Intra-annual genetic variation in the downstream larval drift of sutchi catfish (Pangasianodon hypophthalmus) in the Mekong river

Larvae of the sutchi catfish Pangasianodon hypophthalmus were collected during peak downstream drift in the Lower Mekong river on four occasions over an 8-week period during the 2003 spawning season, and genotyped using seven microsatellite loci. We provide evidence for several heterogeneous groups within and among the temporally discrete larval peak samples. Strong evidence for a significant deficit of heterozygotes was observed for each larval sample and the pooled sample, possibly due to population admixture. Although individual-based assignment tests suggested that each larval peak sample was admixed, significant but low genetic differentiation was observed among larval samples ( F _ST = 0.0052, P  < 0.01). The lack of significant relatedness confirms the multifamily composition of each larval group, excluding family bias to explain the observed genetic heterogeneity. Both the entire larval peak and each temporally separated larval peak originated from spawning groups with heterogeneous allelic composition involving several distinct spawning events. We propose three explanations to account for our findings: (1) the ecological match/mismatch hypothesis; (2) the genetic 'sweepstakes' selection hypothesis; and (3) life-history-specific characteristics of the spawning populations. Finally, an intra-annual shift in the contribution of the spawning populations to the larval drift was detected on successive occasions.  © 2006 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2006, 89 , 719–728.     

Long-term stability and effective population size in North Sea and Baltic Sea cod (Gadus morhua)

DNA from archived otoliths was used to explore the temporal stability of the genetic composition of two cod populations, the Moray Firth (North Sea) sampled in 1965 and 2002, and the Bornholm Basin (Baltic Sea) sampled in 1928 and 1997. We found no significant changes in the allele frequencies for the Moray Firth population, while subtle but significant genetic changes over time were detected for the Bornholm Basin population. Estimates of the effective population size ( N _e ) generally exceeded 500 for both populations when employing a number of varieties of the temporal genetic method. However, confidence intervals were very wide and N _e 's most likely range in the thousands. There was no apparent loss of genetic variability and no evidence of a genetic bottleneck for either of the populations. Calculations of the expected levels of genetic variability under different scenarios of N _e showed that the number of alleles commonly reported at microsatellite loci in Atlantic cod is best explained by N _e 's exceeding thousand. Recent fishery-induced bottlenecks can, however, not be ruled out as an explanation for the apparent discrepancy between high levels of variability and recently reported estimates of N _e  << 1000. From life history traits and estimates of survival rates in the wild, we evaluate the compatibility of the species' biology and extremely low N _e / N ratios. Our data suggest that very small N _e 's are not likely to be of general concern for cod populations and, accordingly, most populations do not face any severe threat of losing evolutionary potential due to genetic drift.     

Reproductive characteristics of the male herring in the northern Baltic Sea

The gonad weight and gonadosomatic index of the male Baltic herring Clupea harengus membras L., were highest at the beginning of the reproductive season (April/May), the values decreasing towards the end of it (July/August) during 1988–1991. The decline could not be explained by fish size but may have been due to fish condition. A high individual variation was typical for both gonad weights and gonadosomatic indices in fish of the same size and maturity stage. The mean density of sperm cells was significantly higher in June (34·9 × 10⁹ ml⁻¹) than in July (19·2 × 10⁹ ml⁻¹, Mann-Whitney U= 17; P<0·05), the variation among the males being high in both groups. Electron microscope analysis showed a severe disruption of the mitochondrial elements in males spawning at 22°C.     

Feeding of larval blue whiting and Atlantic mackerel: a comparison of foraging strategies

Fish larvae employ different feeding strategies depending on area and season of spawning and hatching of larvae. Feeding and growth of larvae of blue whiting Micromesistius poutassou and mackerel Scomber scombrus from Porcupine Bank and the Celtic Shelf Break, west of Ireland, were compared based on prey concentrations in the environment and larval feeding behaviour. Both species were adapted to different environmental conditions. The mesopelagic blue whiting spawned in oceanic water that was well mixed. It was characterized by low production and low prey densities with minimum prey densities <1.0 organism 1⁻¹. Larvae of the Atlantic mackerel hatched later in the season in more productive water that was well stratified. Prey densities in the mackerel environment reached up to 1001⁻¹. Blue whiting larvae displayed a rather random distribution in the water column. Mackerel larvae <7 mm standard length ( L _s) were concentrated above the thermocline, while larvae >7 mm traversed the thermocline into deeper layers. Mackerel larvae >5mm L _s displayed marked cannibalism, exceeding 70%. Daily ration calculated on the basis of gut contents was rather low in both species: between 2.6 and 5.0% in blue whiting, but only 0.6 to 5.4% in mackerel. The results are discussed in relation to the respective environment both species encounter during their early larval life.     

Purification of the Specific Plasma Membrane Proteins from the Surface of Sperm Cells of Zea mays

Pollen samples of 6 varieties of Zea mays L. were used to isolate the viable sperm cells. After being probed with N-hydroxysuccinimido-biotin (NHS-biotin), the sperm cell plasma membrane proteins were compared with each other using the method of Western blotting. Results showed that there was no significant difference among varieties. The molecular weights of probed plasma membrane proteins were concentrated on 91,60,43,30 and 17 kD. Immunochemical method was adopted for further purification of sperm plasma membrane protein preparation which was some- what contaminated with cell organelles. After the cell organelles were isolated from etiolated seedlings of Zea mays by sucrose density gradient super centrifugation, the crude membrane proteins of organelles, endoplasm reticulum, mitochondria, Golgi body and plasmolemma were respectively used as antigen to immunize Guinea pig. The antibody was obtained from respective antiserum, then further used to produce immuno-affinity absorbent. After the solution of membrane proteins of sperm cells passed through the column, some proteins probed whth NHS-biotin were identified. Two major proteins probed with NHS-biotin were considered to be sperm cell specific. The size of these proteins in SDS-PAGE was about 65 kD, 22 kD, respectively.     

A review of hybridization in marine angelfishes (Perciformes: Pomacanthidae)

Synopsis Although hybridization of terrestrial and freshwater organisms has been well-studied, very little work has focused on hybridization among coral reef fish species. In the present paper, eleven examples of probable hybrids between marine angelfishes (Pomacanthidae) are reviewed. Evidence is presented which strongly suggests that the nominal speciesApolemichthys armitagei is invalid and that specimens previously identified as this species represent hybrids betweenA. trimaculatus andA. xanthurus. Of the remaining ten probable pomacanthid hybrids, five are inCentropyge (C. eibli x C. flavissimus, C. eibli x C. vrolikii, C. flavissimus x C. vrolikii, C. loricu0lus x C. potteri, andC. multifasciatus x C. venustus); one inHolacanthus (H. bermudensis x H. ciliaris), and four inPomacanthus (P. arcuatus x P. paru, P. chrysurus x P. maculosus, P. maculosus x P. semicirculatus, andP. sexstriatus x P. xanthometapon). An additional five examples of possible pomacanthid hybrids are described, two inCentropyge, two inChaetodontoplus and one inPomacanthus. Examination of hybrids may provide clues on reproductive behavior, dispersal capabilities, and phylogenetic relationships of species. More studies on hybridization in coral reef fish species, particularly those involving molecular techniques, are needed.     

Zinc and copper in fish from natural waters and rearing ponds in Northern Italy

Zinc and copper were detected in several tissues of fresh and saltwater fish. Liver concentrations varied widely, with respect to the storage and detoxication functions of the organ. In muscular tissues the two metals are linked to aerobic metabolism being higher in the heart and lower in the white muscle. High levels of zinc were found in the female gonad, while in the brain zinc has been shown to be more constant and possibly regulated better than copper. In sea bass supplemented with artificial diets no correlation was found between the metal content in the diet and that of the tissue. In goldfish attempts using gel filtration to isolate specific metal binding proteins of low molecular weight gave negative results, the metals were mostly bound to ligands excluded from the gel.     

Does Parental Fin Digging Improve Feeding Opportunities for Offspring in the Convict Cichlid?

The function of the fin digging behaviour in increasing food availability for the offspring was analysed in the convict cichlid, Cichlasoma (Archocentrus) nigrofasciatum. Consistent individual differences in the frequency of fin digging were found in the parental fish. Examination of the gastrointestinal tract of young revealed that higher frequency of parental fin digging was associated with higher consumption of large and more profitable prey (Diptera larvae), which inhabited deep horizons of the bottom substrate and possibly were difficult to access without parental assistance. Thus, parental fin digging was initially associated with a significant increase of the offspring growth rate. However, at later brood intervals, when parental care ceased, the young of the high-digging parents were characterised by a poorer consumption of small larvae that were most accessible for them without parental aid and represented an increasingly more important component of their ration than large larvae. Offspring of the low-digging parents, on the other hand, presumably as a result of their individual experience, showed a considerably better consumption of small larvae, increasing their growth rate. As a consequence, prior parental fin digging did not affect the offspring body size after independence. Thus, there exist pronounced individual differences and alternative parental styles in the convict cichlid.     

Growth of Lactobacillus plantarum in media containing hydrolysates of fish viscera

AIMS: To compare growth of Lactobacillus plantarum on media containing hydrolysates (peptones) from cod viscera with growth on commercial media. METHODS AND RESULTS: Growth of Lact. plantarum on various fish peptones and commercial peptones/extracts was evaluated using both a Bioscreen apparatus (microtiter plates, no pH control) and fermentors (with pH control). Generally, the performance of the fish peptones was good and only beaten by the performance of yeast extract. Replacement of the 22 g l(-1) complex nitrogen source in standard MRS medium with only 5 g l(-1) fish peptone reduced the biomass yield with only 10%, whereas replacement with a mixture of 2.5 g l(-1) fish peptone and 2.5 g l(-1) yeast extract increased the biomass yield by 10%. CONCLUSIONS: Peptones derived from cod viscera support excellent growth of Lact. plantarum. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: We show that peptones derived from cod viscera are promising constituents of growth media for fastidious food bacteria such as lactobacilli. Media containing these peptones show excellent performance while problems associated with the use of meat-derived peptones (BSE, kosher status) or plant-derived peptones (genetically modified organisms) are avoided.