1
|
Andrews AJ, Orton D, Onar V, Addis P, Tinti F, Alexander M. Isotopic life-history signatures are retained in modern and ancient Atlantic bluefin tuna vertebrae. JOURNAL OF FISH BIOLOGY 2023. [PMID: 37185985 DOI: 10.1111/jfb.15417] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2022] [Accepted: 04/23/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
Isotopic, tagging and diet studies of modern-day teleosts lack the ability to contextualise life-histories and trophic dynamics with a historical perspective, when exploitation rates were lower and climatic conditions differed. Isotopic analysis of vertebrae, the most plentiful hard-part in archaeological and museum collections, can potentially fill this data-gap. Chemical signatures of habitat and diet use during growth are retained by vertebrae during bone formation. However, to fulfil their potential to reveal life-history and trophic dynamics, we need a better understanding of the time-frame recorded by vertebrae, currently lacking due to a poor understanding of fish bone remodelling. To address this issue, we serially-sectioned four vertebral centra of the highly migratory Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus; BFT) captured off Sardinia (Italy) and analysed their isotopic composition. We show how carbon (δ13 C), nitrogen (δ15 N) and sulfur (δ34 S) isotope values can vary significantly across BFT vertebrae growth-axes, revealing patterning in dietary life-histories. Further, we find similar patterns are revealed through incremental isotopic analysis of inner and outer vertebrae centra samples from thirteen archaeological BFT vertebrae dating between the 9th -13th century CE. Our results indicate that multi-year foraging signatures are retained in vertebrae and allow for the study of life-histories in both modern and paleo-environments. These novel methods can be extended across teleost taxa owing to their potential to inform management and conservation on how teleost trophic dynamics change over time and what their long-term environmental, ecological, and anthropological drivers are.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Adam J Andrews
- Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Bologna, Campus of Ravenna, Ravenna, Italy
| | - David Orton
- BioArCh, Department of Archaeology, University of York, York, U.K
| | - Vedat Onar
- Osteoarchaeology Practice and Research Centre and Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Istanbul University-Cerrahpaşa, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Piero Addis
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Sardinia, Italy
| | - Fausto Tinti
- Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Bologna, Campus of Ravenna, Ravenna, Italy
| | | |
Collapse
|
2
|
A Comparison of Reproductive Performances in Young and Old Females: A Case Study on the Atlantic Bluefin Tuna in the Mediterranean Sea. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:ani11123340. [PMID: 34944116 PMCID: PMC8697984 DOI: 10.3390/ani11123340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2021] [Revised: 11/15/2021] [Accepted: 11/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary The Atlantic bluefin tuna Thunnus thynnus is a species characterized by complex trans-oceanic migrations linked to size, which rely on the delicate trade-off between somatic growth and reproduction before and during the migratory movements to reach spawning grounds. Therefore, understanding the processes that drive reproduction and elucidating its age-related regulation is essential in the context of sustainable fishery management. In this study, carried out in the Mediterranean Sea, older bluefin tuna females were found to have greater reproductive performances than younger females according to a molecular biology approach (i.e., gene expression), a result that likely mirrors a better physical condition, different habitat usage or migratory behaviour. This result highlights the importance of preserving large females for their major reproductive contribution at a stock level. Furthermore, the gonad-specific mir-202, which belongs to a class of non-coding RNA, called miRNA, that regulate the post-transcription of protein-coding genes, was identified as a potential candidate to play a role in egg quality and quantity (i.e., fecundity) during ovarian maturation through age- or stage-dependent reproductive processes. Overall, the present study contributes to improve the sustainability of the Atlantic bluefin tuna fishery in the Mediterranean Sea. Abstract In the Mediterranean Sea, a demographic substructure of the Atlantic bluefin tuna Thunnus thynnus has emerged over the last decade, with old and young individuals exhibiting different horizontal movements and spatial–temporal patterns of gonad maturation. In the present study, histology and molecular reproductive markers were integrated with the gonad-specific mir-202 gene expression and ovarian localization to provide a comprehensive picture of the reproductive performances in young and old females and investigate the role played by the mir-202 during gonadal maturation. During the reproductive period, old females (>100 kg; 194.6 ± 33.9 cm straight fork length; 11.3 ± 2.7 years old) were found to have greater reproductive performances than younger females (<80 kg; 139.3 ± 18.8 cm straight fork length; 8.4 ± 1.1 years old) according to gene expression results, suggesting a prolonged spawning season, earlier arrival on spawning grounds and/or better condition in older females. The mir-202-5p showed no global changes; it was abundantly expressed in granulosa cells and faintly present in the ooplasm. On the other hand, the mir-202-3p expression profile reflected levels of oocyte maturation molecular markers (star, lhr) and both histological and molecular (casp3) levels of follicular atresia. Overall, old females exhibited greater reproductive performances than younger females, likely reflecting different reproductive dynamics linked to the physical condition, habitat usage and migratory behaviour. These results highlight the importance of preserving large and old females in the context of fishery management. Finally, the mir-202 appears to be a good candidate to regulate the reproductive output of this species in an autocrine/paracrine manner through either stage- or age-dependent processes.
Collapse
|
3
|
Bello G, Santamaria N, Corriero A. Multiple-Phase Biometric Relationships and Sexual Maturity in the Atlantic Bluefin Tuna, Thunnus thynnus (Osteichthyes: Scombridae). Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:ani11020390. [PMID: 33546441 PMCID: PMC7913654 DOI: 10.3390/ani11020390] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2020] [Revised: 01/22/2021] [Accepted: 01/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Most fish undergo distinct growth phases during ontogenesis. An extremely important passage from the juvenile to adult phase occurs at the onset of sexual maturity, which shows in body proportion and/or growth rate changes. These can be detected as change-points in biometric relationships. In this paper, the Atlantic bluefin tuna was analyzed to verify whether its somatic proportions show any sign of discontinuity during growth, i.e., whether any change-points may be detected in its somatic proportions. This fish has never been examined in this respect, and single-phase models, which are indeed easier to both compute and apply, are used in stock analyses. The following somatic relationships were analyzed in Atlantic bluefin tuna captured in the Mediterranean Sea between 1998 and 2010: "fork length-weight" regression, the von Bertalanffy growth equation, and "first dorsal spine cross section surface-fork length" regression. All of the examined relationships were found to be best modelled by multiple-phase regression equations, and all of them showed a change-point within the range of 101-110 cm fork length, which corresponds to 3-4 years of age. The present results, based on reproductive state-independent analyses, corroborate the disputed hypothesis that Atlantic bluefin tuna from the eastern stock in fact reproduce for the first time at this age.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Nicoletta Santamaria
- Department of Emergency and Organ Transplantation, Section of Veterinary Clinics and Animal Production, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70010 Valenzano, Italy; (N.S.); (A.C.)
| | - Aldo Corriero
- Department of Emergency and Organ Transplantation, Section of Veterinary Clinics and Animal Production, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70010 Valenzano, Italy; (N.S.); (A.C.)
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Puig-Pons V, Estruch VD, Espinosa V, de la Gándara F, Melich B, Cort JL. Relationship between weight and linear dimensions of Bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) following fattening on western Mediterranean farms. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0200406. [PMID: 29990350 PMCID: PMC6039039 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0200406] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2017] [Accepted: 06/26/2018] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
This study presents various models based on formulae relating weight and dimensions (length, height and width) of Bluefin tuna, Thunnus thynnus (L.), fattened in captivity. The main aim of establishing these expressions is to design tools for indirectly predicting the weight of a Bluefin tuna from measurements of one or more dimensions obtained using non-invasive methods such as stereoscopic cameras. Measurements of maximum length, height and width following slaughter were taken of fish fattened in captivity (n = 2078). Different relationships drawn from the dimensions of the tuna against their weight are fitted with part of the data collection and later checked against a reserved sample set. The resulting formulae are compared with the formulae most commonly used in the case of wild tuna. The results of this study confirm that, for tuna fattened in cages, the availability of more than one dimension to estimate weight improves the predictive power of the model and reduces error in the estimate.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Vicente Puig-Pons
- Institut d’Investigació per a la Gestió Integrada de Zones Costaneres, Universitat Politècnica de València, Grau de Gandia (Valencia), Spain
- * E-mail:
| | - Vicente Domingo Estruch
- Institut d’Investigació per a la Gestió Integrada de Zones Costaneres, Universitat Politècnica de València, Grau de Gandia (Valencia), Spain
| | - Víctor Espinosa
- Institut d’Investigació per a la Gestió Integrada de Zones Costaneres, Universitat Politècnica de València, Grau de Gandia (Valencia), Spain
| | - Fernando de la Gándara
- Instituto Español de Oceanografía, Centro Oceanográfico de Murcia. Planta de Cultivos Marinos, Puerto de Mazarrón (Murcia), Spain
| | | | - José Luis Cort
- Fisheries Area, Instituto Español de Oceanografía, Centro Oceanográfico de Santander, Santander (Cantabria), Spain
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Lee CS, Lutcavage ME, Chandler E, Madigan DJ, Cerrato RM, Fisher NS. Declining Mercury Concentrations in Bluefin Tuna Reflect Reduced Emissions to the North Atlantic Ocean. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2016; 50:12825-12830. [PMID: 27934271 PMCID: PMC5161346 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.6b04328] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Tunas are apex predators in marine food webs that can accumulate mercury (Hg) to high concentrations and provide more Hg (∼40%) to the U.S population than any other source. We measured Hg concentrations in 1292 Atlantic bluefin tuna (ABFT, Thunnus thynnus) captured in the Northwest Atlantic from 2004 to 2012. ABFT Hg concentrations and variability increased nonlinearly with length, weight, and age, ranging from 0.25 to 3.15 mg kg-1, and declined significantly at a rate of 0.018 ± 0.003 mg kg-1 per year or 19% over an 8-year period from the 1990s to the early 2000s. Notably, this decrease parallels comparably reduced anthropogenic Hg emission rates in North America and North Atlantic atmospheric Hg0 concentrations during this period, suggesting that recent efforts to decrease atmospheric Hg loading have rapidly propagated up marine food webs to a commercially important species. This is the first evidence to suggest that emission reduction efforts have resulted in lower Hg concentrations in large, long-lived fish.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cheng-Shiuan Lee
- School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York 11794-5000, United States
- Corresponding Author: . Phone: (929)-268-4338
| | - Molly E. Lutcavage
- Large Pelagics Research Center, School for the Environment, University of Massachusetts—Boston, Gloucester, Massachusetts 01931, United States
| | - Emily Chandler
- Large Pelagics Research Center, School for the Environment, University of Massachusetts—Boston, Gloucester, Massachusetts 01931, United States
| | - Daniel J. Madigan
- Harvard University Center for the Environment, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, United States
| | - Robert M. Cerrato
- School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York 11794-5000, United States
| | - Nicholas S. Fisher
- School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York 11794-5000, United States
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Rodriguez-Marin E, Ortiz M, Ortiz de Urbina JM, Quelle P, Walter J, Abid N, Addis P, Alot E, Andrushchenko I, Deguara S, Di Natale A, Gatt M, Golet W, Karakulak S, Kimoto A, Macias D, Saber S, Santos MN, Zarrad R. Atlantic Bluefin Tuna (Thunnus thynnus) Biometrics and Condition. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0141478. [PMID: 26505476 PMCID: PMC4623980 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0141478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2015] [Accepted: 10/07/2015] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The compiled data for this study represents the first Atlantic and Mediterranean-wide effort to pool all available biometric data for Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) with the collaboration of many countries and scientific groups. Biometric relationships were based on an extensive sampling (over 140,000 fish sampled), covering most of the fishing areas for this species in the North Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea. Sensitivity analyses were carried out to evaluate the representativeness of sampling and explore the most adequate procedure to fit the weight-length relationship (WLR). The selected model for the WLRs by stock included standardized data series (common measurement types) weighted by the inverse variability. There was little difference between annual stock-specific round weight-straight fork length relationships, with an overall difference of 6% in weight. The predicted weight by month was estimated as an additional component in the exponent of the weight-length function. The analyses of monthly variations of fish condition by stock, maturity state and geographic area reflect annual cycles of spawning and feeding behavior. We update and improve upon the biometric relationships for bluefin currently used by the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas, by incorporating substantially larger datasets than ever previously compiled, providing complete documentation of sources and employing robust statistical fitting. WLRs and other conversion factors estimated in this study differ from the ones used in previous bluefin stock assessments.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Mauricio Ortiz
- International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas, Secretariat, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Pablo Quelle
- Instituto Español de Oceanografía, C.O. Santander, Santander, Spain
| | - John Walter
- National Marine Fisheries Service, Southeast Fisheries Center, Sustainable Fisheries Division, Miami, Florida, United States of America
| | - Noureddine Abid
- Institut National de Recherche Halieutique (INRH), Regional Centre of Tangier, Tangier, Morocco
| | - Piero Addis
- University of Cagliari, Department of Life Science and Environment, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Enrique Alot
- Instituto Español de Oceanografía, C.O. Málaga, Málaga, Spain
| | - Irene Andrushchenko
- Fisheries and Oceans Canada, St. Andrews Biological Station, St. Andrews, New Brunswick, Canada
| | - Simeon Deguara
- Federation of Maltese Aquaculture Producers, Valletta, Malta
| | - Antonio Di Natale
- International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas, GBYP Program, Madrid, Spain
| | - Mark Gatt
- Fisheries Resource Unit, Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Marsa, Malta
| | - Walter Golet
- Gulf of Maine Research Institute, Portland, United States of America
| | | | - Ai Kimoto
- National Research Institute of Far Seas Fisheries, Fisheries Research Agency, Shizuoka, Japan
| | - David Macias
- Instituto Español de Oceanografía, C.O. Málaga, Málaga, Spain
| | - Samar Saber
- Universidad de Málaga, Departamento de Biología Animal, Málaga, Spain
| | - Miguel Neves Santos
- International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas, Secretariat, Madrid, Spain
| | - Rafik Zarrad
- Institut National des Sciences et Technologies de la Mer, Mahdia, Tunisia
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Cermeño P, Quílez-Badia G, Ospina-Alvarez A, Sainz-Trápaga S, Boustany AM, Seitz AC, Tudela S, Block BA. Electronic tagging of Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus, L.) reveals habitat use and behaviors in the Mediterranean Sea. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0116638. [PMID: 25671316 PMCID: PMC4324982 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0116638] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2014] [Accepted: 12/11/2014] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
We analyzed the movements of Atlantic tuna (Thunnus thynnus L.) in the Mediterranean Sea using data from 2 archival tags and 37 pop-up satellite archival tags (PAT). Bluefin tuna ranging in size from 12 to 248 kg were tagged on board recreational boats in the western Mediterranean and the Adriatic Sea between May and September during two different periods (2000 to 2001 and 2008 to 2012). Although tuna migrations between the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean have been well reported, our results indicate that part of the bluefin tuna population remains in the Mediterranean basin for much of the year, revealing a more complex population structure. In this study we demonstrate links between the western Mediterranean, the Adriatic and the Gulf of Sidra (Libya) using over 4336 recorded days of location and behavior data from tagged bluefin tuna with a maximum track length of 394 days. We described the oceanographic preferences and horizontal behaviors during the spawning season for 4 adult bluefin tuna. We also analyzed the time series data that reveals the vertical behavior of one pop-up satellite tag recovered, which was attached to a 43.9 kg tuna. This fish displayed a unique diving pattern within 16 days of the spawning season, suggesting a use of the thermocline as a thermoregulatory mechanism compatible with spawning. The results obtained hereby confirm that the Mediterranean is clearly an important habitat for this species, not only as spawning ground, but also as an overwintering foraging ground.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pablo Cermeño
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Hopkins Marine Station, Pacific Grove, California 93950, United States of America
- WWF Mediterranean Programme, Barcelona 08002, Spain
- * E-mail:
| | | | - Andrés Ospina-Alvarez
- WWF Mediterranean Programme, Barcelona 08002, Spain
- Center for Marine Conservation & Department of Ecology, Biological sciences Faculty, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago de Chile 6513677, Chile
| | | | - Andre M. Boustany
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Hopkins Marine Station, Pacific Grove, California 93950, United States of America
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27708, United States of America
| | - Andy C. Seitz
- Tuna Research and Conservation Center, Monterey Bay Aquarium, Monterey, California 93940, United States of America
- School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, Alaska 99775, United States of America
| | - Sergi Tudela
- WWF Mediterranean Programme, Barcelona 08002, Spain
| | - Barbara A. Block
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Hopkins Marine Station, Pacific Grove, California 93950, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|