Age and growth,reproduction and diet of a sublittoral population of the rock goby Gobius paganellus (Teleostei,Gobiidae)

Colonisation of extremely acidic waters (pH 3) by aquatic angiosperms occurs widely, but is poorly documented. Unlike acid rain affected and other naturally acidic aquatic ecosystems, waters with pH 3 usually have a high conductivity, with high concentrations of SO₄ ^2- and often high concentrations of Fe³⁺, other heavy metal ions and Al³⁺. Where Fe³⁺ concentration is high, as in many mine waters, it provides a strong buffering system. In such waters, the biogeochemical Fe cycle exerts over water chemistry and the availability of nutrients and carbon for organisms. Biological activity is limited by low concentrations of phosphorus and inorganic carbon (DIC), which in this pH range is essentially all in the form of dissolved CO₂. A number of angiosperms grow in such waters including Phragmites australis, Typha spp. and Juncus bulbosus, though the last is the only one reported to grow totally submerged in waters with pH 3 . J. bulbosus occurs in many lignite mining lakes in Lusatia (north eastern Germany) with pH 3. The characteristics and possible survival strategies for this and other species are discussed.     

Molecular and Cytogenetic Analysis of the Goby Gobius Niger (Teleostei, Gobiidae)

A molecular cytogenetic study of Gobius niger has been conducted by treating its mitotic chromosomes with silver-, CMA₃- and DAPI-staining and fluorescent in situ hybridization using four multicopy or repetitive DNAs (the 28S and 5S rDNAs, the TTAGGG telomeric repeat and the mariner-like elements) as probes. In particular, the study proved the presence of NOR heteromorphism and suggested the possible role of the transposable element mariner in its genesis. In situ hybridization with the 5S rDNA probe proved the presence of just one 5S-bringing chromosome pair, whereas hybridization with the telomeric repeat revealed small bright hybridization spots, uniform in size and intensity, on each telomere of all chromosomes but no interstitial signals were noticed. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

The biology of the black goby, Gobius niger L. in an English south-coast bay

A population of Gobius niger in a south-coast bay was sampled over a 12-month period. The bay received the cooling water discharge from Fawley power station. Four year-classes were recorded of which the 1+ group was found to be responsible for the bulk of egg production. The main spawning period was from April to May although some evidence of batch spawning was found. Growth was found to be faster than has been reported for populations elsewhere, possibly because of the raised water temperature. Despite higher temperatures the growing season was not extended beyond that of other comparable black goby populations, being restricted to a 4–5 months period after the main spawning period. Seasonal changes in diet were believed to be the result of the effect of water temperature on fish movement. Feeding occurred throughout the year.     

The biology of the burrowing goby Croilia mossambica Smith (Teleostei,Gobiidae)

Synopsis Croilia mossambica, a burrowing goby endemic to the coastal lakes of south east Africa occurs from L. Poelela (salinity 8%.) to L. Sibaya (freshwater). Since these lakes are isolated from one another its distribution is discontinuous. It is not found in estuaries or the sea. In L. Sibaya C. mossambica is present on sheltered sides from a depth of 1 m to about 16 m. On exposed shores it is not found at less than 3.5 m depth. It is restricted to sandy, quiet water areas and is unable to form burrows where the substrate is disturbed by water movement, is muddy or consists of sand with a particle diameter greater than 0.5 mm. The maximum depth at which it lives is probably determined by light penetration since it is dependent on sight for prey capture. The food consists of slow moving benthic invertebrates such as chironomid larvae, gastropods, bivalves and amphipods. The relative importance of each depends upon its abundance. C. mossambica is a summer breeder with a protracted spawning season. The sticky eggs measure 0.7–0.8 mm when laid. Tolerance experiments show that it is euryhaline and can survive in seawater of 35%. and that its upper temperature limit is between 32 and 35°C. Temperatures in shallow waters of lakes and estuaries of the region frequently exceed 35°C. Thus its local distribution may be limited by temperature. Its lack of tolerance to high temperatures, to marked water movements and its ability to live in seawater indicates that C. mossambica is suited to life in the sea rather than in estuaries. It is suggested that it was present in quiet areas of the sea, such as lagoons, and that it invaded the coastal lakes which were formed as the estuaries and river valleys were inundated during the Pleistocene marine transgression. C. mossambica cannot tolerate estuarine conditions and with the present absence of quiet water in the sea off the south east African coast the species is now confined to deep coastal lakes.Note     

Gobius xoriguer,a new offshore Mediterranean goby (Gobiidae), and phylogenetic relationships within the genus Gobius

Ichthyological Research - Gobius xoriguer sp. nov., a new ofshore species of goby (Teleostei: Gobiidae: Gobiinae) is described based on three specimens collected in 2010, 2012 and 2018 in the...     

Shelter utilization by Gobius cruentatus and Thorogobius ephippiatus (Teleostei: Gobiidae)

Parameters of shelters utilized by Gobius cruentatus and Thorogobius ephippiatus were measured, in situ , using SCUBA. Both species exhibited non-random use of shelters, with T. ephippiatus , the smaller of the two species, utilizing significantly larger shelters than G. cruentatus . Interspecific size differences and competitive exclusion are not considered to be of major importance in the observed differential utilization of shelters. The size of shelters utilized by both species is suggested to be influenced by current velocities.     

Behaviour and success of sneaker males in the sand goby, Pomatoschistus minutus

In this study we investigated in laboratory conditions the presence of alternative reproductive tactics in the sand goby and describe proximate factors affecting their expression and success. We describe the reciprocal interactions of resident males, females, and sneaking males. The pre-spawning phase proved to be important for successful nest intrusions by sneakers. The number of sneakers had no effect on the frequency of successful intrusions. When small males had exclusive access to nest sites, they built a nest and courted females, showing a full behavioural repertoire. The intensity of courtship was, however, strongly positively correlated with body size. Using microsatellite DNA markers we assessed paternity shares of territorial and sneaker males in a subset of all replicates. Following successful nest intrusion sneaker males fertilised 5–10% of the eggs. Our interpretation of the results is that sneaking in the sand goby is a conditional tactic, one that is less successful than the normal nest guarding behaviour, at least for one spawning event. Received in revised form: 9 March 2001 Electronic Publication     

Paleoclimatic history and vicariant speciation in the "sand goby" group (Gobiidae, Teleostei)

Vicariant and climatic cycling speciation hypotheses of the 'sand gobies' belonging to the genera Pomatoschistus, Gobiusculus, Knipowitschia, and Economidichthys are tested using molecular phylogenies constructed of nuclear DNA (ITS1 locus) and mitochondrial DNA (12S and 16S fragments). These gobies are among the most abundant in the Eastern Atlantic-Mediterranean region, and play an important role in the ecosystem. Considerable ITS1 length differences, primarily due to the presence of several tandem repeats, were found between species and even within individuals. Therefore, phylogenetic analyses focused on fragments of the 12S and 16S mtDNA region that have been sequenced for 16 goby taxa. The 'sand gobies' clustered as a monophyletic group as proposed on morphological grounds. However, G. flavescens, E. pygmaeus, and K. punctatissima clustered within the Pomatoschistus species, pointing to a paraphyletic origin of these genera. Furthermore, the genetic divergence between P. minutus from the Adriatic Sea versus the Atlantic-Mediterranean region was as high as the divergence within the P. minutus complex, suggesting that P. minutus from the Adriatic Sea should be considered as a distinct species. The "star" phylogeny might suggest that these gobies evolved in a very short time period, possibly linked to the drastic alterations in the Mediterranean Sea during and immediately after the Messinian salinity crisis at the end of the Miocene. The freshwater life-style appeared monophyletic; equating its origin with the salinity crisis resulted in a molecular clock estimate of 1.4% divergence per million years. The last common ancestor probably occupied sandy bottoms and a coastal niche while several species subsequently adapted to new habitats (pelagic, freshwater or stenohaline). The origin of the shallowest clades dated back to the glacial cycling during the Pleistocene epoch.     

A new goby, Glossogobius minutus (Teleostei: Gobiidae) from the south-west coast of India

A new species of gobiid fish Glossogobius minutus collected from the south-west coast of India is described. The morphological, morphometric and meristic characters were studied with special emphasis on osteology. The various characters are compared with those of G. giuris (Harn.) and G. biocellatus (Val.), the only other species of the genus reported from this region. Glossogobius minutus is a benthic omnivore and shows distinct sexual dimorphism.     

A new marine goby of genus Callogobius (Teleostei: Gobiidae) from Taiwan

A new marine goby Callogobius sheni collected from coral reefs off southern Taiwan is described. The new species can be distinguished from congeneric species by the following combination of features: dorsal fin rays VI-I, 9; anal fin rays I, 7; pectoral fin rays 18; longitudinal scale rows 27–28; predorsal scale rows 9–10; no posterior oculoscapular and preopercular canals; body pale white with five blackish brown cross bands; caudal and pectoral fins each with a large blackish brown blotch.     

Rhinogobius immaculatus,a new species of freshwater goby (Teleostei: Gobiidae) from the Qiantang River,China

A new freshwater goby, Rhinogobius immaculatus sp.nov., is described here from the Qiantang River in China. It is distinguished from all congeners by the following combination of characters: second dorsal-fin rays I, 7–9; anal-fin rays I, 6–8; pectoral-fin rays14–15; longitudinal scales 29–31; transverse scales7–9; predorsal scales 2–5; vertebrae 27(rarely 28);preopercular canal absent or with two pores; a red oblique stripe below eye in males; branchiostegal membrane mostly reddish-orange, with 3–6 irregular discrete or connected red blotches on posterior branchiostegal membrane and lower operculum in males; caudal-fin base with a median black spot; and no black blotch on anterior part of first dorsal fin in males.     

A complex chromosomal polymorphism in Gobius fallax (Gobiidae,Perciformes)

Chromosome analysis of 53 specimens from a population of Gobius fallax has revealed inter- and intra-individual variation in the diploid number (2n=38–43) arising mainly through Robertsonian translocations. The presence of a small biarmed chromosome in a few cells from 3 males as well as the numerous multivalent configurations in meiotic plates and the apparent association between the NOR-chromosomes and other acrocentrics suggest that this polymorphism has an inherited as well as a somatic origin and that some translocations may involve more than two acrocentric pairs simultaneously.     

Length and sequence variation in the mitochondrialDNA control region of the Etruscan freshwater goby Padogobius nigricans (Teleostei, Gobiidae)

The primary structures of the mtDNA control region, the flanking tRNA^Pro and tRNA^Phe genes and the partial 12S rRNA gene of the freshwater Etruscan goby Padogobius nigricans (Teleostei, Gobiidae) were determined. A tandem array of variable 17-bp repeats, named R1–7, was found to be responsible for most of the observed length and sequence variation between individuals.     

Distributional Pattern of Neuromasts in Goby,Gobius striatus Day (Gobiidae)

Distributional pattern of the neuromasts has been described for Gobius striatus Day. The neuromasts are arranged in several lines. Canal formation, like many gobiids, is suppressed to varying extent. The supraorbital line presents interesting variations. The supraorbital lines of the two sides are separate from each other even in the so-called common ‘interorbital chamber’. An outstanding feature of the neuromast system of the fish is the great development of the supramaxillary line which is perhaps best developed in this case.     

A new goby (Teleostei: Gobiidae) from the South China Sea and its significance for gobioid classification

A new genus and species of gobiid fish, Egglestonichthys Patriciae , is described from the South China Sea. Certain features of the modified head lateral-line system resemble those seen in eleotrine genera with 'transverse' suborbital sensory papillae, but the skeleton of the new goby is essentially gobiine. Aspects of the lateral-line system indicate closest relationship with genera from both the IndoPacific area ( Callogobius complex, Psilogobius, Stonogobiops ) and the New World ( Microgobius ). Wider affinities with other gobiine and gobionelline genera are discussed. Discrepancies between arrangements based predominantly on lateral-line characters and on osteology are noted and their implications considered for future classification of the gobioid fishes.