فصلنامه محیط زیست جانوری
سال پنجم شماره 1 (بهار 1392)

Khozestan province south western of Iran is a place with high distribution of Scorpions which are belonged to Buthidae, Scorpionidae and Hemscorpionidae families. The venoms from Buthidae scorpion specially have neurotoxins which specifically act on ionic channels in excitable cells of membrane. Apistobuthus sosane belong to buthidae family, which is yellow in color and its length is about 10 centimeter which is hunter from sandy places. its typical feature is that the second segment of tail is bigger than other segments. The target of this study was isolation and identification of toxic fraction venom of Apistobuthus sosane scorpion. In this study we used UV lamp for night collection of scorpions. Their venoms were extracted by electrical stimulation and were freeze-dried and mucoproteins of venom were separated, than the venom and fractions were injected to 18-20 gram albino mice for LD50 determination According to Sperman and Karber method. The venom was loded on a sephdex G50 column and fractions were collected according to UV absorption at 280 nm wave length. The toxic fraction Asf2, crude venom with the marker was electrophoresis. Molecular weights of toxic fraction 6 KD were collected.

In this research 120 individuals of lizards belonging to 6 families (Lacertidae, Gekkonidae, Phyllodactylidae, Agamidae, Scincidae and Eublepharidae), 11 genera and 11 species were collected from Mehran region in Ilam Province and scrutinized for existence of ectoparasite. Our results demonstrated that among these, two families of Scincidae and Eublepharidae lack any parasite on their skin whereas the other four families possess mite pockets containing ectoparasite on different site of the body. The mite pockets occurred around eyes, inside ears, within scales and skin folds of the hosts. In general, ectoparasites were found in the members of 6 lizard species including Ophisops elegans (Lacertidae), Asaccus elisa (Phyllodactylidae), Laudakia nupta (Agamidae), Cyrtopodion scabrum and Carinatogecko heteropholis (Gekkonidae). The parasites were found on these lizards were belong to the genera Geckobia (Pterygosomatidae) and Trombicula (Trombiculidae) which occurred in high intensity in Ophisops elegans but with lower number on other species. Based on the results obtained from Asaccus elisa no gender difference is observed in terms of the number and intensity of infestation.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) have different physiological effects on aquatic organisms. Glutathione S-Transferase (GST) as a biomarker of PAHs in liver of mudskipper (Periophthalmus dussemerie) was analyzed. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were assessed in the sediments and liver of mudskipper along the coast of north western part of Persian Gulf (Khuzestan coast). PAHs and GST were measured by HPLC and spectrophotometry methods respectively. Total PAH concentrations in sediment and liver tissues ranged between 113.50-3384.34 ngg-1 dw, 3.99-46.64 ngg-1 dw. The highest PAHs concentration and enzymatic activity were identified at Jafari site while the lowest were at Bahrakan. Significant correlation was found between GST and PAHs.The results of this study confirmed the use of mudskipper (P. dussemerie) as a bioindicator of PAHs pollution in marine ecosystem. The results also indicate that GST in p. dussemerie could be extended as a biomarker of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs).

Significant morphological and physiological changes occur in the early development of fishes. This study was conducted to investigate the embryonic and pre-larval development of fighting fish (Betta splendens) in different temperature (24, 27 and 30°C) from oocyte activation to time of free swimming. Spawning occurred in tanks at 28 °C. Fertilized eggs were removed rapidly from the breeding tanks and put in the rearing tanks with different temperature (24, 27 and 30 °C). Diameter of fertilized eggs was determined around 0.8 mm. They were white, typically when deposited, very large vitellogenin and small privitelin space. Eggs and larva in different development stages and temperatures were sampled and taken pictures. The minimum time for arrival to specific developmental stages including: first cleavage, 32 and 64 cells stage, mid blastula stage, 50% epiboly, tail bud formation, heartbeat begins, hatching, opening the mouth and finally free swimming) at 24, 27 and 30 °C was recorded. Higher hatching rate and larva faster growth occurred at 30°C show that this temperature is most suitable for egg incubation of Siamese fighting fish.

To determine the effects of garlic extract on egg yolk cholesterol, egg microbial load, and productivity of egg-laying chickens at different intervals, Spain made garlic extract, Garlic on brand was applied. As many as 392 egg-laying hens of Hi-line race and all 30 weeks old were randomly classified in separate but equal groups and for 6 weeks received seven types of drinking water mixed with different garlic extract concentrations and same nutrition ratio. The first treat was control treat so it only contained pure water. Second treat contained 0.01 % garlic extract and was supplied for two days. Other treats were respectively as follows; 0.02% for two days a week, 0.01% for four days a week, 0.02% for four days a week, 0.01 % for six days a week, and 0.02% for six days a week. Through out experiment, the flock was observed and quality of yolk cholesterol, blood serum, egg shell microbial load, egg contents, production percent, egg bulk, egg weight, FCR, and egg shell thickness were recorded. The information obtained during six weeks was statistically analyzed. At the end of third and seventh week and also one and two weeks following experiments, sampling was carried out. According to results, it was only at the end of sixth week that the mixture of garlic extract with drinking water significantly affected on cholesterol of control group and other garlic extract consumers (P<0.05). However, among other treats, significant difference was not observed. Regarding blood serum cholesterol, in spite of blood cholesterol reduction at the end of experiment, no significant difference was detected among treats (p< 0.05). Egg content and egg shell microbial load didnt show significant difference from control group (P> 0.05). At third week, egg shell thickness significantly reduced compared to control group in other treats (P<0.05). However, at the end of sixth week, no significant difference was noticed (p>0.05). Regarding egg bulk, production percent and FCR, there was no significant difference between treats (p >0.05). Finally, it can be concluded that garlic extract consumption could only increase yolk cholesterol up to 17% and didnt have any other impact on egg-laying hens. By the way, the most economic consumption of this extract is 0.01 % for two days.

The fisheries management requires the knowing of spatial and temporal spawning fish and identifies their early life history. Samplings have been done in Bushehr coastal waters: Nayband Bay (1998), Central creek of Bushehr (1999), Southern coastal Bushehr waters (2000), Northern coastal Bushehr waters (2002) and Khark & kharko Islands (2008) by Bongo-Net plankton sampler with 500µ mesh size. Two families Clupeidae and Engraulididae were identified and some genera also introduced that were included: Sardinella (body very elongate, whiteout teeth in early life period) Dussumieria (with large teeth), Ilisha (without teeth with fewer meyomer), Encrasicholina (the posterior 2-7 base of the dorsal fin lie posterior to the anus) and Thryssa (the dorsal fin is entirely anterior to the anus and the anal fin longer than the dorsal fin) genera were found. The highest abundance of this order was in spring in all research.

Regarding to study the amount of target, by catch and discard of traditional shrimp trawlers (dhows), series samplings were conducted in October-November 2011 in coastal waters of Khouzestan Province (Lifeh and Booseif fishing grounds). Thirty six tows as randomly selected stations were carried out and a total of 3525kg was collected. The catches were separated, identified and weighed.A total of 74 species belong to 51 families were identified of which 53 species were bony fishes belong to 34 families; 5 species of Chondrichthyes (4 family), 9 species of crustacean (6 family); 4 species of mollusks (4 family); 2 species of echinoderms (2 family) and one sea snake. On the other hand, the weights of target catch were: white shrimp with 534.3kg (81.25%), Metapenaeus affinis and Parapenaeopsis stylifera with 116.45kg (17.71%) and Penaeus semisulcatus 6.85kg (1.04%). An overall comparison of total catch was calculated as: Target catch (20%), by catch (22%) and discard (58%) consist of fish (61%), crustacean (34%), mollusks (1%) and others (4%).

Today, modeling risk prediction as an effective strategy to protect the interests of human and wildlife populations is considered. The application of output maps such models to determinant the distribution range of conflicts; cost estimates and success of control programs are very beneficial. In the present study, we present a risk map for gray wolf (Canis lupus) attacks on human in Hamedan province. Thus, evaluation the performance of maximum entropy (MAXENT) modeling method to two methods presence/absence of artificial neural networks (ANN) and Support Vector Machine model (SVM). Based on predictions obtained north and center of the province are facing with high occurrence of wolf attacks. The results showed the important effective factors in distribution of wolf attacks are land use, human density and distance from the road. Between these factors, the land use was identified as the most important parameter. In addition, according to the results, the maximum entropy method, amount allocated area under the curve was greater (AUC =0.88) that indicates the high efficiency of this method in prediction of high risk areas in Hamedan province.

The term ‘‘marine fouling’’ is generally applied to the assemblages of marine organisms that colonize artificial rather than natural substrate. Barnacles (Crustacea) are a dominant component of animal fouling species on artificial and natural substrates, as they are best adapted to sessile way of life. The purpose of this study was to determined deployment recruitment Balanus amphitrite on constructions in the Imam Khomeini Port. To achieve the aims of present research, concrete panels (20 × 30 cm) were designed and installed at depth 3 and 10 meter under seawater level in 4 stations. Panels were collected after 2 months and transferred to the laboratory for further investigations. The results indicated that the B. amphitrite recruitment occurred throughout the year with varying intensities. Maximum biomass of 1943.49 ± 13.74 g.m2 was observed during April 2010 and a minimum value of 4.31± 1.22gr.m2 in February 2009.

Grass carp is one of the valuable fishes in the poly culture system that, it mostly use from aquatic plants in pond. In order to investigate the impact of different vegetative nutrients and pellet on the growth indices of Ctenopharyngodon idella, an experiment (90 days) was conducted at the aquatic research center of Shahid Fazli Barabadi Fisheries Faculty in Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources. In this research, three types of vegetative nutrients: Alfalfa, Lemna sp and Azolla filiculoides have been used with the 20 percent body weight and two types of pellets food containing 25 and 35 percent of protein, with 5 percent of body weight whit three replicates per treatment for a total of fishes, and in each treatments had 15 small fishes with the average weight of 15.41± 0.51g have been applied. The experiment results after the research period indicated that the most rate of the growth performance is related to treatment fed alfalfa plant and it had significantly different to other treatments (P>0.05), followed by Lemna sp. and had significant difference from other treatments (P<0.05). The lowest growth performance observed in the pellets containing 25 percent protein that it had significantly different to other treatments (P>0.05). And also in growth parameters, A. filiculoides and formulated feed with 35% protein was not significantly different from each other (P<0.05) in growth performance. In blood factors, there was not observed any significantly different in mean corpuscular hemoglobin Corpuscular (MCHC) index (P<0.05) in treatments. Also the maximum of red blood corpuscular (RBC) was observed in Lemna sp., Azolla filiculoides, Alfalfa and pelleted diet with 35% protein, than they had not significantly different to each other (P<0.05).

It was studied meristic, morphometric, sexual dimorphism, behavior and feeding of the Keeled- rock gecko (Cyrtopodion scabrum) from a population in Kouhdasht city, Lorestan Province. It was collected 80 specimens from July 2011 to October 2012 from Kouhdasht city directly by hand. It was investigated 14 morphometric and 13 meristic characters of all specimens. Juveniles and adult specimens were studied separately. Sexes of all adults were determined based on presence of preanal pores in males and absence in females and finally with dissection and observation of their gonads. Data were analyzed by using discriptive analysis, spss18 and T- test univariate statistical package. It was observed little differences in mean of characters between males and females on the basis of descriptive. Based on the analyses, no morphometric characters showed differences between males and females, but two meristic. Characters (preanal pores and scales across head) showed differences between males and females. Activity of this nocturnal species starts usually after sunset and feeds on insects.

Identification of venomous species of Persian Gulf cone snails and characterization of venom composition and their features is so important from the point of danger for underwater divers as well as medical importance. In this research, the specimens of Conus textile were collected off Larak Island from depth of 7 m. The collected samples were transferred to laboratory alive and were stored at -700C. The venom´s ducts were separated and homogenized with deionized water. The mixture centrifuged at 13000 rpm for 15 minutes at 4 ̊C. Supernatant was considered as extracted venom and stored at -20 C after lyophylization. The entity of venom determined by SDS-PAGE and RP-HPLC methods used to investigate the extracted venom and system to determine protein pattern. The results obtained with SDS-PAGE showed that proteins and peptides of venom were ranged between 6 to 250KD. Chromatogram of the venom demonstrated more than 44 large and small fractions.

In this study, the effects of adding different levels of ascorbic acid in diet of Barbus grypus on some growth parameters were investigated. For this purpose, 300 fish with average weight of 25.4±3.12 were randomly divided into 5 treatments, 3 replicate for each treatment. Fish were fed with following level of vitamin C in each treatment: 0, 200, 400, 800, 1600 mg/kg diet for 60 days. Biometric measurements were performed on fish at beginning, in the middle and at the end of experiment and following growth parameters: SGR, percent weight gain, feed conservation, feed efficiency, protein efficiency ratio, condition factor, increasing the length and final weight were compared between treatments. According to the results, a significant increased was observed in all growth parameters in fish that fed with higher than 400mg/kg vitamin C in comparison with control treatment.

The fourth great family of the Lizards is Agamidae. This family consists of 4 genera in Iran. The Agamid genus Trapelus is one of the least studied genus and distributed throughout the desert and semi-desert regions in north Africa, eastwards in to the Middle East and Central Asia, as far east as eastern Kazakhstan and western China. The Trapelus consists of 4 species in Iranian plateau: T. agilis, T. lessonae, T. ruderatus, and T. megalonyx. T. agilis complex is the most complicated and widespread species complex and consists of 3 subspecies in Iran: T. a. agilis, T. a. sanguinolentus, and T. a. khuzistanensis. We studied 81 specimens (35 juveniles, 46 adults) based on 3 morphometric and 12 meristic characters from Torbat-e-Heydariyeh (27 specimens) and Neyshabour (54 specimens) cities. Results revealed that mean of snout-vent length were 60. 40 in males and 63. 41 in females, mean tail length were 89. 24 and 90. 74 in males and females respectively. Numbers of scales around midbody in all specimens were 59-83 (mean 69. 32±0. 64) and numbers of internasals were 3-5 (mean 4. 01±0. 08) Mean number of preanal callos scales were 18. 92 and 7. 86 in males and females respectively. Tails of all juveniles (%100) were original and complete and only one adult specimen was tailless.

The research was accomplished in order to study of behavioral and histopathological effects of Copper to Rutilus rutilus caspicus. The studied was performed by Water Static Method during 96 hours. 15 fish with average weight 2±0.5 g were encountered with different concentrations (0,. 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4 mg/l) of Copper. A group of fish was considered as control. Under stable condition and aeration, the lethal concentrations were detected 0.4 mg/l. Results indicate, there was significant differences between lethal rate with each other when copper concentration was increased (p<0.05). The experiments revealed, in the high concentration of Copper nominal signs of toxicity as convulsion, air gulping and opened operculum were happened. Histopathological findings were showed that, major lesions in tissues were hemorrhage, hyperemia, hyperplasia and edema and cells necrosis.

Psychomotor substances influence liver and heart function. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of methamphetamine on serum level of creatine kinase (CK) in male rats. The results indicated that the Serum level of CK were significantly reduced in rats receiving 2mg/kg, 4mg/kg and 6mg/kg of methamphetamine compared to control animals (P<0.05). Conclusively, the results of this study show that methamphetamine injection has damaging effect on liver or other organs to reduce serum level of CK.

Success in aquaculture is based on various criteria, and the selection of a suitable feed and its potential use is important. The possibility of using fairy shrimps as diet in aquaculture has not been explored widely. Among the live diets used in the aquaculture, fairy shrimps have the potential to be used as a feed item for fishes such as ornamental fishes that benefit from live food. Also, their cysts and nauplii are useful in larval culture, mainly due to their convenience and availability. Branchinecta orientalis belong to the Anostracans, is a common inhabitant in seasonal water catchments in Northwest of Iran. In this study, growth rate and survival of this species was studied for 15 days using two different unicellular algae, that were combined with given amount enriched yeast. Newly hatched nauplii were grown until sexual differentiation under laboratory conditions (21 ±1°C temperature; 12L/12D photoperiod; 1600 Lm/m2 intensity; 200 nauplius L_1 density) feeding on two specie of unicellular algae Haematococus sp. and Scenedesmus sp. Results were analyzed using One-way ANOVA was used to test mean of different variables. No significant difference was observed on the growth rate and survival between the two treatment groups (p > 0.05). Also our findings provide valuable information on B. orientalis high nutrition value and its capability to use in aquaculture.

PAHs are important environmental pollutants because of their ubiquitous presence and carcinogenicity. The present study investigated effects of naphthalene (NAP) as one of the most important hydrocarbons on gill structure and plasma cortisol and T3 levels in klunzingeri mullet (Liza klunzingeri). Fish were divided to control and treatment groups. Treatment fishes received 50mg Bap dissolved in10µl coconut oil per (body weight) that were implanted peritoneal. Control group were implanted with coconut oil (10µl/g body weight) without BaP. Sampling was carried out 72 hours after implanting. During sampling time (While Sampling) fish were anesthetized then blood and gill arch were sampled. According to the results plasma levels of cortisol and T3 significantly increased and decreased respect. Respectively in both control and treatment groups NaP exposure stress caused increasing gill histopathological lesions such as epithelial hyperplasia, epithelial lifting, vascular congestion and mucus hyper secretion was evident. NAP exposure stress caused some alteration in plasma cortisol and T3 levels and increasing gill histopathological lesions. So according to disorders in hydromineral balance and survival are expected. According to the results plasma levels of cortisol and T3 significantly increased and decreased respectively in both control and treatment groups NaP exposure stress caused increasing gill histopathological lesions such as epithelial hyperplasia, epithelial lifting, vascular congestion and mucus hyper secretion was evident.

A study to determine the effect of varying dietary prebiotic Immunogen levels on the growth performance, hematological parameters and intestinal microbial balance of (Acipenser persicus), was carried out. The commercial prebiotic, Immunogen, were mixed thoroughly with the artificial feeds at concentration of 0.0 (control), 0.5, 1 and 2 g kg-1 dry diet and fed to healthy fish (27±0.45 g) at 2 - 3.5 % of their body weight daily in two split doses for 8 weeks. The trail was carried out in 12PVC tanks 500 liter which was filled with about 200 liter of water. That all tanks 12 juvenile Persian sturgeon were stocked. During the experimental period, weight and length of fish were recorded at an interval of 14 days. We studied also hematological parameters and intestinal microbial balance of fish at the end of the experiment. Results showed that specific growth rate (SGR), food conversion ratio (FCR), feed efficiency (FE), body weight gain (BW %) and net production (NP) were significantly (P<0.05) different among the experimental groups. no significant difference were observed in body composition (P>0.05). There were no significant differences (P>0.05) in the haematocrite, hemoglobin, total protein, glucose, albumin and globulin among the treatments. Results also showed that white blood cell (WBC), cholesterol and cortisol levels were significantly (P<0.05) different among the experimental groups. In addition, microbial analysis showed that colony forming units (CFU) and intestine Lactobasilus were significantly (P<0.05) different between control and other experimental groups.