Analysis of parasitic communities in fishes from Lake Baikal

Analysis of infracommunities and component communities of fish parasites in Lake Baikal has been conducted for the first time. It has been revealed that parasite infracommunities for the majority of Baikal fishes are weakly balanced and impoverished (the Berger-Parker Index is > 0.5; Evension is < 0.5; the Brillouin Index is < 1). The highest diversity and balance of the communities are characteristic for carnivorous fishes (Brachymystax lenok, Hucho taimen, Thymallus arcticus, Esox lucius, and Percafluviatilis). The component parasitic communities of Leuciscus leuciscus baicalensis, Rutilus rutilus, and Leocottus kesslerii are the most diverse in Lake Baikal since the Shennon index for L. leuciscus baicalensis, R. rutilus, and L. kesslerii is 2.4, for Paracotlus knerii--2.2, Limnocoitus godlewskii--2.3, Phoxinus phoxinus--2.1, Lota lota and Limnocuttus pallidus--1.9, P. fluviatilis--1.8, Leuciscus idus--1.8. The component parasitic communities of other fishes in Lake Baikal have low indices of biological diversity (H = 0.5-1.05, Smp is close to 1). A classification of mature and immature components of parasitic communities based on the ratio of specialist species and generalist species has been proposed. It is established that the component parasitic communities in sublitoral, profundal, and pseudoabyssal zones are mature, while in the littoral zone they are immature (impoverished and weakly balanced). The component parasitic communities in benthophagous fishes and predators are mature, in planktivorous fishes they are immature. The component parasitic communities are mature in the family Cyprinidae and immature in the families Coregonidae and Cottidae. The component parasitic communities of the Boreal Plain and Boreal Submountain faunal complexes are mature, but they are immature in Lake Baikal and Arctic freshwater complexes.     

Occurrence of Monogenea in Italian freshwater fish (Po river basin)

Sixteen Monogenean species were found on the skin and gills of 10 different fish species collected from north Italian water bodies. Cleidodiscus pricei from Ictalurus melas; Dactylogyrus alatus from Alburnus alburnus; D. anchoratus, D. formosus and D. vastator from Carassius carassius; D. difformis from Scardinius erythrophthalmus; D. rutili from Rutilus aula; D. tincae and Gyrodactylus gasterostei from Tinca tinca; D. ergensi from Leuciscus cephalus and Telestes muticellus; D. vistulae and Paradiplozoon rutili from Leuciscus cephalus; D. extensus and G. katharineri from Cyprinus carpio; G. lucii and Tetraonchus monenteron from Esox lucius. All species are new records for Italy with the exception of D. difformis, D. ergensi, D. vistulae and T. monenteron.     

The relative duration of similar periods in the early embryogenesis of teleosts

The absolute (in min.) and relative (in the number of tau0) duration of the periods of cleavage, epiboly and that between the onset of gastrulation and the stage of 10 pairs of somites were determined in Cyprinus carpio L., Misgurnus fossils L., Esox lucius L. and Coregonus peled Gmel. at different constant temperatures. The stability of the dimensionless characteristics for the duration of each of these periods in the species in question within the limits of optimum temperatures was shown. A comparison of the relative duration of the same periods of early embryogenesis in C. carpio, M. fossilis, E. lucius, Salmo trutta L. morpha fario and S. gairdneri Rich. has shown that in the species under comparison the relative durations of the period of synchronous cleavage divisions are similar, whereas those of the period of asynchronous cleavage divisions differ. The relative durations were found to be similar for the period between the onset of gastrulation and the stage of 10 pairs of somites in M. fossilis, E. lucius and 2 species of Salmo. Differences were revealed in the relative duration of the period of epiboly; the average relative rate of the movement of blastoderm cells toward the vegetative pole is similar in the species with the eggs of small size (C. carpio, M. fossilis, Coregonus peled) and increases with the egg size. The temporal relationships between the embryonic periods under study in the species in question and possible mechanism which determine these relationships are considered with respect to the data on egg structure, as well as on the stage when the isolated blastoderm acquires the capacity of differentiation in vitro.     

Heterogeneous colonization pattern of European Cyprinids, as highlighted by the dace complex (Teleostei: Cyprinidae)

The dace (Leuciscus leuciscus), with a very large geographic distribution all over Europe, represents an interesting species model for studies of the global mechanisms underlying aquatic system biodiversity. To assess the congruence with the past colonization process hypothesis of the freshwater fauna in Western Europe, we investigated the evolutionary history of this species, by integrating morphological variation (eight meristic characters), mitochondrial (cytochrome b, 16S rDNA and control region, over a total of 2169 bp) and nuclear (12 allozymes loci) phylogenetic relationships, and investigating population dynamics via expansion, migration, bottleneck, and divergence time analyses. We carried out nested clade phylogeographic analysis for a total of 663 specimens from 31 populations taken from all over the distribution area. Unlike previous studies, we found that L. leuciscus is currently constituted by five lineages belonging to two clades (yielding 6.3% of pairwise divergence). The relationships between these lineages were accounted for by complex biogeographical patterns due to Pliocene and Pleistocene paleoclimatic events, validating the identification of new glacial refuges for freshwater fish in Western Europe. Finally, we demonstrated hybridization between L. leuciscus and Leuciscus idus.     

Comparative morphology and ecomorphology of the gut in European cyprinids (Telostei)

The patterns of coiling of the gut were compared in 22 species of Eurasian Cyprinidae. In selected species, also the length of gut and mucosal surface structure were compared. Piscivorous ( Aspius aspius ), planktivorous ( Abramis ballerus ) fishes as well as species feeding mainly on plankton and wind-borne' drift'( Alburnus alhurnus, Pelecus cultratus ) have the relatively shortest guts, with only a single loop. The same simple arrangement of a short gut is present in many euryphagous species with more or less carnivorous tendencies ( Abramis sapa, Alburnoides bipunctalus, Abramis brama, Blicca bjoerkna, Chalcalburnus chalcoides memo, Gobio gobio, Leuciscus cephalus, Leuciscus leuciscus, Rutilus rutilus, Scardinius erythrophthalmus. Tinea tinea, Vimba vimba ). Some benthivorous winnowers (oropharyngeal sorters) and species with herbivorous feeding tendencies have relatively long guts showing a more complex pattern of loops and coils ( Barbus barbus, Carassius carassius, Chondrostoma nasus, Ctenopharyngodon idella, Cyprinus carpio ). The goldfish, Carassius auratus , has the most complex coils. Scanning electron microscopy of the mucosal surface revealed five types of folding in the intestinal bulb which were only loosely related to feeding: 1, smooth surface ( Aspius aspius, Leuciscus cephalus, Vimba vimba ); 2, irregularly branching folds ( Alhurnus alburnus, Barbus barbus, Blicca bjoerkna, Chalcalburnus chalcoides memo, Leuciscus leuciscus, Rutilus rutilus, Scardinius erythrophthalmus ); 3, curl-like folds ( Tinea tinea ); 4, net-like folding pattern ( Abramis brama ); 5, honeycomb-like mucosal structure ( Cyprinus carpio ).     

The causes of the formation of an intensive focus of triaenophoriasis in the upper Tuloma River reservoir]

Observations on the Triaenophorus crassus invasion in Coregonus lavaretus and Esox lucius were carried out in the period of 1984 to 1989 in the upper Tuloma River [correction of Verkhnetulomsk] water reservoir and Pechozero water body (the Pecha River) which form a common basin. Significant differences were noted in the infection rate of fishes with this parasite in the above water bodies. In Pechozero, where there are preserved natural conditions and therefore an ecological equilibrium in the host-parasite system, T. crassus is not abundant and the infection rate of C. lavaretus and E. lucius with this parasite is low. In the upper Tuloma River [correction of Verkhnetulomsk] water reservoir, due to the dropping out of the amphipod group of benthos from the biocoenosis of the water body, there has been formed a close ecological connection between copepods, C. lavaretus and E. lucius that resulted in the increase of T. crassus and gave rise to Triaenophorus infection of C. lavaretus here.     

Studies on Ligula intestinalis Some aspects of the pathology in the second intermediate host

A 3 year survey of a lake, in which 120 roach, Rutilus rutilus , were examined revealed the presence of the plerocercoids of Ligula intestinalis in more than 90 % of the fish. The average number of parasites per fish was 4.2 although fish exceeding 32 g were not ligulosed. Gudgeon, Gobio gobio , of all sizes were affected. Implants of the plerocercoids into small roach, gudgeon and goldfish, Carassius auratus , were successful but not in the case of Perca fluviatilis, Esox lucius and Leuciscus cephalus. The pathological effects of the plerocercoids on roach and gudgeon are described.     

Effects of photoperiod, feeding regime and water temperature on the formation of daily growth increments in otoliths of larval pike (Esox lucius L.)

Otolith growth increments of larval pike, Esox lucius L., were examined using known-age fish reared in the laboratory. Under different photoperiod, feeding, and temperature regimes, increments in the lapilli of all laboratory-reared fish were formed daily, starting on day 2–3 after hatching.

Zusammenfassung

Der Einfluß van Photoperiode, Futterrhythmus und Wassertemperatur auf die Anlage von Otolithen-Tagesringen bei jungen Hechten (Esox lucius L .)
Die Anlage von Tagesringen auf den Otolithen von Hechtlarven ( Esox lucius L. ) wurde unter verschie-denen Licht-, Futter- und Temperaturbedinungen im Labor untersucht. Bei allen Tieren setzte die Bildung von Tagesringen auf den Lapilli zwei lis dreiTage nach dem Schlüpfen ein.     

Metazoan arasites of fish from the Smallwood Reservoir, Labrador, Canada

Three-hundred and thirty-two fish of eight species (5 Salmo salar , 68 Salvelinus fontinalis , 32 S. namaycush , 102 Coregonus clupeaformis , 1 Prosopium cylindraceum , 107 Esox lucius , 14 Catostomus catostomus , 3 Couesius plumbeus ) from the Smallwood Reservoir, Labrador, Canada, were examined for metazoan parasites, using conventional parasitological techniques.
Fifteen genera of parasites were recovered (two of Monogenea, two of Digenea, four of Cestoda, three of Nematoda, two of Acanthocephala and two of Copepoda), these including seven new host records.
Significant differences were noted in the prevalence of the various parasites which were common to the different species of fish examined. No differences were recorded in the parasite burden of male and female fish. There was no correlation between the number of parasite species per infected fish and host age except in the case of Salvelinus namaycush . Food items of the fish examined were also noted.     

Differentiation between Diphyllobothrium dendriticum and D. latum using isozymes,restriction profiles and ribosomal gene probes

Plerocercoids of Diphyllobothrium dendriticum from cisco (Coregonus artedii) and whitefish (C. clupeaformis) and of Diphyllobothrium latum from pike (Esox lucius) and walleye (Stizostedion vitreum) were collected at Quigly Lake, Manitoba. Adult tapeworms were obtained by experimental infection of hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus) and were used to verify species identity. Isozyme analysis showed no differences between adult and plerocercoid stages. The enzymes esterase and malate dehydrogenase differed between species. Comparison of DNA restriction fragment profiles showed species specific differences, as did Southern hybridization analysis using nematode ribosomal gene probes.     

白斑狗鱼血液生理、生化指标值和血液流变学常值的研究

作者于１９９５年１１月在新疆额尔其斯河水系进行了调查，首次测试了白斑狗鱼血液生理，生化常值和血液流为学常值，结果发现，白斑狗鱼的全血粘度和血浆粘度均比茯它鱼类高，影响白斑狗鱼全血粘度的主要因子有红细胞压积（ＨＣＴ），血红蛋白（Ｈｂ），红细胞聚集性Ａ１，Ａ２，血浆粘度（η）而影响其血浆粘度的主要因子为血清胆固醇（ＣＨＯ），白斑狗鱼血清白蛋白（ＡＰ）与血清球蛋白（ＧＰ）之比为０．５７。     

Anatomo-histologic findings clarifying the phylogenetic relationships between salmonoid fish (Salmonoidei)]

The comparative anatomo-histological analysis of the medial gut of Osmeridae and Plecoglossidae after Iwai (1962) has revealed a great similarity in the structure of this entosomatic organ suggesting their phylogenetically close nature. On the contrary, the fine structure of the medial gut in these two families substantially differs from the structure of this organ in Salmonoidee. Pronounced distinctions were found between the structure of the medial gut of smelts and that of the pike (Esox lucius Linné). The complicatedly differentiated medial gut of the pike is so different from the primitive gut of modern smelts that the hypothesis (Starks, 1930; Berg, 1940) on the origin of Ecosoidei from ancient Osmeridae does not seem probable. The data obtained by the anatomo-histological analysis in combination with data of other sciences should be taken into consideration when creating the natural system of Salmonoidei, since they contribute to more exact character of their phylogenetic relations.     

Partial characterization of transferrins of catfish (Silurus glanis L.) and pike (Esox lucius L.)

Basic composition and properties of isolated transferrins of Silurus glanis and Esox lucius have been compared. In transferrin of S. glanis carbohydrate is absent, but it is present in transferrin of E. lucius (2.5%). The N-terminal amino acid is alanine in both species. Mol. wts are 68,400 (S. glanis) and 86,800 (E. lucius). Transferrins of the two species are heterogeneous, but genetic polymorphism was not observed.     

Pugnose eels, Simenchelys parasiticus (Synaphobranchidae) from the heart of a shortfin mako, Isurus oxyrinchus (Lamnidae)

The body depth of crucian carp, Carassius carassius, increases in the presence of predator fish, thereby decreasing the vulnerability of crucian carp to predation. This phenotypic change is mediated by chemical signals, and is believed to result from a piscivorous diet of predators. We have shown that exposure to a piscivorous predator is insufficient to induce growth changes in crucian carp, since water from northern pike, Esox lucius, fed Arctic charr, Salvelinus alpinus, does not induce a change in crucian carp morphology, while water from pike fed crucian carp does. The determining factor is a chemical signal from the skin of crucian carp, as demonstrated by exposure to skin extracts from conspecifics. We suggest that alarm substances from conspecifics, expressing primer pheromone effects, are the most likely candidates for induction of the phenotypical changes.     

Winter diet and condition of two 0+ year cyprinid fish species in the lower River Trent, England

The winter diets of 0+ year juvenile dace Leuciscus leuciscus and roach Rutilus rutilus in the lower River Trent, England, were dominated by aufwuchs. There were no significant changes in the relative condition of either fish species over the winter.     

The influence of light environment on depth of visual feeding by larvae and fry of Coregonus pollan (Thompson) in Lough Neagh

The depth limits for visual feeding by pollan larvae and fry, Coregonus pollan , were determined in Lough Neagh, Northern Ireland, by combining laboratory estimates of the minimum light threshold for feeding activity with field measurements of spectral, diurnal and seasonal changes in light penetration. Although feeding thresholds were lowest in the blue light (400–490 nm), the rapid attenuation of this region in the lake meant that the depth limits of feeding in situ were determined by response to the green region (490–595 nm). Effects of changes in irradiance and light penetration on the depth of feeding are considered during a seasonal study. Increased sensitivity, as the juvenile stages develop, may be offset by reduced light penetration due to algal growth. Over an annual period the maximum feeding depth for pollan varied between 2.6 and 4.1 m. In the juvenile stages of two other predatory species from the lake, perch, Perca fluviatilis , and pike, Esox lucius , the corresponding ranges were 1.1–1.9 m and 2.7–4.6 m respectively.     

Populational structure of three fish species (Cypriniformes: Cyprinidae) living in rivers of the Ob-Irtysh basin,by the data of isoenzyme analysis

Data are presented on genetic subdivision of populations of roach Rutilus rutilus lacustris, ide Leuciscus idus, and dace L. leuciscus baicalensis living in rivers of West Siberia. These fish species have comparable levels of variation of allozyme loci and similar populational structure which well agrees with geography of the river network of the Ob-Irtysh basin. The populational differentiation is more expressed in ide than in roach and dace.     

微卫星标记分析白斑狗鱼遗传多样性

为了解我国境内白斑狗鱼(Esox lucius)野生群体的遗传多样性现状,利用8对微卫星引物对额尔齐斯河流域185河段、635河段、乌伦古湖及吉力湖4个地理群体的遗传多样性进行了研究。结果显示,8个微卫星位点的平均等位基因数为6.625 0,多态信息含量为0.603 6～0.656 5,可有效用于白斑狗鱼遗传多样性和遗传结构分析。4个群体的平均期望杂合度为0.712 6～0.660 0,表明我国境内野生白斑狗鱼群体有较高的遗传多样性水平。整个群体的总近交系数为0.266 6,少数个体存在近交现象,白斑狗鱼群体有近交倾向。平均分化系数为0.062 2,群体间的遗传变异占总群体变异的6.22%,白斑狗鱼各群体间的分化程度不大。群体间的基因流值变化范围为10.077 5～3.360 6,说明白斑狗鱼不同群体间存在较为广泛的基因交流。     

Development of new microsatellite loci and multiplex reactions for muskellunge (Esox masquinongy)

The muskellunge (Esox masquinongy) is a valued fisheries species throughout its native range. Numerous studies have documented performance and phenotypic differences among muskellunge populations, but genetic markers for assessment have been lacking. We characterized 14 microsatellite loci and developed five multiplex polymerase chain reactions. Successful amplification of northern pike (Esox lucius) was observed for seven loci. These microsatellites will be useful for analysing population structure, performance characteristics of propagated strains, and helping to develop and monitor hatchery management guidelines for muskellunge.