Reduced abundance but increased diversity of chironomid larvae under higher trophic pressure from fish in semi-permanent ponds

Fish may affect macrobenthic communities through trophic interactions and modification of habitat conditions. We compared the density, diversity and taxonomic composition of larval chironomids under low vs high fish impact, created by stocking semi-natural ponds with either young/small common carp Cyprinus carpio at low biomass densities or with high biomass densities of older/large common carp, supplemented by other cyprinids and predatory fish species.Over the study season, May–August, total chironomid abundance was considerably lower in ponds with high fish biomass than in low fish biomass ponds. In July–August larval densities declined significantly, irrespective of the fish status of the ponds. The composition of larval communities diverged between ponds with different fish status. Chironomus riparius and C. plumosus accounted for most of the observed dissimilarity. C. plumosus densities were not affected by the fish status of the pond, constituting on average >38 % of chironomid specimens in both types of ponds. C. riparius was abundant in ponds with low fish biomass (on average 30 %), but rare in ponds with high fish biomass (4 %). Other common taxa were Glyptotendipes pallens (15 % and 13 %, respectively) and Procladius sp. (14 % in ponds with low fish impact). Canonical correspondence analysis showed that fish biomass was more important in determining chironomid community composition than environmental variables indicative of pond eutrophication (total N, P, chlorophyll a and conductivity).Despite adverse effects on total abundance, chironomid diversity was higher under apparently stronger trophic pressure by fish. Fish may have relieved some chironomid species from invertebrate predation and competition with dominant Chironomus larvae. Other important drivers of chironomid assemblage and diversity patterns may include species-specific feeding modes and prey size selectivity of fish, the ability of chironomid larvae to attain size- and depth-refuge from small fish but not larger fish, and differential vulnerability of free-living and tube-dwelling larvae relative to ontogenetic niche shifts of fish.     

Effects of larval density and salinity on the development of perch larvae (Perca fluviatilis L.)

We performed two experiments, one to test whether survival and initial swim bladder inflation of perchPerca fluviatilis are affected by population density (4 or 16 larvae 1^–1) or salinity (0, 0.6 and 1.2), and the second to test the salinity tolerance of larvae. In experiment 1, survival was higher at low larval densities and at salinities of 0.6 and 1.2 rather than in fresh water. Initial swim bladder inflation was not affected by salinity or density. Average survival of fry 24 days after hatching varied from 29.6% to 86.3%, but only an average of 19.2% of the hatched larvae had grown into viable fish with an inflated swim bladder. In experiment 2, survival varied from 19% to 49%, but was not significantly affected by salinities of up to 4.8. At a salinity of 9.6, only 2 out of 344 larvae survived.     

太平洋牡蛎幼体附着变态差异蛋白质组研究

太平洋牡蛎(Crassostrea angulata)是中国主要的海洋养殖经济物种之一,具有重要的经济价值和商业价值,附着变态是牡蛎幼体从受精卵发育到成体所需的重要阶段,其分子机制的研究对牡蛎养殖育苗具有重要的指导意义.本研究利用双向电泳技术分离筛选牡蛎幼体附着变态过程中的差异表达的蛋白,进一步利用质谱技术鉴定幼体附着变态过程中发育相关的关键蛋白,共筛选出128个差异蛋白,鉴定并注释了39种蛋白.通过对差异表达蛋白功能分析,筛选获得了与纤毛组建相关的筑丝蛋白和与稳定钙离子胞内浓度相关的钙网蛋白,为揭示牡蛎幼体面盘组织及纤毛的退化消失和钙离子有效诱导幼体附着变态的机制提供分子数据.同时还获得了调节脂肪酸β-氧化、三羧酸循环和糖酵解重要生理功能的关键酶蛋白:乙酰辅酶A脱氢酶、异柠檬酸脱氢酶和3-磷酸甘油醛脱氢酶,以及调节无脊椎动物机体能量存储和释放的酶蛋白:精氨酸激酶和ATP合成酶,进一步阐明了牡蛎幼体在附着变态过程中能量调节的分子机制.     

Larval Stages and Balanus (Cim'pedia) Settlement in a Port Environment with a Key to Naupliar Stages of Tyrrhenian Species

Abstract. .Some observations on larval life and barnacle settlement in the Port of Genoa are reported together with a key of the nauplii of the four species recorded in the Tyrrhenian coasts: Balanus amphiuite, Balanus perforatus, Balanus trigonus and Balanus eburneus. Weekly densities of naupliar stages for each species as well as the average percent reduction from one stage to the next until the cypris stage have been recorded. The amount of the latter is recorded both in plankton and along with settled barnacles on artificial substrata.     

盐度对斜带髭鲷仔鱼活力及摄食率的影响

采用不同盐度梯度海水对斜带髭鲷(HapalogenysnitensRichardson)仔鱼进行饲育实验。结果表明,盐度对斜带髭鲷仔鱼的活力、摄食及存活率有明显影响。盐度为24,29,34的3个实验组仔鱼不投饵存活系数分别为9.77,　9.83和8.62,而盐度为14,39,44的3个实验组仔鱼的存活系数则分别为4.19,　3.50和1.65,方差分析显示,前3个实验组与后3个实验组的组间存在显著差异(P<0.05) 3个实验组的摄食率明显高于后3个实验组;仔鱼孵出后至第8 ;前天,前 3个实验组的成活率为65%￣85%,高于后 3个实验组的0￣20%。     

Recruitment of flatfish species to an estuarine nursery habitat (Lima estuary, NW Iberian Peninsula)

One of the present concerns of fish biologists involves defining and identifying nursery habitats in the context of conservation and resource management strategies. Fish nursery studies usually report upon nursery occupation during the latter juvenile stages, despite the fact that recruitment to nurseries can start early in life, during the larval phase. Here we investigated the use of a temperate estuarine nursery area, the Lima estuary (NW Portugal), by initial development stages of flatfish species before and after metamorphosis, integrating the larval and juvenile phases. The Lima estuarine flatfish community comprised twelve taxa, seven of which were present as pelagic larvae, six as juveniles and three as adults. There was a general trend of increasing spring–summer abundance of both larvae and juveniles, followed by a sharp winter decrease, mainly of larval flatfishes. The Lima estuary was used by Solea senegalensis, Platichthys flesus and Solea solea as a nursery area, with direct settlement for the two first species. In contrast, indirect settlement was suggested for S. solea, with metamorphosis occurring outside the estuarine area. Estuarine recruitment of S. senegalensis varied between years, with young larvae occurring in the estuary throughout a prolonged period that lasted 6–9 months, corroborating the protracted spawning season. P. flesus, the second most abundant species, exhibited a typical spring estuarine recruitment, without inter-annual variations. Developed larvae arrived in the estuary during spring, whereas the 0-group juveniles emerged in the following summer period. The present study contributes new insight to our understanding of the economically important S. senegalensis, and highlights the importance of integrating the planktonic larval phase into traditional flatfish nursery studies.     

Impact assessment of modified clay on embryo-larval stages of turbot Scophthalmus maximus L.

Using modified clay is one of the most promising methods for the mitigation of harmful algal blooms(HABs).However,the environmental impact of modified clay has become a subject of global concern.In this study,turbot(Scophthalmus maximus L.)embryos were used as a model to assess the effect of modified clay on this sensitive stage of fish development.Results show that the 24 and 48h LC 50(median lethal concentrations)of the modified clay were 1.70 and 1.65 g/L,and the safe concentration was 0.47 g/L,which is much higher than the concentration used to treat HAB.The modified clay did not affect significantly the hatchability of turbot embryos but when the concentration exceeded 0.50 g/L,the deformity rate of newly hatched larvae increased significantly.The total length,specific growth rate(SGR)and yolk sac absorption rate of larvae reached their peaks at 0.50 g/L and then gradually decreased as the concentration of modified clay increased.Therefore,a moderate amount of modified clay does not harm the survival and hatching of turbot embryos,or the growth and development of newly hatched larvae.     

Larval life span,larval settlement,and early growth of Evechinus chloroticus (Valenciennes)

Development, settlement, and subsequent metamorphosis on several substrata were observed in cultures of Evechinus chloroticus larvae. The period from fertilisation to metamorphosis ranged between 30 and 63 days for larvae collected from spawnings induced at 3 different times. Newly settled sea urchins collected from the field grew about 1 mm per month in aquaria. Correlation of the larval life span with the growth rate of newly settled sea urchins suggested that the earliest spawning could occur was mid‐November. This finding corroborates the results of previous histo‐logical studies of the gonads of adult sea urchins in the Hauraki Gulf, New Zealand.     

Sea urchin development in a global change hotspot, potential for southerly migration of thermotolerant propagules

The distribution of the sea urchin Heliocidaris erythrogramma coincides with the southeast Australia global change hot spot where marine ecosystems are warming significantly due to changes in ocean circulation. To address questions on future vulnerabilities, the thermotolerance of the planktonic life phase of H. erythrogramma was investigated in the climate and regionally relevant setting of projected near-future (2100) ocean warming. Experimental treatments ranged from 18 to 26 °C, with 26 °C representing +3-4 °C above recent ambient sea-surface temperatures. Developmental success across all stages (gastrula, 24 h; larva, 72 h; juvenile, 120 h) decreased with increasing temperature. Development was tolerant to a +1-2 °C increase above ambient, but significant deleterious effects were evident at +3-4 °C. However, larvae that developed through the early bottleneck of normal development at 26 °C metamorphosed successfully. The inverse relationship between temperature and planktonic larval duration (PLD) was seen in a 25% decrease in the PLD of H. erythrogramma at 24 and 26^oC. Ocean warming may be advantageous to a subset of larvae through early settlement and reduction of the vulnerable planktonic period. This positive effect of temperature may help buffer the negative effects of ocean warming. In parallel studies with progeny derived from northern (Coffs Harbour) and southern (Sydney) H. erythrogramma, northern embryos had significantly higher thermotolerance. This provides the possibility that H. erythrogramma populations might keep up with a warming world through poleward migration of thermotolerant propagules, facilitated by the strong southward flow of the East Australian Current. It is uncertain whether H. erythrogramma populations at the northern range of this species, with no source of immigrants, will have the capacity to persist in a warm ocean. Due to its extensive latitudinal distribution, its potential developmental thermotolerance and independence of its lecithotrophic larvae from exogenous food and the need to make a functional skeleton, H. erythrogramma may be particularly robust to ocean change.     

黄河口及附近海域鱼卵和仔鱼种类组成及分布特征

根据2009年5月和8月2个航次对黄河口及附近海域18个站位的鱼卵和仔鱼调查资料,对该水域鱼卵仔鱼的种类组成和数量分布特征进行了分析和探讨.结果表明,鱼卵仔鱼的种类组成和数量分布呈现明显的季节变化特征;春季鱼卵仔鱼种类数高于夏季,平面分布范围大于夏季,主要优势种季节更替明显;与历史同期资料相比,鱼卵仔鱼种类和数量大幅下...