Movements of the European eel (Anguilla anguilla) in a chalk stream

Abstract – The movements of wild European eels (Anguilla anguilla L.) were monitored continuously over a 2‐year period in a tributary of the River Itchen, Hampshire, UK, using a passive integrated transponder (PIT) antenna system. The time of these movements was then related to a number of monitored and calculated environmental parameters. No eel movements were recorded in the winter months when mean stream temperature was below 10 °C. The numbers of movements peaked in May, when mean water temperatures and day length were increasing. The movement of eels was significantly (P < 0.001, R² = 0.45, N = 72) correlated with the time of sunset, with the majority (72%) recorded during the hours of darkness. The results of this investigation have implications for the design/timing of surveys of yellow eel populations and their habitat associations and suggest that successfully determining the microhabitat preferences of active resident eels will require remote monitoring throughout the 24‐h period.     

Management issues relating to the European eel, Anguilla anguilla

In many European countries there is growing concern over reduced recruitment and catches of the European eel, Anguilla anguilla (L.). Evidence of the decline, together with possible reasons for the changes as detailed by various authors, are reviewed. It is suggested that the problems need to be addressed now and on various levels. Proposals for management actions, as outlined by the Environment Agency for England and Wales, are summarized by way of example.     

Overwintering dormancy behaviour of the European eel (Anguilla anguilla L.) in a large lake

Overwintering dormancy behaviour was studied in female silver eels in Lake Mälaren in Sweden between 2008 and 2010. Depth choices and movements in relation to temperature were analysed from pressure and temperature records for 13 eels with implanted data storage tags, covering 17 overwintering periods and three intervening summer periods. Dormancy commenced in October–November as temperatures fell below 4–12 °C. Eels tended to remain motionless throughout the winter, with some short periods of activity signalled by small changes in depth distributions. During dormancy, the eel shows a clear avoidance of shallow areas <5 m in favour of the 10–25‐m‐depth interval. Activity tended to resume 4–6 months later in April–May as temperatures rose above 3–7 °C and ice cover broke, and eels spent more time at shallower depths of <5–10 m. The majority of the eels were assessed as being in the silver eel stage at the time of tagging. During the autumn months, the diving behaviour, with frequent and large vertical excursions and periods at the surface, was similar to that seen in migrating eels in the Baltic and Atlantic Ocean. In spring and summer, the behaviour differed, being dominated by more gradual depth variations, implying that the eels reverted from silver eel migration behaviour to yellow eel foraging behaviour. Body weight declined during dormancy, but other studies of starvation over comparable time periods showed significantly higher average specific weight losses, implying that the Mälaren silver eels must have fed between the end of dormancy and recapture.     

Media and methods for the cryopreservation of European eel (Anguilla anguilla) sperm

Different media and protocols were assayed for European eel sperm cryopreservation.     

复方甲苯咪唑对拟指环虫的杀灭效果和对欧洲鳗的毒性

２６ ℃、２８ ℃、３０ ℃水温下复方甲苯咪唑对欧 洲鳗的毒性 试验表明： 随水温升 高、药浴时间延长、药物浓度提高, 甲 苯咪唑对欧洲鳗的毒性加 强, 复方 甲苯咪唑、甲苯咪唑、左旋咪唑对拟指环虫的杀灭率表明甲苯 咪唑对拟指环虫具强杀灭 能力, 左 旋咪唑对拟指环虫无杀灭能力, 可用甲苯咪唑替代复方甲苯咪唑。     

Differences in head shape of the European eel, Anguilla anguilla (L.)

Differences in eel, Anguilla anguilla (L.), head shape were the result of greater increases in head width, rather than changes in head length. The ratio of head width:total length (HW:TL) increased significantly ( t -test, P < 0.05) from the glass-yellow eel stage. Cultured yellow eels were exclusively narrow headed (mean HW:TL = 0.027, range = 0.023–0.032), while wild yellow eels displayed an array of head shapes (mean HW:TL = 0.033, range = 0.023–0.046). Therefore, broad heads (HW:TL 0.033) occurred only among wild yellow eels sampled and may have resulted from diet. Cultured yellow eels consumed only small pellet material. Of wild yellow eels stomachs containing food, 78% of broad-headed eels consumed large and/or hard-bodied organisms (e.g. beetles, fish, molluscs and Notonecta sp.), while 83% of narrow-headed eels consumed exclusively small/soft-bodied prey (e.g. amphipods and chironomids).     

Recovery from transportation by road of farmed European eel (Anguilla anguilla)

The objective of this study was to assess the effects of transportation of marketable eel (0.15 kg) in the Netherlands with respect to welfare. Eels (Anguilla anguilla) were obtained from a commercial farm and acclimatized for 7 weeks at the laboratory. Fish were transported according to regular commercial procedures. The animals were placed in water‐filled transport tanks on the trailer. Fish density increased from 72 kg m^?3 (husbandry) to 206 kg m^?3 (fasting) and was further increased to 270–290 kg m^?3 during transport. Fish transport lasted 3 h after which the eels were returned to laboratory recirculation systems to measure parameters indicative of stress load, i.e. mortality, plasma cortisol, lactate and non‐esterified fatty acids (NEFA) as well as gill morphology. Samples were taken at 0, 6, 24, 48 and 72 h after transport in transported fish and non‐transported counterparts (controls). Transportation affected water quality within known tolerable limits. No mortality during or after transport was observed. After 6 h, plasma cortisol levels had returned to baseline. However, energy metabolism had increased suggesting that transportation of eels resulted in an increased energy demand that lasted for at least 72 h in the fasted animals. Thus, it is conceivable that exposure to adverse conditions, prior to stunning/killing, in a slaughterhouse may result in allostatic overload in eel.     

On the actual recruitment of European eel (Anguilla anguilla) in the River Ems,Germany

Data from the historical River Ems glass eel fisheries in the 20th Century have been used for the ICES recruitment series. Commercial catches ceased from 1980 and dropped to zero; thus, eel recruitment data are since lacking. The present study assessed the actual eel recruitment to the River Ems with regard to the local tidal conditions. Standardised measurements were performed on relative glass eel occurrence at the tidal weir from 2014 and quantitative sampling at the next weir upstream from 2013. Eel migration at the tidal weir was dominated by glass eels and increased 2–3 month earlier than at the upstream weir, where migration was dominated by pigmented eels. In 2016, glass eels were marked at the tidal weir and pigmented elvers were sampled at the upstream weir. The 2016 eel recruitment was estimated at about 1% of the mean historical recruitment. Eel recruitment at the two weirs was not directly linked. Many eels seem not to pass the upstream weir. Further investigations are needed to reveal whether the results represent a regular pattern. In the long run, the perpetuation of the recruitment series is also foreseen.     

Ionic composition and physio-chemical parameters of the European eel (Anguilla anguilla) seminal plasma

Looking for good sperm diluting media, physio-chemical parameters and ionic composition of the eel seminal plasma were studied in relation with sperm motility.     

Controlled reproduction in the wild European eel (Anguilla anguilla): two populations compared

This study aimed to describe the response variability of female silver eels in terms of gonad development and eggs production to a standardized gonadotropic treatment (Carp pituitary extracts—CPE), and to relate this variability to population characteristics. For this purpose, sexual maturation, ovulation, and fertilization were induced in two eel populations coming from different locations in Adriatic Sea (Comacchio—CM and Marano-Grado—MG lagoons), and after that, their reproductive capacity was valuated. External (Silver index—SI, Eye index—EI, Pectoral fin length index—PFLI, Condition factor—K) and hormonal (17β-estradiol—E2, testosterone—T) parameters were measured, and some subject/group were killed for histological and lipid analysis and age determination. Morphometric parameters showed the CM-Group to have highest values of Body weight (BW), Body length (BL), and K, while MG-Group presented highest PFLI and Gonadosomatic index (GSI) values. Regarding hormonal analysis, the CM-Group showed significantly higher T and E2 levels than the MG-Group, both groups showed considerably rapid increase at T5 (5th injection). A positive trend in gonadal development was found through histological evaluation; a more regular maturation was observed in the MG-Group, whereas the CM-Group presented an exponential oocytes development starting from T10 (10th week), which led to an anticipated spawning. Lipid content showed significant differences in T0 (start study), post-ovulation, and Control (30th week) between CM and MG eels. As to zootechnical performances, while MG eels released spontaneously into the water, the CMs were stripped in order to check ovulation. The MG eels were statistically the most productive with 40.1 ± 6.33 % BW of eggs released. Furthermore, CM females ovulated mainly between the 19th and 22nd week (77.8 % spawned eels) instead in the MG’s ovulation goes from the 24th to the 28th week (100 % spawned eels). As fertilization is of concern, in both groups fertilized eggs were obtained with no difference in larvae production. These results seem to indicate that bigger dimensions, higher K, and larger lipid content (Comacchio eels) could fasten gonadic maturation without positively influencing reproductive performance of animals, both in term of quantity and quality of produced eggs. Smaller females with a highest SI (Marano-Grado eels) presented a more regular gonadic development, leading the animals to spontaneous spawning.     

欧洲鳗短钩拟指环虫病及其鳃组织病理

报道了患短钩拟指环虫病欧洲鳗的症状、流行状况和鳃显微组织病理.游动和呼吸频率异常、鳃丝浮肿和鳃上粘液增多为该病的主要症状.该病尽管在冬季也有发生,但水温在26℃以上的春末、夏季和秋初是最易发病的流行季节,流行出现明显的季节性变化.患病欧洲鳗鳃的组织病理变化主要表现出5种类型,其一是鳃小片上皮细胞增生,使邻近的鳃小片相连;其二是鳃小片粘液细胞增生,同样使鳃小片连成一片,增生的粘液细胞经阿利新蓝(Alclan blue)和过碘酸雪夫氏(Periodic acid schiff)二者联合染色后呈蓝紫色的染色反应,属于Ⅳ型的粘液细胞;其三是鳃小片肿大,但单层扁平上皮细胞无肿大现象,上皮细胞层与毛细血管相分离,鳃小片上皮细胞坏死,上皮细胞层破裂,血细胞外溢,鳃小片上皮细胞坏死脱落后,失去鳃小片原有的结构;其四是鳃小片肿大同时伴随单层扁平上皮细胞肿大,进一步发展,鳃小片上皮细胞坏死脱落后,鳃小片同样失去原有的结构;其五是鳃小片毛细血管严重充血扩张,比原毛细血管扩张几倍到十几倍,形成充满红细胞的棒状到球状的动脉瘤.结果表明鳃上皮细胞增生、粘液细胞增生、鳃小片肿大、上皮细胞坏死脱落和严重充血成动脉瘤等病理变化都可导致患病欧洲鳗呼吸困难,轻者影响其生长,重者最终因呼吸衰竭而死亡.     

Increased abundance of European eel (Anguilla anguilla) in acidified Norwegian rivers after liming

The prevalence and abundance (density 100 m^?2) of European eel (Anguilla anguilla) were studied by means of electrofishing in 13 acidified rivers in Norway that had been limed to restore acceptable water quality for Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar). Status of Atlantic salmon in these rivers varied prior to liming, from being entirely lost in six highly acidified rivers and in different stages of decline in seven less acidified rivers. Four of the rivers are heavily affected by hydropower development. The abundance and prevalence of European eel increased significantly during the study period. The best model for predicting eel abundance was that with four explanatory variables: time after liming, time after liming squared, status of salmon stocks and hydropower regulation. The eel density was expected to increase by a factor of almost 5 after 10 years of liming. The model also predicts that a river with a formerly reduced Atlantic salmon stock has a 2.8 times higher density of eel than rivers with formerly lost salmon stocks. Before liming, European eel were on average recorded at 15 and 41% of the sampling stations in rivers with formerly lost and reduced Atlantic salmon populations, respectively, increasing to 49 and 68% in individual rivers, respectively, after 10 years of liming. The recovery of European eel in these formerly acidified rivers by means of liming took place during the same period as their abundance declined in other parts of their distribution area in Norway and elsewhere in Europe.     

Modelling daily catches of silver-phase European eel (Anguilla anguilla) in two hydropower-regulated rivers

Estimation of silver eel production, Anguilla anguilla L., is fundamental for the management of eel stocks. In the hydropower-regulated rivers Shannon and Erne, Ireland, production is calculated using catch data from a conservation trap and transport programme. However, in both rivers gaps in silver eel catch datasets tend to occur, which can lead to biases in production estimates. Generalised additive models (GAMs) were used to model daily catch in these rivers based on a variety of environmental variables. Final models for the Shannon and Erne explained 83.7% and 78.8% of deviance in daily catch, respectively. A second model on the Erne included catch from a nearby fishing site in an attempt to increase explanatory power and explained 91.7% of deviance. Although model accuracy was increased, reliance on catch from another site may limit the applicability of the model. Model predictions were combined with estimates of fishing efficiency to predict production for the Shannon (36,210 kg; 0.85 kg/ha) and Erne (66,899–67,047 kg; 2.55–2.56 kg/ha). These values represented a 9.3% and 2.8%–3.0% increase on production estimated from incomplete catch records alone for the Shannon and Erne, respectively.     

药浴给药恩诺沙星及其代谢产物在欧洲鳗鲡体内的药代动力学研究

应用反相高效液相色谱法,研究药浴给药条件下,恩诺沙星及其代谢产物环丙沙星在欧洲鳗鲡体内的药代动力学.按10mg·L-1药浴给药后,恩诺沙星在欧洲鳗体内各组织器官中分布可用开放性二室模型来描述.血浆、肌肉、肝脏和肾脏中恩诺沙星达峰时间分别为44.27h、42.74h、50.69h、95.80h,以后开始缓慢下降,血浆、肌肉、肝脏和肾脏中代谢产物环丙沙星达峰时间分别为48.89h、55.34h、54.64h、100.0h.给药3个月后血浆、肌肉、肝脏和肾脏中的恩诺沙星浓度分别为0.0844μg·mL-1、0.09959μg·g-1、0.01242μg·g-1、3.7164u·g-1;恩诺沙星在血浆、肌肉、肝脏和肾脏中的消除半衰期(T1/2β)分别为908.07h、901.24h、59.32h、767.81h.鉴于恩诺沙星和其代谢产物环丙沙星在欧洲鳗鲡体内消除较慢,建议养成阶段不使用此药.     

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.     

Errors in ocular index measurements in European eel Anguilla anguilla (L.)

Abstract –  Knowledge of maturation state of eels ( Anguilla anguilla , L.) based on ocular index (OI) serves management and research functions, such as estimating how much silver eel actually could escape from a particular basin or determining more precisely the developmental biology of a particular eels. OI implies the measurements of five variables (total length and eyes diameters) in a formula which can be sensitive to measurement error. To investigate this issue, we carried out a comparative study using 13 European eels harvested in Camargue (Rhône Delta, France) and three replicated measurements by three different observers. The estimated amplitude of OI imprecision at a 95% confidence level was 1.8 whatever eel and observer. Such error may lead to classification problems particularly when OI values are close to the threshold values used to discriminate between yellow and silver stages. This study not only raised the problem of the OI imprecision but also brought up the need to develop standardised protocol for identifying silver eels. To reach this goal, two different ways are proposed in conclusion.     

Fluctuations in European eel (Anguilla anguilla) recruitment resulting from environmental changes in the Sargasso Sea

European eel decline is now widely observed and involves a large number of factors such as overfishing, pollution, habitat loss, dam construction, river obstruction, parasitism and environmental changes. In the present study, we analyzed the influence of environmental conditions in the Sargasso Sea and Atlantic ocean circulation on European glass eel recruitment success. Over a recent 11‐yr period, we showed a strong positive correlation between an original index of glass eel recruitment and primary production (PP) in eel spawning area. Moreover, PP was negatively correlated with temperature in the Sargasso Sea. Therefore, we used sea temperature as an inverse proxy of marine production. A close negative relationship has been found over the last four decades between long‐term fluctuations in recruitment and in sea temperature. These findings were reinforced by the detection of a regime shift in sea temperature that preceded the start of the decline in glass eel recruitment in the early 1980s. By contrast, variations in integrative indices measuring ocean circulation, i.e. latitude and strength of the Gulf Stream, did not seem to explain variations in glass eel recruitment. Our results support the hypothesis of a strong bottom‐up control of leptocephali survival and growth by PP in the Sargasso Sea on short and long time scales. We argue that sea warming in the eel spawning area since the early 1980s has modified marine production and eventually affected the survival rate of European eels at early life stages.     

Cutaneous myxidiosis in European eel,Anguilla anguilla (Linnaeus, 1758): histopathology,histochemistry and laminin immunohistochemistry

Histopathology, histochemistry and immunohistochemistry of the integument of European eel, Anguilla anguilla (Linnaeus, 1758), infected by Myxidium sp. are reported. Skin samples from affected and unaffected eels were dissected, formalin fixed, paraffin embedded, sectioned and stained with H&E, Periodic acid–Schiff's staining method, Alcian Blue 8 GX pH 2.5/Periodic acid–Schiff's and McCallum‐Goodpasture's Gram stain. Moreover, immunohistochemistry was performed using a primary polyclonal laminin antibody. Histologically, cysts (diameter 2–3 mm) were observed mainly under the scale pockets, encircled by a thin collagen layer, lined by elongated, flattened fibroblasts and containing bipolar, PAS‐ and Gram‐positive spores with opposite polar capsules. The epidermis stretched by the underlying cyst appeared dysplastic, thinned with a significant reduction in mucous cells number. Only inconsistent and aspecific inflammatory reaction was noted around the cysts at the dermis/epidermis interface. Intense laminin‐like protein immunolabel was documented in the plasmodial ectoplasm and related to host anergia. This was the first report of laminin immunolabel in a member of the Myxozoa. Epidermal dysplasia represents likely an aspecific response against the underlying tensile force exerted by the developing parasite cyst, while fibroblast and collagen encapsulation denote a parasite‐driven host response protecting, rather than harming, the encircled parasite.     

Histological and hormonal changes in the European eel (Anguilla anguilla) after exposure to environmental cocaine concentration

The aim of this study was the assessment of histological and hormonal changes induced in the European eel from environmental concentrations of cocaine. Silver eels were exposed to 20 ng L^?1 of cocaine during 50 days; at the same time, control, vehicle control and two post‐exposure recovery groups (3 and 10 days) were made. The general morphology of the skin and the intestine, and the plasma levels of prolactin, cortisol and dopamine were evaluated. In the skin, cocaine decreased the number and size of mucous cells, increased the thickness of the epidermis and altered the club cells and the basal lamina. In the intestine, cocaine increased the thickness of the epithelium and the number of mucous cells and reactivated the structure of the intestine and of the intestinal musculature. Moreover, cocaine increased plasma prolactin, cortisol and dopamine levels. These results suggest that cocaine induced histological changes, directly and/or through the hormonal changes observed. Considering the complex life cycle of the eel, the changes induced by cocaine in the skin, the intestine and the endocrine system could threaten the ability of the eel to successfully migrate and reproduce.     

Spatial organisation of European eel (Anguilla anguilla L.) in a small catchment

Abstract –  Modelling-governing patterns of European eel ( Anguilla anguilla L.) distribution of four eel size classes (<150, 150–300, 300–450 and >450 mm) in the Frémur basin (northwest France) was done using artificial neural network (ANN) techniques and ecological profiles. Our results demonstrate the high predictive power of the ANN models. Some macro- and microscale factors, such as distance from the sea, depth and flow velocity, have the most significant influence on the models. Influence of distance from the sea appears to be very different from the spatial organisation usually described in river systems. In fact, the general tendencies of total eel densities according to the distance from the sea showed that densities increase weakly upstream. Another outcome was the variations in habitat preference according to the eel size, even if this species is spread over practically every type of microhabitat. Small eels were mainly found in shallow habitats with strong abundance of aquatic vegetation, whereas large eels tend to be found in intermediate to high depth with small to intermediate abundance of aquatic vegetation. Finally, we hypothesise that European eels change behaviour and microhabitat characteristic preference around a size of 300 mm.