Kinetic and structural properties of two isoforms of trypsin isolated from the viscera of Japanese anchovy, Engraulis japonicus

Two isoforms of anchovy trypsin (aT-I and aT-II) were purified from the visceral extracts by (NH₄)₂SO₄ fractionation followed by affinity chromatography, gel filtration, and ion-exchange chromatography. The homogeneity of the purified preparation was evidenced by both native- and SDS-PAGE, and further by gelatin zymography. Identities of aT-I and aT-II as trypsins were established by N-terminal amino acid sequencing, which matched exactly to the corresponding stretches of their respective amino acid sequences obtained by molecular cloning [Ahsan et al. (2000), Marine Biotechnol., in press]. Both isoforms were completely inhibited by serine protease inhibitors as well as by specific trypsin inhibitors. The purified anchovy trypsins showed considerably higher catalytic efficiencies (k_cat/K_m) than bovine trypsin as measured toward benzoyl-arginine p-nitroanilide (BAPA) and benzoyl-arginine ethyl ester (BAEE) at 25°C; in particular, aT-II was 35 times more efficient than its mammalian counterpart against BAPA. This was due mainly to a dramatic decrease of K_m values for anchovy trypsins, which are indicative of an evolutionary response toward increased substrate binding at suboptimal temperatures in the marine environment.     

The "school trap": a mechanism promoting large-amplitude out-of-phase population oscillations of small pelagic fish species

Small coastal pelagic marine fishes often form mixed schools containing two or more species. Individuals of a less abundant species, which are entrained in schools that are dominated numerically by a more abundant species, may be adversely impacted. This may help to account for an observed pattern of strong alternations in dominance between sardines and anchovies in a number of regions of the world's oceans.     

Modeling and predicting potential spawning habitat of anchovy (Engraulis encrasicolus) and round sardinella (Sardinella aurita) based on satellite environmental information

Anchovy and round sardinella are two important small pelagic species in the Mediterranean that spawn during the summer period. This is a first attempt to model and predict the two species’ potential spawning habitats in this area. Generalized additive models (GAMs) were constructed based on satellite environmental variables and presence/absence egg data, available from ichthyoplankton surveys conducted in the North Aegean Sea during early summer (June 2003–2006). These models were subsequently used to predict the probability of anchovy and round sardinella spawning in the Greek Seas as well as the entire Mediterranean and Black Sea during the same month of the year. The interaction of bottom depth and chlorophyll explained most of the deviance in the presence/absence GAMs of both species, indicating spawning over continental shelf areas with increased surface chlorophyll values. Round sardinella spawned closer to coast than anchovy. Predicted potential spawning areas for anchovy and round sardinella in unsampled areas of the Greek Seas and the entire Mediterranean and Black Sea were in good agreement with existing information on the distribution and extent of the spawning grounds, especially for anchovy. Modeling the species’ reproductive activity in relation to easily accessible environmental information and applying the models in a predictive way could be an initial, low-cost step to designate potential spawning fish habitats. Guest editor: V. D. Valavanis Essential Fish Habitat Mapping in the Mediterranean     

山东半岛南部产卵场鳀鱼的产卵生态Ⅰ.鳀鱼鱼卵和仔稚幼鱼的数量与分布特征

2000-2004年5-7月,"北斗"号生物资源调查船对山东半岛南部产卵场进行了11个航次多学科的综合调查,鳀鱼鱼卵和仔稚幼鱼的数量与分布及其与环境因氐墓系为重点调查内容.调查结果表明:1)山东半岛南部产卵场5月中、下旬鳀鱼才进入产卵初期;6月上旬产卵个体逐渐增多,即将进入产卵盛期;6月中、下旬进入产卵盛期; 2)山东半岛南部产卵场中,35°N断面及其邻近海区的鳀鱼鱼卵密集分布区相当稳定,这一带海域基本上每年都有鱼卵的密集分布中心形成;北部海域的密集分布区的分布范围和分布位置变化比较大,但是,密集分布区一旦形成,鱼卵的平均密度相当可观;西南部沿岸一带海域的鱼卵数量很少.鳀鱼鱼卵的分布与海流、潮汐以及水温分布等物理海洋学要素的关系密切,南、北两个鱼卵密集分布区正是潮锋所在的位置,锋区的辐聚和卷夹作用,使鳀鱼鱼卵聚集成密集的斑块,从而形成了鱼卵的密集分布中心; 3)鳀鱼鱼卵在水体中的空间分布主要集中在上混合层,温跃层中的数量次之,下混合层的数量最少;统计学检验, 上混合层、温跃层和下混合层之间的鱼卵数量差异显著; 4)鳀鱼仔稚幼鱼的数量明显少于鱼卵,水平分布特征与鱼卵也有明显的差异.     

山东半岛南部产卵场鳀鱼的产卵生态Ⅱ.鳀鱼的产卵习性和胚胎发育特性

2000-2004年5-7月在山东半岛南部鲤鱼产卵场调查结果表明：鲲鱼受精卵的胚胎发育全程,在表层水体中,水温条件为21．78％-22．68qc（平均22．05℃）和17．05℃-18．88℃（平均17．900C）,大约需要42-44h和50-52h;在上混合层水体中,水温条件为21．26℃-22．050C（平均21．70℃）和17．02℃-17．90℃（平均17．50℃）,大约需要44-46h和50-54h;在温跃层水体中,水温条件为16．22℃-21．26℃（平均18．70℃）和14．42℃-17．02℃（平均15．72％）,大约需要46-48h和68-72h。对鲲鱼胚胎发育时间的观测值与计算值进行单因子方差分析,结果表明两者之间差异不显著（P〉0．05）,说明本研究所用的现场观测和估算方法是值得信赖的。2003年6月下旬产卵场中的水温分布较2002年6月下旬低1．80℃-3．80℃,鲤鱼受精卵的胚胎发育时间要长8-24h。鲲鱼胚胎发育的阈温度和有效积温值分别为10．26℃和423．1h·℃。在产卵季节,产卵场中傍晚7：00就有少量的鲲鱼开始产卵,直到凌晨5：00仍然有少量的鳃鱼还在产卵,产卯时间持续10h;上半夜9：00至凌晨2：00为鲤鱼的产卵高峰时间,鲤鱼主要在温跃层内产卵[动物学报54（6）：988-997,2008]。     

European anchovy (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Engraulis encrasicolus</Emphasis>) landings and environmental conditions on the Catalan Coast (NW Mediterranean) during 2000–2005

Generalized additive models are proposed for a better understanding of the underlying mechanisms for anchovy variations in abundance. Environmental variables derived from satellite imagery (surface chlorophyll, sea surface temperature and wind-mixing index), river discharge (Rhône River and Ebre River) and anchovy landings (landings per unit of effort) as proxy for abundance were used, and three fishing zones were defined along the Catalan Coast. A time shift among wind index mixing, sea surface temperature and chlorophyll was observed for these variables to be significantly correlated with anchovy. Results pointed out to processes that appear to greatly influence species abundance and affect different life stages of anchovy (conditions preceding reproduction, larvae growth and survival and recruits growth). A high proportion of anchovy LPUE variability could be explained by environmental variables. Thus, some univariate models explained deviance are more than 50%, even up to around 70% of anchovy variability. In several cases the deviance explained by a given variable was even higher at the longer time-lags. Among all univariate and bivariate models fitted, the model that best explained anchovy LPUE variability, 79% of total deviance, was a model proposed for the central zone, based on the additive effect of surface chlorophyll and Rhône River discharge, considering time lags of 15 and 18 months, respectively, for each variable.     

Shared dietary niche between sexes in Magellanic Penguins

Prey use by male and female Magellanic Penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus) was quantified during chick rearing in northern Golfo San Jorge, Argentina and the dietary niches and diet composition of each sex were assessed and compared. A total of 67 males and 45 females were flushed during the chick stages of 2011 and 2012. Argentine Anchovy (Engraulis anchoita) was the main prey in terms of importance by mass in males and females in all stages and years (52.4–86.6% and 83.8–88.7%, respectively), except during the old chick stage in 2011 when the main prey in males and females was the Shortfin Squid (Illex argentinus) (63.1% and 44.4%, respectively). Analyses of similarity showed that diet composition in terms of contribution by mass of the main prey species was similar between sexes. Based on the isotopic values of δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N corresponding to 38 males and 21 females, the Bayesian mixing model outputs showed that Argentine Anchovy was also the main prey. In both years and chick stages, the isotopic niche of males and females was similar. The similarity in the dietary niche between male and female Magellanic Penguins raising chicks may be due to the high availability of Argentine Anchovy during the study period and the consequent dominance of this forage species in the diet of both sexes.     

Mitochondrial DNA reveals a mosaic pattern of phylogeographical structure in Atlantic and Mediterranean populations of anchovy (Engraulis encrasicolus)

This study extends the geographic coverage of a previous study of mitochondrial DNA restriction fragment length polymorphism in European anchovy. Both studies together include 24 samples representing 17 localities extending from the Black Sea, through the Mediterranean Sea to the eastern Atlantic as far south as Dakar, Senegal. Eighty-eight haplotypes define two clades (A and B) separated by 3.2% sequence divergence. Clade A has a star-like genealogy indicative of a recent population expansion. Clade B has a more complex genealogy, consisting of several haplotypes at intermediate frequencies. The distributions of these clades consist of a mosaic with abrupt changes between some areas and gradients between other areas. Clade A predominates the Black and Aegean seas, but is present throughout the Mediterranean. Unexpectedly, new data show that clade A is also at a high frequency in the Atlantic, from Portugal to at least Senegal. Overall, the level of genetic differentiation among populations is high (F(ST)=0.148, p<0.0001), with the greatest differences between basins. AMOVA reveals four main geographical groups: Atlantic, central Mediterranean, Aegean Sea, and Black Sea. Mismatch distribution clearly indicates historical bottleneck and population expansion for clade A, while for clade B such evidence is equivocal. This difference may reflect a range expansion for both clades, but with higher gene flow (Nm values) between demes for clade A. Both contemporary and historical processes are important in shaping the complex genetic population structure of European anchovy.     

Detection of anchoveta (Engraulis ringens Jenyns 1842) eggs in euphausiid diets using immunoassays (ELISA)

Employing the production of a polyclonal antibody and the use of indirect enzyme linked immuno sorbent assay (ELISA), we detect Engraulis ringens egg proteins in the guts of a natural predator Euphausia mucronata Sars 1883 in Chilean waters. With a dilution of 1:15,000, the immune serum allowed the detection of 0.1 μg of anchoveta egg protein. The immune serum showed low cross-reactions with eggs and larval proteins of other pelagic fishes. Laboratory feeding experiments showed a window of detection of the protein of 9 h (13 °C) in the digestive tract of E. mucronata. In field-collected euphausiids within the spawning area of the anchoveta in Northern Chile, we detected anchovy egg proteins in 18% of 155 euphausiids tested by ELISA. These results constitute the first field evidence of predation by the highly abundant euphausiid E. mucronata on the early life stages of the anchoveta E. ringens in the Humboldt Current.