Age and growth in southern bluefin tuna, Thunnus maccoyii (Castelnau): Direct estimation from otoliths, scales and vertebrae

In the early 1990s, the spawning biomass of the southern bluefin tuna (SBT) population was estimated to be less than 10% of its historical level. However, major uncertainties surrounding the age composition of the catch confounded the virtual population analysis assessment models. To eliminate these uncertainties, validated estimates of the age composition of the catch were required.We examined scales, caudal vertebrae and sagittal otoliths to determine which structure produced the most accurate age estimates in SBT. Scales proved useful for estimating ages of SBT only up to 4 years. Marginal increment analysis verified that the zones of dense circuli visible on the scales were deposited annually up to this age. In larger fish, the compression of circuli on the margin of scales and high incidence of regenerated scales made estimation of age very difficult. Obvious increments were present on both the vertebrae and otoliths. Age estimates from the two structures matched closely for the first 10 years of life. However, in larger (older) fish the counts diverged, otoliths consistently providing higher age estimates. We determined that annual increments are formed on sagittal otoliths throughout life but that this is not the case in vertebrae, where bands are formed less frequently. Thus, vertebrae were unreliable for estimating age beyond 10 years, which corresponds approximately to the age-at-first maturity.Ages were estimated from otoliths of 1121 fish from throughout the species’ size range. These data indicate that SBT live to at least 40 years of age, twice the longevity previously accepted; that age at recruitment is 1 year, not 2; and that mean age-at-maturity is approximately 11 years, not 7.The age distribution of SBT catches by the Japanese longline fishery in the Tasman Sea indicate that a significant proportion of the SBT population in this area is over 25 years of age and that cohorts spawned in the late 1970s and early 1980s are markedly under-represented in the population. The latter is thought to result from intense exploitation on these cohorts by the Australian surface fishery soon after recruitment.     

中国黄牛生理成熟度与脊椎棘突化学组成变化关系的研究

本试验研究了中国黄牛生理成熟度与脊椎棘突化学组成变化的关系。结果表明,以湿重计;荐椎和腰椎棘突中灰分和钙含量随生理成熟度(骨质化程度和齿龄)增加而增加,磷含量变化不明显;胸椎棘突软骨中灰分、钙和磷含量随生理成熟度(骨质化程度和齿龄)增加呈线形变化。以灰重计,荐椎和腰椎棘突中钙和磷含量及钙磷比均保持相对恒定,分别接近37％,17％和2．2,而胸椎棘突软食中却有明显变化。根据胸椎棘突软骨中灰分含量分析发现,骨质化程度与齿龄之间存在对应关系,这种对应关系对提高骨龄判定的准确性具有指导意义。     

Sustained exercise improves vertebral histomorphometry and modulates hormonal levels in rainbow trout

Abnormal compressions and fusions of vertebral bodies are frequently observed in reared rainbow trout and could result from chronic and unbearable muscle pressures acting on the axial skeleton during intensive growth. Sustained swimming at moderate speeds was shown to induce many positive effects on growth and swimming performances in salmonids, but yet little is known about its effects on vertebral remodeling processes and related hormonal regulation. Rainbow trout were subjected to three different swimming speeds (0, 1.0 and 1.5 body length (BL) s^− 1), starting one month after they were first fed (65 mm) and ending when they reached 260 mm in size (market-size of 275 g). At the end of the experiment, 20 trout were sampled in each lot (N = 60) and blood samples were taken. Vertebrae abnormalities were assessed by radiological examinations. Vertebrae from the middle axial region (V32–38) were selected to evaluate bone mineralization (BM) and total bone area (Tt-B.Ar.) on radiographed transverse sections (125 ± 10 μm). Assays were performed to evaluate mineral homeostasis (calcemia and phosphatemia), bone cell activities (alkaline phosphatase, ALP, and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase, TRAP) and bone regulating hormones (calcitonin, CT and thyroid hormones, THs). Sustained exercise reduced the appearance of fused vertebrae, enhanced vertebral BM and decreased vertebral Tt-B.Ar., while it increased circulating CT and TH levels. No variations were observed on mineral homeostasis and bone cell activities. Increasing the swimming speed up to 1.5 BL s^− 1 had positive effects on the vertebral skeleton, and therefore, seems to be a suitable approach to prevent aggravation of vertebral abnormalities in juvenile trout. The changes observed in vertebral features are interpreted as a compromise between the necessity to mobilize vertebral mineral ions in response to various physiological demands and to maintain vertebral strength against mechanical constraints.     

Impact of smolt production strategy on vertebral growth and mineralisation during smoltification and the early seawater phase in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar, L.)

This study investigates the effect of different smolt production strategies on vertebral morphology (radiology), composition (mineral content) and mechanical strength (load-deformation testing) in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar). Rapid-growing underyearling (0+) smolt were compared with slower-growing yearling (1+) smolt and a reference group of wild smolt (w). The underyearling and yearling smolt were transferred to seawater in October 2002 and May 2003, respectively. The underyearling smolt were reared under continuous light and the yearling smolt under natural light during the first twelve weeks in seawater, at ambient temperatures. Thus, the underyearling smolt hit seawater at 13 °C and were reared at 10-13 °C during the early seawater phase, whereas the yearling smolt hit seawater at 7 °C and were reared at 7-10 °C during the early seawater phase. All groups displayed increased longitudinal growth (up to 9% increase in relative length) of the caudal vertebrae during parr-smolt transformation. However, at transfer to seawater, the underyearling smolt had significantly lower vertebral mineral content (0+ 44%, 1+ 47%, w 50%) and higher incidence of deformed vertebrae (0+ 1.5%, 1+ 0%, w 0%), and at twelve weeks after transfer to seawater significantly lower vertebral mineral content (0+ 36%, 1+ 41%, w 43%), yield-load (0+ 6492 g, 1+ 8797 g, w 9150 g) and stiffness (0+ 7578 g/mm, 1+ 15,161 g/mm, w 20,523 g/mm), and significantly higher incidence of deformed vertebrae (0+ 2.5%, 1+ 0.3%, w 0%). There was a significant correlation between the mineral content and mechanical properties of the vertebrae. The underyearling smolt had significantly elevated plasma concentrations of total Ca, and P and Ca²⁺ during the parr-smolt transformation and in the early seawater phase.The results show that underyearling smolt may have an increased risk of developing vertebral deformities. It is possible that this risk can be reduced by postponing the start of the short-day treatment. This will reduce the temperature during smoltification, the temperature and daylength during the early seawater phase, and increase the age at smoltification.     

The mineral content affects vertebral morphology in underyearling smolt of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.)

This study investigated the individual variation in vertebral morphology and mineral content (as % of bone dry weight) in rapid growing underyearling smolt (n = 33) twelve weeks after transfer to seawater. The smolt, which were reared in triplicate tanks, had a large individual variation in vertebral bone mineral content (Tank A: 36.2% min, 45.2% max, 39.6% mean. Tank B: 32.6% min, 46.6% max, 40.0% mean. Tank C: 38.5% min, 47.9% max, 42.4% mean), and were subdivided into two groups based on mean within each tank: high mineral content (HMC, above tank mean, n = 15) and low mineral content (LMC, below tank mean, n = 18). Vertebrae of smolt with a low mineral content were more compressed in the anterior–posterior direction (HMC vertebral length/dorso-ventral diameter ratio 0.83, LMC 0.80). This was related to a change in the growth direction of the vertebral cone. This change occurred around transfer to seawater and was characterised by an increased angle between the wall of the cone of the vertebrae and the cranial–caudal axis, and gave the vertebrae a compressed appearance. Smolt with a high mineral content were significantly longer (HMC 28.1 cm, LMC 26.5 cm) and heavier (HMC 270 g, LMC 210 g) twelve weeks after transfer to seawater.     

不同发育期虹鳟脊椎骨的显微结构及钙、磷元素含量分析

为揭示虹鳟(Oncorhynchus mykiss)脊椎骨的形态结构、元素组成等特征在生长发育过程中的变化情况，本研究分别采集4个发育期(分别为幼鱼Ⅰ期、幼鱼Ⅱ期、成鱼Ⅰ期和成鱼Ⅱ期，平均体质量分别为4、35、644和2 129 g)的虹鳟脊椎骨样品，利用电感耦合等离子体质谱(ICP-MS)检测其第1~6节脊椎骨中钙、磷元素含量，并运用显微CT (Micro-CT)技术对其第4~6节脊椎骨进行扫描与三维重建。结果显示，虹鳟第1~6节脊椎骨的钙、磷元素含量在不同发育期均呈先升高后降低的趋势，脊椎骨中钙、磷元素含量在幼鱼Ⅱ期最高；脊椎骨钙/磷摩尔质量比在生长发育过程中显著增加。第4~6节脊椎骨的显微结构扫描结果显示，脊椎骨的骨小梁数量(trabecular number, Tb.N)随虹鳟的生长呈显著降低趋势；骨小梁厚度(trabecular thickness, Tb.Th)和骨小梁分离度(trabecular separation/spacing, Tb.Sp)在生长发育过程中显著增加；脊椎骨的骨体积分数(bone volume fraction, BV/TV)、组织矿物质密度(tissue mineral density, TMD)和骨矿物质密度(bone mineral density, BMD)等指标均在成鱼Ⅰ期中最低，其次为幼鱼Ⅱ期；脊椎骨中BV/TV及TMD在成鱼Ⅱ期中最高，而BMD在幼鱼Ⅰ期中最大。上述结果不仅为虹鳟发育生物学研究提供了基础数据，还可为鱼类年龄鉴定和分类鉴定等研究提供理论依据。