Swimming performance of wild and F1-hatchery-reared Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) and brown trout (Salmo trutta) smolts

Abstract –  The swimming performance of wild and hatchery-reared smolts of two salmonid species was investigated. Wild Atlantic salmon smolts (WS) and brown trout smolts (WT) of equal size were caught in fish traps during migration. Hatchery-reared smolts of both species (HS and HT for salmon and trout respectively) were first generation offspring from wild broodstock. The swimming performance of individual smolts from the four groups (WS, HS, WT, HT) was tested three consecutive times using a swimming flume with water flowing at a start rate of 0.16 m·s⁻¹ and a constant acceleration rate of 0.167 cm·s⁻² (10 cm·s⁻¹·min⁻¹). Wild caught smolts of both species performed significantly better than those reared in hatchery conditions. The WS group were observed to maintain an average swimming speed ( U _burst) that was 30% faster than the HS group, whereas the wild trout smolts were superior to HT by approximately 25%. Repeated measures revealed species-specific exhaustion patterns. Brown trout smolts maintained consecutive U _burst indicating significant stamina compared with Atlantic salmon smolts that were found to be exhausted by the initial trial.     

The relationship between stock and catch and the effect of bait on catch as determined for a UK recreational catch and release fishery

Abstract Twelve anglers fishing in a UK navigation canal for a total of 42 h caught 567 fish, mainly gudgeon, Gobio gobio (L.) ( n =306) and roach, Rutilus rutilus (L.) ( n =253) at an average catch rate of 13.4 fish angler-h⁻¹ or 128.5 g angler-h⁻¹. The species and size of fish caught were compared with the numbers determined by depletion estimates at six sections of canal using micromesh seine netting. Fifty four percent of fish caught in the net were < 60 mm FL. Gudgeon (60–99 mm) were over-represented in the anglers' catches whilst roach (60–99 mm) were under-represented. The size distribution of roach and gudgeon caught by anglers using two types of bait (small maggots and chironomid larvae) was examined and smaller fish were found to be caught using the latter.     

Fish pass effectiveness for bullhead (Cottus gobio), perch (Perca fluviatilis) and roach (Rutilus rutilus) in a regulated lowland river

Abstract –  The effectiveness of a pool-and-weir fish pass in the regulated river Laarse Beek (Belgium) was assessed for bullhead ( Cottus gobio ), perch ( Perca fluviatilis ) and roach ( Rutilus rutilus ) from August 2002 to April 2003. Fish were caught by electrofishing downstream, within and upstream of the fish pass. They were marked with visible implant elastomer tags and released downstream of the fish pass. Our results suggest that the fish pass is ineffective for the bullhead because none of the 1270 tagged bullheads were recaptured in the upstream study area. Passage failure most likely resulted from excessive water velocities in the fish pass. On the contrary, 8% of the tagged perch and 29% of the tagged roach were recaptured in the upstream study area. Several management strategies are proposed to allow free upstream passage of the endangered bullhead at the fish pass under study.     

Physiological and behavioural responses to hypoxia in an invasive freshwater fish species and a native competitor

The spread of invasive species is one of the major environmental concerns which can have negative effects on biodiversity. While several life history traits have been identified as being important for increasing the invasiveness of introduced species, the physiological factors that allow certain species to become successful invaders remain poorly understood. It has been speculated that good invaders are thriving in disturbed environments. In unfavourable conditions, as during hypoxic events, invasive species might be better adapted in their physiological and behavioural responses towards this stressor. We compared physiological and behavioural traits between two freshwater fish species: the European bullhead (Cottus gobio), an invasive fish species in Scotland, and its native competitor the stone loach (Barbatula barbatula) over different dissolved oxygen concentrations (DO). Contrary to expectations, bullhead displayed a reduced hypoxia tolerance as compared to stone loach, indicated by a higher threshold (P_crit) for the maintenance of standard metabolism. Avoidance behaviour during progressive hypoxia was similar between bullhead and stone loach. When given a choice between an open normoxic zone and a shelter located in hypoxia, both species spent most of their time hiding under the shelter in hypoxic conditions (bullhead: 100%; stone loach: 93.93%–99.73%), although stone loach showed brief excursions into normoxic conditions under 25% DO level. These results suggest that stone loach might be more resistant to hypoxia as compared to bullhead, and thus that increased hypoxia tolerance is likely not a trait by which bullhead have been able to expand their range within the United Kingdom.     

Do instream habitat variables and the abundance of brown trout Salmo trutta (L.) affect the distribution and growth of stone loach,Barbatula barbatula (L.)?

Abstract –  Along a stream, we investigated whether the abundance of stone loach ( Barbatula barbatula , L.) was related to the presence of brown trout ( Salmo trutta , L.) and instream habitat variables. First, a field survey was carried out where different habitat variables and the densities of both species were quantified and subjected to principal components analysis. Then the abundance of stone loach was related to the scores of the retained axes (eigenvalues >1). The abundance of stone loach was positively correlated to substrate particle size, amount of shade, temperature, discharge and current velocity, but negatively correlated to brown trout abundance. Secondly, a month-long field enclosure experiment in a stream was performed to test for any negative effects of brown trout on stone loach growth. Four treatments were used: intraspecific competition (stone loach at double density), interspecific competition (stone loach + small trout), predation (stone loach + large trout) and a control (stone loach alone). The results showed that large trout tended to have negative effects on final stone loach biomass. The absence of a negative effect of large trout on resource density suggests that nonlethal effects rather than resource competition caused this trend.     

Growth and performance of Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., following administration of a rhabdovirus DNA vaccine alone or concurrently with an oil-adjuvanted, polyvalent vaccine

This research demonstrates for the first time an absence of growth-related side effects in Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., following the injection of a DNA vaccine alone or concurrently with a commercially available, polyvalent, oil-adjuvanted vaccine. Using weight and specific growth rate measurements, individually tagged Atlantic salmon were monitored for 2028 degree days (dd) post-vaccination. During this time, DNA-vaccinated fish did not differ in weight, length, condition factor or specific growth rate compared to unvaccinated control fish. While differences in weight were observed between unvaccinated control and concurrently vaccinated fish, there were no significant differences in weight, length, condition factor or specific growth rate between concurrently vaccinated fish and adjuvant-vaccinated fish, suggesting that only adjuvant vaccination affected growth. To further determine if concurrent injection of a DNA vaccine and a polyvalent, oil-adjuvanted vaccine had a physiological impact on the Atlantic salmon, swimming performance tests were performed at 106 dd post-vaccination with U _crit,1, U _crit,2, the U _crit recovery ratio (RR) and the normalized RR being similar to values obtained from unvaccinated control fish. In summary, this study shows that concurrent injection of a DNA vaccine and a polyvalent, oil-adjuvanted vaccine does not negatively influence the growth or swimming performance of Atlantic salmon compared to adjuvant vaccination alone.     

High microsatellite genetic variability of the stone loach, Barbatula barbatula, in anthropogenically disturbed watercourses

Abstract  Genetic variation within and among stone loach, Barbatula barbatula L., populations inhabiting anthropogenically degraded watercourses in Flanders (northern part of Belgium) was assessed using five microsatellite markers. High levels of genetic diversity were observed at all sampling sites, (MNA: 6.2–11.2; H _O: 0.64–0.75; H _E: 0.67–0.85). Estimates of the effective population size varied between 1535 and 3021 individuals and there were no indications of recent severe bottlenecks. Significant genetic differentiation was observed among sites belonging to different river systems and drainage basins. These results suggest human activities, such as pollution and river engineering, have not impacted significantly on genetic variability in the stone loach populations investigated. It is possible that this lack of genetic erosion may be attributed to species-specific characteristics such as pollution tolerance and ecological flexibility.     

Evaluation of passive integrated transponder tags for marking the bullhead (Cottus gobio), a small benthic freshwater fish: effects on survival, growth and swimming capacity

Abstract –  This study examined potential adverse effects of surgically implanted passive integrated transponder (PIT) tags (12 × 2.1 mm) on bullhead ( Cottus gobio L.) of three different length-classes (I: 50–64 mm, II: 65–79 mm, III: 80–94 mm). During a 7-week laboratory experiment, the rate of PIT tag loss, incision closure time, survival, growth and swimming capacity were tested. The PIT tag weight to fish body weight ratio varied between 1.04% and 4.85%. The mean incision closure time differed significantly among length-classes and varied between 2.8 (I) and 4.3 (III) weeks. Nevertheless, PIT tag retention did not differ among length-classes and was ≥90%. The survival of untagged, sham-tagged and PIT-tagged bullheads was ≥90% and did not differ within or among length-classes. Finally, within each length-class, there was no difference in growth and swimming capacity among treatments. Hence, these results suggest the applicability of PIT tags for individually tagging bullheads ≥50 mm.     

Responses of fluvial fish assemblages to agriculture within the boreal zone

Abstract The effect of agriculture on fish assemblages was assessed using electric fishing data from 108 sites on 27 medium‐sized rivers running through organic soils in central and northern Finland. The intensity of agriculture was quantified as the percentage of the catchment area used for agriculture (range 0–31%). High correlations (r² = 0.68–0.86) were found between the intensity of agriculture and water quality parameters, especially total phosphorus, suspended solids and chemical oxygen demand. Densities of bullhead, Cottus gobio L., alpine bullhead, Cottus poecilopus Heckel, minnow, Phoxinus phoxinus (L.) and brown trout, Salmo trutta L., declined with increasing intensity of agriculture. Conversely, density of perch, Perca fluviatilis L., and roach, Rutilus rutilus (L.), increased with intensity of agriculture. A fish‐based index developed for the evaluation of the ecological integrity of rivers correlated negatively with the intensity of agriculture.     

Assemblage structure and habitat use of fishes in a Central European submontane stream: a patch-based approach

Abstract –  We examined macrohabitat patch level assemblage composition and habitat use patterns of fishes over four seasons in a second-order submontane stream (Danube drainage, Hungary). Rainfall data indicated that our study included both high- and low-water periods, and hence our results may be applicable to broader time scales. Principal component analysis of physical habitat data from 13 macrohabitat patches indicated that these patches represented a riffle-pool continuum. Correspondence analysis of fish assemblage structure data from these patches identified a continuum in assemblage composition that was positively correlated with the habitat continuum. The riffle fauna was dominated by stone loach ( Barbatula barbatula ), whereas chub ( Leuciscus cephalus ) were most abundant in pool patches. We detected little evidence of seasonality in either fish assemblage structure or habitat use. Fish density did not differ significantly among macrohabitat patches in two (summer and autumn 1999) of three seasonal samples, although riffle patches displayed significantly higher fish abundance in late spring 2000. This difference primarily was due to higher abundance of juvenile stone loach in riffles. Two species, stone loach and minnow ( Phoxinus phoxinus ), displayed generalized habitat use patterns, whereas chub and rare species (i.e., gudgeon, Gobio gobio ; dace, Leuciscus leuciscus ; Barbus petenyi ; and burbot, Lota lota ) were significantly over-represented in pool habitats. We hypothesized that pool specialists (i.e., chub and rare species) were responding primarily to the increased depth of these habitats. Nevertheless, our data did not demonstrate the presence of separate pool and riffle habitat guilds. In conclusion, we believe that our understanding of stream fish ecology will be greatly facilitated by use of a 'patch-based approach'.     

The susceptibility of salmonid fish to an atypical strain of Aeromonas salmonicida that infects goldfish, Carassius auratus (L.), in Australia

Abstract. An enzootic, Australian, atypical strain of Aeromonas salmonicida isolated from diseased goldfish, Carassius auratus (L.), was inoculated into Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., brown trout, S. trutta L., rainbow trout, S. gairdneri Richardson, and brook trout, Salvelinus fontinalis (Mitchill), fingerlings by intraperitoneal injection (i.p.) and by bath challenge, the latter with and without prior abrasion of skin. The 10-day LD₅₀ (i.p.) was estimated to be 7·4 × 10^-3 colony forming units (cfu) for Atlantic salmon, 3·0 × 10^-2 cfu for brown trout, 3·7 × 10² cfu for brook trout and 6·4 × 10³ cfu for rainbow trout. Brown, rainbow and brook trout succumbed to bath challenges with between 10⁵–10⁶ cfu/ml, developing ulcers of the skin and septicaemia. The organism was trasmitted from inoculated fish to five of 195 within-tank control fish via water and established a carrier state in one of 14 Atlantic salmon. It was concluded that the organism poses a significant threat to the salmonid farming industry and wild salmonid fisheries in Australia.     

Effects of hydrogen peroxide on clearance of formalin-killed Flavobacterium branchiophilum from the gills of rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum)

The effect of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) treatment on the clearance of formalin-killed Flavobacterium branchiophilum from the gills of rainbow trout was examined. In untreated control fish, clearance was characterized by a rapid initial phase, with 50% reduction in bacterial antigen in the first 12 h after exposure. The bacteria then cleared more gradually, with total clearance being achieved by 40 h. Treatment of fish with 100 p.p.m. H₂O₂ did not influence bacterial clearance compared to untreated controls. Exposure for 1 h to H₂O₂ concentrations ≤ 100 p.p.m. caused no detectable clinical signs or evidence of ultrastructural damage to the respiratory epithelium. However, levels in excess of this caused significant gill damage.     

Ecotoxicological analysis of the influence of an industrial effluent on fish populations in a regulated stream

Abstract. The influence of an industrial effluent on the spatial distribution of fish populations in the regulated Río Duratón (northern Spain) was examined by field and laboratory studies. The effluent caused an increase in the fluoride ion concentration at three downstream sampling sites (mean values 6·8, 2·7 and 1·3mg/l) compared with reference stations (0·1 mg/l). The suspended inorganic matter (SIM) only increased immediately below the effluent, settling on the stream bottom of this sampling station. In addition, hypolimnial waters with low concentrations of dissolved oxygen (<5 mg/l) were released daily by the dam. Rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum), and brown trout, Salmo trutta L., disappeared downstream of the impoundment. The 72 and 96h LC₅₀s (mgF-/1) calculated from fluoride toxicity tests in soft water were 138·5 and 107·5 for rainbow trout, and 223·0 and 164·5 for brown trout. Fish ( Barbus bocagei Steindachner, Rutilus arcasii (Steindachner) and Gobio gobio (L.)) were collected at all sampling stations. The benthic fish species Cobitis maroccana Pellegrin was also collected downstream of the impoundment but was absent just below the industrial effluent. It is concluded that the main physicochemical factors responsible for the spatial distribution of fish populations were low concentrations of dissolved oxygen for trout and the siltation of SIM for cobitids, the increased fluoride concentration being a minor factor.     

Individual variability of diel vertical migrations in European vendace (Coregonus albula) explored by stationary vertical hydroacoustics

Abstract –  Diel vertical migration (DVM) is a widespread behavioural pattern in populations of aquatic animals. Its adaptive value is explained by a trade-off between the protection against visually feeding predators in the dark hypolimnion during daytime, and a higher food uptake in the upper food-rich layers during the night. Whereas vertical migration patterns of entire populations have been frequently described, less is known with respect to individual variability of DVM within fish populations. Here, individual migration patterns of European vendace ( Coregonus albula ) are described, obtained by stationary vertical hydroacoustics in Lake Stechlin (Germany) during the dusk and dawn phases of 2 months in 2004. The variability of speeds of depth change was high, with only a few fish rising or falling faster than 1 cm s⁻¹. Swimming activity was not dependent on fish size. There was some evidence that variability of echo strengths was highest in those fish which showed the greatest three-dimensional swimming distances which might indicate a limited swimbladder compensation during vertical migrations. However, migration seems to be performed mainly in a saltatory mode with vertical swimming always interrupted by phases of constant depth. It is suggested that these phases are used for pressure compensation by fish with the consequence that overall the frequency distribution of target strengths deviates only slightly between the start and the end of the recordings. Stationary hydroacoustics proved to be a useful tool for studying individual fish swimming behaviour.     

Culture-based fisheries in non-perennial reservoirs of Sri Lanka: influence of reservoir morphometry and stocking density on yield

Abstract  Culture-based fish yield in non-perennial reservoirs of Sri Lanka was related to reservoir morphometry and stocking density. The reservoirs were stocked mainly with fingerlings of one Chinese and three Indian major carp species, common carp, Cyprinus carpio L., and the genetically improved farmed tilapia strain of Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus (L.), at four pre-determined species combinations and a range of stocking densities [ SD (fingerlings ha⁻¹)]. Twenty-three reservoirs were harvested successfully at the end of the culture period of 2002–2003. Basic limnological and morphometric parameters, including shoreline development ( D _L ) and shoreline area ratio ( R _LA ), were estimated for each of the 23 reservoirs. Bray–Curtis similarity and non-metric multidimensional scaling using mean values of limnological data revealed that reservoirs could be ordinated into two major clusters, one with intact sample distribution due to similar trophic characteristics and the other with scattered sample distribution. Reservoirs in the cluster with similar trophic characteristics showed significant correlation ( P  < 0.05) between R _LA and total fish yield ( Y ). A multiple regression equation, Y  = −693 + 4810  R _LA  + 0.484 SD , was generated to estimate fish harvest in relation to SD .     

Testing in situ avoidance reaction of vendace, Coregonus albula, in relation to continuous artificial light from stationary vertical split-beam echosounding

Abstract  The in situ avoidance reaction of vendace, Coregonus albula L., in relation to continuous artificial light in terms of a scaring device was tested by split-beam echosounding. The tests were carried out in the mesotrophic Bigge Reservoir (Germany) in November 2007 and 2008 using a Simrad EK 60 echosounder (120 kHz). An underwater lamp with light turned on and off was lowered to 30 m water depth at four sampling sites. No reaction of vendace was observed for the sampled references (light off), but strong avoidance behaviour by swimming mainly downwards was observed when the light was turned on. The light avoidance reaction was confirmed by the volume backscattering strength ( S _v) and calculated fish densities (fish ha⁻¹). The mean fish densities for the samples carried out with light turned on were lower (268 fish ha⁻¹, ±409 SD, n  =   32) than for the references with light turned off (5028 fish ha⁻¹, ±2317 SD, n  =   56). The related median values (33 and 3726 fish ha⁻¹, respectively, n  =   88) differed significantly (Mann–Whitney test, P  = <0.001). In conclusion, artificial light has great potential to scare pelagic vendace from areas near the bottom outlets of reservoirs to prevent entrainment losses.     

The influence of instream cover and predation risk on microhabitat selection of stone loach Barbatula barbatula (L.)

Abstract— The microhabitat selection of stone loach ( Barbatula barbatula ) in relation to instream cover and predation risk was investigated in artificial streams. In one experiment, stone loach were presented different combinations of shelter structures, two at a time, that provided visual isolation, flow refuge, both, or none. In all cases, visual isolation shelters were selected by the fish, with little use of clear shelters and no apparent selection of flow refuges. In a second experiment, diel activity patterns and habitat selection of stone loach were measured when visual isolation structures were placed in the riffle only, pool only, both riffle and pool or in no habitat. Stone loach were marked with passive integrated transponder tags and a sensor plate was placed between the riffle and pool habitats to measure diel activity patterns. Habitat use was measured by releasing drop gates between the two habitats at the end of each trial. More stone loach used the pool than the riffle in all treatments, but use of the riffle increased when cover was present only there. Furthermore, stone loach were most active between 2100 and 0300. To determine the effect of predation threat on habitat use by stone loach, one adult brown trout ( Salmo trutta ) was added to each pool. The presence of trout caused stone loach to move into the riffle, especially the smaller loach. Overall, the study showed that stone loach used cover in a visual isolation context, preferring deeper water when there was no predation risk, but made more use of shallower water in the presence of brown trout.     

Effects of Carbon Dioxide Exposure on Intensively Cultured Rainbow Trout Oncorhynchus mykiss: Physiological Responses and Fillet Attributes

Rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss (261.6 × 24.7 g initial weight, mean × SEM) at 13.1 × 0.2 C were exposed for 94 d to one of three CO₂ treatments: control (22.1 × 2.8 mg/L), medium (34.5 × 3.8 mg/L), or high (48.7 × 4.4 mg/L). Trout were checked daily for survival, and fish were sampled at 0, 28, 56, and 84 d for physiological responses, growth, and fillet quality assessments. Trout were also challenged to a 15-min crowding stress at 93 d to assess their ability to initiate a stress response during hypercapnia. Chronically exposed trout showed nearly 100% survival through 84 d exposure (1 of 1,500 fish died). Growth and physiological results showed that increasing elevated CO₂, concentrations result in corresponding decreased growth rates and CO₂specific physiological parameters: The medium and high CO₂ treatments had significantly slower growth and subsequently smaller fish by 84 d. Exposed trout also showed significantly ( P < 0.05) decreased plasma chloride for medium and high CO₂ treatments compared to the control from 28 through 84 d. Decreased growth and smaller fish in the medium and high CO₂ treatments resulted in correspondingly smaller fresh and smoked fillet weights. Chronic CO₂ exposure did not result in notable changes in ultimate muscle pH. Exposure to 15-min crowding stress at 93 d resulted in significant changes in hematocrit, plasma cortisoI, glucose, and chloride for all treatment groups. CO₂-specific changes were detected in hematocrit, plasma cortisoI, and plasma chloride responses following the 15-min crowding stress.     

Microbial Phytase Supplementation in Rohu, Labeo rohita, Diets Enhances Growth Performance and Nutrient Digestibility

Abstract.— A feeding trial was conducted for 60 d to study the effect of dietary microbial phytase on growth performance and nutrient digestibility of rohu, Labeo rohita , fingerlings. One hundred and twenty fingerlings (average initial weight: 9.17 g/fish) were equally distributed into five experimental tanks, each with four replicates. Five isonitrogenous (35%) and isocaloric (16.79 kJ/g) diets were prepared from plant-based ingredients, supplemented with microbial phytase at the level of 0, 250, 500, 750, and 1000 U/kg diets and fed to T₀, T₁, T₂, T₃, and T₄ groups, respectively. Weight gain %, food conversion ratio, protein efficiency ratio, and apparent net protein utilization were significantly ( P  < 0.05) improved in groups fed phytase-supplemented diets compared to control, the highest being observed in T₃ group. Maximum apparent digestibility of phosphorus and crude protein was recorded in T₃ group. Bone ash, phosphorus (P), and calcium (Ca) contents were also significantly ( P  < 0.05) increased in phytase-fed groups. However, maximum was recorded in T₃ group. Results from the present study indicated that addition of 750 U microbial phytase/kg diets effectively improved nutrient utilization, bone mineralization, and hence growth of L. rohita fingerlings.