Tagging effects on three non-native fish species in England (Lepomis gibbosus, Pseudorasbora parva, Sander lucioperca) and of native Salmo trutta

Abstract –  To address the dearth of information on tagging effects and long-term survivorship of tagged fish in native and introduced species, laboratory and field investigations were undertaken on three non-native fish species (pumpkinseed Lepomis gibbosus ; topmouth gudgeon Pseudorasbora parva ; pikeperch Sander lucioperca ) tagged with coded-wire (CW), passive integrated transponder (PIT), radio (RT) telemetry and/or acoustic tags (AT), with survivorship of native brown trout ( Salmo trutta ) examined in the field. Laboratory results revealed high survivorship following tag attachment/insertion and resumption of feeding within 24–48 h of tagging (all mortalities could be attributed to an unrelated outbreak of fungal infection), with retention rates being high in both pumpkinseed and pikeperch but low in topmouth gudgeon (excluded from field studies). In the field, short-term post-operation survival was high in pikeperch, pumpkinseed and brown trout. In pumpkinseed and trout, 100% of RT fish survived a 24–30 day tracking study, with 60% and 80%, respectively, recaptured alive at least 3 months post-tagging. Of PIT tagged pumpkinseed, 44% were recaptured (after 6–18 months), with small-sized, CW-tagged fish (0.38 g weight) captured up to 1 year after tagging. In pikeperch, all AT fish except one (the smallest specimen) survived their full expected tracking period (i.e. tag life) – the single lost specimen survived at least half of its expected tracking period (i.e. 6 month battery life). Overall, the tagging methods used were highly effective in pumpkinseed and pikeperch, showing good retention and survival, but PIT tagging of topmouth gudgeon was plagued by low survivorship and tag rejection.     

Diet-induced phenotypic plasticity in the skull morphology of hatchery-reared Florida largemouth bass, Micropterus salmoides floridanus

Abstract –  Hatchery-reared Florida largemouth bass, Micropterus salmoides floridanus , feed on inert pellet food while their wild counterparts capture elusive prey. Differences in levels of prey elusivity often mandate the use of alternate methods of prey capture. This study examines whether elusivity-based variation in prey capture translates to a phenotypic change during skull development, and if this change results in a functional difference in the feeding mechanism. The developmental pattern of the skull was conserved between hatchery and wild bass until 80–99 mm TL. At this point, wild bass quickly developed morphological changes of the jaw apparatus including a more fusiform head and elongated jaw structures. Natural development in hatchery bass, however, was retarded at this size. Post-release, the skulls of hatchery fish converged towards those of wild bass by 135 mm TL. Despite variation in skull development, no theoretical advantage in food capture was found between these two groups.     

三种太阳鱼的核型分析

本文报道了鲈形目太阳鱼科3种鱼的染色体组型,蓝鳃太阳鱼及绿色太阳鱼的染色体二倍数均为2n=48、NF=48,红耳太阳鱼的染色体二倍数为2n=72、NF=72,类似于一个三倍体核型。三种鱼核型中的共同特征是染色体组全部由单一的具端着丝粒染色体(单臂染色体)组成。     

Energy allocation patterns in a multiple spawning sunfish: evidence for an income‐based reproductive strategy

Timing of reproduction is an important life‐history trait that varies among species as a function of energy allocation strategy, particularly as individuals are influenced by seasonal variations prior to and during the reproductive season. This study investigated size‐ and sex‐based seasonal patterns of energy allocation in bluegill, Lepomis macrochirus (Rafinesque), a species that spawns repeatedly throughout the summer, by quantifying gonad, liver and mesenteric fat masses. Results indicate that bluegill delay production of gonad tissue until the onset of the spawning season and use an ‘income spawning’ approach. Comparisons of energetic trends with crappies, Pomoxis annularis (Rafinesque) and P. nigromaculatus (Lesueur), a confamilial species of relatively similar size and morphology that spawns in the spring, highlight the flexibility of energy allocation patterns even among relatively similar fishes and shed light on bluegill life‐history strategies.     

Bluegill Picornavirus isolated from a mortality event involving Bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus) in the upper Mississippi River

A mortality event involving an estimated 1,000 adult bluegills (Lepomis macrochirus) was observed in an ice‐covered backwater lake of the upper Mississippi River near Alma, Wisconsin, in December of 2017. Macroscopic signs of disease included abdominal distension due to fluid accumulation within the internal organs as well as external and internal haemorrhaging. Histological evaluation revealed chronic peritonitis with peritoneal adhesions in all fish examined. Kidney, spleen and ascites fluid samples were collected from diseased bluegills and examined for the presence of pathogens. Bluegill picornavirus (BGPV) was isolated using tissue cell culture methods utilizing a recently developed, uncharacterized bluegill fry cell line (BF‐4), and the presence of this virus was confirmed through molecular identification. The current geographic range, known susceptible hosts as well as historical epizootics associated with BPGV is discussed. The ability of BGPV to cause significant mortality in wild fish further emphasizes the importance of monitoring both wild and hatchery populations for this pathogen.