Length–weight relationships of three fish species from the Tajan River,Iran

The study describes the length–weight relationships for two Cobitid species, namely Cobitis keyvani and Sabanejewia aurata, plus a Gobiid species, Ponticola gorlap, all from the Tajan River in Mazandaran province, Iran.     

Length–weight and length–length relationships of three Clupeonella species (Clupeidae) from the Caspian Sea

This study investigated length–weight and length–length relationships of three Clupeonella species: C. caspia, C. engrauliformis and C. grimmi captured in the southern Caspian Sea, Iran. Using a lantern net, 206 specimens were collected from July to August 2016. Presented for two of the species are the length–weight and the length–length relationships as well as the first reference on length–weight and length–length relationships for C. caspia in its distribution range.     

Length–weight relationship of seven freshwater fish species from Turkish Thrace

The length‐weight relationships (LWRs) of Alburnus istanbulensis Battalgil, 1941, Barbus tauricus Kessler, 1877, Cobitis pontica Vasil'eva & Vasil'ev, 2006, Cobitis strumicae Karaman, 1955, Gobio bulgaricus Drensky, 1926, Phoxinus strandjae Drensky, 1926 and Squalius orpheus Kottelat & Economidis, 2006 were analysed. Fish samples were collected by electroshocker (SAMUS 725 G and SAMUS 725 M portable electroshockers; frequency 50–55 Hz; 30–70 cm fishing depth) in some water bodies in Turkish Thrace from March 2012 to August 2017. The values of parameter b in the LWR equations varied from 2.916 (B. tauricus) to 3.336 (P. strandjae). This study also provides a new maximum length data for A. istanbulensis, G. bulgaricus, P. strandjae and S. orpheus.     

Phylogenetic relationships and historical biogeography of spined loaches (Cobitidae, Cobitis and Sabanejewia) as indicated by variability of mitochondrial DNA

For sequence analysis of the 12S rRNA gene in spined loaches, specimens of the following taxa were used: Sabanejewia balcanica, Cobitis paludica, C. bilineata, C. fahireae, C. elazigensis, C. elongata , two different sub-populations of C. taenia and four different sub-populations of C. turcica . Phylogenetic relationships among taxa were estimated using parsimony, neighbor-joining, and maximum likelihood algorithms. The calculation of the transition-tranversion ratio indicated that the taxa analysed were rather distantly related. Our analyses using the genus Sabanejewia as an outgroup suggest that C. bilineata is separated from the subgenus Cobitis sensu stricto and placed together with C. elongata as basal to all other species of the genus Cobitis . Support for the placement of C. paludica as basal to both the subgenera Bicanestrinia and Cobitis s. s. (without C. bilineata ) is given by outcomes from three independent methods of phylogenetic reconstruction. A sister-taxon relationship for the subgenera Bicanestrinia and Cobitis s. s. without C. bilineata was consistently found. C. elazigensis was closely related to the population of C. turcica from Lake Beysehir in Turkey. Both formed a sister-group to the remaining populations of C. turcica , while C. fahireae was basal to C. taenia . A molecular clock was calculated based on sequence divergence values and palaeogeographical data. This suggests that different historical colonization routes must have been used by different clades of spined loaches.     

Length‐weight relationships of seven fish species from the Wutong River,northeast China

Length‐weight relationships (LWR) were calculated for seven fish species from the Wutong River, northeast China(47°58'‐47°10'N; 130°07'‐130°48'E), including Ladislavia taczanowskii Dybowski, 1869; Gobio cynocephalus Dybowski, 1869; Rhynchocypris lagowskii (Dybowski, 1869); Lefua costate (Kessler, 1876); Cobitis lutheri Rendahl, 1935; Cobitis sibirica Gladkov, 1935; Perccottus glenii Dybowski, 1877. All fish specimens were collected by electric fishing gear (voltage, 12 V) and gillnets (mesh size: 1.1 cm × 1.1 cm, 1.4 cm × 1.4 cm, 1.8 cm × 1.8 cm, 2.5 cm × 2.5 cm) from May to July 2017. The a values ranged from 0.0038 (Cobitis lutheri) to 0.0084 (Lefua costata), and b values from 2.716 (Lefua costata) to 3.450 (Perccottus glenii) and r² values from 0.973 (Cobitis lutheri) to 0.995 (ladislavia taczanowskii). This study provides the first published the LWRs for the five species, and new maximum total lengths were recorded for two species, including Gobio cynocephalus and Lefua costata.     

Length‐length and length‐weight relationships for four fish species from Naolihe National Nature Reserve,Heilongjiang, China

In this study the length‐length and length‐weight relationships for four fish species from Naolihe National Nature Reserve in China belonging to three families and four genera were analyzed. They are Perccottus glenii Dybowski, 1877; Rhodeus sericeus Pallas, 1776; Cobitis lutheri Rendahl, 1935; and Misgurnus mohoity Dybowski, 1869. Fish samples were collected in May 2017 from Naolihe National Nature Reserve by fish catching cage (31*41 cm caliber, 16 m length, 3–5 mm mesh diameter), and identified as to species in the laboratory according to S. Q. Zhu (Synopsis of freshwater fishes of China, Jiangsu Science and Technology Publishing House, Nanjing, China, 1995).     

pH tolerance of the biofouling invasive hydrozoan <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cordylophora caspia</Emphasis>

The hydrozoan Cordylophora caspia, with its origin in the Caspian and Black Seas, is considered an invasive biofouling species to power stations and water treatment plants in Brazil, causing economic and ecological impacts. Tolerance of the species to variation in pH was tested to evaluate its resistance to acidic and basic pH levels. Values of pH were tested over a range from 4.0 to 10.0. The colonies were exposed for 6 h to each treatment, using phosphoric acid and NaOH to set water pH to the desired acidic or basic levels, respectively. Colonies of C. caspia displayed 100% mortality only at pH 4 and 10, and showed high survival rates (>50%) within the pH range of 5.0–8.5. The species demonstrated tolerance to a wide range of pH levels, and the results will help in the development of techniques to reduce biofouling by this species. Treatments that keep the pH below 5 or above 8.5 for at least 6 h are suggested to control and eradicate C. caspia where fouling causes significant economic impacts.     

Contrasting water sources and water‐use efficiency in coexisting desert plants in two saline‐sodic soils in northwest China

• Soil degradation resulting from various types of salinity is a major environmental problem, especially in arid and semiarid regions. Exploring the water‐related physiological traits of halophytes is useful for understanding the mechanisms of salt tolerance. This knowledge could be used to rehabilitate degraded arid lands.
• To investigate whether different types of salinity influence the water sources and water‐use efficiency of desert plants (Karelinia caspia, Tamarix hohenackeri, Nitraria sibirica, Phragmites australis, Alhagi sparsifolia, Suaeda microphylla, Kalidium foliatum) in natural environments, we measured leaf gas exchange, leaf carbon and xylem oxygen isotope composition and soil oxygen isotope composition at neutral saline‐sodic site (NSS) and alkaline saline‐sodic site (ASS) in northwest China.
• The studied plants had different xylem water oxygen isotope compositions (δ¹⁸O) and foliar carbon isotope compositions (δ¹³C), indicating that desert plants coexist through differentiation in water use patterns. Compared to that at the NSS site, the stem water in K. caspia, A. sparsifolia and S. microphylla was depleted in ¹⁸O at the ASS site, which indicates that plants can switch to obtain water from deeper soil layers when suffering environmental stress from both salinity and alkalinisation. Alhagi sparsifolia had higher δ¹³C at the ASS site than at the NSS site, while K. caspia and S. microphylla had lower δ¹³C, which may have resulted from interspecific differences in plant alkali and salt tolerance ability.
• Our results suggest that under severe salinity and alkalinity, plants may exploit deeper soil water to avoid ion toxicity resulting from high concentrations of soluble salts in the superficial soil layer. In managed lands, it is vital to select and cultivate different salt‐tolerant or alkali‐tolerant plant species in light of local conditions.

     

Molecular differentiation of three loach species (Pisces, Cobitidae) based on the nuclear 5S rDNA marker

The diversity of the 5S rDNA fragment among three loach species: Cobitis taenia, C. elongatoides and Sabanejewia aurata was investigated using universal PCR primers for this gene. Three amplification products were obtained: 220 bp length for C. taenia and C. elongatoides, and 330 bp for S. aurata. Two amplicons with the same length (in Cobitis) were digested with TaqI restriction endonuclease. This enzyme found one restriction site T/CGA in the C. elongatoides fragment, while in the case of C. taenia no cleavage effect was observed. On this basis we constructed an easy and cheap method for loach species discrimination. It seems adequate for effective support of conservation initiatives for endangered loaches.     

Checklist of the freshwater fishes of Armenia,Azerbaijan and Georgia

We present a critical checklist of freshwater fish species found so far in the countries of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia. In total 119 freshwater fishes are recorded. There are 40, 86 and 96 species currently known for Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia respectively. From these 119 species, seven are endemic and seven species are alien. From the alien species, only three (Carassius gibelio, Gambusia holbrooki and Pseudorasbora parva) can be considered as widespread and invasive. There are four species (Gasterosteus aculeatus, Gobio artvinicus, Perca fluviatilis and Salmo gegarkuni) that are translocated within the region. Seven species are confirmed or recorded for the first time including G. artvinicus and Oxynoemacheilus veyselorum for Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia, Capoeta kaput and Rhinogobius lindbergi for Azerbaijan and Georgia, Capoeta razii for Azebaijan, Oxynoemacheilus cemali and Squalius agdamicus for Georgia. In this checklist, Acipenser colchicus is treated as a synonym of Acipenser persicus. Sand smelts of the Black and Caspian Sea basin are identified as Atherina caspia and Clupeonella caspia is treated as a synonym of Clupeonella cultriventris. Coregonus sevanicus is listed as Coregonus sp. until the situation of Sevan whitefish is better understood. Capoeta sevangi and Capoeta ekmekciae are synonyms of Capoeta capoeta. The fish often identified as Capoeta capoeta gracilis from rivers south of the Kura most likely belong to C. razii. The Black and Caspian Sea Rutilus populations are treated as conspecific, therefore R. kutum is a junior synonym of R. frisii. Oxynoemacheilus veyseli is valid as O. veyselorum. We list the alien Rhinogobius species as R. lindbergi, however the name is provisional and needs further confirmation. All Squalius species from the Kura River drainage are identified as S. agdamicus, however in the Aras, it is replaced by S. turcicus. Squalius orientalis is treated as a valid species restricted to the eastern Black Sea basin. The four forms of Lake Sevan trout (Salmo ischchan, S. gegarkuni, S. danilewskii and S. aestivalis) are treated as valid species, two of them (S. ischchan and S. danilewskii) are extinct. Rutilus sojuchbulagi from Azerbaijan is also extinct.     

Length–weight relationships of five fish species collected from Manora Channel and associated backwaters of the northern Arabian Sea

This paper provides length–weight relationships estimated for five fish species (four families) economically important not only to the local community, but to the larger Indo‐Pakistan sub‐continent. All fish were collected from the Manora Channel and backwater creeks near Karachi, Pakistan in the northern Arabian Sea during July 2000 to October 2002. These represent the first reports of length–weight data for two species (Sardinella sindensis and Pomadasys stridens) while also providing additional data on the remaining three species (Alepes kleinii, A. melanoptera, and Liza carinata) for which limited information was available. Estimated b values obtained for the six species ranged from a minimum of 2.310 for L. carinata to a maximum of 3.082 for S. sindensis.     

A total evidence analysis of the phylogeny of hatchet-faced treefrogs (Anura: Hylidae: Sphaenorhynchus)

The Neotropical hylid genus Sphaenorhynchus includes 15 species of small, greenish treefrogs widespread in the Amazon and Orinoco basins, and in the Atlantic Forest of Brazil. Although some studies have addressed the phylogenetic relationships of the genus with other hylids using a few exemplar species, its internal relationships remain poorly understood. In order to test its monophyly and the relationships among its species, we performed a total evidence phylogenetic analysis of sequences of three mitochondrial and three nuclear genes, and 193 phenotypic characters from all species of Sphaenorhynchus. Our results support the monophyly of Sphaenorhynchus with molecular and phenotypic evidence, with S. pauloalvini as the earliest diverging taxon, followed by S. carneus, as the sister taxon of all remaining species of the genus. We recognize three species groups in Sphaenorhynchus (the S. lacteus, S. planicola and S. platycephalus groups), to facilitate its taxonomic study; only three species (S. carneus, S. pauloalvini and S. prasinus) remain unassigned to any group. Sequence data were not available for only two species (S. bromelicola and S. palustris) for which we scored phenotypic data; wildcard behaviour was detected only in S. bromelicola nested inside the S. platycephalus group. On the basis of the resulting phylogenetic hypothesis, we discuss the evolution of oviposition site and a number of phenotypic characters that could be associated with heterochronic events in the evolutionary history of this group.     

Phylogenetic relationships among four species of Mullidae (Perciformes) inferred from DNA sequences of mitochondrial cytochrome b and 16S rRNA genes

DNA sequence comparisons of two mitochondrial DNA genes were used to infer phylogenetic relationships among four species of mullids. Approximately 238 bp of the mitochondrial 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) and 261 bp of the cytochrome b (cytb) genes were sequenced from representatives of three mullid genera (Mullus, Upeneus, Pseudopeneus), present in the Mediterranean Sea. Trees were constructed using three methods: maximum likelihood (ML), neighbor joining (NJ) and parsimony (MP). The results of the analyses of these data together with published data of the same mtDNA segments of two other perciform species (Sparus aurata, Perca fluviatilis), support the previous taxonomic classification of the three genera examined, as well as the classification of the two red mullet species in the same genus.     

Identification of a major locus determining a pigmentation defect in cultivated gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata)

The gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata) is an important cultivated species in the Mediterranean area. A major problem for the gilthead seabream aquaculture sector derives from the high frequency of phenotypic abnormalities, including discolorations. In this study, we applied a whole-genome resequencing approach to identify a genomic region affecting a pigmentation defect that occurred in a cultivated S. aurata population. Two equimolar DNA pools were constructed using DNA extracted from 30 normally coloured and 21 non-pigmented fish collected among the offspring of the same broodstock nucleus. Whole-genome resequencing reads from the two DNA pools were aligned to the S. aurata draft genome and variant calling was performed. A whole-genome heterozygosity scan from single pool sequencing data highlighted a peak of reduced heterozygosity of approximately 5 Mbp on chromosome 6 in the non-pigmented pool that was not present in the normally coloured pool. The comparison of the non-pigmented with the normally coloured fish using a whole-genome F_ST analysis detected three main regions within the coordinates previously detected with the heterozygosity analysis. The results support the presence of a major locus affecting this discoloration defect in this fish population. The results of this study have practical applications, including the possibility of eliminating this defect from the breeding stock, with direct economic advantages derived from the reduction of discarded fry. Other studies are needed to identify the candidate gene and the causative mutation, which could add information to understand the complex biology of fish pigmentation.     

Length–weight relationships of five fish species from the streams of Maoershan National Forest Park,Heilongjiang, China

In this study the length–weight relationships of five fish species belonging to four families and five genera were analyzed from the streams of Maoershan National Forest Park in China. A total of 221 specimens were used to estimate the relationship parameters. These species (Lethenteron reissneri, Cobitis granoei, Misgurnus mohoity, Rhynchocypris percnurus and Perccottus glenii) had no previous estimate in FishBase.     

Length‐weight relationships of three indigenous fish species from National Nature Reserve for Rare and Endemic Fishes of the upper Yangtze River,China

Length‐weight relationships (LWRs) were estimated for three small indigenous fish species, (Sinogastromyzon szechuanensis, Sinogastromyzon sichangensis and Sinocrossocheilus labiatus) in the upper Yangtze River, China. Samples were collected using three types of local traditional fishing gears, including gill nets (mesh size: 1 cm), fish cages (mesh size: 0.5 cm), and electrofishing techniques (CWB‐2000 P, 12V, 250 Hz), in April, July and October 2013 and 2014, and April and October 2016. The sample size for each species were gathered separately, with 100 for S. szechuanensis, 381 for S. sichangensis and 49 for S. labiatus from National Nature Reserve for rare and endemic fishes of the upper Yangtze River, China. The length‐weight relationship parameter values of b were calculated as 2.986 for S. szechuanensis (b: 2.854–3.118), and 3.284 for S. sichangensis (b: 3.209–3.359) and 3.119 for S. labiatus (b: 2.911–3.326). The primary data will be meaningful for further research about sustainable development and scientific management of fishery resources of the upper Yangtze River.     

Ontogenetic differentiation of swimming performance in Gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata, Linnaeus 1758) during metamorphosis

The critical swimming speed (U_crit) of gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata, Linnaeus 1875) was studied in two ontogenetic phases, early (13.7-18.7 mm total length, TL) and late metamorphosis (20.4-34.3 mm TL, after the full development of fin meristics and during squamation ontogeny), under four exercise temperatures (15, 20, 25 and 28 °C). Both the exercise temperature and the ontogenetic stage had a significant effect on the relative U_crit (RU_crit) of S. aurata, with the fish of early metamorphosis phase (E group) presenting significantly higher RU_crit than those of the late metamorphosis stage (L group). This ontogenetic shift in swimming performance was accompanied by significant ontogenetic shifts of body shape and of muscle anatomy. Compared to the L group, S. aurata of the E group were characterized by a streamline body shape and significantly higher relative contribution of the slow-red muscle to the cross-sectional area of the body (31.0 ± 1.3% vs 12.0 ± 1.2% in the L group).     

Molecular Phylogeny of Grey Mullets (Teleostei: Mugilidae) in Greece: Evidence from Sequence Analysis of mtDNA Segments

Mitochondrial DNA sequence analysis has been used to explore genetic differentiation and phylogenetic relationships among five species of the Mugilidae family, Mugil cephalus, Chelon labrosus, Liza aurata, Liza ramada, and Liza saliens. DNA was isolated from samples originating from the Messolongi Lagoon in Greece. Three mtDNA segments (12s rRNA, 16s rRNA, and CO I) were PCR amplified and sequenced. Sequencing analysis revealed that the greatest genetic differentiation was observed between M. cephalus and all the other species studied, while C. labrosus and L. aurata were the closest taxa. Dendrograms obtained by the neighbor-joining method and Bayesian inference analysis exhibited the same topology. According to this topology, M. cephalus is the most distinct species and the remaining taxa are clustered together, with C. labrosus and L. aurata forming a single group. The latter result brings into question the monophyletic origin of the genus Liza.     

In the foothill zone—Sabanejewia balcanica (Karaman 1922), in the lowland zone—Sabanejewia bulgarica (Drensky, 1928): Myth or reality?

The status of golden loaches (genus Sabanejewia) in the region of Central Europe and Balkans is still ambiguous. The greatest controversy is caused by species Sabanejewia balcanica and S. bulgarica. Both species are characterized by a wide spectrum of morphological variability and overlapping of distinguishing features, which then lead to difficulties in their determination. Previous phylogenetic studies aimed on the resolving of their taxonomic status did not include samples from their type localities and so led to a lack of their true distribution in this region. Therefore, the main aim of this study was to identify taxonomic status of golden loaches populations in the region of the middle Danube basin and adjacent areas on the model territory of Slovakia. For this purpose, we used novelty approach (morphological, molecular, and microhabitat) and we also included the missing samples from the type localities of both species. Based on mtDNA all the Slovakian samples reflected haplotype richness revealed on the type locality of S. bulgarica, although the genetic distances from other representatives of the genus Sabanejewia occurring are not significant. Within the morphology, we have revealed a great measure of variability in studied populations, which is largely caused by different habitat conditions and thus representing a phenotypic plasticity of these fish.     

Length‐weight and length‐length relationships of four Alosa species along the southern Caspian Sea coast

This study investigates length‐weight and length‐length relationships of four shad species (Alosa braschnikowi, Alosa caspia, Alosa kessleri, and Alosa saposchnikowii) captured on the southern Caspian Sea coast of Iran. The relationship of total length (TL), fork length (FL) and standard length (SL) and the relationship between total length and body weight are presented.