Lack of genetic divergence in capelin (Mallotus villosus) spawning at beach versus subtidal habitats in coastal embayments of Newfoundland

Capelin (Mallotus villosus (Müller, 1776)), a focal forage fish in the north Atlantic, spawn on both beach and demersal (deep-water) sites throughout their circumpolar distribution. Although these habitats rarely occur in close proximity, demersal spawning sites within 4 km of beach spawning sites (subtidal) have recently been discovered in two coastal embayments in Newfoundland, Canada. The physical environment differs considerably between beach and subtidal spawning sites, creating the potential for local adaptation and genetic divergence of capelin from the two habitats, but this has never been investigated on a fine spatial scale. We use eight microsatellite loci to test for genetic divergence between capelin spawning at beach and subtidal sites within these two coastal regions in Newfoundland. We found no genetic differentiation between fish spawning at beach and subtidal sites or between the two regions. The results from this fine-scale study are in agreement with the lack of habitat-based structure reported in other studies examining beach and demersal sites separated by a larger geographic area. We suggest that instead of showing site fidelity and local adaptation, the facultative use of alternate spawning habitats may be a more successful strategy in an unpredictable environment.

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Egg cannibalism in capelin Mallotus villosus at beach and deep-water spawning habitats in the north-west Atlantic Ocean

Journal of Fish Biology ◽

10.1111/jfb.13740 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 93 (4) ◽

pp. 641-648 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Bryden Bone ◽

Gail K. Davoren

Keyword(s):

Atlantic Ocean ◽

Deep Water ◽

Mallotus Villosus ◽

North West ◽

Egg Cannibalism ◽

The North ◽

Capelin Mallotus Villosus ◽

Spawning Habitats

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In situ measurements of capelin (Mallotus villosus) target strength in the North Pacific Ocean

ICES Journal of Marine Science ◽

10.1093/icesjms/fsn205 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 66 (2) ◽

pp. 258-263 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Michael A. Guttormsen ◽

Christopher D. Wilson

Keyword(s):

Pacific Ocean ◽

North Pacific ◽

North Pacific Ocean ◽

In Situ Measurements ◽

Target Strength ◽

Mallotus Villosus ◽

The North ◽

Capelin Mallotus Villosus ◽

The North Pacific

Abstract Guttormsen, M. A. and Wilson, C. D. 2009. In situ measurements of capelin (Mallotus villosus) target strength in the North Pacific Ocean. – ICES Journal of Marine Science, 66: 258–263. In situ measurements of capelin (Mallotus villosus) target strength (TS) were collected during summer 2001–2003 near Kodiak Island in the Gulf of Alaska, using a calibrated EK500 echosounder with 38 and 120 kHz split-beam transducers. Targets were detected over dispersed, night-time aggregations using standard acoustic methods, then filtered using a quality-control algorithm to reject invalid targets. The 38 kHz-based, fitted model estimate was TS = 20 log10L− 70.3 (r2 = 0.30), where L is total length of fish. Compared with other studies, the TS-fitted model at 38 kHz was similar to that calculated from swimbladder morphology measurements from St Lawrence estuary capelin (TS = 20 log10L− 69.3), but resulted in greater estimates than models based on in situ measurements of capelin TS in the Barents Sea (TS = 19.1 log10L−74.0) and northern Atlantic Ocean (TS = 20 log10L − 73.1). The large intraspecific variability exhibited in the fitted TS – L models for this species suggests the use of TS measurements from the geographic region where the data were collected.

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Capelin (Mallotus villosus) distribution and climate: a sea “canary” for marine ecosystem change

ICES Journal of Marine Science ◽

10.1016/j.icesjms.2005.05.008 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 62 (7) ◽

pp. 1524-1530 ◽

Cited By ~ 82

Author(s):

G.A. Rose

Keyword(s):

Temperature Change ◽

North Atlantic ◽

Marine Ecosystem ◽

Predatory Fish ◽

Ecosystem Change ◽

Monitoring Methods ◽

Mallotus Villosus ◽

The North ◽

Capelin Mallotus Villosus ◽

The North Atlantic

Abstract Capelin (Mallotus villosus) is a classic “r” adapted pelagic species that inhabits the northern boreal oceans at the margins of cold Arctic waters. The species originated in the North Pacific and colonized the North Atlantic at least once during interglacial periods of the past few million years. Capelin became the main forage species for many larger predatory fish, and also for seabirds and marine mammals. The colonizing abilities of capelin have been noted in historical anecdotes, typically in concert with climate variations. In this paper, all known shifts in distribution are catalogued. Shifts have taken place at the larval and adult stages, and some result in new spawning locations, others do not. Displacement distance relates to temperature change: log10(distancekm) = 0.28 × temperature change + 2.16 (p < 0.05, r2 = 0.91). The persistence of the shifts relates to the displacement distance: log10(persistencey) = 2.62 × log10(distancekm) − 6.56 (p < 0.05, r2 = 0.83). The quick and consistent response of capelin to temperature change, its importance to the North Atlantic foodweb, and established monitoring methods suggest this species as a sea “canary” for northern boreal marine ecosystem responses to climate variability and change.

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Patterns of larval emergence of capelin (Mallotus villosus) and environmental cues at demersal spawning sites on the northeastern coast of Newfoundland

Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences ◽

10.1139/f08-037 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 65 (6) ◽

pp. 1135-1143 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Paulette M. Penton ◽

Gail K. Davoren

Keyword(s):

Water Column ◽

Good Condition ◽

Larval Survival ◽

Mallotus Villosus ◽

Capelin Mallotus Villosus ◽

Warm Surface Water ◽

Larval Emergence ◽

Wind Events ◽

Northeastern Coast ◽

Spawning Sites

At spawning beaches in Newfoundland, Canada, capelin ( Mallotus villosus ) larval emergence is triggered by coastal water mass replacement (CWMR). CWMR causes sharp but short increases in temperature in coastal areas by the transport of warm surface water to the coast during onshore wind events. Warm water temperatures stimulate the active emergence of capelin larvae into predator-poor and prey-rich conditions favourable for larval survival. We investigated whether wind events influenced (i) the thermal properties of the water column and (ii) the larval emergence patterns at five demersal (deep-water) spawning sites on the northeastern coast of Newfoundland during the posthatch periods in 2004–2006. Winds oriented along the shore caused frequent and sharp increases in bottom temperature at all sites but did not appear to stimulate the release of larvae into the water column. Instead, peaks in larval densities corresponded to predicted peaks in hatching. Because of this and the presence of recently hatched larvae (3–5 mm) primarily in good condition, we hypothesize that larvae simply emerged from the sediment upon hatching at these demersal spawning sites. We conclude that patterns of larval emergence at demersal sites in this region are different from those reported for the beach in other regions of Newfoundland.

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Variation in size and growth of West Greenland capelin (Mallotus villosus) along latitudinal gradients

ICES Journal of Marine Science ◽

10.1093/icesjms/fsq024 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 67 (6) ◽

pp. 1128-1137 ◽

Cited By ~ 17

Author(s):

R. Hedeholm ◽

P. Grønkjær ◽

A. Rosing-Asvid ◽

S. Rysgaard

Keyword(s):

Size Distribution ◽

Somatic Growth ◽

Latitudinal Gradients ◽

Mallotus Villosus ◽

West Greenland ◽

The North ◽

Growth Difference ◽

Capelin Mallotus Villosus ◽

The Difference ◽

Average Size

Abstract Hedeholm, R., Grønkjær, P., Rosing-Asvid, A., and Rysgaard, S. 2010. Variation in size and growth of West Greenland capelin (Mallotus villosus) along latitudinal gradients. – ICES Journal of Marine Science, 67: 1128–1137. Capelin (Mallotus villosus) is the dominant pelagic species in the West Greenland ecosystem. Historical data are re-examined and new data are presented on the size distribution and the growth pattern of capelin along latitudinal gradients of temperature and other growth factors extending over a distance of 1300 km. The average size of capelin increases with latitude. Fish 3 years old were 48 mm larger (54%) at the secondmost northern station compared with the most southern one. Otolith analysis revealed a significant effect of age as well as area on back-calculated growth. Hence, at all ages, fish grew faster in the north than in the south. Average somatic growth across areas in the first and fourth years was 56 and 15 mm, respectively. Temperature data suggest a 2°C difference in temperature between areas, temperatures being warmest in the north. Hence, the increase in temperature with latitude explains much of the latitudinal growth gradient and suggests a growth difference in West Greenland capelin of 0.4–0.6 cm °C−1 year−1. However, the difference in growth and size distribution between northern and southernmost stations, where temperatures are similar, suggests that other factors, such as differences in available prey and diet composition, also contribute to the differences.

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Spatial and temporal patterns of capelin (Mallotus villosus) spawning sites in the Barents Sea

Fisheries Research ◽

10.1016/j.fishres.2021.106117 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 244 ◽

pp. 106117

Author(s):

Salah Alrabeei ◽

Sam Subbey ◽

Sofie Gundersen ◽

Harald Gjøsæter

Keyword(s):

Barents Sea ◽

Temporal Patterns ◽

Spatial And Temporal Patterns ◽

Mallotus Villosus ◽

The Barents Sea ◽

Capelin Mallotus Villosus ◽

Spawning Sites

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Selective Exploitation of Capelin (Mallotus villosus) Eggs by Winter Flounder (Pseudopleuronectes americanus): Capelin Egg Mortality Rates, and Contribution of Egg Energy to the Annual Growth of Flounder

Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences ◽

10.1139/f84-158 ◽

1984 ◽

Vol 41 (9) ◽

pp. 1294-1302 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

K. T. Frank ◽

W. C. Leggett

Keyword(s):

Average Energy ◽

Winter Flounder ◽

Annual Growth ◽

Pseudopleuronectes Americanus ◽

Mallotus Villosus ◽

Egg Mortality ◽

Capelin Mallotus Villosus ◽

Gonad Production ◽

Conception Bay ◽

Spawning Sites

The consequences of winter flounder (Pseudopleuronectes americanus) predation on capelin (Mallotus villosus) eggs, both in terms of the egg mortality and of the contribution of energy ingested to the annual growth of flounder, were investigated at Bryant's Cove, Conception Bay, Newfoundland. Flounder density in the nearshore area adjacent to the capelin spawning beach increased sharply in each of the three study years in response to the presence of spawning capelin and to the density of capelin eggs on the spawning beaches. Capelin eggs were the dominant item inthedietofwinterflounder14–34 cm TL, averaging 59% by weight. Flounder [Formula: see text] fed less heavily on capelin eggs (22% of food consumed by weight) but because of their larger size and ration were an important source of predation. Egg mortality due to flounder predation was estimated to average 5.0, 2.2, and 1.9% in 1978, 1979, and 1980, respectively. Egg mortality due to predation is believed to be significantly greater at deepwater demersal spawning sites and may have a significant impact on recruitment in demersal spawners. The average energy gain to winter flounder resulting from consumption of capelin eggs was estimated to contribute 23% of the annual growth of flounder in the region (approximate 95% confidence interval: 10–40%). Selective exploitation of capelin eggs by postspawning flounder may also contribute significantly to the rapid recovery of body condition following the extensive depletion of tissue resources due to winter fasting, gonad production, and spawning.

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Beach and demersal spawning in capelin (Mallotus villosus) on the northeast Newfoundland coast: egg developmental rates and mortality

Canadian Journal of Zoology ◽

10.1139/z11-132 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 90 (2) ◽

pp. 248-256 ◽

Cited By ~ 21

Author(s):

P.M. Penton ◽

G.K. Davoren ◽

W.A. Montevecchi ◽

D.W. Andrews

Keyword(s):

Rapid Development ◽

Survival Rates ◽

Mallotus Villosus ◽

The North ◽

Spawning Site ◽

Slow Development ◽

Capelin Mallotus Villosus ◽

Developmental Rates ◽

Incubation Temperatures ◽

Limited Oxygen

Timing of spawning and site selection in fish are important fitness-related traits that ultimately influence reproductive success. Capelin ( Mallotus villosus (Müller, 1776)), a key forage fish in the north Atlantic, spawn eggs that adhere to sediments on beaches and in demersal (deep-water) habitats throughout their geographic range, resulting in divergent thermal regimes for the incubating eggs. We compare the timing and duration of spawning of capelin and its influence on the developmental and survival rates of eggs between a beach and a demersal spawning site on the northeast Newfoundland coast in 2004 and 2005. Spawning events at the beach were at least 10 days earlier and shorter (2–3 days) relative to the demersal site (8–12 days). Hourly and mean daily incubation temperatures at the beach were higher and more variable relative to the demersal site, resulting in two distinct developmental strategies: low to high mortality and rapid development (beach) versus low mortality and slow development (demersal). Higher egg mortality at beach sites was explained by higher and more variable temperatures and potentially limited oxygen replenishment relative to demersal sites. The divergent biology of beach and demersally spawned eggs suggest that each will respond differently to environmental change and, thus, require different approaches for successful management.

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Population Genomics of an Anadromous Hilsa Shad Tenualosa ilisha Species across Its Diverse Migratory Habitats: Discrimination by Fine-Scale Local Adaptation

Genes ◽

10.3390/genes11010046 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

pp. 46

Author(s):

Md Asaduzzaman ◽

Yoji Igarashi ◽

Md Abdul Wahab ◽

Md Nahiduzzaman ◽

Md Jalilur Rahman ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Local Adaptation ◽

Genetic Divergence ◽

Population Genomics ◽

Large Population ◽

Anadromous Fish ◽

Fine Scale ◽

Genetic Cluster ◽

The North ◽

Tenualosa Ilisha ◽

Collection Sites

The migration of anadromous fish in heterogenic environments unceasingly imposes a selective pressure that results in genetic variation for local adaptation. However, discrimination of anadromous fish populations by fine-scale local adaptation is challenging because of their high rate of gene flow, highly connected divergent population, and large population size. Recent advances in next-generation sequencing (NGS) have expanded the prospects of defining the weakly structured population of anadromous fish. Therefore, we used NGS-based restriction site-associated DNA (NextRAD) techniques on 300 individuals of an anadromous Hilsa shad (Tenualosa ilisha) species, collected from nine strategic habitats, across their diverse migratory habitats, which include sea, estuary, and different freshwater rivers. The NextRAD technique successfully identified 15,453 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) loci. Outlier tests using the FST OutFLANK and pcadapt approaches identified 74 and 449 SNPs (49 SNPs being common), respectively, as putative adaptive loci under a divergent selection process. Our results, based on the different cluster analyses of these putatively adaptive loci, suggested that local adaptation has divided the Hilsa shad population into two genetically structured clusters, in which marine and estuarine collection sites were dominated by individuals of one genetic cluster and different riverine collection sites were dominated by individuals of another genetic cluster. The phylogenetic analysis revealed that all the riverine populations of Hilsa shad were further subdivided into the north-western riverine (turbid freshwater) and the north-eastern riverine (clear freshwater) ecotypes. Among all of the putatively adaptive loci, only 36 loci were observed to be in the coding region, and the encoded genes might be associated with important biological functions related to the local adaptation of Hilsa shad. In summary, our study provides both neutral and adaptive contexts for the observed genetic divergence of Hilsa shad and, consequently, resolves the previous inconclusive findings on their population genetic structure across their diverse migratory habitats. Moreover, the study has clearly demonstrated that NextRAD sequencing is an innovative approach to explore how dispersal and local adaptation can shape genetic divergence of non-model anadromous fish that intersect diverse migratory habitats during their life-history stages.

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