Diel Distribution and Activity of American Eels (Anguilla rostrata) in a Cave-Spring

1986 ◽  
Vol 43 (8) ◽  
pp. 1595-1605 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gene S. Helfman
Keyword(s):  
Total Population ◽  
Activity Patterns ◽  
Food Concentration ◽  
Anguilla Rostrata ◽  
Considerable Variability ◽  
High Food ◽  
Light Levels ◽  
American Eels ◽  
Changing Light ◽  
Inhibitory Threshold

American eels (Anguilla rostrata) in a Florida cave-spring (total population [Formula: see text] 142 eels, density [Formula: see text] 0.03 eels/m2) showed distinctive day versus night differences in distribution and activity. Larger eels occurred deeper at all times. Eels were diurnally quiescent, nocturnally active, and changed over between behavior modes roughly at dusk and dawn, although considerable variability existed in timing of changeover. Changeover at dusk involved movement from deeper regions of low food to shallower regions of high food concentration, with smaller eels more likely to migrate. Changing light levels apparently determined onset and cessation of activity, with an inhibitory threshold of 10–100 lx influencing movement between deep and shallow regions. An endogenous rhythm and hunger may have also affected activity patterns.

scholarly journals Deep Learning for Automated Detection and Identification of Migrating American Eel Anguilla rostrata from Imaging Sonar Data

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (14) ◽  
pp. 2671
Author(s):  
Xiaoqin Zang ◽  
Tianzhixi Yin ◽  
Zhangshuan Hou ◽  
Robert P. Mueller ◽  
Zhiqun Daniel Deng ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Deep Learning ◽  
Fish Passage ◽  
Automated Detection ◽  
Anguilla Rostrata ◽  
Automated Method ◽  
Detection And Identification ◽  
And Migration ◽  
Imaging Sonar ◽  
American Eels ◽  
Deep Learning Model

Adult American eels (Anguilla rostrata) are vulnerable to hydropower turbine mortality during outmigration from growth habitat in inland waters to the ocean where they spawn. Imaging sonar is a reliable and proven technology for monitoring of fish passage and migration; however, there is no efficient automated method for eel detection. We designed a deep learning model for automated detection of adult American eels from sonar data. The method employs convolution neural network (CNN) to distinguish between 14 images of eels and non-eel objects. Prior to image classification with CNN, background subtraction and wavelet denoising were applied to enhance sonar images. The CNN model was first trained and tested on data obtained from a laboratory experiment, which yielded overall accuracies of >98% for image-based classification. Then, the model was trained and tested on field data that were obtained near the Iroquois Dam located on the St. Lawrence River; the accuracy achieved was commensurate with that of human experts.

Artificial maturation, fertilization, and early development of the American eel (Anguilla rostrata)

2010 ◽  
Vol 88 (11) ◽  
pp. 1121-1128 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Oliveira ◽  
W. E. Hable
Keyword(s):  
Early Development ◽  
Anguilla Rostrata ◽  
Sargasso Sea ◽  
American Eel ◽  
Important Species ◽  
Vitro Fertilization ◽  
Commercially Important ◽  
Elusive Species ◽  
American Eels

Spawning for the American eel ( Anguilla rostrata (Le Sueur, 1817)) takes place in secretive locations within the Sargasso Sea, which has thus far prevented investigations of gametogenesis and early development in this ecologically and commercially important species. Attempts to induce maturation and reproduction in this species have been few and have produced limited results, with a single report of the production of gastrula-stage embryos. Here we report the successful maturation of female American eels. Maturation occurred within 13 weeks and ovulation was induced with a single injection of 17α,20β-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one (DHP). Following in vitro fertilization, embryogenesis through hatching was observed and larvae were maintained for up to 6 days. We show that a crucial factor for successful fertilization is the stage of the oocyte at the time of induced ovulation. Oocytes that had not reached the migratory nucleus stage, or had passed this stage, were not successfully fertilized. These findings demonstrate that American eel can reproduce in the laboratory and previously untestable hypotheses pertaining to the developmental biology of this elusive species can now be explored.

Eels at the Edge: Science, Status, and Conservation Concerns

2009 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
North America ◽  
Anguilla Japonica ◽  
Japanese Eel ◽  
Southern United States ◽  
Anguilla Rostrata ◽  
Annual Growth Rate ◽  
Spawning Site ◽  
One Year ◽  
American Eels ◽  
Delayed Spawning

<em>Abstract.</em>—In Taiwan, there has been a shortage of local Japanese eel <em>Anguilla japonica </em>elvers for culture, so culturists have imported American eel <em>Anguilla rostrata </em>(Le Sueur) elvers from North America to meet their needs. From 1999 to 2001, six exotic adult American eels were found in the estuary of the Kaoping River of Taiwan that had escaped from aquaculture ponds as young eels and stayed in the river until silvering. This study compares growth performance and migratory behavior, using otolith strontium (Sr)/calcium (Ca) ratios of those six American eels with cohabitating Japanese eels and American eels in North America. Regardless of sex, mean age at maturity of the exotic American eels was greater and mean annual growth rate was less than that of Japanese eels in Taiwan and similar to that of American eels in the southern United States. Sr/Ca ratios at the otolith edge of the six exotic American eels, which recorded their salinity history, increased significantly. Furthermore, four of the six exotic American eels spent more than one year in the high-salinity estuary. Their extended residence in the estuary may be due to a delayed spawning migration resulting from a failure to orientate and migrate properly to their native spawning site.

scholarly journals Inducible morphological defense in Daphnia pulex: food quantity effects revised

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sandra Klintworth ◽  
Eric von Elert
Keyword(s):  
Chemical Cues ◽  
Daphnia Pulex ◽  
Food Concentration ◽  
Bacterial Degradation ◽  
Inducible Defenses ◽  
Chemical Cue ◽  
High Food ◽  
Food Quantity ◽  
Morphological Defense ◽  
Food Concentrations

Abstract In aquatic systems, organisms largely rely on chemical cues to perceive information about the presence of predators or prey. Daphnia recognize the presence of the predatory larvae of Chaoborus via a chemical cue, emitted by the larvae, a so-called kairomone. Upon recognition, neckteeth, an alteration of the carapace, are induced in Daphnia that reduce predation rates of Chaoborus. Neckteeth induction was often reported to entail costs. In a previous study, food quantity affected the level of neckteeth induction, with stronger neckteeth induction at low food concentrations and weak induction at high food concentrations. However, reducing neckteeth induction at high food quantities seems to be maladaptive and not in accordance with the concept that inducible defenses are associated with costs. Here, we hypothesized that weaker neckteeth induction at high food concentrations is caused by increased bacterial degradation of the kairomone. More specifically, we assume that higher algal food concentration is associated with higher bacterial abundances, which degrade the kairomone during the experiment. We tested our hypothesis by treating food algae with antibiotics before providing them as food to Daphnia. Antibiotics reduced bacterial abundances at high and low food concentrations. Reduced bacterial abundances at high food concentrations led to the same level of neckteeth induction as at low food concentrations. A linear regression revealed a significant correlation of neckteeth induction to bacterial abundances. We therefore conclude that differences in neckteeth induction at different food concentrations are not caused by the food quantity effects but by differences in bacterial degradation of the kairomone.

scholarly journals Terrestrial Locomotion in American Eels (Anguilla rostrata): How Substrate and Incline Affect Movement Patterns

2020 ◽  
Vol 60 (1) ◽  
pp. 180-189
Author(s):  
Erica Redmann ◽  
Alina Sheikh ◽  
Areej Alqahtani ◽  
Mica McCarty-Glenn ◽  
Shazrah Syed ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Wave Amplitude ◽  
Body Position ◽  
The Body ◽  
Complex Life Cycle ◽  
Anguilla Rostrata ◽  
American Eel ◽  
Distance Ratio ◽  
Terrestrial Environment ◽  
Terrestrial Locomotion ◽  
American Eels

Synopsis Fishes overcome a variety of challenges in order to invade the terrestrial environment. Terrestrial invasions by fish occur over a variety of environmental contexts. In order to advance their bodies on land, fishes capable of terrestrial excursions tend to use one of three different types of locomotor modes: axial-based, appendage-based, or axial-appendage-based. Elongate species with reduced appendages, such as the American eel, Anguilla rostrata, rely on axial based locomotion in water and on land. When eels move from water to land as part of their complex life cycle, they inevitably encounter a variety of substrates and must traverse variable degrees of incline. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of substrate and incline on the terrestrial locomotion of the American eel. In order to do this, eels were filmed from a dorsal view on three substrates and four inclines: sand, loose pebbles, and fixed (glued) pebbles at 0°, 5°, 10°, and 15°. We digitized 20 evenly spaced points along the body to examine the following characteristics of locomotion: velocity, distance ratio (DR), and wave parameters such as wave amplitude, frequency, and length and assessed whether substrate, incline, or body position affected these parameters. DR, our metric of movement efficiency, was highest on the flat sand condition and lowest on 15° pebble conditions. Efficiency also varied across the body. Velocity followed a similar pattern being highest on sand at 0° and lowest at the steepest inclines. Wave amplitude generally increased toward the tail but was similar across substrates and inclines. Wave frequency was relatively consistent across the body on both pebble substrates, but on sand, frequency was higher toward the head but decreased toward the tail. Wavelengths on sand were the longest at 0° near the head and shorter wavelengths were observed on steeper inclines. Both pebble substrates elicited lower wavelengths that were more similar across the body. Overall, A. rostrata were more effective in navigating compliant substrates but struggled at steeper inclines. Our findings provide insight into locomotor challenges that American eels may encounter as they move from and between bodies of water.

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