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Quintanilla JM, Borrego-Santos R, Malca E, Swalethorp R, Landry MR, Gerard T, Lamkin J, García A, Laiz-Carrión R. Maternal Effects and Trophodynamics Drive Interannual Larval Growth Variability of Atlantic Bluefin Tuna ( Thunnus thynnus) from the Gulf of Mexico. Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:1319. [PMID: 38731323 PMCID: PMC11083439 DOI: 10.3390/ani14091319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2024] [Revised: 04/19/2024] [Accepted: 04/24/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Two cohorts of Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) larvae were sampled in 2017 and 2018 during the peak of spawning in the Gulf of Mexico (GOM). We examined environmental variables, daily growth, otolith biometry and stable isotopes and found that the GOM18 cohort grew at faster rates, with larger and wider otoliths. Inter and intra-population analyses (deficient vs. optimal growth groups) were carried out for pre- and post-flexion developmental stages to determine maternal and trophodynamic influences on larval growth variability based on larval isotopic signatures, trophic niche sizes and their overlaps. For the pre-flexion stages in both years, the optimal growth groups had significantly lower δ15N, implying a direct relationship between growth potential and maternal inheritance. Optimal growth groups and stages for both years showed lower C:N ratios, reflecting a greater energy investment in growth. The results of this study illustrate the interannual transgenerational trophic plasticity of a spawning stock and its linkages to growth potential of their offsprings in the GOM.
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Affiliation(s)
- José M. Quintanilla
- Instituto Español de Oceanografía (IEO-CSIC), Centro Oceanográfico de Málaga, 29640 Fuengirola, Spain; (R.B.-S.); (A.G.); (R.L.-C.)
| | - Ricardo Borrego-Santos
- Instituto Español de Oceanografía (IEO-CSIC), Centro Oceanográfico de Málaga, 29640 Fuengirola, Spain; (R.B.-S.); (A.G.); (R.L.-C.)
- Departamento de Biología Animal, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Málaga, 29071 Málaga, Spain
| | - Estrella Malca
- Cooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Studies, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33149, USA;
- NOAA Fisheries, Southeast Fisheries Science Center, Miami, FL 33149, USA; (T.G.); (J.L.)
| | - Rasmus Swalethorp
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA; (R.S.); (M.R.L.)
| | - Michael R. Landry
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA; (R.S.); (M.R.L.)
| | - Trika Gerard
- NOAA Fisheries, Southeast Fisheries Science Center, Miami, FL 33149, USA; (T.G.); (J.L.)
| | - John Lamkin
- NOAA Fisheries, Southeast Fisheries Science Center, Miami, FL 33149, USA; (T.G.); (J.L.)
| | - Alberto García
- Instituto Español de Oceanografía (IEO-CSIC), Centro Oceanográfico de Málaga, 29640 Fuengirola, Spain; (R.B.-S.); (A.G.); (R.L.-C.)
| | - Raúl Laiz-Carrión
- Instituto Español de Oceanografía (IEO-CSIC), Centro Oceanográfico de Málaga, 29640 Fuengirola, Spain; (R.B.-S.); (A.G.); (R.L.-C.)
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2
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Artetxe-Arrate I, Brophy D, Dettman DL, Lastra-Luque P, Varela JL, Oray I, Arrizabalaga H, Fraile I. Otolith-temperature estimates in Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) from the Mediterranean Sea: Insights from clumped isotope measurements. MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 193:106283. [PMID: 38128348 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2023.106283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2023] [Revised: 11/16/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
The subpopulation and/or contingent structure of Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) within the Mediterranean Sea is undefined, leading to uncertainty regarding the best strategy for an effective assessment and management of this highly exploited stock. This study aimed to reconstruct temperatures experienced by Atlantic bluefin tuna during the early life period (<3.5 months) using clumped isotope temperature proxy, an innovative geothermometer for carbonates, that does not require previous knowledge of other environmental parameters such as water oxygen composition. We examined otolith chemistry in fish captured from 3 different areas of the Mediterranean Sea and adjacent waters. We found that mean seasonal temperature estimates from clumped isotopes did not differ significantly from satellite derived and otolith oxygen stable isotopic ratios derived temperatures, except for the central Mediterranean Sea, were clumped isotopes derived temperatures were significantly higher than satellite derived temperatures. However, the sensitivity of the clumped isotope thermometer was found to be lower than that based on oxygen fractionation equation, with high variance observed in the clumped isotopes derived temperature estimates. We also observed that clumped isotope derived temperatures were undistinguishable among bluefin tuna captured in the Gibraltar Strait, the central, and eastern Mediterranean Sea. In this paper, we discuss the major sources of uncertainty in temperature reconstructions using bluefin tuna otoliths.
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Affiliation(s)
- I Artetxe-Arrate
- AZTI, Marine Research, AZTI Basque Research and Alliance, Txatxarramendi ugartea z/g, 48395, Sukarrieta, Bizkaia, Spain.
| | - D Brophy
- Marine and Freshwater Research Centre, Atlantic Technological University - Galway City, Wellpark Road, Galway, H91 DY9Y, Ireland
| | - D L Dettman
- Environmental Isotope Laboratory, Department of Geosciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA
| | - P Lastra-Luque
- AZTI, Marine Research, AZTI Basque Research and Alliance, Txatxarramendi ugartea z/g, 48395, Sukarrieta, Bizkaia, Spain
| | - J L Varela
- Departamento de Biología, Universidad de Cádiz, Campus de Excelencia Internacional del Mar (CEI·MAR), Av. República Saharaui s/n, 11510, Puerto Real, Cádiz, Spain
| | - I Oray
- Istanbul University, Faculty of Aquatic Sciences, Vezneciler, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - H Arrizabalaga
- AZTI, Marine Research, AZTI Basque Research and Alliance, Txatxarramendi ugartea z/g, 48395, Sukarrieta, Bizkaia, Spain
| | - I Fraile
- AZTI, Marine Research, AZTI Basque Research and Alliance, Txatxarramendi ugartea z/g, 48395, Sukarrieta, Bizkaia, Spain
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3
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Naisbett-Jones LC, Branham C, Birath S, Paliotti S, McMains AR, Joel Fodrie F, Morley JW, Buckel JA, Lohmann KJ. A method for long-term retention of pop-up satellite archival tags (PSATs) on small migratory fishes. JOURNAL OF FISH BIOLOGY 2023; 102:1029-1039. [PMID: 36794453 DOI: 10.1111/jfb.15351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2022] [Accepted: 02/13/2023] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Achieving long-term retention of pop-up satellite archival tags (PSATs) has proven difficult for all fishes but is particularly challenging for small migrant species due to the relatively large size of tags. In this study, the authors tested the latest and smallest PSAT model on the market, the mark-report satellite tag (mrPAT), and developed a simple, cost-effective method of tag attachment on sheepshead Archosargus probatocephalus (Walbaum 1792), a small marine fish. During laboratory trials, the method of tag attachment used in this study outperformed the existing methods with two c. 40 cm fish retaining their tags for 3 months (the duration of the laboratory study). During field deployments, data were successfully obtained for 17 of the 25 tagged fish [37-50 cm fork length (FL)]. Of these, 14 tags (82%) remained on the fish until the pre-programmed release date resulting in tag retention times of up to 172 days (mean: 140 days). The investigation represents the first extensive study into the feasibility of PSATs for monitoring fishes in this size range. The authors demonstrate that their method of attachment and this latest PSAT model are feasible for c. 5-month deployments on fishes that are relatively small (c. 45 cm FL). These results with A. probatocephalus represent a potentially significant advance in PSAT methodology for fishes of this size. Future investigations are needed to determine if this method is transferrable to other species in the same size range.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Creed Branham
- Department of Oceanography and Coastal Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA
| | - Shayla Birath
- Institute of Marine Sciences, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Morehead City, North Carolina, USA
| | - Savannah Paliotti
- Institute of Marine Sciences, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Morehead City, North Carolina, USA
| | - Andrew R McMains
- Department of Biology, Coastal Studies Institute, East Carolina University, Wanchese, North Carolina, USA
| | - Frederick Joel Fodrie
- Institute of Marine Sciences, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Morehead City, North Carolina, USA
| | - James W Morley
- Department of Biology, Coastal Studies Institute, East Carolina University, Wanchese, North Carolina, USA
| | - Jeffrey A Buckel
- Department of Applied Ecology, Center for Marine Sciences and Technology, North Carolina State University, Morehead City, North Carolina, USA
| | - Kenneth J Lohmann
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
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4
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Low levels of sibship encourage use of larvae in western Atlantic bluefin tuna abundance estimation by close-kin mark-recapture. Sci Rep 2022; 12:18606. [PMID: 36329078 PMCID: PMC9633702 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-20862-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2021] [Accepted: 09/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Globally, tunas are among the most valuable fish stocks, but are also inherently difficult to monitor and assess. Samples of larvae of Western Atlantic bluefin tuna Thunnus thynnus (Linnaeus, 1758) from standardized annual surveys in the northern Gulf of Mexico provide a potential source of "offspring" for close-kin mark-recapture (CKMR) estimates of abundance. However, the spatial patchiness and highly skewed numbers of larvae per tow suggest sampled larvae may come from a small number of parents, compromising the precision of CKMR. We used high throughput genomic profiling to study sibship within and among larval tows from the 2016 standardized Gulf-wide survey compared to targeted sampling carried out in 2017. Full- and half-siblings were found within both years, with 12% of 156 samples in 2016 and 56% of 317 samples in 2017 having at least one sibling. There were also two pairs of cross cohort half-siblings. Targeted sampling increased the number of larvae collected per sampling event but resulted in a higher proportion of siblings. The combined effective sample size across both years was about 75% of the nominal size, indicating that Gulf of Mexico larval collections could be a suitable source of juveniles for CKMR in Western Atlantic bluefin tuna.
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First tagging data on large Atlantic bluefin tuna returning to Nordic waters suggest repeated behaviour and skipped spawning. Sci Rep 2022; 12:11772. [PMID: 35817810 PMCID: PMC9273605 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-15819-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2021] [Accepted: 06/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus; ABFT) is one of the most iconic fish species in the world. Recently, after being very rare for more than half a century, large bluefin tunas have returned to Nordic waters in late summer and autumn, marking the return of the largest predatory fish in Nordic waters. By tagging 18 bluefin tunas with electronic tags (pop-up satellite archival tags), we show that bluefin tuna observed in Nordic waters undertake different migration routes, with individuals migrating into the western Atlantic Ocean, while others stay exclusively in the eastern Atlantic and enter the Mediterranean Sea to spawn. We additionally present evidence of possible skipped spawning inferred from behavioural analyses. In Nordic waters, ABFT are primarily using the upper water column, likely reflecting feeding activity. The results support the hypothesis that ABFT migrating to Nordic waters return to the same general feeding area within the region on an annual basis. These observations may have important implications for management because (1) tunas that come into Nordic waters might represent only a few year classes (as evidenced by a narrow size range), and thus may be particularly vulnerable to area-specific exploitation, and (2) challenge the assumption of consecutive spawning in adult Atlantic bluefin tuna, as used in current stock assessment models. Without careful management and limited exploitation of this part of the ABFT population, the species’ return to Nordic waters could be short-lived.
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Naisbett-Jones LC, Lohmann KJ. Magnetoreception and magnetic navigation in fishes: a half century of discovery. J Comp Physiol A Neuroethol Sens Neural Behav Physiol 2022; 208:19-40. [PMID: 35031832 DOI: 10.1007/s00359-021-01527-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2021] [Revised: 11/22/2021] [Accepted: 11/23/2021] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
As the largest and most diverse vertebrate group on the planet, fishes have evolved an impressive array of sensory abilities to overcome the challenges associated with navigating the aquatic realm. Among these, the ability to detect Earth's magnetic field, or magnetoreception, is phylogenetically widespread and used by fish to guide movements over a wide range of spatial scales ranging from local movements to transoceanic migrations. A proliferation of recent studies, particularly in salmonids, has revealed that fish can exploit Earth's magnetic field not only as a source of directional information for maintaining consistent headings, but also as a kind of map for determining location at sea and for returning to natal areas. Despite significant advances, much about magnetoreception in fishes remains enigmatic. How fish detect magnetic fields remains unknown and our understanding of the evolutionary origins of vertebrate magnetoreception would benefit greatly from studies that include a wider array of fish taxa. The rich diversity of life-history characteristics that fishes exhibit, the wide variety of environments they inhabit, and their suitability for manipulative studies, make fishes promising subjects for magnetoreception studies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Kenneth J Lohmann
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
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7
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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.
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Rodriguez JM, Johnstone C, Lozano-Peral D. Evidence of Atlantic bluefin tuna spawning in the Bay of Biscay, north-eastern Atlantic. JOURNAL OF FISH BIOLOGY 2021; 99:964-969. [PMID: 33991119 DOI: 10.1111/jfb.14782] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2021] [Revised: 04/29/2021] [Accepted: 05/10/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The spawning grounds of the Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) are traditionally considered to be the Gulf of Mexico (Gulf of Mexico) and the Mediterranean Sea (Mediterranean Sea). However, for the western Atlantic, unequivocal evidence of bluefin spawning outside the Gulf of Mexico has been shown. In this study we present the first records of genetically confirmed bluefin larvae in the southern Bay of Biscay (eastern Atlantic). These findings provide evidence of bluefin spawning activity outside the Mediterranean Sea, in the north-eastern Atlantic. However, our results suggest that the bluefin spawning in the Bay of Biscay is a sporadic phenomenon.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jose M Rodriguez
- Centro Oceanográfico de Gijón, Instituto Español de Oceanografía, Gijón, Spain
| | - Carolina Johnstone
- Centro Oceanográfico de Málaga, Instituto Español de Oceanografía, Fuengirola, Spain
| | - Diego Lozano-Peral
- Centro de Supercomputación y Bioinnovación, Universidad de Málaga, Málaga, Spain
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9
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Chandararathna U, Iversen MH, Korsnes K, Sørensen M, Vatsos IN. Animal Welfare Issues in Capture-Based Aquaculture. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:ani11040956. [PMID: 33808163 PMCID: PMC8065896 DOI: 10.3390/ani11040956] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2021] [Revised: 03/23/2021] [Accepted: 03/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Aquaculture is about farming aquatic animals in certain facilities, in order to meet the global demand for aquatic animal products. However, reproduction and raising of all commercially important aquatic animals under farming conditions are not always feasible or cost-effective. Thus, for some fish and shellfish species, a system that relies on the collection of wild individuals, at various life stages and rearing in controlled facilities, has been employed. These animals, however, are not products of a lengthy domestication process and thus are not used to the artificial environment of the fish farms. The way they respond to the various stressful conditions might be different, compared to the domesticated fish. Therefore, we have to make sure that we use the appropriate rearing methods, for the entire time, so that their impact on the fish welfare is minimized. Apart from the moral obligations, this will also increase the profitability of the activity. Abstract Capture-based aquaculture (CBA) represents a type of intensive aquaculture production system for some economically valuable fish species, such as bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus), eel (Anguilla spp.) and Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua). In CBA, fish are captured from the wild in certain periods of the year, and following a recovery phase, they are kept in rearing facilities for a period of time, until they reach the market size. In this case, the fish are wild and have not gone through domestication like other fish species that are reproduced and farmed under the established farming systems. Therefore, these fish are not genetically adapted to live under the intensive farming conditions, and thus their welfare may be compromised in different manners compared to their domesticated counterparts. This review presents an overview of the current situation of CBA, while focusing on the assessment of fish welfare in CBA. The most commonly used fish welfare indicators will be discussed in relation to the different stages of CBA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Uthpala Chandararathna
- Faculty of Biosciences and Aquaculture, Nord University, Universitetsalléen 11, 8026 Bodø, Norway; (U.C.); (M.H.I.); (K.K.); (M.S.)
| | - Martin Hugo Iversen
- Faculty of Biosciences and Aquaculture, Nord University, Universitetsalléen 11, 8026 Bodø, Norway; (U.C.); (M.H.I.); (K.K.); (M.S.)
| | - Kjetil Korsnes
- Faculty of Biosciences and Aquaculture, Nord University, Universitetsalléen 11, 8026 Bodø, Norway; (U.C.); (M.H.I.); (K.K.); (M.S.)
- BioVivo Tech AS, Stobjørnen 17, 8029 Bodø, Norway
| | - Mette Sørensen
- Faculty of Biosciences and Aquaculture, Nord University, Universitetsalléen 11, 8026 Bodø, Norway; (U.C.); (M.H.I.); (K.K.); (M.S.)
| | - Ioannis N. Vatsos
- Faculty of Biosciences and Aquaculture, Nord University, Universitetsalléen 11, 8026 Bodø, Norway; (U.C.); (M.H.I.); (K.K.); (M.S.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +47-7551-7417
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10
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Nisembaum LG, Martin P, Lecomte F, Falcón J. Melatonin and osmoregulation in fish: A focus on Atlantic salmon Salmo salar smoltification. J Neuroendocrinol 2021; 33:e12955. [PMID: 33769643 DOI: 10.1111/jne.12955] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2020] [Revised: 02/07/2021] [Accepted: 02/09/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Part of the life cycle of several fish species includes important salinity changes, as is the case for the sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) or the Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar). Salmo salar juveniles migrate downstream from their spawning sites to reach seawater, where they grow and become sexually mature. The process of preparation enabling juveniles to migrate downstream and physiologically adapt to seawater is called smoltification. Daily and seasonal variations of photoperiod and temperature play a role in defining the timing of smoltification, which may take weeks to months, depending on the river length and latitude. Smoltification is characterised by a series of biochemical, physiological and behavioural changes within the neuroendocrine axis. This review discusses the current knowledge and gaps related to the neuroendocrine mechanisms that mediate the effects of light and temperature on smoltification. Studies performed in S. salar and other salmonids, as well as in other species undergoing important salinity changes, are reviewed, and a particular emphasis is given to the pineal hormone melatonin and its possible role in osmoregulation. The daily and annual variations of plasma melatonin levels reflect corresponding changes in external photoperiod and temperature, which suggests that the hormonal time-keeper melatonin might contribute to controlling smoltification. Here, we review studies on (i) the impact of pinealectomy and/or melatonin administration on smoltification; (ii) melatonin interactions with hormones involved in osmoregulation (e.g., prolactin, growth hormone and cortisol); (iii) the presence of melatonin receptors in tissues involved in osmoregulation; and (iv) the impacts of salinity changes on melatonin receptors and circulating melatonin levels. Altogether, these studies show evidence indicating that melatonin interacts with the neuroendocrine pathways controlling smoltification, although more information is needed to clearly decipher its mechanisms of action.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Gabriela Nisembaum
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Biologie Intégrative des Organismes Marins, (BIOM), Banyuls-sur-Mer, France
| | - Patrick Martin
- Conservatoire National du Saumon Sauvage, Chanteuges, France
| | - Frédéric Lecomte
- Ministère des Forêts, de la Faune et des Parcs, Direction de l'expertise sur la faune aquatique, Québec, Canada
| | - Jack Falcón
- Biologie des Organismes et Ecosystèmes Aquatiques (BOREA), MNHN, CNRS 7208, SU, IRD 207, UCN, UA, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris, France
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11
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Griffiths CA, Wright SR, Silva JF, Ellis JR, Righton DA, McCully Phillips SR. Horizontal and vertical movements of starry smooth-hound Mustelus asterias in the northeast Atlantic. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0239480. [PMID: 33112858 PMCID: PMC7592766 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0239480] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2020] [Accepted: 09/07/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Commercial landings of starry smooth-hound Mustelus asterias in northern European seas are increasing, whilst our knowledge of their ecology, behaviour and population structure remains limited. M. asterias is a widely distributed demersal shark, occupying the waters of the southern North Sea and Irish Sea in the north, to at least the southern Bay of Biscay in the south, and is seasonally abundant in UK waters. There are no species-specific management measures for the northeast Atlantic stock, and the complexity of its population structure is not yet fully understood. To address this issue, we deployed both mark-recapture and electronic tags on M. asterias to gain novel insights into its horizontal and vertical movements. Our data suggest that the habitat use of M. asterias changes on a seasonal basis, with associated changes in geographical distribution, depth utilisation and experienced temperature. We report the first direct evidence of philopatry for this species, and also provide initial evidence of sex-biased dispersal and potential metapopulation-like stock structuring either side of the UK continental shelf. Investigations of finer-scale vertical movements revealed clear diel variation in vertical activity. The illustrated patterns of seasonal space-use and behaviour will provide important information to support the stock assessment process and will help inform any future management options.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher A. Griffiths
- Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas), Lowestoft, Suffolk, United Kingdom
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
| | - Serena R. Wright
- Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas), Lowestoft, Suffolk, United Kingdom
| | - Joana F. Silva
- Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas), Lowestoft, Suffolk, United Kingdom
| | - Jim R. Ellis
- Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas), Lowestoft, Suffolk, United Kingdom
| | - David A. Righton
- Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas), Lowestoft, Suffolk, United Kingdom
| | - Sophy R. McCully Phillips
- Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas), Lowestoft, Suffolk, United Kingdom
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12
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Brophy D, Rodríguez-Ezpeleta N, Fraile I, Arrizabalaga H. Combining genetic markers with stable isotopes in otoliths reveals complexity in the stock structure of Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus). Sci Rep 2020; 10:14675. [PMID: 32895410 PMCID: PMC7477220 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-71355-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2020] [Accepted: 08/13/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) from the two main spawning populations in the Mediterranean and Gulf of Mexico occur together in the western, central and eastern Atlantic. Stock composition of catches from mixing areas is uncertain, presenting a major challenge to the sustainable management of the fisheries. This study combines genetic and chemical markers to develop an integrated method of population assignment. Stable isotope signatures (δ13C and δ18O) in the otolith core of adults from the two main spawning populations (adult baselines) showed less overlap than those of yearlings (12-18 months old) from western and eastern nursery areas suggesting that some exchange occurs towards the end of the yearling phase. The integrated model combined δ18O with four genetic markers (SNPs) to distinguish the adult baselines with greater accuracy than chemical or genetic markers alone. When used to assign individuals from the mixing areas to their population of origin, the integrated model resolved some (but not all) discrepancies between the chemistry and genetic methods. Some individuals in the mixing area had otolith δ18O values and genetic profiles which when taken together, were not representative of either population. These fish may originate from another Atlantic spawning area or may represent population contingents that move away from the main spawning areas during the first year of life. This complexity in stock structure is not captured by the current two-stock model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deirdre Brophy
- Marine and Freshwater Research Centre, Galway Mayo Institute of Technology, Dublin road, Galway, H91 T8NW, Ireland.
| | | | - Igaratza Fraile
- Marine Research Division, AZTI, Txatxarramendi Ugartea Z/G, 48395, Sukarrieta, Bizkaia, Spain
| | - Haritz Arrizabalaga
- Marine Research Division, AZTI, Txatxarramendi Ugartea Z/G, 48395, Sukarrieta, Bizkaia, Spain
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13
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Righi T, Splendiani A, Fioravanti T, Petetta A, Candelma M, Gioacchini G, Gillespie K, Hanke A, Carnevali O, Caputo Barucchi V. Mediterranean swordfish ( Xiphias gladius Linnaeus, 1758) population structure revealed by microsatellite DNA: genetic diversity masked by population mixing in shared areas. PeerJ 2020; 8:e9518. [PMID: 33194325 PMCID: PMC7394060 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.9518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2020] [Accepted: 06/19/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The Mediterranean swordfish stock is overfished and considered not correctly managed. Elucidating the patterns of the Mediterranean swordfish population structure constitutes an essential prerequisite for effective management of this fishery resource. To date, few studies have investigated intra-Mediterranean swordfish population structure, and their conclusions are controversial. Methods A panel of 20 microsatellites DNA was used to investigate fine-scale population structuring of swordfish from six main fishing areas of the Mediterranean Sea. Results This study provides evidence to reject the hypothesis of a single swordfish population within the Mediterranean Sea. DAPC analysis revealed the presence of three genetic clusters and a high level of admixture within the Mediterranean Sea. Genetic structure was supported by significant FST values while mixing was endorsed by the heterozygosity deficit observed in sampling localities indicative of a possible Wahlund effect, by sampling admixture individuals. Overall, our tests reject the hypothesis of a single swordfish population within the Mediterranean Sea. Homing towards the Mediterranean breeding areas may have generated a weak degree of genetic differentiation between populations even at the intra-basin scale.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tommaso Righi
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita e dell'Ambiente, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, Italy
| | - Andrea Splendiani
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita e dell'Ambiente, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, Italy
| | - Tatiana Fioravanti
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita e dell'Ambiente, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, Italy
| | - Andrea Petetta
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita e dell'Ambiente, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, Italy
| | - Michela Candelma
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita e dell'Ambiente, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, Italy
| | - Giorgia Gioacchini
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita e dell'Ambiente, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, Italy
| | - Kyle Gillespie
- Fisheries and Oceans Canada, St. Andrews Biological Station, Ottawa, Canada
| | - Alex Hanke
- Fisheries and Oceans Canada, St. Andrews Biological Station, Ottawa, Canada
| | - Oliana Carnevali
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita e dell'Ambiente, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Caputo Barucchi
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita e dell'Ambiente, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, Italy
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14
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Rooker JR, Wells RJD, Addis P, Arrizabalaga H, Baptista M, Bearzi G, Dance MA, Fraile I, Lacoue-Labarthe T, Lee JM, Megalofonou P, Rosa R, Sobrino I, Sykes AV, Villanueva R. Natural geochemical markers reveal environmental history and population connectivity of common cuttlefish in the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea. J R Soc Interface 2020. [PMCID: PMC7423417 DOI: 10.1098/rsif.2020.0309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Natural markers (δ13C and δ18O stable isotopes) in the cuttlebones of the European common cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis) were determined for individuals collected across a substantial portion of their range in the Northeast Atlantic Ocean (NEAO) and Mediterranean Sea. Cuttlebone δ13C and δ18O were quantified for core and edge material to characterize geochemical signatures associated with early (juvenile) and recent (sub-adult/adult) life-history periods, respectively. Regional shifts in cuttlebone δ13C and δ18O values were detected across the 12 sites investigated. Individuals collected from sites in the NEAO displayed more enriched δ13C and δ18O values relative to sites in the Mediterranean Sea, with the latter also showing salient differences in both markers among western, central and eastern collection areas. Classification success based on cuttlebone δ13C and δ18O values to four geographical regions (NEAO, western, central and eastern Mediterranean Sea) was relatively high, suggesting that environmental conditions in each region were distinct and produced area-specific geochemical signatures on the cuttlebones of S. officinalis. A modified δ13C and δ18O baseline was developed from sites proximal to the Strait of Gibraltar in both the NEAO and Mediterranean Sea to assess potential mixing through this corridor. Nearly, all (95%) of δ13C and δ18O signatures of S. officinalis collected in the area of the NEAO closest to the Strait of Gibraltar (Gulf of Cadiz) matched the signatures of specimens collected in the western Mediterranean, signifying potential movement and mixing of individuals through this passageway. This study extends the current application of these geochemical markers for assessing the natal origin and population connectivity of this species and potentially other taxa that inhabit this geographical area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jay R. Rooker
- Department of Marine Biology, Texas A&M University, 1001 Texas Clipper Road, Galveston, TX 77553, USA
| | - R. J. David Wells
- Department of Marine Biology, Texas A&M University, 1001 Texas Clipper Road, Galveston, TX 77553, USA
| | - Piero Addis
- Department of Environmental and Life Science, University of Cagliari, Via Fiorelli 1, 09126 Cagliari, Italy
| | - Haritz Arrizabalaga
- AZTI, Marine Research, Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Herrera Kaia, Portualdea z/g, 20110 Pasaia – Gipuzkoa, Spain
| | - Miguel Baptista
- MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, Laboratório Marítimo da Guia, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Avenida Nossa Senhora do Cabo 939, 2750-374 Cascais, Portugal
| | - Giovanni Bearzi
- Dolphin Biology and Conservation, Cordenons, Pordenone, Italy
| | - Michael A. Dance
- Department of Oceanography and Coastal Sciences, Louisiana State University, 2255 Energy, Coast and Environment Building, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA
| | - Igaratza Fraile
- AZTI, Marine Research, Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Herrera Kaia, Portualdea z/g, 20110 Pasaia – Gipuzkoa, Spain
| | - Thomas Lacoue-Labarthe
- Littoral Environnement et Sociétés (LIENSs) - UMR 7266 Bâtiment ILE, 2, rue Olympe de Gouges, 17000 La Rochelle, France
| | - Jessica M. Lee
- Department of Marine Biology, Texas A&M University, 1001 Texas Clipper Road, Galveston, TX 77553, USA
| | - Persefoni Megalofonou
- Department of Biology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens,15784 Athens, Greece
| | - Rui Rosa
- MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, Laboratório Marítimo da Guia, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Avenida Nossa Senhora do Cabo 939, 2750-374 Cascais, Portugal
| | - Ignacio Sobrino
- Instituto Español de Oceanografía, Puerto Pesquero s/n, 11006, Cádiz, Spain
| | - António V. Sykes
- Center of Marine Sciences, Universidade do Algarve Campus de Gambelas, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal
| | - Roger Villanueva
- Institut de Ciències del Mar (CSIC), Passeig Maritim 37-49, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
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15
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Varela JL, Carrera I, Medina A. Seasonal feeding patterns of Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) in the Strait of Gibraltar. MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2020; 153:104811. [PMID: 31606142 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2019.104811] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2019] [Revised: 09/25/2019] [Accepted: 10/04/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The Strait of Gibraltar (SoG) houses a large diversity of marine species including large pelagic animals that use this area as permanent or temporary habitat. In particular, the SoG is home to a population of adult and sub-adult Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) that occurs there for most of the year. To gain further insight into the life history of this ABFT population, seasonal feeding patterns were investigated combining stomach content analysis (SCA) and stable isotopes analysis (SIA) of muscle and liver tissues. Our results reveal seasonal variations in feeding patterns, which are evidenced by a significant shift in the diet composition and the highest food consumption rates that take place in spring, prior to the spawning season. These changes in feeding habits are consistent with the varying energetic needs along the species' annual biological cycle. The present observations confirm the SoG as an important foraging ground for ABFT resident populations and may have further implications for the management of the resource.
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Affiliation(s)
- José Luis Varela
- Departamento de Biología. Facultad de Ciencias del Mar y Ambientales, Campus de Excelencia Internacional del Mar (CEI·MAR), 11510 Puerto Real, Cádiz, Spain.
| | - Irene Carrera
- Departamento de Biología. Facultad de Ciencias del Mar y Ambientales, Campus de Excelencia Internacional del Mar (CEI·MAR), 11510 Puerto Real, Cádiz, Spain
| | - Antonio Medina
- Departamento de Biología. Facultad de Ciencias del Mar y Ambientales, Campus de Excelencia Internacional del Mar (CEI·MAR), 11510 Puerto Real, Cádiz, Spain
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16
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Hiraoka Y, Okochi Y, Ohshimo S, Shimose T, Ashida H, Sato T, Ando Y. Lipid and fatty acid dynamics by maternal Pacific bluefin tuna. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0222824. [PMID: 31553780 PMCID: PMC6760770 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0222824] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2019] [Accepted: 09/09/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Lipid and fatty acid composition of female Pacific bluefin tuna (PBF, Thunnus orientalis) reproductive and somatic tissues in southwestern North Pacific and Sea of Japan spawning grounds are compared. Total lipid (TL) levels are higher in liver than white muscle tissues. An increased gonadosomatic index (GSI) during the early spawning season coincided with decreased TL. Levels of triacylglycerols (TAG) in PBF liver tissues from the Nansei Islands and Sea of Japan, and white muscle in fishes from the Sea of Japan, decreased during the spawning season, while TAG in ovary tissues did not. Concurrent reductions in TL and increases in GSI early in the spawning season suggest TAG depletion was caused by allocation from liver and white muscle tissues to oocytes, that the liver is one of the important lipid-storage organs in PBF, and this species mostly reliant on capital deposits as a mixed capital-income breeder. Differences of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) levels between spawning grounds were lower in ovary than in muscle and liver tissues. However, eicosapentaenoic (EPA) and arachidonic acid (ARA) levels that influence egg development and embryo and larval growth are significantly higher in PBF tissues from the Sea of Japan than Nansei Islands, which coincided with larval quality. These suggest a maternal effect exists, with egg quality influencing offspring survival, and that the reproductive strategy of PBF varies according to local variation at each spawning ground.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuko Hiraoka
- Bluefin Tuna Resources Department, National Research Institute of Far Seas Fisheries, Japan Fisheries Research and Education Agency, Shizuoka-shi, Shizuoka, Japan
- * E-mail:
| | - Yumi Okochi
- Environmental Management Unit, JAPAN NUS Co. Ltd, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Seiji Ohshimo
- Fisheries Management and Oceanography Department, Seikai National Fisheries Research Institute, Japan Fisheries Research and Education Agency, Nagasaki-shi, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Tamaki Shimose
- Research Center for Subtropical Fisheries, Seikai National Fisheries Research Institute, Japan Fisheries Research and Education Agency, Ishigaki-shi, Okinawa, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Ashida
- Bluefin Tuna Resources Department, National Research Institute of Far Seas Fisheries, Japan Fisheries Research and Education Agency, Shizuoka-shi, Shizuoka, Japan
| | - Takuya Sato
- Bluefin Tuna Resources Department, National Research Institute of Far Seas Fisheries, Japan Fisheries Research and Education Agency, Shizuoka-shi, Shizuoka, Japan
| | - Yasuhiro Ando
- Faculty of Fisheries Sciences, Hokkaido University, Hakodate-shi, Hokkaido, Japan
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17
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Reglero P, Ortega A, Balbín R, Abascal FJ, Medina A, Blanco E, de la Gándara F, Alvarez-Berastegui D, Hidalgo M, Rasmuson L, Alemany F, Fiksen Ø. Atlantic bluefin tuna spawn at suboptimal temperatures for their offspring. Proc Biol Sci 2019; 285:rspb.2017.1405. [PMID: 29321292 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2017.1405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2017] [Accepted: 12/04/2017] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Life-history traits such as spawning migrations and timing of reproduction are adaptations to specific environmental constraints and seasonal cycles in many organisms' annual routines. In this study we analyse how offspring fitness constrains spawning phenology in a large migratory apex predator, the Atlantic bluefin tuna. The reproductive schedule of Atlantic bluefin tuna varies between spawning sites, suggesting plasticity to local environmental conditions. Generally, temperature is considered to be the main constraint on tuna spawning phenology. We combine evidence from long-term field data, temperature-controlled rearing experiments on eggs and larvae, and a model of egg fitness, and show that Atlantic bluefin tuna do not spawn to optimize egg and larval temperature exposure. The timing of spawning leads to temperature exposure considerably lower than optimal at all spawning grounds across the Atlantic Ocean. The early spawning is constrained by thermal inhibition of egg hatching and larval growth rates, but some other factors must prevent later spawning. Matching offspring with ocean productivity and the prey peak might be an important driver for bluefin tuna spawning phenology. This finding is important for predictions of reproductive timing in future climate warming scenarios for bluefin tuna.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Reglero
- Instituto Español de Oceanografía, Centre Oceanogràfic de les Balears, Moll de Ponent s/n, 07015 Palma de Mallorca, Spain
| | - A Ortega
- Instituto Español de Oceanografía, Centro Oceanográfico de Murcia, 30860 Puerto de Mazarrón, Murcia, Spain
| | - R Balbín
- Instituto Español de Oceanografía, Centre Oceanogràfic de les Balears, Moll de Ponent s/n, 07015 Palma de Mallorca, Spain
| | - F J Abascal
- Instituto Español de Oceanografía, Centro Oceanográfico de Canarias, 38180 Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain
| | - A Medina
- Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar y Ambientales, Avda. República Saharaui, s/n, 11510 Puerto Real, Cádiz, Spain
| | - E Blanco
- Instituto Español de Oceanografía, Centre Oceanogràfic de les Balears, Moll de Ponent s/n, 07015 Palma de Mallorca, Spain
| | - F de la Gándara
- Instituto Español de Oceanografía, Centro Oceanográfico de Murcia, 30860 Puerto de Mazarrón, Murcia, Spain
| | - D Alvarez-Berastegui
- Balearic Islands Coastal Observing and Forecasting System, Parc Bit, Naorte, Bloc A 2°p. pta 3, Palma de Mallorca, Balearic Islands, Spain
| | - M Hidalgo
- Instituto Español de Oceanografía, Centre Oceanogràfic de les Balears, Moll de Ponent s/n, 07015 Palma de Mallorca, Spain
| | - L Rasmuson
- Marine Resources Program, Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, 2040 SE Marine Science Drive, Newport, OR, USA.,National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Southeast Fisheries Science Center, Miami, FL 33149, USA
| | - F Alemany
- Instituto Español de Oceanografía, Centre Oceanogràfic de les Balears, Moll de Ponent s/n, 07015 Palma de Mallorca, Spain
| | - Ø Fiksen
- Department of Biology, University of Bergen, 5020 Bergen, Norway
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18
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Varela JL, Rojo-Nieto E, Sorell JM, Medina A. Using stable isotope analysis to assess trophic relationships between Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) and striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba) in the Strait of Gibraltar. MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2018; 139:57-63. [PMID: 29754735 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2018.04.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2018] [Revised: 04/19/2018] [Accepted: 04/25/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Stable isotope analysis (δ13C and δ15N from liver and muscle) was used to assess trophic relationships between Atlantic bluefin tuna (ABFT) (Thunnus thynnus) and striped dolphin (SC) (Stenella coeruleoalba) in the Strait of Gibraltar (SoG). δ15N values from ABFT muscle and liver tissues were significantly different from those of dolphin samples, but no for δ13C values. Diet estimation by MixSIAR models from muscle and liver revealed that ABFT fed mainly on squids (Todaropsis eblanae and Illex coindetii). The shrimp Pasiphaea sp. was estimated to be the most important prey-species in the diet of SC. Trophic positions estimated from muscle and liver isotopic data suggested that ABFT occupy a higher trophic level than SC. Estimations of isotopic niche, as measured by the standard ellipse area, indicated that ABFT show a broader trophic niche than SC; furthermore, SEAc did not show trophic overlap between both predators. The results of this study suggest that resource partitioning occurs between ABFT and SC in the SoG ecosystem.
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Affiliation(s)
- José L Varela
- Departamento de Biología, Universidad de Cádiz, Campus de Excelencia Internacional del Mar (CEI·MAR), Av. República Saharaui s/n, 11510 Puerto Real, Cádiz, Spain.
| | - Elisa Rojo-Nieto
- Departamento de Tecnologías del Medio Ambiente, Universidad de Cádiz, Centro Andaluz de Ciencias y Tecnologías Marinas (CACYTMAR/INMAR), Instituto Universitario de Investigaciones Marinas (INMAR), Campus de Excelencia Internacional del Mar (CEI·MAR), Av. República Saharaui s/n, 11510 Puerto Real, Cádiz, Spain
| | - Joan M Sorell
- Departamento de Biología, Universidad de Cádiz, Campus de Excelencia Internacional del Mar (CEI·MAR), Av. República Saharaui s/n, 11510 Puerto Real, Cádiz, Spain
| | - Antonio Medina
- Departamento de Biología, Universidad de Cádiz, Campus de Excelencia Internacional del Mar (CEI·MAR), Av. República Saharaui s/n, 11510 Puerto Real, Cádiz, Spain
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19
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Puncher GN, Cariani A, Maes GE, Van Houdt J, Herten K, Cannas R, Rodriguez-Ezpeleta N, Albaina A, Estonba A, Lutcavage M, Hanke A, Rooker J, Franks JS, Quattro JM, Basilone G, Fraile I, Laconcha U, Goñi N, Kimoto A, Macías D, Alemany F, Deguara S, Zgozi SW, Garibaldi F, Oray IK, Karakulak FS, Abid N, Santos MN, Addis P, Arrizabalaga H, Tinti F. Spatial dynamics and mixing of bluefin tuna in the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea revealed using next-generation sequencing. Mol Ecol Resour 2018; 18:620-638. [PMID: 29405659 DOI: 10.1111/1755-0998.12764] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2017] [Revised: 01/06/2018] [Accepted: 01/19/2018] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
The Atlantic bluefin tuna is a highly migratory species emblematic of the challenges associated with shared fisheries management. In an effort to resolve the species' stock dynamics, a genomewide search for spatially informative single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) was undertaken, by way of sequencing reduced representation libraries. An allele frequency approach to SNP discovery was used, combining the data of 555 larvae and young-of-the-year (LYOY) into pools representing major geographical areas and mapping against a newly assembled genomic reference. From a set of 184,895 candidate loci, 384 were selected for validation using 167 LYOY. A highly discriminatory genotyping panel of 95 SNPs was ultimately developed by selecting loci with the most pronounced differences between western Atlantic and Mediterranean Sea LYOY. The panel was evaluated by genotyping a different set of LYOY (n = 326), and from these, 77.8% and 82.1% were correctly assigned to western Atlantic and Mediterranean Sea origins, respectively. The panel revealed temporally persistent differentiation among LYOY from the western Atlantic and Mediterranean Sea (FST = 0.008, p = .034). The composition of six mixed feeding aggregations in the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea was characterized using genotypes from medium (n = 184) and large (n = 48) adults, applying population assignment and mixture analyses. The results provide evidence of persistent population structuring across broad geographic areas and extensive mixing in the Atlantic Ocean, particularly in the mid-Atlantic Bight and Gulf of St. Lawrence. The genomic reference and genotyping tools presented here constitute novel resources useful for future research and conservation efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gregory N Puncher
- Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences/Laboratory of Genetics and Genomics of Marine Resources and Environment (GenoDREAM), University of Bologna, Ravenna, Italy.,Department of Biology, Marine Biology Research Group, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.,Department of Biology, University of New Brunswick, Saint John, NB, Canada
| | - Alessia Cariani
- Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences/Laboratory of Genetics and Genomics of Marine Resources and Environment (GenoDREAM), University of Bologna, Ravenna, Italy
| | - Gregory E Maes
- Centre for Sustainable Tropical Fisheries and Aquaculture, Comparative Genomics Centre, College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Qld, Australia.,Centre for Human Genetics, Genomics Core, KU Leuven - UZ Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.,Laboratory of Biodiversity and Evolutionary Genomics, University of Leuven (KU Leuven), Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jeroen Van Houdt
- Centre for Human Genetics, Genomics Core, KU Leuven - UZ Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Koen Herten
- Centre for Human Genetics, Genomics Core, KU Leuven - UZ Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.,Laboratory of Biodiversity and Evolutionary Genomics, University of Leuven (KU Leuven), Leuven, Belgium
| | - Rita Cannas
- Department of Life & Environmental Sciences (DISVA), University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | | | - Aitor Albaina
- Laboratory of Genetics Faculty of Science & Technology, Department of Genetics, Physical Anthropology and Animal Physiology, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Leioa, Spain.,Environmental Studies Centre (CEA), Vitoria-Gasteiz City Council, Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain
| | - Andone Estonba
- Laboratory of Genetics Faculty of Science & Technology, Department of Genetics, Physical Anthropology and Animal Physiology, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Leioa, Spain
| | - Molly Lutcavage
- School for the Environment and Large Pelagics Research Center, University of Massachusetts, Boston, Gloucester, MA, USA
| | - Alex Hanke
- Fisheries and Oceans Canada, St. Andrews Biological Station, St. Andrews, NB, Canada
| | - Jay Rooker
- Department of Marine Biology, Texas A&M University at Galveston, Galveston, TX, USA.,Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - James S Franks
- Gulf Coast Research Laboratory, Center for Fisheries Research and Development, University of Southern Mississippi, Ocean Springs, MS, USA
| | - Joseph M Quattro
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA
| | - Gualtiero Basilone
- National Research Council, Institute for Marine and Coastal Environment, Detached Unit of Capo Granitola, Trapani, Italy
| | - Igaratza Fraile
- Marine Research Division, AZTI Tecnalia, Pasaia, Gipuzkoa, Spain
| | - Urtzi Laconcha
- Marine Research Division, AZTI Tecnalia, Pasaia, Gipuzkoa, Spain.,Laboratory of Genetics Faculty of Science & Technology, Department of Genetics, Physical Anthropology and Animal Physiology, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Leioa, Spain
| | - Nicolas Goñi
- Marine Research Division, AZTI Tecnalia, Pasaia, Gipuzkoa, Spain
| | - Ai Kimoto
- National Research Institute of Far Seas Fisheries, Shizuoka, Japan
| | - David Macías
- Instituto Español de Oceanografía, Centro Oceanográfico de Baleares, Palma, Spain
| | - Francisco Alemany
- Instituto Español de Oceanografía, Centro Oceanográfico de Baleares, Palma, Spain
| | - Simeon Deguara
- Federation of Maltese Aquaculture Producers (FMAP), Valletta, Malta
| | - Salem W Zgozi
- Marine Biology Research Center, Tripoli-Tajura, Libya
| | - Fulvio Garibaldi
- Department of Earth, Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Genoa, Genova, Italy
| | - Isik K Oray
- Faculty of Fisheries, Istanbul University, Laleli-Istanbul, Turkey
| | | | - Noureddine Abid
- National Institute of Fisheries Research, Regional Centre of Tangier, Tanger, Morocco
| | | | - Piero Addis
- Department of Life & Environmental Sciences (DISVA), University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | | | - Fausto Tinti
- Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences/Laboratory of Genetics and Genomics of Marine Resources and Environment (GenoDREAM), University of Bologna, Ravenna, Italy
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20
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Neat FC. Aggregating behaviour, social interactions and possible spawning in the deep-water fish Coryphaenoides rupestris. JOURNAL OF FISH BIOLOGY 2017; 91:975-980. [PMID: 28744972 DOI: 10.1111/jfb.13386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2017] [Revised: 05/22/2017] [Accepted: 06/22/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
A dense aggregation of the roundnose grenadier Coryphaenoides rupestris was observed with a towed camera at a depth of 1500 m in the Rockall Trough during September. The density of fish was 100 times greater than other sites. Within the aggregation the fish showed directional alignment, rapid swimming actions, mid-water swimming and social interactions similar to those associated with spawning in other Gadiformes.
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Affiliation(s)
- F C Neat
- Marine Scotland - Science, 375 Victoria Road, Aberdeen AB11 9DB, U.K
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21
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Quantifying overlap between the Deepwater Horizon oil spill and predicted bluefin tuna spawning habitat in the Gulf of Mexico. Sci Rep 2016; 6:33824. [PMID: 27654709 PMCID: PMC5031980 DOI: 10.1038/srep33824] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2016] [Accepted: 09/02/2016] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) are distributed throughout the North Atlantic and are both economically valuable and heavily exploited. The fishery is currently managed as two spawning populations, with the GOM population being severely depleted for over 20 years. In April-August of 2010, the Deepwater Horizon oil spill released approximately 4 million barrels of oil into the GOM, with severe ecosystem and economic impacts. Acute oil exposure results in mortality of bluefin eggs and larvae, while chronic effects on spawning adults are less well understood. Here we used 16 years of electronic tagging data for 66 bluefin tuna to identify spawning events, to quantify habitat preferences, and to predict habitat use and oil exposure within Gulf of Mexico spawning grounds. More than 54,000 km2 (5%) of predicted spawning habitat within the US EEZ was oiled during the week of peak oil dispersal, with potentially lethal effects on eggs and larvae. Although the oil spill overlapped with a relatively small portion of predicted spawning habitat, the cumulative impact from oil, ocean warming and bycatch mortality on GOM spawning grounds may result in significant effects for a population that shows little evidence of rebuilding.
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22
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Esteban R, Verborgh P, Gauffier P, Alarcón D, Salazar-Sierra JM, Giménez J, Foote AD, de Stephanis R. Conservation Status of Killer Whales, Orcinus orca, in the Strait of Gibraltar. ADVANCES IN MARINE BIOLOGY 2016; 75:141-172. [PMID: 27770983 DOI: 10.1016/bs.amb.2016.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Killer whales (Orcinus orca) in the Mediterranean Sea are currently restricted to the Strait of Gibraltar and surrounding waters. Thirty-nine individuals were present in 2011, with a well-differentiated social structure, organized into five pods. Killer whale occurrence in the Strait is apparently related to the migration of their main prey, Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus). In spring, whale distribution was restricted to shallow waters off the western coast of the Strait where all pods were observed actively hunting tuna. In summer, the whales were observed in the shallow central waters of the Strait. A relatively new feeding strategy has been observed among two of the five pods. These two pods interact with an artisanal drop-line fishery. Pods depredating the fishery had access to larger tuna in comparison with pods that were actively hunting. The Strait of Gibraltar killer whales are socially and ecologically different from individuals in the Canary Islands. Molecular genetic research has indicated that there is little or no female-mediated gene migration between these areas. Conservation threats include small population size, prey depletion, vessel traffic, and contaminants. We propose the declaration of the Strait of Gibraltar killer whales as an endangered subpopulation. A conservation plan to protect the Strait of Gibraltar killer whales is urgently needed, and we recommend implementation of a seasonal management area where activities producing underwater noise are restricted, and the promotion of bluefin tuna conservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Esteban
- CIRCE (Conservation, Information and Research on Cetaceans), Pelayo-Algeciras, Cádiz, Spain.
| | - P Verborgh
- CIRCE (Conservation, Information and Research on Cetaceans), Pelayo-Algeciras, Cádiz, Spain
| | - P Gauffier
- CIRCE (Conservation, Information and Research on Cetaceans), Pelayo-Algeciras, Cádiz, Spain
| | - D Alarcón
- CIRCE (Conservation, Information and Research on Cetaceans), Pelayo-Algeciras, Cádiz, Spain
| | - J M Salazar-Sierra
- CIRCE (Conservation, Information and Research on Cetaceans), Pelayo-Algeciras, Cádiz, Spain
| | - J Giménez
- Estación Biológica de Doñana (EBD-CSIC), Sevilla, Spain
| | - A D Foote
- CMPG, Institute of Ecology and Evolution, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - R de Stephanis
- CIRCE (Conservation, Information and Research on Cetaceans), Pelayo-Algeciras, Cádiz, Spain
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23
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Richardson DE, Marancik KE, Guyon JR, Lutcavage ME, Galuardi B, Lam CH, Walsh HJ, Wildes S, Yates DA, Hare JA. Discovery of a spawning ground reveals diverse migration strategies in Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus). Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2016; 113:3299-304. [PMID: 26951668 PMCID: PMC4812764 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1525636113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Atlantic bluefin tuna are a symbol of both the conflict between preservationist and utilitarian views of top ocean predators, and the struggle to reach international consensus on the management of migratory species. Currently, Atlantic bluefin tuna are managed as an early-maturing eastern stock, which spawns in the Mediterranean Sea, and a late-maturing western stock, which spawns in the Gulf of Mexico. However, electronic tagging studies show that many bluefin tuna, assumed to be of a mature size, do not visit either spawning ground during the spawning season. Whether these fish are spawning in an alternate location, skip-spawning, or not spawning until an older age affects how vulnerable this species is to anthropogenic stressors including exploitation. We use larval collections to demonstrate a bluefin tuna spawning ground in the Slope Sea, between the Gulf Stream and northeast United States continental shelf. We contend that western Atlantic bluefin tuna have a differential spawning migration, with larger individuals spawning in the Gulf of Mexico, and smaller individuals spawning in the Slope Sea. The current life history model, which assumes only Gulf of Mexico spawning, overestimates age at maturity for the western stock. Furthermore, individual tuna occupy both the Slope Sea and Mediterranean Sea in separate years, contrary to the prevailing view that individuals exhibit complete spawning-site fidelity. Overall, this complexity of spawning migrations questions whether there is complete independence in the dynamics of eastern and western Atlantic bluefin tuna and leads to lower estimates of the vulnerability of this species to exploitation and other anthropogenic stressors.
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Affiliation(s)
- David E Richardson
- Northeast Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Narragansett, RI 02882;
| | - Katrin E Marancik
- Integrated Statistics, Contractor for Northeast Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Narragansett, RI 02882
| | - Jeffrey R Guyon
- Alaska Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Juneau, AK 99801
| | - Molly E Lutcavage
- Large Pelagics Research Center, School for the Environment, University of Massachusetts Boston, Gloucester, MA 01931
| | - Benjamin Galuardi
- School of Marine Science and Technology, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, Fairhaven, MA 02719; Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Gloucester, MA 01930
| | - Chi Hin Lam
- Large Pelagics Research Center, School for the Environment, University of Massachusetts Boston, Gloucester, MA 01931
| | - Harvey J Walsh
- Northeast Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Narragansett, RI 02882
| | - Sharon Wildes
- Alaska Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Juneau, AK 99801
| | - Douglas A Yates
- Alaska Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Juneau, AK 99801
| | - Jonathan A Hare
- Northeast Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Narragansett, RI 02882
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24
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Councill EL. Incorporating stochasticity in the study of exploited fish population dynamics: Implications for the study of post-recruitment harvest strategies. Math Biosci 2016; 273:16-22. [PMID: 26721378 DOI: 10.1016/j.mbs.2015.12.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2015] [Revised: 12/01/2015] [Accepted: 12/14/2015] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Previous work has shown that an effective method of maintaining spawning stock biomass (SSB), the biomass of fish that are reproductively mature, within an exploited stock is to regulate harvest so that maximum fishing mortality rates occur after peak spawning during the year. This is known as post-recruitment harvest. The goal of this work is to examine if the advantages of post-recruitment harvest hold when reported stochasticity in the age and time distribution of harvest rates, known as selectivity, is considered. A hybrid dynamical systems model, one in which both continuous-time and discrete-time processes operate simultaneously, was derived, and recursive solutions were found. Results from other studies indicating the benefit of post-recruitment harvest were verified using this hybrid model when selectivity was considered fixed. Simulations were repeated including variance in selectivity using a Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) procedure. Results show that the benefits of post-recruitment harvest to the preservation of SSB were considerably less advantageous when each age class was assumed to be subject to annual stochastic selectivity. Furthermore, the stochastic scenarios gave estimates of SSB that were lower than their fixed selectivity analogs, indicating that the benefits of theoretical post-recruitment harvest may be diminished to some extent when stochasticity plays a large role in the dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth L Councill
- Cooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Studies, University of Miami, 4600 Rickenbacker Causeway, Miami, FL 33149, United States .
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25
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Tyminski JP, de la Parra-Venegas R, González Cano J, Hueter RE. Vertical Movements and Patterns in Diving Behavior of Whale Sharks as Revealed by Pop-Up Satellite Tags in the Eastern Gulf of Mexico. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0142156. [PMID: 26580405 PMCID: PMC4651344 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0142156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2015] [Accepted: 10/18/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The whale shark (Rhincodon typus) is a wide-ranging, filter-feeding species typically observed at or near the surface. This shark's sub-surface habits and behaviors have only begun to be revealed in recent years through the use of archival and satellite tagging technology. We attached pop-up satellite archival transmitting tags to 35 whale sharks in the southeastern Gulf of Mexico off the Yucatan Peninsula from 2003-2012 and three tags to whale sharks in the northeastern Gulf off Florida in 2010, to examine these sharks' long-term movement patterns and gain insight into the underlying factors influencing their vertical habitat selection. Archived data were received from 31 tags deployed on sharks of both sexes with total lengths of 5.5-9 m. Nine of these tags were physically recovered facilitating a detailed long-term view into the sharks' vertical movements. Whale sharks feeding inshore on fish eggs off the northeast Yucatan Peninsula demonstrated reverse diel vertical migration, with extended periods of surface swimming beginning at sunrise followed by an abrupt change in the mid-afternoon to regular vertical oscillations, a pattern that continued overnight. When in oceanic waters, sharks spent about 95% of their time within epipelagic depths (<200 m) but regularly undertook very deep ("extreme") dives (>500 m) that largely occurred during daytime or twilight hours (max. depth recorded 1,928 m), had V-shaped depth-time profiles, and comprised more rapid descents (0.68 m sec-1) than ascents (0.50 m sec-1). Nearly half of these extreme dives had descent profiles with brief but conspicuous changes in vertical direction at a mean depth of 475 m. We hypothesize these stutter steps represent foraging events within the deep scattering layer, however, the extreme dives may have additional functions. Overall, our results demonstrate complex and dynamic patterns of habitat utilization for R. typus that appear to be in response to changing biotic and abiotic conditions influencing the distribution and abundance of their prey.
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Affiliation(s)
- John P. Tyminski
- Center for Shark Research, Mote Marine Laboratory, Sarasota, Florida, United States of America
| | | | - Jaime González Cano
- Proyecto Dominó, Comisión Nacional de Áreas Naturales Protegidas, Cancún, Quintana Roo, México
| | - Robert E. Hueter
- Center for Shark Research, Mote Marine Laboratory, Sarasota, Florida, United States of America
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26
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Gordoa A, Sanz N, Viñas J. Individual Spawning Duration of Captive Atlantic Bluefin Tuna (Thunnus thynnus) Revealed by Mitochondrial DNA Analysis of Eggs. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0136733. [PMID: 26317343 PMCID: PMC4552825 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0136733] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2015] [Accepted: 08/08/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
This study presents the first results on Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) individual spawning duration and its short-term temporal behavior. The study was based on direct measurements resulting from mtDNA analysis of the offspring of spawners held in transport cages during the 2013 spawning monitoring survey in Balearic waters. The number of females consisted of approximately 259 individuals with an average weight of 186 kg. The survey began on May 22 and ended on July 3. Spawning started on May 30 and was observed every night afterwards. The sampling of eggs for genetic monitoring was conducted for 9 days interspersed from the beginning of spawning to the end of the survey. A total of 946 eggs were analyzed and revealed 129 different haplotypes; 77 of these were not previously detected in the Mediterranean. A total of 69 haplotypes were observed in more than one spawning event and those with higher frequency lasted their maximum possible duration. The haplotypes present at the beginning of spawning were also identified at the end of the sampling, indicating a minimum spawning duration of 34 days, and individual annual fecundity was estimated at around 1290 eggs gr-1. These results differed from those generally presumed until now and are indicative of a much higher fecundity. Females exhibited a regular spawning schedule but with the capacity to shift the spawning hour during the spawning season. These results were observed for the eastern population of Atlantic bluefin tuna and before extrapolating to the western population, their validity should be proved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Gordoa
- Department of Marine Ecology, Centro de Estudios Avanzados de Blanes, Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), Blanes, Girona, Spain
- * E-mail:
| | - Nuria Sanz
- Laboratori d'Ictiologia Genètica, Departament de Biologia, Facultat de Ciències, Universitat de Girona, Girona, Spain
| | - Jordi Viñas
- Laboratori d'Ictiologia Genètica, Departament de Biologia, Facultat de Ciències, Universitat de Girona, Girona, Spain
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27
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Puncher GN, Arrizabalaga H, Alemany F, Cariani A, Oray IK, Karakulak FS, Basilone G, Cuttitta A, Mazzola S, Tinti F. Molecular Identification of Atlantic Bluefin Tuna (Thunnus thynnus, Scombridae) Larvae and Development of a DNA Character-Based Identification Key for Mediterranean Scombrids. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0130407. [PMID: 26147931 PMCID: PMC4493144 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0130407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2014] [Accepted: 05/06/2015] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The Atlantic bluefin tuna, Thunnus thynnus, is a commercially important species that has been severely over-exploited in the recent past. Although the eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean stock is now showing signs of recovery, its current status remains very uncertain and as a consequence their recovery is dependent upon severe management informed by rigorous scientific research. Monitoring of early life history stages can inform decision makers about the health of the species based upon recruitment and survival rates. Misidentification of fish larvae and eggs can lead to inaccurate estimates of stock biomass and productivity which can trigger demands for increased quotas and unsound management conclusions. Herein we used a molecular approach employing mitochondrial and nuclear genes (CO1 and ITS1, respectively) to identify larvae (n = 188) collected from three spawning areas in the Mediterranean Sea by different institutions working with a regional fisheries management organization. Several techniques were used to analyze the genetic sequences (sequence alignments using search algorithms, neighbour joining trees, and a genetic character-based identification key) and an extensive comparison of the results is presented. During this process various inaccuracies in related publications and online databases were uncovered. Our results reveal important differences in the accuracy of the taxonomic identifications carried out by different ichthyoplanktologists following morphology-based methods. While less than half of larvae provided were bluefin tuna, other dominant taxa were bullet tuna (Auxis rochei), albacore (Thunnus alalunga) and little tunny (Euthynnus alletteratus). We advocate an expansion of expertise for a new generation of morphology-based taxonomists, increased dialogue between morphology-based and molecular taxonomists and increased scrutiny of public sequence databases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gregory Neils Puncher
- Dept. of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences / Laboratory of Genetics and Genomics of Marine Resources and Environment (GenoDREAM), University of Bologna, Ravenna, Italy
| | - Haritz Arrizabalaga
- AZTI Tecnalia, Marine Research Division, Herrera Kaia, Pasaia, Gipuzkoa, Spain
| | - Francisco Alemany
- Instituto Español de Oceanografía, Centro Oceanográfico de Baleares, Palma, Spain
| | - Alessia Cariani
- Dept. of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences / Laboratory of Genetics and Genomics of Marine Resources and Environment (GenoDREAM), University of Bologna, Ravenna, Italy
| | - Isik K. Oray
- Istanbul University, Faculty of Fisheries, Laleli, Istanbul, Turkey
| | | | - Gualtiero Basilone
- Laboratory of Molecular Ecology and Biotechnology, National Research Council, Institute for Marine and Coastal Environment (IAMC-CNR), Detached Unit of Capo Granitola, Trapani, Italy
| | - Angela Cuttitta
- Laboratory of Molecular Ecology and Biotechnology, National Research Council, Institute for Marine and Coastal Environment (IAMC-CNR), Detached Unit of Capo Granitola, Trapani, Italy
| | - Salvatore Mazzola
- Laboratory of Molecular Ecology and Biotechnology, National Research Council, Institute for Marine and Coastal Environment (IAMC-CNR), Detached Unit of Capo Granitola, Trapani, Italy
| | - Fausto Tinti
- Dept. of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences / Laboratory of Genetics and Genomics of Marine Resources and Environment (GenoDREAM), University of Bologna, Ravenna, Italy
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28
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Laconcha U, Iriondo M, Arrizabalaga H, Manzano C, Markaide P, Montes I, Zarraonaindia I, Velado I, Bilbao E, Goñi N, Santiago J, Domingo A, Karakulak S, Oray I, Estonba A. New Nuclear SNP Markers Unravel the Genetic Structure and Effective Population Size of Albacore Tuna (Thunnus alalunga). PLoS One 2015; 10:e0128247. [PMID: 26090851 PMCID: PMC4474438 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0128247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2014] [Accepted: 04/23/2015] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
In the present study we have investigated the population genetic structure of albacore (Thunnus alalunga, Bonnaterre 1788) and assessed the loss of genetic diversity, likely due to overfishing, of albacore population in the North Atlantic Ocean. For this purpose, 1,331 individuals from 26 worldwide locations were analyzed by genotyping 75 novel nuclear SNPs. Our results indicated the existence of four genetically homogeneous populations delimited within the Mediterranean Sea, the Atlantic Ocean, the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean. Current definition of stocks allows the sustainable management of albacore since no stock includes more than one genetic entity. In addition, short- and long-term effective population sizes were estimated for the North Atlantic Ocean albacore population, and results showed no historical decline for this population. Therefore, the genetic diversity and, consequently, the adaptive potential of this population have not been significantly affected by overfishing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Urtzi Laconcha
- AZTI, Marine Research Division, Herrera Kaia Portualdea z/g, Pasaia (Gipuzkoa), Spain
- Department of Genetics, Physical Anthropology and Animal Physiology, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Sarriena auzoa z/g, Leioa (Bizkaia), Spain
| | - Mikel Iriondo
- Department of Genetics, Physical Anthropology and Animal Physiology, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Sarriena auzoa z/g, Leioa (Bizkaia), Spain
| | - Haritz Arrizabalaga
- AZTI, Marine Research Division, Herrera Kaia Portualdea z/g, Pasaia (Gipuzkoa), Spain
| | - Carmen Manzano
- Department of Genetics, Physical Anthropology and Animal Physiology, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Sarriena auzoa z/g, Leioa (Bizkaia), Spain
| | - Pablo Markaide
- Department of Genetics, Physical Anthropology and Animal Physiology, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Sarriena auzoa z/g, Leioa (Bizkaia), Spain
| | - Iratxe Montes
- Department of Genetics, Physical Anthropology and Animal Physiology, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Sarriena auzoa z/g, Leioa (Bizkaia), Spain
| | - Iratxe Zarraonaindia
- Department of Genetics, Physical Anthropology and Animal Physiology, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Sarriena auzoa z/g, Leioa (Bizkaia), Spain
| | - Igor Velado
- Department of Genetics, Physical Anthropology and Animal Physiology, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Sarriena auzoa z/g, Leioa (Bizkaia), Spain
| | - Eider Bilbao
- Cell Biology & Environmental Toxicology Research Group, Research Centre for Experimental Marine Biology & Biotechnology (PIE) & Department of Zoology & Animal Cell Biology, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Sarriena auzoa z/g, Leioa (Bizkaia), Spain
| | - Nicolas Goñi
- AZTI, Marine Research Division, Herrera Kaia Portualdea z/g, Pasaia (Gipuzkoa), Spain
| | - Josu Santiago
- AZTI, Marine Research Division, Txatxarramendi Ugartea z/g, Sukarrieta (Bizkaia), Spain
| | - Andrés Domingo
- Laboratory of Pelagic Resources, Dirección Nacional de Recursos Acuáticos (DINARA), Constituyente 1497, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Saadet Karakulak
- Fisheries Faculty of Istanbul University, Laleli, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Işık Oray
- Fisheries Faculty of Istanbul University, Laleli, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Andone Estonba
- Department of Genetics, Physical Anthropology and Animal Physiology, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Sarriena auzoa z/g, Leioa (Bizkaia), Spain
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29
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Farley JH, Davis TLO, Bravington MV, Andamari R, Davies CR. Spawning Dynamics and Size Related Trends in Reproductive Parameters of Southern Bluefin Tuna, Thunnus maccoyii. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0125744. [PMID: 25993276 PMCID: PMC4436339 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0125744] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2014] [Accepted: 03/26/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Knowledge of spawning behaviour and fecundity of fish is important for estimating the reproductive potential of a stock and for constructing appropriate statistical models for assessing sustainable catch levels. Estimates of length-based reproductive parameters are particularly important for determining potential annual fecundity as a function of fish size, but they are often difficult to estimate reliably. Here we provide new information on the reproductive dynamics of southern bluefin tuna (SBT) Thunnus maccoyii through the analysis of fish size and ovary histology collected on the spawning ground in 1993–1995 and 1999–2002. These are used to refine previous parameter estimates of spawning dynamics and investigate size related trends in these parameters. Our results suggest that the small SBT tend to arrive on the spawning ground slightly later and depart earlier in the spawning season relative to large fish. All females were mature and the majority were classed as spawning capable (actively spawning or non-spawning) with a very small proportion classed as regressing. The fraction of females spawning per day decreased with fish size, but once females start a spawning episode, they spawned daily irrespective of size. Mean batch fecundity was estimated directly at 6.5 million oocytes. Analysis of ovary histology and ovary weight data indicated that relative batch fecundity, and the duration of spawning and non-spawning episodes, increased with fish size. These reproductive parameter estimates could be used with estimates of residency time on the spawning ground as a function of fish size (if known) and demographic data for the spawning population to provide a time series of relative annual fecundity for SBT.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Tim L O Davis
- Oceans and Atmosphere Flagship, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
| | | | - Retno Andamari
- Institute for Mariculture Research and Development, Gondol, Bali, Indonesia
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30
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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.
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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
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Gordoa A, Carreras G. Determination of temporal spawning patterns and hatching time in response to temperature of Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) in the Western Mediterranean. PLoS One 2014; 9:e90691. [PMID: 24608107 PMCID: PMC3946554 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0090691] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2013] [Accepted: 02/04/2014] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
This study analysed the temporal pattern of Atlantic bluefin tuna (ABFT) spawning in the Balearic spawning ground and examined its reproductive performance after years in captivity. Furthermore, ABFT hatching time at different on-site temperatures was determined for the first time. Spawning surveys were carried out in 4 spawning seasons (2009–2012) aboard tuna transport vessels. Three groups of spawners were monitored: a captive group transported to the spawning region and monitored throughout the four spawning seasons and two wild groups caught in 2009 and 2010 which were transferred to a monitoring transport cage immediately after being caught. Surface plankton samples were collected nightly, beginning immediately after the first purse seine catches were made and concluding after spawning was observed to have ended. All groups displayed the same spawning hours, restricted between 2:00–5:00 a.m. The captive group, as they got older, shifted towards the earliest hour, suggesting an age influence on reproductive time. The onset of spawning varied annually from the end of May to the beginning of June at temperatures around 19°C–20°C, ending by the second week of July. The peak of spawning was consistently around the summer solstice, June 15th–30th. The results showed the negative effect of unstable oceanographic conditions in the spawning process which might influence the annual reproductive success of ABFT. The influence of temperature on hatching time was higher than that observed in other tuna species, twice as fast at 26°C (23 h) as at 19.5°C (49 h). Overall, this study shows the strength of the internal mechanism in ABFT that controls spawning traits. Spawning in ABFT is cyclical and highly synchronised on diel and annual scales. We consider that the timing of spawning is rather influenced by day length and its adaptive significance is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Gordoa
- Department of Marine Ecology, Centro de Estudios Avanzados de Blanes, Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), Blanes, Gerona, Spain
- * E-mail:
| | - Gustavo Carreras
- Department of Marine Ecology, Centro de Estudios Avanzados de Blanes, Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), Blanes, Gerona, Spain
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