• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.20 no.7
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• pp.9.1-9.13
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• 2017

Background: Metal-responsive transcription factor-1 (MTF-1) is a key transcriptional regulator playing crucial roles in metal homeostasis and cellular adaptation to diverse oxidative stresses. In order to understand cellular pathways associated with metal regulation and stress responses in Pacific abalone (Haliotis discus hannai), this study was aimed to isolate the genetic determinant of abalone MTF-1 and to examine its expression characteristics under basal and experimentally stimulated conditions. Results: The abalone MTF-1 shared conserved features in zinc-finger DNA binding domain with its orthologs; however, it represented a non-conservative shape in presumed transactivation domain region with the lack of typical motifs for nuclear export signal (NES) and Cys-cluster. Abalone MTF-1 promoter exhibited various transcription factor binding motifs that would be potentially related with metal regulation, stress responses, and development. The highest messenger RNA (mRNA) expression level of MTF-1 was observed in the testes, and MTF-1 transcripts were detected during the entire period of embryonic and early ontogenic developments. Abalone MTF-1 was found to be Cd inducible and highly modulated by heat shock treatment. Conclusion: Abalone MTF-1 possesses a non-consensus structure of activation domains and represents distinct features for its activation mechanism in response to metal overload and heat stress. The activation mechanism of abalone MTF-1 might include both indirect zinc sensing and direct de novo synthesis of transcripts. Taken together, results from this study could be a useful basis for future researches on stress physiology of this abalone species, particularly with regard to heavy metal detoxification and thermal adaptation.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.237-244
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• 2010

Utricularia forms small, but complex carnivorous trap along the stem either in water or in soil depending upon species. The shapes and sizes of the traps, appendages, and trichomes are known to differ among aquatic, terrestrial and epiphytic species. In the present study, the morphology and microstructure of the trap in aquatic Utricularia japonica and terrestrial U. livida were examined using light and electron microscopy. The aim of this study was to compare the characteristics of trap features between the aquatic and terrestrial species. The trap was found to be comprised of a thin walled bladder with numerous capitate trichomes, two-armed bifid and four-armed quadrifid glands in both species; however, the traps of the two species were different in size, and number and morphology of the trichomes and glands. Aquatic Utricularia was chlorenchymatous with chloroplasts distributed throughout the body, whereas the terrestrial species was translucent without plastids due to an adaptation to underground habitats. Furthermore, the former differed considerably in that the traps developed antenna and appendages around the entrance area. A peculiar trap entrance was also noted in U. livida, which exhibited radiating rows of various trichomes within funnel-shaped tissue. A large number of glandular trichomes covered the entrance area and door surface with four trigger hairs each in the aquatic form but only two in the terrestrial form. The glandular trichomes near the door secreted a large amount of mucilage that temporarily composed the velum in the U. japonica, however, it was not observed in the terrestrial species. All of the aforementioned features were highly related in their structure and function during carnivorous mechanism in Utricularia. The current findings provide important data for further comparison of the different life forms within Utricularia.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.36 no.10
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• pp.1536-1545
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• 2023

Objective: The objective was to evaluate the effects of UV-B irradiated vitamin D-enriched yeast supplementation on milk yield, milk composition, vitamin D in milk, milk fatty acids, blood chemistry, and 25(OH)D status in dairy cows. Methods: Six Thai Friesian cows (milk production, 11.2±2.0 kg/d; body weight, 415.0±20.0 kg; and days in milk, 90.0±6.0) were allocated to each treatment in a 3×3 Latin square design, with three treatments and three periods. Each period of the Latin square lasted 49 days consisting of 14 days for diet adaptation and 35 days for sample collection. Dairy cows were randomly assigned to one of three treatments: i) feeding a basal diet without yeast (CON); ii) basal diet + 5 g of live yeast (75 IU/head/d of vitamin D₂; LY); and iii) basal diet + 5 g of UV-B irradiated vitamin D enriched yeast (150,000 IU/head/d of vitamin D₂; VDY). Feed intake and milk production were recorded daily, milk sample collection occurred on days 14 and 35 of each collection period, and blood plasma was collected on days 0, 7, 14, 21, 28, and 35 of each collection period. Results: The results show that after a trial period of 14 and 35 days, the VDY group had significantly higher vitamin D content in milk than the LY and CON groups (376.41 vs 305.15, 302.14 ng/L and 413.46 vs 306.76, 301.12 ng/L, respectively). At days 7, 14, 21, 28, and 35 of the experiment, cows fed the VDY group had significantly higher 25(OH)D₂ status in blood than the CON and LY groups (51.07 vs 47.16, 48.05 ng/mL; 54.96 vs 45.43, 46.91 ng/mL; 56.16 vs 46.87, 47.16 ng/mL; 60.67 vs 44.39, 46.17 ng/mL and 63.91 vs 45.88, 46.88 ng/mL), respectively. Conclusion: In conclusion, UV-B irradiated vitamin D-enriched yeast supplementation could improve vitamin D content in the milk and 25(OH)D status in dairy cows during the lactation period.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.331-335
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• 2003

Vertebrates with different habitats have different proportions of visual cells, with the rod cells responding to scotopic vision and the cone cells responding to photopic and color vision in their retinas. The present work studied whether the kinds and arrangement patterns of the cone cells and interlocking morphology of the lens were related to the kind of preys and habitats in the genus Zacco. The retinas were observed by a light microscopy using H-E staining method and the interlocking formula of the lens fibers were investigated by a scanning electron microscopy. The interlocking formula of the lens fibers of Z. temmincki is an ' anchor and socket ' connection, and that of Z. platypus is a ' ball and socket ' connection. The cone cells of Z. platypus and Z. temmincki constituted compacted mosaic patterns of row type. Away from the center, the double and single cone cells gradually increased in diameter. Zacco temmincki had identical double cone cells and Z. platypus had non-identical double and single cone cells. The eyes of Z. temminckifeeding on a moving aquatic insects in relative limpid water and swift current of mid and upper stream have better resolution than that of Z. platypus feeding on mainly adhesive algae and some aquatic insects in slightly turbid water of mid stream.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.21 no.8
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• pp.28.1-28.12
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• 2018

Intertidal macroalgae are exposed to many abiotic stress factors, and they must regularly react to changes in their environment. We used RNA-seq to describe how Porphyra umbilicalis (Rhodophyta) changes gene expression patterns to interact with different habitats. Tissue samples were taken from a typical habitat along the open-coast of the Northwest Atlantic, as well as from a rare, atypical habitat in an estuarine tidal rapid environment. Differential gene expression analyses suggest that pathogic bacteria and viruses may be a significant factor influencing the transcriptome in the human-impacted estuarine environment, but the atypical habitat does not necessarily induce more stress in Porphyra umbilicalis growing there. We found genes related to nitrogen transport are over-expressed in tissue from the open-coastal site compared to those from the estuarine site, where environmental N levels approach hypertrophic levels. Low N levels impede growth, but high levels are toxic to cells, and we use qPCR to show this species regulates expression of a putative high-affinity $NH_4{^+}$ transporter under low and high N conditions. Differences in expression of this transporter in these habitats appear to be inherited from parent to offspring and have general implications for adaptation to habitat in other species that are capable of asexual reproduction, as well as more specific implications for this species' use in aquaculture.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.24 no.7
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• pp.235-242
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• 2021

The present study investigated the critical thermal maxima (CT_max) of red-spotted grouper, Epinephelus akaara under different acclimation temperatures (T_acc). Fish were acclimated at 24℃, 28℃, and 32℃ water temperature for 2 weeks. Water temperature was increased at a rate of 1℃/h and CT_max level was measured following the critical thermal methodology (Paladino et al., 1980). The results showed that CT_max values of E. akaara were 35.61℃, 36.83℃, and 37.65℃ for fish acclimated at 24℃, 28℃, and 32℃, respectively. The acclimation response ratio (ARR) was 0.26. The CT_max values were significantly correlated with body size. Collectively, it is said that the CT_max value of red-spotted grouper can be affected by different adaptation temperature (24℃, 28℃, and 32℃) and the fish acclimated to a higher temperature has a higher CT_max level. Besides, the CT_max value of 35.61℃-37.65℃ indicating the upper thermal tolerance limit for E. akaara under different T_acc (24℃, 28℃, and 32℃). Understanding the thermal tolerance of E. akaara is of ecological importance in the conservation of this species.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.25 no.10
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• pp.499-516
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• 2022

Endobiotic microalgae inhabit various groups of organisms, including bivalves. In this group, the association between the giant molluscs Tridacna and Symbiodinium is one of the most recognizable. This consortium allows hydrobionts to survive in oligotrophic waters by regulating their metabolism. The available research has provided an understanding of the interaction and adaptation of these symbionts, but the problem of the beginning of the formation of these relationships remains unresolved. In the case of Tridacninae, symbiosis is essential for the survival of bivalves, in contrast to representatives of the Mytilidae and the Coccomyxa found in them. A few works devoted mainly to the morphological aspects of invasion have shown that endobiont causes inflammation and pathology. Having data to clarify the exact "diagnosis" of the interaction of these organisms is not enough. It is possible that the relationship between bivalves and Coccomyxa is in the early stages of being established, which may lead to mutualism or parasitism in the future. We assume that the analysis of works on the symbiosis of Symbiodinium and bivalves will facilitate the course of research for the less studied Coccomyxa and their hosts. By postulating the Coccomyxa represent a unique evolutionary model for the formation of a symbiotic system, it is possible to use this system to study the interaction of organisms during their initial contact. The identified signalling pathways and mechanisms that allow the photobionts to evade host immunity can be useful for constructing new forms of symbiosystems.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.55 no.6
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• pp.894-902
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• 2022

This study investigated the effects of photoperiod (NL 12L:12D and LL 24L:0D) and body sizes (30 g and 50 g) on parr-smolt transformation, post-smolt growth and blood properties in the off-season parr-smolt stage of Atlantic salmon reared in a recirculating aquaculture system (RAS). Potential off-season salmon smolt were reared in a freshwater RAS for 80 days and then all experimental fish were transferred to seawater. In both LL groups (LL-30 and LL-50), we recorded and increase in specific growth rate and reduction in feed conversion, although there were no significant difference in body size. The values of osmolality, and serum Na⁺, Cl^- and cortisol concentrations in the LL groups were maintained at lower levels than in NL group fish, and LL group fish were observed to recover to the pre-seawater adaptation state more rapidly than those in the NL group. ID chips were inserted in all smolts reared in freshwater. These fish were subsequently transferred to full-strength seawater and thereafter individual growth rates were monitored for 120 days. The results indicated that compared with smolt reared under natural photoperiodic condition, 24 h lighting in freshwater contributed to enhancing post-smolt specific growth rate in seawater.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.23-34
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• 2024

While scientific information on the spatial variation of soda lake Microalgae is important to limnological studies, little information was reported from the Ethiopian Rift Valley Lake, Lake Chitu. This study aimed to understand the spatial distribution of the dominant Microalgae taxa in Lake Chitu, Ethiopia. The collection of samples and in situ measurements of some physico-chemical parameters were recorded at three sites for one cycle in November 2021. Fourteen species or genera of Microalgae were identified. Among those, Bacillariophyta were the most important with regard to species abundance and the rarest in species richness. Cyanophyta were the second-most important group in terms of species richness and rarity. Comparatively, all microalgae taxa were rare at both the anthropogenic areas (AA) and the flooding area (FA), which could be mainly due to intensive human and animal intervention and associated with extreme turbidity. Among Cyanophyta, Chroococcus minutus, Microcystis aeruginosa, and Spirulina platensis/fusiformis were predominant at both AA and FA, revealing their adaptation to less clear water and pollution. But S. platensis/fusiformis attained the highest abundance at the FA, indicating their preference for water in a highly nutrient-enriched area. We concluded that the spatial variation of microalgae diversity in relation to water quality parameters has implications for the importance of microalgae as a baseline indicator of water quality assessment tools in lakes.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.444-452
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• 2012

This study aims at assessing vulnerability of water quality and aquatic ecosystem to climate change by using proxy variables. Vulnerability to climate change is defined as a function of exposure to climate, sensitivity, and adaptive capacity. Detailed proxy variables were selected considering availability and then standardized by re-scaling concept. After adequate weights were assigned to standardized proxy variables by Delphi technique, vulnerability index was calculated. As results, vulnerability of adjacent regions to coastal areas include water quality and aquatic ecosystem is relatively higher than that of inland areas, and especially adjacent region to the western and southeast seas, and Jeju show high vulnerabilities. Vulnerability in the future was performed based on A1B scenario (IPCC, 2000). Temporally, the increase of vulnerability from 2050s to 2100s may be larger than the increase from 2000s to 2050s. Because vulnerability index was estimated through the relationship among various proxy variables, it is important to consider characteristics of local region with measurements and policies for reduction of sensitivity and enhancement of adaptive capacity on climate change. This study is expected to be useful in planning adaptation measures and selecting priority to the policy on climate change.