Escape Responses of Herring Larvae to Visual Stimuli

Author(s):  
R.S. Batty

Predation is now considered the main cause of mortality in larval and juvenile fish (Hunter, 1984) and is therefore the most important factor controlling recruitment to the adult population. Marine fish larvae are prey for many different types of predator including medusae, crustaceans and larger fish. When predatory attacks are sensed both adult and larval fish may respond by making a 'C-start', a very fast, simultaneous contraction of the trunk musculature that deforms the body into a C-shape within 20 ms (Eaton & Hackett, 1984). This startle response is mediated by the Mauthner cells, a pair of prominent neurones in the hind brain or by other reticulo-spinal cells located in the same region. As a result of reciprocal inhibition and decussation of the cell axon, stimulation on one side of the body results in contraction of all the muscle on the contralateral side.

2016 ◽  
Vol 13 (116) ◽  
pp. 20160068 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gen Li ◽  
Ulrike K. Müller ◽  
Johan L. van Leeuwen ◽  
Hao Liu

Larvae of bony fish swim in the intermediate Reynolds number ( Re ) regime, using body- and caudal-fin undulation to propel themselves. They share a median fin fold that transforms into separate median fins as they grow into juveniles. The fin fold was suggested to be an adaption for locomotion in the intermediate Reynolds regime, but its fluid-dynamic role is still enigmatic. Using three-dimensional fluid-dynamic computations, we quantified the swimming trajectory from body-shape changes during cyclic swimming of larval fish. We predicted unsteady vortices around the upper and lower edges of the fin fold, and identified similar vortices around real larvae with particle image velocimetry. We show that thrust contributions on the body peak adjacent to the upper and lower edges of the fin fold where large left–right pressure differences occur in concert with the periodical generation and shedding of edge vortices. The fin fold enhances effective flow separation and drag-based thrust. Along the body, net thrust is generated in multiple zones posterior to the centre of mass. Counterfactual simulations exploring the effect of having a fin fold across a range of Reynolds numbers show that the fin fold helps larvae achieve high swimming speeds, yet requires high power. We conclude that propulsion in larval fish partly relies on unsteady high-intensity vortices along the upper and lower edges of the fin fold, providing a functional explanation for the omnipresence of the fin fold in bony-fish larvae.


Author(s):  
Sang H. Kim ◽  
Min K. Chung ◽  
Wook G. Lee

To investigate the effects of MMH task conditions on the activity and fatigue of the trunk musculature, EMG signals from eight major trunk muscles were analyzed during 120 minutes of repetitive dynamic lifting tasks. Two independent task variables were the work strategy of weight and lifting frequency combination and the body posture. The dependent variables were the amplitude of EMG signals and the amount of median power frequency (MPF) decrease over time for the eight trunk muscles. The results of the study indicated that the recruitment and the level of force exertions of the trunk muscles during manual lifting tasks are a function of the direction and the weight of the external load. The different activities of the muscles due to given task conditions also influence the fatiguing process of the individual muscle. The muscles in the dorsal part of trunk were activated during the symmetric task conditions, while the muscles on the contralateral side to the workload were more strongly activated during the asymmetric task conditions. The decreasing trends of MPF were found in some activated muscles, and they were more pronounced for the asymmetric posture than for the symmetric posture. It was also seen that the muscles became fatigued faster for light load-high frequency conditions than for heavy load-low frequency conditions.


Author(s):  
A. N. Economou

A list of larval fish species sampled during an ecological study of the gadoid larvae in the east of the Shetland Islands area in 1978 (6–21 May) and 1979 (9–30 May) is given in Table 1· 14157 fish larvae were caught in 1978 (in 154 oblique hauls with the High Speed Loch Ewe Net, an unencased sampler with a net of 0·250 mm mesh) and 13 769 larvae in 1979 (in 93 hauls), from which 13632 and 12440 larvae were identified and measured in these 2 years respectively. Most unidentified specimens were damaged. Larval fish taxonomy is given according to Russell (1976). The description of the sampling instrument and the working procedure at sea can be found elsewhere (Economou, 1983).The Gadidae family dominated all others accounting for more than 85% of the total, the three most abundant species being Norway pout(Trisopterus esmarkii (Nilsson)), haddock(Melanogrammus aeglefinus (L.)) and whiting (Merlangius merlangus (L.)).Whiting appeared under three pigmentation patterns, the normal one, another with very weak pigment and a third having the dorsal side of the body very strongly pigmented, sometimes with a gap free of pigment along the dorsal contour. The characters of the last two forms correspond somewhat with the descriptions of the whiting larvae from the southern North Sea and the Loch Etive (Russell, 1976). Norway pout displayed the typical form of melanophores but few specimens presented a pattern of fine but intense spots. There was some evidence that a few of the larvae identified as Norway pout at the end of May 1979 were actually Trisopterus minutus larvae.


Author(s):  
A.M. Satarkulova

The assessment and dynamic control over students’ status is a very important task. It allows timely detection of prenosological status prior to pathology and health maintenance in students. The objective of the paper is to assess the adaptive abilities of the body, to analyze changes in heart rate variability indicators in students with various types of autonomic regulation, to identify prenosological status and precursory pathological symptoms. Materials and Methods. The study enrolled 302 students from India, aged 21.54±1.43. Programming complex «Psychophysiologist» was used to register the main HRV parameters within 5 minutes. Health status was evaluated according to the index of functional changes and the scale of functional states. Results. N.I. Shlyk (2009) distinguished two groups of students with different types of autonomic regulation: type 1 (53 %) with moderate and type 2 (5 %) with marked characteristics of central regulation profile, type 3 (35 %) with moderate and type 4 (7 %) with marked characteristics of autonomous regulation profile. Main parameters of HRV and adaptation potential were defined for each student.All the parameters characterized functional and health status. Conclusions. It was shown that 82 % of trial subjects (type 1), 53 % (type 2), 94 % (type 3) and 95 % (type 4) demonstrated satisfactory adaptation and their physiological processes were at an optimal level. 18 % of students (type 1) demonstrated reduced adaptive abilities of the body. Moreover, they were under moderate stress. 47 % of subjects (type 2) were also under a significant stress, which was proven by excessively high SI, low SDNN and TP, and an increased index of functional changes. 5 % of students (type 4) revealed dysfunctional characteristics in the heart rhythm, peculiar to pathology. Keywords: foreign students, heart rate variability, types of autonomic regulation, adaptation potential, functional status. Оценка состояния студентов и динамический контроль за ним является важной задачей, поскольку позволяет своевременно выявлять у студентов донозологические состояния, предшествующие патологии, и способствовать сохранению здоровья. Цель. Оценка адаптивных возможностей организма, анализ изменений показателей вариабельности сердечного ритма у студентов с различными типами вегетативной регуляции, выявление донозологических состояний и ранних признаков патологии. Материалы и методы. В исследовании участвовало 302 студента в возрасте 21,54+1,43 года из Индии. Регистрировались основные параметры ВСР в течение 5 мин с использованием программно-аппаратного комплекса «Психофизиолог». Состояние и уровень здоровья оценивались по индексу функциональных изменений и шкале функциональных состояний. Результаты. По способу, предложенному Н.И. Шлык, выделены группы студентов с различными типами вегетативной регуляции: I (53 %) и II типы (5 %) – с умеренным и выраженным преобладанием центрального контура регуляции соответственно, III (35 %) и IV типы (7 %) – с умеренным и выраженным преобладанием автономного контура регуляции соответственно. У каждого из студентов определены основные параметры ВСР и адаптационного потенциала, характеризующие функциональное состояние и уровень здоровья. Выводы. Показано, что для 82 % обследуемых с I типом, 53 % со II типом, 94 % c III типом и 95 % с IV типом регуляции характерно состояние удовлетворительной адаптации, физиологические процессы сохраняются на оптимальном уровне. В группе студентов I типа у 18 % студентов адаптивные возможности организма снижены, выявлено состояние умеренного напряжения. У 47 % обследуемых II типа также зафиксировано состояние резко выраженного напряжения, индикатором которого является чрезмерно высокое значение SI, низкие величины SDNN и ТP, повышенное значение индекса функциональных изменений. В группе студентов с IV типом у 5 % учащихсяв регуляции ритма сердца выявлены дисфункциональные признаки, характерные для патологии. Ключевые слова: иностранные студенты, вариабельность сердечного ритма, типы вегетативной регуляции, адаптационный потенциал, функциональное состояние.


2017 ◽  
Vol 284 (1852) ◽  
pp. 20170359 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arjun Nair ◽  
Christy Nguyen ◽  
Matthew J. McHenry

An escape response is a rapid manoeuvre used by prey to evade predators. Performing this manoeuvre at greater speed, in a favourable direction, or from a longer distance have been hypothesized to enhance the survival of prey, but these ideas are difficult to test experimentally. We examined how prey survival depends on escape kinematics through a novel combination of experimentation and mathematical modelling. This approach focused on zebrafish ( Danio rerio ) larvae under predation by adults and juveniles of the same species. High-speed three-dimensional kinematics were used to track the body position of prey and predator and to determine the probability of behavioural actions by both fish. These measurements provided the basis for an agent-based probabilistic model that simulated the trajectories of the animals. Predictions of survivorship by this model were found by Monte Carlo simulations to agree with our observations and we examined how these predictions varied by changing individual model parameters. Contrary to expectation, we found that survival may not be improved by increasing the speed or altering the direction of the escape. Rather, zebrafish larvae operate with sufficiently high locomotor performance due to the relatively slow approach and limited range of suction feeding by fish predators. We did find that survival was enhanced when prey responded from a greater distance. This is an ability that depends on the capacity of the visual and lateral line systems to detect a looming threat. Therefore, performance in sensing, and not locomotion, is decisive for improving the survival of larval fish prey. These results offer a framework for understanding the evolution of predator–prey strategy that may inform prey survival in a broad diversity of animals.


2014 ◽  
Vol 71 (9) ◽  
pp. 2530-2538 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emmanuel de Braux ◽  
Fletcher Warren-Myers ◽  
Tim Dempster ◽  
Per Gunnar Fjelldal ◽  
Tom Hansen ◽  
...  

Abstract Otolith marking with enriched stable isotopes via immersion is a recent method of batch marking larval fish for a range of research and industrial applications. However, current immersion times and isotope concentrations required to successfully mark an otolith limit the utility of this technique. Osmotic induction improves incorporation and reduces immersion time for some chemical markers, but its effects on isotope incorporation into otoliths are unknown. Here, we tested the effects of osmotic induction over a range of different isotope concentrations and immersion times on relative mark success and strength for 26Mg:24Mg, 86Sr:88Sr and 137Ba:138Ba on Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) larvae. 71% and 100% mark success were achieved after 1 h of immersion for 86Sr (75 µg L−1) and 137Ba (30 µg L−1) isotopes, respectively. Compared with conventional immersion, osmotic induction improved overall mark strength for 86Sr and 137Ba isotopes by 26–116%, although this effect was only observed after 12 h of immersion and predominately for 86Sr. The results demonstrate that osmotic induction reduces immersion times and the concentrations of isotope required to achieve successful marks. Osmotically induced isotope labels via larval immersion may prove a rapid and cost-effective way of batch marking fish larvae across a range of potential applications.


2021 ◽  
Vol 51 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 5-14
Author(s):  
Anna-Klara Bojö

The Bodies’ Poetry: Eva Runefelt, Eva Ström and Swedish Poetry in the Late 1970’s In the mid 1970’s a new type of poetry, associated with the body, emerged in Sweden. Especially young women writers appeared to take Swedish poetry in new aesthetic directions, exploring questions regarding experience and language. This article focuses on two prominent writers, Eva Runefelt and Eva Ström, and discusses how their different types of poetry can be said to be a bodies’ poetry, and how it was discussed in contemporary literary critique. It also reflects on why this strand of poetry has been granted such a peripheral place in literary history.


2005 ◽  
Vol 62 (3) ◽  
pp. 208-213 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rodrigo Ozório ◽  
Vincent Van Ginneken ◽  
Guido van den Thillart ◽  
Martin Verstegen ◽  
Johan Verreth

Lipids, together with proteins, are traditionally considered as primary fuels during aerobic swimming. The effects of dietary fat and carnitine supplements and exercise on the energy metabolism of juvenile fish were investigated. One hundred African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) were fed four isonitrogenous diets containing a fat level of 100 or 190 g kg-1 diet and one of the two levels of carnitine (15 and 1000 mg kg-1). Fish grew from 61 to 162 g in 10 wk. Thereafter, 6 fish per group swam vigorously for 3 h and the results were compared with unexercised groups. Fish receiving 1,000 mg carnitine accumulated 2- to 3-fold more carnitine than fish receiving 15 mg carnitine. Plasma acyl-carnitine level was affected by an interaction between dietary treatment and exercise (P < 0.05). Adenosine triphosphate and phosphocreatine concentrations were higher in the white muscle (WM) of exercised fish fed the high-carnitine supplements, compared with the low-carnitine fed fish (P < 0.05). Adenilate energy charge indexes were higher and ammonia concentrations were lower in WM of fish fed high-carnitine and high-fat diets. Dietary carnitine supplements may be needed in growing fish when dietary lipid level is high. In that case extra dietary carnitine can maintain the body energy reserves at adequate level when fish is exposed to a short-term, exhaustive exercise, a physiologic stress common both in nature and in intensive aquaculture systems.


2002 ◽  
Vol 32 (3) ◽  
pp. 499-499 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rosseval Galdino LEITE ◽  
Carlos A.R.M. ARAUJO-LIMA

Information on larval fish feeding is essential for understanding their trophic relations, including the management in conditions totally or partially controlled by humans. An experiment was designed to evaluate the larval diets of three commercially important species. Four varzea-lakes and the adjacent river were sampled with bongo and hand nets from January 1993 to November 1995. Larval diets were evaluated by length-classes and capture sites, and were tested by two factor ANOVA. The larvae were feeding in all habitats, except in the flooded forests. The three species had different diets, which varied with their length and lake. The rotifers were the main initial food item of the three species, replaced by fish larvae in Brycon cephalus, cladocerans in Triportheus elongatus and detritus in Semaprochilodus insignis. The increase of the ingestion limit, as the larvae grew, was higher than the increase in the consumed prey size for the three species.


1975 ◽  
Vol 32 (12) ◽  
pp. 2503-2512 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. M. Ware

A set of density-dependent growth and survivorship equations is derived from evidence that the instantaneous death rate in the sea is inversely proportional to particle size. The survivorship equation reproduces several well-known phenomena observed in fish populations. It predicts: 1) that winter and spring spawning species ought to produce larger eggs than summer spawners, 2) that it is advantageous for species that spawn in batches to produce progressively smaller eggs in spring and summer, and 3) that the death rate of a cohort of fish should decrease continuously as the survivors grow and approach the critical size.The biological basis for the observed variation in the size of pelagic fish eggs and larvae is thought to be due primarily to trophic relations within the pelagic community. It is suggested from what is known of the relative abundance and foraging capabilities of different sized particles, that the survival rates of larval and juvenile fish should increase as they grow and occupy a progressively higher position in the food chain.


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