How does artificial light affect the growth of fish? To clarify this mechanism, it is important to mention the common endocrine mechanism in fish.  The environmental factors such as temperature, rainfall, photoperiod, water current stimulate the hypothalamus of fish to synthesis gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH), consequently triggers the pituitary to synthesis gonadotropin hormone (GTH). GTH then stimulates the gonad to mature by synthesizing gonadal hormone. This is also called brain-hypothalamus-pituitary-gonad axis (B-P-G). To do this mechanism, fish needs energy; ultimately energy is partitioned for maturation rather than growth. It is widely accepted technique in aquaculture to improve growth of fish by producing sterile fish such as hybrid, triploid etc. This sort of genetic manipulation is not only expensive but also species specific. Considering this point environmental manipulation is more useful to ... Read more »

BANGLADESH - Thousands of people have been left food insecure after extensive flooding, landslides and flash floods in eastern Bangladesh at the end of June. Crops and seed stocks have been badly damaged and it will be three to four months before farmers are able to replant.

"We need to support the villagers now or we will face serious food shortages in the region soon,” Matiur Rahman, director of the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society, (BDRCS) told IRIN. "Until the next harvest we need to support the communities with cash and seedlings.”

Fazlul Haque, Joint Secretary of the Disaster Management and Relief Division (DMRD), said the loss of rice paddies and livestock in the floods had badly shaken the livelihoods of millions who depend on agriculture.

The government estimates that more than 1,00 ... Read more »