Unraveling a 146 Years Old Taxonomic Puzzle: Validation of Malabar Snakehead, Species-Status and Its Relevance for Channid Systematics and Evolution

The current distribution of C. diplogramma and C. micropeltes is best explained by vicariance. The significant variation in the key taxonomic characters and the results of the molecular marker analysis points towards an allopatric speciation event or vicariant divergence from a common ancestor, which molecular data suggests to have occurred as early as 21.76 million years ago. The resurrection of C. diplogramma from the synonymy of C. micropeltes has hence been confirmed 146 years after its initial description and 134 years after it was synonymised, establishing it is an endemic species of peninsular India and prioritizing its conservation value

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Not AvailableGross protein and fat requirements in formulated feeds designed for the honey gourami, Trichogaster chuna (initial weight 1.34–1.38 g), were investigated. Feeds containing 30%, 40%, and 50% protein and 6% and 9% lipid at each protein level were tested. Protein and energy sources used were from fishmeal, shrimp meal, clam meal, soy flour, and wheat flour. An equal mixture of crude sardine oil and groundnut oil was used as the source of lipids. Comparison of the whole gourami amino acid profiles before and after the dietary treatments indicated a relative decline in all amino acids except methionine and lysine. Fatty acid profiles of whole individuals after dietary treatment showed a substantial increase in monounsaturated fatty acids relative to the initial fatty acid profiles. No significant differences were observed in fish growth between dietary treatments (p > .05). Feeds containing 30% protein and 6% lipid were found to be adequate for normal growth, while feeds with 40% protein and 6% lipid were seen to help accelerate growth and reproduction. In this study, protein and lipid levels required for regular maintenance, sexual maturation, and spawning of aquarium‐reared gourami were established.Not Availabl

Evaluation of gross protein and lipid requirements in formulated feed for honey gourami, Trichogaster chuna (Hamilton 1822)

Gross protein and fat requirements in formulated feeds designed for the honey gourami, Trichogaster chuna (initial weight 1.34–1.38 g), were investigated. Feeds containing 30%, 40%, and 50% protein and 6% and 9% lipid at each protein level were tested. Protein and energy sources used were from fishmeal, shrimp meal, clam meal, soy flour, and wheat flour. An equal mixture of crude sardine oil and groundnut oil was used as the source of lipids. Comparison of the whole gourami amino acid profiles before and after the dietary treatments indicated a relative decline in all amino acids except methionine and lysine. Fatty acid profiles of whole individuals after dietary treatment showed a substantial increase in monounsaturated fatty acids relative to the initial fatty acid profiles. No significant differences were observed in fish growth between dietary treatments (p > .05). Feeds containing 30% protein and 6% lipid were found to be adequate for normal growth, while feeds with 40% protein and 6% lipid were seen to help accelerate growth and reproduction. In this study, protein and lipid levels required for regular maintenance, sexual maturation, and spawning of aquarium‐reared gourami were established

Episodic human activities and seasonal impacts on the Tachypleus gigas (Müller, 1795) population at Tanjung Selangor in Peninsular Malaysia

The scientific literature on population dynamics, breeding biology and nesting behaviour of the Asian horseshoe crabs is limited and still to emerge from several locations in South and Southeast Asia. The present study (2009-2011), aimed at observing the spawning activity of Tachypleus gigas (Müler, 1795) in relation to local environmental conditions, was carried out from Tanjung Selangor (Sites 1-3) on the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia. Southwest (SW) monsoon (May-September) was found to be more favourable (range, 456-1309 eggs) than Inter-monsoon (IM) (April and October) (169-317 eggs), whereas no eggs at the time of Northeast (NE) monsoon (November-March). Meanwhile, T. gigas preferred Site-1 (located close to River Pahang mouth) for its nesting in the SW and shifted to Site-2 and/or Site-3 (located 150-200 m interior) in the IM periods. This nest shifting behaviour of T. gigas was primarily associated with the seasonal water current that becomes intensive during NE monsoon. However, the human activities such as sand mining (2010), jetty (2010-2011) and road/bridge (2011 - present) constructions in the vicinity have affected the normal physicochemical conditions of the sediment/water. Importantly, the sediment being represented largely by medium sand with moderate sorting, symmetrical and very leptokurtic properties in 2009 was changed into coarse sand with poor sorting, fine/very fine skewed and extremely leptokurtic in 2010-11. In addition, the heavy metal contamination of Cadmium and Selenium in the sediment and Hydrogen Sulfide in the water increased considerably (2010-11). These changes, not only reduced T. gigas spawning activity/egg counts between 2009 and 2010 (from an average of 912 ± 690 to 360 ± 288) (±SD), but also correlated with its total absence during 2011 (PRIMER v.6). Since Tanjung Selangor beach (adjoining the Terus and Pahang Tua estuary) is one of the very few known spawning grounds for the Malaysian horseshoe crab (T. gigas), it is imperative to conserve and manage this area and it should be sanctioned as a 'Marine Protected Area'.SCOPUS: ar.jinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe

Performance Characteristics of Ankistrodesmus falcatus in Different Culture Media and Concentration

This study determined the effect of growth media and culture concentration on the growth, proximate, and microelement composition of Ankistrodesmus falcatus. The culture of A. falcatus was done using three media, namely Modified COMBO Medium (COMBO), Bold’s Basal Medium (BBM), and Bristol, at two concentrations (50% and 100%). The results obtained show that the cell density (>3.5 × 107 cells/mL), optical density (>0.24), and specific growth rate (>0.429%/day) were significantly higher (p ≤ 0.05) in BBM and COMBO than in Bristol (<3.1 × 107 cells/mL; <0.23; <0.416%/day, respectively) at both concentrations. However, biomass was higher in BBM (>2.20 g/L) than in COMBO (1.87–2.13 g/L), while Bristol had the lowest value observed (1.70–1.73 g/L). Biochemical and microelement composition showed variations between media and at the different concentrations, with higher values observed in BBM and COMBO. Based on the growth parameters and nutritional composition, it was concluded that BBM and COMBO were better media for the propagation of A. falcatus growth than Bristol. The study also demonstrated that the microalgae can be cultured using half of the media’s concentration to lower production costs