Statistical phylogeographic tests of competing 'Lake Carpentaria hypotheses' in the mouth-brooding freshwater fish, Glossamia aprion (Apogonidae)

Glacial cycles during the Pleistocene reduced sea levels and created new land connections in northern Australia, where many currently isolated rivers also became connected via an extensive paleo-lake system, 'Lake Carpentaria'. However, the most recent period during which populations of freshwater species were connected by gene flow across Lake Carpentaria is debated: various 'Lake Carpentaria hypotheses' have been proposed. Here, we used a statistical phylogeographic approach to assess the timing of past population connectivity across the Carpentaria region in the obligate freshwater fish, Glossamia aprion. Results for this species indicate that the most recent period of genetic exchange across the Carpentaria region coincided with the mid- to late Pleistocene, a result shown previously for other freshwater and diadromous species. Based on these findings and published studies for various freshwater, diadromous and marine species, we propose a set of 'Lake Carpentaria' hypotheses to explain past population connectivity in aquatic species: (1) strictly freshwater species had widespread gene flow in the mid- to late Pleistocene before the last glacial maximum; (2) marine species were subdivided into eastern and western populations by land during Pleistocene glacial phases; and (3) past connectivity in diadromous species reflects the relative strength of their marine affinity.

Ichthyoplankton Adjacent to Live-Bottom Habitats in Onslow Bay, North Carolina

The abundance and distribution of ichthyoplankton adjacent to live-bottom habitats (rock outcroppings containing rich, sessile invertebrate communities and many species of tropical and subtropical fishes) in open-shelf waters « 55-m isobath) in Onslow Bay, North Carolina, were investigated. Larvae of reef-associated genera, especially the economically important subtropical and tropical members of the families Haemulidae (Haemulon), Lutjanidae (Lutjanus and Rltomboplites), Serranidae (Mycteroperca and Epinephelus), and Sparidae (Calamus and Pagrus) were targeted. Larvae representing 40 families were collected in neuston tows. Commonly collected reef-associated families were Balistidae, Blenniidae (dominated by the reef-associated Parablennius marmoreus) , Mullidae, and Gobiidae. Larvae representing 70 families were collected in subsurface tows. Reef-associated families commonly collected included Apogonidae, Balistidae, Gobiidae, Haemulidae, LutJanidae, Scaridae, and Serranidae. Larval Haemulon sp (p)., Lutjanus sp(p)., and Rltomboplites aurorubens were commonly collected and thus it is likely that these taxa spawn in Onslow Bay and recruit to live-bottom sites within the area. Other families of fishes commonly collected but generally not considered reef-associated included Bothidae, Callionymidae, Carangidae, Clupeidae, Engraulidae, and Ophidiidae. Estuarine-dependent species (e.g. the clupeid Brevoortia tyrannus and the sciaenids Leiostomus xanthurus and Micropogonias undulatus) were an important component of the ichthyoplankton during late fall and winter. The frequent occurrence of larvae from oceanic species (e.g. gonostomatids and myctophids) indicated that Gulf Stream waters had intruded onto the shelf, transporting these larvae to open-shelf waters off North Carolina.(PDF file containes 36 pages.)

Effects of photoperiod on growth of larvae and juveniles of the anemonefish Amphiprion melanopus

Rearing of anemonefishes is now relatively routine compared to the culture of cardinalfishes (Apogonidae) or angelfishes (Pomacanthidae). However, it is still a labor intensive, time intensive and expensive procedure. To reduce time and cost of rearing anemonefishes, experiments were undertaken to improve the methods for rearing Amphiprion melanopus. These experiments were conducted to determine the effect of the length of photoperiod on larval duration, growth to metamorphosis and early juvenile phase. Growth of larvae was significantly faster and the duration of the larval phase was significantly shorter, under a photoperiod of 16 hours light/8 hours dark, compared to the photoperiods of 12 hours light/12 hours dark and 24 hours light/0 hours dark.

Inferências carioevolutivas sobre grupos crípticos de peixes marinhos e estuarinos

Cytogenetic studies have been revealing a great diversity not detected, until then, in several families of fishes. Many of these groups, especially those that exhibit great diversity, like Perciformes and Siluriformes, possess species with difficult morphologic characterization, called cryptic species, commonly detected through karyotypic analyses, which reveals outstanding interespecific variations with relationship to the number and its chromosomal structures. Thus, the present work intends to contribute for the cytogenetic knowledge of marine and brackish fish species, because they peculiar life habits and by lack of cytogenetic data of your genetic aspects. Therefore, cytogenetic studies were developed in a species of Apogonidae (Perciformes), two species of sea catfishes of the family Ariidae (Siluriformes) and brackish fish Paurachenipterus galeatus (Siluriformes, Auchenipteridae), through C banding, Ag-NOR, use of base-specific flourochromes (DAPI and CMA3), as well as FISH (Fluorescent in situ hybridization) using ribosomal DNA probes 5S and 18S. The present results contribute to a better understanding of the processes of differentiation patterns and chromosome evolution in these groups. The use of other approaches (the morphology and molecular tools) will allow a larger understanding of the genetic and biological diversity of the Brazilian ichthyofauna.

Abundance and biomass of near-surface ichthioplankton in the Western Pacific

During Cruise 50 of R/V Vityaz ichthyoplankton in surface waters was collected by a neuston otter trawl for many days in four study areas of the Western Tropical Pacific. Obtained results describe quantitative distribution of ichthyoplankton and small fishes in surface waters. The near-surface layer of the ocean (about 30-40 cm thick) can be considered as a special biotope, its population forms an independent biocoenosis - hyponeuston. Species composition of this community (particularly, composition of fish components) in the tropical zone has been studied to some degree, but structure of the biocoenosis as well as biomass and quantitative relationships of species have not been investigated at all. In this paper the authors discuss the method of collecting surface samples that is quite suitable for quantitative calculations and also present the first results obtained using this method, which described quantitative distribution of ichthyoplankton and small fishes in surface waters.

Parasitic isopod Anilocra apogonae, a drag for the cardinal fish Cheilodipterus quinquelineatus

Cymothoid isopods Anilocra apogonae are regular ectoparasites of the cardinal fish Cheilodipterus quinquelineatus on the Great Barrier Reef. To determine whether this large isopod, attached to the head of the fish, affects the physiology and behaviour of its host, we conducted morphological measurements to obtain a condition index and several laboratory experiments on fish with and without isopods. The condition index did not vary between parasitised and non-parasitised wild fish. However, we found that parasitised fish lost more weight than unparasitised fish when fed a low food ration. Parasitised fish also had a higher rate of oxygen consumption than non-parasitised fish. When maintaining body posture in calm water, parasitised fish had an elevated pectoral fin beat frequency, probably because the isopod attaches asymmetrically, causing an asymmetrical weight balance for which the fish needs to compensate. Moreover, the sustained aerobic swimming speed as well as the swimming endurance at high water speeds were reduced in parasitised fish, possibly because of the drag from the parasite. The results suggest that parasites can have significant effects on fish even if this is not revealed by their body condition index in the wild. The metabolic effects found imply that parasitised fish may have to spend more time foraging to compensate for their higher metabolism. This could expose them to a higher risk of being eaten, a situation made worse by an impaired swimming ability that may reduce their capacity to escape a predator.

First report of a bucephalid digenean from an apogonid teleost: Prosorhynchoides apogonis n. sp from Cheilodipterus macrodon on the southern Great Barrier Reef, Australia

Prosorhynchoides apogonis n. sp. (Digenea: Bucephalidae) is described from the intestine of the apogonid Cheilodipterus macrodon on the southern Great Barrier Reef, Australia. The new species is differentiated from other species of Prosorhynchoides Dollfus, 1929 by the configuration of its digestive system, shape and distribution of its vitelline follicles, and the shape and extent of its uterus. This is the first bucephalid to be described from the teleost family Apogonidae, and our records suggest that this species is strongly host-specific, at least to the genus Cheilodipterus. The host family is consistent with the pattern of Prosorhynchoides being reported from a very wide range of piscivorous fish families. As a result of comparisons made in the description of this species, 18 species formerly included in Bucephaloides Hopkins, 1954, Bucephalopsis Diesing, 1855 and Neobucephalopsis Dayal, 1948 are transferred to Prosorhynchoides, 16 as new combinations and two as replacement names to prevent secondary homonymy.

A review on systematic and taxonomic of the Persian Gulf fish species, based on geographical distribution pattern and habitat diversity, using by GIS

During the period from 2011 - 2015 with the aim of this study was to systematically review and in particular the revised classification of the Persian Gulf (and the Strait of Hormuz) and to obtain new information about the final confirmed list of fish species of Iranian waters of the Persian Gulf (and Hormuz Strait), samples of museums, surveys and sampling, and comparative study of all available sources and documentation was done. Classification systematic of sharks and batoids and bony fishes. Based on the results, the final list of approved fish of the Persian Gulf (including the Strait of Hormuz and Gulf of Oman border region) are 907 species in 157 families, of which 93 species of fish with 28 cartilaginous families (including 18 families with 60 species and 10 families with 34 species of shark and batoids); and 129 families with 814 species of bony fishes are. The presence of 11 new family with only one representative species in the area include Veliferidae, Zeidae, Sebastidae, Stomiidae, Dalatiidae, Zanclidae, Pempheridae, Lophiidae Kuhliidae, Etmoptridae and Chlorophthalmidae also recently introduced and approved. The two families based Creediidae Clinidae and their larvae samples for newly identified area. 62 families with mono-species and 25 families with more than 10 species are present including Gobiidae (53), Carangide (48), Labride (41), Blenniidae (34), Apogonidae (32) and Lutjanidae (31) of bony fishes, Carcharhinidae (26) of sharks and Dasyatidae (12) in terms of number of species of batoids most families to have their data partitioning. Also, 13 species as well as endemic species introduced the Persian Gulf and have been approved in terms of geographical expansion of the Persian Gulf are unique to the area.Two species of the family Poeciliidae and Cyprinodontidae have species of fresh water to the brackish coastal habitats have found a way;in addition to 11 types of families Carcharhinidae, Clupeidae, Chanidae, Gobidae, Mugilidae, Sparidae also as a species, with a focus on freshwater river basins in the south of the country have been found. In this study, it was found that out of 907 species have been reported from the study area, 294 species (32.4 %) to benthic habitats (Benthic habitats) and 613 species (67.6 %) in pelagic habitats (Pelagic habitats) belong. Coral reefs and rocky habitats in the range of benthic fish (129 species - 14.3 %) and reef associated fishes in the range of pelagic fishes (432 species – 47.8 %), the highest number and percentage of habitat diversity (Species habitats) have been allocated. As well as fish habitats with sea grass and algae beds in benthic habitat (17 species- 1.9 %) and pelagic - Oceanic (Open sea) in the whole pelagic fish (30 species – 3.3 %), the lowest number and percentage of habitat diversity into account. From the perspective of animal geography (Zoogeography) and habitat overlaps and similarities (Habitat overlapping) fish fauna of the Persian Gulf compared with other similar seas (tropical and subtropical, and warm temperate) in the Indian Ocean area - calm on the surface, based on the presence of certain species that the fish fauna of the Persian Gulf to the Red Sea and the Bay of Bengal (East Arabian Sea) compared to other regions in the Indian Ocean (Pacific) is closer (about 50%), and the Mediterranean (East area) and The Hawaiian Islands have the lowest overlap and similarity of habitat and species (about 10%).