Experimental evidence of asymmetrical competition between two species of parasitic copepods

Lepeophtheirus thompsoni and Lepeophtheirus europaensis are two parasitic copepods naturally isolated on their sympatric hosts, i.e. turbot (Psetta maxima L.) and brill (Scophthalmus rhombus L.), respectively They are able to meet, mate and hybridize on turbot experimentally but they are naturally prevented from doing so by a strong host preference when given a choice. Theory suggests that such a pattern is possible, but only under conditions of competition for the resource. In the present study the attachment rates of the two copepods were studied experimentally under various conditions of competition, infectious dose and number of available hosts. The results suggest a greater sensitivity to competition for the generalist species L. europaensis than for the specialist L. thompsoni, which is in agreement with theoretical predictions.     

Maintenance of two genetic entities by habitat selection

Summary In the laboratory, the two species of copepodsLepeophtheirus thompsoni andLepeophtheirus europaensis, ectoparasites of flatfishes, can meet and mate on at least one host species. In the wild however, these two species are found isolated on their sympatric hosts. Habitat selection theoretically represents a powerful enough mechanism to explain the maintenance of genetic heterogeneity in the wide sense. In this paper, the host colonization process is studied for both parasite species. It is shown that each parasite can develop and reach adult age on each host species. However,L. thompsoni is highly selective; it almost totally refuses to colonize hosts other than its natural one.Lepeophtheirus europaensis, on the contrary, readily infests turbot and brill in single-host experiments, but strongly prefers the brill when it has a choice. It appears that these two genetic entities are sympatrically maintained due to strong habitat selection. Such a pattern could theoretically only occur in a soft-selection context (density dependence). This point is discussed with respect to the different patterns in host use found in the geographical distribution of these parasites.     

Shrinkage of flounder Platichthys flesus (L.) and turbot Psetta maxima (L.) following freezing

Freezing of adult flounder Platichthys flesus and turbot Psetta maxima for 24 h resulted in mean decrease of total length ( L _T) of 2·1 and 1·3% and a reduced body mass ( M ) of 3·1 and 1·3%, respectively. Increasing the freezing time to 25 days increased the shrinkage in turbot but not in flounder. The L _T and M _T conversion equations for the different species and time spent frozen are given. The differences between species could be explained by the higher volume to surface area relationship in turbot compared with flounder.     

Bothriocephalus scorpii (Müller) (Cestoda: Pseudophyllidea) in turbot Scophthalmus maximus (L.) and brill S. rhombus (L.) from the southern North Sea

Turbot (11–70 cm long) and brill (21–70 cm long) were collected in the summer of 1968 north of the Brown Bank, Texel Hole and were infected by Bothriocephalus scorpii. Infections occurred even in the first year of life of the fish. In turbot, with increasing length, the average weight of tapeworm rose from 0–6 to 14-9 g/flsh. Brill were less commonly infected and then only slightly. The intermediate host of the tapeworm seems to be Gobius species, upon which juvenile turbot and brill prey most.     

Genetic heterogeneity within populations of Lepeophtheirus europaensis (Copepoda: Caligidae) parasitic on two host species

, and 1992. Genetic heterogeneity within populations of Lepeophtheirus europaensis (Copepoda: Caligidae) parasitic on two host species. International Journal for Parasitology 22: 1179–1181. The ectoparasitic copepod Lepeophtheirus europaensis exploits two different species of Mediterranean flat fishes: the brill (a marine fish) and the flounder (found in lagoons). Analysis of the genetic structure of these parasite populations revealed that migration is reduced between the two hosts. Moreover, an adaptive polymorphism was found when the survival of the eggs and free larvae of these copepods was studied at different salinities. The results are discussed and interpreted as signs of a probable speciation process currently occurring within this parasite taxon.     

Allozyme variation in turbot (Psetta maxima) and brill (Scophthalmus rhombus) (Osteichthyes, Pleuronectoformes, Scophthalmidae) throughout their range in Europe

Two species of coastal flatfish (brill and turbot, Scophthalmidae) were analysed electrophoretically at 17 common enzymatic loci in samples taken from 11 sites representing the species ranges in Europe. Brill showed a mean heterozygosity ( H ) of 0·11 while that of turbot was 0·02. The virtual absence of genetic diversity in turbot is probably due to a very low evolutionary rate, and provides little evidence for population substructure even if various signs indicate the possibility of a hidden differentiation (presence of the taxon maoetica in the Black Sea and differentiation of a species-specific cestode parasite on either side of the Strait of Gibraltar). On the other hand, the weak geographic structure in brill seems to result from rapid recolonization following the last ice age.     

Feeding ecology of juvenile flatfishes of the surf zone of a sandy beach

Prey items of 0- and 1-group plaice Pleuronectes platessa , sole Solea solea , brill Scophthalmus rhombus , turbot S. maximus and dab Limanda limanda of the surf zone of a Belgian sandy beach, included hyperbenthic (e.g. mysids), endobenthic (e.g. polychaetes) and epibenthic (e.g. shrimps) species. Little dietary overlap was observed. If diet overlap did occur, it mainly involved prey species that are dominant in the surf zone of Belgian beaches, such as shrimps and mysids. These results suggest an opportunistic utilization by flatfish of the available food resources in surf zone ecosystems. Also, two strategically different feeding habits could be distinguished between the five flatfish species. Turbot and brill mainly fed on large, highly mobile prey (e.g. fish, mysids) and had a rather narrow prey spectrum, whereas plaice, dab and sole ate more benthic prey (e.g. polychaetes) and had a broader prey spectrum.     

Feeding behaviour of Black Sea bottom fishes: Did it change over time?

This study was designed to improve knowledge in feeding behaviour of the round goby (Apollonia melanostomus (Pallas, 1814)), the red mullet (Mullus barbatus ponticus Essipov, 1927), the whiting (Merlangius merlangus (Linnaeus, 1758)), the flounder (Platichthys flesus (Linnaeus, 1758)), the sole (Solea solea (Linnaeus, 1758)), the turbot (Psetta maeotica (Pallas, 1814)) and the starry sturgeon (Acipenser stellatus Pallas, 1771) from the north-western Black Sea. Gut content coupled with stable isotope analysis allowed describing food web variations according to species, in two seasons and at two areas located seawards the Danube River. Present results showed that most fishes have likely changed their feeding behaviour compared to past studies from the same area. Trophic niches were reduced and dietary overlap was common, as different fish species consumed the same dominant prey types. Fishes probably adapted their feeding behaviour to the increasingly low biodiversity of the Black Sea communities.     

Age determination and growth of turbot and brill in the Adriatic Sea: reversal of the seasonal pattern of otolith zone formation

The growth of two commercially important flatfish, turbot ( Psetta maxima ) (L.) and brill ( Scophthalmus rhombus ) (L.), was investigated in the Adriatic using whole otoliths (sagittae) and stained otolith sections. At variance with the pattern usually observed in temperate seas, the opaque zone was found to be laid down in autumn and winter, and the translucent zone in spring and summer. Growth rates differed according to sex, with the females attaining greater body lengths. The von Bertalanffy growth parameters were: L_∞=66.2 cm, K=0.31 years^–1, and t₀=–0.14 years for turbot males, L_∞=81.5 cm, K=0.21 years^–1, and t₀=–0.48 years for turbot females; L_∞=40.2 cm, K=0.49 years^–1, and t₀=–1.03 years for brill males; L_∞=50.1 cm, K=0.27 years^–1, and t₀=–1.75 years for brill females. Growth rates and maximum age recorded for turbot were comparable to those reported in the North Sea.     

Measurement of cytochrome P4501A induction in dab (Limanda limanda) and other teleosts with species-specific cDNA probes: isolation and characterisation of dab cDNA and its use in expression studies with β-naphthoflavone-treated fish

Induction of cytochrome P4501A (CYP1A) in fish is an important biomarker in marine monitoring programmes but a number of factors complicate interpretation of data based on catalytic activity. To provide additional analytical tools, we have cloned and sequenced entire (dab) and partial cDNAs (flounder, turbot, sand eel) from several fish species. A detailed analysis comparing the new sequences to those on the database (13 sequences) is presented and identifies an invariant, teleost-specific sequence (195-IVVSVANVICGMCFGRRYDH-214) which might be the basis for production of a species cross-reactive antibody. Northern and slot blots of fish RNA (sand eel, plaice, turbot, flounder and dab) showed extensive cross-species hybridisation with each of the cDNAs (sand eel, plaice, turbot, flounder and dab). The exception was turbot RNA, which only gave adequate hybridisation when the turbot probe was used. Attempts to normalise the hybridisation data to GAPDH mRNA were not satisfactory since there were significant species differences in expression of this gene and expression was suppressed (20–40%) by β-naphthoflavone treatment. The CYP1A probes indicated induction levels relative to untreated dab of: plaice (five-fold); turbot (12-fold); flounder (12-fold); and dab (10-fold). The study demonstrates the relative ease with which species-specific molecular probes can be generated and used.     

Diet and niche overlap of southern populations of brill Scophthalmus rhombus and turbot Scophthalmus maximus

The diets of adult brill Scophthalmus rhombus and turbot Scophthalmus maximus from the Portuguese coast relied mostly on fishes. There was a higher diversity of food items compared to their northern counterparts, and several of the identified prey are the first records of these species, including a brown alga, echinoderms, nematodes, oligochaetes, gastropods, bivalves and various fish species. The diet of the two species was significantly different and niche overlap was low.     

Allozyme variation and genetic inter-relationships between seven flatfish species (Pleuronectiformes)

A total of 11 enzymes coded by 14 loci were assayed for each of 17 populations (from the north east Atlantic and Mediterranean) of seven flatfish species, including representatives of three of the four European families of the order Pleuronectiformes. Diagnostic alleles were observed for each species and there were fixed differences between the species at many loci. Thus all species were genetically distinct, although there were some common alleles. H_obs was higher than the average of a range of fish species and was also higher than that of vertebrate species as a whole. It seems that flatfish as a group may show higher levels of genetic variation than other fish. Values of genetic identity for all pairwise comparisons fell comfortably within the ranges expected. The data support the grouping of plaice and flounder into a single genus, Pleuronectes , but it is concluded that the retention of the dab in a separate genus, Limanda , is justified. A high level of genetic divergence was found between Dover and thickback soles. Genetic divergence data support the hypothesis that Pleuronectes flesus luscus in the Aegean Sea is a distinct subspecies of Pleuronectes flesus (flounder). The data show a clear separation of the Mediterranean Dover sole population from those in the Atlantic. Low genetic divergence was observed between the Aegean Sea and Atlantic brill populations. It is speculated that about 5 Mya the families Pleuronectidae and later Soleidae evolved from the ancestral Scophthalmidae.     

Description of Lamellodiscus confusus n. sp, (Monogenea: Diplectanidae), parasite of Sarpa salpa (Teleostei: Sparidae)

Lamellodiscus confusus n. sp., a diplectanid gill parasite of Sarpa salpa Linnaeus, 1758 (Sparidae) from the coast of Algeria, is described. This monogenean has been previously reported in Sarpa salpa, by various authors, under the name L. ignoratus. L. confusus n. sp. is included (among other Lamellodiscus of Mediterranean sparids) in the "ignoratus" sub-group (Amine & Euzet, 2005). L. confusus n. sp. can be distinguished from L. ignoratus by the shape and size of the haptoral ventral bar and the male copulatory organ. For comparison, illustrations of the ventral bar and the male copulatory organ of all Mediterranean species of the "ignoratus" sub-group are provided. The question of the host specificity of L. ignoratus is discussed.     

Survey of the metazoan ectoparasites of the European flounder Platichthys flesus (Linnaeus, 1758) along the north-central Portuguese coast

A survey was undertaken to identify metazoan ectoparasite species on the European flounder, Platichthys flesus (Linnaeus, 1758), in 4 different locations off the north-central Portuguese coast. Parasites of 7 different taxa were found: Caligus diaphanus, Caligus sp., and Lepeophtheirus pectoralis (Copepoda: Caligidae); Acanthochondria cornuta (Copepoda: Chondracanthidae); Holobomolochus confusus (Copepoda: Bomolochidae); Nerocila orbignyi (Isopoda: Cymotholdae); and praniza larvae (Isopoda: Gnathiidae). Lernaeocera branchialis, a common European flounder parasite in the North and Baltic Seas, was not observed among the surveyed fish. Caligus diaphanus, Caligus sp., and Nerocila orbignyi are new host records. The high prevalence and intensity values recorded for L. pectoralis and A. cornuta suggest that both parasite species are common to the European flounder along the north-central Portuguese coast. In contrast, infection levels with respect to the other parasite taxa were, in most cases, comparatively lower, thereby indicating that they only occur occasionally among flounders in the surveyed area.     

Feeding ecology of juvenile turbot Scophthalmus maximus and flounder Pleuronectes flesus at Gotland, Central Baltic Sea

Food and feeding of juvenile turbot Scophthalmus maximus and flounder Pleuronectes flesus were studied in five nursery areas at Gotland, Central Baltic Sea, ICES SD 27 and SD 28. Ontogeny involved partitioning of available food resources. The food choice of turbot <30 mm standard length (L_S) included both planktonic‐hyperbenthic prey (calanoid copepods and mysids) and epibenthic–endobenthic prey (chironomids and amphipods), whereas turbot ≥30 mm L_S fed mainly on hyperbenthic species (mysids and fishes). Conversely, for flounder, epibenthic–endobenthic prey were the most abundant prey items throughout development (harpactocoid copepods, oligochaetes and chironomids for fish <40 mm L_S and oligochaetes, chironomids and amphipods for flounder ≥40 mm L_S). Thus, the highest degree of dietary overlap occurred between turbot <30 mm and flounder ≥40 mm. Food composition for both turbot and flounder varied, however, according to exposure and predominant wind direction in the nursery area. For example, expressed as the ratio between the biomass of mysids and fishes consumed, the relative importance of mysids v. fishes as food source for turbot, varied from <1 in the most sheltered area to 16 and 27 in the more open areas. Considerable differences in feeding incidence were recorded; mean ±s .d . 58 ± 20% for turbot <30 mm L_S and 83 ± 8% for turbot ≥30 mm L_S, as opposed to ≥85–90% for flounder irrespective of size. The lower feeding success of turbot <30 mm L_S was related to mysid abundance, shown to vary spatially and temporally, and to density of flounder, indicating that food availability, and potentially interspecific competition, influence feeding of early juvenile turbot with implications for survival following settlement. Regarding variability in abundance, hyperbenthic prey, as mysids, are considered more variable than epi‐ and endobenthic organisms. Hence, in addition to the ‘nursery size hypothesis’, i.e. the positive relationship between abundance of recruits and extension of nursery areas, variability in food availability may explain the average lower recruitment of turbot as compared to other flatfishes, e.g. flounder.     

Preliminary assessment of discards survival in a multi‐species Mediterranean bottom trawl fishery

The EU Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) reform establishes a gradual landing obligation for stocks for which catch limits are set, and in the Mediterranean for species with Minimum Conservation Reference Size. However, the landing obligation will not apply for species with scientific evidence of high survival rates. Discards estimates usually assume that the whole discarded catch is dead or dies at sea. However, survival of individuals discarded at sea is substantial for several species. In the Mediterranean Sea, the information on this issue is very limited. The aim of this study is to perform a preliminary assessment of the short‐term survival of discards in the multi‐species bottom trawl fishery in the Eastern Ionian Sea, Greece. Experimental fishing was held in spring when no water column stratification was observed and in autumn when a seasonal thermocline was formed. The catch was sorted, the regularly discarded species/sizes were put in tanks and their survival was monitored in specific time intervals up to 72 hr. A seasonal effect was obvious with high mortality in autumn being attributed to high water temperatures. Survival was low or zero for most species, but was relatively high for certain species (e.g., annular seabream, Diplodus annularis (Linnaeus, 1758); European conger, Conger conger (Linnaeus, 1758); brown comber, Serranus hepatus (Linnaeus, 1758) among bony fishes) and broad taxonomic categories (elasmobranchs and most invertebrates) in spring or in both seasons. Poor survival was generally estimated for most species subject to the landing obligation (e.g., hake, Merluccius merluccius (Linnaeus, 1758)). The present study, even though preliminary, can be important for improving future works, for identifying species with high survival potential, and—to a lesser extent—for the implementation of the CFP.     

Prey selection by flounder, Platichthys flesus, in the Douro estuary, Portugal

Prey selection by the flounder, Platichthys flesus (Linnaeus, 1758), in an estuarine nursery was investigated and the major factors influencing food choice by this species were assessed. Diet breadth was narrow, reflecting the low prey diversity observed in the benthos. A gradual ontogenetic shift from small prey such as amphipods to larger prey like polychaetes and bivalves was observed. Amphipods had positive electivity values in the upper estuary and negative values in the lower estuary.Polychaetes showed the inverse pattern. Bivalve electivity values were always positive. Differential selectivity throughout the estuary was mainly related to spatial segregation of flounders according to size, with the smaller individuals concentrating in the upper estuary and larger individuals concentrating in the lower estuary. Amphipods such as Corophium spp. play a crucial role in the flounder diet because of their small size, low mobility and diel activity pattern. As prey, the polychaete value increases throughout flounder ontogeny since the flounder size range is compatible with the larger mouth gapes and detection ability of larger fish. Bivalve electivity values for flounder are mainly related to high calorific values. The absence of Crangon crangon (Linnaeus, 1758) in the diet may be due to low water temperature since the cost–benefit involved in the capture of highly mobile prey is too high at low temperatures. It was concluded that flounder must use several sensory features to detect and capture prey in turbid estuarine waters and that field studies provide important background information on the actual predator preferences under natural conditions.     

Morphology of unfertilized mature and fertilized developing marine pelagic eggs in four types of multiple spawning flounders

Starry flounder Platichthys stellatus, spotted halibut Verasper variegates, turbot Scophthalmus maximus, and Japanese flounder Paralichthys olivaceus are four commercially cultivated multiple spawning flounders that spawn pelagic eggs. Through appropriate light and scanning electron microscope processing, the shape and surface structures (such as micropyle, pores, pore density, and paten) of unfertilized mature and fertilized developing eggs of the four species were observed and measured. First, individual or intraspecific comparisons of the surface structures of eggs at different developmental stages were made. Second, interspecific differences among the four species at the same developmental stage of unfertilized mature eggs were statistically computed and analyzed through one-way analysis of variance and hierarchical cluster analysis. Eggs of the same species collected at different stages of development tend to be different in morphology. Smoothing of the convoluted egg envelope surface and closure of the micropyle to serve as a final step of the polyspermy-preventing reaction are common after fertilization. Based on detailed morphology of micropyle of just-mature fertilizable eggs, turbot, starry flounder, and Japanese flounder each have a micropyle with a long canal but no distinct micropylar vestibule, type III of Riehl and Götting (Arch Hydrobiol 74:393–402, 1974). In contrast, spotted halibut has a micropyle with a distinct flat micropylar vestibule and a long canal, type II. Envelope surface microstructures, especially those in the micropyle region, are useful characters for egg identification among the four species. Cluster analysis using selected egg characters indicated the highest similarity between turbot and Japanese flounder and that starry flounder is obviously more similar to turbot and Japanese flounder than to spotted halibut.     

Comparative Analysis of Feeding and Schooling Behaviour of the Cyprinidae Alburnus alburnus (L., 1758), Rutilus rutilus (L., 1758), and Scardinius erythrophthalmus (L., 1758) in a Backwater of the Danube near Vienna

Underwater observations of the three common fish species Alburnus alburnus (L., 1758), Rutilus rutilus (L., 1758) and Scardinius erythrophthalmus (L., 1758) in a small part of the Danube flood area near Vienna have been made from June to October 1985 and 1986. Particular emphasis has been laid on the partitioning of feeding resources and habitat. It has been established that these species prefer different water zones. Alburnus a. and Scardinius e. are “obligate” schoolers (BREDER, 1967) whereas Rutilus r. is a facultative schooler. While feeding Rutilus r. and Scardinius e. form “aggregations” (BREDER, 1959) and both adopt equivalent feeding techniques. Furthermore Alburnus a. is a quick moving species living near the surface and chasing mostly in schools. While inter- and intraspecific aggression is rarely observed for Rutilus r. and Scardinius e., Alburnus a. often show interspecific actions.     

Spatio-temporal distribution of recruits (0 group) of Merluccius merluccius and Phycis blennoides (Pisces, Gadiformes) in the Strait of Sicily (Central Mediterranean)

Aspects of the recruitment of hake (Merluccius merluccius L., 1758) and greater fork beard (Phycis blennoides Brunnich, 1768) in the Strait of Sicily (Central Mediterranean) are presented. Data were collected from 1994 to 1999 during the international bottom trawl survey program MEDITS. In view of the available literature on juvenile growth of these two species in the Mediterranean area, a length-based criterion was adopted to separate fish belonging to the 0 group (recruits). Recruit density indices (R/km²) by haul were calculated based upon the likely variability of recruit growth among years and used to study abundance variability and spatial pattern of recruitment and to identify the main nursery areas. Although there was inter-annual variability, two stable areas for M. merluccius were identified on the eastern side of the Adventure Bank and the Malta Bank at depths ranging between 100 and 200 m. The main nursery areas for P. blennoides were deeper (from 200 to 400 m) and two stable nursery areas were identified on the western and eastern side of the Adventure Bank; other nurseries were found in the easternmost part of the Strait in 1998 and 1999. Recruitments of the two species were significantly correlated, with the strongest recruitment occurring in 1998 and 1999 for each species.