Changes in reproduction for subtropical cutlassfish Trichiurus japonicus reflect variation in temperature and population demography

Many subtropical fishes spawn multiple batches throughout a year. To understand plasticity in their reproductive output, we evaluated variation in oocyte size and batch fecundity for an exploited subtropical cutlassfish, Trichiurus japonicus, between two temperature periods (warm vs. cold) on the NE and SW coasts of Taiwan, northwestern Pacific. Given greater temperature variability on NE compared with SW coast, we hypothesized greater changes between warm and cold periods in oocyte size and fecundity for T. japonicus on the NE coast. We found opposite changes in sizes of ripe oocytes between periods (cold > warm on the NE but warm > cold on the SW coast) but consistent patterns in batch fecundity between coasts (warm > cold). Furthermore, the between-period patterns in female length were consistent on both coasts (warm > cold). The differential between-period patterns in oocyte size were related to potential adaptive responses to differential thermal environments between coasts, whereas the changes in fecundity mainly involved plastic processes (e.g., changes in population demography or movement). Together, our findings suggest that variability of temperature and maternal effects underlie recruitment variability of T. japonicus.     

西江广东鲂(Megalobrama terminalis)繁殖生物学及繁殖策略

探究鱼类繁殖策略是了解鱼类种群动态的关键.通过对珠江西江流域重要的经济鱼类广东鲂(Megalobrama terminalis)生殖周期、产卵时间、成熟期长度、生殖力类型和生殖力等方面进行研究,阐明在人类活动日益加强下,西江广东鲂的繁殖策略适应性变化情况.研究表明,广东鲂个体平均体长245 mm,优势体长集中在260~280 mm,平均体重347 g,优势体重集中在320~480 g.用L 50逻辑斯谛回归方法推算广东鲂雌鱼和雄鱼初次性成熟体长分别为244.5和232.2 mm.雌雄性比例为1.105∶1,且随着体长增加,雌雄性比呈现出先下降后上升的变化趋势.广东鲂繁殖群体在产卵季节为48月,产卵高峰为6月初持续到7月上旬,产卵季节内广东鲂鱼苗的密度与径流量显著相关.广东鲂绝对繁殖力平均为73069粒,相对繁殖力平均为118.7粒/g,绝对繁殖力与体长和体重均呈正相关.广东鲂繁殖群体性腺成熟系数与性腺重、肥满度以及体重密切相关.广东鲂种群繁殖策略在人类活动加剧影响下呈现出适应性变化:初次性成熟体长变小,绝对繁殖力下降.     

Fecundity of Hemirhamphus sajori (T. et S.) in the Yellow and Bohai Seas

１９９３年５月在荣成和龙口,１９９４年５月在青岛和庄河收集了小鳞鱼箴（Ｈｅｍｉｒｈａｍｐｈｕｓｓａｊｏｒｉ,Ｔ．ｅｔＳ．）标本。分析结果表示１９９４年繁殖力（平均２２９７４）大于１９９３年繁殖力（平均１６０４０）。卵径分布和平均体长指示洄游距离较长的个体的卵径和体长较大。     

嘉庚蛸个体生殖力的研究

研究了嘉庚蛸个体生殖力的分布特征、变化规律及其与各个体征指标之间的相关关系.结果表明,嘉庚蛸个体绝对生殖力r,r/L(绝对生殖力与体长之比),r/W(绝对生殖力与湿的质量之比),r/V(绝对生殖力/体积)均服从正态分布;个体生殖力r和r/W与多数体征指标呈幂函数关系,r与胴长、性腺重和第一对腕长分别以“S”曲线、线性和二次曲线拟合最优,r/W与肝重和性腺重均以三次曲线拟合最优,r/L与各指标均不相关,而r/V与各体征指标之间的相关关系比较复杂.还进一步构造出了个体生殖力与各指标的多元逐步回归方程,r随着胴宽的增加而显著增加.     

Sexual traits plasticity of the potentially invasive limpet Bostrycapulus odites (Gastropoda: Calyptraeidae) within its natural distribution in South America

The slipper limpet Bostrycapulus odites has recently been reported as an introduced species on the Spanish Mediterranean coast. Another species in the family Calyptraeidae, Crepidula fornicata, is a problematic invasive species in the Northeast Atlantic, which makes the closely related Bostrycapulus introduction a matter of concern. Information on the biology of B. odites in its natural environment can facilitate predictions on where the species could find favourable conditions for settlement and expansion. Size and sex were recorded for individuals in four populations over 2600 km of the Southwestern Atlantic shoreline, in Argentina and Brazil, covering the whole native latitudinal range of this widely distributed species. Animals were collected by hand in the intertidal or by SCUBA in subtidal locations; specimens were examined to determine shell length, sex, and the presence and number of brooded egg capsules in females. Mean shell length for the whole population did not differ significantly among populations. However, this species experiences sequential hermaphroditism (protandrism), and the size at sexual maturity (minimum male size) increased significantly with latitude. The fecundity of females at all sites increased with size, and the number of brooded egg capsules as well as the average size of capsules was larger in bigger individual females; however, mean fecundity varied among sites independent of mean female body size. This limpet species modifies its reproductive traits with local conditions, and sexual characters develop earlier in more temperate localities.     

Population dynamics of southern elephant seals: a synthesis of three decades of demographic research at Marion Island

Southern elephant seal Mirounga leonina numbers declined precipitously throughout most of their circumpolar distribution since the 1950s. A long-term intensive demographic programme was initiated in 1983 on the relatively small population of southern elephant seals at sub-Antarctic Marion Island in an attempt to identify causative mechanisms associated with this decline. Weaned pups have been tagged annually since 1983, and this has produced a large number of individuals of known identity. A regular resighting programme yielded a mark-recapture dataset that has been subjected to numerous survival-based models. This ongoing programme produced a substantial body of scientific literature on population growth patterns, vital rates (survival and fecundity) and population regulation in southern elephant seals, which are reviewed in this synthesis. We briefly describe the analytical framework common to much of the demographic research, highlight important conclusions concerning population regulation of elephant seals at Marion Island, and discuss priorities for future research.     

Diurnal movements of the New Zealand fur seal at Kaikoura

At Kaikoura the greatest number of seals were ashore during mid afternoon, especially when this coincided with low tide. This is the best time of the day to count them.     

Batch fecundity and spawning frequency of southern blue whiting (Micromesistius australis) in the southwest Atlantic Ocean

The reproductive biology of southern blue whiting (Micromesistius australis) inhabiting waters of the southwest Atlantic Ocean (52°‐53°S and 57°‐62°W) was studied through histological analysis of the ovaries. During 2003, the spawning peak occurred at the beginning of September south of the Malvinas Islands. Batch fecundity of this species ranged from 35 000 (41 cm total length, TL) to 245 000 (62 cm TL) oocytes and relative batch fecundity was 122 ± 43 (Mean ± SD, n = 24) oocytes per gram somatic weight. The average proportion of mature females with stage‐0 post‐ovulatory follicles was 0.25 for September 2003, which indicated a spawning frequency of 4 days during the peak of the season. Large females produced more egg batches than small spawners during the same period, but no significant relationship was found between oocyte dry weight and female size of southern blue whiting.