In a long-term growth trial, transgenic tilapia Oreochromis niloticus L. showed a 2·5-fold increase in growth compared with non-transgenic siblings. At 7 months, mean mass of transgenic tilapia was 653 g compared with 260 g for non-transgenic siblings. A significant increase (P<0·01) in head : total length ratio, viscera-somatic index and hepato-somatic index was observed in transgenic fish. Female gonado-somatic index (I G ) was found to be lower in transgenics than non-transgenic siblings in both mixed and separate culture conditions. Transgenic male I G values were found to be higher in mixed culture and lower in separate culture than that of their non-transgenic siblings. Food conversion efficiency was more than 20% greater in the transgenic fish. In a second shorter-term growth performance trial, the transgenic fish grew to about four times the size of their non-transgenic siblings. A digestibility trial suggested that transgenic tilapia were more efficient utilizers of protein, dry matter and energy. Apparent digestibility of protein and apparent energy digestibility were higher in the transgenic fish. 2001 The Fisheries Society of the British Isles

Samples of mussels (Mytilus) were collected from 17 localities within hybrid zones of Mytilus edulis and Mytilus galloprovincialis in south-west and north-east England. The study of two polymorphic allozyme loci (esterase-D and octopine dchydrogcnase), which are partially diagnostic for the two forms of mussel, reveal the existence of widespread length-dependent allele frequency variation. Larger mussels tend to have a higher frequency of alleles characteristically at high frequency in Mytilus galloprovincialis. Also at a given shell length galloprovincialis alleles have a higher frequency higher up the shore. Computer simulation is used to demonstrate that length-dependent variation may be generated not only by differential mortality but also by differential growth and in models including or excluding immigration. Evidence supports the hypothesis that selective mortality acting in favour of the galloprovincialis phenotype within hybrid populations in Britain is balanced by immigration of the more abundant Mytilus edulis.

No abstract