Comparison of the nutritional transition date distributions of marbled sole larvae and juveniles in Hakodate Bay, Hokkaido

To examine survival processes in marbled sole Pseudopleuronectes yokohamae larvae, nutritional transition date distributions (NTDDs) were compared between larvae and large juveniles (LJs) in Hakodate Bay from 2001 to 2003. NTDDs were used instead of hatch date distributions because the onset of increment formation coincides with the timing of the transition from endogenous to exogenous nutritional sources for marbled sole. LJs were defined as being large enough to be safe from predation by the sand shrimp Crangon uritai. In 2001 and 2002, the ranges of the NTDDs of LJs largely overlapped with those of the larvae. However, in 2003, the early cohort (those whose otolith rings formed before 17 March) disappeared from the NTDDs during and after April, and the NTDDs of LJs were heavily biased toward a later period compared to those of the larvae. In 2003, Oyashio coastal water (<3°C and ≤33.0 salinity) unexpectedly intruded into the bay in late March and lowered the water temperature from 6.3°C on 6 March to 4.1°C on 25 March. One possible cause of mortality in the early cohort of 2003 may be feeding failure caused by the extremely low water temperature.     

The utility of otolith weight as a predictor of age in the emperor Lethrinus mahsena and other tropical fish species

This study examines the potential use of otolith weight as a proxy for age in the lethrinid Lethrinus mahsena from different sites in the tropical Indian Ocean: the banks of Seychelles, Mauritius and British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT, Chagos Archipelago). The reliability of age–frequency distributions and individual ages estimated using otolith weight–age relationships was examined through comparison with those estimated through the standard method of ageing using otolith increments. Two other methods for estimating age–frequencies using age-slicing via an estimated growth curve were also examined; these used growth curves estimated by a length-based method (ELEFAN), or by fitting directly to length-at-age data (an ‘age-based’ method). Age-slicing using length-based growth parameters failed to produce reliable age–frequencies, due to inaccuracies in the growth parameter estimates. The use of age-based growth parameter estimates improved the results of age-slicing, however, age–frequencies remained significantly different from those obtained from ageing using otolith increments in two locations. The use of otolith weight–age relationships resulted in estimated age–frequency distributions that in all locations were not significantly different from those assessed through otolith increment counts. In contrast, L. mahsena otolith weight–age relationships could not be used to estimate individual ages accurately, due to the level of overlap in otolith weight between age classes. Where otolith increments are routinely used to age commercial fish species, the fact that otolith weight–age relationships could not be used to age individuals accurately may limit its application. However, where routine ageing of individuals through otolith increments is considered impractical, for instance because of its cost, the use of otolith weight–age relationships to derive catch age–frequencies represents a viable alternative approach. With this in mind, this study has also demonstrated that there is the potential to use otolith weight–age relationships for five other species caught around the Seychelles, following the validation of their otolith increments.     

Validation of otolith daily increments for larval and juvenile Japanese halfbeak Hyporhamphus sajori

Daily ring formation was verified by examining the growth of the marginal increment on sagittal otoliths of larval and juvenile Japanese halfbeak Hyporhamphus sajori. The relationship between age (x) and number of increments (y) is y = 1.0x + 2.0. The first daily increment was formed during the 2 days before hatching. The relationship between the number of rings deposited after the alizarin complexone (ALC) mark (x) and the number of increments (y) is given by: y = 1.0x − 0.2. The index of completion of the marginal increment was 99 ± 4.1% (mean ± S.D.) at 04:00, and from 24 ± 4.4% at 08:00 it increased with time of day and reached 98 ± 3.6% until the next day at 04:00. Growth of the incremental zone started a few hours after sunrise prior to which the discontinuous zone seemed to be formed. Light rhythms tend to be one of the most important factors for the formation of the marginal increment on otoliths. Based on the relationships between time of day and the marginal increment on otoliths, it would be possible to estimate the predation time for specimens retrieved from stomach contents, and also clearer analysis of the growth history immediately prior to the sampling time.     

温度和元素浓度对Sr在褐牙鲆仔稚鱼耳石中的沉积影响

科学认识鱼类耳石中微量元素沉积与主要水环境因子的关系是基于耳石微化学方法重新构建鱼类生活史及反演其环境履历的重要前提。本研究以环境与耳石中重要元素Sr为例,研究在不同水温(16℃、19℃和22℃)和不同元素浓度(1×、2×和3×Sr)下Sr在褐牙鲆(Paralichthys olivaceus)仔稚鱼耳石形成生长过程中(孵化后15~93 d)的沉积(Sr∶Ca比)特征。结果显示,在不同水温下,耳石中Sr∶Ca比随水体中Sr浓度的升高呈线性增长,而元素分配系数(DSr)随元素浓度的升高先降低然后趋于稳定。在不同Sr浓度下,耳石中Sr∶Ca比及DSr均随水温升高呈增长趋势,二者在22℃时的值均显著高于在其他水温时的值。耳石中Sr沉积能够表征褐牙鲆仔稚鱼所经历的水环境中Sr浓度和水温的变化,可作为元素指纹应用于褐牙鲆早期生活史的重建和环境履历的反演。     

Ecomorphological patterns of the sagitta in fish on the continental shelf off Argentine

Morphology and morphometry of the sagittae otolith were studied in fish associated with different substrates. The shape, margins and rostrum of three groups of otoliths from several species were analyzed: group 1 (fish associated with soft substrates, N=10 species), group 2 (fish associated with hard substrates, N=10 species) and group 3 (pelagic fish, not associated with the bottom, N=6 species). E and R indexes were calculated for each species. The value of E=maximum width of the sagitta (WO)/maximum length of the sagitta (LO)%, expresses the relative tendency in the shape otolith (from circular to elongate). The value of R=length of the rostrum (LR)/LO%, expresses the percentage in the total length of the otolith that corresponds to the rostrum. The sagittae of group 1 were circular or polygonal with rounded borders. The rostrum can be absent or poorly developed. The sagittae shape of group 2 was elongated, with ornamented borders and a rostrum. The sagittae of group 3 possessed a prominent rostrum, a deep V-shaped cisure and ornamented borders. Statistical analysis showed no significant differences in the E index of groups 1 and 2, while R values of the three groups were significantly different. These results were compared with 80 other species, belonging to 12 families, from the publisher literature. E and R values could be used to characterize the sagittae of the marine fish and could be considered a useful tool for fish ecology studies.     

大银鱼耳石日轮与生长的研究↑（*）

１９９５年对内蒙莫力庙水库的大银鱼耳石日轮与生长进行了研究。大银鱼人工受精卵孵出仔鱼、剖出其听囊内一时圆形矢耳石，其制片在光镜下观察，耳石形态经历了由圆形、椭圆形到梨形的变化过程。耳石长半径与鱼体长呈线性相关，其关系式为Ｙ＝４．７９８ｘ－２０．８８７（ｒ＝０．９６５０，Ｐ＜０．０１）。孵出后第二天耳石上出现第一个日轮，正常条件下，每天形成一轮。孵化后天数可用耳石日轮数加１表示，其表达式为Ｄ＝Ｎ＋１，耳石上的日轮数变幅为２６７－３４５。日轮间距有规律性变化，依据日龄和相关体长、体重资料进行了大银鱼生长特性研究。     

Seasonal change in the relationship between otolith radius and body length in age-zero Pacific saury <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cololabis saira</Emphasis>

We examined seasonal changes in the relationship between otolith radius and body length in age-zero Pacific saury Cololabis saira collected from June to December 2002–2004, based on 12,164 specimens. Results of the analysis using a generalized linear model indicated that there were differences in the intercepts among months, but no difference was seen in the slopes. In addition, post hoc analysis showed that the intercepts got larger as the month progressed from June to December. These results suggested that although the body length growth rate decreased, the growth of the otolith does not decrease to the same degree as the body after September, so the ratio of otolith radius to body length becomes larger as the months pass. Consequently, we consider that the seasonal change in relation between otolith radius and body length affects the back-calculation of body length based on otolith radius.     

Growth of Northwest Iberian juvenile hake estimated by combining sagittal and transversal otolith microstructure analyses

Daily growth of Atlantic juvenile hake from Northwest Iberia has been estimated employing a new approach combining analyses of transversal and sagittal sections of the otoliths along the ventral radius. Age of juvenile hake ranging from 3 to 25 cm collected during a spring 2002 survey was estimated. Somatic growth followed a power fit: Fish size (TL) = 3.3254*age^0.7336 (r² = 0.87, p < 0.001, n = 76), yielding an average individual growth rate of 0.66 mm/day (±0.06). The growth model indicates that after a year's life a juvenile can reach 25 cm. Otolith ventral radius ranged from 401 to 1842 μm and daily increments were between 104 and 387. Fish growth and otolith growth were closely related (r² = 0.92 p < 0.001, n = 76). These first results of daily growth rates for the Southern stock corroborate the fast-growth hypothesis of this species. The evolution of increment widths from hatch dates onwards reveals important seasonal growth peaks during July–August and October–November. A comparison with prior data and discussion is also presented in the light of recent work on hake juveniles and tagging-recapture experiences.     

鲐鱼幼鱼耳石日轮的初步观察与研究

对长江口海区鲐鱼幼鱼耳石标本的扫描电镜观察发现，鲐鱼耳石上存在着宽度为数微米到十几微米的细微轮纹，通过对其中３尾鲐鱼的耳石不同放大倍数图像的拍摄，再根据照片对耳石上轮纹和耳石轮纹辐射半径的测量、计数和计算，得出３尾鲐鱼耳石轮纹的平均宽度分别为９．５２、８．５２和８．５７微米，耳石轮纹辐射半径分别为１２６２．２、１１６４．８和１１８７．５微米，由此计算得出的耳石轮纹数分别为１３３、１３７和１３９轮。     

The sex-ratio reversal of the Japanese eel Anguilla japonica in the Kaoping River of Taiwan: The effect of cultured eels and its implication

The sex ratio of wild Japanese eels in the Kaoping River of southwestern Taiwan has been extremely skewed towards females in the recent years. However, the sex ratio skewed towards males after Typhoon Mindulle, July 2, 2004 then recovered to the previous female-dominated status in the following year. To determine why the sex ratio drastically changed, eels captured in the river were examined by both morphologic characteristics and otolith elemental signatures by solution-based inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (SB-ICPMS) and laser-ablation ICPMS (LA-ICPMS). Most of the eels collected in the river after the typhoon had a blue-gray colored back, with morphology and sex ratio similar to that of cultured eels, which differed from wild yellow eels which had a green colored back. The chemical signature in otoliths of eels with a blue-gray colored back was similar to that of cultured eels, with significantly lower Sr/Ca ratios but slightly higher Mn/Ca ratios than for wild eels. This confirmed that the reversal in eel sex ratio in the Kaoping River estuary resulted from cultured eels that had escaped from eel farms. Eel farmers estimated that about 30,000 eels escaped during the typhoon, sufficient to reverse the sex ratio of the eels in the river. Furthermore, silver eels caught in the estuary in the winter 2004 were also mostly males. The chemical signature in otoliths of these silver eels was similar to that of escaped cultured eels. Their morphology and mean GSIs, however, were comparable to wild silver eels. Thus, cultured eels that have escaped from eel farms can silver normally in the wild. Consequently, cultured eels may help to balance the sex ratio of the wild eel population and may contribute to the spawning stock of Japanese eel.