Size-related changes in habitat selection by larval grayling (Thymallus thymallus L.)

Abstract  – In a medium-sized river in northern Finland, larval grayling shifted with growth from shallow habitats with slow velocities, fine substrata and abundant vegetation cover to deeper sites with swifter velocities, coarse substrata and sparse vegetation cover within 3 weeks. Small (17–21 mm) larvae preferred water depths 10–30 cm, substrata dominated by mud or sand (<2 mm), 10–70% vegetation cover and water velocities <10 cm · s⁻¹. Middle-sized (22–25 mm) larvae preferred 30–90 cm depths, sandy substrata, <40% vegetation cover and velocities <10 cm · s⁻¹. Large (26–31 mm) larvae preferred >50 cm depths, substrata dominated by sand or boulders, <20% vegetation cover and 10–50 cm · s⁻¹ velocities. The strict habitat requirements of the smallest larval group suggest that these habitats, in particular, are important to the early survival of grayling.     

Lateral migration of Arapaima gigas in floodplains of the Amazon

Abstract –  This study deduced in detail the lateral migration –those between river channels and floodplain habitats – of the pirarucu ( Arapaima gigas ), a giant, obligate air-breathing species of the Amazon Basin. Over a thousand samples of the pirarucu were taken through counts of the individuals performed at the moment of aerial breathing; these samples were taken in eight habitats of a floodplain near the Amazon River every week throughout an entire flood cycle. The lateral migration of the pirarucu accompanied water level fluctuations closely. As water levels rose, the pirarucu migrated to increasingly higher habitats in flooded forests and remained there during high water levels. As water levels declined, the pirarucu migrated first back to lower habitats of flooded forests, then to communicating channels, and, eventually, to the lakes, where they remained during low water levels. These results allow for a conceptual model of lateral migration of floodplain fishes.     

Assessing the potential for fish predation to impact zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha): insight from bioenergetics models

Abstract –  Rates of annual food consumption and biomass were modeled for several fish species across representative rivers and lakes in eastern North America. Results were combined to assess the relative potential of fish predation to impact zebra mussels ( Dreissena polymorpha ). Predicted annual food consumption by fishes in southern waters was over 100% greater than that in northern systems because of warmer annual water temperatures and presumed increases in metabolic demand. Although generally increasing with latitude, biomasses of several key zebra mussel fish predators did not change significantly across latitudes. Biomasses of some less abundant fish predators did increase significantly with latitude, but increases were not of the magnitude to offset predicted decreases in food consumption. Our results generally support the premise that fishes in rivers and lakes of the southern United States (U.S.) have inherently greater potential to impact zebra mussels by predation. Our simulations may provide a partial explanation of why zebra mussel invasions have not been as rapid and widespread in southern U.S. waters compared to the Great Lakes region.     

Spatial behaviour of young-of-the-year northern pike (Esox lucius L.) in a temporarily flooded nursery area

Abstract –  Unlike adult northern pike ( Esox lucius ), small-bodied young-of-the-year (YOY) individuals cannot be tracked by conventional telemetry, and virtually no data exist on their spatial behaviour. Here, we monitored 192 individuals released into a nursery area (0.47 ha, subdivided into 253 cells of 4 m × 5 m) that dried out progressively using a portable passive integrated transponder detector. Among them, 66 spent more than 5 days in the nursery area and were localised at least twice, allowing spatial behaviour analyses. The mean radial distance moved averaged 14.3 m (±8.4 SD, range 2.2–41.0) and the average daily movement was 8.0 m·day⁻¹ (±5.3 SD, range 0.6–31.1). Pike abundance in a cell significantly correlated with the abundance observed in adjacent cells within 32 m, confirming a patchy distribution. A selective use of the deepest area was measured while no effect of vegetation cover was observed at the cell scale. The existence of YOY pike aggregations and the positive correlation between water depth and their spatial distribution might, however, facilitate predation and/or cannibalism during this critical period. This also suggests that the choice of release habitats requires particular attention during restocking procedures.     

Influence of turbidity and fluctuating water levels on the abundance and depth distribution of small, benthic fish in New Zealand alpine lakes

Abstract –  Minnow trapping was used to determine the distribution and abundance of two small, benthic species of fish, common bullies ( Gobiomorphus cotidianus ) and koaro ( Galaxias brevipinnis ), in five oligotrophic lakes varying in both turbidity and the extent of water-level variation. Koaro were 5–20 times more abundant in the large turbid lakes than in the clear ones, indicating that turbidity may reduce the extent of salmonid predation on koaro. However, the scarcity of koaro in the clear lakes was related mainly to the prevalence of brown trout ( Salmo trutta ) compared with rainbow trout ( Oncorhynchus mykiss ) as the former were more piscivorous and had a stronger inverse relationship with koaro. Common bullies were more abundant at sites 20 m or more away from the shoreline, and at depths of 9–12 m irrespective of season, year and turbidity level. However, the overall abundance of bullies was reduced by 70–90% in the turbid lakes. As bullies are relatively insensitive to the direct effects of increased turbidity, indirect effects such as reductions in macrophytes from reduced water clarity or smothering of benthic habitats by settled solids are thought to influence their abundance in the lakes affected by glacial turbidity. There was no relationship between the extent of water-level fluctuation and the abundance of koaro or common bullies in the lakes, but the depth distribution of bullies was shallowest in the lake with the least water-level fluctuation and was deepest in the lake with the greatest water-level fluctuation.     

Jack mackerel <Emphasis Type="Italic">Trachurus japonicus</Emphasis> juveniles use jellyfish for predator avoidance and as a prey collector

ABSTRACT:   Juveniles of carangid fishes including jack mackerel Trachurus japonicus are known to associate with jellyfishes. The function of this association behavior was studied through rearing experiments and underwater visual observations. Association behavior of jack mackerel with moon jellyfish in experimental tanks was more frequent in the presence compared to the absence of predators (chub mackerel Scomber japonicus ). In the experimental tanks, the presence of jellyfish, however, did not mitigate predation by these predators. Although jack mackerel did not feed on the jellyfish itself, they frequently fed on the captured prey ( Artemia nauplii) whilst in the gut cavity of the jellyfish. Underwater observations of giant jellyfish Nemopilema nomurai off Kyoto and Fukui prefectures revealed that approximately 30% of these jellyfish were accompanied by jack mackerel juveniles with body sizes ranging 10–45 mm standard length (SL). Considering that jack mackerel juveniles found in subtidal rocky reefs ranged 40–120 mm SL, we considered that jack mackerel from 10 to 45 mm SL associate with jellyfish as a hiding place as well as a food collector, until they find a suitable reef habitat when they attain approximately 40 mm SL.     

Interannual spatial variability of krill (Euphausia superba) influences seabird foraging behavior near Elephant Island, Antarctica

We investigate the influence of krill (principally Euphausia superba ) patchiness on the foraging distributions of seabirds to understand how variation in krill influences patch dynamics between krill and birds. At sea-surveys were conducted near Elephant Island, Antarctica, for 3 yr (2004–2006) during the annual U.S. Antarctic Marine Living Resources (AMLR) program. Standardized strip-transect surveys were used to map seabirds, and a combination of acoustic and net surveys was used to map krill. We measured patch size of krill and seabirds and elucidated how krill patch dynamics influence foraging seabirds. The spatial association between krill and predators was influenced by the size and arrangement of krill patches. We found a negative relationship between abundance and patchiness of krill and predators, indicating that when krill is less abundant, its predators are less abundant and concentrated. We conclude that annual patch dynamics of krill strongly influences the local abundance and distribution of seabirds. Such information should be used to interpret potential interactions between seabirds and krill fisheries operating near Elephant Island.     

Ontogeny of anti-predator behavior in hatchery-reared jack mackerel Trachurus japonicus larvae and juveniles: patchiness formation, swimming capability, and interaction with jellyfish

ABSTRACT:   Laboratory rearing and behavioral observations of larval and juvenile jack mackerel Trachurus japonicus were conducted to elucidate their life-history traits with emphasis on the interaction with the moon jellyfish Aurelia aurita . Jack mackerel were raised from naturally spawned fertilized eggs and they attained 10.3 ± 0.7 (mean ± standard deviation) mm in body length (BL) by 30 days post hatching (dph) and 26.6 ± 1.8 mm BL at 48 dph raised at 19.3–25.0°C. Patchiness (dense aggregation) was confirmed from 5–16 dph (2.9–5.9 mm BL) during the day and from 9–48 dph (4.0–27 mm BL) at night. Cruise and burst swimming speeds were 1.5–1.9 BL/s and 16–24 BL/s, respectively, during larval and juvenile stages, in experimental tanks. Although escape performance from jellyfish was not different between the larvae of jack mackerel and chub mackerel Scomber japonicus , both species showed better survival compared to red sea bream Pagrus major larvae of a similar size. Although jack mackerel were slow in growth, their slow cruise swimming may reduce the chance of encountering predators and fast burst swimming may help escape from gelatinous predators.     

Fish larvae distribution off Mejillones Peninsula (northern Chile) during a coastal upwelling event in Spring 1999: interactions with the cold upwelling plume

We examined the interaction between vertical and horizontal distribution of fish larvae off Mejillones Peninsula (23°S), northern Chile, under conditions of active coastal upwelling. An oceanographic survey covered spatial variability in temperature, chlorophyll- a (chl a ), dissolved oxygen, salinity and water density. Fish larvae were sampled during daytime and nighttime periods through two consecutive days in four stations: two inside and two outside of a well-developed upwelling plume, and at three depth strata: 0–20, 20–80 and 80–200 m. Eighteen taxa were analysed, of which the Myctophidae Diogenychthys atlanticus , Diogenichthys laternatus , and the anchovy Engraulis ringens , were most abundant. Our data showed little evidence for diel vertical migration and larvae were more abundant at depth (>80 m) under low temperature (∼12°C) and low chl a (∼2 mg m^–3), below the highly advective upper layer. The exploratory K -means analysis allowed the separation of data into two distinct habitats: upwelling and nonupwelling types. Most taxa were allocated in nonupwelling waters, i.e. outside the cold plume. However, short-term variations (<24 h) in the position of the upwelling plume influenced both horizontal and vertical occurrence as well as abundance of taxa, and caused variability in temperature, oxygen and chl a . These changes in oceanographic conditions, caused by upwelling circulation and the dynamics of the cold plume, may sharply modify the habitat of fish larvae and have an important role in survivorship and recruitment success.     

Grow-out of juvenile seahorse Hippocampus kuda (Bleeker; Teleostei: Syngnathidae) in illuminated sea cages

This paper examines the feasibility of rearing 10–15-day- and 0.7–1.5-month-old seahorse Hippocampus kuda in illuminated sea cages to continue existing hatchery protocols to mass produce H. kuda for trade and enhance depleted wild stocks in their natural habitats. Thawed Acetes (a planktonic crustacean abundant in inshore seas) was fed to juvenile seahorses in lighted and unlighted sea cages while one group in lighted cages was not fed Acetes . After 10–12 weeks of rearing, both mean body weight and stretch height increased in all treatment groups, with lighted cage-reared seahorses fed Acetes being heavier (2 g) and longer (8 cm) than the other two treatment groups. Although instantaneous growth rates declined during the rearing period, these were generally higher among Acetes -fed seahorses in lighted cages (0.02–0.07) compared with those in the unlighted cages with Acetes and lighted cages without Acetes feeding. Mean survivorship in all groups ranged from 9% to 74% after the trials, but mean survivorship of juveniles in lighted cages with Acetes feeding (9–74%) was consistently lower than the two treatment groups as a likely result of crustacean and piscine predators being attracted by light and the odour of leftover Acetes in the lighted cages. These results demonstrate that light-attracted zooplankton prey supplemented by Acetes feeding may provide essential nutrients for the growth of H. kuda juveniles in illuminated sea cages. With further improvement in the grow-out protocol, it may provide a possible alternative livelihood to seahorse fishers and sufficient seed to re-populate depleted wild stocks of H. kuda .