Modulatory role of copper on β-naphthoflavone-induced DNA damage in European eel (Anguilla anguilla L.)

SUMMARYChub and eels were experimentally infected via intermediate hosts harbouring cystacanths, with Pomphorhynchus laevis alone, or Acanthocephalus anguillae alone, or simultaneously with mixtures of both species in varying proportions, and sampled at 7, 56 or 112 days post-infection. Examination of chub revealed that both species showed low establishment and growth rates, differing markedly from British field data, where chub is apparently one of the most important hosts, and preventing further meaningful experiments. Both species showed higher establishment rates in eels, but A. anguillae both grew faster and matured to a greater extent than P. laevis, reflecting field data. No evidence of any interactions, competitive or otherwise, was found in the mixed infections in eels at low or high infection levels. The results were interpretated with regard to British field data and current theories of the role of interspecific competition in structuring fish helminth communities.

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Cause or consequence? Exploring the role of phenotypic plasticity and genetic polymorphism in the emergence of phenotypic spatial patterns of the European eel

Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences ◽

10.1139/cjfas-2016-0214 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 74 (7) ◽

pp. 987-999 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Maria Mateo ◽

Patrick Lambert ◽

Stéphane Tetard ◽

Martin Castonguay ◽

Bruno Ernande ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Life History ◽

Phenotypic Plasticity ◽

Habitat Selection ◽

Life History Traits ◽

Environmental Variability ◽

Anguilla Anguilla ◽

European Eel ◽

Anthropogenic Pressures ◽

The Impact

The European eel (Anguilla anguilla), and generally, temperate eels, are relevant species for studying adaptive mechanisms to environmental variability because of their large distribution areas and their limited capacity of local adaptation. In this context, GenEveel, an individual-based optimization model, was developed to explore the role of adaptive phenotypic plasticity and genetic-dependent habitat selection, in the emergence of observed spatial life-history traits patterns for eels. Results suggest that an interaction of genetically and environmentally controlled growth may be the basis for genotype-dependent habitat selection, whereas plasticity plays a role in changes in life-history traits and demographic attributes. Therefore, this suggests that those mechanisms are responses to address environmental heterogeneity. Moreover, this brings new elements to explain the different life strategies of males and females. A sensitivity analysis showed that the parameters associated with the optimization of fitness and growth genotype were crucial in reproducing the spatial life-history patterns. Finally, it raises the question of the impact of anthropogenic pressures that can cause direct mortalities but also modify demographic traits and act as a selection pressure.

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