Diving into the vertical dimension of elasmobranch movement ecology

Knowledge of the three-dimensional movement patterns of elasmobranchs is vital to understand their ecological roles and exposure to anthropogenic pressures. To date, comparative studies among species at global scales have mostly focused on horizontal movements. Our study addresses the knowledge gap of vertical movements by compiling the first global synthesis of vertical habitat use by elasmobranchs from data obtained by deployment of 989 biotelemetry tags on 38 elasmobranch species. Elasmobranchs displayed high intra- and interspecific variability in vertical movement patterns. Substantial vertical overlap was observed for many epipelagic elasmobranchs, indicating an increased likelihood to display spatial overlap, biologically interact, and share similar risk to anthropogenic threats that vary on a vertical gradient. We highlight the critical next steps toward incorporating vertical movement into global management and monitoring strategies for elasmobranchs, emphasizing the need to address geographic and taxonomic biases in deployments and to concurrently consider both horizontal and vertical movements.

Evidence for dynamic resource partitioning between two sympatric reef shark species within the British Indian Ocean Territory

Stable-isotope analyses (δ¹³ C, δ¹⁵ N and δ³⁴ S) of multiple tissues (fin, muscle, red blood cells and plasma), revealed ontogenetic shifts in resource use by grey reef sharks Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos and resource partitioning with silvertip sharks Carcharhinus albimarginatus within the British Indian Ocean Territory marine protected area (MPA). Resource partitioning varied temporally, with C. albimarginatus feeding on more pelagic prey during October to January, potentially attributable to an influx of pelagic prey from outside the MPA at that time. Reef sharks may therefore be affected by processes outside an MPA, even if the sharks do not leave the MPA.

Social stress modulates the cortisol response to an acute stressor in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

In rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) of subordinate social status, circulating cortisol concentrations were elevated under resting conditions but the plasma cortisol and glucose responses to an acute stressor (confinement in a net) were attenuated relative to those of dominant trout. An in vitro head kidney preparation, and analysis of the expression of key genes in the stress axis prior to and following confinement in a net were then used to examine the mechanisms underlying suppression of the acute cortisol stress response in trout experiencing chronic social stress. With porcine adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) as the secretagogue, ACTH-stimulated cortisol production was significantly lower for head kidney preparations from subordinate trout than for those from dominant trout. Dominant and subordinate fish did not, however, differ in the relative mRNA abundance of melanocortin-2 receptor (MC2R), steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR) or cytochrome P450 side chain cleavage enzyme (P450scc) within the head kidney, although the relative mRNA abundance of these genes was significantly higher in both dominant and subordinate fish than in sham trout (trout that did not experience social interactions but were otherwise treated identically to the dominant and subordinate fish). The relative mRNA abundance of all three genes was significantly higher in trout exposed to an acute net stressor than under control conditions. Upstream of cortisol production in the stress axis, plasma ACTH concentrations were not affected by social stress, nor was the relative mRNA abundance of the binding protein for corticotropin releasing factor (CRF-BP). The relative mRNA abundance of CRF in the pre-optic area of subordinate fish was significantly higher than that of dominant or sham fish 1h after exposure to the stressor. Collectively, the results indicate that chronic social stress modulates cortisol production at the level of the interrenal cells, resulting in an attenuated cortisol response to an acute stressor.

Cardiovascular and haematological responses of Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) to acute temperature increase

For fish to survive large acute temperature increases (i.e. >10.0 degrees C) that may bring them close to their critical thermal maximum (CTM), oxygen uptake at the gills and distribution by the cardiovascular system must increase to match tissue oxygen demand. To examine the effects of an acute temperature increase ( approximately 1.7 degrees C h(-1) to CTM) on the cardiorespiratory physiology of Atlantic cod, we (1) carried out respirometry on 10.0 degrees C acclimated fish, while simultaneously measuring in vivo cardiac parameters using Transonic probes, and (2) constructed in vitro oxygen binding curves on whole blood from 7.0 degrees C acclimated cod at a range of temperatures. Both cardiac output (Q) and heart rate (fh) increased until near the fish's CTM (22.2+/-0.2 degrees C), and then declined rapidly. Q(10) values for Q and fh were 2.48 and 2.12, respectively, and increases in both parameters were tightly correlated with O(2) consumption. The haemoglobin (Hb)-oxygen binding curve at 24.0 degrees C showed pronounced downward and rightward shifts compared to 20.0 degrees C and 7.0 degrees C, indicating that both binding capacity and affinity decreased. Further, Hb levels were lower at 24.0 degrees C than at 20.0 degrees C and 7.0 degrees C. This was likely to be due to cell swelling, as electrophoresis of Hb samples did not suggest protein denaturation, and at 24.0 degrees C Hb samples showed peak absorbance at the expected wavelength (540 nm). Our results show that cardiac function is unlikely to limit metabolic rate in Atlantic cod from Newfoundland until close to their CTM, and we suggest that decreased blood oxygen binding capacity may contribute to the plateau in oxygen consumption.

European eels, Anguilla anguilla (L.), infected with Anguillicola crassus exhibit a more pronounced stress response to severe hypoxia than uninfected eels

The parasite, Anguillicola crassus is a non-native species that infects naive European eels, Anguilla anguilla, and causes pathological damage to the swimbladder, potentially compromising their ability to cope with hypoxic conditions. This study aimed to elucidate whether anguillicolosis exacerbates the stress responses to exposure to hypoxic water, conditions that have been implicated in mass mortalities of wild infected European eels. Blood parameters in infected and uninfected eels were measured during exposure to severe hypoxia over an 8-h period. Infected fish showed significantly higher levels of plasma cortisol compared with uninfected eels after 4 h of hypoxia. Uninfected fish showed an almost twofold increase in plasma glucose after 8-h exposure to hypoxia but infected fish showed no significant change, so that the plasma glucose concentration was significantly higher in uninfected eels than in infected eels. Both groups showed similar elevations in blood haematocrit, suggesting a similar catecholamine response in infected and uninfected eels. The lack of a hyperglycaemic response in infected eels, despite indirect evidence of a catecholamine response to hypoxia, may reflect an increase in glucose turnover. The data suggest that anguillicolosis results in a significantly greater corticosteroid stress response to hypoxia accompanied by a higher metabolic cost.

Physiological responses to acute temperature increase in European eels Anguilla anguilla infected with Anguillicola crassus

The swimbladder parasite, Anguillicola crassus has infected, and spread rapidly, through European eel Anguilla anguilla (L.) populations over the past 20 to 25 yr. Our aim in the present studies was to elucidate whether the presence of A. crassus in these eels alters their rapid physiological responses to an acute temperature increase, compared to the response of uninfected fish. Both infected and uninfected fish showed significant increases in plasma cortisol after 2 h at a raised environmental temperature with increased plasma glucose after 6 h. However, infected eels exhibited a slight lag in glucose mobilisation, which may be due to the metabolic cost of harbouring a sanguiverous parasite. Both infected and uninfected fish showed a significant increase in haematocrit after 6 h of temperature elevation, but only uninfected fish exhibited a significant increase in haemoglobin at this point. However, there were no significant changes in mean erythrocyte haemoglobin concentration in either group. Our results suggest that acute temperature increase alone is unlikely to cause significant mortality of A. crassus-infected European eels; however, the effects of chronic increases in temperature in combination with other factors such as toxicants and hypoxia requires examination.