Otolith microstructure of brown sole <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pseudopleuronectes herzensteini</Emphasis>: validation of daily ring formation and the occurrence of microstructure denoting metamorphosis

Brown sole Pseudopleuronectes herzensteini larvae and juveniles were reared to validate daily otolith ring formation. At 15°C, a check (a distinct ring) formed on the sagittae and lapilli at 6 days after hatching, and clear increments regularly formed outside the check. For both otoliths, the relationship between the number of days after hatching and number of increments was linear, and the slope of the line was approximately 1; therefore, daily formation was validated. At 12°C, the check formed on the lapillus 8 days after hatching. Accessory primordia (AP) began forming on the sagittae of metamorphosing larvae, and the shape of the sagittae became complicated. AP were not formed on the lapillus; concentric rings were formed throughout larval and juvenile stages. Wide and obscure increments formed on the lapilli during metamorphosis (metamorphosing zone, MZ). Based on MZ, concentric rings that have formed on the lapilli of juveniles can be separated into larval and juvenile rings. The morphs of large juveniles’ lapilli were bilaterally asymmetric, and the blind-side lapilli were most suitable for otolith microstructure analysis. This study provides fundamental information for otolith microstructure analysis in wild brown sole.     

Daily and sub-daily otolith increments of larval and juvenile walleye pollock, Theragra chalcogramma (Pallas), as validated by alizarin complexone experiments

Walleye pollock (Theragra chalcogramma) were reared from eggs to the juvenile life stage to study daily increment formation in the sagittae otoliths, which are routinely used for age and growth analyses. The apparent deposition of sub-daily growth increments becomes problematic for determining fish age from the late larval stage throughout the juvenile (young-of-the-year) development stage. Otolith marking experiments were conducted to determine interpretation criteria to differentiate between daily and sub-daily increments. Immersion of larval and transforming walleye pollock in 25 mg/l of alizarin complexone (ALC) for 6 h once a week produced a fluorescent mark on the day of staining. Evidence of six well defined and equally spaced increments counted between the weekly ALC marks validated the deposition of daily increments. The daily increments gradually increased in width as the fish/otolith grew. The criteria for determining the presence of sub-daily increments between the daily increments were (1) weak optical definition and (2) a sudden change in incremental distance that lasted for one or two increments and were approximately <0.5 μm in width. Growth problems that occurred during the experiments were identified on otoliths as reductions in daily incremental widths and optical definition, which continued for several days. Otoliths from field-collected fish have also shown similar changes in daily increment properties during the juvenile stage, which may be an indicator of an environmental influence. The criteria for defining different increment types help to resolve our current age determination issues for late larval and early juvenile stage walleye pollock from the Gulf of Alaska.     

Otolith development and daily increment formation in laboratory-reared larval and juvenile black-spot tuskfish <Emphasis Type="Italic">Choerodon schoenleinii</Emphasis>

Microstructures of lapilli were examined for reared larvae and juveniles of black-spot tuskfish Choerodon schoenleinii. Lapilli of larvae at 1 day after hatching have one diffuse and obscure ring with an otolith radius of 4.3 ± 0.50 μm (mean ± SD, N = 8). The slope and intercept of the regression between the number of days after hatching and increment counts did not differ significantly from one and zero, respectively, indicating that lapillus increments were formed on a daily basis after hatching. There was an ontogenetic shift in the relative values of somatic and otolith growth, which corresponded to the transition from pelagic larvae to settlement stage. Simultaneously, the daily increment width reached the maximum value. These findings suggest that age at maximum value of increment width can be used as an indicator of the planktonic larval duration while settlement mark is not found. Since ontogenetic shift in the relationship between otolith radius and body size was observed, back-calculation of somatic growth in black-spot tuskfish using the otolith radius during the early life stages should be analyzed with caution, and the method requires further validation.     

Age determination and growth of juveniles of the European hake,Merluccius merluccius (L., 1758), in the northern Tyrrhenian Sea (NW Mediterranean)

The aim of the present study was to provide an estimation of growth of juvenile European hake, Merluccius merluccius (L., 1758) (OSTEICHTHYES; MERLUCCIIDAE), by means of the analysis of otolith daily increments. Hake specimens were collected during trawl surveys carried out in the northern Tyrrhenian Sea (NW Mediterranean). The sagittae were removed from hakes ≤20 cm total length. Left otoliths were ground and polished to obtain thin frontal sections. Otolith microstructure was analysed under a compound green light-polarising microscope. A power curve with intercept was fitted to the length-age data to describe the growth of M. merluccius. According to the growth curve, a mean length of 18 cm was reached at the end of the first year of life. The validation of the otolith increment periodicity was performed by means of two indirect methods.     

依耳石显微结构判断安氏新银鱼的早期生活史

安氏新银鱼的矢耳石呈不规则卵圆形。60尾样品(体长37~52 mm)耳石长半径y与体长x呈线形关系,y=260.335+2.6234x。光镜下观察了耳石制片的显微结构。耳石中心圆形的核平均直径(25.17±2.40)μm(SD,后同)。核中心原基平均直径(7.80±2.22)μm。核周围为同心环纹,即日轮。耳石上日轮数73~101,78.3%的样品分布于83~97日轮范围内。前10个日轮平均间距最窄,为1.76μm,之后日轮间距逐渐增宽,60~70日轮平均间距最宽(2.70μm),而后日轮间距又变窄。依日轮间距推算的体长生长,前10日龄平均日增长0.34 mm,以后生长加快,60~70日龄平均日增长最快,为0.52 mm。依据采样日期,日轮数和胚胎发育期推断,样品鱼的产卵期为4月中旬至5月中旬,出生日期为4月下旬至5月下旬。从最初2~3个日轮间距最宽,4~10日轮间距较窄判断,其卵黄营养期为3~4 d,混合营养期为6~7 d。部分样品在48~72日轮处有过渡轮,应是由近海(盐度27~30)到河口(盐度6~18)盐度急剧变化诱导形成的,表明幼鱼有到河口摄食洄游的习性。     

Validation of daily increment formation and the effects of different temperatures and feeding regimes on short-term otolith growth in Australian smelt Retropinna semoni

Abstract –  To aid otolith interpretation of wild fish, we conducted a laboratory study using metalarval Australian smelt ( Retropinna semoni ) collected from the Murray River, to examine daily increment deposition and the effects of different temperatures and feeding regimes on otolith growth. Daily increment deposition was confirmed by comparing the number of increments from an oxytetracycline mark with the known number of days from marking. After holding fish at two temperature levels and three feeding rates, both food density and temperature were found to have a significant effect on otolith growth, with food density having the greatest influence. Overall trends in final lengths and condition of fish were well represented by recent otolith growth. The results of the experiment have implications for estimating growth histories and its relationship to various environmental conditions.     

Age and growth of alfonsino Beryx splendens from the Kanto District, central Japan, based on growth increments on otoliths

ABSTRACT:   Age and growth of alfonsino Beryx splendens (Lowe) were studied using counts of presumed daily incremental growth rings on the transverse section of otoliths of fish collected from the Kanto District, central Japan. Microstructural growth increments were observed from the core to the outermost margin of the broadest of approximately 50 branches formed on the surface of an otolith. Of 98 otoliths examined, 46 were readable. The number of increments and fish lengths ranged from 448 (218 mm fork length [FL]) to 3701 (411 mm FL). The ages of these fish were estimated to be 1 year, 2 months and 10 years, 2 months, respectively, assuming that an increment was formed daily. The von Bertalanffy growth equation combined for males and females was expressed as follows: L _t  = 542 {1 −  exp  [−0.133( t  + 2.00)]}, where L _t is fork length (mm) at yearly age t . The results of the present study were compared with those of other researchers who had studied alfonsino from central Japan.     

First year growth and survival of common carp in two glacial lakes

Abstract  Cohorts of common carp, Cyprinus carpio Linnaeus, were monitored from hatch through the next spring in two South Dakota, USA lakes to identify factors affecting year-class strength. Hatching occurred over 37- and 47-day periods in the two lakes. Common carp that hatched earlier achieved greater total lengths at the end of the first growing season (Brant Lake: r  = −0.84, d.f. = 77, P  <   0.001; Campbell Lake: r  = −0.87, d.f. = 78, P  <   0.001). Mean daily growth rates were approximately 1.0 mm day⁻¹ and similar between lakes. Total length was positively related to daily growth rate in the two lakes, indicating that members of the cohort that grew faster achieved greater total lengths by time of capture. Hatch date was inversely related to daily growth (fish hatched earlier grew faster) in one lake ( r  = −0.44, d.f. = 77, P  < 0.001) but not the other ( r  = −0.04, d.f. = 78, P  = 0.678), suggesting that length at the end of the growing season can be affected by length of growing season and growth rate. Overwinter survival of age-0 fish appeared to be size dependent because age-1 common carp length–frequency distributions from both lakes comprised only of the larger cohort members present the previous autumn.     

Seasonal variation in marine growth of sea trout, Salmo trutta, in coastal Skagerrak

Abstract –  Sea trout ( Salmo trutta ) originating from small coastal streams can be found at sea throughout the year, in contrast to conspecifics from larger rivers, which typically spend the autumn and winter in fresh water. Such an extended marine stay has been observed in coastal Skagerrak. We studied the seasonal variation in marine growth of Skagerrak sea trout based on scale increment patterns and body lengths of 563 individuals captured at sea. Growth, measured as increased body length, was rapid during summer while there was no evidence for continued growth during autumn and winter. Growth decreased with increasing age of the fish. Our results suggest that coastal Skagerrak is an important feeding area for sea trout during summer, and that an extended marine stay during autumn and winter may have trade-off benefits other than somatic growth. Alternative benefits might be increased winter survival and decreased migratory costs of juvenile fish.     

An individual-based model for the direct conversion of otolith into somatic growth rates

Otolith increment width and larval fish data (length and weight) were used to develop an individual‐based model (IBM) to describe daily resolved growth rates of North Sea herring (Clupea harengus) larvae (Autumn Spawners) caught during International Herring Larvae Surveys in the ICES area IVa from 1990 to 1998. The model combines sagittal otolith readings (core and individual increment measurements), larval standard length and weight data, and solves an over‐determined set of linear system equations for all parameters using the method of least square residuals. The model consists of a matrix, which describes the increment width formation of 119 larvae, a vector containing their length/weight measurements, and a vector describing residuals. The solution vector yields age‐dependent maximum somatic growth rates of herring larvae up to an age of 41 days with sizes ranging from 10 to 25 mm. The observed environmental temperature in which larvae dwelled was relatively uniform. Therefore, measured increment width was individually used to determine daily growth from any single larva in relation to their potential maximum growth under optimal feeding conditions. The results are discussed with respect to the spatial and temporal variability of larval occurrence. Finally, an analysis of error estimation of the larval growth characteristics is presented.     

Age,growth and age at sexual maturity of fan ray <Emphasis Type="Italic">Platyrhina sinensis</Emphasis> (Batoidea: Platyrhinidae) in Ariake Bay,Japan

Abstract:   Age, growth and sexual maturity of the fan ray Platyrhina sinensis in Ariake Bay, Japan were determined from specimens collected from May 2002 to September 2006. Age determination was conducted by vertebral centrum analysis using soft X-radiography. Annual band pair deposition was determined by marginal increment and edge analyses. The von Bertalanffy growth model best described the overall pattern of growth for both males and females (males L _∝  = 455.2, k  = 0.56, t ₀ = −1.09; females L _∝  = 555.8, k  = 0.28, t ₀ = −1.77; L _∝ is the theoretical asymptotic total length in mm, k is the growth rate coefficient and t ₀ is the theoretical time at zero length). Parameter estimates suggest that females attain a larger asymptotic total length and grow more slowly than males. The observed maximum ages were 5 years for males and 12 years for females. Age at 50% sexual maturity was 2.1 years for males and 2.9 years for females. The results indicate that this species is relatively fast-growing, short-lived and early maturing compared with many batoid species.     

Growth of juvenile chub mackerel Scomber japonicus in the western North Pacific Ocean: with application and validation of otolith daily increment formation

The growth of juvenile chub mackerel Scomber japonicus collected in the western North Pacific Ocean in 2007 and 2009 was examined based on the evidence of otolith daily increment formation in captive specimens. There was a significant difference in the relationship between known age and number of increments in the frontal and sagittal planes. Repeated markings on the otolith using Alizarin complexone and the coefficient of variation in number of increments suggest that the increments in the frontal plane of the otolith are more suitable for age estimation than those in the long and short axes of the sagittal plane. The increments in the frontal plane formed daily, and the first ring was usually deposited 3 days after hatch. Age of wild juveniles ranged from 24 to 211 days after hatch based on the frontal plane method. The estimated hatching periods of specimens ranged from February to June, but the April-hatched specimens were collected throughout the sampling periods of 2007 and 2009. The Gompertz growth model showed a difference in growth pattern in specimens between 2007 and 2009. The juveniles in 2009 appeared to grow more quickly than those in 2007 until summer, but thereafter the 2009 specimens seemed to grow more slowly.     

东太平洋茎柔鱼的耳石微结构

根据采集于东太平洋哥斯达黎加、秘鲁和智利外海的茎柔鱼耳石样本,分析了其生长纹、标记轮和其他异常结构。结果显示,耳石生长纹由明暗相间的环纹组成,按照生长纹宽度的不同可分为后核心区、暗区和外围区3个明显的生长区。通过对后核心区和暗区生长纹的计数显示,哥斯达黎加、秘鲁和智利外海3个海区的茎柔鱼仔鱼的年龄分别约为26、32和33日龄,稚鱼的年龄分别约为86、84和88日龄。茎柔鱼的耳石微结构中存在7类标记轮,它们的形成与茎柔鱼自身的内源节律(孵化、交配、产卵等)和外部环境压力(温度骤变、捕食者攻击等)等因素有关。研究还在个别茎柔鱼的耳石中发现一些不规则的异常结构(副核心、附生长纹、附中心)和生长纹方向颠倒的现象,推断它们的形成可能是由于外力作用使得耳石被破坏或耳石脱离原先的位置所造成的。     

Validation of daily increment formation in otoliths of immature and adult Japanese anchovy <Emphasis Type="Italic">Engraulis japonicus</Emphasis>

In order to validate daily increment formation in otoliths of immature and adult Japanese anchovy Engraulis japonicus, three rearing experiments using chemical marking of otoliths were conducted on adult anchovy in summer 2004 and immature anchovy in summer 2005 and in winter 2006. In the two experiments conducted in summer, the number of otolith microincrements between alizarin complexone (ALC) marks showed that microincrements were formed daily. In the summer 2005 experiment, immature anchovy under conditions of reduced daily food rations also showed daily microincrement formation. Average increment width was 0.9 μm in adults and 1.8–3.1 μm in immature anchovy. In contrast, no clear increments were observed between ALC marks on the otoliths from the experiment in winter 2006, and scanning electron microscope (SEM) observations failed to confirm clear increment formation. We consider that low water temperatures (<13–14°C) restricted otolith growth and lowered the contrast between the discontinuous and the incremental zones of the otolith increments. For age estimation of Japanese anchovy, clear increments wider than about 1 μm in the otolith can be regarded as daily increments. However, daily age estimation of immature and adult anchovy that experience low water temperatures in winter may be difficult due to the obscurity of the increments.     

东海条石鲷仔鱼耳石日轮与生长的关系

2009年4月15日-5月5日在浙江省舟山水产研究所条石鲷(Oplegnathus fasciatus)人工繁殖期间,逐日选择胚胎和仔鱼样本,连续解剖观察发育后期胚胎和前期仔鱼,光镜观察仔鱼矢耳石和微耳石的形态、日轮数,测定其直径,研究条石鲷的耳石日轮和生长。结果表明,受精后约26h,条石鲷胚胎听囊内出现1对矢耳石和1对微耳石;仔鱼孵出第2天形成第1个轮纹,之后每天形成1轮,孵化后天数(N)和矢耳石日轮数(D)的关系为N=D+1;在第8天左右,矢耳石上出现第2条明显的标记轮,为初次摄食轮。仔鱼耳石长径(rs,μm)与鱼体体长(L,mm)呈线性相关,其关系式为rs=18.146L-44.436;矢耳石长径rs与微耳石长径rl之间存在线性相关,其关系式为rs=0.6125rl+1.9882。根据结果确认,矢耳石轮纹可作为条石鲷仔鱼日龄的判别依据。     

Dietary available phosphorus requirement of juvenile walking catfish,Clarias leather

A feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the optimum requirement of dietary available phosphorus (AP) for juvenile walking catfish, Clarias leather. Six practical diets were formulated to contain graded levels (2.2, 3.9, 5.5, 7.1, 8.8 and 10.4 g kg^?1) of AP from dietary ingredients and monocalcium phosphate. Each diet was randomly fed to triplicate groups of fish with initial mean weight of 7.94 ± 0.08 g in floating cages (1.5 × 1.5 × 2.0 m) suspended in an earthen pond, and each cage was stocked initially with 60 fish. Fish were fed thrice daily (07:30, 13:00 and 17:30) to apparent satiation for 10 weeks. Both specific growth rate (SGR) and protein efficiency ratio significantly increased with increasing AP from 2.2 to 5.5 g kg^?1 (P < 0.05) and then levelled off. Dietary AP levels significantly influenced whole‐body protein, lipid and ash contents as well as condition factor and hepatosomatic index (P < 0.05). Whole‐body and vertebrae phosphorus contents showed similar patterns as SGR in response to dietary AP content. Broken‐line analyses based on SGR, phosphorus contents in the vertebrae and whole‐body indicated the AP requirements were 5.8, 7.2 and 7.5 g kg^?1, respectively.     

Ontogenetic changes in RNA,DNA and protein contents of laboratory-reared Pacific bluefin tuna <Emphasis Type="Italic">Thunnus orientalis</Emphasis>

ABSTRACT:     The ontogenetic changes in the growth potential of larval and juvenile laboratory-reared Pacific bluefin tuna were examined based on RNA–DNA and protein–DNA ratios. Experimental fish were reared at the Ohshima Experiment Station of Kinki University Fisheries Laboratory in August 2002. Samples were taken from 13 to 35 days after hatching (DAH). Metamorphosis from larva to the juvenile stage was observed around 23 DAH. Somatic growth of Pacific bluefin tuna was accelerated after metamorphosis. The value of the RNA–DNA ratio from 13 to 19 DAH increased slightly from 3.77 ± 0.58 (mean ± SD) to 7.28 ± 2.23. After that, the ratio markedly increased from 13.89 ± 3.71 on 21 DAH to 19.11 ± 4.27 on 23 DAH, which was the end of the metamorphic period. After 25 DAH, the ratio remained at a high level of 15–20. The protein–DNA ratio showed a similar tendency to the RNA–DNA ratio. These results suggest that the rapid increase in the RNA–DNA ratio in the metamorphic period supports the consequent rapid somatic growth in the juvenile stage. The high ratio after the metamorphic period could be because of the species-specific traits large prey exhibit for their survival and because of the tuna's fast -growth after the juvenile stage.     

大黄鱼仔稚鱼不同发育阶段矢耳石形态发育和微结构特征

对人工培育大黄鱼(Larimichthys crocea)的生长发育与矢耳石形态及微结构特征进行研究,结果表明:(1)大黄鱼矢耳石上的轮纹是每日形成的,第1日轮在孵化后第2天形成,与其初次摄食相对应。(2)大黄鱼卵黄囊期和前弯曲期仔鱼的耳石形态为圆形,进入弯曲期耳石长轴迅速伸长,在后弯曲期耳石形态变为椭圆形。进入稚鱼期,矢耳石开始形成次生核。随后次生核数量逐渐增加,在孵化后47～78 d的个体中,次生核数量稳定在5～7个,耳石近似盾形。(3)根据耳石日轮宽度推算的大黄鱼稚鱼在其仔鱼期生长率(b)与第1个次生核的形成时间(tsp1)之间存在明显的线性关系,表明生长较快的个体形成次生核的时间较早,进入稚鱼期所需的时间更短。以上结论表明,大黄鱼矢耳石可以反演其早期生活史阶段的生长发育特征。     

Individual growth pattern of juvenile stages of the Chinese mitten crab (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Eriocheir sinensis</Emphasis>) reared under laboratory conditions

The specific growth pattern of Chinese mitten crab, Eriocheir sinensis, during the juvenile stages was investigated under an individual rearing system for 160 days, including parent crab selection, hatchery management, larval stages, and juvenile cultivation. There were 36 males and 40 females developed from megalopa to the juvenile crab stage 10 (M–C10), with a total survival of 38%. The survival rate in early stages (M–C3) remained less than 80%, which was lower than that in latter stages (>?90%). The intermoult duration sharply increased in an exponential manner (y?=?3.1059e^0.2149x R²?=?0.9383) from 4?±?0.54 days to 38?±?6.26 days. The increments in wet weight, carapace width, and carapace length per moult were recorded throughout the experiment, which followed certain patterns with progressing moulting time. In addition, moulting increment in wet weight varied greatly from C1 to C6, with a minimum increment of 108.09%. Meanwhile, the specific growth rate markedly increased in the early stages and subsequently decreased, mainly because of significant increases in the intermoult duration starting from C6 stage. Males and females could be differentiated at C4 based on sexual dimorphism in the abdomen, and the most distinct changes in female and male juvenile crabs occurred in the shape of the abdomen and amount of cheliped fluff, respectively.     

Juvenile growth of two tilapia species in lakes Naivasha and Baringo, Kenya

Abstract –  Tilapia species in East African lakes often form the basis of commercial fisheries, with information on their population biology assisting their management. This study utilised otolith microstructure, with validation by modal progression analysis, to provide growth data for two tilapia species in two Kenyan lakes for the first time. Otolith microstructure revealed the growth rate of Oreochromis niloticus baringoensis , a sub-species endemic to Lake Baringo, was fast compared with populations of Oreochromis niloticus ; mean daily growth rates were >0.50 mm·d⁻¹ in fish between 12 and 53 mm total length. Growth of Oreochromis leucostictus in Lake Naivasha was also relatively fast when compared with the growth rates of other tilapia species, with mean daily growth rates of approximately 0.35–0.48 mm·d⁻¹ in fish between 10 and 56 mm total length. Growth rates of both species were well described by the Gompertz model and were corroborated by modal progression analysis that revealed similar daily growth rates in modes of young-of-the-year fish.