Contrasts in genetic structure and historical demography of marine and riverine populations of Atherina at similar geographical scales

In this paper, we compare the genetic structure and the historical demography of two populations of the sand smelt Atherina boyeri from the rivers Tagus and Mondego (Portugal) with two groups of samples of the closely related marine Atherina presbyter collected on the shore at comparable latitudes. A. presbyter is a pelagic marine inshore fish, while A. boyeri is typically found in coastal lagoons, estuaries and freshwaters bodies. Analysis of mtDNA control region sequences showed that the marine A. presbyter did not display signs of genetic differentiation between sites some hundreds of kilometers apart. On the contrary, A. boyeri showed clear differences between populations. The populations of A. boyeri showed a much lower genetic diversity and younger coalescence times when compared with A. presbyter. We suggest that these differences reflect the interplay between differences in ecology between the two species and the historical impact of the glaciations. While A. presbyter likely moved to the south evading the cold periods, A. boyeri probably went extinct and its populations in Western Europe are recent recolonizations from western Mediterranean refugia.     

浙江海域天竺鲷科鱼类新纪录种—黑边银口天竺鲷(Jaydia truncata)形态特征与DNA条形码研究

2015年10月中旬,在浙江省舟山市近海的渔业资源调查中采集到天竺鲷标本,经鉴定发现其中黑边银口天竺鲷为浙江新纪录种。本文对采集的6尾黑边银口天竺鲷标本拍摄照片并开展形态特征和DNA条形码研究,对该种的拉丁学名进行校正。黑边银口天竺鲷的有效学名为Jaydia truncata(Bleeker,1854)。具有以下主要形态特征:背鳍鳍条数VII+I,9,胸鳍鳍条数16—17;背前鳞数4;第一鳃弓总鳃耙数3—4+11—13,发达鳃耙数1+9—10,角鳃弓上的鳃耙数9;前鳃盖骨边缘锯齿状;第一背鳍上端黑色,第二背鳍及尾鳍边缘黑色,第二背鳍与臀鳍中部各具一黑色纵纹。本研究分析了浙江海域5种天竺鲷科鱼类的形态差异,并编制了检索表。测定了6尾标本的DNA条形码,结合Gen Bank中所有学名为Jaydia truncata及其同种异名的同源序列分析,发现所有个体明显分为两个分支,且两者遗传距离达到0.149,表明两分支可能为不同的有效种,Gen Bank中只有AB890050和JQ681488与本研究序列结果相近。     

Distribution of sea cucumbers in relation to sediment characteristics in coral reef lagoons and adjacent waters around Ishigaki Island,southern Japan

To elucidate which environmental factors affect lagoonal‐scale sea cucumber distributions in Ishigaki Island, Okinawa, Japan, intertidal and subtidal areas of three coral reef lagoons were classified into several ground divisions by bottom characteristics, and sea cucumber densities therein were compared with the composition of sediment cover, grain size and organic content, and coverage of macroalgae, seagrass, and massive corals. Holothuria atra, Holothuria leucospilota, Stichopus chloronotus, and Synapta maculata had highest densities in the nearshore areas but were rare in reef flats, probably because of wave disturbance and low areal cover of sand sediment as potential feeding environments. No relationship was observed between sea cucumber densities and sediment organic content or grain size. Thus, even if these sea cucumbers have selectivity for habitats with a high sediment organic content, the effect of such selectivity on the distribution seems to be limited to relatively small areas. The sea cucumber distributions can be classified by bottom sediment/biota composition into bedrock (H. leucospilota), sand (H. atra), and lagoonal types (St. chloronotus and Sy. maculata). These habitat selections were possibly related to various aspects of sea cucumber ecology such as refuge from predators or turbulence, or settlement and nursery place, which have implications for importance of the complexity of lagoonal‐scale topography and sediment/biota conditions for the coexistence of various holothurian species.     

Patterns of genetic and morphometric diversity in the marbled crab (Pachygrapsus marmoratus, Brachyura, Grapsidae) populations across the Tunisian coast

The present study reports on population structure analysis of the marbled crabPachygrapsus marmoratus (Fabricius, 1787) from the Tunisian coast, an appropriate location to study biogeographical process...     

Morphological and molecular evidence supports the first occurrence of two fishes,Siganus sutor(Valenciennes, 1835)and Seriolina nigrofasciata(Rüppell, 1829)(Actinopterygii:Perciformes), from marine waters of Odisha coast,Bay of Bengal,India

Marine ecosystems provide a wide variety of diverse habitats that frequently promote migration and ecological adaptation. The extent to which the geographic distribution of marine organism has reshaped by human activities remains underappreciated. The limitations intrinsic to morphology-based identification systems have engendered an urgent need for reliable genetic methods that enable the unequivocal recognition of fish species,particularly those that are prone to overexploitation and/or market substitution. In the present study, however, an attempt has been taken to identify two locally adapted fish species, Siganus sutor(Valenciennes, 1835) and Seriolina nigrofasciata(Rüppell, 1829) of order Perciformes, which happens to be the first record in Odisha coast,Bay of Bengal. The diagnostic characteristics of Siganus sutor are: dorsal fin XIII-10, anal fin VII-9, pectoral fin 15,pelvic fin II-3, while that of Seriolina nigrofasciata dorsal fin VI-I-35, anal fin I-17, pectoral fin 16, pelvic fin 5. All COI barcodes generated in this study were matched with reference sequences of expected species, according to morphological identification. Bayesian and likelihood phylogenetic trees were drawn based on DNA barcodes and all the specimens clustered in agreement with their taxonomic classification at the species level. The phylogeographic studies based on haplotype network and migration rates suggest that both the species were not panmitic and the high-frequency population distribution indicates successful migration. The result of this study provides an important validation of the use of DNA barcode sequences for monitoring species diversity and changes within a complex marine ecosystem.     

Geographical variation in fin ray numbers in the New Zealand sand flounder Rhombosolea plebeia (richardson)

The numbers of dorsal and anal fin rays were compared in samples of sand flounder Rhombosolea plebeia (Richardson) collected from different localities around the coasts of New Zealand. Fin ray numbers were highest on the west coast of the North Island, particularly in the South Taranaki Bight, and were lowest on the east and south coasts of the South Island. Within the areas studied five regions were recognised within which the mean numbers of fin rays were relatively constant, but between which the mean numbers of fin rays differed considerably. The significance of these differences is discussed.     

The First Record of Long Headed Eagle Ray,Aetobatus flagellum (Pisces: Myliobatidae) from Korea

A specimen ofAetobatus flagellum was collected at Uljin in June 2005 for the first time in Korea. This specimen is characterized by the cephalic fin, the long snout, the dorsal fin between pelvic fins, spiracles on the dorsal side of the disc, the deeply notched nasal curtain and the one row of the teeth in the lower and the upper jaws. And unlikeAetobatus narinari, it does not have any spots on the its dorsal side of the disc. We report this specimen as the first record from Korea and name it ‘Bak-jui-ga-o-ri’ in Korean.     

基于Cyt b 基因序列的中国沿海4个长蛸(Octopus variabilis)群体的种群遗传结构分析

采用线粒体Cytb基因测序技术研究了我国不同海域4个长蛸(Octopus variabilis)群体的种群遗传结构。结果表明,232bp的Cytb基因片段在4个群体90个个体中共检测到38个多态位点、12个单倍型,单倍型多样性指数H达0.854±0.015,核苷酸多样性指数Pi达0.059±0.005,平均核苷酸多样性指数K达13.526,显示出较高的遗传变异。种群遗传结构分析表明,4个群体间均存在极显著的遗传分化(P<0.01),除大连与青岛两群体间外,其它两两群体间的基因流均小于1。聚类分析表明,4个群体明显分化为三大类群,一个类群由大连和青岛群体组成,一个由温州群体组成,另一个由东山群体组成;遗传距离分析表明,东山类群与其它类群之间可能为亚种水平的分化,而其它类群之间仍为种内群体间分化。长蛸这种种群遗传结构形成原因可能与其较弱的种群扩散能力有关,另外冰川期地理历史因素及我国海域的洋流作用可能也参与了长蛸种群遗传结构的形成。     

Biotic variation in coastal water bodies in Sussex, England: Implications for saline lagoons

Coastal water bodies are a heterogeneous resource typified by high spatial and temporal variability and threatened by anthropogenic impacts. This includes saline lagoons, which support a specialist biota and are a priority habitat for nature conservation. This paper describes the biotic variation in coastal water bodies in Sussex, England, in order to characterise the distinctiveness of the saline lagoon community and elucidate environmental factors that determine its distribution. Twenty-eight coastal water bodies were surveyed for their aquatic flora and invertebrate fauna and a suite of exploratory environmental variables compiled. Ordination and cluster analyses were used to examine patterns in community composition and relate these to environmental parameters. Biotic variation in the coastal water body resource was high. Salinity was the main environmental parameter explaining the regional distribution of taxa; freshwater and saline assemblages were evident and related to sea water ingress. Freshwater sites were indicated by the plant Myriophyllum spicatum and gastropod mollusc Lymnaea peregra, while more saline communities supported marine and brackish water taxa, notably a range of chlorophytic algae and the bivalve mollusc Cerastoderma glaucum. Site community differences were also related to bank slope and parameters describing habitat heterogeneity. A saline lagoon community was discerned within the matrix of biotic variation consisting of specialist lagoonal species with associated typically euryhaline taxa. For fauna, the latter were the molluscs Abra tenuis and Hydrobia ulvae, and the crustaceans Corophium volutator and Palaemonetes varians, and for flora they were the algae Ulva lactuca, Chaetomorpha mediterranea, Cladophora spp. and Enteromorpha intestinalis. One non-native polychaete species, Ficopomatus enigmaticus, also strongly influenced community structure within the lagoonal resource. The community was not well defined as specialist and associated taxa were distributed throughout the spectrum of sites surveyed. Implications for the identification and conservation of saline lagoons are discussed.     

Description of the post larva of star pipefish,halicampus punctatus (syngnathidae, gasterosteiformes) first found in the southwestern east sea, Korea

Larval specimens ofHalicampus punctatus were collected off Ulsan and Uljin in December 2002 (three specimens) and off Ulsan in December 2003 (one specimen). These specimens are characterized by the following morphological characteristics: rings, 14 + 35 = 49; subdorsal rings, 1 + 3 = 4; dorsal fin rays, 19 – 20; pectoral fin rays, 14 – 15; anal fin rays, 9; head length (HL), 5.8 – 6.7 in the standard length; snout length, 1.9 in HL; snout depth, 3.7 – 5.2 in snout length. The number of caudal fin rays 9 is less than those of the other species in the same genus 10. Wide stripe bands composed of small pigments are shown in the trunk and the tail. Melanophores are not found in the dorsal fin, the pectoral fin, and the anal fin except the caudal fin. The supraoccipital crest is on the head. The frontal ridge is on the dorsal side of front trunk. The blanched ridges on the opercular are fused with a main ridge like a tree branch. A few branched ridges that are small and narrow on the trunk and the tail are fused with the main ridges. We report these specimens as the first record in Korea and name them ‘Byeol-silgo-ki’ in Korean.     

Genetic diversity and population structure of three dominant myctophid fishes (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Diaphus theta,Stenobrachius leucopsarus</Emphasis>, and <Emphasis Type="Italic">S. nannochir</Emphasis>) in the North Pacific Ocean

We compared the genetic diversity of three dominant myctophid fishes in the North Pacific Ocean that have different diel vertical migration patterns on the basis of the nucleotide sequences of the mitochondrial gene for cytochrome b. No genetic structure was detected for each of these three species. The genetic diversity progressively increased for Diaphus theta, a diel migrant species showing clear diel vertical migration; Stenobrachius leucopsarus, a semi-diel migrant, in which only part of the population migrates vertically; S. nannochir, a non-diel migrant. All three species were suggested to have experienced a recent, sudden population expansion. Interspecific differences in genetic diversity might be attributable to differences in the degree of population size reduction during the glacial periods; this degree in turn corresponds to the energy demand of the fishes.     

太平洋双色鳗鲡(Anguilla bicolor pacifica)与其它3种鳗鲡的形态差异分析

通过传统形态学数据和框架结构数据相结合,应用方差、聚类、判别和主成分等4种多元分析方法,分析了太平洋双色鳗鲡与日本鳗鲡、美洲鳗鲡和花鳗鲡的形态差异。结果表明:(1)太平洋双色鳗鲡背鳍前端与臀鳍前端之间的垂线距离占全长的1.4%,属短鳍型鳗鲡。(2)太平洋双色鳗鲡与其它3种鳗鲡形态差异显著。在可数性状中,太平洋双色鳗鲡的总脊椎骨数显著小于日本鳗鲡,显著大于美洲鳗鲡和花鳗鲡,背鳍前脊椎骨数显著大于其它3种鳗鲡;在可量性状中,太平洋双色鳗鲡的吻长显著小于美洲鳗鲡和花鳗鲡,显著大于日本鳗鲡;在框架结构性状中,太平洋双色鳗鲡有6项性状与其它3种鳗鲡差异显著。(3)太平洋双色鳗鲡的背鳍起点与其它3种鳗鲡相比最靠后,背鳍起点在鳗鲡分类研究中可作为重要的框架结构定位点。本研究可为太平洋双色鳗鲡的合理引进和种质保护提供资料。     

Differential distribution of the two cryptic species, Pomatoschistus microps and P. marmoratus, in the lagoons of southern France, with an emphasis on the genetic organisation of P. microps

The presence and the distribution of two cryptic sedentary gobies, Pomatoschistus microps and Pomatoschistus marmoratus, were investigated in several lagoons stretching along the Golfe du Lion, southern France Mediterranean coast, and Corsica. Pomatoschistus microps is the only sedentary Pomatoschistus species in two shallow lagoons with large variations of salinity and temperature. In contrast, P. marmoratus, another sedentary species, can be found preferentially in a deep salty lagoon with small salinity variations. Both species occur sympatrically in the Rhone Delta and hybridise, producing fertile offspring. Using allozymes, competition, linked to fitness, is invoked to explain the distribution pattern of these sibling species.     

Resource Partitioning Among Planktivorous Fish Larvae and Fry in a Mediterranean Coastal Lagoon

Resource partioning among the planktivorous stages of eight fish species occurring in a Mediterranean coastal lagoon was studied. Five species were migratory mullets that spawned in the sea (Liza ramada, L. aurata, L. saliens, Chelon labrosusandMugil cephalus), while the other three species were resident and spawned in the lagoon (Atherina boyeri, Cyprinus carpioandGambusia holbrooki).Mullet fry exhibited similar diets, based on the consumption of zooplanktonic Crustacea such as copepods and cladocerans, although adult chironomids were also important.Gambusia holbrookiandA. boyerifed on small prey such as copepod nauplii, copepodites and rotifers, whileC. carpioconsumed larger prey preferentially (cladocerans and copepods).According to the trophic overlap and niche width results, seven species pairs could be competing in the estuary, although further experimental evidence is still required.     

汕头—台湾浅滩渔场中国枪乌贼形态学初步分析

形态学研究是海洋生物学的基础,对了解渔业资源的群体组成有重要意义。根据2018年7月至2019年6月在汕头—台湾浅滩渔场采获的940尾中国枪乌贼(Uroteuthis chinensis)的形态学数据,对其群体组成、胴长与体质量关系进行了研究;对各形态参数比进行了主成分分析;采用线性、指数、幂函数、Logistic4种函数对各形态学指标即右第一至第四腕长、右触腕长、鳍长和鳍宽与胴长的关系进行了拟合并选出最优方程。结果发现:中国枪乌贼的胴长范围为50.00～300.00 mm,平均胴长为111.44 mm,体质量范围为7.43～301.00 g,平均体质量为53.95 g,雌、雄生长系数b值分别为2.269 6和2.067 5,雌性比雄性生长速度更快,并存在个体小型化持续的趋势。主成分分析表明各形态参数比的差异可简化为2个主成分,第1主成分主要解释了各腕长、鳍宽的差异;第2主成分主要解释了鳍长的差异,因子荷载可视化雌雄在第2主成分具有明显偏离态势。各腕指标及鳍长、鳍宽与胴长关系以线性函数拟合最佳,协方差分析表明雌性与雄性个体之间存在显著差异(p0.05)。研究结果可为中国枪乌贼渔业生物学积累基础资料,加深对该资源种群组成及变动的了解,从而为实现资源的可持续利用和科学管理提供依据。     

Composition, structural characteristics and temporal patterns of fish assemblages in non-tidal Mediterranean lagoons: A case study

The importance of transitional water ecosystems as nursery habitats and feeding grounds for fish species is well-known. Detailed studies of colonization patterns of fish guilds in response to biotic and abiotic drivers are however unevenly distributed among ecosystem types. We address here the temporal variability of fish assemblages in small non-tidal lagoons in the Mediterranean basin. The study was carried out at the Acquatina lagoon (Lecce, Italy) where four stations, situated in two habitat types along a confinement gradient, were sampled twice per month for one year with fyke nets. Forty-five taxa ranging across 20 families were collected, with the most abundant species, Atherina boyeri, accounting for more than 95% of total abundance. Pooling all species together (excluding sand smelt), the structural features of the assemblage, relative abundance of families, and abundance of individual species all showed significant temporal patterns. Mean abundance peaked in Summer and Autumn and fell in Winter, whereas taxonomic richness and diversity were highest in Summer and lowest in Spring. Within the fish assemblage, multivariate ordination showed temporal segregation of species belonging to the same family or genus and expected to be functionally similar, suggesting that they avoid competition for space and resources by timing inward migration and peak occurrence differently. Of the environmental driving forces, which also showed temporal patterns of variation, salinity was the main factor affecting the distribution of individuals and species. The catch of young individuals of several marine species confirmed the role of this small lagoon as a nursery and feeding area, and emphasized the need for further studies.     

Significant genetic differentiation among meroplanktonic barrel jellyfish Rhizostoma pulmo (Cnidaria: Scyphozoa) in the Mediterranean Sea

Molecular data have shown that jellyfishes are more geographically restricted and evolutionarily divergent than previously thought. We examined genetic variation and divergence within the meroplanktonic barrel jellyfish Rhizostoma pulmo in the Mediterranean Sea; specific sampling areas were the northern Adriatic, western Mediterranean and Tunisian coast. A total of 19 sampling sites and 68 sequences of the mtDNA cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene were used. Of the 68 COI sequences, 45 were newly collected specimens which originated from nine sampling sites along the Tunisian coast. A total of 24 haplotypes were obtained and the specimens sampled were characterised by relatively high levels of haplotype diversity (h = 0.866) and low levels of nucleotide diversity (π = 0.004). Haplotype network analysis showed the presence of three distinct phylogenetic lineages (populations), with separate geographic ranges in the northern Adriatic, western Mediterranean and Tunisian coast. The observed genetic differentiation between these three lineages was supported by the presence of significant genetic differentiation between the 19 populations (F_ST = 0.757, p < 0.001). The high level of genetic differentiation detected in the barrel jellyfish investigated could be attributed to either intrinsic and/or extrinsic barriers to genetic exchange between different populations that may have adapted to different environmental conditions.     

基于线粒体cyt b基因序列差异的组合PCR技术快速鉴定五种鳗鲡养殖种类的方法研究

在自然或人为因素下容易出现鳗苗种质混杂的现象,由于鳗鲡苗种在形态上十分相似,难以区分。为了保障鳗农的合法利益和提高养殖效益,急需建立一种能够在现场快速、高效使用的鳗鲡种质鉴定方法。本研究通过比对找出5种常见鳗鲡养殖种类:日本鳗鲡(Anguilla japonica)、美洲鳗鲡(A.rostrata)、花鳗鲡(A.marmorata)、太平洋双色鳗鲡(A.bicolor pacifica)、欧洲鳗鲡(A.anguilla)线粒体细胞色素B(cytochrome b,cyt b)基因的差异序列,基于5个cyt b基因序列差异较大的片段,设计多对引物,分别经过PCR验证和条件优化,挑选出4对引物:aj S1/A1、r-a S1/A2、bp-m S5/A3和m-a S4/A4。将这4对引物组合在同一个反应体系中进行PCR扩增,进行条件优化,筛选出组合PCR的最优条件:退火温度为58oC;退火时间为45s;循环数为27。结果表明,通过扩增产物凝胶电泳中条带的有无及大小可快速准确的鉴定出五个鳗鲡种类。本研究建立的组合PCR方法在3小时内可完成整个种类鉴定过程,同时可使用便携式小型仪器完成操作,可满足现场快速、高效鉴定的要求。此外,通过MEGA5.0软件构建5种鳗鲡线粒体cyt b基因序列NJ进化树,发现花鳗鲡和太平洋双色鳗鲡先聚为一支,再与日本鳗鲡聚在一起,而欧洲鳗鲡和美洲鳗鲡聚在一起,进化树图显示的遗传距离和它们的地理分布的远近相似。     

虹鳟(Oncorhynchus mykiss)选育群体主要体尺性状表型和遗传相关分析

以虹鳟(Oncorhynchus mykiss)优良品系选育群体作为试验群体,采用单性状动物模型估计头长、体长、体高、体厚、尾柄长、尾柄高、背吻距、背鳍基长等8个主要体尺性状的遗传力。结果显示,上述8个性状的遗传力在0.131—0.313之间,多为中等或偏低遗传力,其中背鳍基长遗传力最低,为0.131±0.039,体高遗传力最高,为0.313±0.086。采用皮尔逊相关法估计上述性状之间的表型相关,结果显示,上述性状间表型相关变化范围为0.016—0.815。采用两性状动物模型估计上述性状间的遗传相关,结果表明,上述性状间遗传相关变化范围为0.065—0.866。在本研究中,比较分析表型和遗传相关结果发现,虽然体厚与尾柄长的表型相关最低,仅为0.016,相关性不显著(P0.05),但是遗传相关为0.247,似然比检验(likelihood ratio test,LRT)统计分析达到显著水平(P0.05)。体厚与背鳍基长的表型相关为0.647,t检验达到显著水平(P0.05);但遗传相关仅为0.305,LRT统计分析未达到显著水平(P0.05)。上述结果说明,在该群体中各体尺性状的表型相关和遗传相关水平不完全相同,在设计育种方案时应综合考虑各个性状间的表型相关及遗传相关。