Partial migration: growth varies between resident and migratory fish

Partial migration occurs in many taxa and ecosystems and may confer survival benefits. Here, we use otolith chemistry data to determine whether fish from a large estuarine system were resident or migratory, and then examine whether contingents display differences in modelled growth based on changes in width of otolith growth increments. Sixty-three per cent of fish were resident based on Ba : Ca of otoliths, with the remainder categorized as migratory, with both contingents distributed across most age/size classes and both sexes, suggesting population-level bet hedging. Migrant fish were in slightly better condition than resident fish based on Fulton''s K condition index. Migration type (resident versus migratory) was 56 times more likely to explain variation in growth than a model just incorporating year- and age-related growth trends. While average growth only varied slightly between resident and migratory fish, year-to-year variation was significant. Such dynamism in growth rates likely drives persistence of both life-history types. The complex relationships in growth between contingents suggest that management of species exhibiting partial migration is challenging, especially in a world subject to a changing climate.     

Seasonal variability in growth of larval Japanese anchovy Engraulis japonicus driven by fluctuations in sea temperature in the Kii Channel, Japan

Seasonal variability in the growth of larval Japanese anchovy Engraulis japonicus was examined through otolith microstructure analysis based on the samples collected from the northern side (inner area, IA) and the southern side (outer area, OA) of the Kii Channel from April 2006 to March 2007. Growth trajectories (otolith backcalculated mean standard length of 5 day intervals from 5 days after hatch to 24 days) as well as the most recent 5 day mean growth rate of larvae before capture ( G ₅) differed among months. Growth trajectories showed the same pattern as G ₅. In IA, mean ± s.d. G ₅ ranged from 0·31 ± 0·04 mm day⁻¹ (January) to 0·73 ± 0·06 mm day⁻¹ (October). In OA, mean ± s.d. G ₅ ranged from 0·36 ± 0·05 mm day⁻¹ (January) to 0·79 ± 0·11 mm day⁻¹ (August). G ₅ values declined from November to January and then started to increase. In general, the seasonal patterns of growth were similar between IA and OA, and a clear seasonal pattern in growth was identified. When the relationships among larval growth rate, sea temperature, zooplankton density and larval density were examined, growth rate was positively related with sea temperature in both areas and not related with the other factors. The similar pattern in growth observed between IA and OA was probably due to the low spatial variability in sea temperature compared to its seasonal variability.     

Effect of initial size on daily growth and survival in freshwater Chondrostoma nasus larvae: a field survey

Effects of initial size on the growth and survival of a freshwater fish, Chondrostoma nasus , were tested in a field survey, where individually tagged larvae were introduced into a potential nursery habitat. Characteristics of individual daily growth trajectories were utilized as a basis to explain growth, as well as survival patterns, in relation to ontogeny. Initial size only affected growth rates during the larval phase. Survival patterns could not be explained solely based on size-selective mortality processes because prey–predator interactions played a major role as well. This is confirmed by the Lande–Arnold selection model because directional, as well as stabilizing gradients, showed significant values. Thus, for the 0+ year freshwater fish, inherited size-specific effects were a significant advantage for growth performance and survival in early ontogeny. As fish grew older, however, other effects such as compensatory growth and prey–predator interactions apparently gained in importance.     

正弦偏心旋转诱发的豚鼠前庭眼动反射特点

目的:观察豚鼠于不同频率和偏心半径正弦旋转时相对于轴心旋转的前庭眼动反射变化特点,以提取反映前庭耳石器功能的指标,为建立其功能检测方法提供依据。方法:采用频率0.1,0.2,0.3,0.4,0.5,0.6Hz,峰速60°/s的正弦旋转刺激,分别将豚鼠置于轴心,头向外偏心半径330mm,660mm,990mm处诱发其眼震,分析不同刺激条件下的眼震增益变化规律。结果:频率和偏心半径都对眼震的增益有显著影响:同一偏心半径条件下,眼震增益随频率增加而增大;同一频率条件下,眼震增益随偏心半径增加而增大,以在0.3Hz,0.4Hz最为明显,超过此频率范围后增益随半径变化不明显。结论:提取眼震增益的增强率(enhancementratio,ER)可以表达眼震增益随偏心半径增加而增大的增强效应,并作为反映豚鼠前庭耳石器功能的指标,以0.4Hz,半径990mm的正弦旋转模式作为耳石器功能评价的刺激模式较好。     

Ultrastructural reconstruction of Taenia ovis oncospheres from serial sections

The cellular organisation of Taenia ovis oncospheres is interpreted from ultrathin serial sections and transmission electron microscopy following high pressure freezing and freeze-substitution. The surface of a hatched, non-activated T. ovis oncosphere is covered by an oncospheral membrane below which is the tegument bearing microvilli. The basal lamina of the tegument is underlain by broad bands of peripheral somatic musculature. Three pairs of hooks and associated muscles are present in the somatophoric third of the oncosphere. Approximately 19 cells of seven different types were identified which include: (i) a quadri-nucleated syncytium of penetration gland type 1 containing two lateral pairs of cell bodies interconnected by narrow cytoplasmic bridges (PG1); (ii) a quadri-nucleated syncytium of penetration gland type 2 (PG2); (iii) a single-nucleated median mesophoric gland cell; (iv) 10 somatic cells; (v) two germinative cells; (vi) two nerve cells; and (vii) a pair of median somatophoric cells. This study provides a clear understanding of the morphology of T. ovis oncospheres and forms the basis for further investigations into the biology of taeniid oncospheres.     

Validation and efficacy of transgenerational mass marking of otoliths in viviparous fish larvae

Transgenerational mass marking of viviparous fish larvae in vivo was validated by intra‐muscular injection of elemental strontium chloride (SrCl₂) in gestating females and detection of the Sr in the otoliths of developing larvae. All otoliths of brown rockfish Sebastes auriculatus larvae produced from SrCl₂‐injected females showed enriched Sr:Ca ratios near the otolith edges, and the signatures did not appear to be affected by the anterior, centre and posterior positions of larvae within the ovary. Results from the present study indicate that transgenerational marking is a highly reliable technique for marking large numbers of extremely small viviparous fish larvae.     

A method for immunohistochemical detection of osteogenic markers in undecalcified bone sections

To evaluate the osteogenic potential of novel implant materials, it is important to examine their effect on osteoblastic differentiation. Characterizing the tissue response at the bone-biomaterial interface in vivo at a molecular level would contribute significantly to enhancing our understanding of tissue integration of endosseous implant materials. We describe here a new technique that overcomes difficulties commonly associated with performing immunohistochemistry on undecalcified sawed sections of bone. Sheep mandible specimens were fixed in an ethanol based fixative to maintain adequate antigenicity of the tissue. As a result, it was possible to omit antigen retrieval at high temperature for recovery of antigenicity, and detachment of sections from the slides was avoided. Following dehydration and infiltration, the specimens were embedded in a resin composed of polymethylmethacrylate and polybutylmethacrylate. Polymerization was achieved by adding benzoylperoxide and N,N-dimethyl-toluidine. This resin was selected because it maintained the antigenicity of the tissue, provided adequate properties for cutting 50 µm thick sections, and it facilitated deacrylizing the sawed sections. Acid-resistant acrylic slides were glued to the blocks using an epoxy resin based two-component adhesive to avoid detachment of the slides during the deacrylation procedure. Samples were stained for alkaline phosphatase, type I collagen, osteonectin, osteopontin, osteocalcin and bone sialoprotein. The EnVision + ™ dextran polymer conjugate two-step visualization system was applied for immunohistochemical detection of these bone matrix proteins. This procedure yielded positive staining for the osteogenic markers in cells and matrix components. The protocol described here facilitates the use of immunohistochemistry on resin embedded sawed sections of bone and provides a convenient and reliable method that can be used routinely for immunohistochemical analysis of hard tissue specimens containing implant materials.     

The spatial and temporal distribution of young-of-the-year Osmerus mordax in the Great Bay Estuary

Juvenile smelt, Osmerus mordax, were collected from four eelgrass, Zostera marina, beds in the Great Bay Estuary, two within Great Bay and two located nearer the coast. Lapillar otoliths were used to estimate the ages of the smelt and to calculate daily somatic growth based on the widths of otolith increments. Smelt collected from the Bay sites were consistently younger and shorter in total length than smelt collected from the coastal sites. A repeated measures analysis of variance found significant differences among growth trajectories of smelt grouped by their dates of birth.     

Age and growth of Anguilla bicolor bicolor leptocephali in the eastern Indian Ocean

A sampling survey for leptocephali was conducted in the eastern Indian Ocean to the west of Sumatra from 5 to 20 June 2003 in an overlapping area with the historical survey in September to November 1929 during the Danish Round the World Expedition. The age and larval growth rate of 34 Anguilla bicolor bicolor collected in 2003 were estimated using their otolith microstructure to obtain new information about the early life history of this sub-species. The total lengths and ages of these leptocephali were 44·1–55·5 mm and 114–158 days, respectively. Their hatching dates ranged from 3 January to 20 February 2003. Combining these age data and the estimated age of leptocephali collected by others in the same area, this sub-species was estimated to have a wide range of spawning periods. Individual growth rates of the leptocephali in 2003 ranged from 0·32 to 0·39 mm day⁻¹ with a mean ± s . d . of 0·35 ± 0·02 mm day⁻¹. These values were lower than the growth rates of leptocephali of other tropical eels such as Anguilla celebesensis or Anguilla borneensis , suggesting that A. b. bicolor from the eastern Indian Ocean have a longer leptocephalus period of oceanic migration.     

Comparison of spatial variation in otolith chemistry of two fish species and relationships with water chemistry and otolith growth

Spatial variation in the chemistry (Mg, Mn, Sr and Ba) of recently deposited otolith material (last 20–30 days of life) was compared between two demersal fish species; snapper Pagrus auratus (Sparidae) and sand flathead Platycephalus bassensis (Platycephalidae), that were collected simultaneously at 12 sites across three bays in Victoria, south-eastern Australia. Otolith chemistry was also compared with ambient water chemistry and among three sampling positions adjacent to the proximal otolith margin. For both species, variation in otolith chemistry among bays was significant for Ba, Mn and Sr; however, differences among bays were only similar between species for Ba and Mn. Only Ba showed significant variation at the site level. Across the 12 sites, mean otolith Ba levels were significantly positively correlated between species. Further, although incorporation rates differed, mean ambient Ba levels for both species were positively correlated with ambient Ba levels. Spatial variation in multi-element otolith chemistry was also broadly similar between species and with multi-element water chemistry. Partition coefficients clearly indicated species-specific incorporation of elements into otoliths. Mg and Mn were consistently higher in snapper than sand flathead otoliths (mean ±s .d ., Mg snapper 22·1 ± 3·8 and sand flathead 9·9 ± 1·5 μg g⁻¹, Mn snapper 4·4 ± 2·6 and sand flathead 0·5 ± 0·3 μg g⁻¹), Sr was generally higher in sand flathead otoliths (sand flathead 1570 ± 235 and snapper 1346 ± 104 μg g⁻¹) and Ba was generally higher in snapper otoliths (snapper 12·1 ± 12·8 and sand flathead 1·8 ± 1·4 μg g⁻¹). For both species, Mg and Mn were higher in the faster accreting regions of the otolith margin, Sr was lower in the slower accreting region and Ba showed negligible variation among the three sampling regions. This pattern was consistent with the higher Mg and Mn, and generally lower Sr observed in the faster accreting snapper otoliths. It is hypothesized that the differences between species in the incorporation of these elements may be at least partly related to differences in metabolic and otolith accretion rate. Although rates of elemental incorporation into otoliths appear species specific, for elements such as Ba where incorporation appears consistently related to ambient concentrations, spatial variation in otolith chemistry should show similarity among co-occurring species.