From salmon to shad: Shifting sources of marine‐derived nutrients in the Columbia River Basin

Like Pacific salmon (Oncorhynchus spp.), nonnative American shad (Alosa sapidissima) have the potential to convey large quantities of nutrients between the Pacific Ocean and freshwater spawning areas in the Columbia River Basin (CRB). American shad are now the most numerous anadromous fish in the CRB, yet the magnitude of the resulting nutrient flux owing to the shift from salmon to shad is unknown. Nutrient flux models revealed that American shad conveyed over 15,000 kg of nitrogen (N) and 3,000 kg of phosphorus (P) annually to John Day Reservoir, the largest mainstem reservoir in the lower Columbia River. Shad were net importers of N, with juveniles and postspawners exporting just 31% of the N imported by adults. Shad were usually net importers of P, with juveniles and postspawners exporting 46% of the P imported by adults on average. American shad contributed <0.2% of the total annual P load into John Day Reservoir, but during June when most adult shad are migrating into John Day Reservoir, they contributed as much as 2.0% of the P load. Nutrient inputs by American shad were similar to current but far less than historical inputs of Pacific salmon owing to their smaller size. Given the relatively high background P levels and low retention times in lower Columbia River reservoirs, it is unlikely that shad marine‐derived nutrients affect nutrient balances or food web productivity through autotrophic pathways. However, a better understanding of shad spawning aggregations in the CRB is needed.     

Role of lunar phases,rainfall, and wind in predicting Hilsa shad (Tenualosa ilisha) catch in the northern Bay of Bengal

Hilsa (Tenualosa ilisha) is an important commercial fish in India. This study investigates relationships among Hilsa catch per unit effort (CPUE) and the corresponding lunar phase, rainfall variability, wind vector, and month in the northern Bay of Bengal. Hilsa catch during the monsoon season of three consecutive years (2013–2015) was analyzed by using a Generalized Least Square model with lunar phase and monsoon months (June–September) as categorical variables and wind direction as circular variable. Significantly higher Hilsa catch was observed during the waning crescent and waxing gibbous lunar phases and during easterly winds. There was no significant effect of wind velocity. Daily rainfall was significantly correlated with Hilsa migration toward the estuary. Among the four monsoon months, September exhibited the most positive significant correlation with the Hilsa CPUE. Model predicted CPUE underestimated the actual CPUE in 2016 by 20%.     

Establishing survey and monitoring protocols for the assessment of conservation status of fish populations in river Special Areas of Conservation in the UK

• 1. Under the EC Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC), several rivers in the UK have been designated Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) because they support important populations of fish species. Several factors need to be considered when establishing survey protocols to assess the conservation status of fish species in these rivers.
• 2. It is important to understand the biology and habitat requirements of fish species and to design appropriate monitoring surveys that adequately assess the status of the fish populations. This information can, in turn, provide the basis for establishing sustainable conservation targets for specific stocks, a process known as condition assessment.
• 3. Favourable condition of fish species in SAC rivers is assessed using three criteria. The first relates to density of fish in various life stages against pre‐set targets, assuming that an appropriate number of sites is surveyed to account for natural spatial and temporal variations in fish populations. The second is evaluation of the demographic structure to demonstrate continued recruitment success. Third, by mapping the distribution of the target species in individual rivers and where favourable condition is only achieved where there has been no reduction in the distribution range river between surveys.
• 4. The framework described was developed from limited survey data. As more monitoring and assessment data become available, the threshold criteria for favourable condition for each species should be improved, and uncertainty in the procedures reduced.

Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

人工生态条件下鲥鱼保种越冬的试验研究

在低盐度人工生态条件下鲥鱼保种越冬获得成功。在总密度为56.13尾/米~2(鲥鱼0.37尾、淡水白鲳55.76尾/米~2)的条件下,鲥幼鱼成活率达92.0％,3龄鱼达100％;在鲥鱼密度为8.99尾、淡水白鲳密度为7.80尾/米。的条件下,鲥幼鱼成活率达89.4％,3龄鱼达100％。试验表明,鲥鱼越冬期间可摄食人工饲料,无需投喂浮游生物;鲥鱼的商品化养殖越冬是可行的。     

Temperature,plankton and conspecific density influence dynamics of age‐0 gizzard shad: implications for a gape‐limited piscivore

Age‐0 gizzard shad Dorosoma cepedianum are the main prey fish for white crappies Pomoxis annularis in many US reservoirs. However, these prey fish commonly outgrow their vulnerability to white crappie predation in some, but not all, northern Missouri reservoirs. Potential variables that could influence abundance, growth and mortality of age‐0 gizzard shad were examined in three reservoirs that differed with respect to age‐0 gizzard shad growth rates. Because of thermal effluent from a power plant, gizzard shad spawned earlier in Thomas Hill Lake and initial densities of larvae were greater than in the other reservoirs. Larval and juvenile gizzard shad grew slowest in Thomas Hill Lake, followed by Mark Twain Lake and Long Branch Lake. Growth rate of larvae increased with increasing water temperature and food abundance, but decreased with increasing conspecific density. Similar relationships were found for juvenile growth, except that growth declined with increasing temperature. The slower growth of larvae and juveniles in Thomas Hill Lake was probably a consequence of their greater densities relative to their food abundance and higher water temperatures during the juvenile stage. Conversely, both larvae and juvenile gizzard shad grew more rapidly and juveniles attained large sizes in Long Branch Lake owing to their lower densities relative to their available food. Mortality of larvae and juveniles was mostly similar among the reservoirs. Because of their greater abundance and slower growth, gizzard shad were available as prey for white crappies for a longer period in Thomas Hill Lake than in the other reservoirs.     

Estuarine phase during seaward migration for allis shad Alosa alosa and twaite shad Alosa fallax future spawners

Abstract –  The timing and duration of the estuarine phase during seaward migration were addressed for allis shad and twaite shad, closely related sympatric species in the Gironde system. Otolith Sr:Ca and daily growth increments were used to retrospectively estimate the age at entrance in the estuary, the time spent in estuary and the age at seaward exit from returning adults. The two species exhibited different seaward migration strategies: allis shad entered the estuary at an older age than twaite shad (88 days vs. 59 days), stayed shorter in the estuary (11 days vs. 17 days) and exited to the sea at an older age (99 days vs. 77 days). In the Gironde system, the estuarine phase is very short and occurs within a particular time 'window' for the juveniles that will become future spawners. In this context, it might be suggested that the estuarine phase is a bottleneck for these sympatric shad populations.     

Predator response to releases of American shad larvae in the Susquehanna River basin

Abstract— Predation on American shad ( Alosa sapidissima ) larvae within the first two hours of release was examined from 1989 to 1992 on 31 occasions at stocking sites in the Susquehanna River basin. Twenty-two fish species consumed shad larvae; the dominant predators were spotfin shiner ( Cyprinella spiloptera ), mimic shiner ( Notropis volucellus ) and juvenile smallmouth bass ( Micropterus dolomieu ). The number of shad larvae found in predator stomachs ranged from 0 to 900. Mortality of shad larvae at the stocking site was usually less than 2%. The greatest mortality (9.6%) occurred at the highest stocking level (1.5 million larvae). Highly variable predation rates and release levels of shad insufficient to achieve predator satiation hindered the ability to determine a specific type of functional response of predators. Predator numbers increased with stocking density, indicating short-term aggregation at the release site. Because of practical problems associated with releasing the large numbers of larvae that would be required to satiate predators, routine stocking at these levels is probably unreasonable. Releases of 400,000 to 700,000 larvae may reduce predation by offsetting depensatory mechanisms that operate on small releases and the effects of increased predation due to predator aggregation on large releases. Night stocking may reduce predation on larval shad at the release site.     

Population genetic studies of hilsa shad, Tenualosa ilisha (Hamilton), in Bangladesh waters: evidence for the existence of separate gene pools

Hilsa shad, Tenualosa ilisha (Hamilton), in Bangladesh is found in inland rivers, estuaries and the marine environment, throughout the year, but the peak catch period is during upstream migration. Tissue (white muscle, liver, brain) samples (total 640 specimens) were collected from three different localities, representing marine, brackish and fresh water, during the monsoon in the summer of the years 1993–1996 to identify genetic markers and study the population structure of this species. The samples were analysed by starch gel electrophoresis and isoelectric focusing, and stained for 15 enzymes and general muscle proteins. Only phosphoglucomutase, aspartate amino transferase, esterase and unidentified muscle proteins were found to be polymorphic. The allele frequencies for the samples collected in the marine environment deviated from corresponding samples from freshwater and estuarine localities, indicating that hilsa shad in Bangladesh waters comprise more than one gene pool.     

长江鲥鱼资源调查及资源濒危原因分析

2006年5月和2007年5月,在安徽马鞍山、芜湖、铜陵等江段进行了为期25 d的调查捕捞,共作业124船次,累计捕捞时间462 h,跟随刀鱼渔船出江捕捞310次,未捕到鲥鱼(Macrura reevesii Richardson).2年共走访资深渔民230人次,结果表明,自1994年以来,安徽江段未曾有捕到鲥鱼的音讯.资料显示,中国水产科学院长江水产研究所于1996年组织渔民在峡江产卵场内进行试捕,共作业21 d,累计捕捞时间414.5 h,总作业93船次,结果未能捕捞鲥鱼.长江鲥鱼资源已成濒危状态,原因主要是鲥鱼亲体捕捞过度、鲥鱼幼体受到损害、水域环境污染、水文条件的影响,保护长江渔业资源刻不容缓.     

美洲鲥鱼肌肉营养成分测定及分析

本文对美洲鲥鱼的肌肉营养成分进行了测定分析,结果表明:鱼肉粗蛋白质、粗脂肪含量分别为20.58%和3.68%,18种氨基酸总量为13.33%,其中8种必需氨基酸、4种鲜味氨基酸的含量分别为5.33%和5.15%,必需氨基酸含量占氨基酸总量的39.98%,4种鲜味氨基酸的含量占氨基酸总量的38.63%,低于鸡蛋蛋白质模式。脂肪酸含量丰富,尤其是不饱和脂肪酸含量达到0.23%。无机物含量,特别是Mg、Fe、Zn等微量元素含量也比较丰富。