Factors influencing the spawning migration of female anadromous brown trout

Radio telemetry was employed to study movements of adult female anadromous brown trout Salmo trutta (sea trout) during upstream spawning migration and following spawning in a stream with tributaries. Sea trout were monitored by manual tracking and by automatic listening stations. The latter suggested that initiation of upstream migration was positively correlated with stream discharge. Individual sea trout performed repeated upstream migration 'initiations'(visits) to areas where they were detected by the automatic listening stations. The first and subsequent upstream migration 'initiations' occurred under conditions of similar water temperature and stream discharge. Manual tracking indicated that in the pre‐spawning state, the distance migrated over 3 days was positively correlated with stream discharge and water temperature, whereas in the post‐spawning state, the total distance migrated was not correlated with any of these two environmental variables.     

Hydrological Status of the spawning ground of Acipenser sinensis underneath the Gezhouba Dam and its relationship with the spawning runs

The spawning runs of Chinese Sturgeon (CS; Acipenser sinensis) were observed 37 times below Gezhouba Dam of Yangtze River between 1983 and 2004. Five hydrological factors (water temperature, water level, flow discharge, silt content and current velocity) were monitored on a daily basis at the spawning ground between October and November for 22 consecutive years (1983–2004). The effect of current velocity on the spawning ground at the bottom layer of the river, where CS was spawning for four years, was measured (1996–1999). The authors of this study analyzed the relationship between the five hydrological factors and the respective spawning runs. Twenty-two years of continuous observations indicated that the daily mean values of all the five hydrological factors fluctuated within a certain range when CS was spawning. It was concluded that the optimal values for the hydrological factors during the spawning runs are 18.0–20.0°C for temperature, 14100 m³/s for discharge volume, 42.0–45.0 m for water level above the sea level, and 0.2–0.3 kg/m³ for silt content in the water, wherein the current velocity above the bottom layer to stimulate the fish to spawn should be between 1.0–1.7 m/s. The optimal water temperature might provide an essential precondition for other factors to trigger spawning. As water temperature reaches the optimal values and most of the other parameters are at the brink of deviation from their optimal range of values (water level, current velocity and silt content in the water), CS would begin to spawn. By 2009, when the Yangtze Three Gorges Project, which is located 45 km upstream of the Gezhouba Dam, is completed and begins to operate normally, changes in the downstream water temperature are expected to occur, which may have a negative effect on the development of gonad and the stimulation of spawning of CS; however, the anticipated decrease of the silt content in the water may be considered favorable for the performance of the spawning site.     

Hydrological Status of the spawning ground of Acipenser sinensis underneath the Gezhouba Dam and its relationship with the spawning runs

The spawning runs of Chinese Sturgeon (CS; Acipenser sinensis) were observed 37 times below Gezhouba Dam of Yangtze River between 1983 and 2004. Five hydrological factors (water temperature, water level, flow discharge, silt content and current velocity) were monitored on a daily basis at the spawning ground between October and November for 22 consecutive years (1983–2004). The effect of current velocity on the spawning ground at the bottom layer of the river, where CS was spawning for four years, was measured (1996–1999). The authors of this study analyzed the relationship between the five hydrological factors and the respective spawning runs. Twenty-two years of continuous observations indicated that the daily mean values of all the five hydrological factors fluctuated within a certain range when CS was spawning. It was concluded that the optimal values for the hydrological factors during the spawning runs are 18.0–20.0°C for temperature, 14100 m³/s for discharge volume, 42.0–45.0 m for water level above the sea level, and 0.2–0.3 kg/m³ for silt content in the water, wherein the current velocity above the bottom layer to stimulate the fish to spawn should be between 1.0–1.7 m/s. The optimal water temperature might provide an essential precondition for other factors to trigger spawning. As water temperature reaches the optimal values and most of the other parameters are at the brink of deviation from their optimal range of values (water level, current velocity and silt content in the water), CS would begin to spawn. By 2009, when the Yangtze Three Gorges Project, which is located 45 km upstream of the Gezhouba Dam, is completed and begins to operate normally, changes in the downstream water temperature are expected to occur, which may have a negative effect on the development of gonad and the stimulation of spawning of CS; however, the anticipated decrease of the silt content in the water may be considered favorable for the performance of the spawning site.     

Molecular dynamics simulation of the size-dependent morphological stability of cubic shape silver nanoparticles

The morphological stability of sharp-edged silver nanoparticles is examined by the classical molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. The crystalline structure and the perfect fcc atom packing of a series of silver nanocubes (AgNC) of different sizes varying from 63 up to 1099 atoms are compared against quasi-spherical nanoparticles of the same sizes at temperature 303 K. Our MD simulations demonstrate that starting from the preformed perfect crystalline structures the cubic shape is preserved for AgNCs composed of 365–1099 atoms. Surprisingly, the rapid loss of the cubic shape morphology and transformation into the non-fcc-structure are found for smaller AgNCs composed of less than ~256 atoms. No such loss of the preformed crystalline structure is seen for quasi-spherical nanoparticles composed of 38–1007 atoms. The analysis of the temperature dependence and the binding energy of outermost Ag surface atoms suggests that the loss of the perfect cubic shape, rounding and smoothing of sharp edges and corners are driven by the tendency towards the increase in their coordination number. In addition, we revealed that AgNC₁₀₉₉ partially loses its sharp edges and corners in the aqueous environment; however, the polymer coating with poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) was able to preserve the well-defined cubic morphology. Finally, these results help improve the understanding of the role of surface capping agents in solution phase synthesis of Ag nanocubes.     

葛洲坝下游中华鲟产卵场的水文状况及其与繁殖活动的关系

国家一级保护动物中华鲟为江海溯河产卵的洄游性鱼类,1981年即葛洲坝截流前,其产卵场分布在金沙江下游和长江上游的约600km江段。葛洲坝水电工程阻断了其产卵洄游通道,调查发现自1982年以来,中华鲟在葛洲坝下游江段的狭小范围成功产卵。对中华鲟繁殖季节葛洲坝下中华鲟产卵场的水温、流速、流量、含沙量和水位等水文数据进行了分析,并对其与中华鲟产卵的关系进行了探讨。结果表明,葛洲坝截流后,宜昌中华鲟产卵场江段10～11月份的月平均流速及11月份的月平均含沙量发生明显变化（P〈0．001）,而月平均水位、流量及水温的变化不明显。多年观察结果显示,中华鲟产卵时,5种水文因子的参数均有一定的变动范围。1983～2004年期问,37次中华鲟产卵时的日平均水温范围为16．10～20．60℃,平均为18．63℃;日平均水位范围为40．69～47．32m（黄海高程）,平均为43．91m;日平均流量范围为7170～26000m^3／s,平均为13908m^3／s;1983～2000年31次中华鲟产卵时的日平均含沙量范围为0．10～1．32kg／m。,平均为0．46kg／m。;日平均流速为0．81～1．98m／s,平均为1．30m／s。分析得到较适宜中华鲟产卵的水温是18．0～20．0℃,流量是14100m^3／s,水位是42．0～45．0m,含沙量是0．2～0．3kg／m^3,底层流速是1．0～1．7m／s。水温是中华鲟产卵的必备条件,水温适宜的情况下,水位、流速和含沙量出现逐渐从高位下降的趋势、而且各水文要素值均达到其适宜范围时,中华鲟即产卵繁殖。三峡工程运行后,下游江段水温的变化可能会对中华鲟的性腺发育和产卵繁殖产生不利影响,而江水含沙量下降对其产卵繁殖较有利。     

The resorption of zinc from scales of sea trout (Salmo trutta) during the upstream spawning migration

SUMMARY. The concentration of zinc in the scales of unripe, prespawning, estuarine sea trout was compared to that in the scales of sea trout about to spawn in fresh water. Zinc concentrations in scales from estuarine sea trout were in agreement with a published concentration factor but those from fresh water were not — a 43–52% reduction in the zinc concentration of the scales was observed. This withdrawal of trace metals from scales was also likely for iron but these data were less conclusive. This reclamation of trace metals from scales may represent the withdrawal of stored nutrients from body reserves to be used in gonad development and maturation.     

Halastatic demineralization in the vertebrae of Atlantic salmon, during their spawning migration

There was a significant decrease ( c . 10%) in the mineralization of the vertebrae, determined by analysis of quantitative microradiographs, of both sexes of Atlantic salmon Salmo salar during their ascending spawning migration. The decrease was hypothesized to be the result of halastatic demineralization, i.e. the removal of mineral substance with no degradation of the organic matrix of the bone.     

Plasma insulin levels during the spawning migration of the pink salmon, Oncorhynchus gorbuscha

Plasma insulin concentration was measured by homologous radioimmunoassay in male and female pink salmon. Oncorhynchus gorbuscha , during spawning migration in the Fraser and Thompson Rivers, British Columbia. Although the fish ceased feeding prior to entering fresh water, plasma levels of insulin remained stable (males) or even elevated (females) during the final stages of oogenesis and spermatogenesis, decreasing thereafter. Mean concentrations ranged from 0–69 to 1.24 ng ml⁻¹ in males and from 0.33 to 0.88 ng ml⁻¹ in females. At all stages in the anadromous migration where a significant difference in plasma insulin levels between the sexes was observed, males had higher concentrations than females.     

The influence of size-dependent life-history traits on the structure and dynamics of populations and communities

Individual organisms often show pronounced changes in body size throughout life with concomitant changes in ecological performance. We synthesize recent insight into the relationship between size dependence in individual life history and population dynamics. Most studies have focused on size‐dependent life‐history traits and population size‐structure in the highest trophic level, which generally leads to population cycles with a period equal to the juvenile delay. These cycles are driven by differences in competitiveness of differently sized individuals. In multi‐trophic systems, size dependence in life‐history traits at lower trophic levels may have consequences for both the dynamics and structure of communities, as size‐selective predation may lead to the occurrence of emergent Allee effects and the stabilization of predator–prey cycles. These consequences are linked to that individual development is density dependent. We conjecture that especially this population feedback on individual development may lead to new theoretical insight compared to theory based on unstructured or age‐dependent models. Density‐dependent individual development may also cause individuals to realize radically different life histories, dependent on the state and dynamics of the population during their life and may therefore have consequences for individual behaviour or the evolution of life‐history traits as well.     

Evolutionary relationships of Podarcis lizards from Sicily and the Maltese Islands

The electrophoretic variation at 26 presumptive gene loci was investigated in populations of the closely related species Podarcis sicula, P. wagleriana, P. raffonei, and P. filfolensis. Low values of proportion of polymorphic loci (P) and mean observed heterozygosity (H_o) were found in P. sicula (P= 0.10; H_o= 0.016), P. wagleriana (P= 0.13; H_o= 0.029), and P. raffonei (P= 0.08; H_o= 0.017), while higher levels of genetic variability were observed in P. filfolensis (P= 0.17; H_o= 0.054). In the latter species, a multiple regression analysis was carried out in order to analyse the geographic correlates of P and H_o. The results of this analysis were consistent with the predictions of the time-divergence theory of variation, supporting the conclusion that directional selection is the main force eroding genetic variation on small islands. Intraspecific values of Nei 's (1972) standard genetic distance were relatively low in P. sicula (average D= 0.024), P. wagleriana (average D= 0.004), and P. filfolensis (average D= 0.012), while higher in P. raffonei (D= 0.040). The lizards from Pantellena Island, which were considered by BISCHOFF (1986) to be very similar to P. filfolensis from Malta on the basis of a superficial analysis of the coloration pattern, were shown to actually belong to P. sicula. This confirms that the range of P. filfolensis only includes the Maltese Archipelago, Linosa Island, and the islet of Lampione. Surprisingly, the samples of P. filfolensis from the Pelagie Islands (Linosa and Lampione) were very similar to those from the Maltese Archipelago (average D= 0.016). This could be explained by rafting or anthropogenic introduction of P. filfolensis on Linosa and Lampione. Podarcis wagleriana and P. raffonei were genetically related (average D= 0.152), confirming the results of previous electrophoretic investigations. Podarcis filfolensis, though showing some morphological affinity with P. wagleriana, was genetically highly differentiated from this latter species (average D= 0.526), while being more similar to P. sicula (average D= 0.306). This indicates a close relationship between P. sicula and P. filfolensis, suggesting that P. sicula and P. filfolensis probably diverged from a common ancestor, and that the apparent similarity between P. filfolensis and P. wagleriana could be merely due to morphological convergence.     

A new whale barnacle from the early Pleistocene of Italy suggests an ancient right whale breeding ground in the Mediterranean

The fragmentary fossil history of whale barnacles (Cirripedia: Coronulidae) is mainly constituted by remains of Coronula spp. in Plio-Pleistocene deposits found along extant humpback whale migration routes, and especially in occurrence of breeding areas. Here we report the presence of a single compartment of Cetopirus along with remains of Coronula bifida in Lower Pleistocene open shelf deposits of Salento (South Italy). This is the first occurrence of the genus Cetopirus prior to the Late Glacial period (ca. 15–10 ky before Present), and the specimen here studied is designated as the holotype of the new fossil species Cetopirus fragilis. Since Cetopirus is currently found exclusively inhabiting the skin of the right whales (Eubalaena spp.), the fossil material here studied suggests the persistence of Balaenidae in the Mediterranean Basin during the Early Pleistocene and supports the existence of a baleen whale migratory route active between the central Mediterranean and the North Atlantic during the Plio-Pleistocene.     

Clues to the location of the spawning area and larval migration characteristics of Anguilla mossambica as inferred from otolith microstructural analyses

The spawning area location and the larval migration characteristics of Anguilla mossambica were studied through the examination of early life-history traits (ELHT) inferred from otolith microstructural analyses of 122 glass A. mossambica collected along the eastern coast of Madagascar, in the south-western Indian Ocean. Backcalculated hatching dates of leptocephali that recruited between November 2005 and February 2006 suggested that spawning was continuous from June to November 2005, although individual migration duration periods were variable. Larvae that exhibited the highest daily otolith growth rates had the shortest leptocephalus durations and total length ( L _T) at recruitment, possibly because they reached the competence to metamorphose more rapidly and to recruit to fresh waters. Migration durations and L _T increased from north to south on the Malagasy eastern coast, supporting earlier suggestions that A. mossambica spawns north-east of Madagascar, west of the Mascarene Ridge in the Indian Ocean.     

三峡蓄水以来葛洲坝下中华鲟产卵场河床质特征变化

中华鲟是国家一级保护水生动物,是产底层产粘性卵鱼类。河床质构成了中华鲟受精卵和早期胚胎发育的物理环境,其变化可能直接影响中华鲟自然繁殖的规模和效果。基于水声学和水下视频技术对葛洲坝下现存唯一已知中华鲟自然产卵场的河床质特征进行了连续观测,对三峡水库蓄水以来中华鲟自然产卵场的河床质特征变化进行了研究。水声学分析结果显示,2004-2012年间,中华鲟产卵场区域内河床硬度未有明显变化,但粗糙度显著增加 (P < 0.05)。对产卵位点的河床质特征分析表明,下产卵区的硬度增加(2012年显著高于2008和2004年 (P < 0.05)),上产卵区硬度呈明显下降趋势(2004年显著高于2008和2012年(P < 0.05));上产卵区的河床粗糙度均呈不显著上升趋势(P > 0.05);下产卵场区的河床粗糙度呈显著上升趋势(P < 0.05)。水下视频观测结果显示,三峡蓄水导致的水体含沙量明显减少,对河床的冲刷日益明显,表现在产卵场江段沉积细砂和粗砂区域面积显著减少,河床卵石缝隙充塞度明显下降 (P < 0.05)。下产卵区在2007-2012年视频观察过程中发现河床卵石缝隙充分暴露,几乎没有任何细砂或粗砂填充,与上产卵区河床卵石缝隙充塞度特征明显不同。长期观测表明,2004-2012年期间中华鲟自然产卵位点发生了明显的改变,2004-2007年均发生在下产卵区,而2008-2012年均发生在上产卵区,自然繁殖规模和效果也明显下降。综合分析显示,中华鲟产卵场河床质特征的变化可能是导致中华鲟自然产卵位点的改变和迁移的原因,进而影响中华鲟自然产卵场的繁殖适合度,影响中华鲟自然繁殖的规模和效果。对三峡蓄水清水下泄的生态影响评估以及中华鲟自然产卵场的改良或修复有重要借鉴意义。     

Selection of sites for egg deposition and spawning dynamics in the waccamaw darter

Synopsis We provided 93 experimental spawning covers for the waccamaw darter. We grouped the covers (3 sizes of slate and one of concave tile) in three arrangements at six Lake Waccamaw locations to separate the variables of water depth, distance from shore, cover density and cover type. Tag returns of marked males suggest low fidelity for nest sites. Egg production under the 3 different sizes of slate was not significantly different. Egg production under the tile was significantly less than that under the slates. Egg production was significantly higher off the undeveloped southeastern shore in 2 m of water and lowest at the shallowest location with the highest experimental cover density. The number of eggs in nest is positively correlated with male size. We conclude that medium size slate covers placed in a linear arrangement in 2 m of water on a mixed sand bottom result in the highest egg production for the waccamaw darter.     

Digestive enzyme activity of the Japanese grenadier anchovy Coilia nasus during spawning migration: influence of the migration distance and the water temperature

In this study, we investigated the activity levels of two major digestive enzymes (pepsin and lipase) in the commercially important Japanese grenadier anchovy Coilia nasus during its upstream migration to analyse the digestive physiological responses to starvation and to analyse the influence of the water temperature on enzyme activity. Water temperature had a significant effect on pepsin activity, while long-term starvation resulted in a significant decrease in pepsin activity. As starvation continued, however, a slight increase in pepsin activity between the Wuhu (440 river km) and Anqing (620 river km) regions may indicate that C. nasus had refeeding behaviour due to its large expenditure of energy reserves. In contrast, lipase activity was not significantly affected by the water temperature but the effect of fasting increased as much as 13% of lipase activity from the Chongming region (20 river km) to Anqing region, suggesting that the stored lipids of grenadier anchovy were mobilised to meet energy requirements of upstream migration activity and gonad development. Lipid mobilisation activated lipoprotein lipase (LPL; proteins with lipase activity) to hydrolyse triacylglycerides (TAG), which is the first step of lipid assimilation and obtained energy from fatty acids under fasting conditions. Therefore, the increased lipase activity is attributed mainly to the lipase that is involved in endogenous lipid hydrolysis. Grenadier anchovy appears to adapt to long-term starvation during migration and the increased lipase activity may indicate a crucial effect on lipid metabolism. This study demonstrated that distinct alterations occur in pepsin and lipase activities during the spawning migration of grenadier anchovy due to exogenous nutrition and endogenous metabolism. Furthermore, it provides a basis for further research on the digestive physiology and energy metabolism in this species.     

A comparison of the spawning migration, genetic and biological parameters of stellate sturgeon from the Volga population in 1985 and 1996

The dynamics of changes in several genetic and biological parameters of the Volga stellate sturgeon during the spawning runs of 1985 and 1996 were studied by electrophoresis and morphometry and compared. The dynamics of changes in genetic diversity of the running spawners is repeated in many respects over 11 years, suggesting that the intrapopulation diversity is maintained in time. The among-sample diversity of late spring stellate sturgeon, whose spawners are used in hatchery, decreased twofold. Along with decreases in body length and weight and mean age, the females displayed increased heterozygosities and genotype diversity index at LDH3 and PGM1 loci, while the males displayed a statistically significant decrease in body length. During the period in question, the heterozygosity at EST2 locus significantly decreased. The changes observed are connected with the artificial reproduction and non-rational fishing. Preservation of genetic diversity in stellate sturgeon requires that the specific features of the structure and ecology of the species reporduced are taken into account.