Post-stocking dispersal of European grayling,Thymallus thymallus (L.), in a semi-natural experimental stream

Abstract Artificially hatched and reared juvenile European grayling, Thymallus thymallus (L.), from three natural populations were released into an experimental stream. Two of the populations were from lakes and the third population was from a river. Post-stocking dispersal was studied by recapturing fish in traps and by electric fishing after each of the stocking exercises. On all three occasions the first fish to be recaptured were caught in a trap about 400 m downstream from the release site, within 5–12 min of release. Proportions of stocked grayling juveniles recaptured by electric fishing in the fast-flowing section of the experimental stream (the rapids) were 9.9%, 46.7% and 16.6% after the first, second and third stocking, respectively. No significant population-specific difference was found between fish caught in the downstream trap and fish recaptured in the rapids. The uppermost part of the rapids (stretch 1) and the catch in the upstream trap was dominated by fish of riverine origin. Post-stocking migration was influenced by sex but not by body size. Females showed a greater propensity to stay in the rapids compared with males. Implications of the results for stocking grayling in natural streams and regulated rivers are discussed.     

Evidence of enhanced bacterial invasion during Diplostomum spathaceum infection in European grayling, Thymallus thymallus (L.)

Farmed grayling, Thymallus thymallus (L.), are susceptible to atypical Aeromonas salmonicida (aAS) infections. Interactions between bacteria and parasites were studied using grayling subjected to concomitant exposure to aAS bacteria and the digenean parasite Diplostomum spathaceum. Atypical AS was detected from fish by a combination of bacterial cultivation and polymerase chain reaction techniques. A detection level of 17 aAS cells per 100 mg intestine tissue sample was obtained. Concomitant bacterial exposure did not enhance the severity of grayling eye rupture and nuclear extrusion induced by D. spathaceum, but D. spathaceum invasion into grayling increased the proportion of fish carrying aAS in their heart tissue. However, the number of aAS cells detected in heart tissue was low. Atypical AS did not cause acute disease or mortality during 15 days post-exposure. There was a higher prevalence of aAS in grayling heart samples than in intestinal samples, indicating that the intestine is not favoured by aAS. We suggest that heart tissue would be a good organ from which to isolate aAS when tracing latent carrier fish. We conclude that penetrating diplostomids can enhance bacterial infections in fish and that diplostomids can cause serious eye ruptures in grayling.     

Natural food and artificial,dry starter diets: effects on growth and survival in intensively reared European grayling

Four artificial, dry feeds and two diets consisting of natural, live food were evaluated for use as starter diets in the intensive rearing of European grayling (Thymallus thymallus). Long-term effects of the different diets were also studied. The investigation was divided into two parts: a 14 day starter period and the subsequent 115 days, during which the long-term effects were studied. Diets differed between the different treatment groups during the initial 2 weeks, whereafter all fish were offered a single diet. At the end of the starter period, significant differences in weight (p<0.001) were obtained between natural (control) feed groups and three of the artificial feed groups. The highest growth rate (9.6% day^–1), and length increase (9 mm) as well as the lowest mortality rate (6.0%) were obtained with one of the artificial diets. Growth rate, length increase and mortality of grayling in the other diet groups varied from 3.6 to 7.7% day^–1, 5 to 7 mm and 7.0 to 9.1%, respectively. The switchover to a different dry diet resulted in an increase in mean daily mortality for all groups previously fed a dry diet. For the fish previously fed live food the mortality rate remained about the same. Groups of fish growing slowly during one period seemed to compensate for their initially low growth by increasing their growth rates during the next period. The highest mean daily mortality for all groups during the experiment was observed during the period with the highest water temperature. It was concluded that European grayling can be intensively reared during the start-feeding phase on artificial as well as natural diets, and that artificial dry diets can be used exclusively throughout the first summer.     

Putative virulence factors of atypical Aeromonas salmonicida isolated from Arctic charr,Salvelinus alpinus (L.), and European grayling,Thymallus thymallus (L.)

Atypical Aeromonas salmonicida (AAS) causes generalized lethal infections in farmed Arctic charr, Salvelinus alpinus (L.), and European grayling, Thymallus thymallus (L.), and is thus a serious threat for culture of these fish species. Virulence factors were studied among isolates of AAS from Arctic charr (n = 20), European grayling (n = 19) and other fish species (n = 20), of which 48 were of Finnish and 11 of Swedish origin. All isolates produced an A-layer. Extracellular products (ECP) of the AAS isolates did not produce detectable gelatinase and caseinase activity in test assays. Analysis of the same ECP preparations with substrate sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis showed weak proteolytic activity, indicating the different sensitivity of the detection methods used. The ECP from AAS isolates showed low cytotoxic activity against cultured cells. However, the ECP did not induce mortality in challenged Arctic charr. The results suggest that toxic components, like ECP, secreted by the bacterium may not be the major virulence factor in AAS-infection in Arctic charr and European grayling, and hence the pathogenesis also differs from the pathogenesis of AAS-infection in Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L.     

Trophic pathways supporting Arctic grayling in a small stream on the Arctic Coastal Plain,Alaska

Beaded streams are prominent across the Arctic Coastal Plain (ACP) of Alaska, yet prey flow and food web dynamics supporting fish inhabiting these streams are poorly understood. Arctic grayling (Thymallus arcticus) are a widely distributed upper‐level consumer on the ACP and migrate into beaded streams to forage during the short 3‐month open‐water season. We investigated energy pathways and key prey resources that support grayling in a representative beaded stream, Crea Creek. We measured terrestrial invertebrates entering the stream from predominant riparian vegetation types, prey types supporting a range of fish size classes, and how riparian plants and fish size influenced foraging habits. We found that riparian plants influenced the quantity of terrestrial invertebrates entering Crea Creek; however, these differences were not reflected in fish diets. Prey type and size ingested varied with grayling size and season. Small grayling (<15 cm fork length (FL)) consumed mostly aquatic invertebrates early in the summer, and terrestrial invertebrates later in summer, while larger fish (>15 cm FL) foraged most heavily on ninespine stickleback (Pungitius pungitius) throughout the summer, indicating that grayling can be insectivorous and piscivorous, depending on size. These findings underscore the potential importance of small streams in Arctic ecosystems as key summer foraging habitats for fish. Understanding trophic pathways supporting stream fishes in these systems will help interpret whether and how petroleum development and climate change may affect energy flow and stream productivity, terrestrial–aquatic linkages and fishes in Arctic ecosystems.     

The effects of stream canopy management on macroinvertebrate communities and juvenile salmonid production in a chalk stream

Abstract  The effects of changes in shading (through riparian canopy removal and re-growth) on juvenile salmon, Salmo salar L., trout, Salmo trutta L., and grayling, Thymallus thymallus (L.) populations, and macroinvertebrate biomass and species composition in a chalk stream in southern England were examined. Low levels of in-stream weed growth, because of shading by closed tree canopy, diminished macroinvertebrate production and diversity. 0+ salmon and trout had lower densities under closed canopy, relative to adjacent open sites with substantial weed cover, where fish were also found to be larger. Canopy removal positively affected the growth of aquatic macrophytes and the availability of potential prey for juvenile salmonids. The findings have implications for the management of chalk streams, in particular, that riparian tree canopy should be managed to prevent complete closure, and excessive cutting of weed should be avoided where salmon production is below sustainable levels.     

Post-stocking behaviour of hatchery-reared European grayling, Thymallus thymallus (L.), and brown trout, Salmo trutta L., in a semi-natural stream

Hatchery-reared, juvenile European grayling, Thymallus thymallus (L.), and brown trout, Salmo trutta L., were each stocked six times into an area of a semi-natural stream. The order in which the two species were released was switched after every second experimental stocking. Temporal and spatial post-stocking dispersal, effects of previously stocked species, feeding behaviour and the influences of sex and size were studied. During each 48-h experimental release period, some fish were recaptured in a trap situated 200 m downstream from the stocking site, and fish remaining in the stream after each experimental release were caught by electric fishing. Significantly more grayling than trout moved downstream and left the semi-natural stream. Proportions of stocked grayling recaptured in the trap within 2 h and from 2 to 48 h post stocking in the stream were 36.4% and 10.0%, respectively. Corresponding recapture rates for brown trout were both 1.5%. Most of the grayling and brown trout that did not leave the stream early were recaptured in deep, slow-moving water at low velocities in the release area. The presence of grayling at the time that the brown trout were stocked resulted in significantly fewer brown trout staying in the upper part of the stream. Within 48 h of their release, 33.3% and 22.8% of the grayling and brown trout, respectively, had eaten natural food items. The mean length of brown trout recaptured in the upper part of the stocking area was significantly lower than that of fish recaptured in the lower part and in the trap. Among brown trout, males showed a significantly greater propensity to eat and to stay in the upper part of the stream near the stocking site compared with females . Brown trout with natural food items in their stomachs had significantly lower mean length than trout without such items. No sex- or size-related differences were found in the spatial distribution or feeding activity of grayling.     

Observations of ovarian involution in the Australian grayling (Prototroctes mareana)

Abstract  – A 2-year study of the threatened Australian grayling, Prototroctes mareana, was undertaken to investigate its reproductive strategy in relation to river flow. Monitoring of reproductive maturity in the Barwon River in south-eastern Australia indicated that no spawning occurred in the 2 years. In both years, ovarian involution was observed in a large proportion of the sampled population; flows during this period were less than the historical average. When coupled with the historical evidence, these observations suggest that spawning coincides with increased river discharge. River regulation may inhibit spawning.     

The complementary role of lentic and lotic habitats for Arctic grayling in a complex stream‐lake network in Arctic Alaska

Lakes can be important to stream dwelling fishes, yet how individuals exploit habitat heterogeneity across complex stream‐lake networks is poorly understood. Furthermore, despite growing awareness that intermittent streams are widely used by fish, studies documenting the use of seasonally accessible lakes remain scarce. We studied Arctic grayling (Thymallus arcticus) in a small seasonally flowing (June–October) stream‐lake network in Alaska using PIT telemetry. Overall, 70% of fish visited two lakes, 8% used a single lake, and 22% used only stream reaches. We identified five distinct behavioural patterns that differed in dominant macrohabitat used (deep lake, shallow lake or stream reaches), entry day into the network and mobility. Some juvenile fish spent the entire summer in a shallow seasonally frozen lake (average 71 days), whereas others demonstrated prospecting behaviour and only entered the stream channel briefly in September. Another group included adult and juvenile fish that were highly mobile, moving up to 27 km while in the 3‐km stream‐lake network, and used stream reaches extensively (average 59 days). Lentic and lotic habitats served differing roles for individuals, some fish occupied stream reaches as summer foraging habitat, and other individuals used them as migration corridors to access lakes. Our study emphasises the importance of considering stream‐lake connectivity in stream fish assessments, even to shallow seasonally frozen habitats not widely recognised as important. Furthermore, we demonstrate that individuals may use temporary aquatic habitats in complex and changing ways across ontogeny that are not captured by typical classifications of fish movement behaviour.     

Diel distribution,behaviour and consumption of juvenile Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) in a Wilderness stream

Abstract – Understanding population regulation in juvenile salmonids requires distinguishing the effects of intrinsic (size, behaviour) and extrinsic (food, competition) factors. To examine the relative influence of these variables on juvenile Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) in the Salmon River drainage (ID, USA), we examined diel differences in foraging microhabitats, behaviour and consumption in two areas with consistent differences in parr‐to‐smolt survival. In lower Big Creek (LBC, high‐survival area) and upper Big Creek (UBC, low‐survival area), we observed fish by snorkelling, recording length, behaviour (foraging rate and aggression) and physical (depth, velocity, cover, temperature) and biotic (density, size and species of neighbouring fish) microhabitat features. Stomach contents were extracted to estimate consumption. Depth and temperature were greater in LBC, where Chinook salmon were significantly larger and present at lower densities. Fish in LBC exhibited higher foraging activity during the day than night, but there were no size differences between day and night foragers. In UBC, a higher density area, foraging behaviour did not change between day and night, although the smallest size classes did not forage nocturnally. Regression models that integrated physical and biotic variables suggested that physical factors influenced foraging in both areas, but competition also affected foraging in UBC. Our results demonstrate that fish from low‐ and high‐survival populations in Big Creek are exposed to different physical and biological influences during their first growth season, which are reflected in different diel foraging behaviours.     

Anthropogenic spreading of anguillid herpesvirus 1 by stocking of infected farmed European eels,Anguilla anguilla (L.), in the Schlei fjord in northern Germany

The Schlei fjord in northern Germany is the recipient water of a comprehensive eel, Anguilla anguilla (L.), stocking programme. Since 2015, stocked eels become alizarin red S marked, but to date no control mechanism is implemented in this stock enhancement measure to prevent anthropogenic spreading of diseases. Consequentially, it was possible that farmed stocking cohorts of 2015 and 2016 (in total ca. 1040 kg) were subsequently tested positive for anguillid herpesvirus 1 (AngHV 1). For this study, 100 eels [total length (TL) 24.3–72.9 cm, age ca. 1–6 years] were caught in 2016 and investigated with regard to AngHV 1 infection, parasite load (Anguillicoloides crassus) and body conditions. 68% of the eels were found to be virus positive while larger specimens were more often infected. In addition, a fitted generalized linear model (area under the curve = 0.741) demonstrated that an increase in individual TL is accompanied with an increased risk of clinically relevant virus loads. Anguillicoloides crassus turned out to be an important stressor for eels, because parasite and virus load revealed a significant positive correlation. The results of this study evidently show the urgent need of a disease containment strategy for eel stocking programmes.     

Movement behaviour of large female yellow European eel (Anguilla anguilla L.) in a freshwater polder area

Due to a recruitment decline of more than 90% in 30 years, the European eel (Anguilla anguilla L.) has been classified by IUCN as critically endangered. Although the species has been studied intensively to obtain knowledge to improve management, studies about the resident yellow stage are relatively scarce. In this study, 52 large female yellow eels were tagged with acoustic transmitters in a Belgian polder system and tracked by a network of 23 automatic listening stations. We studied both circadian and seasonal movement patterns and the effect of environmental variables on these patterns. Large female yellow eels were most active at night in late summer and early autumn. A generalised linear mixed model showed that their movement is only slightly influenced by environmental variables. Moreover, as yellow eels show high site fidelity (i.e., the majority was detected only in the habitat type of their catch‐release location), they do not encounter many human‐induced connectivity problems in polder systems, which makes these systems highly suitable as eel growth habitat. These results can contribute to an effective eel management regarding habitat protection and restoration.     

Changes in rheological properties of grass carp fast skeletal myosin induced by seasonal acclimatization

To elucidate the effects of seasonal temperature acclimatization on thermal gelation of grass carp myosin, myosins from fish in different seasons were prepared and investigated for the changes in dynamic viscoelastic parameters including storage modulus (G′), loss modulus (G″) and damping factor (tan δ) upon heating. Myosins from fish in spring and summer had a temperature region of 38–44°C for the first marked increase of G′ higher than that of myosins from fish in autumn and winter (28–33°C). The measurement temperature-dependent changes in dynamic viscoelastic parameters such as G″ and tan δ were also different among the four myosins. While gel formation was observed with the spring and summer myosins, apparently in two steps, three steps were found in the autumn myosin. Furthermore, the winter myosin exhibited more than three steps for gel formation. These differences in rheological properties among the four myosins were considered to be attributed to the differences in thermodynamic and structural properties of these myosins previously reported.     

Effect of sand grain size on substrate preference and burial behaviour in cultured Japanese flounder juvenile,Paralichthys olivaceus

To improve release techniques of Japanese flounder, Paralichthys olivaceus, for the purpose of stock enhancement, the substrate preference and burial behaviour over a range of sand grain sizes were investigated under laboratory conditions. Ten 12‐hr trials (i.e. 10 experimental groups), which, respectively, contained two different levels of substrates, demonstrated that juvenile flounder (55–78 mm total length) selected substrate of grain size (GS) < 2.00 mm, and the degree (from high to low) of their preference could be listed as Level 3 (0.50–2.00 mm) > Level 4 (0.25–0.50 mm) > Level 5 (0.05–0.25 mm) > Level 2 (2.00–4.00 mm) > Level 1 (4.00–6.00 mm). The average burying of fish in substrates of GS < 2.00 mm was more than 93.1%. Additionally, along with food deprivation time increased from 12 to 24 hr, some flounder showed random off‐bottom swimming behaviour, and the appearance of off‐bottom swimming behaviour was <3.2%. These results suggest that releasing sites with appropriate substrate grain size (GS < 2.00 mm) are suitable for conducting mass releases of hatchery‐reared flounder juveniles, and starvation prior to release should be minimized. The results of the present study are essential to improve stocking strategies of Japanese flounder and reduce the juvenile mortality after release.     

Impacts of stock enhancement strategies on the effective population size of Murray cod,Maccullochella peelii,a threatened Australian fish

Abstract Murray cod, Maccullochella peelii (Mitchell) is an iconic Australian species endemic to the Murray‐Darling Basin (MDB) of inland south‐eastern Australia. Murray cod has been a valuable food source and supported a large commercial fishery throughout much of the 20th century. Over‐fishing and habitat destruction have resulted in significant declines in Murray cod populations throughout much of its range. Since the early 1980s, large numbers of Murray cod have been stocked into waterways to support both recreational fishing and conservation efforts. In this study, the likely impacts of past and current stocking practices on genetic diversity of Murray cod were modelled and new strategies to maximise genetic diversity in stocked populations are explored. The results suggest that a large, well‐managed breeding and stocking programme could help maintain genetic diversity of Murray cod across the MDB. In catchments within the MDB where the effective population size is very small, a well‐designed stocking programme, following strict guidelines for numbers of families reared and number of individuals maintained per family, could increase genetic diversity in a few generations.     

Early settlement and growth of stocked European glass eels in a fragmented watercourse

One of the actions that has been implemented to support the recovery of the panmictic population of European eel is stocking of waterbodies where natural recruitment is low or null. However, growth conditions of the stocked eels can vary greatly. This circumstance emphasises the importance to determine ideal habitat conditions to contribute to the success of stocking actions and, consequently, to increase the production of silver eels. This study aims to evaluate the early settlement and growth of stocked glass eels in the upper reaches of a fragmented river. Stocking was carried out, in 2014, at three sites of an inland tributary of the Mondego river basin (Central Portugal), and its monitoring was conducted during the following two years, until 2016, along with the collection of environmental and hydromorphological parameters. The results showed a successful dispersion throughout the study area. Growth varied spatially, although environmental parameters have not clearly explained this variation, but overall with high growth rates and a positive allometric growth in this early stage of stocking, suggesting a good condition of the stocked individuals. This study showed that these upper reaches of fragmented watercourses, a shared feature amongst most European rivers that are currently inaccessible for natural recruitment, may be suitable habitats for eel stocking.     

氟苯尼考在欧洲鳗鲡体内的药物代谢动力学的研究

应用反相高效液相色谱法对口灌和肌肉注射氟苯尼考在欧洲鳗鲡(Anguilla anguilla)体内的代谢规律进行了研究.按100 mg·kg-1口灌给药后血浆、肌肉、肝脏、肾脏中氟苯尼考浓度的达峰时间分别为2h、6h、0.5h、1h,以后开始缓慢下降,给药2d后血浆、肌肉、肝脏、肾脏中的氟苯尼考浓度分别为4.209μg·mL-1、0.792μg·g-1、0.493μg·g-1、1.448μg·g-1,给药3d后血浆中的氟苯尼考浓度分别为0.0836μg·mL-1,肌肉、肝脏、肾脏中的氟苯尼考浓度均未检出;按100mg·kg-1肌肉注射给药后血浆中氟苯尼考浓度达峰时间为0.5h,以后开始缓慢下降,给药5d后血浆中的氟苯尼考浓度为0.1151μg·mL-1,给药10d后血浆中的氟苯尼考浓度未检出.口灌氟苯尼考在欧洲鳗鲡体内血浆、肌肉、肝脏、肾脏中分布可用开放性二室模型来描述,口灌给药的血浆、肌肉、肝脏、肾脏中的消除半衰期(T1/2β)分别为27.939h、18.844h、11.83h、36.87h;肌肉注射氟苯尼考在欧洲鳗鲡体内血浆、肌肉、肝脏、肾脏中分布可用开放性一室模型来描述,肌肉注射给药的血浆中的消除半衰期(T1/2β)为37.52h.