred fifty-five families randomized into prevention (n = 136) or control (n = 119). InterventionPrevention received curriculum; control received no curriculum. Main Outcome Measure(s)Feeding knowledge/practices/styles (parent); body mass index percentile, eating self-regulation, trying new foods, and fruit/vegetable consumption (child). AnalysisMultilevel analyses for nested data (time points within families; families within waves) and multinomial regression. ResultsProgram increased mothers’ repeated presentation of new foods (P < 0.05), measured portion sizes (P < 0.05), child involvement in food preparation (P < 0.001), feeding responsiveness (P < 0.001), knowledge of best feeding practices (P < 0.001), and feeding efficacy (P < 0.05); reduced feeding misconceptions (P < 0.01) and uninvolved feeding (P < 0.01). Effects on child eating behavior were minimal. At 12 months, children in the prevention group were less likely to have overweight (P < 0.05) or obesity (P < 0.05). Conclusions and ImplicationsProgram effects emphasize the importance of feeding approaches in reducing childhood obesity.

Mutual enlightenment: A toolbox of concepts and methods for integrating evolutionary and clinical toxinology via snake venomics and the contextual stance.

Snakebite envenoming is a neglected tropical disease that may claim over 100,000 human lives annually worldwide. Snakebite occurs as the result of an interaction between a human and a snake that elicits either a defensive response from the snake or, more rarely, a feeding response as the result of mistaken identity. Snakebite envenoming is therefore a biological and, more specifically, an ecological problem. Snake venom itself is often described as a “cocktail”, as it is a heterogenous mixture of molecules including the toxins (which are typically proteinaceous) responsible for the pathophysiological consequences of envenoming. The primary function of venom in snake ecology is pre-subjugation, with defensive deployment of the secretion typically considered a secondary function. The particular composition of any given venom cocktail is shaped by evolutionary forces that include phylogenetic constraints associated with the snake's lineage and adaptive responses to the snake's ecological context, including the taxa it preys upon and by which it is predated upon. In the present article, we describe how conceptual frameworks from ecology and evolutionary biology can enter into a mutually enlightening relationship with clinical toxinology by enabling the consideration of snakebite envenoming from an “ecological stance”. We detail the insights that may emerge from such a perspective and highlight the ways in which the high-fidelity descriptive knowledge emerging from applications of -omics era technologies – “venomics” and “antivenomics” – can combine with evolutionary explanations to deliver a detailed understanding of this multifactorial health crisis.

Development and Validation of a Tool to Assess Responsive Complementary Feeding: Sri Lanka’s Responsive Feeding Practices Assessment Tool (RFPAT)

ObjectivesTo develop and validate a scale to assess responsive feeding practices among mothers and infants between 6 and 12 months of age in Sri Lanka. MethodsThe Responsive Feeding Practices Assessment Tool (RFPAT) was developed and validated using standard scale development techniques using a three step approach. A comprehensive review was conducted in PubMed and Scopus to identify possible items for assessing responsive feeding (RF) practices. Then, an in-depth qualitative study explored RF practices in the Sri Lankan context. Finally, RFPAT was validated through a cross-sectional study. The study was conducted in Anuradhapura district, Sri Lanka in a purposeful sample of 170 mother-infant pairs. The initial tool had 17 items. All items had responses in an adjectival scale; i.e., always, often, sometimes, rarely and not at all that were scored as 4, 3, 2, 1 and 0, respectively. Content validation was performed among experts using standard techniques, followed by cognitive interviews among mothers. The revised 15-items tool was pretested on 30 mothers. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Parallel Analysis were carried out for Structural validation. Test-retest reliability was done with a sample of 50 mothers. Ethical clearance was obtained from the Faculty of Medicine and Allied Sciences, Rajarata University of Sri Lanka (ERC/2014/060). ResultsCognitive validation with mothers confirmed the applicability and comprehensiveness of a 15-item tool. The tool possessed good reliability with an intra-class correlation of 0.80 and internal consistency of 0.79. The PCA showed a clear 3-factor solution. The results of Parallel Analysis supported with the PCA results. The 3-factors were interpreted as responsive communication during feeding, appropriate feeding attentive to child’s signals and pro-active preparation of the feeding environment. An additive composite score was generated with a range of 0 to 60 (quartiles scores ranges: Poor 0–34, Moderate 35–36, Good 37–40, and Very Good 41–60 RF practices). ConclusionsRFPAT is a valid tool to assess RF. The tool can help assess complementary feeding behaviors and design and program evaluation of Infant and Young Child Feeding in order to influence policies across low- and middle- income countries. Funding SourcesNo funding source

Canadian Mothers More Responsive Than Cambodian Peers in a Cross-Cultural Assessment of a Breastfeeding Interaction in the First 6 Months: A Preliminary Assessment

ObjectivesHuman milk is the sole recommended food for infants for the first 6 months of life. Although determinants and rates of exclusive breastfeeding differ greatly between high- and low-and-middle-income countries, little is known about whether breastfeeding practices, such as feeding responsiveness, differ across cultures. Responsive feeding practices are based on the cues and responses of a caregiver and infant, and are associated with more intuitive eating patterns later in life. This preliminary assessment aims to assess the responsiveness of the maternal-child interactions during breastfeeding of infants less than 6 months old cross-culturally, in both a high- and lower-middle income country. MethodsThis preliminary analysis includes 10 mother-infant dyads from Nova Scotia, Canada, who have been age-matched (±4 days) to 10 Cambodian dyads recruited in Kampong Thom province, Cambodia. In both settings, a breastfeeding session was video-recorded in the participant’s home and videos scored using the validated, 76-item Nursing Child Assessment Satellite Training (NCAST) Caregiver/Parent-Child Interaction Feeding Scale. ResultsInfants were between 13 and 23 weeks old, and in both groups were 40% firstborn and 40% male. Cambodian mothers (27.3 ± 3.4 years) were significantly younger than Canadian (32.0 ± 2.3; p = 0.002), and the average length of feed in Cambodia was significantly shorter (5.5 ± 1.6 min v. 7.3 ± 1.3 min; p = 0.02). There was no significant difference between Canadian and Cambodian total NCAST scores. However, Canadian mothers scored significantly higher on three of the four maternal NCAST subscales; subscale I (sensitivity to infant’s cues, p = 0.03), subscale III (social-emotional growth fostering, p = 0.01), and subscale IV (cognitive growth fostering, p = 0.02) There were no significant differences in scores for NCAST subscales measuring infant’s clarity of cues or responsiveness to their mother. ConclusionsThese preliminary results indicate differences in feeding responsiveness on the part of mothers during breastfeeding in Canada and Cambodia and could inform future programs to optimize the maternal-child feeding interaction. Funding SourcesMSVU Internal Grant, Canadian Institute for Health Research, Research Nova Scotia.

Control of Sugar and Amino Acid Feeding via Pharyngeal Taste Neurons.

Insect gustatory systems comprise multiple taste organs for detecting chemicals that signal palatable or noxious quality. Although much is known about how taste neurons sense various chemicals, many questions remain about how individual taste neurons in each taste organ control feeding. Here, we use the Drosophila pharynx as a model to investigate how taste information is encoded at the cellular level to regulate consumption of sugars and amino acids. We first generate taste-blind animals and establish a critical role for pharyngeal input in food selection. We then investigate feeding behavior of both male and female flies in which only selected classes of pharyngeal neurons are restored via binary choice feeding preference assays as well as Fly Liquid-Food Interaction Counter assays. We find instances of integration as well as redundancy in how pharyngeal neurons control behavioral responses to sugars and amino acids. Additionally, we find that pharyngeal neurons drive sugar feeding preference based on sweet taste but not on nutritional value. Finally, we demonstrate functional specialization of pharyngeal and external neurons using optogenetic activation. Overall, our genetic taste neuron protection system in a taste-blind background provides a powerful approach to elucidate principles of pharyngeal taste coding and demonstrates functional overlap and subdivision among taste neurons.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Dietary intake of nutritious chemicals such as sugars and amino acids is essential for the survival of an animal. In insects, distinct classes of taste neurons control acceptance or rejection of food sources. Here, we develop a genetic system to investigate how individual taste neurons in the Drosophila pharynx encode specific tastants, focusing on sugars and amino acids. By examining flies in which only a single class of taste neurons is active, we find evidence for functional overlap as well as redundancy in responses to sugars and amino acids. We also uncover a functional subdivision between pharyngeal and external neurons in driving feeding responses. Overall, we find that different pharyngeal neurons act together to control intake of the two categories of appetitive tastants.

The impact of catch-and-release on feeding responses and aggressive behavior in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)

ABSTRACT Catch-and-Release (C&R) practice may result in post-release mortality in fish. Therefore, most C&R studies have focused on endangered or highly valued target species, and less attention has been given to introduced/abundant species, which indeed are important from an ecological point of view. Nile tilapia is considered an introduced species in many areas and is a commonly caught species in recreational fisheries; therefore, understanding the impacts of C&R on tilapia is also important from an animal welfare perspective. We investigated whether C&R impacts the aggressive behavior and feeding responses of Nile tilapia, characteristics that impair the welfare and the ability of an individual to have success in its ecosystem. Surprisingly, C&R did not affect these responses, and our results suggest that Nile tilapia may be relatively more resilient to C&R, and that C&R practices may act as an additional selective force towards the ecological success of Nile tilapia as introduced species.

Environmental Enrichment Potentiates Glucose-Induced Anorexia in Mice

The hypothalamus controls food intake and metabolism by integrating nutrient and hormonal signals from peripheral tissues. Both central and peripheral administration of glucose leads to a reduction in food intake in rodents. Similarly, administration of the adipocyte hormone leptin or the gastrointestinal hormone xenin reduces food intake. In contrast, impairments in hypothalamic signaling of these factors cause hyperphagia and obesity in rodents and humans. Environmental factors affect behavior including feeding behavior and energy metabolism in rodents and humans. Studies have found that environmental enrichment (EE), in which mice interact with complex sensory and motor stimulation, led to a significant reduction in adiposity and resistance to diet-induced obesity in mice. This effect is independent of energy expenditure and is associated with enhanced hypothalamic signaling, but the exact mechanism is unknown. We hypothesized that EE potentiates the feeding suppressing effects of anorectic signals. To address this hypothesis, 4-week-old male C57BL/6 mice were group housed (5/cage) under standard laboratory conditions or EE conditions with free access to regular rodent chow and feeding response to glucose, leptin and xenin was examined. EE cages were supplemented with a house, running wheels, igloos, wood logs, maze and nesting materials. Four weeks after initiating EE protocol, mice were fasted for 8 h and received an intraperitoneal injection of glucose (2 mg/g b.w.) or saline just before the onset of the dark phase. Treatment assignments were reversed for the second injection so that each animal received both treatments with a washout period of 1 week. Mice were given food immediately after the injection and food intake was measured for 4 h after the injection at 0.5–1 h intervals. The same design was repeated using leptin (2.5 μg/g b.w.) and xenin (15 or 50 μg/g b.w.). Glucose injection caused a significant reduction of food intake in both control and EE mice. However, anorexic effect of glucose was more significant in EE group compared to the control group (main effect of treatment: P = 0.0016 for control and P < 0.0001 for EE, two-way ANOVA). Significant reductions in food intake were observed between 0.5 and 2.5 h after glucose injection in EE mice, while no significant reduction was observed thereafter. Moreover, three-way ANOVA showed a significant interaction between housing condition and treatment (P = 0.0086). In contrast, although both leptin and xenin caused a significant reduction in food intake, there was no significant interaction between housing condition and treatment. These data suggest that environmental enrichment enhances the anorectic action of glucose without altering feeding response to leptin and xenin. It is speculated that enhanced hypothalamic glucose sensing may mediate beneficial effects of environmental enrichment on metabolism.

Preliminary evaluation of Superworm ( Zophobas morio ) larval meal as a partial protein source in experimental diets for juvenile Asian sea bass, Lates calcarifer

A 12-week feeding trial with Asian sea bass Lates calcarifer juveniles was conducted to evaluate the response of feeding defatted Superworm (Zophobas morio) larval meal on growth performance, feed utilization, apparent digestibility coefficient of nutrients and haemato-biochemical status for Asian sea bass. Five isonitrogenous (450 g/kg) and isolipidic (125 g/kg) experimental diets were formulated. A basal diet that contained no insect meal from defatted Superworm (DFSM) served as the control. Four diets were formulated where DFSM was included at 30 g/kg; 11.11% (DFSM-3), 60 g/kg; 22.22% (DFSM-6), 90 g/kg; 33.33% (DFSM-9) and 120 g/kg; 44.44% (DFSM-12), respectively, on a dry matter basis. All essential amino acids (EAA) except methionine, phenylalanine and threonine in DFSM compared favourably with fishmeal (FM) and arginine, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, tryptophan and valine were higher than that of FM. No significant (p > .05) differences in weight gain, specific growth rate and feed conversion ratio, hepato-somatic and viscera-somatic index were apparent among fish fed different levels of DFSM. Furthermore, no significant (p < .05) differences were found for apparent digestibility of dry matter (DM) and crude fat in response to dietary DFSM with different levels. A significant decreased linear relationship in the ADC of protein (p = .042) was noted as the level of DFSM incorporation increased in the experimental diet. No significant differences in haematocrit, MCHC and creatinine values were found among the experimental diets. However, a significant quadratic increase in haematocrit (p = .039) was detected as the level of DFSM increased in the diet. Serum cholesterol, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT) and glutamic oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT) were linearly reduced with the increasing of dietary DFSM (linear, p = .043; p = .023; p = .018; p = .028). The findings of the present study indicated that growth, feed efficiency and haemato-biochemical indices were not adversely affected by partial substitution of FM up to 120 g/kg dietary inclusion of Superworm meal. We discuss this in the context of aquafeed applications for marine fish production in Asia for more sustainable production using novel protein ingredients and wider implications.

Genome-Wide Investigation of the NF-X1 Gene Family in Populus trichocarpa Expression Profiles during Development and Stress.

Poplar are planted extensively in reforestation and afforestation. However, their successful establishment largely depends on the environmental conditions of the newly established plantation and their resistance to abiotic as well as biotic stresses. NF-X1, a widespread transcription factor in plants, plays an irreplaceable role in plant growth, development, and stress tolerance. Although the whole genome sequence of Populus trichocarpa has been published for a long time, little is known about the NF-X1 genes in poplar, especially those related to drought stress, mechanical damage, insect feeding, and hormone response at the whole genome level. In this study, whole genome analysis of the poplar NF-X1 family was performed, and 4 PtrNF-X1 genes were identified. Then, bioinformatics analysis and qRT-PCR were applied to analyze the gene structure, phylogeny, chromosomal localization, gene replication, Cis-elements, and expression patterns of PtrNF-X1 genes. Sequence analysis revealed that one-quarter of the PtrNF-X1 genes did not contain introns. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that all NF-X1 genes were split into three subfamilies. The number of two pairs of segmented replication genes were detected in poplars. Cis-acting element analysis identified a large number of elements of growth and development and stress-related elements on the promoters of different NF-X1 members. In addition, some PtrNF-X1 could be significantly induced by polyethylene glycol (PEG) and abscisic acid (ABA), thus revealing their potential role in regulating stress response. Comprehensive analysis is helpful in selecting candidate NF-X1 genes for the follow-up study of the biological function, and molecular genetic progress of stress resistance in forest trees provides genetic resources.

Volatile chemistry, not phylogeny, predicts host range of a biological control agent of Old-World climbing fern

The safety of weed biological control depends upon the selection and utilization of the target weed by the agent while causing minimal harm to non-target species. Selection of weed species by biological control agents is determined by the presence of behavioral cues, namely host secondary plant compounds that elicit oviposition and feeding responses. Non-target species that elicit the same behavioral cues as found in the target weed may be at risk of damage by classical biological control agents. Here we determined volatile secondary plant constituents of the invasive weed Old World climbing fern, Lygodium microphyllum and five Lygodium non-target species. Nonmetric multidimensional scaling and permutational analysis of variance indicated that the volatile profiles for each Lygodium species were significantly distinct from one another. Qualitative and quantitative comparisons of 32 volatile constituents indicated that several, including 1-octen-3-ol, 3-octanone, sativene, δ-cadinene, and ethyl hexanoate, distinguish the non-target Lygodium species from the target L. microphyllum. We retrospectively compared the ovipositional responses of the established classical biocontrol agent Neomusotima conspurcatalis, previously tested and released for biological control of L. microphyllum to these species and found similarity of volatile profile to L. microphyllum was a strong predictor of oviposition (R2 = 0.86), while phylogenetic distance predicted neither volatile profile nor oviposition for the Lygodium species tested. These results suggest that distinct volatile profiles among Lygodium species facilitated the selection of the target weed L. microphyllum and the invasive congener L. japonicum while avoiding other, non-target species native to the introduced range for oviposition. These volatile profiles could serve as behavioral cues used by this biological control agent N. conspurcatalis to select a narrow host range.