scholarly journals Juvenile fish in Cystoseira forests: influence of habitat complexity and depth on fish behaviour and assemblage composition

2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
AMALIA CUADROS ◽  
JOAN MORANTA ◽  
LUIS CARDONA ◽  
PIERRE THIRIET ◽  
PATRICE FRANCOUR ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Length ◽  
Fish Species ◽  
Habitat Complexity ◽  
Fish Assemblages ◽  
Juvenile Fish ◽  
The Body ◽  
Environmental Drivers ◽  
Independent Effect ◽  
Depth Range ◽  
Canopy Volume

The sublittoral forests formed by the fucoid algae Cystoseira spp. are important juvenile habitats for many Mediterranean fish species. However, the spatial variability of juvenile fish assemblages within the forests and the potential environmental drivers, such as depth and habitat complexity, remain poorly understood. We estimated densities, sizes and behaviours of juvenile fish assemblages in subtidal (0-15 meters) Cystoseira brachycarpa var. balearica forests in north Minorca Island (North-western Mediterranean Sea) over two consecutive autumns (2012 and 2013). Depth and forest complexity, here measured as canopy volume, had both a significant and independent effect on the juvenile fish assemblages in terms of species abundance composition and body size. Assemblages found in the shallowest depth range (3-4m) were characterized by greater densities of the ornate wrasse Thalassoma pavo, while those deeper (10-12m) had higher densities of the rainbow wrasse Coris julis, independently of its size composition. Juveniles of both species were more abundant in less complex forests; conversely juveniles of wrasses of the genus Symphodus were more abundant in more complex forests. The smallest sizes of T. pavo occurred in the most complex forests. On the other hand, our results demonstrated that juvenile fish behaviours were unrelated to the complexity of the Cystoseira forests but mainly related to the body length. The effects of body length on behaviour were however species dependent. Cryptic and transitory behaviours were mostly observed in the smallest and largest juveniles of T. pavo and C. julis, respectively, while the behaviour of Symphodus spp. was unrelated to their body length. Our study emphasises the importance of preserving healthy Cystoseira forests and their intrinsic patchy nature, as this habitat, with its mosaic of different complexity degrees and bathymetrical variability, enable the presence of different fish species at various life stages.

Atlantic fishes in the Mediterranean: using biological traits to assess the origin of newcomer fishes

2020 ◽  
Vol 643 ◽  
pp. 133-143
Author(s):  
J Evans ◽  
E Arndt ◽  
PJ Schembri
Keyword(s):  
Fish Species ◽  
Global Environmental Change ◽  
The Body ◽  
Individual Species ◽  
Biological Traits ◽  
Depth Range ◽  
Long Distance ◽  
Biological Trait ◽  
The Mediterranean ◽  
Cryptogenic Species

Two important facets of global environmental change are alteration of climatic regimes and the introduction of alien species. From a biogeographical perspective, these 2 processes lead to very similar results: a change in the distribution of species. Here, we considered Atlantic fish species that are recent newcomers in the Mediterranean Sea, using biological traits to assess their origin. For this purpose, we first re-evaluated all records of Atlantic fish species in the Mediterranean (n = 103) to exclude those not considered recent newcomers (n = 33). Based on faunistic data, we classified the true newcomers into 4 origin categories: alien, vagrant, range-expansion or cryptogenic. Then, we compared biological traits of species we characterised as aliens (n = 7), vagrants (n = 14) or range-expanders (n = 23). Finally, we re-assessed the origin of cryptogenic species (n = 26) using multivariate discriminant analysis, measuring the distance of individual species to the centroids of aliens, vagrants or range-expanders, allowing us to infer their probable ‘mode of origin’. The body size, depth range, temperature range, habitat and ability to undertake long-distance migration were the most important traits that could be related to alien, vagrant or range-expanding fishes. It was possible to assign 10 cryptogenic species a specific origin category with reasonable confidence, while the remaining cryptogenic species combined trait values of different origin categories. These results indicate that biological trait analysis can be coupled with faunistic data to help assess the most likely origin of a newcomer species, thus informing management decisions.

scholarly journals Typology of fish nurseries in shallow Mediterranean coastal zones: all habitats matter

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adrien Cheminée ◽  
Laurence Le Direach ◽  
Elodie Rouanet ◽  
Patrick Astruch ◽  
Adrien Goujard ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Fish Species ◽  
Fish Assemblages ◽  
Juvenile Fish ◽  
Economic Value ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Dimensional Structure ◽  
Coastal Zones ◽  
Habitat Types ◽  
Species Richness And Abundance

Abstract Coastal zones are ecosystems of high economic value but exposed to numerous disturbances, while they represent nurseries for many fish species, raising the issue of the preservation of their functions and services. In this context, the juvenile fish assemblages of all types of habitats present in shallow coastal zones were studied on the south-east coast of France using underwater visual censuses. The abiotic and biotic descriptors of the 14 habitat types individualized did not vary with time, except for a higher cover percentage and canopy height of macrophytes in the warm period, which increased the three-dimensional structure of some habitats. The taxonomic composition and density of juvenile fish assemblages were analyzed using both multivariate and univariate descriptors, after grouping the 57 fish species recorded into 41 well-individualized taxa. Juvenile fishes were recorded in all habitat types, with higher mean species richness and abundance during the warm than the cold period. The richest habitats in terms of both species richness and abundance were the natural rocky substrates and the interfaces between Posidonia beds and the other habitats. Although juvenile fish assemblages differed among habitat types and between periods, the most abundant fish species (Atherina sp., Sarpa salpa, Gobiidae, Symphodus spp., Pagellus spp. and several Diplodus species) colonized different habitat types (from 7 to 14) during their juvenile life. This study provided evidence of the role of all types of shallow coastal habitats as fish nurseries and their varying pattern of occupation in space and time by the different juvenile stages. It highlighted the importance of the mosaic of habitats and interfaces for the complete development of all juvenile life stages of fishes, and for the preservation of a high diversity of coastal fish assemblages and fisheries resources in the Mediterranean Sea.

scholarly journals Swimming capability of target fish from eight hydropower stations in China relative to fishway design

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaotao Shi ◽  
Senfan Ke ◽  
Zhiying Tu ◽  
Yongmeng Wang ◽  
Junjun Tan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Temperature ◽  
Flow Velocity ◽  
Body Length ◽  
Fish Species ◽  
Swimming Speed ◽  
Juvenile Fish ◽  
Important Target ◽  
Target Fish ◽  
Behaviour Study ◽  
Hydropower Stations

The four major Chinese carp (MC), Schizothorax fish species (SF), and Cobitidae fish species (CF) are the most important target fish species in China. The swimming behaviour study of three target fish groups is the key to Chinese fishway designs. The 20-min critical swimming speed (Ucrit-20 min) and endurance of the target fish species in relation to body length, swimming speed, and water temperature were estimated using multiple linear regression. The results indicated that both fish body length and water temperature had a significant effect on swimming capability. Performance comparisons indicated that SF were remarkably strong swimmer. CF possess slightly greater swimming capability than MC. The entrance velocity of the upstream fishway should be greater than U<u>crit-20 min</u>, but less than maximum swimming speed to make the flow out of the fishway noticeable. The maximum swimming distance could be estimated using endurance model at flow velocity of 1.2 m/s. For the downstream-migrating juvenile fish, it was suggested that the flow velocity of turbine intake should be less than maximum sustained speed avoiding entering turbine.

scholarly journals Evaluating the effectiveness of freshwater fishes as bio-indicators for urban impacts in the Crocodile (West) catchment, South Africa

Water SA ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 45 (3 July) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathan C Levin ◽  
Darragh J Woodford ◽  
Gavin C Snow
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Freshwater Fish ◽  
Fish Species ◽  
Fish Assemblages ◽  
Data Gathering ◽  
Environmental Drivers ◽  
Response Curves ◽  
Training Requirements ◽  
Freshwater Fish Species ◽  
Urban Impacts

Urbanisation in South Africa has resulted in the degradation of aquatic ecosystems across a rural-to-urban gradient; impacting the availability of clean water. Biological organisms, including fish assemblages, have been used as indicators of environmental change, as part of monitoring programmes designed to protect and improve aquatic ecosystem conditions. However, the effectiveness of individual freshwater fish species as bio-indicators for urban impacts has not yet been evaluated. This study investigated the occurrence of freshwater fish species across three urban gradients within the upper Crocodile River sub-management area as potential bio-indicators. Having collected presence and absence data, five native fish species were determined to be widespread. Their effectiveness as bio-indicators for six environmental drivers, identified through principle component analysis, was assessed using species stressor-response curves derived from logistic regression analysis. Of the five species, the largescale yellowfish (Labeobarbus marequensis) and stargazer catfish (Amphilius uranoscopus) showed potential to be effective bio-indicators for urban impacts on aquatic water quality and instream habitat. These taxa, as effective urban bio-indicators, have the potential to improve the efficiency of urban river health assessments through reducing data gathering and staff training requirements.

scholarly journals Patterns of small fish distributions in seagrass beds in a temperate Australian estuary

2007 ◽  
Vol 87 (5) ◽  
pp. 1297-1307 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jane E. Jelbart ◽  
Pauline M. Ross ◽  
Rod M. Connolly
Keyword(s):  
Fish Species ◽  
Fish Assemblages ◽  
Juvenile Fish ◽  
Small Fish ◽  
Seagrass Beds ◽  
Estuary Mouth ◽  
Seagrass Cover ◽  
Australian Estuary ◽  
Continuous Beds ◽  
Zostera Capricorni

Beds of the seagrass Zostera capricorni are an integral part of the estuarine landscape along the east coast of Australia, forming an important habitat for juvenile fish. Seagrass beds can vary in their size, shape and patchiness of seagrass cover as well as their distance from the estuary mouth. We tested for a correlation between these features and small fish assemblages in seagrass. Fifteen beds were selected from three size-categories (small, 980 to 2300 m2; medium, 3375 to 4090 m2; and large, 5335 to 6630 m2). We found that the size of beds, the patchiness of seagrass cover and location within the estuary (distance from estuary mouth) were all related to differences in fish assemblages. There were greater densities of fish species in small (10.3 ±0.79 species .net-1) compared to medium (7.6 ±0.6) and large (8.2 ±0.5) beds. This occurred regardless of bed placement within the estuary, its patchiness or time of sampling (day and night). The fish assemblages within seagrass beds also changed as bed distance to estuary mouth increased. Six species had greater densities in beds closer to the estuary mouth, while only two species were in greater densities far from the mouth. Fish assemblages were different between beds with patchy and continuous cover, although total densities of all fish species combined were similar. There were greater densities of four species in continuous beds compared to two species that were greater in patchy beds. Overall, an important finding was that even small patchy seagrass beds contain greater densities of small fish species than larger beds with continuous seagrass cover.

Tropical seaweed beds as important habitats for juvenile fish

2017 ◽  
Vol 68 (10) ◽  
pp. 1921 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. A. Tano ◽  
M. Eggertsen ◽  
S. A. Wikström ◽  
C. Berkström ◽  
A. S. Buriyo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fish Species ◽  
Fish Assemblages ◽  
Fish Habitat ◽  
Juvenile Fish ◽  
Visual Census ◽  
Seagrass Meadows ◽  
Commercially Important ◽  
Fish Habitats ◽  
Habitat Variables

Seaweed beds within tropical seascapes have received little attention as potential fish habitat, despite other vegetated habitats, such as seagrass meadows and mangroves, commonly being recognised as important nurseries for numerous fish species. In addition, studies of vegetated habitats rarely investigate fish assemblages across different macrophyte communities. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the role of tropical seaweed beds as fish habitat, particularly for juvenile fish, by comparing their fish assemblages with those of closely situated seagrass beds. Fish assemblages were assessed by visual census in belt transects, where fish were identified and their length estimated, and habitat variables were estimated for each transect. The abundance of juvenile fish in seaweed beds was twice as high as that in seagrass meadows, whereas there was no difference in total, subadult or adult fish abundance. In addition, the abundance of commercially important and coral reef-associated juveniles was higher in seaweed beds, as was fish species richness. Fish assemblages differed between habitats, with siganids being more common in seagrass meadows and juvenile Labridae and Serranidae more common in seaweed beds. These results highlight that tropical seaweed beds are important juvenile fish habitats and underscore the need to widen the view of the shallow tropical seascape.

scholarly journals The age and the growth of the european weather loach (Misgurnus fossilis)

2009 ◽  
pp. 37-44
Author(s):  
Gergely Fazekas ◽  
Sándor Harangi ◽  
Nóra Vass ◽  
János Oláh
Keyword(s):  
Sex Ratio ◽  
Body Length ◽  
Fish Species ◽  
The Body ◽  
Fast Growing ◽  
Small Scales ◽  
One Year ◽  
The One ◽  
Misgurnus Fossilis

The possibilities of examination the growth of fish species are  verry difficult, and much of methods are oblique. With the weather loach is the work especially complicated through the small scales. Till now the growth of weather loach is in Hungary unexamined.We applied self developed catch method in three explored channel. The length and weight measured on the fishes alive, as well the sexing. We analysed the datas with Bertalanffy-method.The growth of the fishes is different, but the growth of the body length was nearly the same in the three channels. The one year old fishes can growth to a maximum of 130-140 millimeters, the two years old fishes can growth to maximum of 180-190 millimeters. Longer fishes by 180-190 millimeters are 3 or more years old. The data of sex-ratio is deviant than the literature wroted. The fish from Fényes are growing faster, than the others. This species can be 190-200 millimeters long after 2 years from birth. It is a very fast growing.

scholarly journals All shallow coastal habitats matter as nurseries for Mediterranean juvenile fish

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Adrien Cheminée ◽  
Laurence Le Direach ◽  
Elodie Rouanet ◽  
Patrick Astruch ◽  
Adrien Goujard ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Fish Species ◽  
Fish Assemblages ◽  
Juvenile Fish ◽  
Posidonia Oceanica ◽  
Dimensional Structure ◽  
Coastal Zones ◽  
Habitat Types ◽  
Coastal Habitats ◽  
Species Richness And Abundance

AbstractCoastal zones are ecosystems of high economic value but exposed to numerous disturbances, while they represent nurseries for many fish species, raising the issue of the preservation of their functions and services. In this context, the juvenile fish assemblages of all types of habitats present in shallow coastal zones were studied on the south-east coast of France using underwater visual censuses in warm (June–July 2014) and cold (April 2015) periods. A total of fourteen habitat types were characterized, which could be grouped into three broad categories, rocky substrates (natural and artificial), sedimentary bottoms with all levels of granulometry, and seagrass beds including Cymodocea nodosa and Posidonia oceanica meadows; the ecotones or interfaces between the three broad habitat categories were individualized as particular habitat types. The abiotic and biotic descriptors of the 14 habitat types individualized did not vary with time, except for a higher cover percentage and canopy height of macrophytes in the warm period, which increased the three-dimensional structure of some habitats. The taxonomic composition and density of juvenile fish assemblages were analyzed using both multivariate and univariate descriptors, after grouping the 57 fish species recorded into 41 well-individualized taxa. Juvenile fishes were recorded in all habitat types, with higher mean species richness and abundance during the warm than the cold period. The richest habitats in terms of both fish species richness and abundance were the natural rocky substrates and the interfaces between Posidonia beds and the other habitats. Although juvenile fish assemblage composition differed among habitat types and between periods, the most abundant fish species were Atherina sp., Sarpa salpa, Gobiidae, Symphodus spp., Pagellus spp. and several Diplodus species, which colonized 7 up to 14 different habitat types (depending on taxa) during their juvenile life. Most species settled in one or a few specific habitats but rapidly colonized adjacent habitats when growing. This study provided evidence of the role of all types of shallow coastal habitats as fish nurseries and their varying pattern of occupation in space and time by the different juvenile stages. It highlighted the importance of the mosaic of habitats and interfaces for the complete development of all juvenile life stages of fishes, and for the preservation of a high diversity of coastal fish assemblages and fisheries resources in the Mediterranean Sea.

scholarly journals A Study on Some Biological Aspects of Giant Snakehead Fish (Channa micropeltes) in Huai Suea Ten Wetland Site in Thailand

2019 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Kampon Thaiso ◽  
Bundit Yuangsoi ◽  
Sutee Wongmaneeprateep ◽  
Pornthep Niamphithak ◽  
Pattama Wiriyapattanasub ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Body Length ◽  
Fish Species ◽  
Gonadosomatic Index ◽  
The Body ◽  
Small Fish ◽  
Fish Fillet ◽  
Intestinal Length ◽  
Wetland Site ◽  
Biological Aspects

This research was aimed to study on biological aspects of giant snakehead fish (Channa micropeltes) in Huai Suea Ten wetland site, Nam Phong District, Khon Kaen Province in Thailand between April, 2017 and March, 2018. Thirty-six fish species belonging to 17 families were observed at 10 sampling sites. Three Channidae fishes, namely snakehead fish (Channa striata), giant snakehead fish (Channa micropeltes), and forest snakehead fish (Channa lucius), belonging to the family Channidae were reported. A total of 230 giant snakehead fish were found in this survey which consisted of 118 males and 112 females. The sex ratio (male: female) was 1:0.95. The gonadosomatic index value of the female (0.79±0.05%) was higher than that of the male (0.25±0.08%). The body length and body weight of a total of 230 giant snakehead fish observed in this study showed the average of a total body length was 43.71±11.72 cm; and the average of the body weight was 448±173 g/fish. The condition factor of giant snakehead fish observed in 12 months were in a range of 0.45-0.74 for the male and 0.39-0.70 for the female. The ratio of the body and intestinal length of giant snakehead fish was as 1: 0.70. The stomach digesta components, expressed as the percentages of a whole stomach content weight of this fish species consisted of 51.8% of fish fillet, 30.3% of small fish and 17.9% of digested digesta.

CHARACTERISTICS OF FREE-RADICAL PROCESSES IN THE ORGANISMS OF SOME PREDATORY FISH SPECIES IN DIFFERENT SEASONS OF THE YEAR

2017 ◽  
pp. 117-123
Author(s):  
Nikolay Aleksandrovich Pudovkin ◽  
Peter Vladimirovich Smutnev
Keyword(s):  
Fish Species ◽  
Catalase Activity ◽  
Perca Fluviatilis ◽  
Selenium Concentration ◽  
The Body ◽  
Predatory Fish ◽  
Volga River ◽  
Silurus Glanis ◽  
Average Value ◽  
Pike Perch

The authors of the article have studied the content of the elements of anti-oxidant system (malondialdehyde, catalase, selenium) in tissues of the internal organs (gills, intestine, muscles, liver, swimbladder, scales) in some species of predatory fish (pike Esox lucius (L., 1758), perch Perca fluviatilis (L., 1758), pike-perch Sander lucioperca (L., 1758), catfish Silurus glanis ) widespread in the basin of the Volga river in the Saratov region. The lowest concentration of malondialdehyde in organisms of the studied fish species is observed in fall and winter; the highest - in spring and summer. Catalase activity in gills tissue of a pike raised in 11.8%, cat-fish - 9.1%, pike-perch - 7.5%, perch - 7.8%. In fall (compared to winter) enzyme activity lowering in gonads of pike-perch makes 16.3%, in gonads of perch - 14.4%. In other tissues there were not observed any evident changes of catalase activity. Fish species under consideration are listed according to the average value of selenium concentration in organisms, µg/g: pike (0.208) > catfish (0.207) > pike-perch (0.196) > perch (0.178). According to the average value of the selenium accumulation in the body in different season all the studied species can be placed in the following order, µg/g: winter-pike (0.132) > pike-perch (0.136) > perch and catfish (0.142); spring - pike-perch (0.190) > perch (0.191) > pike (0.208) > catfish (0.209); summer - perch (0.186) > pike-perch (0.190) > catfish and pike (0.203); autumn - perch (0.193) > pike-perch (0.268) > > catfish (0.274) > pike (0.289).

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