Epidemiology of squamous cell carcinomas in rudd Scardinius erythrophthalmus from SE Ireland

An epidemiological study was carried out to investigate the possible aetiology of squamous cell carcinomas which occur in a population of rudd Scardinius erythrophthalmus (L.) from Lough Aderry in south-east Ireland. A total of 1343 rudd were sampled from Lough Aderry and 2 nearby small lakes in spring, summer, autumn, and winter over 2 yr, 1986 to 1988. Fish were weighed, measured, sexed, aged, and examined for lesions. Water quality parameters and natural radioactivity were assessed as possible influencing factors in the disease. The prevalence of squamous cell carcinoma was 6.1% overall, with no significant difference between the lakes, seasons or years. Both male and female fish were affected, of ages from 1+ to 5+ yr. No fish of 6+ or 7+ yr was found with tumours, indicating that the neoplasm caused premature death. The female:male sex ratio of rudd with tumours was higher than that of healthy rudd overall, suggesting that males are more susceptible to the neoplasm. Of the parasites observed, Posthodiplostomum cuticola was common, but rarely found in rudd with tumours. Sphaerospora sp.was also common, but not in sufficient densities for statistical inference, and Argulus sp. was present on 7 fish. No viral particles were found. Natural radiation levels in the vicinity of the lakes were low. The lakes sampled are in an agricultural catchment, and the waters were eutrophic. While rudd are tolerant, it is likely that environmental conditions were stressful at least some of the time, with possible consequences for the immunocompetence of the rudd. The aetiology of the carcinoma is still unknown, but the possibilities of carcinogenic compounds resulting from the high nutrient levels, or of carcinogenic algal toxins produced during algal blooms, should be examined.     

Rudd (Scardinius erythrophthalmus) introduced to the Iberian peninsula: feeding ecology in Lake Banyoles

The first data on the ecology of rudd (Scardinius erythrophthalmus) introduced to the Iberian peninsula are presented. The habitat and diet variation of rudd were studied in Lake Banyoles (Spain), an oligotrophic karstic lake dominated by exotic fish species. Rudd were strictly littoral and the diet was based on detritus and plant material. The most important animal prey were the cladocerans Daphnia longispinaand Scapholeberis rammneri, amphipods and several late stages of nematoceran dipterans. Rudd were more zooplanktivorous in spring and autumn and less in summer. There was also a size-dependent diet shift, from microcrustaceans to macroinvertebrates. The diet of rudd was also distinguished by the importance of plant material and various small neustonic invertebrates, particularly S. rammneriand late stages of nematocerans, showing a strong resource partitioning with other fish species. The degree of herbivory in Lake Banyoles was lower than usual.     

Carriage of potentially fish-pathogenic bacteria in Sparus aurata cultured in Mediterranean fish farms

A bacteriological survey of gilthead sea bream Sparus aurata from different fish farms and culture systems on the Spanish Mediterranean coast was conducted. Three different studies were performed. Study A included hatchery-reared larvae; Study B, periodic examination of randomly sampled growing fish; and Study C, growing fish sampled only during mortality/morbidity events. In Studies B and C, sea cages, earth ponds and indoor tanks were surveyed, and in both cases diseased (showing clinical signs) and non-diseased fish were included. In Study A, a shift from Vibrio spp. (30 d after hatching) to oxidative species (60 d after hatching) was detected, and no mortality events were registered. The percentage of fish yielding bacterial growth were similar in Studies B and C, reaching 57.4 and 61.3%, respectively. A statistically significant relationship between the bacterial carriage and the type of facility was only found in Study B, showing that fish from sea cages had a higher bacterial occurrence than fish from other facilities. A statistically significant relationship between bacterial carriage and signs of disease was found, although the pattern differed in each study. Thus, in Study B only 36.2% of fish yielding abundant bacterial growth were diseased, versus 68.0% in Study C. In total, 25.0% of the fish examined were diseased. Bacterial species composition was similar in asymptomatic and diseased fish, except for a group of V. ichthyoenteri-like isolates that occurred almost exclusively in asymptomatic fish. Dominant bacterial species were V. harveyi and V. splendidus, followed by V. ichthyoenteri-like isolates, Photobacterium damselae ssp. damselae and V. fisheri. Non-fermenters were less frequent but, among them, unidentified halophilic Cytophaga-Flavobacterium isolates and Pseudoalteromonas haloplanktis were the most abundant. An association of individual species with disease was not clear, which suggests the involvement of mixed infections.     

Effects of contrasting omnivorous fish on submerged macrophyte biomass in temperate lakes: a mesocosm experiment

1. Freshwater fish can affect aquatic vegetation directly by consuming macrophytes or indirectly by changing water quality. However, most fish in the temperate climate zone have an omnivorous diet. The impact of fish as aquatic herbivores in temperate climates therefore remains unclear and depends on their dietary flexibility. 2. We tested the effects of a flexible omnivore and an herbivore on aquatic vegetation by comparing the effects of rudd (Scardinius erythrophthalmus, the most herbivorous fish in temperate climates) with grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) in a mesocosm pond study. Exclosures distinguished herbivorous effects of fish on submerged macrophytes from indirect effects through changes in water quality, whereas stable isotope food‐web analysis provided information on fish diets. 3. We hypothesised that rudd, with its flexible diet and preference for animal food items, would only indirectly affect macrophytes, whereas grass carp, with its inflexible herbivorous diet, would directly affect macrophyte biomass. 4. Only grass carp significantly reduced macrophyte biomass through consumption. Rudd had no effect. Food‐web analysis indicated that rudd predominantly consumed animal prey, whereas grass carp included more plants in their diet, although they also consumed animal prey. Grass carp significantly affected water quality, resulting in lowered pH and increased N‐NH₄ concentrations, whereas more periphyton growth was observed in the presence of rudd. However, the indirect non‐herbivorous effects of both fish species had no effect on macrophyte biomass. 5. Both fish species should be considered as omnivores. Despite the fact that rudd is the most herbivorous fish in the western European climate zone, its effect on submerged macrophyte biomass is not substantial at natural densities and current temperatures.     

The population biology of two species of eyefluke, Diplostomum spathaceum and Tylodelphys clavata, in roach and rudd

Infections of roach ( Rutilis rutilus ), and rudd ( Scardinius erythrophthalmus ), by the eyeflukes Diplostomun spathaceum and Tylodelphys clavata were studied in a lake over a three year period. T. clavata first appeared at the beginning of the study. Roach were heavily infected by both parasites, whereas the rudd contained very few specimens of either species. A small number of roach-rudd hybrids were also examined, and appeared to have a susceptibility intermediate between the parental types.
Levels of T. clavata in roach increased throughout the study. This parasite had a life span of a year or less in the fish, and was continuously lost from the population. This loss was balanced by a minor infection period in April/May and a major one extending from August until January. The fish continued to accumulate infections until they reached a size of about 130 mm, but thereafter intensity fluctuated about the level reached.
D. spathaceum infections similarly increased throughout the period of study, and there was a suggestion of a wave of infection in the spring. This parasite has a much longer life span, and levels of infection increased with fish size, only falling in the largest, and therefore oldest, hosts.
The major changes in the parasite populations in the roach were reflected, to a lesser extent, in the rudd. Both species were over-dispersed, but the data from roach was too heterogeneous to fit to any theoretical models, whereas that from the rudd was found to conform to a Negative Binomial distribution.     

Implications of rudd (Scardinius erythrophthalmus) herbivory on submerged macrophytes in a shallow eutrophic lake

The role of rudd (Scardinius erythrophthalmus) herbivory was studied in Kirkkojärvi, a shallow and turbid basin in Lake Hiidenvesi, Finland. The submerged species dominating in the rudd diets were Potamogeton obtusifolius, Ranunculus circinatus, Sparganium emersum, bryophytes, and filamentous algae. Plant consumption estimated with bioenergetics modelling increased with fish age, being highest in late summer concomitant with the macrophyte biomass peak. Depending on the age structure, a rudd biomass of 20 kg ha^?1 consumes 18–23 kg of macrophytes ha^?1 a^?1, while a rudd biomass of 100 kg ha^?1 results in plant consumption of 92–115 kg ha^?1 a^?1. Although, rudd seemed to feed rather unselectively on suitable-sized and edible plants, some species abundant in the littoral, such as Myriophyllum verticillatum and pleustophytic Ceratophyllum demersum, were not found in rudd guts, indicating selective plant consumption. In Kirkkojärvi, selective grazing by rudd and increased turbidity and high nutrient levels partly caused by bottom dwelling cyprinid fish, may promote the inedible and pleustophytic macrophytes, which have increased in Kirkkojärvi during the past decades.

     

Species-specific responses of planktivorous fish to the introduction of a new piscivore: implications for prey fitness

1. Antipredator behaviour by the facultative planktivorous fish species roach (Rutilus rutilus), perch (Perca fluviatilis) and rudd (Scardinius erythrophthalmus) was studied in a multi‐year whole‐lake experiment to evaluate species‐specific behavioural and numerical responses to the stocking of pikeperch (Sander lucioperca), a predator with different foraging behaviour than the resident predators large perch (P. fluviatilis) and pike (Esox lucius). 2. Behavioural responses to pikeperch varied greatly during the night, ranging from reduced activity (roach and small perch) and a shift in habitat (roach), to no change in the habitat use and activity of rudd. The differing responses of the different planktivorous prey species highlight the potential variation in behavioural response to predation risk from species of similar vulnerability. 3. These differences had profound effects on fitness; the density of species that exhibited an antipredator response declined only slightly (roach) or even increased (small perch), whereas the density of the species that did not exhibit an antipredator response (rudd) decreased dramatically (by more than 80%). 4. The maladaptive behaviour of rudd can be explained by a ‘behavioural syndrome’, i.e. the interdependence of behaviours expressed in different contexts (feeding activity, antipredator) across different situations (different densities of predators). 5. Our study extends previous studies, that have typically been limited to more controlled situations, by illustrating the variability in intensity of phenotypic responses to predators, and the consequences for population density, in a large whole‐lake setting.     

Polymorphism of A, B and C loci of lactate dehydrogenase in European fish species of the Cyprinidae family

In 24 fish species of the Cyprinidae family, belonging to 21 genera, isoenzyme patterns of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were determined, which could be classified in the majority of cases into 3 main groups. Isoenzyme patterns in natural hybrids of roach and rudd, roach and bream, roach and bleak were also analysed. In bitterling, polymorphism was observed in B locus of LDH. In white bream polymorphism exists in the A locus. In bream, rudd, silver carp and barbel polymorphism was found in C loci. Isoenzyme patterns indicate that in each case the polymorphism is genetically controlled by two alleles at a single locus. The populations investigated were in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. No significant differences were found in the activity of liver LDH in various polymorphic types of C loci of bream and rudd.     

Nursery habitat characteristics of an invasive,omnivorous fish

Understanding habitat use and reproductive biology of invasive species is essential to predicting invasions, designing early detection programs, and developing management plans. The rudd (Scardinius erythrophthalmus; Linnaeus, 1758) is an omnivorous fish native to Europe and western Asia that has been translocated to several countries in western Europe, New Zealand, North America, and Africa. However, little is known about early life history of rudd, particularly in invaded ecosystems, limiting our ability to predict invasions and create early detection and control programs. The upper Niagara River has the most abundant population of rudd in North America and has been the focus of several ecological investigations. Our study identified critical nursery habitats by determining which nearshore habitat factors were most strongly associated with presence of age-0 rudd. We found that emergent vegetation was the most important habitat characteristic associated with the presence of age-0 rudd. When emergent vegetation was not present, rudd were more likely to be present at sites with abundant submerged aquatic vegetation. Additionally, the odds of rudd presence decreased as distance to the nearest wetland increased. These findings can be used to create habitat-driven predictive models of rudd invasion and guide early detection programs for rudd outside their native range.

     

A comparison of passage efficiency for native and exotic fish species over an artificial baffled ramp

This study used an experimental approach to compare the passage success of native and exotic fish species from the temperate Southern Hemisphere over an artificial baffled fish ramp designed for overcoming low-head (≤1.0 m) fish migration barriers. Passage efficiency was, on average, lower for the exotic species [koi carp (Cyprinus carpio), rudd (Scardinius erythrophthalmus) and rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)] compared to the native species [inanga (Galaxias maculatus), redfin bully (Gobiomorphus huttoni) and common bully (Gobiomorphus cotidianus)]. Nonetheless, there was considerable variation between individual species, with rainbow trout outperforming common bully and juvenile inanga, but koi carp and rudd failing to pass any of the ramps. The differences in predicted probability of passage success between the native and exotic fish species in this study were sufficient in some cases to indicate the potential for the baffled fish ramps to operate as a selective migration barrier. Nonetheless, further testing is required to validate these results across a broader range of conditions before deployment.     

Mitigation of lethal effects of Karlodinium veneficum and K. armiger on Sparus aurata: changes in haematocrit and plasma osmolality

Between January and April 2000, several experiments were performed during a Karlodinium spp. proliferation in Alfacs Bay (Ebro delta, NW Mediterranean) to determine the effects of these dinoflagellates on sea bream Sparus aurata cultivated in the area. Moribund fish showed an increase in plasma osmolality together with a decrease in the haematocrit percentage compared to control fish. The efficacy of copper sulphate, hydrogen peroxide, potassium permanganate and formalin against Karlodinium spp. was also tested. None of these treatments had mitigation effects when applied in the presence of fish; on the contrary, lethal effects appeared at lower Karlodinium spp. densities compared to fish control groups. When a lytic agent, such as copper sulphate, was used as a water pre-treatment, in the absence of fish, Karlodinium spp. toxicity was significantly reduced. Protocols for water pre-treatments were studied as a potential tool for combating Karlodinium spp. in fish farms.     

The effect of diet on aerobic bacterial flora associated with intestine of Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus L.)

In order to extend the knowledge on the possible effect of diet on the gastrointestinal microbial community of fish, Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus L.) were fed diets containing high (23.7%) and low (6.4%) levels of carbohydrate. The number of viable aerobic and facultative aerobic bacteria associated with the digestive tract were not influenced by dietary regimen. A wide range of bacterial species was isolated, and the predominant bacterial species of both rearing groups were identified as Staphylococcus. There were, however, some differences in bacterial composition between the rearing groups, as well as inter-individual variations. For example, atypical Aeromonas salmonicida were isolated from the small and large intestine of two fish fed low dietary carbohydrate, while Aer. caviae-like isolates were found in the small intestine of four fish fed high carbohydrate. Non-motile Aeromonas spp. were found in the rearing group fed high dietary carbohydrate, but at low frequencies. Dietary manipulation seemed to influence the species composition of carnobacteria, Gram-positive rods, oxidase and catalase-negative and fermentative metabolism. Carnobacterium piscicola-like bacteria were only found in the small intestine, while C. mobile-like and Carnobacterium spp. were isolated from the large intestine of fish fed high carbohydrate. On the contrary, C. divergens-like isolates were found associated with the small and large intestine of fish fed low dietary carbohydrate.     

Interspecific dominance amongst three species of coarse fish in Slapton Ley, Devon

Marked changes in the relative numbers of roach Rutilus rulilus (L.), rudd Scardinius erylhroplhalmus (L.) and perch Perca fIuviatilis L. , in Slapton Ley, Devon, have been observed over the period 1967–1978. Historically, the lake had been dominated by rudd and perch; significant numbers of roach were not thought to be present until 1967. From then onwards the roach population exhibited a considerable expansion, apparently replacing the rudd, which had virtually disappeared by 1974. In 1975 extensive mortalities of roach were caused by the pseudophyllidean cestode Ligula intestinalis L. During 1976 and 1977 larger number of rudd, belonging to the 1975 and 1976 year classes, were present, suggesting that the roach mortalities might be giving the rudd a chance to recover. However, very few rudd were present during 1978, possibly because lower incidences of ligulosis during 1976–1978 had allowed the roach to recover from the main outbreak of the disease in 1975, and to replace the rudd for the second time. Evidence from trap catches indicated that the perch population had shown a consistent decline between 1970 and 1977. The major phase of this decrease occurred between 1971 and 1973, when the roach population was increasing the most rapidly. Comparisons were made with changes in fish populations in other localities. The major reason for the changes observed was thought to be a competitive relationship between the plankton feeding younger stages, with roach being the dominant species, although other factors may also have been involved.     

Is Aeromonas hydrophila the dominant motile Aeromonas species that causes disease outbreaks in aquaculture production in the Zhejiang Province of China?

The significance of Aeromonas hydrophila in association with disease outbreaks in aquaculture production in the Zhejiang province of China was investigated. Bacteriological examination of moribund fish and crabs resulted in 95 bacterial isolates: 88 bacterial isolates from fish and 7 isolates from crabs. PCR and traditional biochemical methods were used for identification of A. hydrophila. Out of 69 motile aeromonads, 35 isolates were identified as A. hydrophila by biochemical tests. However, 6 of those were not identified as A. hydrophila by a species specific PCR method. Serotyping revealed 2 dominant serotypes (O9 and O97) among A. hydrophila isolates. The data presented show that approximately 42% of the motile aeromonads isolated from disease outbreaks among various fish species were A. hydrophila. It is noteworthy that A. hydrophila accounted for more than 50% of the isolated aeromonands isolated from crucian carp Carassius carassius and Wuchang bream Megalobrama amblycephala with haemorrhagic septicaemia. Although this species was the most frequently isolated organism from internal organs of diseased fish and crabs in the present study, other motile Aeromonas spp. were also found. The PCR assay was useful in preventing misidentification of A. hydrophila, which may occur when only phenotypic tests are employed.     

Cold stress-induced changes in the aerobic heterotrophic gastrointestinal tract bacterial flora of red hybrid tilapia

Fifteen juvenile red hybrid tilapia Oreochromis mossambicus × O. macrochir averaging 50 g body weight were cold-stressed by immersion in 18° C sea water; control fish ( n = 15) were kept at the acclimation temperature of 26° C. Three fish from each group were killed 0, 24, 48 and 72 h after the start of the experiment. Gastrointestinal tracts were removed and dissected into the stomach, anterior gut and posterior gut regions. Aerobic heterotrophic bacteria were identified and enumerated relative to temperature, exposure time and gastrointestinal tract region. Gram negative genera included Alcaligenes, Flavobacterium, Photobacterium, Pseudomonas and Vibrio ; the latter three were predominant. Mean bacterial numbers and taxonomic composition of the microflora varied significantly ( P <0·05) in response to the three test variables. There were greater mean total bacterial numbers at 18 than at 26° C, due primarily to proliferation of Vibrio spp. Mean bacterial numbers after 24 h were greater than those at both the earlier and later sampling periods. Mean bacterial numbers in the stomach were less than those in the anterior and posterior gut, which were not significantly different. The relative abundance of Vibrio spp. was negatively correlated with that of Flavobacterium , which may have reflected competition between pathogenic and nonpathogenic species. Such stress-induced changes in the bacterial microflora may contribute to the onset of disease because several species of Vibrio are known primary or opportunistic fish pathogens.     

First Finding of Ornithodiplostomum scardinii (Schulman, 1952) Sudarikov et Kurotschkin, 1968 (Trematoda,Diplostomidae) in Rybinsk Reservoir

During a parasitological survey of nonnative fish species—rudd Scardinius erythrophthalmus—in the Rybinsk Reservoir, the metacercariae Ornithodiplostomum scardinii were found in its brain. This is the first find of this helminth in the Upper Volga basin. The rudd was infected with the prevalence 31.3%, with an intensity of 1–12 parasites per fish. Data on the current distribution of the trematode O. scardinii in the Volga River basin are provided.     

A search for introgressive hybridization in the rudd, Scardinius erythrophthalmus (L.), and the roach, Rutilus rutilus (L.)

Rudd, roach and their hybrids from an interbreeding population at Norwich were examined electrophoretically for seven enzymes; an examination of pharyngeal teeth supplemented the data. The rudd were compared to rudd from Lake Trawsfynydd, Wales, a lake free from roach. No differences were observed between the rudd from the two localities and no evidence was found of introgression within the fish from Norwich.     

Effects of magnetic fields on fyke net performance

The effects of magnetic fields generated by ferritic magnets and mounted in entrances to fyke nets were studied in 1999–2002. With respect to all fish species trapped (perch, pike, roach, rudd, bleak, bream, ruffe) except eel, the catch potential of magnet‐rigged fyke nets was found to be significantly higher (almost 50% on average) when compared with controls. Differences in magnet placement (N or S poles inside the traps) proved to have no significant importance on the number of fish that chose to enter the fyke nets. Specific behavioural mechanisms in adult fish towards magnetic fields as well as application of fishing gear magnet rigging in fisheries practice in inland waters are discussed.     

Restoration by biomanipulation in a small hypertrophic lake: first-year results

Biomanipulation was carried out in order to improve the water quality of the small hypertrophic Lake Zwemlust (1.5 ha; mean depth 1.5 m). In March 1987 the lake was drained to facilitate the elimination of fish. Fish populations were dominated by planktivorous and benthivorous species (total stock c. 1500 kg) and were collected by seine- and electro-fishing. The lake was subsequently re-stocked with 1500 northern pike fingerlings (Esox lucius L.) and a low density of adult rudd (Scardinius erythrophthalmus). The offspring of the rudd served as food for the predator pike. Stacks of Salix twigs, roots of Nuphar lutea and plantlets of Chara globularis were brought in as refuge and spawning grounds for the pike, as well as shelter for the zooplankton.The impact of this biomanipulation on the light penetration, phytoplankton density, macrophytes, zooplankton and fish communities and on nutrient concentrations was monitored from March 1987 onwards. This paper presents the results in the first year after biomanipulation.The abundance of phytoplankton in the first summer (1987) after this biomanipulation was very low, and consequently accompanied by increase of Secchi-disc transparency and drastic decline of chlorophyll a concentration.The submerged vegetation remained scarce, with only 5 % of the bottom covered by macrophytes at the end of the season.Zooplankters became more abundant and there was a shift from rotifers to cladocerans, comprised mainly of Daphnia and Bosmina species, the former including at least 3 species.The offspring of the stocked rudd was present in the lake from the end of August 1987. Only 19% of the stocked pike survived the first year.Bioassays and experiments with zooplankton community grazing showed that the grazing pressure imposed by the zooplankton community was able to keep chlorophyll a concentrations and algal abundance to low levels, even in the presence of very high concentrations of inorganic N and P. The total nutrient level increased after biomanipulation, probably due to increased release from the sediment by bioturbation, the biomass of chironomids being high.At the end of 1987 Lake Zwemlust was still in an unstable stage. A new fish population dominated by piscivores, intended to control the planktivorous and benthivorous fish, and the submerged macrophytes did not yet stabilize.