长江口水域四种鱼类的耳石微化学研究

利用X-射线电子探针微区技术(electron probe microanalysis, EPMA),对长江口不同水域中捕获的焦氏舌鳎、皮氏叫姑鱼、鮸鱼和光泽黄颡鱼耳石中的Sr含量进行耳石微化学研究,结果发现,焦氏舌鳎是典型的海水鱼类,不仅Sr:Ca比(按惯例标准化为Sr:Ca×10~3)的移动平均值高(7),而且Sr含量面分析图亦呈现为对应高盐度海水的黄色或红色图谱。虽然皮氏叫姑鱼和鮸鱼从出生直至被捕Sr:Ca比的移动平均值都在3—7间波动,总体上属河口半咸水栖息鱼类,但从Sr含量面分析图来看,皮氏叫姑鱼生活史履历更为复杂,可包括淡水(对应蓝色图谱)和半咸水生境(对应绿色图谱);而鮸鱼仅在长江口较高盐度半咸水或海水生境中活动,未见进入过淡水的履历。光泽黄颡鱼表现出仅利用淡水生境的履历,其Sr:Ca比的移动平均值仅在1.5—3间窄幅波动,整个生活史均在淡水区域里活动,表现为长江口典型的淡水栖息鱼类。本研究从新的角度提供了较为客观、直观和最新的信息,用以较为准确地重建和掌握长江口这些不同鱼类的生境利用特征。     

Growth,sexual maturity and reproduction in the hottentot Pachymetopon blochii (Val.)

The growth of hottentot is described by the relationship L_f (mm) = 538,015 (1?e^{?0,097(t + 0,431)}). By determining the otolith growth rate and validating it with counts of daily rings identified on scanning electron micrographs of otolith sections, it was found that previous growth curves underestimated the age of the fish by one year. Differences in growth rate between sexes and over geographical regions were negligible. The ratio of males to females in sampled catches was 1:1,383 and 50-per-cent sexual maturity was attained at 220 mm fork length. There are two main spawning seasons, late autumn and summer, although some breeding activity continues throughout the year. Spatial differences in mean gonadosomatic indices were minimal.     

Distribution and contribution of major phytoplankton groups to carbon cycling across contrasting conditions of the subtropical northeast Atlantic Ocean

The relation between trophic regime and phytoplankton composition and function in oceanic systems is well accepted in oceanography. However, the relative dynamics and carbon cycling contributions of different phytoplankton groups across gradients of ocean richness are not fully understood. In this work we investigated phytoplankton dynamics along two transects from the NW African coastal upwelling to open-ocean waters of the north Atlantic subtropical gyre. We adopted a pigment-based approach to characterize community structure and to quantify group-specific growth and grazing rates and associated carbon fluxes. Changes in pigment cell concentration during the incubation experiments due to photoadaptation were corrected to obtain reliable rates. The oceanic region was dominated by Prochlorococcus (PRO) (45±7% of total chlorophyll a) while diatoms dominated in upwelling waters (40±37%). Phytoplankton grew faster (μ=0.78±0.26 d⁻¹) and free of nutrient limitation (μ/μ_n=0.98±0.42) in the coastal upwelling region, with all groups growing at similar rates. In oceanic waters, the growth rate of bulk phytoplankton was lower (μ=0.52±0.16 d⁻¹) and nutrient limited (μ/μ_n=0.68±0.19 d⁻¹). Diatoms (0.80±0.39 d⁻¹) and Synechococcus (SYN) (0.72±0.25 d⁻¹) grew faster than Prymnesiophyceae (PRYMN) (0.62±0.26 d⁻¹) and PRO (0.46±0.18 d⁻¹). The growth rates of PRO and SYN were moderately nutrient limited (μ/μ_n=0.81 and 0.91, respectively), while the limitation for diatoms (μ/μ_n=0.71) and PRYMN (μ/μ_n=0.37) was more severe. Microzooplankton grazing rate was higher in upwelling (0.68±0.32 d⁻¹) than in oceanic waters (0.37±0.19 d⁻¹), but represented the main loss pathway for phytoplankton in both systems (m/μ=0.90±0.32 and 0.69±0.24, respectively). Carbon flux through phytoplankton, produced and grazed, increased from offshore to coastal (∼2 to ∼200 μg C L⁻¹ d⁻¹), with diatoms dominating the flux in the upwelling region (52%) while PRYMN (40%) and PRO (30%) dominated in the open ocean.     

Seasonal variation in the relationship between otolith radius and fish length in the pilchard off South West Africa

The relationship between otolith radius and fish length in the pilchard Sardinops ocellata off South West Africa is shown to vary seasonally. This phenomenon may explain the sinuous nature of the relationships between body part and fish length in other studies. The seasonal variation is too large to be accounted for solely by ingrowth of the hyaline ring by opaque material. The otolith radius: fish length ratio shows a weak negative correlation with fish growth rate (r = ?0,7547, p = 0,1–0,05).     

Discrepancy between otolith and tag-recovery estimates of growth for two South African surf-zone teleost species

Growth rates determined from recovered tagged galjoen Dichistius capensis and white steenbras Lithognathus lithognathus were compared to predictions from growth models based on otolith ring counts. Galjoen could not be sexed externally, but it was assumed that all fish >450 mm total length were females, which grow faster than males. Those smaller than this were assumed to include mostly males and were treated as a "male" sample. Male and female white steenbras grow equivalently. Tagged "male" (n = 322), and female galjoen (n = 34) and white steenbras (n = 14) grew more slowly than the model predictions. The discrepancy is likely attributable to the physiological effect of external tags on growth.     

Production of fish in two small streams in the north island of New Zealand

Data are presented on biomass, mortality, growth, and production of fish populations inhabiting two small streams in the Wairarapa district of the North Island of New Zealand. The main water of both streams contained a mixed population of bullies (Philypnodon breviceps Stokell), brown trout (Salmo trutta Linn.), and eels (Anguilla dieffenbachii Gray, and A. australis schmidtii Phillipps). The headwater tributaries of one of the streams contained a large population of Galaxias divergens Stokell and a few eels, but other fish species were absent. All species of fish appeared to be using the same food supply of small benthic invertebrates, mainly ephemeropteran and dipteran larvae. Biomass of benthos per unit area was appreciably higher in the headwater tributary examined than in the main waters downstream. Mean annual stock of benthos in the tributary (Hinau north branch) was 19.75 g/m², in the Hinau main water 10.71 g/m² and in the Hinaki main water 13.47 g/m² Nevertheless, production per unit area from the nearly monospecific fish population in the Hinau north branch (14.28 g/m²) was less than that of the mixed populations in the main waters (24.17 g/m² in the Hinau, 73.54 g/m² in the Hinaki). Possibly fish production in the headwaters might be greater if the species composition of fish was more diverse.     

Nitrogen excretion by the Cape rock lobster Jasus lalandii and its possible contribution to the inshore Benguela System

The Cape rock lobster Jasus lalandii is a major predator in the inshore Benguela system. The mean density and biomass at Oudekraal is 0,48 individuals ·m^?2 or 49,75 g dry mass ·m^?2. The main component of its diet is Aulacomya ater, the ribbed mussel, which has a mean biomass of 1,15 kg dry mass ·m^?2. Daily consumption of carbon and nitrogen from this source reaches a maximum in summer and, when J. lalandii feed on mussels, 14,1 per cent of the flesh is lost to the environment as a result of "messy feeding". The absorption efficiency of ingested nitrogen is 86,2 per cent. Ammonia and urea excreted in the first 12 h after feeding represent 6,7 and 1,6 per cent respectively of the nitrogen ingested. Endogenous nitrogen excretion has a mean rate of 1,9 μg N·g (dry mass)^?1·h^?1 The range of estimates for combined figures of kelp and phytoplankton nitrogen requirements are 76,4 – 86,7 g N·m^?2·year^?1 J. lalandii returns 6,3 g N·m^?2·year^?1 to the system, accounting for 7,2 – 8,2 per cent of annual kelp and phytoplankton requirements. This could be of particular importance during downwelling when the supply of new nitrogen is limited.     

Barium variation in Pagrus auratus (Sparidae) otoliths: A potential indicator of migration between an embayment and ocean waters in south-eastern Australia

Chronological variation in otolith chemistry can be used to reconstruct migration histories of fish. The use of otolith chemistry to study migration, however, requires knowledge of relationships between the chemical properties of the water and elemental incorporation into otoliths, and how water chemistry varies in space and time. We explored the potential for otolith chemistry of snapper, Pagrus auratus, to provide information on movement history between a large semi-enclosed bay, Port Phillip, and coastal waters in south-eastern Australia. Comparisons of water chemistry across two years demonstrated that ambient barium (Ba) levels in Port Phillip Bay were approximately double those in coastal waters (11 μg L⁻¹ versus 6 μg L⁻¹). Ba levels in otolith margins of wild juvenile snapper were highly positively correlated with ambient levels across 17 sampling locations, and levels in otolith margins of adult snapper collected from Port Phillip Bay were approximately double those of snapper collected in coastal waters. Mean partition coefficients for Ba (D_Ba) were similar for juvenile (0.43) and adult (0.46) otoliths, suggesting that otolith Ba incorporation relative to ambient levels was similar across life-stages. Low Ba variation across otoliths from adult snapper maintained in tanks for three years indicated that annual temperature and/or growth cycles did not strongly influence otolith Ba variation. We concluded that chronological Ba variation in snapper otoliths would be a reliable proxy for life-history exposure to variable ambient Ba. We used water chemistry data and Ba levels across otoliths of ocean resident snapper to estimate otolith Ba levels indicative of residence in Port Phillip Bay (>10 μg g⁻¹) or coastal waters (<6 μg g⁻¹). Peaks in Ba exceeding 10 μg g⁻¹ were common across otoliths of snapper collected in Port Phillip Bay and a nearby coastal region. The location of strong Ba peaks within otoliths was consistent with residence in Port Phillip Bay during the spring/summer when snapper move into the Bay from coastal waters to spawn. Our results for snapper support the use of otolith Ba as a proxy for ambient levels throughout the life-history, however, confident interpretation of migration history from otolith Ba chronologies will most likely require matching time series of ambient Ba in the water bodies of interest.     

The biology of the catfish Cnidoglanis macrocephalus (Plotosidae) in an Australian estuary

This paper describes the age structure, growth, diet and aspects of gonadal development in the cobbler, Cnidoglanis macrocephalus (Valenciennes), in the large Swan estuary in south-western Australia between August 1982 and June 1984. Analysis of otolith annuli showed that while the 0+ to 3+ age classes were regularly represented in monthly samples, the 4+ and more particularly the 5+ and 6+ were much less abundant. The weighted means for the back calculated lengths at the end of the first to fourth years of life were 181 mm (≡ 26 g), 314 mm (≡ 156 g), 418 mm (≡ 410 g) and 518 mm (≡ 833 g) respectively. The mean length at the end of the second year of life was similar to the minimum legal size for capture by commercial fishermen (320 mm). The von Bertlanffy growth curve calculated from the back calculated lengths was L_t = 917 [1 − e^{−0·20(t + 0·11)}]. The relative weight of mulluscs, crustaceans and polychaetes in the intestine varied markedly between small and large fish, apparently reflecting differences in the size of these prey. The large mean diameter of mature eggs ( ) was correlated with a low mean absolute fecundity (2078). Trends shown by egg size, gonadosomatic index and time of appearance of spent females indicate that spawning takes place between October and December. The attainment of sexual maturity is both age- and size-dependent. Although sexually maturing and occasionally spent fish were found in the lower estuary, meristic values, commercial catch statistics and other data indicate that the cobbler found in the Swan estuary are part of a population which typically spawns at sea.     

Age,growth and natural mortality of blue jack mackerel Trachurus picturatus (Carangidae) from the Canary Islands,Spain (NW Africa)

Status assessment of exploited fish populations is a general requirement to ensure sustainability of fisheries in both global and local contexts. The blue jack mackerel Trachurus picturatus (Bowdich, 1825) remains unassessed in a data-limited fishery in the eastern central Atlantic, within the waters of the Canary Islands (Spain) off the coast of northwest Africa. This is the most southwestern targeted fishery in the species’ distributional range. To obtain basic life-history information, a total of 2 472 specimens were analysed, ranging from 10.2 to 31.9 cm total length, from samples collected monthly between March 2005 and March 2006. Length–weight relationships (a = 0.0023; b = 3.418; R ² = 0.97) showed no significant difference between sexes. Deposition periodicity and coherence of the ageing criteria were verified by analysis of the monthly evolution of the otolith edge. Ages were estimated by counting annual growth rings on whole otoliths, with these fish ranging from age 0 to 6 years. The von Bertalanffy growth model, which was used to estimate growth parameters from both direct readings and back-calculated length-at-age data, gave good statistical fits. The parameters from the direct readings were: L∞ = 34.9 cm; k = 0.214 y^–1; t ₀ = ?2.545 y (R ² = 0.84), and the natural mortality rates estimated from empirical methods varied between 0.20 and 0.55 y^–1.     

Oxygen consumption and apnoea in the shortfin eel,Anguilla australis schmidtii

Patterns of ventilation, oxygen consumption (VO₂), blood gas tensions (PaO₂ and PaCO₂) and pH were determined in shortfin eels (Anguilla australis schmidtii (Phillips)). At rest, shortfin eels (average weight 646.5 ± 64.5 g) had a VO₂ of 20.4 ± 1.2 ml. kg^‐1.h^‐1 (n = 13) at 17.5 ± 0.2°c, with smaller fish having the highest metabolic rates. The frequency of ventilation was inversely proportional to body weight in both A. australis schmidtii and A. dieffenbachii. In air‐saturated water 10 eels exhibited periodic apnoea (mean duration 3.59 min); periods of ventilation were more variable in duration (mean 4.92 min). After 2.62 min of apnoea, the PaO₂ of dorsal aortic blood had fallen from 9.12 to 1.91 kPa. Thus, although the blood has a high affinity for oxygen and the haemoglobins are 30% oxygen‐saturated at this low PaO₂, the eel allows its blood to be significantly depleted in oxygen during apnoeic pauses at rest. When ventilating its gills at rest, PaO₂ does not approach the PO₂ of the inspired water. It is suggested that these features of respiration in eels result in a saving of metabolic costs involved in ventilation. The results are discussed in terms of the eel's ability to withstand hypoxic conditions.     

Biogeochemical Variation in Dimethylsulfide, Phytoplankton Pigments and Heterotrophic Bacterial Production in the Subarctic North Pacific during Summer

Dimethylsulfide (DMS), chlorophyll a (Chl-a), accessory pigments (fucoxanthin, peridinin and 19-hexanoyloxyfucoxanthin), and bacterial production (BP) were measured in the surface layer (0–100 m) of the subarctic North Pacific, including the Bering Sea, during summer (14 July–5 September, 1997). In surface sewater, the concentrations of DMS and Chl-a varied widely from 1.3 to 13.2 nM (5.1 ± 3.0 nM, mean ± S.D., n = 48) and from 0.1 to 2.4 µg L^–1 (0.6 ± 0.6 µg L^–1, n = 24), respectively. In the subarctic North Pacific, DMS to Chl-a ratios (DMS/Chl-a) were higher on the eastern side than the western side (p < 0.0001). Below the euphotic zone, DMS/Chl-a ratios were law and the correlation between DMS and Chl-a was relatively strong (r ² = 0.700, n = 27, p < 0.0001). In the euphotic zone, DMS/Chl-a ratios were higher and the correlation between DMS and Chl-a was weak (r ² = 0.128, n = 50, p = 0.01). The wide variation in DMS/Chl-a ratios would be at least partially explained by the geographic variation in the taxonomic composition of phytoplankton, because of the negative correlation between DMS/Chl-a and fucoxanthin-to-Chl-a ratios (Fuc/Chl-a) (r ² = 0.476, n = 26, p = 0.0001). Furthermore, there was a positive correlation between DMS and BP (r ² = 0.380, n = 19, p = 0.005). This suggests that BP did not represent DMS and dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP) removal by bacterial consumption but rather DMSP degradation to DMS by bacterial enzyme.     

Letter to the editor

It is a common observation that the mean length in a fish population progressively decreases as the biomass is reduced by fishing. However, this has not happened with the population of orange roughy (Hoplostethus atlanticus) on the Chatham Rise, New Zealand, even though the biomass is estimated to have declined by almost 80%. Because orange roughy are slow growing it might be expected that mean age (or its proxy, mean otolith weight) would be a more sensitive indicator of biomass decline than mean length. A simulation study shows that this is not true. With equal sample sizes, all three indicators are equally sensitive; on an equal cost basis, mean length is more sensitive than the others. A log transformation increases the sensitivity of age and otolith weight, but it is not clear whether this increase is sufficient to outweigh the much greater costs of measuring age and otolith weight, compared to length. Under the assumption of constant recruitment, it is more likely than not (P = 0.55–0.8) that a change in mean length would have been detected in the Chatham Rise population, given the estimated biomass decline.     

Land use,associated eel production,and abundance of fish and crayfish in streams in Waikato,New Zealand

Abstract

The density and biomass of fish and crayfish, and the production of eels, was compared among streams in native forest, exotic forest, and pasture. Populations were estimated by multiple‐pass electroshocking at 11 sites in hill‐country streams in the Waikato region, North Island. Three sites were in native forest, four in exotic forest, and four in pasture. Length of stream sampled at each site was 46–94 m (41–246 m² in area), and catchment areas up stream of the sites ranged from 0.44 to 2.01 km².

A total of 487 fish were caught. The species were longfinned and shortfinned eels, banded kokopu, Cran's and redfinned bullies, and common smelt. Eels were the most abundant fish in all three land‐use types, and shortfinned eels were more abundant at pastoral sites (mean density 1.11 fish m^?2) than longfinned eels (mean density 0.129 fish m^?2). Banded kokopu were present only at forested sites. Mean fish densities were greater at pastoral sites (1.55 fish m^?2) than under either native forest (0.130 fish m^?2) or exotic forest (0.229 fish m^?2). Mean fish biomass was also greater at pastoral sites (89.7 g m^?2) than under native forest (12.8 g m^?2) or exotic forest (19.3 g m^?2). Longfinned eels made a greater contribution to the fish biomass at all sites than did shortfinned eels. Densities of crayfish were high (0.46–5.40 crayfish m^?2), but were not significantly different between land‐use types. Crayfish biomass ranged from 1.79 to 11.2 g m^?2. Total eel production was greater at pastoral sites (mean 17.9 g m^?2 year¹) than at forest sites (mean 2.39 gm^?2 year^?1).     

Effect of dietary protein to energy ratio on growth and nitrogenous waste production of cultured dusky kob Argyrosomus japonicus

The effect of dietary protein to energy ratio (P:E) on the growth of dusky kob Argyrosomus japoni-cus was investigated as a first step towards formulating a practical diet for this potential mariculture species in South Africa. The effects of dietary protein and lipid on growth, feed conversion ratio (FCR) and nitrogenous waste production were determined in cultured juveniles (initial weight 113.8 ± 2.0 g fish^?1). Fish were fed diets that contained either 42 or 46% protein with 6, 12 or 18% lipid, within a P:E range of 20.5–26.7 g protein MJ^?1. Weight gain and specific growth rate (SGR) were significantly influenced by an interaction between dietary protein and energy (p < 0.001). An increase in dietary lipid produced increasing growth rates (ranging from 0.95 ± 0.04% to 1.10 ± 0.01% day^?1) among fish fed the 46% protein diets, with no significant differences in FCR (1.05 ± 0.02 to 1.11 ± 0.02) or protein efficiency ratio (PER; 1.95 ± 0.06 to 1.66 ± 0.02). By contrast, there was a trend of decreasing growth (0.96 ± 0.04% to 0.64 ± 0.03% day^?1) and a deterioration in FCR (1.3 ± 0.10 to 1.93 ± 0.19) and PER (1.12 ± 0.11 to 1.68 ± 0.11) with increasing dietary lipid among fish fed 42% protein diets, indicating a protein– energy imbalance. The protein and lipid levels tested here had no significant effect on total ammonia production, with a combined mean production of 2.54 ± 0.55 mg kg^?1 I^?1 h^?1, 10 hours postprandial (p = 0.68). The dietary lipid level appeared to directly determine the carcass lipid content, with the mean lipid content ranging from 4.2% to 17.8% for fish fed diets ranging from 6% to 18% respectively after 12 weeks (r² = 0.98). A 46% protein and 18% lipid (P:E ratio of 22.0 g protein MJ^?1) diet is recommended for rearing juvenile A. japonicus of a mass range of 100–300 g.     

基于几何形态测量学的4种金线鱼矢耳石识别研究

利用2007年9月至2010年9月采自北部湾海域的24尾红棘金线鱼(Nemipterus nemurus)、32尾金线鱼(N.virgatus)、36尾深水金线鱼(N.bathybius)和35尾日本金线鱼(N.japonicus)性成熟后的矢耳石样本,运用几何形态测量学方法研究了4种鱼类矢耳石形态识别问题。耳石经图像处理后提取地标点坐标值,进行相对扭曲主成分分析,通过判别分析区分4种金线鱼的耳石,利用薄板样条分析和网格变形分析耳石形态变异。结果表明:在相对扭曲主成分分析中,第1、2、3主成分分别解释了总变异的30.78%、28.44%和11.75%,可以将四种金线鱼耳石区分开来。其中Ⅰ型地标点6、10、11,Ⅱ型地标点2,Ⅲ型地标点7,贡献作用较大,解释了主要形态变异。相对扭曲主成分的逐步判别分析中,四种鱼的平均判别成功率达91.3%;交互验证结果显示,四种鱼的平均判别成功率达89.8%,表明几何形态测量学分析可以作为鱼种耳石识别的有效方法之一,在耳石形态学与鱼种判别研究中具有重要应用价值。     

Age and growth of redeye round herring Etrumeus whiteheadi off the South African coast

Ages of redeye round herring Etrumeus whiteheadi were estimated with associated errors and used to infer life-history information, such as age composition, age-at-maturity and instantaneous mortality rate. Samples were collected in November 2005 during a research survey aimed at estimating the biomass of spawning pelagic fish off South Africa’s west and south coasts. Replicate age estimates obtained from sagittal otoliths were collected with slight bias and relatively high precision. A von Bertalanffy model describing growth of the combined sexes, including juveniles, was L_t = 20.41(1 ? e^{?0.41(t ? 1.92)}). Kimura’s likelihood ratio test revealed no statistically significant differences between growth parameters of males and females. Results suggested that otolith length is a better predictor of age than otolith weight. Maturity estimates for E. whiteheadi were similar to those previously documented.     

Measurement of alkaline and earthy ions in fish otolith and sea water using a high performance ion chromatography

Fish growth and the relation between growth and environmental conditions offer a good opportunity for measuring alkaline and earthy ions in fish otoliths.The analytical method must involve high sensitivity when attempting to discriminate between fish growth and environmental conditions.The aim of this paper is to propose a chromatographic method, with low detection limits, as a new approach in determining some important micronutrients present in sea water and fish otoliths.The work samples are: coastal, off-shore and sediment waters and fish otoliths (Engraulis encrasicholus, Mullus barbatus, Umbrina cirrhosa, Sciaena umbra, Pagellus erythrinus) in the Adriatic Sea and the Canal of Sicily.The analytical method includes an IONPAC CS12A chromatographic column and a 18 mM methanesulfonic acid eluent.The detection limit readings obtained with this method, for one E. encrasicholus fish otolith, weighing 2.6 mg are equal or inferior to 0.1 μg/L for lithium (Li), 59 μg/L for sodium (Na), 46 μg/L for ammonium (NH₄), 23 μg/L for potassium (K), 13 μg/L for magnesium (Mg), 88 μg/L for manganese (Mn), 2.567 μg/L for calcium (Ca) and 13 μg/L for strontium (Sr).The HPIC method minimizes overlaps such as Na on Li, and NH₄ in seawater and Ca on Mg and Sr in fish otolith. These elements are an essential constituent present in otoliths when describing the relation between growth and environmental conditions.Good separation among analytes is achieved within 16 min.     

An experimental study of microflagellate bacterivory: further evidence for the importance and complexity of microplanktonic interactions

By simulating an upwelling event in a laboratory microcosm, it was possible to promote the development of a natural and diverse planktonic community. An initial bacterioplankton community which developed in response to phytoplankton growth was dominated by small coccoid forms (0,14–0,2 μm³) of the genera Vibrio and Pseudomonas. This group was heavily exploited by the heterotrophic microflagellate Pseudobodo sp. (30 μm³). Later, the bacterioplankton community was dominated by large rods (0,7 μm³) which the flagellates seemed unable to exploit. A Lotka-Volterra predator-prey model fitted to the observed data indicated that the flagellates consumed 2,4 times their carbon body mass per day or 19 bacteria·flagellate^?1·h^?1 when prey were not limiting. Clearance rates were inversely proportional to prey density and ingestion rate, ranging from 2 × 10^?3 to 20 × 10^?3) μ?·flagellate^?1·h^?1. At typical field densities of bacteria and heterotrophic flagellates in the southern Benguela region, between 5 and 30 percent of the water column could be cleared per day. Specific growth rates of the flagellates were positively related to prey density, the maximal rate being 0,84 · d^?1. Their initially faster growth rates allowed bacteria to increase in numbers despite predation. The growth yield of the flagellates (34–36 per cent) was also positively related to food density. Such low values suggest inefficient transfer of carbon to higher trophic orders but considerable nitrogen regeneration. Nitrogen excretion rates were approximately 6–7 μg N·mg dry weight^?1·h^?1, comparable to other flagellates but faster than ciliates. These rates are comparable with in situ measurements of NH⁺₄-N excretion in pycnoclinal regions based on ¹⁵N isotope studies but are only about 20 per cent of measured rates in surface waters. This is interpreted to mean that, in pycnoclinal regions where the relative input of "new" nitrogen is high, there are few regenerative steps and the model describes them satisfactorily. In surface waters, observed rates of excretion can only be accounted for by many regenerative steps in a highly complex food chain in which the cumulative total of nitrogen excretion at each step amounts to that based on ¹⁵N labelling studies.     

Relative abundance, age, growth, and fecundity of grubby Myoxocephalus aenaeus in Niantic River and Niantic Bay, Long Island Sound

Grubby (Myoxocephalus aenaeus, Cottidae) is a common benthic fish of inshore waters and estuaries of eastern Long Island Sound; however, little information exists on their life history or population demographics. This study utilised a long-term data series (1976–2002) to assess grubby life history and population demographics and explores trends in the Niantic River and Niantic Bay populations. In addition, we examined the age, size, and fecundity of adult grubby in 2001–02 to determine the population characteristics in the region. Mean grubby catch per unit effort (CPUE) in Niantic Bay ranged from 0.4 per trawl in 1976 to 2.9 per trawl in 1984 while river CPUE ranged from 0.4 per trawl in 1977 to 7.6 per trawl in 1989. Catch of grubby in bottom trawls varied seasonally with highest CPUE occurring in winter. Highest entrainment of grubby larvae occurred in 2001 while the lowest entrainment observed was in 1991. Four age classes, 0+ through III+, were derived from otolith analysis (N = 51) although length frequency analysis suggested the possibility of older fish in the population. The total number of eggs in ovaries ranged from 286 to 16 451 for grubby (N = 64) between 52 mm and 155 mm TL. Results of this study indicated a decline in abundance of adult grubby over the 26-year period, possibly related to concurrent declines in eelgrass (Zostera marina) abundance and/or increased water temperature.