Stock structure of Icelandic cod Gadus morhua L. based on otolith chemistry

Otolith chemistry was used to study the stock structure of Icelandic cod Gadus morhua . Otoliths were collected from spawning cod at 12 and 17 different spawning locations around Iceland during the spawning season in 2002 and 2003, respectively. The otolith elemental composition of cod spawning north and south of Iceland differed substantially from each other, as did spawning cod below and above 125 m depth at the main spawning ground in the south of Iceland. Otolith chemistry differed more between locations than among years within a location, indicating temporal stability between the 2 years. The Icelandic cod stock is managed as a single stock. These results suggest, however, that optimal fisheries management may require different management units than are currently present.     

Phenology and North Sea cod Gadus morhua L.: has climate change affected otolith annulus formation and growth?

Timing and rate of seasonal zone formation in southern North Sea cod Gadus morhua otoliths was studied. Samples were taken from two time periods, representing low and high temperature regimes. Opaque zones were laid down between January and June, in contrast with the pattern described in other published studies. Translucent zone formation started earlier in the warmer period, corresponding to peak annual sea surface temperatures, and a period of slow body growth and low metabolic activity. Translucent zone formation, however, continued once temperatures decreased and growth rate increased. It is hypothesized that translucent zone formation is triggered at a threshold of metabolic stress, and that the combined energetic requirements of reproduction, growth and migration may maintain translucent zone formation even if feeding conditions improve. Higher temperatures had a significant negative effect on the rate of translucent zone deposition, but caused a slight increase in opaque zone formation rate. The findings of this study indicate that historical otolith collections could provide key inputs into future phenological studies to improve the understanding of climate change impacts and the dynamics of otolith structure.     

Estimating the timing of growth rings in Atlantic cod otoliths using stable oxygen isotopes

A technique involving micro‐scale sampling of otolith carbonate and analyses of stable oxygen isotope composition was used to relate the zone appearance of the otolith to the seasonal temperature cycle. Otolith opacity could then be related to the timing of zone formation. Otoliths from two groups of Atlantic cod Gadus morhua held under known temperature conditions over a period of 4 and 6 years were examined. The otolith translucency followed the same pattern as the estimated temperature (from otolith δ¹⁸O values) in the yearly increments three and four, meaning that the translucent zones were deposited at the seasonal highest temperature in late summer and early autumn. The relative light intensities of otolith yearly increments five and six of older fish (deposited in the same years), however, were not significantly correlated to the estimated temperatures since increased otolith translucency also occurred at low temperatures. This might have been caused by stress in connection with gonad development or starvation during the spawning period. The results showed that this method of coupling otolith opacity and stable oxygen isotope composition can be used to estimate the timing of zone formations in otoliths.     

Tetracycline marks visible in Baltic cod Gadus morhua otoliths stored for 40 years

Baltic cod Gadus morhua otoliths marked with oxytetracycline (OTC) in 1974–1975 had been sectioned and the sections stored in paper envelopes at room temperature in dry, dark conditions. After 40 years of storage, the historic OTC marks were still clearly visible showing that OTC is suitable for long‐term chemical marking of otoliths. They were, however, noticeably paler than marks in recently recaptured and archived Baltic G. morhua otoliths, chemically tagged with tetracycline at similar dosage to the historic otoliths.     

Cod Gadus morhua L. populations as behavioural units: inference from time series on juvenile abundance in the eastern Skagerrak

Abundance and distribution of cod Gadus morhua in various size intervals and age groups between 2000 and 2005 were followed in coastal trawl surveys. In spite of a reduction in fishing pressure in recent years and high cod recruitment in the Skagerrak region in 2001 and 2003, no recovery could be evidenced. The survey data clearly showed that low cod density areas were not recolonized, even though abundance of juvenile cod remained high for about a year after the recruitment episodes. Increased abundance of fish >400 mm total length was only discernible at some scattered locations where other studies also have suggested local populations still to be present. The intermittent high recruitment has been linked to an inflow of egg and larvae from the North Sea, a theory which also has gained support from genetic studies. It was thus argued that the disappearance of the juvenile cod from the inshore is an effect of a migratory behaviour; the fish of offshore origin eventually leave the coast for the open Skagerrak or the North Sea. These findings support a view on cod populations as essentially behavioural entities, whereas dispersal of early life stages may be less important as a structuring mechanism.     

Asteriscus v. lapillus: comparing the chemistry of two otolith types and their ability to delineate riverine populations of common carp Cyprinus carpio

The chemical composition of common carp Cyprinus carpio asteriscus (vaterite) and lapillus (aragonite) otoliths from the same individual and reflecting the same growth period was measured to (1) determine whether there are differences in the uptake of trace metals (Mg:Ca, Mn:Ca, Sr:Ca and Ba:Ca ) and Sr isotope ratios (⁸⁷Sr:⁸⁶Sr) in co‐precipitating lapilli and asterisci and (2) compare the ability of multi‐element and isotopic signatures from lapilli, asterisci and both otolith types combined to discriminate C. carpio populations over a large spatial scale within a river basin. Depth profile analyses at the otolith edge using laser‐ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry showed that asterisci were enriched in Mg and Mn and depleted in Sr and Ba relative to lapilli, whilst ⁸⁷Sr:⁸⁶Sr values were nearly identical in both otolith types. Significant spatial differences among capture locations were found when all trace element and Sr isotope ratio data were aggregated into a multi‐element and isotopic signature, regardless of which otolith type was used or if they were used in combination. Discriminatory power was enhanced, however, when data for both otolith types were combined, suggesting that analysis of multiple otolith types may be useful for studies attempting to delineate C. carpio populations at finer spatial or temporal scales.     

Diet of Atlantic cod in the southern Gulf of St Lawrence as an index of ecosystem change, 1959–2000

Major temporal changes in the importance of euphausiids and Atlantic herring Clupea harengus in the diet of Atlantic cod Gadus morhua , 10–75 cm L _F, occurred in shallow waters (<100 m depths) of the southern Gulf of St Lawrence between 1959 and 2000. Euphausiids represented 6–70% of prey mass for Atlantic cod 31–60 cm L _F from 1959 to 1987 but only trace amounts were detected in stomachs collected from 1990 to 2000. Mysids and gammarid amphipods (for Atlantic cod ≤45 cm L _F), and Atlantic herring (for Atlantic cod >45 cm L _F) largely replaced euphausiids in the Atlantic cod diets from 1990 to 2000. This diet change suggested there has been a major perturbation of the food web of the southern Gulf of St Lawrence. The importance of fishes (mostly Atlantic herring) in the diet of Atlantic cod >45 cm L _F increased significantly between the periods 1959–1980 and 1987–2000. Atlantic herring comprised 0–4% (mean 1.3%) of prey mass of Atlantic cod 46–60 cm L _F from 1959 to 1980 and increased to 2–42% (mean 19.6%) of the diet from 1987 to 2000. Atlantic herring comprised 0–25% (mean 9.4%) of the prey mass of Atlantic cod 61–75 cm L _F from 1959 to 1980 and increased to 42–81% (mean 54.2%) of prey mass from 1987 to 2000. This increased consumption of Atlantic herring was consistent with observed changes in abundance of Atlantic herring in the ecosystem between the late 1970s and 2000. The large changes in consumption of euphausiids and Atlantic herring represent highly significant changes and would need to be included in the development and interpretation of ecosystem-based management models for this ecosystem.     

Non‐destructive ageing in Notolabrus tetricus using dorsal spines with an emphasis on the benefits for protected, endangered and fished species

Age estimates from clipped dorsal spines were compared to otoliths and scales in the blue throat wrasse Notolabrus tetricus . Dorsal spines provided accurate, non‐destructive ageing and are recommended in favour of destructive methods for conservation purposes.     

Dissolved iron:phosphate ratio as an indicator of phosphate release to oxic water of the inner and outer coastal Baltic Sea

Pore water concentrations and benthic fluxes of dissolved Fe, P and N were measured at two coastal basins in the Gulf of Finland, northern Baltic Sea, during a seasonal cycle. The bioturbated inner coastal basin, where exchange of near-bottom water is efficient, had a better ability to retain P in sediments than the outer basin, where near-bottom water O₂ concentration decreases during summer. Under the presence of O₂ high pore water dissolved Fe:P ratio (>3.6 w:w) in surface layer of the sediment, measured especially in winter, indicated negligible or low P-release and high N:P ratio in the efflux. On the contrary, low Fe:P ratio (<3.6), measured in summer and autumn, indicated high efflux of P and low N:P flux ratio. The low dissolved Fe:P ratio suggested that there was not enough diffusing Fe to form Fe³⁺ oxide-rich layer in the oxic surface zone of the sediments or near-bottom water to bind the P diffusing from the sediment. However, in sediments bioturbated by the abundant bivalve Macoma baltica, small efflux of P were measured almost throughout the study period. Thus, the Fe:P ratio cannot alone explain the P-release in bioturbated sediments. The low N:P ratio in the efflux measured in summer and autumn partly explains the measured low N:P ratio in the near-bottom water and thus N limitation of primary production in the Gulf. Additionally, it is evident that the release of P in the Gulf itself is of great importance for the trophic state of the Gulf of Finland.     

Making the most of survey data: Incorporating age uncertainty when fitting growth parameters

Individual growth is an important parameter and is linked to a number of other biological processes. It is commonly modeled using the von Bertalanffy growth function (VBGF), which is regularly fitted to age data where the ages of the animals are not known exactly but are binned into yearly age groups, such as fish survey data. Current methods of fitting the VBGF to these data treat all the binned ages as the actual ages. We present a new VBGF model that combines data from multiple surveys and allows the actual age of an animal to be inferred. By fitting to survey data for Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus) and Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua), we compare our model with two other ways of combining data from multiple surveys but where the ages are as reported in the survey data. We use the fitted parameters as inputs into a yield‐per‐recruit model to see what would happen to advice given to management. We found that each of the ways of combining the data leads to different parameter estimates for the VBGF and advice for policymakers. Our model fitted to the data better than either of the other models and also reduced the uncertainty in the parameter estimates and models used to inform management. Our model is a robust way of fitting the VBGF and can be used to combine data from multiple sources. The model is general enough to fit other growth curves for any taxon when the age of individuals is binned into groups.     

Intrastream variation in growth rates and time of first otolith increment formation for young of the year Etheostoma simoterum (Cope) (Perciformes: Percidae)

Growth rates and otolith-estimated hatching dates of young of the year Etheostoma simoterum were studied at four localities along an elevational gradient in the Little River, Tennessee, U.S.A. during the summer of 1983. Changes in otolith increment width and mean daily air temperature corresponded well with each other, suggesting that increments were laid down daily. Growth rate increased nearly threefold from the highest elevation site to the lowest. Median otolith-estimated hatching dates differed by about 2 weeks between sites, and the pattern was not directly related to elevation. These data indicate that within-stream, life-history variation of a broadly distributed species should be taken into consideration when studying factors regulating stream fish populations along elevational gradients.     

Fluctuating asymmetry in the otoliths of larval fish as an indicator of condition: conceptual and methodological aspects

Developmental instability, measured as fluctuating asymmetry (FA) in bilateral traits, has been used widely as an indicator of genetic or environmental stress in a variety of plant and animal taxa. FA arises as small deviations from perfect bilateral symmetry which reflect 'mistakes' in developmental processes resulting from the inability of the genotype to buffer itself effectively against environmental perturbations. Recently, it has been proposed that FA in the otoliths can be used as an indicator of condition in larval fish. This paper reviews the conceptual and methodological aspects of FA relevant to its potential use as a measure of well-being. Its simplicity makes FA an attractive tool to measure developmental precision and condition. However, there are several pitfalls, such as measuring error or potentially size dependence. Subtle asymmetries, i.e. between sides variation of a trait at the individual level, may not always be indicative of condition and should be interpreted with caution. The past-growth record of otoliths may provide a powerful means of studying the development of asymmetries at the level of the individual.     

Model selection as a tool for phylogeographic inference: an example from the willow Salix melanopsis

Phylogeographic inference has typically relied on analyses of data from one or a few genes to provide estimates of demography and population histories. While much has been learned from these studies, all phylogeographic analysis is conditioned on the data, and thus, inferences derived from data that represent a small sample of the genome are unavoidably tenuous. Here, we demonstrate one approach for moving beyond classic phylogeographic research. We use sequence capture probes and Illumina sequencing to generate data from >400 loci in order to infer the phylogeographic history of Salix melanopsis, a riparian willow with a disjunct distribution in coastal and the inland Pacific Northwest. We evaluate a priori phylogeographic hypotheses using coalescent models for parameter estimation, and the results support earlier findings that identified post‐Pleistocene dispersal as the cause of the disjunction in S. melanopsis. We also conduct a series of model selection exercises using IMa2, Migrate‐n and ?a?i. The resulting ranking of models indicates that refugial dynamics were complex, with multiple regions in the inland regions serving as the source for postglacial colonization. Our results demonstrate that new sources of data and new approaches to data analysis can rejuvenate phylogeographic research by allowing for the identification of complex models that enable researchers to both identify and estimate the most relevant parameters for a given system.     

中国北方农牧交错带生态系统服务空间格局及影响因子——以内蒙古中西部地区为例

中国北方农牧交错带是我国重要的生态安全屏障之一,面临经济发展与脆弱生态环境保护间的突出矛盾。生态系统服务的定量研究是生态可持续管理的重要科学依据,也是当前的研究热点之一。以北方农牧交错带的核心区域--内蒙古中西部地区为例,结合中高分辨率遥感数据和生物物理模型准确量化了2000-2018年关键生态系统服务,基于Getis-Ord G^*方法分析了生态系统服务的空间格局,考虑地理数据的空间自相关性选取了空间回归模型探索其影响因子。结果表明：（1）净初级生产力（NPP,Net primary productivity）、土壤水蚀控制服务（SC,Soil conservation）、产水量（WY,Water yield）及三层土壤含水量（SM1,Soil moisture of top layer;SM2,Soil moisture of middle layer;SM3,Soil moisture of bottom layer）在东部较高,防风固沙服务（SF,Sand fixation）在南部和西部较高;（2）以上生态系统服务受气候变化、景观格局、地形和土壤条件等综合影响,不同影响因素对生态系统服务的作用存在差异。NPP受森林景观格局和归一化植被指数的影响最为显著;WY、SM1、SM2、SM3及SC受降水量的影响较为显著;风速和表层土壤砂粒含量对SF影响最为显著。研究结果可以为优化景观格局和土地系统,缓解中国北方农牧交错带的社会-生态矛盾提供科学依据和案例参考。     

Where did the northern peatland species survive the dry glacials: cloudberry (Rubus chamaemorus) as an example

Aim During the last ice age large parts of the north boreal and subarctic zones were covered by ice, while the climate in ice‐free regions of northern Asia was extremely cold and dry. The extensive peatlands of these zones with their characteristic vegetation developed at the beginning of the Holocene. We combine a phylogeographical approach with maps of pollen records to identify regions where Rubus chamaemorus, a plant of moist, peaty soils, was likely to grow during this period. Location Circumarctic/circumboreal. Methods Samples were collected from 45 locations throughout much of the range of R. chamaemorus and 398 plants were analysed with amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP). Estimates of diversity and differentiation, principal coordinates analysis and Bayesian clustering methods were used for the analysis of genetic data. Dated pollen records were retrieved from the European and the Global Pollen Databases. Results The plants from Sakhalin are highly divergent from the rest of the material and represent the previously described var. pseudochamaemorus. The main genetic division in R. chamaemorus sensu stricto is found in the Taymyr region in central Eurasia. Genetic diversity and the relative number of rare markers are highest in central Siberia and eastern Asia and decrease towards Europe and to a lesser extent eastwards through North America. Pollen dating back to the last ice age is found in central and eastern Siberia and Alaska. The maximum observed clone size is about 250 m, and more than one clone is found in nearly every local population. Main conclusions The genetic data are consistent with the pollen records and indicate that R. chamaemorus was growing in several areas of northern central Siberia and Beringia during the last glaciation. This finding suggests that sufficient humidity for this and other species of peaty soils was present locally in different parts of the generally dry ice‐free areas of northern Asia, as had been previously documented for Beringia. The AFLP data show that var. pseudochamaemorus, which is also morphologically quite divergent, clearly represents a distinct genetic entity.