Turning radius of yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares) in unsteady swimming manoeuvres

The specific turning radius of yellowfin tuna Thunnus albacares Cuvier is large relative to that of other fish (0.47 total body length ± 0.18, mean ± 2 s.e .). We argue that specializations for efficient steady swimming compromise performance in transient turning manoeuvres.     

Water temperature, light intensity and zooplankton density and the feeding activity of juvenile brook charr (Salvelinus fontinalis)

SUMMARY 1. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of zooplankton biomass (as a measure of density), fish biomass, light intensity and water temperature on the attack rate and swimming characteristics (i.e. swimming speed and angle of turn) of juvenile (1+) brook charr (Salvelinus fontinalis) in field enclosures. We used a portable underwater camera system in a series of pelagic enclosures to quantify the feeding behaviour of brook charr over a gradient of natural conditions. 2. In simple linear or non‐linear regression models we found (i) that attack rate and angle of turn were positively related to water temperature, (ii) that attack rate and swimming speed were positively related to zooplankton biomass and light intensity and (iii) that attack rate was positively related to swimming speed. In multiple regression models, fish biomass, light intensity and variance of the angle of turn accounted for 87% of the variation in attack rate. Light intensity and water temperature accounted for 86% of the variation in swimming speed. Fish gut fullness and attack rate accounted for 83% of the variation in the variance of the angle of turn executed by fish. 3. The increase in the number of attacks as zooplankton biomass increases conforms to the general positive functional response observed in other fish species. Our results also support the hypothesis that swimming speed increases with prey biomass. We did not observe a plateau in attack rate as zooplankton biomass increased. As our experiments were performed under natural biotic and abiotic conditions, factors other than zooplankton biomass might affect or limit this response, such as water temperature and light intensity. 4. Because zooplankton biomass was correlated with water temperature and light intensity, it was not possible to evaluate the independent contribution of these factors on the attack rate and swimming characteristics (swimming speeds and angle of turn) of brook charr. However, this study highlighted the impact of these factors on the feeding behaviour of juvenile brook charr when feeding in the pelagic habitat under natural conditions, and their importance in future models of optimal foraging and fish habitat quality.     

Genetic divergence in morphology-performance mapping between Misty Lake and inlet stickleback

Different environments should select for different aspects of organismal performance, which should lead to correlated divergence in morphological traits that influence performance. The result should be genetic divergence in aspects of performance, morphology and associations ('maps') between morphology and performance. Testing this hypothesis requires quantifying performance and morphology in multiple populations after controlling for environmental differences, but this is rarely attempted. We used a common-garden experiment to examine morphology and several aspects of swimming performance within and between the lake and inlet populations of threespine stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus) from the Misty system, Vancouver Island, Canada. Controlling for body size, lake stickleback had shallower bodies, larger caudal fins and smaller pelvic girdles. With or without morphological covariates, lake stickleback showed greater performance in both sustained and burst swimming. In contrast, inlet stickleback showed greater manoeuverability than did lake stickleback in some analyses. Morphology-performance relationships were decoupled when considering variation within vs. between populations. Moreover, morphology-performance mapping differed between the two populations. Based on these observations, we advance a hypothesis for why populations adapting to different environments should show adaptive genetic divergence in morphology-performance mapping.     

Predator-induced morphology enhances escape locomotion in crucian carp

Fishes show a remarkable diversity of shapes which have been associated with their swimming abilities and anti-predator adaptations. The crucian carp (Carassius carassius) provides an extreme example of phenotypic plasticity in body shape which makes it a unique model organism for evaluating the relationship between body form and function in fishes. In crucian carp, a deep body is induced by the presence of pike (Esox lucius), and this results in lower vulnerability to gape-limited predators, such as pike itself. Here, we demonstrate that deep-bodied crucian carp attain higher speed, acceleration and turning rate during anti-predator responses than shallow-bodied crucian carp. Therefore, a predator-induced morphology in crucian carp enhances their escape locomotor performance. The deep-bodied carp also show higher percentage of muscle mass. Therefore, their superior performance in escape swimming may be due to a combination of higher muscle power and higher thrust.     

Biologically-Inspired Water Propulsion System

Most propulsion systems of vehicles travelling in the aquatic environment are equipped with propellers. Observations of nature, however, show that the absolute majority of organisms travel through water using wave motion, paddling or using water jet power. Inspired by these observations of nature, an innovative propulsion system working in aquatic environment was developed. This paper presents the design of the water propulsion system. Particular attention was paid to the use of paddling techniques and water jet power. A group of organisms that use those mechanisms to travel through water was selected and analysed. The results of research were used in the design of a propulsion system modelled simultaneously on two methods of movement in the aquatic environment. A method for modelling a propulsion system using a combination of the two solutions and the result were described. A conceptual design and a prototype constructed based on the solution were presented. With respect to the solution developed, studies and analyses of selected parameters of the prototype were described.     

互花米草入侵对红树林底栖甲壳动物和鱼类功能群及生态位的影响

为了解互花米草入侵对红树林湿地生态系统底栖甲壳动物和鱼类的影响,本研究利用地笼方式于2020年8月、2021年1月和4月对福建漳江口2个原生红树林样地(白骨壤和秋茄)、2个互花米草入侵样地以及1个光滩样地的底栖甲壳动物和鱼类进行采样调查。采用相对重要性指数、Shannon多样性指数、Pielou均匀度指数和Margalef丰富度指数分析底栖甲壳动物和鱼类的优势种及物种多样性,统计其功能群,并计算其生态位宽度和生态位重叠指数。结果表明: 3个季节共采集到底栖甲壳动物和鱼类种类37种,隶属于2门2纲8目17科,其中大多数为暖水性和广盐性物种,且以肉食性和杂食性功能群为主。双因素方差分析和非度量多维尺度分析结果表明,相比光滩,互花米草入侵后,底栖甲壳动物和鱼类的群落多样性指数变化不显著,但功能群发生了显著变化,浮游生物食性功能群以及肉食性和植食性功能群物种均有一定程度的增加。相比红树林样地,互花米草样地内底栖甲壳动物和鱼类物种丰富度更高。优势物种的时空生态位宽度变化范围在0～1.4186,其中棱鮻最高(1.4186),其次是中华乌塘鳢(1.0168)、刀额新对虾(0.9469)、脊尾白虾(0.8922)。     

单独隔离孵化对镇海林蛙蝌蚪生长发育、社交行为和运动表现的影响

两栖类胚胎呈卵群一起孵化在反捕食、维持胚胎间的温度平衡和促进胚胎的同步发育等方面具有重要作用。在实验条件下探究孵化条件(单独隔离孵化和卵群一起孵化)对镇海林蛙(Rana zhenhaiensis)蝌蚪的生长发育、社交行为及其运动表现能力的影响。结果表明,孵出2天后,单独隔离孵化组蝌蚪的体长和发育历期均显著大于卵群一起孵化组。以体长为协变量的协方差分析表明,特定体长的单独隔离孵化组蝌蚪的体宽和体重均显著大于卵群一起孵化组的个体。在蝌蚪的活动行为中,单独隔离孵化组蝌蚪在水体上层和中层出现的频次显著小于卵群一起孵化组,而在水体底层的出现频次显著大于卵群一起孵化组。单独隔离孵化组蝌蚪个体的分布面积率、最近邻个体的距离、个体间的距离均显著大于卵群一起孵化组,但个体间的接触频次显著小于卵群一起孵化组。在运动表现方面,单独隔离孵化组胚胎的摆尾搏动频次显著小于卵群一起孵化组。单独隔离孵化组蝌蚪的运动时长和运动频次均显著小于卵群一起孵化组。本研究结果将为无尾两栖类幼期的生长发育规律提供参考数据。