-The experiment was performed with 160 tambaqui (Colossoma macropomum) with average weight 11.01±2.08 g and total length 7.8±0.18 cm. Fishes were kept in sixteen aquariums with 56 L of water at 29.1±0.4 o C of temperature, initial stocking density 1.97 g/L and constant aeration. The objective of this study was to assess the influence of photoperiod on fish performance. Treatments consisted of four photoperiods: T1 = 6 hours; T2 = 12 hours; T3 = 18 hours and T4 = 24 hours, with four replicates each. Fishes were fed twice a day with commercial extruded feed (28% of crude protein).The experiment was developed in closed circulation system, with volume of water renewal for each experimental unit equivalent to 40 times daily. Fish biometry was performed at the beginning of the experiment and at every 16 days, in order to follow the effects of treatments on juvenile development. Final weight, total length, standard length, height, feed intake, weight gain, feed conversion, survival, specific growth rate, protein efficiency rate and protein retention efficiency were assessed.Statistical analysis of variables was performed with application of the software SAEG version 9.1, for analysis of variance, regression analysis and Pearson correlation. Positive influence of photoperiod was observed for the studied variables in this study. The studied variables enhanced as the photoperiod increased, mainly between 15 and 22 hours. The photoperiod has significant influence upon growth traits of tambaqui (Colossoma macropomum).

No abstract

-Essential oils have been extensively used in many commercial applications, one of them being anesthetics. The effect of four essential oils (tea tree, clove, eucalyptus, and mint oils) on the sedation, recovery, and behavioral stress of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) was evaluated. The sedative solutions, prepared with essential oils and anhydrous ethanol (1:4), were used for fish management procedures at a dose of 7.4 mL L -1 in a completely randomized block design with four treatments and seven replicates. The means were compared using Scott-Knott test (P < 0.05). Clove oil was found to be the most suitable oil for the immobilization of Nile tilapia; however, behavioral observations indicate that tea tree oil was the most efficient in reducing stress. Keywords

ABSTRACT.-Muzitano I.S., Neves C.A., Radael M.C., Rezende F.P., Mendonça P.P., Santos M. Farmed fishes are highly sensitive to diets deficient in ascorbic acid with clinical symptoms that affect performance and commercialization for causing deformities. Aiming to meet the minimum levels for red rainbow fish, six isoaminoacid and isocaloric diets with varying levels of active vitamin C were tested. At the end of 42 days experimental period, 36 fishes were histologically analyzed for the percentage of connective tissue and muscle fibers in order to determine the influence of the Vitamin C percentage in those ratios. Although the averages are statistically indistinguishable from the quantitative point of view, qualitatively higher levels of vitamin C allow better tissue structure. The breakdown of muscle tissue is indicative for dietary deficiency of ascorbic acid.INDEX TERMS: Ascorbic acid, Glossolepis incisus, ornamental fish, fish farming, collagen.

Fertilization of aquaculture ponds has been pointed out as an efficient practice to improve fish feed conversion and growth performance. In this way, the present study aimed to assess the effect of pond fertilization on the growth performance, body composition, and water quality of juvenile pirarucu Arapaima gigas reared in earthen ponds (600 m²) during the grow-out phase. Two fertilized and two non-fertilized ponds were stocked with 208 juvenile pirarucus (19.9 ± 3.6 g and 15.0 ± 0.9 cm) and reared for 100 days. All four ponds were limed before the study. Ponds were fertilized before fish were stocked and weekly until the end of the experiment, and fish offered feed until apparent satiation. Pirarucu reared in fertilized ponds presented higher final weight (20%) and biomass (19%), further to lower feed intake and feed conversion rate (1.31) than fish reared in non-fertilized ponds (1.61). Pond fertilization did not affect the fish coefficient of variation, which was reduced over the culture cycle. The body composition of fish reared in fertilized ponds presented higher water content, protein, and energy retention rates and lowered crude fat and energy. Fertilized ponds presented lower transparency levels and higher pH from the 50th day of culture, whereas ammonia concentration was higher in the fertilized ponds in the first 25 days. Therefore, pond fertilization is a recommended practice for pirarucu during the grow-out phase.

Background Tambaqui (Colossoma macropomum, Cuvier, 1818) is the most economically important native freshwater fish species in Brazil. It can reach a total length of over 1 m and a weight of over 40 kg. The species displays a clear sex dimorphism in growth performance, with females reaching larger sizes at harvest. In aquaculture, the production of monosex populations in selective breeding programmes has been therefore identified as a key priority. Results In the present study, a genetic linkage map was generated by double digest restriction-site associated DNA (ddRAD) sequencing from 248 individuals sampled from two F1 families. The map was constructed using 14,805 informative SNPs and spanned 27 linkage groups. From this, the tambaqui draft genome was improved, by ordering the scaffolds into chromosomes, and sex-linked markers were identified. A total of 235 markers on linkage group 26 showed a significant association with the phenotypic sex, supporting an XX/XY sex determination system in the species. The four most informative sex-linked markers were validated on another 206 sexed individuals, demonstrating an accuracy in predicting sex ranging from 90.0 to 96.7%. Conclusions The genetic mapping and novel sex-linked DNA markers identified and validated offer new tools for rapid progeny sexing, thus supporting the development of monosex female production in the industry while also supporting breeding programmes of the species.

-The current study was aimed at investigating the use of different fertilizers -dicalcium phosphate, biosolid and quail feces -as a strategy for water fertilization in Daphnia sp production. It was used twenty-four 100-L tanks of asbestos cement distributed in a completely randomized split-plot design with six replicates, with plots in the three kinds of fertilizers (biosolid, dicalcium phosphate, and quail feces) and a control without fertilization (WF) and subplots at the times of assessment (days 8 and 13). It was assessed the biomass production of Daphnia sp. and the following water quality parameters: chlorophyll a, electrical conductivity, pH, dissolved oxygen, temperature, ammonia and organic nitrogen, total phosphorus and total hardness. There was a significant correlation between the values of chlorophyll a and biomass weight of Daphnia sp, which indicates interactions between phytoplankton and zooplankton communities. The maximum weight of Daphnia sp. biomass is found in tanks fertilized with quail feces (35.98 g), followed by the biosolid (16.80 g), control without fertilization (6.75 g) and dicalcium phosphate (5.24 g).Key Words: biosolids, dicalcium phosphate, plankton production, quail feces Fertilizantes para produção de Daphnia sp. (Crustacea, Cladocera) em tanques experimentaisRESUMO -Este trabalho foi conduzido com o objetivo de avaliar a utilização de fertilizantes -fosfato bicálcico, biossólido e fezes de codorna -na água de produção de Daphnia sp. Foram utilizados 24 tanques de cimento-amianto, cada um com volume útil de 100 L, em um delineamento inteiramente ao acaso em parcelas subdivididas com seis repetições, tendo nas parcelas os tipos de fertilizantes e um controle, sem adubação, e nas subparcelas as épocas de avaliação (dias 8 e 13). Foram avaliados a produção da biomassa de Daphnia sp. e os seguintes parâmetros de qualidade da água: clorofila a, condutividade elétrica, pH, oxigênio dissolvido, temperatura, nitrogênio amoniacal e orgânico, fósforo total e dureza total.Observou-se correlação significativa entre os valores de clorofila a e o peso da biomassa de Daphnia sp., o que indica interação entre as comunidades fito e zooplanctônicas. O peso máximo da biomassa de Daphnia sp. em tanques adubados com fezes de codorna é maior (35,98 g) que em tanques adubados com biossólido (16,80 g), sem adubação (6,75 g) ou adubados com fosfato bicálcico (5,24 g).Palavras-chave: biossólidos, fezes de codorna, fosfato bicálcico, produção de plâncton