The back-calculation of size and growth from otoliths: Validation and comparison of models at an individual level

Multiple internal and external tagging experiments tested the applicability of five back-calculation models (Biological Intercept, Modified-Fry, Body Proportional Hypothesis, Time-Varying Growth, and an Age-Effects model) as predictors of individual growth trajectories of two marine cleaning gobies, Elacatinus evelynae and E. prochilos, that were raised in aquaria under conditions that resulted in variable growth. Mixed-effect model analyses of longitudinal records of otoliths and somatic growth collected at the individual level revealed that E. evelynae and E. prochilos produced daily increments on their otoliths for up to two months post-settlement and that the Modified-Fry model provided the most accurate size-at-age estimates despite the presence of age, growth and time-varying growth effects in the dataset. Very large errors in predicted size were produced by the Age-Effects model. The four other back-calculation models all provided slightly biased estimates of back-calculated size-at-age, with the Modified-Fry model providing the least biased estimates. Regardless of bias, both experimental and theoretical evidence indicated that back-calculated size was a better proxy of fish length than otoliths radius. Relationships between fish length and otoliths radius were allometric at the level of individuals, which explained why the Modified-Fry model performed better. However, this allometry was undetectable at the population level. This study represents the first attempt to validate modern back-calculation models using longitudinal data collected and analysed at the individual level. Our results suggest the use of the Modified-Fry model as a conservative approach in routine back-calculations of fish size at age from otoliths.     

Habitat utilization by Hawaiian stream fishes with reference to community structure in oceanic island streams

Synopsis Much of the freshwater biota on high Pacific islands is derived from marine ancestors. Traces of this marine origin are seen in the amphidromous life history patterns of these species. Investigation of the habitat utilization of an assemblage of freshwater gobies in the Hawaiian Islands indicates some resource partitioning within this group. The three major stream species appear to exhibit distinct habitat preferences, which in conjunction with their longitudinal zonation in streams may have served to facilitate their colonization or co-existence.     

A standardized reanalysis of molecular phylogenetic hypotheses of Gobioidei

Gobioidei is a suborder of perciform fishes with about 2000 species distributed worldwide. Despite the evolutionary and ecological importance of gobioids, their phylogenetic inter- and intrarelationships are still poorly understood. Only a few studies (either morphological or molecular) have tackled the phylogeny of Gobioidei as a whole. Of these, only six studies thus far have addressed gobioid intrarelationships based on molecular data (each using different taxon sampling, genes, outgroups and method of phylogenetic inference), yielding contrasting results regarding the phylogenetic relationships among major lineages. In this study, we have reanalysed data from four of these molecular phylogenetic studies of Gobioidei under standardization criteria (same outgroup and methods of phylogenetic inference) in order to assess the robustness of their results, as well as to identify which parts of the gobioid tree are least resolved. Results from all datasets reanalysed in this study are generally similar to those of the respective original studies, and suggest broad patterns of phylogenetic relationships among gobioid lineages. However, there are numerous topological discrepancies among the four studies, support is low for many phylogenetic relationships and topology tests are unable to reject the vast majority of alternative topologies tested. The concatenation of datasets yields a relatively robust phylogeny of major lineages of Gobioidei, but there are some issues of overlap and missing data, which are ameliorated with the inclusion of additional homologous sequences from GenBank that increase dataset completeness. Because both monophyly of major gobioid groups and phylogenetic relationships among them cannot be fully resolved, it is clear that further phylogenetic research is needed, and this should be accompanied by a major taxonomic revision of the Gobioidei. Nevertheless, even with the relatively unstable nature of the available molecular phylogenies, there are some monophyletic units that can be identified, and a basic structure of the gobioid tree appears evident.     

The influence of adult density on larval settlement in a coral reef fish Coryphopterus glaucofraenum

 For marine species with open populations, patterns of larval settlement can have important consequences for performance and abundance at later life-stages. In this study, I tested whether larvae of a reef-dwelling goby (Coryphopterus glaucofraenum) settled differentially to reefs occupied by varying numbers of adults. I monitored settlement daily to reefs on which the density of adult gobies varied naturally, or was manipulated experimentally. Rates of settlement were constant across a broad range of adult densities, suggesting that larvae do not choose settlement sites based on the number of adults in their immediate vicinity. Accepted: 30 October 1998     

虾虎鱼类线粒体全基因组序列结构特征分析及系统发育关系探讨

虾虎鱼类体态变异大、体型小、种类多, 形态鉴定及谱系分类较为困难。为深入开展虾虎鱼类的鉴定、分类及遗传进化等研究, 文章对已获得的26种虾虎鱼线粒体全基因组进行分析。结果发现, 虾虎鱼类线粒体基因组的基因组成及排列模式与大多数脊椎动物线粒体基因组特征基本一致; 由于不同物种的控制区存在不同数量的重复序列而导致基因组序列长度存在明显的差异; 26种虾虎鱼线粒体全基因组序列及不同基因中A+T的含量均超过50%, 并存在碱基G偏倚现象。基于37个编码基因序列, 利用Kimura双参数法计算遗传距离, 发现矛尾刺虾虎鱼与斑尾刺虾虎鱼、斑纹舌虾虎鱼与钝吻舌虾虎鱼分别为同种异名。通过对26种虾虎鱼线粒体基因组控制区序列的比较, 识别了终止结合序列区、中央保守区及保守序列区。利用26种虾虎鱼线粒体基因组的36个编码基因序列构建系统发育树, 发现部分聚类结果不同于传统的形态学分类方式, 虾虎鱼科中的5个亚科出现了明显的分化, 近盲虾虎鱼亚科、背眼虾虎鱼亚科、瓢虾虎鱼亚科亲缘关系较近而聚成一大支, 然后与拟虾虎鱼亚科种类形成姐妹类群, 虾虎鱼亚科与其它的4个亚科亲缘关系较远, 单独成为一个类群。根据分子钟估算结果推测虾虎鱼科物种可能起源于始新世晚期至渐新世时段, 在中新世进一步分化为具有现代表征的虾虎鱼种类。     

Enhanced vascularization of the central nervous system in two species of mud-burrowing fish

Synopsis Histological studies have demonstrated a significantly richer vascularization of the brain and anterior spinal cord tissues in the mud-burrowing gobies Brachyamblyopus sp. and Trypauchen sp. than three fish species that occupy a variety of non-burrowing habitats. Physico-chemical data from the mud-burrowing gobies' habitat indicate anoxic conditions in the substrate. It is suggested that the enhanced development and distribution of blood capillaries throughout the central nervous system of these two goby species may be a morphological adaptation to their environment. Appropriate physiological studies are needed to clarify this contention.     

Retinal vascularization in the grass goby,Zosterisessor ophiocephalus: a scanning electron-microscopic study of vascular corrosion casts

Synopsis The retinal vascularization ofZosterisessor ophiocephalus is described by scanning electron microscopy of vascular corrosion casts. The retina is vascularized sclerad by the choroidal body and the choriocapillaris, and vitread by the lentiform body and by a dense network of hyaloid vessels. In the bodies there is a parallel arrangement of capillaries indicating a counter current exchange mechanism. The well developed vascularization and its correlation with the hypoxic conditions of the muddy habitat of the species are discussed.