长江中游宜昌江段鱼类早期资源现状及水文影响条件

为了解长江中游鱼类的早期资源现状, 2017年和2018年5—7月在长江干流宜都断面开展鱼类早期资源调查, 采样网具包括弶网和圆锥网。调查期间共采集鱼卵21120粒和仔鱼2123尾。利用形态学和分子生物学等方法, 鉴定鱼类5目9科37种。其中, 鱼卵有29种, 仔鱼有27种。2017年和2018年通过宜都断面的鱼卵径流量分别为124.45×108粒和101.07×108粒, 优势种为四大家鱼和贝氏?(Hemiculter bleekeri); 仔鱼径流量分别为16.43×108尾和8.29×108尾, 优势种为贝氏?和寡鳞飘鱼(Pseudolanbuca engraulis)。根据发育期和流速分析, 四大家鱼鱼卵来源于三峡大坝下游至宜都断面之间的产卵场, 仔鱼来源于三峡大坝以上的产卵场。与2009—2010年相比, 2017—2018年通过宜都断面的鱼卵径流量增大了85.3%, 尤其是四大家鱼的鱼卵径流量与2005—2012年相比增加了约13倍。冗余分析(Redundancy Analysis, RDA)结果显示, 流量和流量日变化对产漂流性鱼卵密度有影响。研究结果表明, 2017—2018年仍有大量的鱼卵和仔鱼补充到长江中游江段。与历史数据相比, 三峡大坝下游宜昌江段鱼类产卵规模有明显的增加, 可能与长江中游四大家鱼亲鱼增殖放流和生态调度等保护措施的实施有关。为了更加有效地保护长江中游的鱼类资源, 建议除了已经逐步实施的长江全面禁渔措施之外, 还应恢复江湖连通, 保护和修复长江中游河漫滩生境, 继续开展重要经济鱼类亲本放流, 以及开展生态调度。     

单层刺网不同网目渔获组成——以上海青草沙水库为例

2010—2012年采用刺网(多网目单层刺网和单网目三层刺网)、电捕、底拖网和地笼对上海青草沙水库的鱼类多样性进行了调查.调查共采集到鱼类34种,隶属8目、12科,其中鲤形目鱼类物种数最多(19种)、鲈形目次之(6种).多网目单层刺网仅采集到鱼类19种,其中刀鲚为优势种.聚类分析表明,单层刺网网目规格对渔获物物种组成影响较为显著,网目为2 cm的网片的渔获物优势种为刀鲚和贝氏〖FK（W*8/9。1〗〖PS5号F体.eps,BP#〗〖FK)〗
,其他网目网片优势种为刀鲚.渔获物物种数和单位努力捕获数量均有随着网目规格增大而下降的趋势.网目规格对优势种刀鲚的体长分布影响显著,且随着网目规格的增加而增大.为更加科学合理地评估某水域的鱼类群落多样性,需要结合多种采样方法进行鱼类调查.     

太湖乔氏短吻银鱼的生物学

太湖产乔氏短吻银鱼于3月中旬至5月末产卵。卵具粘性。集中在有沉水植物着生的湖湾内产卵。生殖周期短,一年可达性成熟。繁殖力强。在水温14.5—25.0℃时,仔鱼在受精后118小时23分孵出。终生以浮游动物为食。生长较缓慢,接近一年才达上市规格。其寿命只一年,产卵后不久死亡。保护其产卵基质——沉水植物,以及适当地扩大银鱼网的网目,是关键的增殖措施。       

三峡库区丰都江段鱼类早期资源现状

2014 年47 月鱼类主要繁殖季节于三峡库区(重庆丰都县)进行鱼类早期资源调查, 以了解三峡库区鱼类早期资源现状, 四大家鱼在库区是否仍有产卵场等问题。调查共采集到鱼类50 种, 分属5 目9 科。采集时, 卵汛出现在6 月后流速较高的时段, 其中贝氏的数量最多, 占86.24%。仔鱼出现的高峰期为6 月上旬至7 月中旬, 太湖新银鱼的数量最多, 占58.36%, 其次为子陵吻虎鱼, 占27.04%。在仔鱼中, 种类组成呈明显的月份差异, 4 月鲤、鲫占数量优势;5 月太湖新银鱼、子陵吻 虎鱼占数量优势;6 月后鲌亚科、鳅科、鳜等种类开始出现, 种类明显增多。通过估算, 调查期间流经丰都断面的鱼卵总量为4.37108 粒, 四大家鱼鱼卵为0.21107 粒;仔鱼总量为111.98108 尾, 四大家鱼仔鱼为0.21108 尾。通过产卵场的推算, 丰都断面采集的四大家鱼来自涪陵城区江段和三峡库区上游的重庆巴南区至朱沱镇江段的产卵场。通过对卵苗漂流密度的昼夜规律分析, 6 月之前夜间仔鱼密度显著高于白天, 而6 月后仔鱼昼夜漂流密度无显著差异。本研究表明, 从三峡库尾进入三峡水库的鱼类早期资源丰富, 大部分鱼类繁殖发生在6 月以后水温较高、入库流量大、库区流速较高的时段, 库尾部分江段在流速较高时期, 仍存在四大家鱼的产卵场。       

象山港两种网目网采浮游动物群落比较

分别于2010年3月(春)、7月(夏)、9月(秋)、12月(冬),用浮游生物Ⅰ型(网目505 μm)、Ⅱ型(网目160 μm)网同步在象山港进行6站位2重复的浮游动物取样,比较分析了不同时空下两种网目采集的浮游动物群落差异.结果表明：两网间的浮游动物种类数、丰度、生物量、优势种和群落格局都存在极大差异.其中,Ⅰ网的种类数(61种,包括幼虫)、平均丰度(139.0 ind·m^-3)和平均生物量(86.1 mg·m^-3)显著低于Ⅱ网(分别为84种、3780.2 ind·m^-3和191.1 mg·m^-3).在优势种中,除太平洋纺锤水蚤和墨氏胸刺水蚤为两网共有优势种外,其余优势种完全不同.Ⅰ网未检出周年的优势种,而Ⅱ网的周年优势种是针刺拟哲水蚤和桡足类幼体.相似性分析(ANOSIM)和nMDS排序结果显示,两网群落格局不仅在时空上存在显著差异,而且Ⅰ网群落比Ⅱ网更离散.相似性百分比(SIMPER)分析进一步揭示,两网群落格局间平均非相似性高达75%以上,造成两网群落时空非相似性差异的主要判别种是：针刺拟哲水蚤、桡足类幼体、强额拟哲水蚤和短角长腹剑水蚤,而这些种均为Ⅱ网的优势种.表明象山港浮游动物调查时以Ⅱ网更具代表性.     

沙氏下鱵鱼仔鱼的摄食能力和营养代谢

20 0 0年 6月 18日 14 :2 0时在 35°0 0′N、 12 1°0 0′E海域利用大型浮游生物网采集了大量的沙氏下鱼天然受精卵 ,将受精卵置于新鲜的海水中进行人工孵化 ,7月 1日 8时仔鱼开始孵出 ,0 5h后收集大约 5 0 0尾初孵仔鱼条进行饥饿试验。在培养水温为 2 4 2～ 2 4 8℃条件下 ,沙氏下鱼仔鱼孵化后 1h就建立起巡游模式 ,4h就具有非常高的初次摄食率和摄食强度 ,仔鱼的混合营养期为 2d ,具有初次摄食能力的时间为 3d ,饥饿不可逆转点发生在孵化后大约 3 5d ,不可逆点 (PNR)期仔鱼没有出现胸角这一形态学特征。沙氏下鱼仔鱼这么短的时间建立巡游模式 ,对仔鱼在混合营养期这一有限的时间内顺利地建立起外源性摄食关系 ,在时间上取得了一定的保障作用 ,对种群的繁衍策略具有一定的生态学意义 ,说明在仔鱼的初次摄食阶段 ,自然海区中适合于仔鱼摄食的饵料生物的种类、分布与数量对其早期的成活是至关重要的。PNR期仔鱼是否具有胸角以及胸角是否为仔鱼的饥饿体征因种而异 ,在渔业资源生态调查的仔鱼样品的鉴别工作中 ,应用仔鱼的胸角鉴别健康仔鱼和饥饿仔鱼时应因种而论.     

防止逃鱼用的拦网和拦栅的合理规格的研究

目前一般较大的湖泊水库放养鱼类的回捕率颇低,逃鱼是重要原因之一。为了确定拦鱼用的网和栅所应采取的规格,测量了2,227尾(3—16厘米)鲢、鳙、草、青鱼种的全长,最大周长、头宽、颅宽的各个数值,推算出全长与最大周长、头宽、颅宽的迥归方程式及它们的95%的可信限。通过实验,观察到在流水条件下,鱼种能溯水穿越较自身最大周长为小的拦网网目或较头宽为小的拦栅栅距而逃逸。作者称这种能力为“穿拦系数”(用Kg 或Kp 表示)。并测出在武昌东湖某些生活污水进水口处,1973年3—4月份白鲢鱼种的穿拦系数按Kg 计算为1.5,按Kp 计算为1.2。作者建议在静水或出水口处,设置拦鱼用的拦网的网目长度不得超过所投放色种的最大周长的95%的可信限的下限的1/2,各种拦栅的栅距不得超过鱼种的头宽的95%可信限的下限。而在流水条件下,在确定所应采取的拦网网目或拦栅栅距时,还应该考虑“穿拦系数”在内。文末附有检索表,列举了鲢、鳙、草、青鱼种(3—16厘米)相应于全长值的最大周长值、头宽值、颅宽值以及它们的95%可信限的上限和下限的各个数值,供确定拦网网目和拦栅栅距的规格时参考。       

沙氏下(鱼*)鱼仔鱼的摄食能力和营养代谢

2000年6月18日14:20时在35°00′N、121°00′E海域利用大型浮游生物网采集了大量的沙氏下(鱼*)鱼天然受精卵,将受精卵置于新鲜的海水中进行人工孵化,7月1日8时仔鱼开始孵出,0.5 h后收集大约500尾初孵仔鱼条进行饥饿试验.在培养水温为24.2～24.8℃条件下,沙氏下(鱼*)鱼仔鱼孵化后1 h就建立起巡游模式,4 h就具有非常高的初次摄食率和摄食强度,仔鱼的混合营养期为2 d,具有初次摄食能力的时间为3 d,饥饿不可逆转点发生在孵化后大约3.5 d,不可逆点(PNR)期仔鱼没有出现胸角这一形态学特征.沙氏下(鱼*)鱼仔鱼这么短的时间建立巡游模式,对仔鱼在混合营养期这一有限的时间内顺利地建立起外源性摄食关系,在时间上取得了一定的保障作用,对种群的繁衍策略具有一定的生态学意义,说明在仔鱼的初次摄食阶段,自然海区中适合于仔鱼摄食的饵料生物的种类、分布与数量对其早期的成活是至关重要的.PNR期仔鱼是否具有胸角以及胸角是否为仔鱼的饥饿体征因种而异,在渔业资源生态调查的仔鱼样品的鉴别工作中,应用仔鱼的胸角鉴别健康仔鱼和饥饿仔鱼时应因种而论[动物学报 49(4):466～472,2003].     

三峡库区银鱼生长特点及资源分析

2006年10月-2007年10月对三峡库区香溪河太湖新银鱼、短吻间银鱼资源以及水体的主要理化因子进行调查,对太湖新银鱼、短吻间银鱼的生长特点进行了比较分析,结果表明:(1)香溪河1-3月多年平均气温为8.4℃,2月份多年平均最低10.8℃,适宜银鱼孵化的最佳温度时间为12月至翌年3月。(2)香溪河pH值全年在7.5-9.0之间变动,大多季节稳定在8.5左右,有利银鱼的繁殖生长。(3)太湖新银鱼5-6 cm规格的个体数量占优势,占总数96.2%;太湖新银鱼、短吻间银鱼的肥满度指数分别为(0.004±0.0004)g/cm³、(0.002±0.0003) g/cm³,两种银鱼的肥满度指数差异显著(P＜0.001)。分析探讨了银鱼的时空分布格局、捕捞强度和渔产量对银鱼种群形成与衰退的影响。结果显示:(1)太湖新银鱼、短吻间银鱼在三峡水库湖北库区的各支流河道均有分布,沿江而上,种群规模逐渐减小,渔获量组成以太湖新银鱼为优势类群。(2)以灯光诱捕为主的扳罾网(网片规格为14.7 m × 14.7 m,网目0.3 cm × 0.3 cm)引入库区,使银鱼种群数量急剧下降,规格组成也发生巨大变化。2006年10月,太湖新银鱼种群主要由体长为50-60、60-70 mm的个体组成,在种群中所占的比例分别为62.3%和20.6%,大于70 mm的个体也占14.7%;2007年10月,种群主要由体长为40-50、50-60、60-70 mm的个体组成,在种群中所占的比例分别为20.2%、61.7%、15.8%,大于70 mm的个体极少见。(3)太湖新银鱼垂直活动范围在10 m以上的水层,受河岸底质的影响,山坡陡峭、浸水坡面主要由岩石构成的河岸水质清澈,银鱼数量较大。     

防止逃鱼用的拦网和拦栅的合理规格的研究

目前一般较大的湖泊水库放养鱼类的回捕率颇低,逃鱼是重要原因之一。为了确定拦鱼用的网和栅所应采取的规格,测量了2,227尾(3-16厘米)鲢、鳙、草、青鱼种的全长,最大周长、头宽、颅宽的各个数值,推算出全长与最大周长、头宽、颅宽的迥归方程式及它们的95％的可信限。通过实验,观察到在流水条件下,鱼种能溯水穿越较自身最大周长为小的拦网网目或较头宽为小的拦栅栅距而逃逸。作者称这种能力为“穿拦系数”(用Kg或Kp表示)。并测出在武昌东湖某些生活污水进水口处,1973年3—4月份白鲢鱼种的穿拦系数按Kg计算为1．5,按Kp计算为1．2。作者建议在静水或出水口处,设置拦鱼用的拦网的网目长度不得超过所投放鱼种的最大周长的95％的可信限的下限的1／2,各种拦栅的栅距不得超过鱼种的头宽的95％可信限的下限。而在流水条件下,在确定所应采取的拦网网目或拦栅栅距时,还应该考虑“穿拦系数”在内。文末附有检索表,列举了鲢、鳙、草、青鱼种(3-16厘米)相应于全长值的最大周长值、头宽值、颅宽值以及它们的95％可信限的上限和下限的各个数值,供确定拦网网目和拦栅栅距的规格时参考。     

Mesh-size effects on drift sample composition as determined with a triple net sampler

Nested nets of three different mesh apertures were used to study mesh-size effects on drift collected in a small mountain stream. The innermost, middle, and outermost nets had, respectively, 425 µm, 209 µm and 106 µm openings, a design that reduced clogging while partitioning collections into three size groups. The open area of mesh in each net, from largest to smallest mesh opening, was 3.7, 5.7 and 8.0 times the area of the net mouth. Volumes of filtered water were determined with a flowmeter. The results are expressed as (1) drift retained by each net, (2) drift that would have been collected by a single net of given mesh size, and (3) the percentage of total drift (the sum of the catches from all three nets) that passed through the 425 µm and 209 µm nets. During a two day period in August 1986, Chironomidae larvae were dominant numerically in all 209 µm and 106 µm samples and midday 425 µm samples. Large drifters (Ephemerellidae) occurred only in 425 µm or 209 µm nets, but the general pattern was an increase in abundance and number of taxa with decreasing mesh size. Relatively more individuals occurred in the larger mesh nets at night than during the day. The two larger mesh sizes retained 70% of the total sediment/detritus in the drift collections, and this decreased the rate of clogging of the 106 µm net. If an objective of a sampling program is to compare drift density or drift rate between areas or sampling dates, the same mesh size should be used for all sample collection and processing. The mesh aperture used for drift collection should retain all species and life stages of significance in a study. The nested net design enables an investigator to test the adequacy of drift samples.     

Species Richness and Invasion Vectors: Sampling Techniques and Biases

During a European Union Concerted Action study on species introductions, an intercalibration workshop on ship ballast water sampling techniques considered various phytoplankton and zooplankton sampling methods. For the first time, all the techniques presently in use worldwide were compared using a plankton tower as a model ballast tank spiked with the brine shrimp and oyster larvae while phytoplankton samples were taken simultaneously in the field (Helgoland Harbour, Germany). Three cone-shaped and 11 non-cone shaped plankton nets of different sizes and designs were employed. Net lengths varied from 50 to 300 cm, diameters 9.7–50 cm, and mesh sizes 10–100 μm. Three pumps, a Ruttner sampler, and a bucket previously used in ballast water sampling studies were also compared. This first assessment indicates that for sampling ballast water a wide range of techniques may be needed. Each method showed different results in efficiency and it is unlikely that any of the methods will sample all taxa. Although several methods proved to be valid elements of a hypothetical `tool box' of effective ship sampling techniques. The Ruttner water sampler and the pump P30 provide suitable means for the quantitative phytoplankton sampling, whereas other pumps prevailed during the qualitative trial. Pump P15 and cone-shaped nets were the best methods used for quantitative zooplankton sampling. It is recommended that a further exercise involving a wider range of taxa be examined in a larger series of mesocosms in conjunction with promising treatment measures for managing ballast water. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Comparing Bongo net and N70 mesozooplankton catches: using a reconstruction of an original net to quantify historical plankton catch data

If Southern Ocean plankton communities are changing in response to climate, biases in various nets need to be evaluated to help understand regional and temporal differences between historical and contemporary sample collections. A comparison of the catching ability of a Bongo net (mesh aperture 200?μm) and a reconstructed version of an N70 net (upper mesh aperture 445?μm, lower mesh aperture 195?μm) as used by the Discovery Investigations was therefore undertaken. Forty Bongo and forty N70 samples were obtained from 10 stations in the Southern Ocean during December 2009. Bongo net catch abundance was ~3 times greater than the N70 and ~4 times greater when only copepod instars <0.5?mm body length were considered. The Bongo net captured more plankton at all chlorophyll a (Chl a) concentrations encountered, although the difference was less at high Chl a when the N70 appeared to filter all size classes of copepod more efficiently, as well as retaining a relatively greater proportion of non-copepod plankton. Application of these findings was made to a previous study in which N70 samples from 1926/1927 were compared to a series of Bongo net hauls made post-1995. By ‘correcting’ abundances for net bias among a common set of 45 taxa, N70 data were within the range of variability seen in the Bongo net samples. Making such inter-net comparisons allows us to use historical collections and better judge the nature and magnitude of change in these plankton communities.     

Mesh size and collection characteristics of 50-cm diameter conical plankton nets

This paper compares collection characteristics of #2-(363 µm), #10-(156 µm), and #20-(76 µm) mesh conical plankton nets: dimensions were 50-cm diameter by 1.6-m long. The #2-mesh net severely underestimated the abundances of Lake Michigan copepods and cladocerans with the exception of the largest species (Limnocalanus macrurus). Zooplankton abundance estimates were more similar for the #10- and #20-mesh nets collections. Nauplii, however, were severely undersampled by the #10-mesh net with abundance estimates approximately 8 to 12 times lower than for the #20-mesh net collections. Most other larger zooplankton were 50% more abundant in the 20-mesh net collections than in the #10-mesh net collections: such consistent differences occurred despite large variations in taxa size. This indicates that a sampling bias occurred other than the loss of zooplankton through the meshes of the #10 net. We hypothesize that, by incorrectly locating the flowmeter in the mouth of the plankton net, we underestimated the volume of water filtered by the easily-clogged #20-mesh net and therefore overestimated taxa abundances. We conclude that the #10-mesh net provided accurate estimates of microcrustacean zooplankton abundances except for nauplii. The #10-mesh net used in our study had a filtration area ratio of 3.06 and operated at a calculated average filtration efficiency of 98%. The #20-mesh net had a filtration area ratio of 1.86 and operated at calculated average filtration efficiencies ranging from 64.7% (41.7 m station) to 79.6% (6.3 m station). Calculations are presented which show how the filtration efficiencies of the nets used in our study could be improved by net redesign.     

Sampling and filtration efficiency of two commonly used plankton nets. A comparative study of the Nansen net and the Unesco WP 2 net

The paper presents the results from a study in which two commonlyused plankton nets, the Nansen net and the WP 2 net, were compared.The study was performed at six stations in the Baltic Sea andthe samples were collected during seasons of both high and lowparticle abundance. The comparison included both qualitativeand quantitative filtration capacity of the nets under differentenvironmental conditions. Different mesh sizes were also tested.The results show that the Nansen net has an efficiency of 50–70%compared to the WP 2 net under favourable conditions. When conditionsare unfavourable, i.e. during periods of high particle abundanceor during long hauls, the efficiency may be as low as 25–30%.The mesh size of the nets proved to be of decisive importancefor the qualitative composition of the samples. Most of thesmaller size fractions such as rotifers, copepod nauplii andyoung copepodites passed through the 160 and 200 µm meshes.The 90 µm nets sampled these fractions well but with thedrawback of retaining vast amounts of phytoplankton at certaintimes of the year.     

A comparison of bridled and bridle‐less ichthyoplankton nets in a variable flow estuarine environment

The effectiveness of bridled and bridle‐less plankton nets for sampling ichthyoplankton from a fixed structure in a variable flow environment was examined. From 22 June to 19 September 2011, larval and juvenile fishes were collected weekly during night flood tides from the Moon River, an estuarine tidal creek south of Savannah, Georgia, USA. Passive horizontal tows were made from a fishing pier using two ichthyoplankton nets, each with a 1 m diameter hoop and 1 mm mesh. A bridled plankton net was configured with a tow rope attached to a traditional three‐point bridle anchored to the hoop and a closed, 1 L collection jar at the cod end. A bridle‐less net was configured with a tow rope and a float tied to the top of the hoop while a weight was tied to the bottom of the hoop. The cod end of the bridle‐less net had an open collection bucket with 1 mm mesh. Nets were deployed simultaneously in the water column, just below the surface, for three consecutive 30‐min tows. For each sampling date, pair‐wise comparisons of nets were performed on mean values of fish abundance, species richness, species diversity, and species evenness. Mean abundance was the only consistent difference between bridled and bridle‐less nets, with the bridle‐less net having on average 4.870 times more fishes. Species richness (as measured by both number of species and Margalef's species richness index) tended to be greater in the bridle‐less net, but not significantly greater. Species diversity (Shannon‐Wiener diversity index) and species evenness (Pielou's evenness index) were also not significantly different between the two nets.     

Net mesh size affects production of giant freshwater prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii cultured in lake‐based cages

Cage culture of freshwater prawns in open waters is prone to the entry of predators and competitors that particularly hamper production. This study was conducted to determine how smaller net mesh sizes to reduce entry of unwanted species inside the cages affects the production of Macrobrachium rosenbergii in lake‐based cages. Juvenile prawns were stocked in cages (7 × 7 × 1.5 m) of two net mesh sizes at 10 individuals m^?2 and cultured for 10 months in a shallow eutrophic lake in the Philippines. The two net mesh sizes were either 5 mm‐mesh B‐nets or and 1 mm‐mesh Hapa nets. Each treatment had four replicates each and was fed based on biomass with commercially formulated feed. Monitoring of various production parameters was done during the two phases of culture: batch phase on days 63 and 127 and the selective harvest phase on days 187, 219, 253, 281 and 313, when the experiment was terminated. For the first 127 days of culture, the weight, percent weight increase, daily growth rate (DGR), specific growth rate (SGR), yield and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were significantly better in prawns reared in the Hapa compared to the B‐nets. During the selective harvest phase the blue claw, orange claw and berried females were selectively harvested and the remaining prawns returned to the cages. After changes in stocking density through culling, ancova was used to compare the effect of mesh size with the total number of prawns returned to the cages as a covariate. Yield was significantly higher in the Hapa nets. Weight, DGR, SGR and FCR were also consistently higher in the Hapa nets, although not always significantly different. The overall better performance of prawns reared in the Hapa net cages was due to: (i) the reduction in the entry of predator and competitor species in the finer‐meshed Hapa compared to the larger mesh B‐net, (ii) more natural food trapped inside the Hapa cages, and (iii) a higher number of selectively harvested prawns, which decreased stocking density in the cages and improved growth. Use of small mesh size nets is recommended in the cage culture of M. rosenbergii in inland natural water bodies.     

Comparison of sleds versus plankton nets for sampling fish larvae and eggs

Fish larvae and fish eggs were sampled from the inshore waters of eastern Lake Michigan from 1978 through 1980, using a benthic sled and a plankton net towed within 0.5 m of the lake bottom. Differences between estimates of ichthyoplankton abundance based on the benthic sled and those based on the plankton net towed near bottom were examined along with interactions between gear, bottom depth, and time of day. Time of day was determined to be an important factor in comparing these two gear, but data were inconclusive as to the effect of depth on gear differences. Abundance of fish eggs calculated using sled tow data was significantly higher than that for the plankton net. For nighttime collections, density of alewife Alosa pseudoharengus larvae sampled in the plankton net significantly exceeded that for the sled, whereas density of spottail shiner Notropis hudsonius larvae based on sled data was significantly higher than that based on the plankton net for day sampling. Overall, the plankton net appeared to be adequate for sampling abundance of alewife larvae, while the sled was preferred for sampling fish eggs, spottail shiner larvae, and the following less common, but apparently demersal larvae: trout-perch Percopsis omiscomaycus, johnny darter Etheostoma nigrum, ninespine stickleback Pungitius pungitius, and slimy sculpin Cottus cognatus.     

Studies on the small invertebrate plankton of the Sargasso Sea

During the German Eel Expedition in Spring 1979, the horizontal and vertical distribution of the invertebrate plankton was studied in the epipelagic zone of the western central Sargasso Sea, based on 55 µm and 100 µm mesh net samples. In the isothermal waters north of the thermal front, plankton biomass was on average 2–3 times higher than in the warmer stratified waters south of the front. With regard to the fraction of small invertebrates (nauplii and microcopepods) the differences in numerical abundance between the two areas were similar to those reported in the literature for other size ranges of organisms. No divergency was obvious in the plankton composition in terms of major taxonomic groups and size classes. In both parts of the area, organisms smaller than 400 µm, which form a fraction not quantitatively sampled by the conventional 200 µm or 300 µm mesh nets, accounted for 71–92 % of the total number of organisms in the 55 µm net samples and for more than 50 % in the 100 µm net samples. Average concentrations of the potential food supply for early larval fish stages in the upper 100 m appear to be comparable with values reported in the literature for areas well known for larval fish development, such as the California Current.     

Biomass and Abundance Biases in European Standard Gillnet Sampling

The European Standard EN 14757 recommends gillnet mesh sizes that range from 5 to 55mm (knot-to-knot) for the standard monitoring of fish assemblages and suggests adding gillnets with larger mesh sizes if necessary. Our research showed that the recommended range of mesh sizes did not provide a representative picture of fish sizes for larger species that commonly occur in continental Europe. We developed a novel, large mesh gillnet which consists of mesh sizes 70, 90, 110 and 135mm (knot to knot, 10m panels) and assessed its added value for monitoring purposes. From selectivity curves obtained by sampling with single mesh size gillnets (11 mesh sizes 6 – 55mm) and large mesh gillnets, we identified the threshold length of bream (Abramis brama) above which this widespread large species was underestimated by European standard gillnet catches. We tested the European Standard gillnet by comparing its size composition with that obtained during concurrent pelagic trawling and purse seining in a cyprinid-dominated reservoir and found that the European Standard underestimated fish larger than 292mm by 26 times. The inclusion of large mesh gillnets in the sampling design removed this underestimation. We analysed the length-age relationship of bream in the Římov Reservoir, and concluded that catches of bream larger than 292mm and older than five years were seriously underrepresented in European Standard gillnet catches. The Římov Reservoir is a typical cyprinid-dominated water body where the biomass of bream > 292mm formed 70% of the pelagic trawl and purse seine catch. The species-specific relationships between the large mesh gillnet catch and European Standard catch suggested that the presence of carp (Cyprinus carpio), European catfish (Silurus glanis), tench (Tinca tinca) or bream warrants the use of both gillnet types. We suggest extending the gillnet series in the European Standard to avoid misinterpretation of fish community biomass estimates.