Incubation,hatching and survival of eggs of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) in spawning redds influenced by groundwater

Many west coastal and northern Norwegian rivers run through deep, confined valleys with permeable layers of glacial and alluvial deposits. Groundwater flows through these permeable layers and enter lakes and rivers as underwater seepage and springs. Groundwater inflow to inland Norwegian rivers may constitute 40–100% of total water discharge during low flow periods in late summer and winter. Juvenile salmonids may take advantage of groundwater upwellings and actively seek out such patches. In regulated rivers groundwater influx may create refuges during low flow or hydropeaking episodes. The importance of groundwater for salmon redd site selection and egg survival is also clear, although less known and documented in regulated rivers.Eggs of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) are deposited in redds in river bed gravels lacking fine sediments and with high oxygen levels. Egg development is therefore dependent on the interaction of a number of environmental factors such as groundwater influx, oxygen and temperature. Atlantic salmon in the regulated River Suldalslågen, Western Norway, spawn relatively late compared to other Norwegian rivers, with a peak in early January. Newly emerged fry are found from the end of May to the beginning of June, i.e. “swim up” one month earlier than expected using models for egg and alevin development and river water temperatures. The most plausible explanation is that groundwater has a higher and more stable temperature than surface river water. In field experiments, fertilized salmon eggs were placed in boxes close to natural spawning redds in the river bed at sites influenced and those not influenced by groundwater. A difference of up to 40 days in 50% hatching was found, and “swim up” occurred at the end of May in boxes influenced by groundwater.Preliminary studies have revealed that groundwater also plays an important role in survival of salmon eggs in the River Suldalslågen when dewatered in winter. Eggs placed in boxes in groundwater seepage areas during winter in the dewatered river bed survived even when covered by ice and snow. The survival from fertilization until 30 April, one month before hatching, was 91%, the same survival as found for eggs placed in boxes in the wetted river bed. However, mortality from fertilization to hatching was higher compared to the eggs placed in wetted river bed, 57 and 91% respectively.Groundwater creates a horizontal and vertical mosaic of temperatures in spawning redd areas leading to potentially greater variation in spawning sites, time of hatching and “swim up”. This is likely to increase egg survival during low flow periods in regulated rivers. In conclusion, the interaction between groundwater and surface river water should therefore be considered when managing fish populations in regulated rivers.     

Spawning and egg development ofPerca fluviatilis in Lake Zürich

Egg survival and development rate of perch eggs were investigated in Lake Zürich, Switzerland. A transplant experiment was carried out to examine whether individual females choose different depths for spawning because of an expected advantage for the development of their eggs. Egg masses which had been deposited on fir branches stuck into the ground of the lake were either left untouched or transplanted horizontally or vertically at depths of 3 and 6 m. Spawning occurred between 28 April and 9 June 1987. Egg survival to the eye pigment stage (EPS) was high in all treatments ( , minimum 92%). There was no significant difference in egg survival between treatments, suggesting that females do not choose the spawning site because of individual fitness differences related to the depth of spawning. Early egg masses which were exposed to lower temperatures developed more slowly (120–140 day degrees to the EPS) than late egg masses which were exposed to higher temperatures (80–100 day degrees). The observed differences are in agreement with the hypothesis of a constant sum of day degrees necessary for egg development using the corrected formula derived by Guma'a (1978) which deducts an estimated threshold temperature of 5°C below which development of perch eggs effectively stops, from the actual temperature.     

Impact of elevated ammonium on reproduction in two Hawaiian scleractinian corals with different life history patterns

Elevated nutrients have the potential to disrupt reproduction in scleractinian corals, with consequent impacts on population dynamics. Reproduction in broadcast spawning (Montipora capitata) and brooding (Pocillopora damicornis) species was assessed following exposure to elevated ammonium in a microcosm experiment. Planulation in P. damicornis ceased following 4 months of ammonium exposure and did not recover until 3 months after termination of nutrient enrichment. Larval settlement and survivorship were not affected by ammonium enrichment. Few significant changes were found for reproductive parameters of M. capitata. There was a significant but small decrease in egg size (430 microm in control eggs to 408 microm in eggs from ammonium enrichment treatments), but no differences in total fecundity or fertilization success. This may be related to the presence of zooxanthellae in the eggs of M. capitata, in contrast to changes in reproduction previously reported in Acropora species, whose eggs do not contain zooxanthellae.     

Hypoxia impairs embryo development and survival in black bream (Acanthopagrus butcheri)

Coastal environments are threatened by the increasing frequency, extent and severity of hypoxic events. Hypoxia affects vast areas around the world and often causes fish kills, reduced abundance, altered distribution, low benthic biomass and declines in fisheries. In Australia, many fisheries are based on sparid fishes and in the southern states black bream (Acanthopagrus butcheri) is important to both the recreational and commercial sectors. This species completes its entire life cycle in estuaries and annual recruitment is highly variable and very likely influenced by environmental conditions during the spawning season. In a laboratory-based experiment, fertilised black bream eggs (embryos) were exposed to five different levels of dissolved oxygen (DO). The DO levels were maintained in small test wells using nitrogen gas in a novel chamber design. Embryo development was assessed over a 2-day period and hatched larvae were observed until Day 2 post-hatch. Significant differences (p<0.05) were observed in embryonic development and survival as a function of DO level. In severely hypoxic conditions (30% saturation) survival to 1 day was reduced and no hatching occurred. In moderately hypoxic conditions (45-55%S), both precocious and delayed hatching was observed and hatch rates were reduced, whilst the number of hatched larvae with deformities increased, resulting in reduced larval lengths. No larvae survived to Day 2 post-hatch when held in hypoxic conditions (<55%S). This study demonstrates the detrimental effect that severe hypoxia can have on the early development of black bream which could result in reduced recruitment and lowered abundance. Other species that share similar early life histories may also be at risk.     

Petroleum ingestion reduces reproduction in Cassin's Auklets

Sublethal doses of petroleum reduced reproduction in a free-living seabird, Cassin's Auklet (Ptychoramphus aleuticus), nesting on Southeast Farallon Island, California. The proportion of birds laying eggs was reduced 9–13 days after ingestion by gelatin capsule of 300, 600 or 1000 mg bunker C fuel oil, or 1000 mg Prudhoe Bay crude oil. In addition, among those auklets that eventually laid eggs, hatching was reduced by doses of 1000 mg of bunker C but was unaffected by other treatments. Chick development after hatching was unaffected by any treatment. The total time of egg formation from onset of rapid yolk formation to laying was 13 days, and it is early in this period that auklets are vulnerable to petroleum.     

Hypoxia impairs embryo development and survival in black bream (Acanthopagrus butcheri)

Coastal environments are threatened by the increasing frequency, extent and severity of hypoxic events. Hypoxia affects vast areas around the world and often causes fish kills, reduced abundance, altered distribution, low benthic biomass and declines in fisheries. In Australia, many fisheries are based on sparid fishes and in the southern states black bream (Acanthopagrus butcheri) is important to both the recreational and commercial sectors. This species completes its entire life cycle in estuaries and annual recruitment is highly variable and very likely influenced by environmental conditions during the spawning season.In a laboratory-based experiment, fertilised black bream eggs (embryos) were exposed to five different levels of dissolved oxygen (DO). The DO levels were maintained in small test wells using nitrogen gas in a novel chamber design. Embryo development was assessed over a 2-day period and hatched larvae were observed until Day 2 post-hatch. Significant differences (p < 0.05) were observed in embryonic development and survival as a function of DO level. In severely hypoxic conditions (30% saturation) survival to 1 day was reduced and no hatching occurred. In moderately hypoxic conditions (45–55%S), both precocious and delayed hatching was observed and hatch rates were reduced, whilst the number of hatched larvae with deformities increased, resulting in reduced larval lengths. No larvae survived to Day 2 post-hatch when held in hypoxic conditions (<55%S). This study demonstrates the detrimental effect that severe hypoxia can have on the early development of black bream which could result in reduced recruitment and lowered abundance. Other species that share similar early life histories may also be at risk.     

Hypoxia impairs embryo development and survival in black bream (Acanthopagrus butcheri)

Coastal environments are threatened by the increasing frequency, extent and severity of hypoxic events. Hypoxia affects vast areas around the world and often causes fish kills, reduced abundance, altered distribution, low benthic biomass and declines in fisheries. In Australia, many fisheries are based on sparid fishes and in the southern states black bream (Acanthopagrus butcheri) is important to both the recreational and commercial sectors. This species completes its entire life cycle in estuaries and annual recruitment is highly variable and very likely influenced by environmental conditions during the spawning season.In a laboratory-based experiment, fertilised black bream eggs (embryos) were exposed to five different levels of dissolved oxygen (DO). The DO levels were maintained in small test wells using nitrogen gas in a novel chamber design. Embryo development was assessed over a 2-day period and hatched larvae were observed until Day 2 post-hatch. Significant differences (p < 0.05) were observed in embryonic development and survival as a function of DO level. In severely hypoxic conditions (30% saturation) survival to 1 day was reduced and no hatching occurred. In moderately hypoxic conditions (45–55%S), both precocious and delayed hatching was observed and hatch rates were reduced, whilst the number of hatched larvae with deformities increased, resulting in reduced larval lengths. No larvae survived to Day 2 post-hatch when held in hypoxic conditions (<55%S). This study demonstrates the detrimental effect that severe hypoxia can have on the early development of black bream which could result in reduced recruitment and lowered abundance. Other species that share similar early life histories may also be at risk.     

附着藻类对太湖沉积物磷释放的影响

附着藻类是清水态浅水湖泊的重要组成部分,为了解附着藻类对湖泊沉积物磷释放的影响,在室内柱状装置中,将尼龙网所培养的附着藻类加盖到太湖沉积物上,即处理组,并设置无附着藻类加盖的对照组,进行为期13d的实验.结果表明:加附着藻类的处理组中的无机磷释放速率显著低于无附着藻类的对照组.与对照组相比,实验期间加附着藻类的处理组释放到水体中的磷,平均减少1.16mg.其中附着藻类吸收了0.81mg磷(70%),而附着藻类通过光合作用改变沉积物表面的氧环境抑制了0.35mg磷的释放(30%).研究表明,底栖附着藻类可以通过吸收磷和抑制沉积物磷释放降低水中营养盐含量.     

不同盐度对多刺裸腹溞内禀增长率的影响

本文以人工催产、自然受精获得的鲂受精卵为材料,用胰蛋白酶脱去卵膜,将裸卵置于Ｈｏｌｔｆｒｅｔｅｒ氏液和曝气的蒸馏水中培育,在解剖镜下仔细观察鲂的胚胎发育特征,并将其胚胎发育划分为８个阶段,２９个时期,旨在为鲂的人工繁育提供基础资料。     

Effects of the construction of Scroby Sands offshore wind farm on the prey base of Little tern Sternula albifrons at its most important UK colony

Despite widespread interest in the impacts of wind farms upon birds, few researchers have examined the potential for indirect or trophic (predator-prey) effects. Using surface trawls, we monitored prey abundance before and after construction of a 30 turbine offshore wind farm sited close to an internationally important colony of Little terns. Observations confirmed that young-of-the-year clupeids dominated chick diet, which trawl samples suggested were mainly herring. Multivariate modelling indicated a significant reduction in herring abundance from 2004 onwards that could not be explained by environmental factors. Intensely noisy monopile installation during the winter spawning period was suggested to be responsible. Reduced prey abundance corresponded with a significant decline in Little tern foraging success. Unprecedented egg abandonment and lack of chick hatching tentatively suggested a colony-scale response in some years. We urge a precautionary approach to the timing and duration of pile-driving activity supported with long-term targeted monitoring of sensitive receptors.     

Effects on hatching in Littorina littorea after an oil spill

One year after an accidental spill of approx. 2000 t of Iranian crude oil on the west coast of Norway, specimens of the gastropod Littorina littorea were collected from the oil polluted shore and allowed to spawn in the laboratory. Snails were also collected from an unpolluted reference site. The oil contamination seemed to have no detectable effects on fertilization. However, the hatching success of the veliger larvae was significally less in the ‘oil polluted’ population. Some highly abnormal eggs were also observed in this egg population.     

Methodical approach to distribution of epilithic and drifting algae communities in a French subalpine river: Inferences on water quality assessment

In a sub-alpine river, the Asse, with an unpredictable discharge regime, chlorophyll, density and taxonomic diversity of both drifting and periphytic communities were studied from a methodical approach. The investigations based on stamping two close cross-sections to know their spatial distributions in a heterogeneous bed substrate showed a heterogeneous pattern of colonization mainly influenced by hydrological variables as the current velocity, the size of the substrata (gravel-pebble-boulder). For the drifting algae, mainly composed with benthic species temporarily unhooked to the substrata, the heterogeneity of the distribution was reduced in fast flow which induced a mixing of the whole mass of water. For the periphyton, some results indicated that the greatest diversity and the highest chlorophyll concentration were found on pebble substratum where the current velocity was moderate. These results have also shown that the classical methods used to day for investigations were inadequate for most Mediterranean rivers. It was really difficult to estimate the water quality from classical index created for use in regular large plain rivers.     

Overlap between Atlantic bluefin tuna spawning grounds and observed Deepwater Horizon surface oil in the northern Gulf of Mexico

The 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill impacted the northern Gulf of Mexico (GOM) during the spring spawning season of Atlantic bluefin tuna (BFT). Overlap between BFT spawning habitat and surface oil in the northern GOM was examined using satellite-derived estimates of oil coverage, and spawning habitat models. Results suggested that although eggs and larvae were likely impacted by oil-contaminated waters in the eastern GOM, high abundances of larvae were located elsewhere, especially in the western GOM. Overall, less than 10% of BFT spawning habitat was predicted to have been covered by surface oil, and less than 12% of larval BFT were predicted to have been located within contaminated waters in the northern GOM, on a weekly basis. Our results provide preliminary but important initial estimates of the effects of the spill on larval BFT mortality, as concern continues over the appropriate management responses to impacts of the spill.     

Effect of glyphosate-based herbicide on early life stages of Java medaka (Oryzias javanicus): A potential tropical test fish

Glyphosate is globally a widely used herbicide, yet there is little information on their toxicity to marine fishes. Java medaka, a small tropical fish native to coastal areas in several Southeast Asian countries, is viewed as a suitable candidate for toxicity test and thus was used for this study. Java medaka adults were cultured in the laboratory and the fertilized eggs of the F₂ generation were exposed to different concentrations of glyphosate-based herbicide (100, 200, 300, 400 and 500 ppm) until they hatched. The survival and hatching rates of the embryos, changes in the heart rate and morphological impairments were recorded. Generally, survival and hatching percentage decreased as glyphosate concentration increased. Absence of pectoral fin(s) and cornea, permanently bent tail, irregular shaped abdomen, and cell disruption in the fin, head and abdomen are among the common teratogenic effects observed. Furthermore, risk factor also increased with the increased in glyphosate concentrations.     

丹江口水库上游梯级开发后产漂流性卵鱼类早期资源及其演变

2014年对丹江口水库上游四大家鱼等产漂流性卵鱼类进行早期资源的现状调查,结果表明丹江口水库上游现有产漂流性卵鱼类共14种,以银鮈、蛇鮈、花斑副沙鳅、、蒙古鲌等鱼类为主,四大家鱼卵64粒,仅占卵数的1.02%.与1977年、1993年历史调查的产漂流性卵鱼类早期资源数据相比,产卵场数量减少6处,产卵场的规模和位置发生显著变化.丹江口水库上游产漂流性卵鱼类产卵总量下降明显,从1977年的近1745.86亿粒(尾)下降到2014年的455502.76万粒(尾);其中四大家鱼卵苗径流量下降幅度最为显著,从171.27亿粒(尾)下降到4295.22万粒(尾),四大家鱼卵苗径流量占鱼类卵苗总径流量的比例也从9.81%下降到了0.94%以下.     

Effects of elevated CO2 on the reproduction of two calanoid copepods

Some planktonic groups suffer negative effects from ocean acidification (OA), although copepods might be less sensitive. We investigated the effect of predicted CO₂ levels (range 480–750 ppm), on egg production and hatching success of two copepod species, Centropages typicus and Temora longicornis. In these short-term incubations there was no significant effect of high CO₂ on these parameters. Additionally a very high CO₂ treatment, (CO₂ = 9830 ppm), representative of carbon capture and storage scenarios, resulted in a reduction of egg production rate and hatching success of C. typicus, but not T. longicornis. In conclusion, reproduction of C. typicus was more sensitive to acute elevated seawater CO₂ than that of T. longicornis, but neither species was affected by exposure to CO₂ levels predicted for the year 2100. The duration and seasonal timing of exposures to high pCO₂, however, might have a significant effect on the reproduction success of calanoid copepods.     

Effects of γ-Rays on Hatching' of the Eggs and Survival Period of Fries of Cyprinus carpio

The eggs of Cyprinus carpio were irradiated by 5 different strengths: 0.0258, 0.129, 0.258, 0.516 and 1.29 C/kg (100, 500, 1000, 2000 and 5000 R) of γ-rays in the batches of 50 fertilized eggs. The activities of eggs and hatched fries were noted after irradiation doses. The hatching percentages of the eggs were reported for each group. The percentage of hatched eggs of Cyprinus carpio after radiation doses of 0.0258, 0.129, 0.258, 0.516 and 1.29 C/kg (100, 500, 1000, 2000 and 5000 R) was 30%, 24%, 28%, 30%, and 34%, respectively. The 50% mortality period of fries for the above strengths of the γ-rays was 8 days, 7 days, 6 days. 4 days and 4 days, respectively. The survival period of the fries was 11 days, 9 days, 8 days, 7 days and 6 days, respectively. All fries hatched from the eggs irradiated by γ-rays showed early hatching, a higher percentage of mortality, a retarded and abnormal development of the body. A statistical analysis of the results by the correlation coefficient also proved that the hatching percentages of the fries and the survival period of fries are directly proportional to the strength of the γ-rays and inversely proportional to the strength of γ-rays, respectively.     

Variation and temporal patterns in the composition of the surface ichthyoplankton in the southern Bay of Biscay (W. Atlantic)

From September 2000 to December 2006, surface plankton samples were collected on a monthly basis, from a station located in the southern Bay of Biscay (43°37N; 1°43W France), near the deep Capbreton canyon. In this paper, the results for the ichthyoplankton assemblage are presented. Among the 62 taxa recorded, only 35 were present in the larval stage whilst only 10 were represented by their eggs. Taxa represented by both stages (eggs+larvae; N=17) had the highest abundance. The presence in the surface plankton assemblage of species, at either or both stage, is interpreted within the context of the bathymetric distribution of species. The maxima in abundance and diversity occurred in February–March, for eggs, and May–June, for larvae. This 3-month time-lag between the stages is proposed to be related to the timing of egg spawning and larval recruitment to the pelagic environment. Mean egg abundances (82.4±29.8 eggs/10 m²) were 10-fold higher than the larval abundances (7.1±1.8 larvae/10 m²). Despite pronounced monthly variability, no statistically significant decrease in either egg or larvae abundance was observed during this 6-year study period. Compared with previous published studies, this study shows that the peak in ichthyoplankton diversity occurred two months earlier. In addition, the spawning period occurred over the whole year, even during autumn and winter. Using ordination techniques, the annual sequence appearance of taxa are described at the study site: Gadiforms, Ammodytidae and Pleuronectiforms were present during the winter whilst Sparidae, Blennidae, Labridae and Gobiidae, formed the summer group. Only three species, European anchovy Engraulis encrasicolus, European pilchard Sardina pilchardus and Atlantic horse mackerel Trachurus trachurus were recorded throughout the year.     

Detrimental effects of reduced seawater pH on the early development of the Pacific abalone

The hatching process of the Pacific abalone Haliotis discus hannai was prolonged at a pH of 7.6 and pH 7.3, and the embryonic developmental success was reduced. The hatching rate at pH 7.3 was significantly (10.8%) lower than that of the control (pH 8.2). The malformation rates at pH 7.9 and pH 8.2 were less than 20% but were 53.8% and 77.3% at pH 7.6 and pH 7.3, respectively. When newly hatched larvae were incubated for 48 h at pH 7.3, only 2.7% of the larvae settled, while more than 70% of the larvae completed settlement in the other three pH treatments. However, most 24 h old larvae could complete metamorphosis in all four pH treatments. Overall, a 0.3-unit reduction in water pH will produce no negative effect on the early development of the Pacific abalone, but further reduction in pH to the values predicted for seawater by the end of this century will have strong detrimental effects.     

Hierarchical simulator of biofilm growth and dynamics in granular porous materials

A new simulator is developed for the prediction of the rate and pattern of growth of biofilms in granular porous media. The biofilm is considered as a heterogeneous porous material that exhibits a hierarchy of length scales. An effective-medium model is used to calculate the local hydraulic permeability and diffusion coefficient in the biofilm, as functions of the local geometric and physicochemical properties. The Navier–Stokes equations and the Brinkman equation are solved numerically to determine the velocity and pressure fields within the pore space and the biofilm, respectively. Biofilm fragments become detached if they are exposed to shear stress higher than a critical value. The detached fragments re-enter into the fluid stream and move within the pore space until they exit from the system or become reattached to downstream grain or biofilm surfaces. A Lagrangian-type simulation is used to determine the trajectories of detached fragments. The spatiotemporal distributions of a carbon source, an electron acceptor and a cell-to-cell signaling molecule are determined from the numerical solution of the governing convection–diffusion–reaction equations. The simulator incorporates growth and apoptosis kinetics for the bacterial cells and production and lysis kinetics for the EPS. The specific growth rate of active bacterial cells depends on the local concentrations of nutrients, mechanical stresses, and a quorum sensing mechanism. Growth-induced deformation of the biofilms is implemented with a cellular automaton approach. In this work, the spatiotemporal evolution of biofilms in the pore space of a 2D granular medium is simulated under high flow rate and nutrient-rich conditions. Transient changes in the pore geometry caused by biofilm growth lead to the formation of preferential flowpaths within the granular porous medium. The decrease of permeability caused by clogging of the porous medium is calculated and is found to be in qualitative agreement with published experimental results.