Nest site characteristics and male reproductive success in the upland bully, Gobiomorphus breviceps (Eleotridae)

Abstract— The characteristics of male upland bullies ( Gobiomorphus breviceps ) and their nest sites were examined in two New Zealand streams as possible determinants of male reproductive success. There was no association between male size, nest site characteristics (depth, distance to shore, river velocity, nest rock size), and male reproductive success. Similarly, the male's parasite load had no detectable influence on reproductive success. Multiple regression analysis revealed that no combination of factors could explain the wide variation in male reproductive success. It may be that the unpredictable nature of the stream habitats of bullies has favored reduced choosiness in females, which could lead to an absence of correlations between male and nest characteristics and reproductive success.     

Growth and morphology of an endangered native freshwater fish,crucian carp Carassius carassius,in an English ornamental pond

• 1. Crucian carp Carassius carassius, which is native to south‐east England, has received little previous study in Britain but is threatened by introductions of goldfish Carassius auratus through hybridization and by frequent mis‐identification of brown goldfish as crucian carp. The present study provides the first data on back‐calculated growth, morphology and age‐at‐maturity of crucian carp in Britain.
• 2. The youngest mature crucian were female (age 2+), the smallest mature crucian were male (age 3+), with almost all fish mature at age 3+. Sex dimorphism in back‐calculated standard length at age was not observed except at age 2+ (juveniles longest). Shifts in morphological characters often associated with maturation (dorsal and ventral fin length, dorsal and anal fin depth, pre‐dorsal distance, body width) were observed between ages 4+ and 7+, which (in contrast to the relatively abrupt shift in maturity) suggests that age and size at maturation may not reflect the size and age of active (i.e. real) spawning.
• 3. Back‐calculated standard lengths at age for crucian carp were intermediate relative to other European populations, indicating that environmental conditions in England appear to be well suited to the species despite being at the westernmost extent of the species' native European range. The management of ornamental ponds specifically for crucian carp is discussed.

© Crown copyright 2007. Reproduced with the permission of Her Majesty's Stationery Office. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A review and meta‐analysis of growth and life‐history traits of a declining European freshwater fish,crucian carp Carassius carassius

相似文献   

Small-scale spatial variation in age and size at maturity of stream-dwelling brown trout, Salmo trutta

Abstract – This study documents substantial small-scale spatial variation in age and size at maturity of brown trout ( Salmo trutta ) found either in allopatry (above major waterfalls) or in sympatry (below waterfalls) with the Alpine bullhead ( Cottus poecilopus ) in forest streams in south-east Norway. Within two streams, female brown trout above waterfalls tended to delay the onset of sexual maturity, as compared with females from neighbouring sites below the waterfalls. Four additional streams were represented with either an allopatric or a sympatric site. There was considerable variation in age and size at maturity among these streams, but no consistent difference between allopatric and sympatric sites. It is suggested that the spatial variation in maturity responses is influenced by local opportunities for growth, and possibly also survival. Earlier studies in these streams have linked spatial variation in brown trout behaviour and demography to the presence or absence of the Alpine bullhead.     

Reproductive life history of the North American madtom catfish, Noturus hildebrandi (Bailey & Taylor 1950), with a review of data for the genus

Abstract– The female reproductive traits of a small, North American catfish were studied over a two-year period in a population at the southern extreme of the species'range. The reproductive season was long for Noturus , possibly from February to September. Females matured at age 1 and probably reproduced in only a single year. Clutch sizes were 16–68 oocytes in females 33–47 mm SL, and only one lifetime clutch may be produced. Clutch size, dry mass and volume were related to female size, but ripening oocyte size was not. Clutch mass averaged 23% of total body mass just prior to spawning. Compared to a northern population, females had greater SL-adjusted body masses, clutch sizes and clutch volumes but smaller oocytes. Oocyte size accounted for 73% of the difference in clutch sizes and clutch volume 14%. Concerns about the comparability of present data for Noturus are expressed. The need to include many life-history traits, from several populations of each species, using standardized methods in analysis of functional responses is discussed.     

Stock assessment of the blue jack mackerel,Trachurus picturatus,in the North‐eastern Atlantic

A total of 49,151 blue jack mackerel, Trachurus picturatus, (Bowdich) was collected in Madeira Island (North‐eastern Atlantic) between 2002 and 2016 to evaluate possible influence of fishing on landings and reproductive parameters. A decreasing trend in the length composition was observed over the study period and length at first maturity decreased by 2.78 cm TL. Maximum yield per recruit decreased from 2002 to 2016 but the corresponding fishing mortality was constant (F_max = 0.4/year). Considering the fishing mortality level in 2016, it is evident that the stock may be exploited beyond its sustainability limit. Amendments of the purse‐seine fishing regulations and implementation of measures to reduce fishing effort are suggested.     

Population density,growth and reproduction of arapaima in an Amazonian river‐floodplain

Arantes CC, Castello L, Stewart DJ, Cetra M, Queiroz HL. Population density, growth and reproduction of arapaima in an Amazonian river‐floodplain. Ecology of Freshwater Fish 2010: 19: 455–465. © 2010 John Wiley & Sons A/S Abstract – Compensatory density effects are key features of fish population dynamics that remain poorly understood in tropical river‐floodplains. We investigated possible compensatory growth and reproductive processes for a river‐floodplain population of Arapaima sp., an extinction‐prone fish species of South America. Body growth was studied through analysis of ring patterns on the scales, and size and age at sexual maturity was studied through analysis of female gonads. Growth and maturity were compared for unmanaged conditions with relatively low population density (in 1990s) versus managed conditions with markedly higher density (in 2005–2006); between 1999 and 2005–2006, abundance increased 7.3 fold. Results contradict theoretical expectations for slower growth and delayed reproduction at higher population density. Total lengths of arapaima at low population density were significantly shorter for age classes 1–5 compared with lengths of those age classes at high population density (ancova , P < 0.0001 for both slopes and intercepts). Total length at 50% maturity (L₅₀) only declined about 4% with increasing density (e.g., 164 cm at low density vs. 157 cm at high density). Apparent faster growth at high density and only a slight change in size at maturity resulted in fishes spawning at an earlier age with high density conditions (age 3 vs. age 4–5). We hypothesise that these patterns reflect compliance with minimum size limits of catch during the high density (managed) situation, where there was no harvest of immature fishes. Compliance with minimum size limits, thus, may have led to faster average body growth rate and earlier reproduction, which has greatly promoted population recovery.     

A common environment experiment reveals plastic and genetic contributions to the fast life‐history strategy of an invasive fish

Invasive species often exhibit a suite of life‐history traits that promote rapid population growth, including early age and small size at maturation, and high reproductive investment. The common expression of these “fast” life‐history traits in invasive populations could be the result of plastic and/or genetic responses to the non‐native environment, or in response to the process of range expansion. To determine the relative importance of plastic and genetic contributions to the expression of life‐history traits, we reared two native Canadian and two invasive Spanish populations of Pumpkinseed sunfish (Lepomis gibbosus) in a common environment in central Ontario, Canada. In the wild, European Pumpkinseed tend to exhibit faster juvenile growth rates, younger age and smaller size at maturity, and higher reproductive investment than native North American populations. When reared in a common environment, both native and invasive populations exhibited similar juvenile growth rates, and similar age and size at maturity, suggesting that the differences seen among wild populations are a plastic response to the warmer non‐native environment. However, reproductive investment was consistently higher in the Spanish populations regardless of rearing environment, suggesting a genetic difference in reproductive investment between native and invasive populations. Selection for greater reproductive investment in non‐native Pumpkinseed may have contributed to their widespread success in Europe.     

Egg production in the salmon louse [Lepeophtheirus salmonis (Krøyer)] in relation to origin and water temperature

Egg strings of salmon lice, Lepeophtheirus salmonis (Krøyer 1837), collected from farmed and wild Atlantic salmon had similar length and number of eggs string^?1. Egg production was investigated at water temperatures from 7.1 °C to 12.2 °C. A regression model indicated that at low temperatures egg strings were longer and had more eggs. Mean length of single eggs was significantly smaller and the percentage of non‐viable eggs in the strings was higher at 7.1 °C than at 12.2 °C. Adult females survived for up to 191 days at 7.2 °C, and during this period 11 pairs of egg strings were produced.     

Spatial and temporal differences in life history parameters of Rastrineobola argentea (Pellegrin, 1904) in the Lake Victoria basin in relation to fishing intensity

The small pelagic cyprinid, Rastrineobola argentea (Pellegrin), commonly known as dagaa, accounted for 60% of the total fish biomass and 40% of the commercial catches in Lake Victoria in 2015. However, some aspects of the biology of species (from which management interventions are based) have changed since 1970s; and yet harvest regulations have remained the same. In this study, spatial and temporal variations in life history traits of dagaa in the northern portion of Lake Victoria were examined in relation to fishing intensity to offer guidance on possible adjustments in managing the fishery. The mean standard length halved, whilst the length at 50% maturity (Lm₅₀) reduced by 27%, between the 1970s and 2015; however, the decline in Lm₅₀ was more pronounced in males than females. Data collected between 2014 and 2015 showed that immature individuals are largely harvested from inshore and mid‐island areas, whilst most of the fishes caught in open water areas are largely mature irrespective of the size of the gear used. The causes of the changes in these biological aspects, and the need for policy adjustment, are discussed in the context of changes in fishing pressure.     

The inverse life‐history problem,size‐dependent mortality and two extensions of results of Holt and Beverton

In 1958, Sidney Holt developed a model to determine the optimal mass at which to harvest a cohort of fish having von Bertalanffy growth and experiencing constant natural mortality. Holt and Ray Beverton then gave a life‐history interpretation to the analysis, from which Beverton developed a theory of Growth, Maturity, and Longevity (GML) that allows one to predict quantities such as age at maturity or relative size at maturity using life‐history parameters. I extend their results in two ways. First, keeping the original formulation, in which the rate of natural mortality is constant, I show how one can invert Beverton's result to determine the rate of natural mortality from life‐history data. I illustrate this inverse method with data on three species of tuna and compare the estimates with those based on tagging. Second, I extend Beverton's GML theory to include size‐dependent mortality. I explore previously published mortality models and introduce a new mortality function that has size‐independent and size‐dependent components. I show that the new size‐dependent mortality function leads to the prediction that age at maturity depends upon asymptotic size (as well as the other life‐history parameters), something that Beverton's original theory lacked. I illustrate this extension with a simple example, discuss directions for future work and conclude that nearly 60 years on these contributions of Holt and Beverton continue to lead us in new and exciting directions.     

Effects of storage and incubation temperature on the viability of eggs, embryos and larvae in two strains of an African catfish, Heterobranchus longifilis (Siluriformes, Clariidae)

Two experiments, dealing with short‐term storage of ova and thermal conditions to optimize gamete and eggs management in hatcheries of the African catfish, Heterobranchus longifilis, were carried out. In the first experiment, ova collected by stripping from two strains of H. longifilis were stored for intervals up to 8 h at two temperature regimes: in a domestic refrigerator (3–5°C) and at ambient room temperature (20.5–22°C). In the second experiment, eggs were incubated from fertilization to hatching at different experimental temperatures (21, 25, 29, 32 and 35°C) to determine the effects of temperature on the kinetics of white egg appearance, hatching times and hatching quality. Gamete storage at warmer temperatures significantly prolonged viability irrespective of the strain used. In fact, the hatching rate for ova stored at 20.5–22 and 3–5°C for 5 h ranged between 75.2–79.3% and 6.5–9.4% respectively. Loss of viability was most noticeable after 6 h storage at ambient room temperature. Post‐storage viability significantly declined after 2 h exposure to the domestic refrigerator temperature. No hatching of normal larvae took place after 8 h post‐storage time. Results from the second experiment showed that time to maximum whitening of eggs was both strain‐ and temperature‐dependent. The time to maximum mortality of eggs was shorter in the Layo strain (LS) than in the Noun strain (NS), regardless of incubation temperature. The appearance of white eggs was shorter with increasing incubation temperatures. Hatching times decreased with increasing temperature, regardless of strain. Hatching took place from 21 to 27 h and 19 to 24 h after fertilization at temperature of 29°C, respectively, for NS and LS. The length of the hatching period was remarkably shorter for LS than NS at any tested incubation temperature, except 35°C. No hatching took place at 21°C. The highest proportion of normal larvae occurred at 25 and 29°C, respectively, for NS and LS. Hatching rate was highest at 25 and 29°C, respectively, for NS and LS. There was a significantly higher proportion of deformed larvae at 35°C regardless of the strain.     

Reproductive biology of Venus clam Gafrarium tumidum (Roding, 1798) from Southeast coast of India

The reproductive biology of tumid venus clam Gafrarium tumidum (Roding) was studied in detail from the Southeast coast of India. Sample size ranged from 10.3 to 41.3 mm. Sexes are separate but not differentiated externally. Annual sex ratio male:female (M:F) deviated significantly from the 1:1 ratio with females dominating. Based on ova diameter progression of gonad smear and histology, four and two maturity stages of gonads were differentiated in female and male clams, respectively. Peak spawning was observed during November and a minor one in April. The monthly average condition index based on wet/dry flesh weight ranged from 7.24 (November) and 14.14 (September) and 8.82 (October) and 14.38 (August), respectively. The condition index observed by both the methods is comparable and corresponds with the spawning season. Water content observed for male and female clams varied negligibly and showed positive correlation with spawning period. Size at first maturity was estimated to be 22.3 mm.     

黄河口及其邻近水域矛尾虾虎鱼渔业生物学特征

为了查明黄河口及其邻近水域矛尾虾虎鱼(Chaeturichthys stigmatias)的生物学特征,为其渔业资源评估和管理提供基本参数,本研究根据2013年6月至2014年5月在黄河口及邻近水域进行底拖网调查所得的矛尾虾虎鱼资源生物学数据,对其群体组成、体长-体重关系和性成熟等渔业生物学特性进行了初步分析。结果表明,该海域矛尾虾虎鱼体长分布范围为25~154 mm,平均体长为(87.77±24.18)mm,优势体长为60~120 mm,占总渔获尾数的76.71%。体重范围为0.08~37.83 g,平均体重为(9.1±6.905)g,优势体重为0~10 g,占63.03%。全年矛尾虾虎鱼体长(SL)-体重(W)关系式为W=4.7×10~(-6)SL~(3.183)(R~2=0.962,n=1842)。矛尾虾虎鱼性腺成熟度和性成熟系数均呈现出明显的月变化,其主要繁殖期为4―5月,产卵持续至6月上旬;体长与性腺成熟度之间的关系无显著雌雄差异,瞬时性成熟速率K=0.039,50%性成熟体长L_(50)=117.92 mm。     

温度和体质量对军曹鱼生长及氮收支的影响

为调查军曹鱼生长和氮收支与温度和体质量的关系,采用鱼类生物能量学的原理和方法,开展了不同温度(21、27和33 ℃)和体质量(10、20、50和100 g)对军曹鱼生长和氮收支的影响研究,并建立了生长——温度/体质量关系及不同温度和体质量条件下的氮收支方程。结果显示:(1)温度和体质量对军曹鱼生长影响显著,且两者之间存在交互作用。军曹鱼在实验的最高水温(33 ℃)及最小体质量(10 g)时生长最快,在实验的最低水温(21 ℃)及最大体质量(100 g)时生长最慢。(2)实验的体质量范围内,军曹鱼特定生长率均随水温升高呈显著增长趋势;在实验的温度范围内,军曹鱼特定生长率随体质量增加呈减速下降趋势,两者间的关系采用幂函数定量描述。多元回归分析表明,模型LnSGR=a+bLnW+cT+dT²+eTLnW能较好地拟合军曹鱼特定生长率、温度及体质量间的关系。(3)军曹鱼摄食氮、排粪氮、排泄氮和生长氮受温度和体质量影响显著,随温度升高而增加,随体质量增加趋于减少。(4)不同温度和体质量组军曹鱼氮收支方程存在差异,且温度对氮收支方程的影响大于体质量。对同一体质量组,水温27和33 ℃时生长氮占食物氮的比例明显高于水温21 ℃时,而水温27和33 ℃时代谢氮占食物氮的比例则明显低于水温21 ℃时;对同一温度组,军曹鱼氮收支方程变幅较小。(5)在所有氮收支方程中,摄食氮用于排泄的比例大于68%。研究表明,在实验的温度和体质量范围内,环境温度偏低不利于军曹鱼生长;排泄是军曹鱼氮支出的最主要途径;水温27~33 ℃时军曹鱼氮收支方程相对恒定。     

Size,permeability and buoyancy of anchovy (Engraulis Encrasicolus) and sardine (Sardina Pilchardus) eggs in relation to their physical environment in the Bay of Biscay

The size and specific gravity of eggs of marine pelagic fish partly determine their dispersal and survival. Using an original dataset of anchovy and sardine eggs, sampled in spring over the last decade in the Bay of Biscay, we provide a parameterization of these properties on ambient water temperature and salinity. We used the density gradient column for measurement of egg specific gravity. The column was also filled with homogeneous water for sinking velocity experiments. For anchovy, these experiments confirm that the effect of egg permeability through the chorion could be neglected when modelling sinking, while it has to be considered for sardine, its perivitelline space representing 78.6% (±6.2%) of the total egg volume, as opposed to 5–10% for most teleosts species. We estimated a coefficient of permeability of the chorion of 0.0038 mm s^?1. However, permeability should not affect the measurement of sardine egg specific gravity in a gradient column, provided a minimum duration before reading is respected for equilibrium to be reached. In relation to their environment, we found that the egg specific gravity is largely determined by sea surface salinity for both species, whereas egg size is weakly but significantly impacted by temperature, for sardine only. On average, the estimated difference in specific gravity between egg and surface water is ?0.92 σ_T for anchovy and ?1.06 σ_T for sardine. The detailed parameterization of the relationship between eggs and water properties should prove useful, in particular to modellers dealing with the dispersal of fish early life stages.     

Influence of life‐history variation on demographic responses of three freshwater mussel species (Bivalvia: Unionidae) in the Clinch River,USA

• 1. Variation in age, shell growth, and demographic responses of two endangered mussel species, Epioblasma brevidens and Epioblasma capsaeformis, and a third non‐listed species, Lampsilis fasciola, were studied from 2004–2008 in a 32‐km reach of the Clinch River, TN.
• 2. Observed maximum age and length of E. brevidens was 28 yr and 71.5 mm for males and 15 yr and 56.6 mm for females; of E. capsaeformis, 12 yr and 54.6 mm for males and 9 yr and 48.6 mm for females; and of L. fasciola, 45 yr and 91.3 mm for males and 24 yr and 79.8 mm for females.
• 3. Estimated population size was ～46 000 individuals for E. brevidens, ～862 000 individuals for E. capsaeformis, and ～33 000 individuals for L. fasciola.
• 4. Mean recruitment per year of 1 yr‐olds ranged from 12.0% to 24.0% for E. brevidens, 4.2% to 56.6% for E. capsaeformis, and 10.0% to 38.5% for L. fasciola, and mean annual population growth rate was 21.0%, 31.3%, and ? 24.3%, respectively.
• 5. Juveniles were detectable but temporally and spatially variable in occurrence, and a significant proportion of the age‐class structure of each species. Recruitment was exceptionally high for E. capsaeformis during years when discharge was low in spring and summer.
• 6. Population size, growth, recruitment, and mortality rates of the shorter‐lived E. capsaeformis were correspondingly higher than those of E. brevidens and L. fasciola.
• 7. The federal recovery plan for E. brevidens and E. capsaeformis identifies quantification of demographic variables as a critical step toward meeting the recovery needs of each species. The data collected in this study begin to meet these needs and can be used to monitor and evaluate population performance of each species. Published in 2011 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

     

Influence of fish size and water temperature on the metabolic demand for oxygen by barramundi, Lates calcarifer (Bloch), in freshwater

Oxygen demand by all animals is driven primarily by their needs for sustaining metabolism. Typically, larger animals require more oxygen and cellular fuel to carry out respiration than smaller animals. This relationship in most cases is not linear and is usually described by a coefficient and exponent (e.g. ax^b): the exponent b showing the relationship between live‐weight and energy/oxygen demand and is often termed the metabolic body weight (MBW) exponent, while the coefficient (a) tends to be temperature specific and describes the relationship between MBW and maintenance metabolic energy and oxygen demand at that specific temperature. Across all temperatures (range 26.0–32.0°C), the relationship between barramundi (Lates calcarifer) live‐weight (x; g) and relative oxygen consumption as standard metabolic rate (y; mg O₂ kg^?1 h^?1) at 29.4±1.5°C (mean±SD) was described by the exponential curve: y=710.19 x^?0.3268, R²=0.6875 (n=222 assessments). Examination of the same data but on a gross oxygen consumption (mg O₂ h^?1) basis showed a relationship between live‐weight (x; g) and gross oxygen consumption (y; mg O₂ h^?1) that was described by the exponential curve: y=0.710 x^0.6732, R²=0.9033. Evaluation of the combined relationship between fish live‐weight (y; g) and water temperature (x; °C) on gross oxygen consumption rate (z; mg O₂ h^?1) was described by the equation: z=(?20.7818+1.4017x?0.0227x²) ×y^0.673.     

The effect of dispersal and temperature on the early life history of a temperate marine fish

Understanding the mechanisms that influence the successful recruitment of marine species is one of the great challenges in marine science, particularly for species that undergo a protracted larval phase. Here we apply a bio‐physical individual‐based model (IBM) which couples data from a high‐resolution oceanographic model with temperature‐related survival characteristics for the early life stage of a temperate marine fish. The IBM was run retrospectively for the years 1993–2007 with spawning locations occurring around Tasmania, Australia. Meso‐scale oceanographic features led to individuals spawned on the west coast, and to a lesser extent the south coast, being washed ashore prior to achieving a competent size to actively influence their migratory paths. Individuals spawned on the east coast had significantly higher survival rates. Temperature‐induced mortality was relatively consistent across years. This indicates that the dispersal envelopes, of pre‐flexion larvae, across all years are predominately within the thermal niche of this species. To further understand the effect of temperature on survival we integrated global climate model warming scenarios into the model. The results indicated that around the year 2050 the predicted warming would have a minor positive effect on the survival of individuals but by 2100 the pejus temperature will frequently be exceeded leading to a significant decline in survival, particularly towards the northern end of the dispersal range.