Ventilatory and behavioural responses of the marbled sole Pseudopleuronectes yokohamae to progressive hypoxia

This study identified ventilatory and behavioural responses in the marbled sole Pseudopleuronectes yokohamae under experimentally induced progressive decreases in dissolved oxygen (DO) levels. Ventilation frequency showed an increase with decreasing DO levels from normoxia to 2·75 mg O₂ l^?1, followed by a decrease in ventilation frequency at decreased DO levels from 2·00 to 0·75 mg O₂ l^?1. At DO levels below 2·00 mg l^?1, behaviours at the bottom were suppressed, whereas avoidance behaviours increased. A decrease in avoidance behaviours was observed from 1·00 to 0·75 mg O₂ l^?1. Upside‐down reversal and incapacitation at DO levels of 1·00–0·75 mg O₂ l^?1 suggested that sublethal effects on P. yokohamae were induced. The responses observed before the sublethal DO level could be interpreted as an effort to maintain oxygen uptake, reduce routine activities and facilitate avoidance. The observed DO level thresholds that induce behavioural responses, in addition to sublethal effects, indicate hypoxia‐tolerance that is important for understanding the effects of hypoxia on coastal ecosystems.     

Sexual dimorphism in scales of marbled flounder Pseudopleuronectes yokohamae (Pleuronectiformes: Pleuronectidae), with comments on the relevance to their spawning behaviour

Variation of scales on the blind side of Pseudopleuronectes yokohamae in relation to sex, maturity and body size was examined. Immature males often have cycloid scales, while mature males have mostly ctenoid scales. Large females also often have ctenoid scales (but with fewer spines compared with males), and small females have mostly cycloid scales. The number of spines (ctenii) on the blind‐side scale increases with body size in both sexes, indicating an ontogenetic change in scale morphology. As P. yokohamae spawn demersal eggs with males positioning themselves above the females on the ocular side, it is hypothesized that ctenoid scales on the blind side in mature males function for maintaining contact with females during spawning.     

Diel feeding periodicity, daily ration and prey selectivity in juvenile brown trout in a subarctic river

Feeding of age-1 brown trout Salmo trutta in a third-order river in northern Finland was usually highest in the twilight hours and lowest around midday. Diel periodicity in food intake was less distinct and rarely significant for age-0 trout. Daily rations declined seasonally, being lowest in October, and highest in June (age-1 trout) or early August (age-0 trout). Prey selection did not differ between day and night, but differences between age classes and sampling dates were distinct. Age-0 trout preferred Ephemerella nymphs in summer and Micrasema larvae later in the season. Age-1 trout fed selectively on caddis larvae on all sample dates. Aerial insects and Baetis nymphs were avoided by both age classes on most occasions. These patterns of preference are probably explained by a trend towards epibenthic feeding, which may be a predominant foraging mode in some trout populations. Nevertheless, repuscular peaks in feeding periodicity suggest that trout were able to capitalize on the increased availability of drifting prey in the twilight, especially in the early summer months.     

Diel feeding rhythms and daily food consumption of juvenile Atlantic salmon in the River Alta, northern Norway

Atlantic salmon fry (0+) sampled from the River Alta exhibited only minor differences in stomach content weights and feeding rates throughout diel periods, but feeding rates were generally lowest at night. In contrast, salmon parr (1+ to 3+) had large diel fluctuations in stomach content weight, with the largest weights usually being recorded during the night and early morning. Accordingly, their feeding rates were highest at night. This nocturnal feeding pattern was consistent throughout all sampling occasions, and appeared to reflect a persistent feeding periodicity in the salmon parr. The daily food consumption rates of both fry and parr were highest during midsummer and decreased towards autumn.     

Diel feeding patterns and daily ration of cyprinid species in the wild determined using an iterative method, MAXIMS

Diel feeding patterns and daily food rations of five cyprinids Amblypharyngodon melettinus, Barbus chola, B. dorsalis, B. filamentosus and Rasbora daniconius in two Sri Lankan reservoirs were studied based on diel surveys using an iterative method, MAXIMS. A. melettinus and B. chola had single peaks of feeding whereas diel feeding patterns with two peaks occurred in the other three species. Daily food rations varied seasonally and with size of fish. The iterative technique used is reliably applicable for quantifying daily rations, and provides a means of linking trophic levels in natural populations of fish.     

Diel feeding periodicity, daily ration and vertical migration of juvenile Cape hake off the west coast of South Africa

Feeding periodicity, daily ration and vertical migration of juvenile Cape hake Merluccius capensis are investigated from midwater and bottom trawl collections taken during a 42-h period between 29 February and 2 March 1992 at a fixed position off the west coast of South Africa. Feeding of 10-20 cm hake intensified during the night when they ascended into subsurface layers to prey on recruits of anchovy Engraulis capensis. Larger hake remained close to the bottom, were partially cannibalistic and exhibited no diel feeding periodicity. M. capensis appear to migrate vertically and feed asynchronously in midwater, as individuals, and not as a population, returning to the bottom when satiated. Based upon the exponential rate of decline in stomach fullness throughout the day, the evacuation rate by hake <20 cm was estimated as 0.054 h⁻¹; 90% evacuation of anchovy prey required an estimated 43 h. Using the Elliott & Persson and Eggers methods, the daily ration was estimated as 5.51 and 4.15% of wet body weight respectively. The effect of the foraging behaviour of M. capensis on the appropriateness of acoustic sampling for estimates of their abundance is discussed.     

Diel feeding periodicity, daily ration and prey selection of a riverine population of juvenile chinook salmon, Oncorhynchus tshawytscha (Walbaum)

The diel feeding periodicity, daily ration and prey selection of juvenile chinook salmon, Oncorhynchus tshawytscha , were studied in relation to the available prey. Maximum dry weight of food intake occurred about dawn, when mayflies were the major prey, but the greatest number of freshly eaten prey occurred during the afternoon, when chironomids and terrestrial dipterans predominated. Feeding activity at night was low, with smaller mayflies comprising up to 50% of the prey. During the day the young salmon fed selectively on chironomids and the larger mayflies, while trichopterans and terrestrial taxa were under-represented in the diet. Food consumption over the 24-h period averaged 8.3% of the fish dry body weight. Prey abundance in the drift explained about 50% of the composition of the diet. Although the fish selected larger mayflies, size apparently was not a main criterion for selection because chironomids, although smaller than mayflies, were also frequently eaten. Previous dietary experience of the fish and the diel pattern of prey abundance appear to best explain the selective feeding of juvenile chinook salmon.     

Rest-activity rhythms characteristics and seasonal changes in seasonal affective disorder

ABSTRACT

Identifying objectively measurable seasonal changes in 24-h activity patterns (rest-activity rhythms or RARs) that occur in seasonal affective disorder (SAD) could help guide research and practice towards new monitoring tools or prevention targets. We quantified RARs from actigraphy data using non-parametric and extended cosine based approaches, then compared RARs between people with SAD and healthy controls in the summer (n = 70) and winter seasons (n = 84). We also characterized the within-person seasonal RAR changes that occurred in the SAD (n = 19) and control (n = 26) participants who contributed repeated measures. Only controls had significant winter increases in RAR fragmentation (intra-daily variability; in controls mean winter-summer changes (log scale) = 0.05, 0.21 standard deviation, p = 0.03). In SAD participants only, estimated evening settling times (down-mesor) were an average of 30 min earlier in the winter compared with the summer (1-h standard deviation, p = 0.045). These RAR characteristics correlated with greater fatigue (Spearman r = 0.36) but not depression symptom severity. Additional research is needed to ascertain why healthy controls, but not people with SAD, appear to have increased RAR fragmentation in the winter. People with SAD lacked this increase in RAR fragmentation, and instead had earlier evening setting in the winter. Prospective and intervention studies with greater temporal resolution are warranted to ascertain how these seasonal behavioral differences relate to fatigue pathophysiology in SAD. Future research is needed to determine whether extending the winter active period, even in relatively fragmented bouts, could help reduce the fatigue symptoms common in SAD.     

Diel feeding chronology, gastric evacuation and estimated daily ration of juvenile coho salmon, Oncorhynchus kisutch (Walbaum), in the coastal marine environment

The feeding periodicity of juvenile coho salmon, Oncorhynchus kisutch , was examined from stomach collections taken during five sampling periods in coastal waters off Oregon. Significant differences in stomach content weight were found between several consecutive 3-hour periods, with peak fullness occurring in early morning and around dusk. The rates of gastric evacuation of euphausiid meals were measured in the laboratory at two temperatures. The decline in stomach contents was best described by an exponential model: 90% evacuation of the wet weight contents required an estimated 28.4 and 18.1 h at 11.4 and 13.7° C, respectively. The method of Elliott & Persson was used to estimate a daily ration of 2.4 and 3.7% of the wet body weight at the two temperatures.     

Diel rhythms of basal and stress-induced corticosterone in a wild, seasonal vertebrate, Gambel's white-crowned sparrow.

Glucocorticoids have a wide array of actions in vertebrates. Daily fluctuations in basal levels of glucocorticoids are thought to regulate homeostatic mechanisms. In contrast, elevated levels secreted in response to stress stimulate changes in physiology and behavior. These changes are thought to aid an animal in avoiding chronic stress or death. Twenty-four-hour rhythms in basal and stress-induced glucocorticoids have been detected in laboratory mammals, but studies in wild, seasonal vertebrates are rare. Identification of plasticity in hormone secretion in wild vertebrates is critical to understanding the effects of hormones on physiology and behavior, and therefore the success of an animal in its natural environment. In the present study, we characterized diel patterns of basal and stress-induced corticosterone (the avian glucocorticoid) under two photoperiods in Gambel's white-crowned sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys gambelii). In contrast to previous findings in the white-crowned sparrow, we demonstrated a robust rhythm in basal corticosterone secretion, in which corticosterone reaches peak levels at the end of the inactive period, and has returned to trough levels just after the active period has begun. We also demonstrated a diel rhythm in secretion of corticosterone in response to a stressor, showing the greatest response at the beginning of the active period. Patterns of CORT secretion were similar under both photoperiods. These patterns show interesting similarities and differences to classical mammalian rhythms.     

Genetic variation and population structure of marbled sole Pleuronectes yokohamae and cresthead flounder P. schrenki in Japan inferred from mitochondrial DNA analysis

Nucleotide sequence analysis in the first half of the mitochondrial control region was used to estimate genetic variation and population structure of marbled sole Pleuronectes yokohamae and cresthead flounder Pleuronectes schrenki, obtained from 10 localities in Japan. Overall estimate of pairwise population F_ST and NJ tree suggested genetic distinction between P. yokohamae and P. schrenki. SAMOVA also demonstrated two distinct genetic groups of the samples, MS (marbled sole, Honshu and southernmost Hokkaido) and CF(cresthead flounder, Hokkaido), which was pertinent to the natural range of P. yokohamae and P. schrenki, respectively. However, the haplotypes common to P. yokohamae and P. schrenki were found in all four samples of the CF group and two of six samples of the MS group. Haplotype and nucleotide diversities were high within MS and CF groups, and the mismatch distribution analysis showed a bimodal profile in both groups, suggesting secondary contact between allopatrically evolved MS and CF groups. Thus, the observed haplotype sharing between two species might have been the consequence of interspecific hybridization after their divergence. In addition, F_ST estimates and Mantel test suggested that the population structure of P. yokohamae might have been influenced by low or restricted gene flow with isolation by distance, whereas no such population structuring was implied for P. schrenki. The observed difference in population structuring between two species was surmised by the difference of migration character.     

Lymphocystis disease in the winter flounder, Pseudopleuronectes americanus.

Nodular lesions on the fins of winter flounder, Pseudopleuronemphocystis disease. Hypertrophied, encapsulated connective tissue cells contained cytoplasmic inclusions composed of icosahedral virus particles. The winter flounder is a new host for lymphocystis disease and is the second flatfish in the western North Atlantic to have the disease.     

Seasonal changes in the daily rhythms of animals

Seasonal changes in the timing of circadian activity rhythms have been recorded in mammals, birds, reptiles and arthropods. There are probably far more wide spread than is generally realised and are especially important in desert regions with large daily temperature fluctuations. Synchronisation of the onset of circadian activity with changes in the times of dusk and dawn is achieved mainly by responses to changes in photoperiod.

---

Zusammenfassung An Beispielen wird gezeigt,dass jahreszeitliche Veränderungen in der Steuerung der circadianen Aktivitäts-Rhythmen bei Säugern, Vögeln,Reptilien und Arthropoden bestehen. Sie sind wahrscheinlich viel häufiger, als im allgemeinen erkannt wird und sind besonders wichtig in Wüstenregionen mit grossen täglichen Temperaturschwankungen. Die Synchronisation des Beginns der circadianen Aktivität mit Veränderungen der Zeiten der Abend- und Morgendämmerung wird hauptsächlich durch Reaktionen auf Veränderungen der Tageslänge erreicht.

---

Resume On démontre au moyen d'exemples qu'il existe des modifications saisonnières dans la dispersion des rythmes circadiens de l'activité des mammifères, des oiseaux, des reptiles et des arthropodes.Ces modifications sont probablement beaucoup plus fréquentes qu'on ne l'admet généralement et sont importantes surtout dans les régions désertiques où l'on rencontre de très grandes variations de température. La synchronisation du début de l'activité circadienne avec les changements de l'heure de l'aube et du crépuscule est due, en général,à des réactions aux modifications du photopériodisme.

---

---

Parts of this paper were presented during the Fourth International Biometeorological Congress, New Brunswick, N.J., 26 August–2 September 1966.     

Time-restricted feeding entrains daily rhythms of energy metabolism in mice

Energy metabolism, oxygen consumption rate (VO2), and respiratory quotient (RQ) in mice were monitored continuously throughout 12:12-h light-dark cycles before, during, and after time-restricted feeding (RF). Mice fed ad libitum showed robust daily rhythms in both parameters: high during the dark phase and low during the light phase. The daily profile of energy metabolism in mice under daytime-only feeding was reversed at the beginning of the first fasting night. A few days after daytime-only feeding began, RF also reversed the circadian core body temperature rhythm. Moreover, RF for 6 consecutive days shifted the phases of circadian expression patterns of clock genes in liver significantly by 8-10 h. When mice were fed a high-fat (HF) diet ad libitum, the daily rhythm of RQ dampened day by day and disappeared on the sixth day of RF, whereas VO2 showed a robust daily rhythm. Mice fed HF only in the daytime had reversed VO2 and RQ rhythms. Similarly, mice fed HF only in the daytime significantly phase shifted the clock gene expression in liver, whereas ad libitum feeding with HF had no significant effect on the expression phases of liver clock genes. These results suggested that VO2 is a sensitive indicator of entrainment in the mouse liver. Moreover, physiologically, it can be determined without any surgery or constraint. On the basis of these results, we hypothesize that a change in the daily VO2 rhythm, independent of the energy source, might drive phase shifts of circadian oscillators in peripheral tissues, at least in the liver.     

Post-fertilization changes in the chorion of winter flounder, Pseudopleuronectes americanus Walbaum, eggs observed with scanning electron microscopy

Little has been reported on the fine structure of the outer membrane of fish eggs during and after fertilization. When observed in the scanning electron microscope, the unfertilized egg of the winter flounder, Pseudopleuronectes americanus , is characterized by a crisscross pattern of depressions. These depressions radiate in all directions across the membrane surface creating a wrinkled appearance. After fertilization, the surface of the chorion becomes regular with a smoother appearance. The pores of the unfertilized egg are flush with the chorion surface, but become thickened and elevated after fertilization. While the chorion of the unfertilized egg is also smooth and uniformly textured, the chorion of the fertilized egg appears granular by first cleavage of the blastodisc. Although no apparent change occurs in the distance between pores after fertilization, statistically significant decreases in pore diameter occur 5 min after fertilization. These results are compared to those on egg membranes of other species of fish and invertebrates.     

Oocyte development in summer flounder: seasonal changes and steroid correlates

Seven ovarian stages are described in summer flounder Paralichthys dentatus. In the prespawning season plasma oestradiol levels increased in maturing fish with lipidogenic oocytes and gonadosomatic index increased in fish undergoing vitellogenesis. Atretic oocytes present in the postspawning season indicated which individuals may have spawned. The pattern of oocyte development is similar to that of other flatfishes and some teleosts. The summer flounder was unusual in having a long lipid uptake phase (oocyte diameter up to 301 μm) prior to any indication of vitellogenin (yolk protein) uptake. This information will be useful in the construction of an updated maturity schedule for the wild population.     

Diel, episodic and seasonal changes in pH and concentrations of inorganic carbon in a productive lake

• 1 Two pH electrodes and a thermistor were used to record conditions in the surface of Esthwaite Water every 15 min over a 12-month period. Combined with approximately weekly measurements of alkalinity they allowed inorganic carbon speciation to be calculated.
• 2 Large changes in pH from 7.1 to nearly 10.3, and hence in concentrations of inorganic carbon species, were measured over a year. Carbon speciation and pH varied on a diel, episodic and seasonal basis. Diel variation of up to pH 1.8 was recorded, although typical daily variation was between 0.03 and 1.06 (5 and 95 percentiles). Daily change in concentration of inorganic carbon varied between 4 and 63 mmol m^-3 (5 and 95 percentiles).
• 3 During lake stratification, episodes of high pH, typically of 1–2 weeks' duration were interspersed with episodes of lower pH. These changes appeared to relate to the weather: e.g. low wind velocity, high pressure, low rainfall and high sunshine hours correlated with periods of high pH.
• 4 Seasonal progression of carbon depletion generally followed stratification and the development of high phytoplankton biomass. When the lake was isothermal, the phytoplankton biomass caused relatively small amounts of carbon depletion.
• 5 During autumn, winter and spring, the lake had concentrations of CO₂* (free CO₂) up to 0.12 mol m^-3 which is nearly seven times the calculated atmospheric equilibrium concentration so the lake will accordingly be losing carbon to the atmosphere. In contrast, during periods of elevated pH the concentration of CO₂* was reduced close to zero and the lake will take up atmospheric CO₂. The rates of transfer between water and the atmosphere were estimated using a chemical equilibrium model with three boundary layer thicknesses. The calculations show that over a year the lake loses CO₂ to the atmosphere with the current mean atmospheric level of 360 μmol mol^-1, at between 0.28 and 2.80 mol m^-2 yr^-1. During elevated pH, rates of CO₂-influx increased up to nearly tenfold as a result of chemical-enhancement by parallel flux of HCO^-₃. Input of CO₂* to the lake from the catchment is suggested to be the main source of the carbon lost to the atmosphere.
• 6 The turnover time for CO₂ between the air and water was calculated to be 1 year for the gross influx and 3.3 years for the net flux. These values are less than the average water residence time of 0.25 years, which indicates that over a year inflow from streams is a more important source of inorganic carbon than the atmosphere.
• 7 Influx of CO₂ from the atmosphere was calculated to be roughly equivalent to between 1 and 4% of the rates of production in the water during mid-summer indicating that this source of inorganic carbon is not a major one in this lake.
• 8 Influx of CO₂ from the hypolimnion was estimated on one occasion to be 6.9 10^-9 mol m^-2 s^-1 using transfer values based on mass eddy-diffusion. These rates are equivalent to 23% of the rate of influx of CO₂ from the atmosphere on this occasion which suggests that the hypolimnion is probably a small source of inorganic carbon to the epilimnion. The exception appears to be during windy episodes when pH is depressed. Calculations based on depth-profiles of CO₂* and HCO^-₃ suggest that the measured changes in pH can be accounted for by entrainment of hypolimnetic water into the epilimnion.
• 9 The solubility product for calcite was exceeded by up to about sixfold which, although insufficient to allow homogeneous precipitation, may have allowed heterogeneous precipitation around algal particles.

     

Taxonomic status of Pseudopleuronectes yokohamae and P. schrenki (Pleuronectidae sensu Cooper and Chapleau, 1998)

In studying the variation of the taxa group Pseudopleuronectes yokohamae and P. schrenki from various areas in the Sea of Japan, significant differences in the combination of morphometric and meristic characters were not revealed. It was found that typical characters such as fin coloration from the blind side of the body, number of rays in the fins, number of scales in the lateral line, etc. that are used by most authors to distinguish P. yokohamae and P. shrenki strongly vary and are not adequate for assigning individuals to a certain taxon. A conclusion of the absence of differences and, hence, the homogeneity of the group studied is supported by genetic-biochemical studies, as well as by analysis of the lateral line system of these two groups of flatfish. Considering the results obtained and literature data on the morphology and ecology of flatfish taxa considered in the paper, it is justifiable to consider the P. yokohamae + P. schrenki group as one polymorphic species Pseudopleuronectes yokohamae Günther, 1877. The second taxon, P. shrenki, as a later species, should be considered a synonym of the species P. yokohamae.