Evolution des activités protéolytiques digestives chez les Jeunes Mulgilidae

Proteolytic activity in the stomach, pyloric caeca and intestine decreases with increasing size in the three fish species Mugil auratus, M. capito and M. saliens. Differences between these species are found mainly in the gastric proteolytic activity which appears to be related to diet. This activity is pronounced in M. saliens whose diet is mainly carnivorous. Comparison of regression lines relating gastric proteolytic activity to size reveals differences which distinguish M. auratus from both of the other species. Total proteolytic activity exhibits high variability depending on the types of diet.     

Mitochondrial DNA divergence and phylogenetic relationships in mullets (Pisces: Mugilidae) of the Sea of Japan and the Sea of Azov revealed by PCR-RFLP-analysis

Three Mugilid species: Mugil cephalus (Linnaeus, 1758) and Liza haematocheila (Temminck et Schlegel, 1845; syn. Mugil soiuy, M. haematocheilus, L. soiuy, Chelon haematocheilus) from the Sea of Japan, as well as M. cephalus and Liza aurata (Risso, 1810) from the Sea of Azov were investigated on the basis of PCR-RFLP analysis of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) fragments, which included 12S/16S rRNA, and ND3/ND4L/ND4 genes. Among 61 individuals of three Mugilid species thirteen different haplotypes were detected. Eight and thirteen restriction endonucleases were found to be species-specific in 12S/16SrRNA and ND3/ND4L/ND4 respectively. This method may be useful for species identification. M. cephalus showed the largest genetic divergence while L. haematocheila and L. aurata were closely related and clustered together. The level of mtDNA differentiation between the two M. cephalus samples from the Sea of Japan and the Sea of Azov, i.e., nucleotide substitutions of approximately 3%, appeared to be relatively high.     

Variation in habitat use along the freshwater–marine continuum by grey mullet Mugil cephalus at the southern limits of its distribution

In this study, habitat use by Mugil cephalus was investigated in the waters of the west coast of the North Island of New Zealand by analysing microchemical composition of otoliths (laser‐ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry) obtained from individuals from commercial fish stocks and research surveys. Results of this study show that M. cephalus at the southern limits of its distribution display highly flexible migratory behaviour with extensive use of freshwater and brackish habitats, potentially enabling them to maximize foraging opportunities. Mugil cephalus can tolerate a wide range of salinities and can therefore utilize higher productivity areas, such as estuaries and eutrophic riverine lakes. Finally, M. cephalus populations across a range of climates and latitudes appear to differ in the extent to which they utilize freshwater and brackish habitats, possibly with increasing penetration of fresh waters with increasing latitude.     

Analysis of mitochondrial DNA: Taxonomic and phylogenetic relationships in two fish taxa (Pisces: Mugilidae and Cyprinidae)

To solve some systematic questions as well as to study genetic variability and evolutionary relationships in two groups of fish belonging to the Mugilid (Mugilidae) and Cyprinid (Cyprinidae) families, we have used restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) fragments amplified in polymerase chain reaction. The analysis of three mtDNA fragments of 7220 bp total length of six Mugilid species has shown that Mediterranean Liza aurata, L. ramada, L. saliens, and Chelon labrosus form a common cluster, L. aurata and C. labrosus being the closest relatives, whereas L. haematocheilus (syn. C. haematocheilus) of the Sea of Japan forms a sister group to the Mediterranean cluster. It was found that Chelon and Liza genera are paraphyletic, and therefore their division into two genera is unnatural and they should be synonymized. According to priority, Liza species should be ascribed to Chelon genus. Mugil cephalus is the most distant compared to the rest of the species studied. The level of genetic divergence between allopatric samples of M. cephalus from the Sea of Japan and the Mediterranean Sea has proved to be very high—4.5% of nucleotide substitutions. The analysis of four mtDNA fragments of 9340 bp total length of six Cyprinid species has shown that L. waleckii is the most genetically distant. Pseudaspius leptocephalus is a sister group to Tribolodon species. All Tribolodon species form a common cluster with T. sachalinensis as a root. The remaining species form two branches, one of which includes T. nakamurai and T. brandtii, another one combines T. hakonensis and a new form of Tribolodon revealed that is close to T. hakonensis by its mtDNA (2.4% of nucleotide substitutions). This new form might be an independent species. Published in Russian in Biokhimiya, 2007, Vol. 72, No. 12, pp. 1651–1658.     

Phylogenetic relationships of nine mullet species (Mugilidae) in the Mediterranean Sea

Phylogenetic relationships among four genera and nine species (Mugil cephalus, Mugil soiuy, Liza ramada, Liza aurata, Liza abu, Liza saliens, Liza carinata, Chelon labrosus, Oedalechilus labeo) of the Mediterranean mullets (Mugilidae) were investigated by means of allozyme electrophoresis using a seven-enzyme system (CK*, GAPDH*, G3PDH*, IDHP*, ME*, MDH*, PGM*) comprising eleven putative loci. The highest genetic divergence was 1.299, detected between M. cephalus and L. aurata and the lowest (0.280) was found between L. carinata and L. saliens. The amount of genetic divergence between the genera Chelon and Oedalechilus did not appear to be high (0.285). In a UPGMA tree, all nine species were grouped in two main branchings. In the first branch, C. labrosus and O. labeo clustered as closest taxa and were sister group to L. ramada. The other four Liza species produced two sub-branching in this group; L. carinata branched together with L. saliens, and L. aurata branched together with L. abu. In the second branch the two species of the genus Mugil, M. cephalus and M. soiuy, clustered together and were clearly isolated from the other three genera.     

Interrelationships of the Haploporinae (Digenea: Haploporidae): A molecular test of the taxonomic framework based on morphology

The taxonomic framework of the Haploporidae is evaluated and the relationships within the Haploporinae are assessed for the first time at the generic level using molecular data. Partial 28S and complete ITS2 rDNA sequences from representatives of six of the nine recognised genera within the Haploporinae were analysed together with published sequences representing members of two haploporid subfamilies and of the closely related family Atractotrematidae. Molecular analyses revealed: (i) a close relationship between the Atractotrematidae and the Haploporidae; (ii) strong support for the monophyly of the Haploporinae, Dicrogaster and Saccocoelium, and the position of Ragaia within the Haploporinae; (iii) evidence for rejection of the synonymy of Saccocoelioides and Lecithobotrys and the validity of the Dicrogasterinae; and (iv) support for the distinct status of Saccocoelium in relation to Haploporus. The wider sampling within the genera Dicrogaster and Saccocoelium confirmed the distinct status of the included species, thus rejecting previously suggested synonymies. Saccocoelioides, recently transferred to the Chalcinotrematinae, was nested within the Haploporinae and this was largely associated with the position of Forticulcita, resolved as the most basal haploporine genus. Forticulcita also possesses a well-delimited eversible intromittent copulatory organ, a feature unique in the Haploporidae which has not been previously considered an important apomorphy. This, in association with the present hypothesis of the Haploporinae based on molecular data, led us to erect Forticulcitinae subf. n. for Forticulcita; this resolved Saccocoelioides and, by extension the Chalcinotrematinae, as sister groups to the Haploporinae.     

Comparative Molecular Cytogenetic Analysis of Two Congeneric Species, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Mugil Curema</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">M. Liza</Emphasis> (Pisces,Mugiliformes), Characterized by Significant Karyotype Diversity

Two congeneric mullet species, Mugil liza and M. curema, respectively with an all-uniarmed and an all-biarmed karyotype, were cytogenetically studied by base-specific fluorochrome staining and FISH-mapping of 45S and 5S ribosomal RNA genes (rDNA) and the (TTAGGG)_n telomeric repeats. Whereas 45S rDNA sites might be homeologus in the two species, 5S rDNA sites are not, as they are localized on chromosome arms of different size. In both species, the (TTAGGG)_n telomeric probe hybridized to natural telomeres and was found scattered along the NORs. In metacentric chromosomes of M. curema, no pericentromeric signals of the telomeric probe were detected. Data are discussed in relation to the karyotype evolution in Mugilidae and to the mechanisms and the evolutionary implications of Robertsonian rearrangements in M. curema.     

Caractérisation de quelques activités enzymatiques digestives chez Mugil capito en relation avec la taille

The activities of esterase 2C, esterase 14C, L-leucine aminopeptidase, α-glucosidase, alkaline and acid phosphatases of the stomach, the caeca and the gut of Mugil capito were examined by polyacrylamide gradient gel electrophoresis. Fishes of three sizes were compared: the smallest only showed esterase 2C and phosphatases activities. Zymograms for each size and each organ were examined and the molecular weights of the isozymes evaluated with an accuracy of 10,000 daltons. It was found that (a) the existence of some isozymes is dependent to the size and the organ; (b) some enzymes are found only in some parts of the digestive tract; (c) for any given organ, enzymatic activity differs from one isozyme to another; and (d) the digestive enzymatic activities differ for each organ considered and in different ways dependent on the size of the fish.     

Reproductive biology of two co‐occurring mugilids,Liza argentea and Myxus elongatus,in south‐eastern Australia

The reproductive biology of Liza argentea and Myxus elongatus occurring in two estuaries (Lake Macquarie and St Georges Basin) was found to differ. Gonado‐somatic index values and macroscopic staging of gonads identified the peak spawning period of L. argentea occurred between March and November in Lake Macquarie and January and April in St Georges Basin. In contrast, peak spawning of M. elongatus was concentrated between January and March in both estuaries. Spawning of L. argentea probably occurred in the lower reaches of estuaries as well as in nearshore coastal waters, whereas evidence indicated M. elongatus spawned only in ocean waters. The mean fork length at maturity (L_F50) was greater for females than males in both species, and it also occurred at a larger mean L_F in M. elongatus (males = 230 mm and females = 255 mm) than L. argentea (males = 180 mm and females = 207 mm). Estimates of total potential fecundity were also greater for M. elongatus (425 484–1 157 029) compared to L. argentea (159 933–548 954). Both species had determinate fecundity and displayed a group synchronous pattern of oocyte development, with two distinct size classes of oocytes present in mature ovaries. Liza argentea probably release the larger class of oocytes in one spawning event, but this could not be established for M. elongatus.