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To compare the growth performance of koi carp, Cyprinus carpio var. koi, produced in concrete tanks (2.13 · 0.91 · 1.22 m; capacity: 2,000 l each) and earthen ponds (9.1 · 6.10 · 1.07 m; capacity: 59650 l each), fish larvae (stocking size: 0.12 ± 0.008 g) were cultured for 11 weeks and individual weight gain, survival rate and number of marketable fish produced were compared among four management regimes for each culture system: (1) live zooplankton fed to fish larvae in ponds (PLF) and tanks (TLF); (2) application of poultry manure in ponds (PPM) and tanks (TPM); (3) application of cow manure in ponds (PCD) and tanks (TCD); and (4) a control treatment for ponds (PC) and tanks (TC), where a commercial feed was applied. There were three replicates for each treatment. Weight gain of koi carp was highest in the PLF treatment, followed in decreasing order by TLF, PPM, PCD, TPM, TCD, PC and TC treatments (P < 0.05). There was a significant difference in the survival of koi carp among the treatments, ranging from 67.83% in TC to 95.50% in PLF. The number of marketable fish produced was highest in the PLF treatment, followed in decreasing order by TLF, PPM and PCD treatments. However, none of the fish produced in the TPM, TCD, PC and TC treatments attained marketable size. Significantly higher (P < 0.05) values of pH and dissolved oxygen (for water samples collected weekly at 9 A.M.) were obtained in the live food and control treatments (for both tanks and ponds), compared to the manured treatments. The concentration of total alkalinity, BOD, PO 4 -P, NO 3 -N and specific conductivity were significantly higher (P < 0.05) in PPM and PCD, compared to other treatments. NO 2 -N and NH 4 -N values were significantly higher (P < 0.05) in TPM and TCD, than other treatments. The results suggest that introduction of live zooplankton into culture 2006 units result in higher growth of koi carp larvae compared to manure based systems. Earthen ponds appeared to be better alternative to concrete tanks for manure application through maintenance of better water quality due to their higher assimilatory capacity and greater abundance of plankton which resulted in better growth of cultured fish.

Current rates of climatic change will affect the structure and function of community assemblages on Earth. In recent decades, advances in modelling techniques have illuminated the potential effects of various climatic scenarios on biodiversity hotspots, including community assemblages in the Himalayas. These techniques have been used to test the effects of representative concentration pathways (RCPs) AR5-2050, based on future greenhouse gas emission trajectories of climate change scenario/year combinations, on pheasants. Current bioclimatic variables, Miroc-esm, Hadgem2-AO and Gfdl-cm3, in future climate change scenario models, were used to predict the future distribution and the gain/loss of future habitat area, within the Himalayas, of the pheasant, Satyr Tragopon (Tragopan satyra). The results indicate that future climatic conditions may significantly affect the future distribution of Satyr Tragopon and the effectiveness of protective areas (PAs). Using the python based GIS toolkit, SDM projection, regions of high risk under climate change scenarios were identified. To predict the present distribution of the species, environment parameters of bioclimatic variables, red reflectance, blue reflectance, solar azimuth angle, altitude, slope, aspect, NDVI, EVI, VI, and LCLU were used. The forest cover (NDVI) and the canopy cover (EVI), and variables affecting forest structure, namely altitude, slope, solar azimuth angle and Bio7, were the primary factors dictating the present distribution of T. satyra. The predicted trend of habitat shifting of T. satyra in the Himalayas to higher altitudes and latitudes will gradually become more prominent with climate warming.

An investigation was conducted to identify the bacterial isolates and to study the antibiotic resistance patterns of Aeromonas spp. and Salmonella spp. from the skin, gills, and gut of the fresh water loach, Lepidocephalichthys guntea (HAMILTON BUCHANAN) and water sampled from four different sites along the River Lotchka in Darjeeling District, West Bengal, India. Isolated bacteria were identified by different biochemical procedures, and Polymerase Chain Reaction was performed using genus specific 16S rDNA primers for confirmation of identification of Aeromonas spp. and Salmonella spp. Antibiotic susceptibility test of bacterial isolates was also done by Disc Diffusion method. A total of 49 Aeromonas spp. and 24 Salmonella spp. were isolated from tested samples. Maximum resistance was exhibited for Penicillin-G, Ampicillin, and Cephalothin (>75% resistant Aeromonas spp. and >60% Salmonella spp. in the four different sites of river and body parts of fish). Ciprofloxacin and Tetracycline resistance was almost nil. The results indicated that the river water and resident fish were contaminated with multi-antibiotic resistant enteric pathogenic bacteria. This study, thus, provides valuable information for making policy decisions aimed at reducing microbial contamination of fish and the indiscriminate use of antibiotics.

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