ACTH-releasing activity of urotensin I and ovine CRF: interactions with arginine vasotocin, isotocin and arginine vasopressin

The release of ACTH from superfused dispersed goldfish anterior pituitary cells was examined to determine if the neurohypophyseal peptides arginine vasotocin (AVT), isotocin (IST) or arginine vasopressin (AVP) potentiate the ACTH-releasing activities of the structurally homologous peptides urotensin I (UI) or ovine corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF). The ACTH-releasing activities of the neurohypophyseal peptides and UI or CRF were additive. AVT, IST or AVP failed to potentiate the ACTH-releasing activity of UI or CRF. These results suggest that in teleost fishes neurohypophyseal peptides have intrinsic ACTH-releasing activity but, unlike mammals, do not potentiate the release of ACTH evoked by CRF, or by the piscian CRF-like peptide, UI.     

Annual reproductive cycle and growth of the pen shell Atrina maura (Pterioidea: Pinnidae) on sand-bottom culture in the Ensenada Pabellones lagoon system,Gulf of California,Mexico

Abstract

The reproductive cycle and growth of the pen shell, Atrina maura, which was cultured in the Ensenada Pabellones lagoon system, Gulf of California, from March 2008 to March 2009, is described in this article. Histological techniques and the condition index were used to determine its reproductive condition. The sex ratio was 0.57 females:1.72 males within the population studied. There were no differences (χ², p < 0.05) in shell length (SL) between males and females. The mean length of the sampled specimens ranged between 50.99 ± 4.86 mm and 218.16 ± 8.87 mm. The histological results confirmed that A. maura is a gonochoristic organism that presents synchronic development of the gonads. The maturity and spawning phases were observed throughout the study period, with the exception of March and May 2008. The frequency of the gonad development stages obtained per month suggests that this species reproduced two times annually, with one important reproductive period from June to September, a minor reproductive period from November to February, and two resting periods as follows: July to August and January to February 2009.     

Age and growth of round goby Neogobius melanostomus associated with depth and habitat in the western basin of Lake Erie

Round goby Neogobius melanostomus were examined from the Bass Islands area in the western basin of Lake Erie, U.S.A., to determine age and growth correlations. A total of 188 specimens were collected and examined during summer 2011 with 90 aged using scale analysis. Fish were grouped by sex, depth of habitat and habitat type (anthropogenically modified shallows, natural shallows and open lake deep water). Fish ranged from 17 to 117 mm total length (L_T) and 0+ to 3+ years. Males dominated the population (1·94:1) and backcalculated age showed that both sexes grew exponentially, with male growth rate increasing faster than female. Males were significantly larger than females in L_T and mass (both P < 0·001). The relative mass index (W_r) was low for the sampled population (mean ± s.d . = 32·00 ± 26·87 g), implying that the health of the Bass Island area population is very poor when compared with the species throughout its range. This could be due to a lack of food resources related to population size or that the fish is not optimally utilizing the available food resources. In contradiction to these findings, regression slope coefficient (b), calculated using Fulton's condition factor (K) (mean ± s.d . =1·50 ± 0·20), was very low for each habitat, implying a healthy population throughout. This seemingly opposite effect may be due to more individuals per unit area in shallow waters, which would cause increased competition for resources. Poor condition may indicate that the Lake Erie population has reached saturation or may reflect indirect fitness costs associated with increasing anoxic or hypoxic hypolimnion conditions.     

Dispersal strategies, secondary range expansion and invasion genetics of the nonindigenous round goby, Neogobius melanostomus, in Great Lakes tributaries

Dispersal strategies are important mechanisms underlying the spatial distribution and colonizing ability of all mobile species. In the current study, we use highly polymorphic microsatellite markers to evaluate local dispersal and colonization dynamics of the round goby (Neogobius melanostomus), an aquatic invader expanding its range from lake to river environments in its introduced North American range. Genetic structure, genotype assignment and genetic diversity were compared among 1262 round gobies from 20 river and four lake sites in three Great Lakes tributaries. Our results indicate that a combination of short-distance diffusion and long-distance dispersal, collectively referred to as 'stratified dispersal', is facilitating river colonization. Colonization proceeded upstream yearly (approximately 500 m/year; 2005-2009) in one of two temporal replicates while genetic structure was temporally stable. Contiguous dispersal from the lake was observed in all three rivers with a substantial portion of river fish (7.3%) identified as migrants. Genotype assignment indicated a separate introduction occurred upstream of the invasion front in one river. Genetic diversity was similar and relatively high among lake and recently colonized river populations, indicating that founder effects are mitigated through a dual-dispersal strategy. The remarkable success of round goby as an aquatic invader stresses the need for better diffusion models of secondary range expansion for presumably sessile invasive species.     

Short-day experience is not a prerequisite for the termination of photorefractoriness in the reproductive cycle of baya weaver,Ploceus philippinus

In most photoperiodic avian forms (irrespective of temperate or tropical distribution) including the baya weaver,Ploceus philippinus, seasonal reproduction comes to an end due to the development of a photoperiodically controlled photorefractory phase when birds cease to respond to the stimulatory effect of long days. In the present paper photoperiodic control of the termination of photorefractory phase has been examined by studying the effect of short-day exposure lasting 4–6 months on long-day response of birds. Results indicate that unlike in other photoperiodic birds short-day exposure of winter is not a prerequisite for the termination of photorefractory phase in the reproductive cycle of baya weaver. Artificial long days on the other hand hasten the termination of this phase. Refractory phase in baya weaver, therefore, unlike that in temperate forms, is a temporary state resulting most likely from a sequel of physiological events triggered by long days of spring/summer which temporarily mask the photostimulatory response. Spontaneous termination of photorefractoriness in birds of tropical habitats may have a selective value imparting to the reproductive cycle the necessary elasticity for adaptation to diverse ecological conditions.     

Annual cycle of gametogenesis and spawning in a tropical zoanthid,Protopalythoa sp.

Gametogenesis and spawning have been studied since 1986 in a population of Protopalythoa sp. (Anthozoa, Zoanthidea) from Orpheus Island, Great Barrier Reef. Fertile zooids were gonochoric or hermaphroditic with oocytes and sperm vesicles intermingled in the same mesentery; colonies were single sex or mixed. Oocytes arose in macrocnemes below the actinopharynx and were first observed in July. Their mean diameter increased from < 50 µm to 160–240 µm by November, by which time they contained zooxanthellae. Female zooids each produced 800–2400 ova. No testicular vesicles were visible before October but spermatozoa were present in November and December. Spawning in each of three years occurred in November (4th to 6th nights after full moon) simultaneously with mass spawning of scleractinian corals. The buoyant eggs (along with sperm in the hermaphroditic zooids) were released in bundles. Some large oocytes and mature sperm were still present in December.