Flexible Life History Strategies of Ninespine Sticklebacks,Genus <Emphasis Type="BoldItalic">Pungitius</Emphasis>

Synopsis We studied the life histories of the ninespine sticklebacks, Pungitius pungitius and Pungitius tymensis, collected from Japanese freshwater and brackish (sea) water habitats by examining the strontium (Sr) and calcium (Ca) concentrations in their otoliths. The Sr:Ca ratios in the otoliths changed with the salinity of the habitat regardless of identification as freshwater or brackish water type based on morphological characteristics. The ninespine sticklebacks living in a freshwater environment showed consistently low Sr:Ca ratios throughout the otolith. These samples were identified as a standard freshwater type. In contrast, all freshwater-type fishes collected from the intertidal zone showed higher otolith Sr:Ca ratios than those in the standard freshwater type, and the ratios fluctuated with the growth phase. All brackish water-type fishes collected in the intertidal zone showed the highest otolith Sr:Ca ratio throughout the otolith. In the present study, besides the two representative life history types of P. pungitius, i.e., freshwater and brackish water life history types, other sticklebacks had an anadromous life history type. These findings clearly indicate that the ninespine stickleback has a flexible migration strategy with a high degree of behavioral plasticity and an ability to utilize the full range of salinity in its life history.     

Factors influencing Sr/Ca ratios in otoliths of Girella elevata: an experimental investigation

The utility of Sr/Ca ratios in otoliths as indicators of thermal history in fish was investigated for juvenile Girella elevata . There was no direct relationship between ratios of Sr/Ca and temperature of the water, as has been assumed in many previous studies. Sr/Ca ratios did not decrease when water temperature was elevated from 19 to 28° C. Elevation of ambient Sr levels in the sea water caused a significant increase in Sr/Ca ratios in otoliths, and there was a detectable increase in Sr/Ca ratios in otoliths of some individuals fed an Sr-enriched diet. Multiple factors may influence natural Sr/Ca ratios in otoliths of juvenile G. elevata and their interactions make it difficult to interpret the chronology of conditions experienced by an individual fish during early life in the pelagic or benthic environment.     

Is there an optimal haematocrit for rainbow trout,Oncorhynchm mykiss (Walbaum)? An interpretation of recent data based on blood viscosity measurements

The viscosity of blood from rainbow trout was measured following manipulation of haematocrit by bleeding, hypoxia. exercise, and anaesthesia. Blood viscosity when measured at high shear rate (225 s ¹) was proportional to haematocrit, but the dependence of viscosity on shear rate was far less for swollen erythrocytes from exercised and anaesthetized trout. Erythrocyte swelling was most marked in exercised and anaesthetized trout, and is a confounding factor when considering the effect of haematocrit on viscosity.
The viscosity of blood with variable haematocrit, but constant mean cell Hb concentration, indicated that the relative oxygen transport capacity in trout was optimal at a haematocrit of 30%. Data from this, and earlier studies show that haematocrit in trout is variable and labile, yet none of the haematocrit values following manipulations are less than 85% of optimal. Optimal haematocrit is however, significantly higher than measured values from either cannulated or acutely venesected resting trout.     

Do otolith annular structures correspond to the first freshwater entry for yellow European eels Anguilla anguilla in the Baltic countries?

To examine the relationship between freshwater entry and otolith annular structures, a total of 113 naturally recruited European eels Anguilla anguilla from Lithuania and Latvia that entered fresh water at least once were collected. In some individuals (8·3–11·3%), the first freshwater entry coincided with a dark check that was distinctly different from neighbouring annuli. In most individuals (81·7–84·9%), the first freshwater entry occurred on rings and increments indistinguishable from other annuli. For the remaining individuals (3·8–10%), the first freshwater entry did not correspond to any otolith ring, band or annulus. According to recent evidence, the observed high correspondence between the first freshwater entry and otolith annuli was more likely due to the movement into fresh water during winter when the annulus was deposited, rather than stress resulting from habitat change. Consequently, the age estimation based on otoliths might be less influenced by this habitat change during the yellow eel stage.     

Patterns of increment width and strontium: calcium ratios in otoliths of juvenile rock blackfish, Girella elevata (M.)

Otoliths of juvenile Girella elevata (M.) were examined to obtain information about the environmental conditions experienced during early life. Patterns of increment deposition and elemental ratios in otoliths were compared in wild fish. A tetracycline experiment indicated that increments were deposited daily in juveniles. Although different patterns in the spacing of increments were found among juveniles collected at different locations and times, the widest increments were always found in the first 40 increments. Strontium: calcium (Sr: Ca) ratios increased with age in the otoliths of most wild G. elevata .
The patterns of increment width and Sr: Ca ratios were not related and, therefore, were probably not under the same relative control by environmental or physiological factors. Although the number of increments can be used to age juvenile G. elevata , the utility of increment widths and Sr: Ca ratios as environmental predictors in this species is questionable without experimental validation.     

Arteriosclerosis in steelhead trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum): a developmental analysis

Arteriosclerosis in Oncorhynchur mykiss has been examined histologically in parr, smolts, spawning adults and post-spawning adults captured during downstream migration. All stages of fish from the Clearwater River in Idaho are characterized by the presence of lesions in the main vessel on the bulbus arteriosus. The incidence is lowest in parr, increases significantly in smolts, and is present in 100% of spawning fish. Regression of lesions was not observed in either hatchery or wild fish after spawning.     

Isolation of leucocytes from the anterior kidney and spleen of rainbow trout in a self-generating density gradient

Separation of leucocytes from tissues and enrichment of specific types of leucocytes are essential first steps in studies of leucocyte function. We describe a simple and rapid method for separating and enriching leucocytes from the anterior kidney and spleen of rainbow trout. Leucocytes were separated on self-generating density gradients of Sepracell-MN, a colloidal silica-based medium. Recovery of leucocytes from the gradients was near 100% and was not affected by procedural variables such as cell suspension: Sepracell-MN ratio (separation ratio), initial temperature, centrifugation time, or number of cells per gradient. Two bands of leucocytes formed at separation ratios of 1 : 1, 1:1.5, 1:2 and 1 : 3. Recovery of selected leucocyte types could be maximized, and contamination by other cell types reduced, by selection of the appropriate separation ratio and cell band. Recovered leucocytes were responsive in assays of functional capability (adherence, phagocytosis, superoxide anion production). Leucocyte populations that adhered to glass were enriched for macrophages, but some neutrophils and lymphocytes (paricularly spleen lymphocytes) were also adherent. The most abundant leucocytes in the anterior kidney and spleen of the experimental fish were lymphocytes (respectively, 47 and 88%, including thrombocytes), neutrophils (35 and 7%), and macrophages (11 and 3%).