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This study monitored monthly variations in the gut microbiota of three captive adult spotted seals from October 2021 to September 2022. Fecal samples were collected regularly, and 16S rRNA sequencing was used for analysis. A total of 5,502,711 raw sequence reads were generated, revealing 11,978 Amplifying Subsequence Variants across different classification levels. Firmicutes and Proteobacteria were dominant, showing consistent patterns with varying relative abundances over time, indicating stability with seasonal variations. Alpha and beta diversity analyses showed significant variations, with higher diversity in May and June and notable changes between spring and autumn. Intriguingly, nonendemic Proteobacteria were present, suggesting external influences such as interactions with zookeepers or exposure to public programs. Long-term monitoring of microbial communities in captive marine mammals is crucial for understanding impacts from diet, medical history, and enclosure conditions, optimizing their health and wellbeing. This research highlights the importance of microbiota monitoring for managing captive marine mammal health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hemocyte types of the Macrobrachium prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii were identified using the methods of flow cytometry and light microscopy. The activities of endoenzymes including peroxidase (POD), phenoloxidase (PO), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) in hemocytes were analyzed by cytochemical and biochemical methods. Mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) of the hemocyte was probed according to the accumulation of the cyanine dye, 3',3'-dihexyloxacarbocyanine iodide, in the mitochondrial matrix. The results showed that there were three types of circulating hemocytes (hyalinocytes, semigranulocytes, and granulocytes) in M. rosenbergii. Enzymes POD, PO, and ALP were more abundant and active in granulocytes and semigranulocytes than in hyalinocytes. The data associated with MMP showed that the fluorescence intensity in the hemocyte was directly correlated to ceil complexity. The MMP in granulocytes was significantly greater than that in semigranulocytes, and the latter was significantly greater than that in hyalinocytes. KEY WORDS: endoenzymes, mitochondrial membrane potential, hemocyte types, Macrobrachium rosenbergii, INTRODUCTION Freshwater prawns Macrobrachium rosenbergii, having high commercial value and suitability for use in a variety of culture systems, are an important culture fishery species in China and in other [...]