环境因子对大黄鱼耳石锶元素富积的影响

通过设计3个温度(18℃、22℃、26℃)×3个盐度(17、25、34)×3个锶元素组(1x、2x、3x)来研究环境因子对大黄鱼(Larimichthys crocea)耳石中锶元素沉积的影响。结果表明:不同温度条件下,耳石中Sr/Ca值与海水中的Sr/Ca值均呈线性关系;温度和盐度对耳石锶分配系数均具有显著的促进作用;锶元素浓度对耳石锶分配系数具有显著的抑制作用;影响耳石Sr/Ca值的环境因子中,海水Sr/Ca值的影响最大,温度的影响其次,盐度的影响最小;温度、盐度和锶元素浓度差异较大时,对耳石锶分配系数都具有显著的交互作用;在没有添加锶元素的实验组(低锶组)中,温度(18℃和26℃)和盐度(17和34)对耳石锶分配系数具有显著的交互作用;水温较高(26℃)时,锶元素浓度和盐度对耳石锶分配系数具有显著的交互作用。     

水体钙离子质量浓度对褐牙鲆幼鱼鱼体和耳石元素成分的影响

在盐度30和水温20 ℃条件下,分别配制钙离子ρ（Ca2＋）质量浓度为200 mg·L-1（A组）、400 mg·L-1（B组,对照）、800 mg·L-1（C组）、1 600 mg·L-1（D组）和3 000 mg·L-1（E组）的人工海水,研究了水体ρ（Ca2＋）对褐牙鲆（Paralichthys olivaceus）幼鱼鱼体和耳石元素成分的影响。经60 d养殖发现褐牙鲆鱼体中仅钙（Ca）、锌（Zn）和铜（Cu）质量分数差异不显著（P〉0.05）;鱼体中磷（P）、钠（Na）、镁（Mg）、锶（Sr）、铁（Fe）、锰（Mn）和镍（Ni）质量分数随水体ρ（Ca2＋）的增加而下降。不同ρ（Ca2＋）对褐牙鲆幼鱼耳石长、宽、长宽比和耳石质量影响显著（P〈0.05）。低浓度A组耳石长和耳石宽显著低于B组和C组,A组耳石长宽比（L/W）显著低于D组,A组的耳石质量显著低于B组和D组（P〈0.05）。其中w（Sr）随ρ（Ca2＋）的增加显著下降,锶/钙（Sr/Ca）比、镁/钙（Mg/Ca）比随ρ（Ca2＋）增加而下降。结果表明,水体ρ（Ca2＋）对褐牙鲆鱼体成分、耳石形成及组分产生明显影响,ρ（Ca2＋）能够影响鱼体和耳石元素的累积。     

环境因子对大黄鱼耳石钡元素富积的影响

通过设计3个温度(18℃、22℃、26℃)×3个盐度(17、25、34)×3个锶(Sr)元素组(低、中、高)来研究环境因子对大黄鱼(Larimichthys crocea)耳石中钡(Ba)元素沉积的影响。研究结果表明:温度、盐度和锶元素含量对耳石钡分配系数具有显著的影响,盐度的影响最大,锶元素的影响其次,温度的影响最小,温度和盐度对耳石钡分配系数具有显著的交互作用。在所有试验组中,耳石钡分配系数均随着盐度的增加而增加,随着水中Ba/Ca值的增加而减少,而耳石Ba/Ca值随着水中Ba/Ca值的增加而增加。盐度是影响大黄鱼耳石Ba/Ca值的主要因素,温度和锶元素的影响都很小,盐度对耳石Ba/Ca值的影响主要是因为水中Ba/Ca值随盐度的降低而增加。所有试验组中耳石Ba/Ca值均随着盐度的增加而降低,根据盐度与耳石Ba/Ca值的定量关系就可以反演大黄鱼所经历的盐度史。     

黄海南部蓝点马鲛耳石微量元素

应用激光剥蚀(LA)-ICPMS技术对采集于黄海南部吕泗产卵场的产卵期蓝点马鲛耳石横截面从核心到边缘进行了分析,并结合耳石微结构分析比较各测定元素与钙的比值在不同生活史阶段的变化。结果显示,测定的Li、Na、Mg、Fe、Co、Sr和Ba含量在耳石上均呈非均匀分布,但Ba:Ca比值从核心到边缘波动较大(2.13~5.05 μmol/mol),总体为核心(0~40 μm)部分高,核心向外(40~320 μm)部分快速下降,其余部分(320~1 440 μm)低。Ba:Ca比值在不同生活史阶段间表现出了显著性差异,孵化阶段明显高于越冬和产卵阶段。相较其他元素,Ba元素更适合作为标志性元素重建蓝点马鲛生境履历。根据Ba:Ca比值重建了黄海南部蓝点马鲛的生境履历,结果发现它们在胚胎发育和孵化阶段生活在高Ba浓度生境,早期发育阶段游离近岸高Ba浓度生境,随后的生长发育阶段则会长期处于Ba浓度稍低的生境进行越冬和产卵洄游。     

乌江中华倒刺鲃仔、稚鱼耳石的形态发育与生长

研究中华倒刺鲃(Spinibarbus sinensis)耳石的发育和生长特征,补充早期生物学资料,为进一步研究该鱼野生资源的早期生活史特征提供基础数据。在实验室养殖条件下观察了乌江中华倒刺鲃仔、稚鱼及3种耳石的形态发育过程和生长特点。结果表明,在水温(26.0±2.1)℃下,初孵仔鱼微耳石和矢耳石已经形成,星耳石在仔鱼出膜后第6天出现。在形态发育过程中,微耳石由出膜时的近圆形经卵圆形发育成贻贝形,且中心核位置偏移到前端靠近背侧;矢耳石由近圆形经卵圆形发育成箭矢状;星耳石由逗号形发育成不规则四边形。3种耳石形态发育的各阶段与鱼体发育阶段存在一定的对应关系。在生长上,仔稚鱼鱼体、3种耳石的长径和短径与日龄均呈显著的线性关系(P0.001),鱼体全长与3种耳石长径呈现出显著的线性关系(P0.001),仔稚鱼鱼体、3种耳石的特定生长率随日龄增加均呈下降趋势。     

三种常用化学消毒剂对牙鲆仔稚鱼的急性毒性研究

选用3种化学消毒剂对牙鲆仔稚鱼进行急性毒性试验。结果表明,高锰酸钾对牙鲆仔鱼的24 hLC504、8 h LC50和安全浓度分别为1.678×10-6、1.382×10-6和0.281×10-6,对牙鲆稚鱼的24 h LC50、48 hLC50和安全浓度分别为2.555×10-6、1.789×10-6和0.263×10-6;甲醛对牙鲆仔鱼的24 h LC50、48 h LC50和安全浓度分别为25.821×10-6、10.671×10-6和0.547×10-6,对牙鲆稚鱼的24 h LC50、48 h LC50和安全浓度分别为33.959×10-6、17.046×10-6和1.288×10-6;聚维酮碘对牙鲆仔鱼的24 h LC50、48 h LC50和安全浓度分别为15.744×10-6、8.163×10-6和0.658×10-6,对牙鲆稚鱼的24 h LC504、8 h LC50和安全浓度分别为25.802×10-6、21.286×10-6和4.346×10-6。牙鲆仔稚鱼对3种化学消毒剂的敏感性依次为:高锰酸钾>甲醛>聚维酮碘,并且牙鲆仔鱼分别对3种消毒剂的敏感性均大于牙鲆稚鱼分别对3种消毒剂的敏感性。最后依据本试验结果,作者对牙鲆疾病防治中消毒剂的使用进行了探讨。     

中华鲟硬组织微结构及微化学的特征探索

为了在中华鲟洄游生态学研究上有新突破,实验首次比较研究了中华鲟3种硬组织(耳石、背骨板和胸鳍条)的微结构和微化学特征。结果发现,耳石结构松散,存在多个耳砂(微晶球霰石球晶)颗粒,且每个颗粒均具有独立的核心;背骨板存在分层现象;胸鳍条结构较为致密,且均一。胸鳍条、耳石中生境元素Co/Ca、Sr/Ca和Ba/Ca比特征变化较为一致,而背板由于分层的原因与前二者有所差异。综合考虑非致死性采样、前处理难度、微结构组成以及生境元素生物积累等优势,笔者建议首选胸鳍条作为基于微化学分析来反演中华鲟洄游及生活史履历研究的最佳硬组织材料。     

刀鲚胸鳍条和耳石微化学“指纹”相似性研究

耳石微化学被广泛应用于鱼类洄游生态学研究,但耳石的摘取难免会造成鱼的死亡和损伤,故寻找可以快捷、非致死地替代耳石进行微化学分析的材料很有意义。为此,本研究比较了刀鲚(Coilia nasus)胸鳍条和耳石微化学的相似性特征。耳石的锶钙比值(Sr/Ca)和Sr含量图谱分型结果分别很好地对应了所研究的洄游型、淡水定居型和陆封型的典型个体。胸鳍条微化学结果显示,湖鲚和短颌鲚2类个体呈现出稳定的低Sr/Ca值?(1.38±0.52)~(2.04±0.74)和(1.40±0.32)~(1.81±0.66)?与刀鲚胸鳍条生活史第一阶段的特征相吻合?(2.06±0.64)~(2.26±0.29)?,这些均反映了淡水生境“指纹”的特征。刀鲚胸鳍条Sr含量图谱和耳石相似,自核心至边缘可分为明显的3个阶段,分别对应于面分布图上自核心至边缘的蓝色、绿色、蓝色之间微化学“指纹”的变化。由此可见,刀鲚胸鳍条可以作为耳石的非致死、低损伤的代替材料,用于刀鲚洄游习性、生境履历等研究。同时,由于胸鳍条具有取样和前处理的优势,在其他鱼类资源或标志放流评价研究时,可以考虑以胸鳍条代替耳石来开展研究。     

基于浸泡法的牙鲆耳石锶标记技术研究

为了探究耳石微化学标记技术在牙鲆增殖放流中的应用,以全长(1.56±0.16)cm的牙鲆幼鱼为研究对象,在其养殖水中分别添加0.5 mg/L、2 mg/L、8 mg/L、32 mg/L SrCl_2·6H_2O,以无添加SrCl_2·6H_2O组为对照组,人为改变牙鲆幼鱼生存环境中Sr~(2+)浓度72 h,研究不同浓度SrCl_2·6H_2O对牙鲆耳石锶标记效果。标记期间每24 h换水1次,换水量为50%,换水后补加SrCl_2·6H_2O至原始浓度,记录各浓度组标记期间及标记后的鱼苗死亡数量。利用X射线电子探针微区分析仪(EPMA)对耳石样本进行分析,定量线分析结果表明, 0.5 mg/L、2 mg/L SrCl_2·6H_2O浸染不能形成牙鲆耳石锶标记。8 mg/L浓度组出现Sr峰区, Sr/Ca (Sr:Ca×1000)均值为4.50～6.60, Sr峰值为5.49～8.49。32 mg/L浓度组Sr峰区均值为4.83～7.55, Sr峰值为5.62～11.04。这说明8 mg/L、32 mg/L SrCl_2·6H_2O可对牙鲆耳石进行锶标记。但8 mg/L浓度组出现未标记样本,且Sr峰区均值较32 mg/L浓度组低。32 mg/L浓度组Sr/Ca比值显著增高,即锶标记的Sr/Ca比值为6.61±0.86,与标记前和对照组Sr/Ca比值差异均显著(P0.05),锶标记率100%。面分布分析(mapping analysis)结果表明,从8 mg/L SrCl_2·6H_2O浓度组开始,耳石出现红色"高锶标记环",与耳石本底颜色对比明显,且随浓度升高,红色"高锶标记环"由浅变深,锶标记效果明显增强。单因素方差分析和Duncan多重比较结果显示,各浓度组全长、体重与对照组差异不显著(P0.05),不同浓度的SrCl_2·6H_2O对牙鲆幼鱼生长无影响。经χ2检验,各浓度组在浸泡标记期间死亡率及标记后养殖90 d的累积死亡率无显著性差异(P0.05),不同浓度的SrCl_2·6H_2O对牙鲆幼鱼死亡率无显著影响。因此, 32 mg/L SrCl_2·6H_2O为最佳标记浓度。     

长江南京江段长颌鲚生境履历的反演

利用电子探针显微分析技术(EPMA),对2009年和2014年采自长江南京段的长颌鲚耳石微化学进行了研究,反演了其生境履历。结果显示,这些长颌鲚耳石上元素Sr/Ca值的动态可分为两类。一类Sr/Ca值出现显著波动,不仅具有对应淡水生境的低值(1.87±0.36),而且有对应于河口半咸水生境的较高值(4.80±0.80),甚至出现了外海高盐度生境的高值(7.85±0.57),反映了溯河洄游的生境履历特征。另一类Sr/Ca值稳定3.0以下(14NJC09和14NJCE10),仅反映出在淡水生境中生活的履历。上述结果均得到了耳石Sr面分布的验证。上述"反演"的结果首次发现,传统上认为的一定是溯河洄游的长颌鲚,也可能存在有淡水定居个体。单纯利用上颌骨的长短并不能作为有效判别长江刀鲚资源群体中溯河洄游个体和淡水定居个体的标准。     

Taxonomic and geographic influences on fish otolith microchemistry

Fish otoliths are comprised primarily of CaCO₃ and grow throughout an individual's lifetime. The chemical composition of otoliths is often a distinctive characteristic of the populations that live in discrete areas, and as a result, it has been used for population classification studies, supporting ecological and fisheries research. However, the deposition of chemical elements in the otolith is influenced by both physiological and environmental factors. We review observed trends in otolith elemental composition and then test the taxonomic and geographical patterns, using marine species in European waters. anova comparisons and multivariate analyses revealed strong taxonomic signals in species inhabiting the same region. Variations in Sr, Mg, Mn and Ba concentrations were most often species specific; for example, multivariate analyses showed separation of cod (Gadus morhua) and herring (Clupea harengus) based primarily on Mg and Sr concentrations, while Mn and Ba concentrations separated bluemouth (Helicolenus dactylopterus) and sole (Solea solea). The relative contributions of taxonomic and regional factors varied between elements. For cod and herring, for example, species‐specific differences explain 75% of the variation for Mn, but only 50% of the variation in Sr. Although there are significant regional differences within a single species on both a restricted and extensive geographic scale, these regional patterns are not the same for each species. As the amount of otolith composition data increases, representing more species and regions, as well as longer time series, further analyses can provide a deeper insight into the predictability of using otolith data in fisheries ecology.     

The sex-ratio reversal of the Japanese eel Anguilla japonica in the Kaoping River of Taiwan: The effect of cultured eels and its implication

The sex ratio of wild Japanese eels in the Kaoping River of southwestern Taiwan has been extremely skewed towards females in the recent years. However, the sex ratio skewed towards males after Typhoon Mindulle, July 2, 2004 then recovered to the previous female-dominated status in the following year. To determine why the sex ratio drastically changed, eels captured in the river were examined by both morphologic characteristics and otolith elemental signatures by solution-based inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (SB-ICPMS) and laser-ablation ICPMS (LA-ICPMS). Most of the eels collected in the river after the typhoon had a blue-gray colored back, with morphology and sex ratio similar to that of cultured eels, which differed from wild yellow eels which had a green colored back. The chemical signature in otoliths of eels with a blue-gray colored back was similar to that of cultured eels, with significantly lower Sr/Ca ratios but slightly higher Mn/Ca ratios than for wild eels. This confirmed that the reversal in eel sex ratio in the Kaoping River estuary resulted from cultured eels that had escaped from eel farms. Eel farmers estimated that about 30,000 eels escaped during the typhoon, sufficient to reverse the sex ratio of the eels in the river. Furthermore, silver eels caught in the estuary in the winter 2004 were also mostly males. The chemical signature in otoliths of these silver eels was similar to that of escaped cultured eels. Their morphology and mean GSIs, however, were comparable to wild silver eels. Thus, cultured eels that have escaped from eel farms can silver normally in the wild. Consequently, cultured eels may help to balance the sex ratio of the wild eel population and may contribute to the spawning stock of Japanese eel.     

Association between the interannual variation in the oceanic environment and catch rates of bigeye tuna (Thunnus obesus) in the Atlantic Ocean

The environmental processes associated with variability in the catch rates of bigeye tuna in the Atlantic Ocean are largely unexplored. This study used generalized additive models (GAMs) fitted to Taiwanese longline fishery data from 1990 to 2009 and investigated the association between environmental variables and catch rates to identify the processes influencing bigeye tuna distribution in the Atlantic Ocean. The present findings reveal that the year (temporal factor), latitude and longitude (spatial factors), and major regular longline target species of albacore catches are significant for the standardization of bigeye tuna catch rates in the Atlantic Ocean. The standardized catch rates and distribution of bigeye tuna were found to be related to environmental and climatic variation. The model selection processes showed that the selected GAMs explained 70% of the cumulative deviance in the entire Atlantic Ocean. Regarding environmental factors, the depth of the 20 degree isotherm (D20) substantially contributed to the explained deviance; other important factors were sea surface temperature (SST) and sea surface height deviation (SSHD). The potential fishing grounds were observed with SSTs of 22–28°C, a D20 shallower than 150 m and negative SSHDs in the Atlantic Ocean. The higher predicted catch rates were increased in the positive northern tropical Atlantic and negative North Atlantic Oscillation events with a higher SST and shallow D20, suggesting that climatic oscillations affect the population abundance and distribution of bigeye tuna.     

Growth performance,digestive enzyme activity and immune response of Japanese sea bass,Lateolabrax japonicus fed with fructooligosaccharide

In this experiment, a feeding trial was performed to determine the effects of fructooligosaccharide (FOS) on growth performance, digestive enzyme activity and immune response of Japanese sea bass, Lateolabrax japonicus juveniles (initial weight 38.3 ± 0.5 g), and the fish were examined following feeding with six levels of FOS (0, 0.5, 1, 2, 4 and 6 g/kg) for 28 days. Significant enhancement of weight gain (WG) and specific growth rate (SGR) was found in fish fed 1 g/kg FOS incorporated diets (p < .05), while the feed conversion ratio (FCR) in the 1, 2 g/kg FOS groups reduced significantly compared with the control (p < .05). Besides, the crude lipid in the 4, 6 g/kg FOS groups increased significantly compared with the control (p < .05). On the other hand, the erepsin and lipase activities significantly elevated in intestine of fish fed 2 g/kg FOS (p < .05) and the lysozyme activity in serum of fish fed 2 g/kg FOS were significantly higher than that in the control (p < .05). Moreover, the alkaline phosphatase activities in serum of fish fed 0.5, 1, 2 g/kg FOS were significantly higher than in control (p < .05). Regression analysis showed that the relationships between dietary FOS levels and either SGR, FCR, erepsin or lysozyme activities were best expressed by regression equations, and the optimal inclusion levels are 1.37, 1.80, 3.06, 3.11, 1.93 and 1.80 g/kg for SGR, FCR, erepsin, lipase, lysozyme and total superoxide dismutase activities, respectively. Overall, this study revealed that FOS incorporated diets could beneficial for L. japonicus culture in terms of increasing the growth, digestion and immune activities. Under the present experimental condition, the optimal supplementary level of FOS in the diet of L. japonicus is 1–3 g/kg.     

Involvement of gonadal steroids in final oocyte maturation of white perch (Morone americana) and white bass (M. chrysops): in vivo and in vitro studies

Plasma estradiol-17 (E₂), testosterone (T), 17,20-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one (DHP) and 17,20,21-tri-hydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one (20-S) levels were measured by radioimmunoassay (RIA) in white perch (Morone americana) and white bass (M. chrysops) that were induced to undergo final oocyte maturation (FOM) with human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). Plasma DHP levels increased in females of both species in association with oocyte germinal vesicle migration (GVM) and germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD) and decreased thereafter. Plasma 20-S levels also increased with oocyte GVM in white bass, but were several-fold lower than DHP levels. Circulating E₂ and T levels were greatest during GVM and GVBD in both species and decreased to low levels during oocyte hydration and ovulation. Follicles from white perch and white bass which received a priming injection of hCG in vivo, produced both DHP and 20-S in vitro after exposure to hCG and their oocytes underwent GVBD. Ovarian incubates from unprimed fish of either species produced only E₂ and T and their oocytes did not complete GVBD. Oocytes from unprimed bass, but not perch, matured when follicles were exposed to hCG in vitro. Both trilostane and cycloheximide blocked in vitro production of DHP and 20-S and oocyte GVBD by white perch follices. DHP and 20-S were equipotent inducers of FOM in the GVBD bioassay. None of several other structurally-related steroids tested were effective within a physiological range of concentrations. These results indicate a role for DHP and 20-S in the control of FOM in white perch and white bass.     

Cardiac,ventilatory and metabolic responses of two ecologically dissimilar species of fish to waterborne cyanide

Changes in heart rate, ventilatory activity and oxygen consumption were determined in trout (Salmo gairdneri) and brown bullhead catfish (Ictalurus nebulosus) during exposure to a steadily increasing concentration of waterborne cyanide selected to produce death in 8–9 hours for each species. The lethal cyanide concentration for the bullheads was an order of magnitude higher than for trout. Trout developed an immediate and gradually increasing bradycardia throughout the exposure period. Cyanide produced tachycardia in the bullhead followed by a gradual onset of bradycardia as the concentration of cyanide was raised. Pericardial injection of atropine (a muscarinic cholinergic antagonist) indicated that bradycardia in the trout was due initially to increased vagal tone but later due to the direct effect of cyanide on the heart. Hyperventilation in the trout persisted throughout the exposure period, although the rate and amplitude fluctuated and was variable between individual fish. During the last hour of exposure (highest cyanide concentration), ventilation was characterized by rapid, shallow breaths followed by a sudden respiratory arrest. The bullheads exhibited hyperventilation during the first 3 hours of exposure followed by a gradual, linear drop in ventilation rate and amplitude until death occurred. Cardiac and ventilatory responses in both species were attributed to stimulation of central and peripheral chemoreceptors by cyanide. Evidence is presented which suggests the initial response in the bullheads was due, at least in part, to gustatory stimulation by the cyanide. Oxygen consumption of the trout remained above pre-exposure levels for the majority of the test period. Oxygen consumption in the bullhead paralleled the changes in heart and ventilatory rates. Whole-body lactate levels of fingerlings of both species during cyanide exposure were measured to estimate the extent of anaerobiosis. Whole-body lactate levels were much greater in the bullheads than the trout, indicating a higher capacity for anaerobiosis, possibly due to a greater fuel supply. Overall, the trout responded to cyanide in a manner similar to that produced by environmental hypoxia whereas the bullheads experienced a gustatory stimulus which masked the hypoxia-like response.     

An overview of stress physiology of fish transport: changes in water quality as a function of transport duration

This study brings an integrated analysis about the relationship between water deterioration and its physiological consequences in live fish transport. The analysis was focused on the transport water and its deterioration, and physiological challenges imposed on the fish. Usual commercial handling procedures employed to mitigate fish stress during transport were discussed. Future topics of research for the establishment of safer fish transport protocols were proposed. Transport was classified into short (≤8 h) or long transport (>8 h). The main issue in short transports should be the prevention of water pH reduction, while in long transports it is the increase in ammonia. Plasma cortisol is the most employed marker for stress and is acutely elevated upon short episodes of transport, but remains elevated even in long‐transport events. Plasma glucose is perhaps a better marker for handling stress. Plasma lactate, pH, osmolality CO₂ and ions should be more often evaluated. Plasma Na⁺ and Cl^‐ are very useful markers of acidosis, due to their respective exchange for H⁺ and , for acid–base regulation. The establishment of species‐specific transport protocols should be preceded by such combined analyses of water and physiological parameters.     

Are hatchery‐reared abalone naïve of predators? Comparing the behaviours of wild and hatchery‐reared northern abalone,Haliotis kamtschatkana (Jonas, 1845)

Abalone populations have declined worldwide, generating interest in enhancement using hatchery‐reared individuals. In many cases, such restoration efforts have met with limited success due to high predator‐induced mortality rates. Furthermore, the mortality rates of outplanted hatchery abalone are often considerably higher than for wild individuals. This study uses northern abalone (Haliotis kamtschatkana) as a case study to determine whether hatchery‐reared abalone behave differently than their wild counterparts. In the field, outplanted hatchery‐reared abalone were significantly less responsive than wild abalone, in terms of number of abalone responding and intensity of response, to nearby movement and to physical contact with an inert probe. Also, when encountering a cue to which all abalone responded (a seastar predator), hatchery‐reared individuals remained subdued. Anti‐predator behavioural deficits in hatchery‐reared abalone were more pronounced in 4‐year‐old individuals than in 1‐year‐old individuals, suggesting an influence of either age or amount of time spent in the hatchery environment. These behavioural differences are expected to increase the vulnerability of hatchery‐reared abalone to predators, and are likely a major cause of their elevated predator‐induced mortality when outplanted.     

Effects of cadmium on the kinetics of calcium uptake in developing tilapia larvae, Oreochromis mossambicus

The toxic effects of Cd²⁺ on Ca²⁺ influx kinetics in developing tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus) larvae were evaluated. Addition of 20 µg l^-1 of Cd²⁺ to the environment of 0 and 3 day-old larvae competitively inhibited the Ca²⁺ uptake within 4h resulting in a great increase in K_m values for Ca²⁺ influx (19.3 and 17.4 fold, respectively) as compared with their respective controls. Consequently, the actual Ca²⁺ influx of larvae in solutions of 0.2 mM Ca²⁺ are suppressed by 32–45%. Also, 3 day-old larvae were more sensitive to internally accumulated Cd²⁺ than 0 day-old larvae. Although the Ca²⁺ influx in 0 and 3 day-old larvae may be restored to the levels of their respective controls with 24h of being transferred to a 20 µg l^-1 Cd²⁺ solution, total body Ca²⁺ content was significantly reduced in 3 day-old larvae. Increased Ca²⁺ uptake efficiency ensures sufficient Ca²⁺ for normal growth. However, rapid increase in Ca²⁺ influx after hatching also leads to higher Cd²⁺ uptake. Exposure to Cd²⁺ will lead to a drop in body Ca²⁺ content resulting in retardation of larval growth. Therefore, we conclude that if Ca²⁺ uptake is interfered with at this critical stage of development, larvae will not be able to maintain normal levels of body Ca²⁺ and will show signs of Cd²⁺ poisoning.     

Migratory dynamics of stream-spawning longnose gar (Lepisosteus osseus)

Abstract– Literature evidence suggests that lake-dwelling longnose gar (Lepisosteus osseus) enter tributary streams to spawn, Until the present study, the dynamics of this breeding migration had never been investigated quantitatively. During the summers of 1991 and 1992, longnose gar were captured as they entered Weaubleau Creek, Missouri, a tributary of Harry S. Truman Reservoir. The in-stream spawning migration began in early April and ended in late May, and was positively correlated with stream flow and water level, and negatively correlated with water temperature. In-stream residence times ranged from 15 to 94 days, with males exhibiting longer residence times than females. Once in-stream, longnose gar travelled as far as 10 km upstream and occupied certain pools at greater relative frequencies. Although the reason for this preferential utilization is not completely understood, it may relate to pool depth and riffle proximity. Longnose gar disperse from the spawning stream great distances, with gar captured in Weaubleau Creek being recaptured up to 48 km away. This information should provide fisheries biologists the means to consider the reproductive ecology of this species in their conservation and management decisions.