Residential movements of top predators in Chile’s most isolated marine protected area: Implications for the conservation of the Galapagos shark,Carcharhinus galapagensis,and the yellowtail amberjack,Seriola lalandi

1. Marine protected areas (MPAs) are becoming a widely used tool for the conservation of biodiversity and for fishery management; however, most of these areas are designed without prior knowledge of the basic ecological aspects of the species that they are trying to protect.
2. This study investigated the movement of two top predators: the Galapagos shark, Carcharhinus galapagensis, and the yellowtail amberjack, Seriola lalandi, in and around the Motu Motiro Hiva Marine Park (MMHMP) using MiniPAT satellite tags to determine the effectiveness of this MPA for the protection of these species.
3. The Galapagos sharks (n = 4) spent most of their tag deployment periods inside the MMHMP. However, high intraspecific variability was observed in their movement dynamics. Daily individual maximum movements ranged from 17 to 58 km and the maximum distance from Salas y Gómez Island, the only emergent island within the MMHMP, ranged from 31 to 139 km.
4. The maximum linear distance travelled for a female juvenile Galapagos shark (152 cm total length) was 236 km, which is greater than the maximum distance previously documented for juveniles of this species (<50 km).
5. For the yellowtail amberjack (n = 1), 91% of the satellite geolocations were within the MMHMP, with a maximum daily distance travelled of 6 km. The maximum distance travelled between points was 111 km and the maximum distance from Salas y Gómez Island was 62 km.
6. All archival tagged fish spent most of their time at depths of <50 m and never left the epipelagic zone. Daytime versus night-time differences were pronounced in all individuals but showed high interindividual variability.
7. This study provides a baseline on the movement of these two top predators in the MMHMP and provides valuable insights for the creation of MPAs in the region and elsewhere.

     

No reason for keeping 0+ perch (Perca fluviatilis L.) with the prey fish

Growth and survival of 0+ perch were studied in 4 ponds with the topmouth gudgeon (Pseudorasbora parva) and without it. In the end of April, all ponds were stocked by free-swimming perch larvae (120,000 ind ha^?1). In June, topmouth gudgeon was introduced as forage fish (40 kg ha^?1) into two of the experimental ponds. Topmouth gudgeon significantly influenced neither the total abundance of zooplankton nor the abundance of its groups (Rotifera, Cladocera, Copepoda). The most important food item for perch (TL > 29 mm) was macroinvertebrates (especially Chironomidae). In the ponds with topmouth gudgeon, copepods and cladocerans were more important than in ponds without it. Specific growth rate of perch was 0.01 mm day^?1 in all ponds. Final mean total length (TL ± SD) of perch was 73 ± 13 and 70 ± 6 mm in the ponds with topmouth gudgeon and without it, respectively. Only 1 % of the perch reached higher TL than that recorded in the ponds without the topmouth gudgeon. Survival rate of perch varied from 12 to 36 % depending on ponds. Piscivory was recorded in all ponds from the age of 57 days (post-stocking); however, perch siblings were preferred to topmouth gudgeon. The highest asymptotic growth (L∞ = 88 mm) was calculated in the pond stocked with topmouth gudgeon. This corresponded with the highest cannibalism and lowest survival rate (12 %). Perch growth rate increased till 42–53 days of perch age and then started to decrease. There was no significant influence of potential prey fish (topmouth gudgeon) on the growth of 0+ perch; however, two size cohorts were found in the ponds with the topmouth gudgeon. Presence or absence of littoral macrophytes seems to be more substantial for rearing perch in ponds than stocking with the prey fish.     

Dicoumarol toxicity in cattle associated with ingestion of silage containing sweet vernal grass (Anthoxanthum odoratum)

A diagnosis of dicoumarol toxicity in a herd of Friesian cattle was made following investigation of the deaths of three mature cows and eleven yearling heifers. Affected stock had been fed wrapped, bailed silage containing approximately 90% sweet vernal grass ( Anthoxanthum odoratum ). Sweet vernal grass contains coumarin, which can be converted to dicoumarol, a vitamin K antagonist, through the action of moulds. Most deaths were preceded by lethargy, severe anaemia and subcutaneous and internal haemorrhage. Dicoumarol toxicosis was suspected based on clinical signs, necropsy findings and prolonged prothrombin and activated partial thromboplastin times. Dicoumarol analysis of blood from affected animals and silage confirmed the diagnosis.     

Adherence, haemagglutination and cell surface characteristics of motile aeromonads virulent for fish

Abstract. Motile Aeromonas spp. virulent for fish were studied with regard to their adhesion profile. Electron microscopy demonstrated the presence of fimbriae (pili) on Aeromonas cells regardless of virulence potential. The results show no significant correlations between ability to haemagglutinate, yeast cell co-agglutination and virulence. All strains expressed mannose-sensitive haemagglutinin activity against guinea pig erythrocytes. Using four types of red blood cells no characteristic haemagglutinin pattern related to virulence could be discerned. Expression of surface haemagglutin(s) on Aeromonas hydrophila appears to be medium dependent; strains grown in liquid media demonstrated enhanced haemagglutination activity. Both virulent and avirulent strains had in vitro epithelial cell adhesive capabilities. Cell surface characteristics measured by agglutination in acriflavine and stability after boiling indicated that most virulent strains agglutinated in the presence of acriflavine, but not all sedimented after boiling. The ability of 10 selected strains of A hydrophila to grow in normal pooled catfish serum was determined. Only 17% of the virulence variations can be explained by their sensitivity to serum.