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News from above and below the

CIIMARs monthly NEWS LETTER

pH in Recirculating Aquatic Systems

In chemistry, pH is actually the measure of acidity or alkalinity in wa-

ter. Seven is considered to be neutral pH (neither acidic nor alkaline),

while pH above 7 is considered to be alkaline and a pH reading below 7

is acidic. Fish can survive in pH ranges from 6 to 9; however, the major-

ity has better quality life with pH between 7 and 8. As always, there

are exceptions, so there are species that prefer living in very acidic pH,for example the Discus (Symphysodon spp., tropical freshwater fish)

prefers pH between 5 and 7.

Recirculating Aquatic Systems (RAS), used for maintenance and experi-

mentation with aquatic species, may register pH variations. These pH

changes, even small ones, are chemical changes that can cause more

stress to fish than one would think. There are certain factors that nor-

mally contribute towards a low pH level within RAS. Some acids

(carbon dioxide, nitric acid, organic acids) are actually natural by-

products of the biological processes that take place within a tank. Car-

bon dioxide is released regularly due to the respiratory processes of

the fish, due to biological filtration nitrification leads to the deposit of

nitric acids within the tank and metabolic wastes of the fish leads to a

collection of organic wastes in the water. Beyond these chemical fac-

tors, there are also biological factors, such as biomass and feeding,

which interfere with the pH.

Measurement of pH in RAS is very important, especially because

there is a relation between pH, temperature and the un-ionized am-

monia concentration (NH3) in water. The ammonia (NH3) and ammo-

nium ion (NH4+) equilibrium in water is determined by the water tem-

perature and pH. If you have high temperatures and high pH values,

you will have more ammonia which is more toxic than ammonium ion.

There are several different methods for measuring pH: simple and easy

methods - pH stripes (A) or pH quick kits (B); digital and precise meth-

ods - pH pens (C) or pH probes (D).

Together we will have mo re and better research in BOGA-CIIMAR!

Hugo Santos

All Aboard

Dear Friends,

The Proteomics course, new services at CIIMAR and various funding

calls...

Enjoy The Editors

Services @ CIIMAR

Analytical Solutions Elemental Analyzer and Isotope Ratio MS

In 2009, the laboratory of Ecophysiology of CIIMAR, through the Pro-

ject Norway PT010, acquired the most sensitive Delta Isotope Ratio

Mass Spectrometer (IRMS) available. This equipment is characterized

by combining high sensitivity with excellent linearity and stability and

its accurate determination of Nitrogen, Carbon, Oxygen and Hydrogen

Isotope ratios offers a powerful tool in many research areas.

The conversion of any type of organic or inorganic compound into sim-

pl e

gases is the basic principle for isotope ratio mass spectrometry. In our

IRMS we use an Organic Elemental Analyzer (Flash 2000) for this con-

version and it becomes a simple, precise and cost-effective tool.After six months of optimization, the IRMS is ready to provide techni-

cal/scientific support in many research areas from environmental and

agronomy to nutritional and marine biology with the determination of15

N/14

N and13

C/12

C isotope ratios as well as the %N e %C in the sample

by combustion at 1020C. However the laboratory aims to implement,

in the near future, a method for evaluating C and N in liquid samples

and another to determine isotope analysis of H and O. For any addi-

tional information please visit our laboratory (next to the chemistry lab

at CIIMAR) or contact me at sofia.goncalves@ciimar.up.pt.

Sofia Gonalves

January 2012 Vol 3 Issue 2 waveswaveswaveswavesCIMAR/CIIMAR Rua dos Bragas 289, 4050-123 Porto Portugal tel: +351 22 340 1800 fax +31 22 339 0608 web www.ciimar.up.pt

Editors

V. VasconcelosL.F.C. CastroJ.M. Wilson

Vol 3 Issue 2

Deus ao mar o perigo e o abismo deu,Mas nele que espelhou o cu. F. Pessoa

(IN)FORMATION BOGA!

(A) (B)

(C)

(D)

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On the Radar...

This month at...

1 to 31 Exhibition: O CIIMAR olha para dentro- exposio deposters de trabalhos de investigadores do CIIMAR- 9-19 h.

CIIMAR hall.

2 to 29 Exhibition at CMIA Vila do Conde: Mentes Brilhantes.

1 to 31 Exhibition at CMIA Matosinhos: DA POA DUNA. UMA

VIAGEM PELO LITORAL DE MATOSINHOS.

2 Seminar "DNA e o Segredo da Vida, Filipe Castro,CIIMAR, 9pm, CMIA Vila do Conde.

15 Ciclo Caf Cincia, tba, 9pm, CMIA Matosinhos.16 Oceanus Seminar, Chris Wood (McMaster U. Canada)

Ammonia excretion and Rh function in fish., 14.30CIMAR.

22 Oceanus Seminar, Patricia Wright (U. Guelph, Canada).From crab burrows to rotting logs eco-physiology of aself-fertilizing amphibious mangrove fish., 14.30 CIMAR.

27 Oceanus Seminar, Machiel Bos, CIIMAR, "Why is it impor-tant to measure a millimetre tide in Loch Ness", 14:30,CIIMAR auditorium.

Proteomics course: gel based protein separation by two-

dimensional gel electrophoresis (2DE) and protein characteri-

zation by MALDI-TOF/TOF mass spectrometry, 27 Feb - 1 March

2012

This four day course aims to describe the principles of 2DE and MALDI-

TOF/TOF as well as to provide basic training in the methodologies. The

course will be held at CIIMAR and IPATIMUP, being organized by theLaboratory of Ecotoxicology, Genomics and Evolution (LEGE/CIIMAR)

and the IPATIMUP Proteomics Unit. It will consist in theoretical lectures

and laboratory work on protein separation by 2DE, peptide analyses,

protein identification and characterization of post-translational modifi-

cations by MALDI-TOF/TOF mass spectrometry.

Alexandre Campos

Paper of the monthCIIMAR publishes

Have your say in waveswaveswaveswavesContributions welcome. Contact Vitor Vasconcelos, Filipe Castro or Jonathan Wilson @ waves.ciimar@gmail.com

Nutrition and health of aquaculture fish

A Oliva-Teles

J Fish Dis. 2012 Feb;35(2):83-108.

Under intensive culture conditions, fish are subject to increased stress

owing to environmental (water quality and hypoxia) and healthconditions (parasites and infectious diseases). All these factors have

negative impacts on fish well-being and overall performance, with

consequent economic losses. Though good management practices

contribute to reduce stressor effects, stress susceptibility is always high

under crowded conditions. Adequate nutrition is essential to avoid

deficiency signs, maintain adequate animal performance and sustain

normal health. Further, it is becoming evident that diets overfortified

with specific nutrients [amino acids, essential fatty acids (FAs), vitamins

or minerals] at levels above requirement may improve health condition

and disease resistance. Diet supplements are also being evaluated for

their antioxidant potential, as fish are potentially at risk of peroxidative

attack because of the large quantities of highly unsaturated FAs in both

fish tissues and diets. Functional constituents other than essential

nutrients (such as probiotics, prebiotics and immunostimulants) are

also currently being considered in fish nutrition aiming to improve fish

growth and/or feed efficiency, health status, stress tolerance and

resistance to diseases. Such products are becoming more and more

important for reducing antibiotic utilization in aquafarms, as these

have environmental impacts, may accumulate in animal tissues and

increase bacterial resistance. This study reviews knowledge of the

effect of diet nutrients on health, welfare and improvement of disease

resistance in fish.

Open CallsFunding Opportunities

Advanced Grants in Life Sciences - ERC Calls for ProposalsERC Advanced Grants allow exceptional established research leaders of

any nationality and any age to pursue ground-breaking, high-risk pro-

jects that open new directions in their respective research fields or

other domains. The ERC Advanced Grant funding targets researchers

who have already established themselves as independent research

leaders in their own right.

Funding: up to 2.5 million Eur per grant for up to 5 years. Deadline: 14th

March 2012. More information: http://erc.europa.eu/advanced-grants

FCT - Call for Proposals 2012-R&D ProjectsCalls for projects will open sequentially in four scientific areas:

Life and Health Sciences, open between 15 February to 15th March

2012

Exact and Engineering Sciences, open between 1- 29 March 2012

Natural and Environmental Sciences, open between 21March to 19th

April 2012

Social Sciences and Humanities, open between 3April to 3May 2012

Contracts FCT for researchersThis call will allow PhD level researchers to apply for a 5-year supported

by FCT. The selection process will evaluate the merit of the candidate

and the quality of the scientific program.The call will be open between 6 March to 3 April 2012.

Advanced Training FellowshipsThe call for Doctoral and Post-doctoral fellowships will be open be-

tween 2 May to 28 June 2012. More information:http://

alfa.fct.mctes.pt/emfoco/concursos2012/index.phtml.en

BES Prize for BiodiversityThe 5th Edition of the BES Prize will be awarded on the topic: Biodiver-

sity Research and Conservation; Funding: 75.000 EUR; Deadline: 31st

March 2012

More information: http://www.bes.pt/sitebes/cms.aspx?

labelid=biodiversidade

Susana Moreira