scholarly journals Quantitative molecular detection of larval Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus) in stomach contents of Atlantic mackerel (Scomber scombrus) marks regions of predation pressure

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bridie Jean Marie Allan ◽  
Jessica Louise Ray ◽  
Maik Tiedemann ◽  
Valeriya Komyakova ◽  
Frode Vikebø ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Early Life ◽  
Molecular Detection ◽  
Stomach Contents ◽  
Early Life History ◽  
Predation Pressure ◽  
Clupea Harengus ◽  
Atlantic Herring ◽  
Atlantic Mackerel ◽  
Life History Stages ◽  
Scomber Scombrus

AbstractMortality rates in the early life-history stages of fishes are generally high yet identifying the causes remain unclear. Faltering recruitment rates of Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus) in the Norwegian Sea indicate a need to identify which mortality factors influence larval herring survival. Previous research suggests that increased predation pressure by Atlantic mackerel (Scomber scombrus) may contribute to the disconnect between spawning stock biomass and recruitment. To quantify the contribution of predation pressure by Atlantic mackerel to herring larval mortality, two research cruises were conducted within a probable “hot spot” (67–72° N) for intensified mackerel predation based on particle drift simulations. Mackerel stomach contents were analysed for herring larvae content using droplet digital polymerase chain reaction (ddPCR) with a quantitative molecular detection assay specific for herring. The ddPCR results demonstrate clear predation by mackerel on herring larvae and also suggest that the alternative use of visual examination may give misleading results. Our results show that mackerel should be considered a potentially important predator on herring larvae. The quantitative molecular assay presented here shows great promise as an efficient and specific tool to correctly identify and quantify predation pressure on early life-history stages of fishes.

Di-n-hexyl Phthalate (DHP), a Newly Identified Contaminant in Atlantic Herring (Clupea harengus harengus) and Atlantic Mackerel (Scomber scombrus)

1981 ◽  
Vol 38 (7) ◽  
pp. 856-859 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charles J. Musial ◽  
John F. Uthe ◽  
Gary R. Sirota ◽  
B. Garth Burns ◽  
Michael W. Gilgan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Acid Ester ◽  
Phthalic Acid ◽  
Clupea Harengus ◽  
Proton Nuclear Magnetic Resonance ◽  
Atlantic Herring ◽  
Isolation And Identification ◽  
Atlantic Mackerel ◽  
Scomber Scombrus ◽  
Phthalic Acid Ester ◽  
Clupea Harengus Harengus

We describe the isolation and identification of di-n-hexyl phthalate, a new marine pollutant found in Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus harengus) and Atlantic mackerel (Scomber scombrus). This compound was isolated from extracted lipids by a combination of gel permeation, high performance liquid and column chromatography, and selective precipitation of impurities. Conclusive proof of its structure was obtained from gas chromatographic–mass spectrometric analysis and proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The concentrations of di-n-hexyl phthalate (17–27 μg/g wet weight), which is not a major industrial phthalic acid ester, far exceeded those of dibutyl and di-2-ethylhexyl phthalates, the major industrial phthalic acid esters. Thus the possibility of selective bioaccumulation of DHP in herring and mackerel was indicated. This finding is important in view of the paucity of toxicological information concerning this compound.Key words: phthalic acid ester, di-n-hexyl phthalate (DHP), analysis, mackerel, herring, marine fish, pollution

Early Life History of Atlantic Mackerel (Scomber scombrus) in the Southern Gulf of St. Lawrence

1985 ◽  
Vol 42 (3) ◽  
pp. 577-592 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. M. Ware ◽  
T. C. Lambert
Keyword(s):  
Life History ◽  
Mortality Rate ◽  
Early Life ◽  
Rank Order ◽  
Larval Mortality ◽  
Early Life History ◽  
Atlantic Mackerel ◽  
Scomber Scombrus ◽  
Planktonic Food ◽  
First Feeding

Results of a 4-yr study of the vertical distribution, development, and mortality of the early life history stages of Atlantic mackerel (Scomber scombrus) in St. Georges Bay, Nova Scotia, are summarized. Adult mackerel migrate to the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence and first appear in St. Georges Bay in the spring when the sea surface temperature is 7–8 °C. Peak spawning occurs about 26 d later, when the water temperature has warmed to 13 °C. Mackerel eggs tend to concentrate near the surface, particularly under light winds, and decline exponentially with depth. The rate of decline was a function of egg diameter and the temperature gradient in the top 5 m. During incubation, which lasts about 6 d, the median depth of the eggs increased at a rate of 1 m/d. This explains why recently hatched larvae were primarily between 5 and 10 m. As the larvae grew they moved progressively closer to the surface during the day; between the 3- to 8-mm stage the median depth decreased at a rate of 0.7 m/d. Mortality in the egg stage was of the order of 41%/d, and increased with respect to the annual rate of warming of the mixed layer. Larval mortality rates (corrected for net avoidance) were about 42%/d and were positively correlated with temperature. Although the mortality rate tended to be higher amongst first-feeding larvae, events during this stage did not change the rank order of abundance of the year classes — mortality was consistently high from fertilization to the 8-mm stage. There is some evidence in 1975, which was the warmest year, and the year with the highest larval mortality rate, that there was a poor spatial match between the size of mackerel larvae, at different depths, and the size of their planktonic food supply.

scholarly journals Recovery in eastern Baltic cod: is increased recruitment caused by decreased predation on early life stages?

2014 ◽  
Vol 71 (6) ◽  
pp. 1382-1392 ◽  
Author(s):  
Viola Neumann ◽  
Friedrich W. Köster ◽  
Matthias Schaber ◽  
Margit Eero
Keyword(s):  
Early Life ◽  
Gadus Morhua ◽  
Stomach Contents ◽  
Predation Pressure ◽  
Clupea Harengus ◽  
Life Stages ◽  
Early Life Stages ◽  
Potential Factors ◽  
Eastern Baltic ◽  
Baltic Cod

Cod (Gadus morhua) recruitment in the eastern Baltic Sea is influenced by predation on early life stages by sprat (Sprattus sprattus) and herring (Clupea harengus), which is considered as one of the mechanisms preventing cod recovery in the 1990s. In the light of improved cod recruitment in the second half of the 2000s, new analyses of stomach content of sprat and herring were conducted, to elucidate the contribution of changes in predation pressure on cod recruitment. Comparison of stomach contents of sprat and herring in 2004–2008 with data from the 1990s showed a similar diet composition in the two periods; however, changes were found in the ichthyoplankton abundance and composition in the diet, indicating reduced predation pressure on cod eggs in the most recent period. The abundance of cod eggs in the field, availability of other prey, and horizontal and vertical overlap between predator and prey were investigated as potential factors influencing cod egg predation.

Significance of Egg and Larval Size to Recruitment Variability of Temperate Marine Fish

1991 ◽  
Vol 48 (10) ◽  
pp. 1820-1828 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pierre Pepin ◽  
Ransom A. Myers
Keyword(s):  
Life History ◽  
Marine Fish ◽  
Early Life ◽  
Univariate Analysis ◽  
Early Life History ◽  
Fish Populations ◽  
Larval Size ◽  
Larval Phase ◽  
Life History Stages ◽  
Recruitment Variability

Recruitment variability is commonly associated with fluctuations in abundance of marine fish populations. Previous studies have focussed on stock-specific correlative or mechanistic models or on comparisons of recruitment variations of several stocks or species. The purpose of this study is to determine whether recruitment variability of commercial marine fish populations is associated with either size or the duration of early life history stages. The analysis was performed with data from 86 stocks representing 21 species of commercial marine fish. Univariate analysis shows that neither egg size nor the length at hatch is significantly correlated with recruitment variability. The change in length during the larval phase, which is representative of the duration of the stage, is significantly positively correlated with recruitment variability. Multivariate analysis shows that recruitment variability increases with increasing length at metamorphosis but that recruitment variability is poorly associated with length at hatch. The degree of serial correlation is related to the relative duration of egg and larval stages. The results clearly indicate that recruitment variability is linked to characteristics of early life history stages.

Juveniles and larvae of eleven fish species collected from three countries of the Arabian Gulf and the Arabian Sea

2021 ◽  
Vol 325 (4) ◽  
pp. 457-468
Author(s):  
L.A. Jawad ◽  
F. Mutlak ◽  
A.R.M. Mohamed ◽  
J.M. Al-Mamry ◽  
E.K. Hameed ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Early Life ◽  
Arabian Sea ◽  
Arabian Gulf ◽  
Early Life History ◽  
Freshwater Environment ◽  
Life History Stages ◽  
Tenualosa Ilisha ◽  
Sparidentex Hasta ◽  
Available Information ◽  
First Time

The finding of larval and juvenile specimens from the Omani coast of the Arabian Sea and the Arabian Gulf waters of Saudi Arabia and Iraq is reported for the first time. Based on available information, one larva was a leptocephalus, Conger sp. (family Congridae) and one larva of an acronurus stage belonging to the genus Acanthurus (family Acanthuridae). Also juveniles of the following families are included in the present study: Clupeidae – Tenualosa ilisha (Hamilton, 1822) and Nematalosa sp.; Dactylopteridae – Dactyloptena orientalis (Cuvier, 1829); Gobiidae – Acentrogobius sp.; Bothidae – Arnoglossus aspilos (Bleeker, 1851); Scatophagidae – Scatophagus argus (Linnaeus, 1766); Sparidae – Acanthopagrus arabicus Iwatsuki, 2013 and Sparidentex hasta (Valenciennes, 1830); Tetraodontidae – Lagocephalus sp. The discovery of the barred rather than spotted juveniles of S. argus collected from pure freshwater environment of the Shatt al-Arab River, Basrah, Iraq was remarkable; it raises questions whether there is more than one species within the nominal S. argus. For both larvae and juveniles of bothid flounders, the olfactory organ is a useful character for the examination of the developmental stage of the metamorphosing specimens. The occurrence of the different early life history stages of fishes from the three Arabian countries shows the needs them to be studied further so that inferences about the areas and periods of spawning and development of these fishes can be made more accurately.

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