Fishes

17 pages, 4255 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Effect of Dietary Plant Feedstuffs and Protein/Carbohydrate Ratio on Gilthead Seabream (Sparus aurata) Gut Health and Functionality

by Catarina Basto-Silva, Irene García-Meilán, Ana Couto, Cláudia R. Serra, Paula Enes, Aires Oliva-Teles, Encarnación Capilla and Inês Guerreiro

Fishes 2022, 7(2), 59; https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes7020059 - 7 Mar 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3784

Abstract

This study investigated, for the first time, the integrated effects of dietary protein source and protein/carbohydrate (P/CH) ratio on gilthead seabream gut histomorphology, microbiota composition, digestive enzymes activity, and immunological and oxidative stress-related gene expressions. Four isolipidic diets: two fishmeal-based (FM) and two [...] Read more.

This study investigated, for the first time, the integrated effects of dietary protein source and protein/carbohydrate (P/CH) ratio on gilthead seabream gut histomorphology, microbiota composition, digestive enzymes activity, and immunological and oxidative stress-related gene expressions. Four isolipidic diets: two fishmeal-based (FM) and two plant feedstuff (PF)-based diets, with P/CH ratios of 50/10 or 40/20 each (FM-P50/CH10; FM-P40/CH20; PF-P50/CH10; PF-P40/CH20), were tested. PF-based diets lead to more histomorphological alterations than FM-based diets. P/CH ratio had no relevant effect on gut histomorphology. Gut mucosa of fish fed PF-based diets presented a higher number of operational taxonomic units, and richness and diversity indices, while the P/CH ratio did not affect those parameters. The α-amylase activity was lower in fish fed with PF-based diets and in fish fed the P40/CH20 diets. Regarding the immune-related genes, only cyclooxygenase-2 was affected, being higher in fish fed the P50/CH10 diets than the P40/CH20 diets. Fish fed the FM-based diets presented higher expression of glutathione reductase and glutathione peroxidase, while fish fed the P50/CH10 diet had higher expression of superoxide dismutase. In conclusion, PF-based diets can compromise gut absorptive and digestive metabolism, but decreasing the dietary P/CH ratio had little effect on the parameters measured. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Current Advances and Challenges in Fisheries and Aquaculture Science: Feature Papers for the New Journey of Fishes)

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22 pages, 4203 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceSystematic Review

A Systematic Review of the Behavioural Changes and Physiological Adjustments of Elasmobranchs and Teleost’s to Ocean Acidification with a Focus on Sharks

by Ziv Zemah-Shamir, Shiri Zemah-Shamir, Aviad Scheinin, Dan Tchernov, Teddy Lazebnik and Gideon Gal

Fishes 2022, 7(2), 56; https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes7020056 - 28 Feb 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 6458

Abstract

In recent years, much attention has been focused on the impact of climate change, particularly via ocean acidification (OA), on marine organisms. Studying the impact of OA on long-living organisms, such as sharks, is especially challenging. When the ocean waters absorb anthropogenic carbon [...] Read more.

In recent years, much attention has been focused on the impact of climate change, particularly via ocean acidification (OA), on marine organisms. Studying the impact of OA on long-living organisms, such as sharks, is especially challenging. When the ocean waters absorb anthropogenic carbon dioxide (CO₂), slow-growing shark species with long generation times may be subjected to stress, leading to a decrease in functionality. Our goal was to examine the behavioral and physiological responses of sharks to OA and the possible impacts on their fitness and resilience. We conducted a systematic review in line with PRISMA-Analyses, of previously reported scientific experiments. We found that most studies used CO₂ partial pressures (pCO₂) that reflect representative concentration pathways for the year 2100 (e.g., pH ~7.8, pCO₂ ~1000 μatm). Since there is a considerable knowledge gap on the effect of OA on sharks, we utilized existing data on bony fish to synthesize the available knowledge. Given the similarities between the behaviors and physiology of these two superclasses’ to changes in CO₂ and pH levels, there is merit in including the available information on bony fish as well. Several studies indicated a decrease in shark fitness in relation to increased OA and CO₂ levels. However, the decrease was species-specific and influenced by the intensity of the change in atmospheric CO₂ concentration and other anthropogenic and environmental factors (e.g., fishing, temperature). Most studies involved only limited exposure to future environmental conditions and were conducted on benthic shark species studied in the laboratory rather than on apex predator species. While knowledge gaps exist, and more research is required, we conclude that anthropogenic factors are likely contributing to shark species’ vulnerability worldwide. However, the impact of OA on the long-term stability of shark populations is not unequivocal. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Environment and Climate Change)

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12 pages, 1966 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceCommunication

Low-Cost Resin 3-D Printing for Rapid Prototyping of Microdevices: Opportunities for Supporting Aquatic Germplasm Repositories

by Nikolas C. Zuchowicz, Jorge A. Belgodere, Yue Liu, Ignatius Semmes, William Todd Monroe and Terrence R. Tiersch

Fishes 2022, 7(1), 49; https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes7010049 - 15 Feb 2022

Cited by 17 | Viewed by 5331

Abstract

Germplasm repositories can benefit sustainable aquaculture by supporting genetic improvement, assisted reproduction, and management of valuable genetic resources. Lack of reliable quality management tools has impeded repository development in the past several decades. Microfabricated open-hardware devices have emerged as a new approach to [...] Read more.

Germplasm repositories can benefit sustainable aquaculture by supporting genetic improvement, assisted reproduction, and management of valuable genetic resources. Lack of reliable quality management tools has impeded repository development in the past several decades. Microfabricated open-hardware devices have emerged as a new approach to assist repository development by providing standardized quality assessment capabilities to enable routine quality control. However, prototyping of microfabricated devices (microdevices) traditionally relies on photolithography techniques that are costly, time intensive, and accessible only through specialized engineering laboratories. Although resin 3-D printing has been introduced into the microfabrication domain, existing publications focus on customized or high-cost (>thousands of USD) printers. The goal of this report was to identify and call attention to the emerging opportunities to support innovation in microfabrication by use of low-cost (<USD 350) resin 3-D printing for rapid prototyping. We demonstrate that low-cost mask-based stereolithography (MSLA) 3-D printers with straightforward modifications can provide fabrication quality that approaches traditional photolithography techniques. For example, reliable feature sizes of 20 µm with dimensional discrepancy of <4% for lateral dimensions and <5% for vertical dimensions were fabricated with a consumer-level MSLA printers. In addition, alterations made to pre-processing, post-processing, and printer configuration steps improved print quality as demonstrated in objects with sharper edges and smoother surfaces. The prototyping time and cost of resin 3-D printing (3 h with USD 0.5/prototype) were considerably lower than those of traditional photolithography (5 d with USD 80/prototype). With the rapid advance of consumer-grade printers, resin 3-D printing can revolutionize rapid prototyping approaches for microdevices in the near future, facilitating participation in interdisciplinary development of innovative hardware to support germplasm repository development for aquatic species. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Emerging Technologies for Sustainable Aquaculture)

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17 pages, 1829 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Isolation and Characterization of Plasma-Derived Exosomes from the Marine Fish Rock Bream (Oplegnathus fasciatus) by Two Isolation Techniques

by Chamilani Nikapitiya, Eriyawala Hewage Thimira Thulshan Jayathilaka, Shan Lakmal Edirisinghe, Dinusha C. Rajapaksha, Withanage Prasadini Wasana, Jayasinghage Nirmani Chathurangika Jayasinghe and Mahanama De Zoysa

Fishes 2022, 7(1), 36; https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes7010036 - 2 Feb 2022

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 5242

Abstract

Exosomes are important mediators of intercellular communication and modulate many physiological and pathological processes. Knowledge of secretion, content, and biological functions of fish exosomes during pathological infection is still scarce due to lack of suitable standardized isolation techniques. In this study, we aimed [...] Read more.

Exosomes are important mediators of intercellular communication and modulate many physiological and pathological processes. Knowledge of secretion, content, and biological functions of fish exosomes during pathological infection is still scarce due to lack of suitable standardized isolation techniques. In this study, we aimed to isolate exosomes from the plasma of marine fish, rock bream (Oplegnathus fasciatus), by two isolation methods: differential ultracentrifugation (UC) and a commercial membrane affinity spin column technique (kit). Morphological and physicochemical characteristics of the isolated exosomes were determined by these two methods, and the efficiencies of the two methods were compared. Exosomes isolated by both methods were in the expected size range (30–200 nm) and had a characteristic cup-shape in transmission electron microscopy observation. Moreover, more intact exosomes were identified using the kit-based method than UC. Nanoparticle tracking analysis demonstrated a heterogeneous population of exosomes with a mean particle diameter of 114.6 ± 4.6 and 111.2 ± 2.2 nm by UC and a kit-based method, respectively. The particle concentration obtained by the kit method (1.05 × 10¹¹ ± 1.23 × 10¹⁰ particles/mL) was 10-fold higher than that obtained by UC (4.90 × 10¹⁰ ± 2.91 × 10⁹ particles/mL). The kit method had a comparatively higher total protein yield (1.86 mg) and exosome protein recovery (0.55 mg/mL plasma). Immunoblotting analysis showed the presence of exosome marker proteins (CD81, CD63, and HSP90) in the exosomes isolated by both methods and suggests the existence of exosomes. However, the absence of cytotoxicity or adverse immune responses to fish and mammalian cells by the exosomes isolated by the UC procedure indicates its suitability for functional studies in vitro. Overall, our basic characterization results indicate that the kit-based method is more suitable for isolating high-purity exosomes from fish plasma, whereas UC has higher safety in terms of yielding exosomes with low toxicity. This study provides evidence for the existence of typical exosomes in rock beam plasma and facilitates the selection of an efficient exosome isolation procedure for future applications in disease diagnosis and exosome therapy as fish medicine. Full article

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19 pages, 1751 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Direct and Molecular Observation of Movement and Reproduction by Candy Darter, Etheostoma osburni, an Endangered Benthic Stream Fish in Virginia, USA

by Kathryn E. McBaine, Eric M. Hallerman and Paul L. Angermeier

Fishes 2022, 7(1), 30; https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes7010030 - 27 Jan 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3308

Abstract

Direct and indirect measures of individual movement provide valuable knowledge regarding a species’ resiliency to environmental change. Information on patterns of movement can inform species management and conservation but is lacking for many imperiled fishes. The Candy Darter, Etheostoma osburni, is an [...] Read more.

Direct and indirect measures of individual movement provide valuable knowledge regarding a species’ resiliency to environmental change. Information on patterns of movement can inform species management and conservation but is lacking for many imperiled fishes. The Candy Darter, Etheostoma osburni, is an endangered stream fish with a dramatically reduced distribution in Virginia in the eastern United States, now known from only four isolated populations. We used visual implant elastomer tags and microsatellite DNA markers to directly describe movement patterns in two populations. Parentage analysis based on parent-offspring pairs was used to infer movement patterns of young-of-year and age-1 individuals, as well as the reproductive contribution of certain adults. Direct measurements of movement distances were generally similar between methods, but microsatellite markers revealed greater distances moved, commensurate with greater spatial frames sampled. Parent-offspring pairs were found throughout the species’ 18.8-km distribution in Stony Creek, while most parent-offspring pairs were in 2 km of the 4.25-km distribution in Laurel Creek. Sibship reconstruction allowed us to characterize the mating system and number of spawning years for adults. Our results provide the first measures of movement patterns of Candy Darter as well as the spatial distribution of parent-offspring pairs, which may be useful for selecting collection sites in source populations to be used for translocation or reintroductions. Our results highlight the importance of documenting species movement patterns and spatial distributions of related individuals as steps toward understanding population dynamics and informing translocation strategies. We also demonstrate that the reproductive longevity of this species is greater than previously described, which may be the case for other small stream fishes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Current Advances and Challenges in Fisheries and Aquaculture Science: Feature Papers for the New Journey of Fishes)

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19 pages, 4329 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Demographic and Life History Characteristics of Black Bullheads Ameiurus melas in a North Temperate USA Lake

by Logan W. Sikora, Joseph T. Mrnak, Rebecca Henningsen, Justin A. VanDeHey and Greg G. Sass

Fishes 2022, 7(1), 21; https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes7010021 - 14 Jan 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 4374

Abstract

Black bullheads Ameiurus melas are an environmentally tolerant omnivorous fish species that are found throughout much of North America and parts of Europe. Despite their prevalence, black bullheads are an infrequently studied species making their biology, ecology, and life history poorly understood. Although [...] Read more.

Black bullheads Ameiurus melas are an environmentally tolerant omnivorous fish species that are found throughout much of North America and parts of Europe. Despite their prevalence, black bullheads are an infrequently studied species making their biology, ecology, and life history poorly understood. Although limited information has been published on black bullheads, evidence suggests that bullheads can dominate the fish biomass and have profound influences on the fish community in some north temperate USA lakes. The goal of our study was to provide additional information on black bullhead population demographics, growth rates, life history characteristics, and seasonal diet preferences in a northern Wisconsin lake. Using common fish collection gears (fyke netting, electrofishing), fish aging protocols, fecundity assessments, and diet indices, our results suggested that black bullheads exhibited relatively fast growth rates, early ages at maturity, moderate fecundity, and a diverse omnivorous diet. Due to these demographic and life history characteristics, black bullheads have the potential to dominate fish community biomass in their native and introduced range. Results from our study may inform the management of black bullhead as native and invasive species. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Current Advances and Challenges in Fisheries and Aquaculture Science: Feature Papers for the New Journey of Fishes)

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18 pages, 3476 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperEditor’s ChoiceArticle

A Multidisciplinary Approach Evaluating Soybean Meal-Induced Enteritis in Rainbow Trout Oncorhynchus mykiss

by Henrike Seibel, Elvis Chikwati, Carsten Schulz and Alexander Rebl

Fishes 2022, 7(1), 22; https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes7010022 - 14 Jan 2022

Cited by 20 | Viewed by 4577

Abstract

This study evaluated a diverse range of markers of feeding stress to obtain a more precise assessment of the welfare of rainbow trout in relation to inadequate husbandry conditions. A feeding stress model based on dietary soybean meal was employed to identify suitable [...] Read more.

This study evaluated a diverse range of markers of feeding stress to obtain a more precise assessment of the welfare of rainbow trout in relation to inadequate husbandry conditions. A feeding stress model based on dietary soybean meal was employed to identify suitable minimally invasive “classical” stress markers, together with molecular signatures. In a 56-day feeding experiment, rainbow trout were fed diets containing different levels of soybean meal. The impact of these different soybean meal diets on rainbow trout was assessed by water quality analyses, clinical health observations, classic growth and performance parameters, gut histopathology, blood-parameter measurements and multigene-expression profiling in RNA from whole blood. Soybean meal-induced enteritis was manifested phenotypically by an inflammatory reaction in the posterior section of the intestine and by diarrhoea in some trout. These inflammatory changes were associated with decreased supranuclear vacuolation. The haematocrit values and the levels of plasma cortisol and circulating lymphocytes in the blood were increased in trout that had consumed high amounts of SBM. Notably, the increased haematocrit depended significantly on the bodyweight of the individual trout. The transcript levels of certain genes (e.g., MAP3K1, LYG, NOD1, STAT1 and HSP90AB) emerged as potentially useful indicators in the blood of rainbow trout providing valuable information about inadequate nutrition. The expression-profiling findings provide a basis for improved, minimally invasive monitoring of feeding regimens in trout farming and may stimulate the development of practical detection devices for innovative aquaculture operations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Genetics and Biotechnology)

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19 pages, 1704 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

The Effects of Silkworm-Derived Polysaccharide (Silkrose) on Ectoparasitic Infestations in Yellowtail (Seriola quinqueradiata) and White Trevally (Pseudocaranx dentex)

by Takeshi Miura, Munenori Nishikawa, Yuki Otsu, Muhammad Fariz Zahir Ali, Atsushi Hashizume and Chiemi Miura

Fishes 2022, 7(1), 14; https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes7010014 - 9 Jan 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 4319

Abstract

The effect of silkworm-derived polysaccharide silkrose on fish ectoparasites was investigated. When juvenile yellowtail (Seriola quinqueradiata) fed diets containing silkrose were artificially infected with Benedenia seriolae, a fish ectoparasite, the numbers of parasitized B. seriolae were significantly lower compared to [...] Read more.

The effect of silkworm-derived polysaccharide silkrose on fish ectoparasites was investigated. When juvenile yellowtail (Seriola quinqueradiata) fed diets containing silkrose were artificially infected with Benedenia seriolae, a fish ectoparasite, the numbers of parasitized B. seriolae were significantly lower compared to that in fish in the control group without silkrose treatment. Furthermore, when juvenile yellowtails were severely infected with B. seriolae, no mortality was observed in the silkrose-treated group, compared to more than 60% in the control group. In field studies carried out at a fish farm with yellowtail and white trevally (Pseudocaranx dentex), oral treatment with silkrose significantly reduced B. seriolae parasitism in yellowtail and Caligus longipedis and Neobenedenia girellae parasitism in white trevally. Silkrose treatment also reduced blood levels of cortisol, a stress hormone in both species. The changes in gene expression in the epidermis of yellowtail by silkrose treatment were also investigated, showing that the expression of various genes, including factors involved in immunity, stress response, and wound healing, was changed by the treatment. These findings indicate that silkworm-derived silkrose effectively prevents infection by external parasites in yellowtail and white trevally. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Sustainable Aquaculture)

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10 pages, 893 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Stock Reduction Analysis of Bigeye Croaker Micropogonias megalops in the Upper Gulf of California, Mexico

by Ricardo Urías-Sotomayor, Guillermo Rodríguez-Domínguez, José Adán Félix-Ortiz, Gilberto G. Ortega-Lizárraga, Horacio A. Muñoz-Rubí and Eugenio Alberto Aragón-Noriega

Fishes 2022, 7(1), 15; https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes7010015 - 8 Jan 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2721

Abstract

A stock reduction analysis (SRA) of bigeye croaker Micropogonias megalops was performed based on commercial catch data. SRA solutions were restricted to a 2011 bigeye croaker stock biomass estimate of 14,412 t. The viable solution indicated a reduction in stock of 73.6% from [...] Read more.

A stock reduction analysis (SRA) of bigeye croaker Micropogonias megalops was performed based on commercial catch data. SRA solutions were restricted to a 2011 bigeye croaker stock biomass estimate of 14,412 t. The viable solution indicated a reduction in stock of 73.6% from 1983 to 2020 with an initial biomass of 22,186 t. In addition, a possible effect of hyperstability of the stock was evaluated by applying different versions of the Cobb–Douglas catch function. The most probable function based on a multi-model selection procedure was the one wherein the catch does not depend on biomass and is directly proportional to the applied fishing effort of small boats (~7 m) and vessels (~24 m). This situation suggests that in a free access regime, fishing can deplete the resource until it collapses, without observing a significant reduction in its catches until the event is very close. Full article

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8 pages, 472 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Multi-Mineral Element Profiles in Genuine and “Bathing” Cultured Chinese Mitten Crabs (Eriocheir sinensis) in Yangcheng Lake, China

by Junren Xue, Tao Jiang, Xiubao Chen, Hongbo Liu and Jian Yang

Fishes 2022, 7(1), 11; https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes7010011 - 7 Jan 2022

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 5010

Abstract

The authentication of high-quality fishery products originating from specific geographical regions is urgently needed worldwide. Chinese mitten crabs (Eriocheir sinensis), originating from Yangcheng Lake, are prime counterfeiting targets for the same reasons. Foreign crabs that are cultured briefly in the lake, [...] Read more.

The authentication of high-quality fishery products originating from specific geographical regions is urgently needed worldwide. Chinese mitten crabs (Eriocheir sinensis), originating from Yangcheng Lake, are prime counterfeiting targets for the same reasons. Foreign crabs that are cultured briefly in the lake, known as “bathed” crabs, are illegally marketed as natives, negatively impacting the product quality. To establish a method for distinguishing “bathed” and genuine crabs, in this paper we conduct a comparative investigation by an Agilent 7500ce ICP-MS on multi-mineral element profiling of the third pereiopod from genuine and one month deliberately “bathing” cultured crabs. The profiles of 11 elements were significantly different between the genuine and foreign crabs before and after bathing. The discriminant analysis reached 100% accuracy to separate the genuine and “bathed” crabs into different groups. Bathing culture was unable to converge element profiles between the genuine and foreign crabs. The biogeochemical profiles can be effective for distinguishing “bathed” crabs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Sustainable Aquaculture)

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12 pages, 287 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Solid-State Hydrolysis (SSH) Improves the Nutritional Value of Plant Ingredients in the Diet of Mugil cephalus

by Francisca P. Martínez-Antequera, Isabel Barranco-Ávila, Juan A. Martos-Sitcha and Francisco J. Moyano

Fishes 2022, 7(1), 4; https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes7010004 - 25 Dec 2021

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 3803

Abstract

The possibility of improving the nutritional quality of plant byproducts (brewers’ spent grain and rice bran) through an enzyme treatment was tested in a formulated feed for grey mullet (Mugil cephalus). The enzyme treatment was carried out by Solid-State Hydrolysis (SSH) [...] Read more.

The possibility of improving the nutritional quality of plant byproducts (brewers’ spent grain and rice bran) through an enzyme treatment was tested in a formulated feed for grey mullet (Mugil cephalus). The enzyme treatment was carried out by Solid-State Hydrolysis (SSH) using a commercial preparation including carbohydrases and phytase. A feed prepared without the treatment and a commercial feed for carp were used as controls. In a preliminary short-term trial carried out at laboratory facilities, fish receiving the enzyme-treated feed showed significant improvement in both FCR and SGR when compared to those obtained with the untreated diet, although both experimental diets presented worse values than those obtained with the commercial feed. Different metabolic indicators including higher values of muscle glycogen and plasmatic triglycerides supported the positive effect of the enzyme treatment on the nutritional condition of the fish over those fed on the diet containing non-treated ingredients. Results of growth and feed efficiency that were obtained in a second long-term trial developed for 148 days under real production conditions evidenced the equivalence among the experimental and commercial diets and confirmed that enzyme pretreatment of plant ingredients by SSH may be a useful procedure to improve the nutritive value of high fiber plant byproducts when included in practical diets for this species and others with similar nutritional features. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Current Advances and Challenges in Fisheries and Aquaculture Science: Feature Papers for the New Journey of Fishes)

11 pages, 496 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Conservation-Status Gaps for Marine Top-Fished Commercial Species

by Imanol Miqueleiz, Rafael Miranda, Arturo Hugo Ariño and Elena Ojea

Fishes 2022, 7(1), 2; https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes7010002 - 23 Dec 2021

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 5613

Abstract

Biodiversity loss is a global problem, accelerated by human-induced pressures. In the marine realm, one of the major threats to species conservation, together with climate change, is overfishing. In this context, having information on the conservation status of target commercial marine fish species [...] Read more.

Biodiversity loss is a global problem, accelerated by human-induced pressures. In the marine realm, one of the major threats to species conservation, together with climate change, is overfishing. In this context, having information on the conservation status of target commercial marine fish species becomes crucial for assuring safe standards. We put together fisheries statistics from the FAO, the IUCN Red List, FishBase, and RAM Legacy databases to understand to what extent top commercial species’ conservation status has been assessed. Levels of assessment for top-fished species were higher than those for general commercial or highly commercial species, but almost half of the species have outdated assessments. We found no relation between IUCN Red List traits and FishBase Vulnerability Index, depreciating the latter value as a guidance for extinction threat. The RAM database suggests good management of more-threatened species in recent decades, but more data are required to assess whether the trend has reverted in recent years. Outdated IUCN Red List assessments can benefit from reputed stock assessments for new reassessments. The future of IUCN Red List evaluations for commercial fish species relies on integrating new parameters from fisheries sources and improved collaboration with fisheries stakeholders and managers. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Current Advances and Challenges in Fisheries and Aquaculture Science: Feature Papers for the New Journey of Fishes)

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35 pages, 15062 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Complete Genome Sequences and Pathogenicity Analysis of Two Red Sea Bream Iridoviruses Isolated from Cultured Fish in Korea

by Min-A Jeong, Ye-Jin Jeong and Kwang-Il Kim

Fishes 2021, 6(4), 82; https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes6040082 - 15 Dec 2021

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3631

Abstract

In Korea, red sea bream iridovirus (RSIV), especially subtype II, has been the main causative agent of red sea bream iridoviral disease since the 1990s. Herein, we report two Korean RSIV isolates with different subtypes based on the major capsid protein and adenosine [...] Read more.

In Korea, red sea bream iridovirus (RSIV), especially subtype II, has been the main causative agent of red sea bream iridoviral disease since the 1990s. Herein, we report two Korean RSIV isolates with different subtypes based on the major capsid protein and adenosine triphosphatase genes: 17SbTy (RSIV mixed subtype I/II) from Japanese seabass (Lateolabrax japonicus) and 17RbGs (RSIV subtype II) from rock bream (Oplegnathus fasciatus). The complete genome sequences of 17SbTy and 17RbGs were 112,360 and 112,235 bp long, respectively (115 and 114 open reading frames [ORFs], respectively). Based on nucleotide sequence homology with sequences of representative RSIVs, 69 of 115 ORFs of 17SbTy were most closely related to subtype II (98.48–100% identity), and 46 were closely related to subtype I (98.77–100% identity). In comparison with RSIVs, 17SbTy and 17RbGs carried two insertion/deletion mutations (ORFs 014R and 102R on the basis of 17SbTy) in regions encoding functional proteins (a DNA-binding protein and a myristoylated membrane protein). Notably, survival rates differed significantly between 17SbTy-infected and 17RbGs-infected rock breams, indicating that the genomic characteristics and/or adaptations to their respective original hosts might influence pathogenicity. Thus, this study provides complete genome sequences and insights into the pathogenicity of two newly identified RSIV isolates classified as a mixed subtype I/II and subtype II. Full article

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14 pages, 3197 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Genetic Variability, Population Structure, and Relatedness Analysis of Meagre Stocks as an Informative Basis for New Breeding Schemes

by Orestis Nousias, Konstantinos Tzokas, Leonidas Papaharisis, Katerina Ekonomaki, Dimitrios Chatziplis, Costas Batargias and Costas S. Tsigenopoulos

Fishes 2021, 6(4), 78; https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes6040078 - 10 Dec 2021

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 4189

Abstract

This study evaluates the genetic diversity of different meagre broodstocks sampled in Greece. A multiplex of twelve microsatellite markers was used to genotype 946 fish from eleven stocks and batches used for broodstock selection, and the genetic data was used to calculate genetic [...] Read more.

This study evaluates the genetic diversity of different meagre broodstocks sampled in Greece. A multiplex of twelve microsatellite markers was used to genotype 946 fish from eleven stocks and batches used for broodstock selection, and the genetic data was used to calculate genetic population parameters as well as to investigate the genetic differentiation between stocks. The results from a relatedness analysis were used as the guiding lines for a fine-tuned and overall evaluation of the genetic distance between stocks, and the choice of candidate breeders from some of them. The approach implemented in this study uses well-established population genetics methods to evaluate the selection of breeder candidates in aquaculture commercial conditions utilizing a descriptive genetic data set based on microsatellite analyses, and to outline an efficient methodology for establishing the basis of new breeding schemes. Full article

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15 pages, 967 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceReview

Probiotics Have the Potential to Significantly Mitigate the Environmental Impact of Freshwater Fish Farms

by Cosmas Nathanailides, Markos Kolygas, Konstantina Choremi, Theodoros Mavraganis, Evangelia Gouva, Kosmas Vidalis and Fotini Athanassopoulou

Fishes 2021, 6(4), 76; https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes6040076 - 8 Dec 2021

Cited by 32 | Viewed by 10305

Abstract

Probiotics for freshwater fish farming can be administered as single or multiple mixtures. The expected benefits of probiotics include disease prophylaxis, improved growth, and feed conversion parameters, such as the feed conversion rate (FCR) and specific growth rate (SGR). In the current work, [...] Read more.

Probiotics for freshwater fish farming can be administered as single or multiple mixtures. The expected benefits of probiotics include disease prophylaxis, improved growth, and feed conversion parameters, such as the feed conversion rate (FCR) and specific growth rate (SGR). In the current work, we review the impact of probiotics on freshwater finfish aquaculture. Data were gathered from articles published during the last decade that examined the effects of probiotics on fish growth, FCR, and water quality in freshwater fishponds/tanks. While the expected benefits of probiotics are significant, the reviewed data indicate a range in the level of effects, with an average reduction in ammonia of 50.7%, SGR increase of 17.1%, and FCR decrease of 10.7%. Despite the variability in the reported benefits, probiotics appear to offer a practical solution for sustainable freshwater aquaculture. Disease prophylaxis with probiotics can reduce the need for antibiotics and maintain gut health and feed conversion. Considering that fish feed and waste are two significant parameters of the aquaculture ecological footprint, it can be argued that probiotics can contribute to reducing the environmental impact of aquaculture. In this direction, it would be beneficial if more researchers incorporated water quality parameters in future aquaculture research and protocols to minimize aquaculture’s environmental impact. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Impacts of Land-Based Aquaculture)

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12 pages, 3482 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Design and Fabrication of an Automatic Fish Feeder Prototype Suits Tilapia Tanks

by Ahmed Mohamed El Shal, Faisal Mohamed El Sheikh and Atef Mohamed Elsbaay

Fishes 2021, 6(4), 74; https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes6040074 - 6 Dec 2021

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 20944

Abstract

The conventional methods of supplying feed to tilapia tanks are ineffective. It is better to find new a automatic feeder saving pellets from crushing and cohesion without hitting pellets during feeding at a predetermined interval of time and an accurate amount of food [...] Read more.

The conventional methods of supplying feed to tilapia tanks are ineffective. It is better to find new a automatic feeder saving pellets from crushing and cohesion without hitting pellets during feeding at a predetermined interval of time and an accurate amount of food with a larger surface area covered by pellets. Developing-country fish farmers use manual feeding to be more cost-effective than with costly mechanized feeding, so this research aimed to design and construct an automatic fish feeder prototype to feed tilapia in a recirculation aquaculture system’s tank. The performance of the prototype was studied after it was designed and installed. The dispensed feed operated by a DC motor located underneath the pellet hopper and the feed material was discharged into the tank through a gate in the bottom of the feeder. Three pellet sizes, three rotation speeds, and three feeder heights from the water’s surface were used to test the automatic feeder’s efficiency. The results showed that the optimal speed for the automatic feeder was 14 rpm with a height of 70 cm, resulting in a distribution width of 26.6 cm and a high automatic feeder efficiency of 99.9%. Furthermore, the feeder used very little electricity and saved time, cost, labor, energy, and pellets. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Fishery Facilities, Equipment, and Information Technology)

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14 pages, 4902 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Evolution of the Parvalbumin Genes in Teleost Fishes after the Whole-Genome Duplication

by Subham Mukherjee, Oldřich Bartoš, Kamila Zdeňková, Petr Hanák, Petra Horká and Zuzana Musilova

Fishes 2021, 6(4), 70; https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes6040070 - 1 Dec 2021

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 4841

Abstract

Parvalbumin is considered a major fish allergen. Here, we report the molecular evolution of the parvalbumin genes in bony fishes based on 19 whole genomes and 70 transcriptomes. We found unexpectedly high parvalbumin diversity in teleosts; three main gene types (pvalb-α, [...] Read more.

Parvalbumin is considered a major fish allergen. Here, we report the molecular evolution of the parvalbumin genes in bony fishes based on 19 whole genomes and 70 transcriptomes. We found unexpectedly high parvalbumin diversity in teleosts; three main gene types (pvalb-α, pvalb-β1, and pvalb-β2, including oncomodulins) originated at the onset of vertebrates. Teleosts have further multiplied the parvalbumin gene repertoire up to nine ancestral copies—two copies of pvalb-α, two copies of pvalb-β1, and five copies of pvalb-β2. This gene diversity is a result of teleost-specific whole-genome duplication. Two conserved parvalbumin genomic clusters carry pvalb-β1 and β2 copies, whereas pvalb-α genes are located separately in different linkage groups. Further, we investigated parvalbumin gene expression in 17 tissues of the common carp (Cyprinus carpio), a species with 21 parvalbumin genes in its genome. Two pvalb-α and eight pvalb-β2 copies are highly expressed in the muscle, while two alternative pvalb-α copies show expression in the brain and the testes, and pvalb-β1 is dominant in the retina and the kidney. The recent pairs of muscular pvalb-β2 genes show differential expression in this species. We provide robust genomic evidence of the complex evolution of the parvalbumin genes in fishes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Genetics and Biotechnology)

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15 pages, 1067 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Comparative Pharmacokinetics and Tissue Concentrations of Flunixin Meglumine and Meloxicam in Tilapia (Oreochromis spp.)

by Miriam Martin, Stephen Smith, Michael Kleinhenz, Geraldine Magnin, Zhoumeng Lin, David Kuhn, Shawnee Montgomery and Johann Coetzee

Fishes 2021, 6(4), 68; https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes6040068 - 25 Nov 2021

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 4573

Abstract

Evidence of pain perception in fish is well established, but analgesic use in aquaculture is limited. The objective was to investigate the comparative pharmacokinetics of flunixin administered intramuscularly (IM) and meloxicam administered IM or orally (PO) in tilapia. Two hundred and seventy fish [...] Read more.

Evidence of pain perception in fish is well established, but analgesic use in aquaculture is limited. The objective was to investigate the comparative pharmacokinetics of flunixin administered intramuscularly (IM) and meloxicam administered IM or orally (PO) in tilapia. Two hundred and seventy fish were assigned to 1 of 3 treatment groups: flunixin meglumine IM (2.2 mg/kg); meloxicam IM (1 mg/kg); or meloxicam PO (1 mg/kg). Blood and tissue samples were collected from 6 fish per treatment at 14 time points for 10 days. Drug concentrations were determined using ultra-high-pressure liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectroscopy. Plasma concentration versus time data were analyzed with a non-compartmental approach using a commercially available software. Flunixin reached a mean maximum concentration (C_max) of 4826.7 ng/mL at 0.5 h, had a terminal half-life (T¹/₂) of 7.34 h, and an area under the concentration–time curve extrapolated to infinity (AUC_{INF_obs}) of 25,261.62 h·ng/mL. Meloxicam IM had a T¹/₂ of 9.4 h after reaching a C_max of 11.3 ng/mL at 2 h, with an AUC_{INF_obs} of 150.31 h·ng/mL. Meloxicam PO had a T¹/₂ of 1.9 h after reaching a C_max of 72.2 ng/mL at 2 h, with an AUC_{INF_obs} of 400.83 h·ng/mL. Tissue concentrations of both drugs were undetectable by 9 h. Flunixin reached a sufficient plasma concentration to potentially have an analgesic effect, while meloxicam, when administered at the given dosage, likely would not. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Welfare, Health and Disease)

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16 pages, 1628 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Survival and Physiological Recovery after Capture by Hookline: The Case Study of the Blackspot Seabream (Pagellus bogaraveo)

by Ignacio Ruiz-Jarabo, Miriam Fernández-Castro, Ismael Jerez-Cepa, Cristina Barragán-Méndez, Montse Pérez, Evaristo Pérez, Juan Gil, Jesús Canoura, Carlos Farias, Juan Miguel Mancera and Ignacio Sobrino

Fishes 2021, 6(4), 64; https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes6040064 - 17 Nov 2021

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3884

Abstract

Evaluating the survival of discarded species is gaining momentum after the new European Common Fisheries Policy (Article 15 of the European Regulation No. 1380/2013). This regulation introduced a discard ban, with an exemption for those species with demonstrated high survival rates after their [...] Read more.

Evaluating the survival of discarded species is gaining momentum after the new European Common Fisheries Policy (Article 15 of the European Regulation No. 1380/2013). This regulation introduced a discard ban, with an exemption for those species with demonstrated high survival rates after their capture and release. Candidate species should be evaluated for each fishing gear and geographical area. In this study, we assessed not only survival, but also physiological recovery rates of blackspot seabream (Pagellus bogaraveo) below commercial size captured with a hookline called “voracera” in the Strait of Gibraltar (SW Atlantic waters of Europe). Experiments onboard a commercial fishing vessel were paralleled with studies in controlled ground-based facilities, where the capture process was mimicked, and physiological recovery markers were described. Our results confirmed that hookline capture induced acute stress responses in the target species, such as changes in plasma cortisol, lactate, glucose, and osmolality. However, 90.6% of the blackspot seabreams below commercial size captured with this fishing gear managed to survive, and evidenced physiological recovery responses 5 h after capture, with complete homeostatic recovery occurring within the first 24 h. Based on this study, the European Commission approved an exemption from the discard (EU Commission Delegated Regulation 6794/2018). Thus, the robust methodology described herein can be an important tool to mitigate the problem of discards in Europe. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Fishery Economics, Policy, and Management)

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15 pages, 1584 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Effects of Single or Combined Administration of Dietary Synbiotic and Sodium Propionate on Humoral Immunity and Oxidative Defense, Digestive Enzymes and Growth Performances of African Cichlid (Labidochromis lividus) Challenged with Aeromonas hydrophila

by Omid Safari, Mehrdad Sarkheil, Davar Shahsavani and Marina Paolucci

Fishes 2021, 6(4), 63; https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes6040063 - 15 Nov 2021

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 3560

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to investigate the potential effects of dietary synbiotic (SYN) (Pediococcus acidilactici + Galactooligosaccharides; 10 g kg⁻¹), sodium propionate (SP; 5, 10 and 20 g kg⁻¹) and a combination of SYN + [...] Read more.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the potential effects of dietary synbiotic (SYN) (Pediococcus acidilactici + Galactooligosaccharides; 10 g kg⁻¹), sodium propionate (SP; 5, 10 and 20 g kg⁻¹) and a combination of SYN + SP on the growth performance, humoral immunity, antioxidant responses and disease resistance against Aeromonas hydrophila of African cichlid (Labidochromis lividus) fingerlings (0.52 ± 0.05 g) in a feeding trial lasting 63 days. A completely randomized design was run with eight treatments, including 0 (control) and supplemented diets containing SYN + SP (e.g., 10 + 5, 10 + 10, 10 + 20, 0 + 5, 0 + 10, 0 + 20 and 10 + 10). The lowest feed conversion ratio value was observed in fish fed the 5 g kg⁻¹-SP and 10 g kg⁻¹-SYN (p < 0.05). The highest values of protein efficiency ratio and protein productive value were recorded in fish fed the 10 g kg⁻¹-SYN (p < 0.05). Fish fed the 10 g kg⁻¹-SYN diet had the highest activities of immunity (lysozyme, immunoglobulin) and antioxidant responses (glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase) (p < 0.05). After 28 days post-challenge, the highest survival rate (57%) was recorded in the diet containing 10 g kg⁻¹ SYN and 5 g kg⁻¹ SP. The results indicated that the single administration of SYN or combined with SP, especially at the level of 5 g kg⁻¹ of diet, enhanced the survival and growth performances, humoral immune response, antioxidant and digestive enzymes of African cichlid. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Current Advances and Challenges in Fisheries and Aquaculture Science: Feature Papers for the New Journey of Fishes)

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13 pages, 1024 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Technical Efficiency and Output Losses in Shrimp Farming: A Case in Mekong Delta, Vietnam

by Keo Sa Rate Thach, Hong Tu Vo and Ji-Yong Lee

Fishes 2021, 6(4), 59; https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes6040059 - 11 Nov 2021

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 4374

Abstract

The conversion from black tiger shrimp farming and crop farming to white leg shrimp production is widespread in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta provinces. However, this conversion trend also contains many risks related to the technical aspects of the production process. The study mainly aims [...] Read more.

The conversion from black tiger shrimp farming and crop farming to white leg shrimp production is widespread in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta provinces. However, this conversion trend also contains many risks related to the technical aspects of the production process. The study mainly aims to estimate the technical efficiency of white leg shrimp farming. It also compares the technical efficiency of white leg shrimp farming between the traditional group that historically has cultivated white leg shrimp and the group that recently converted from black tiger shrimp and crops to white leg shrimp, in order to evaluate the efficiency and adaptability of shrimp farming. Primary data were collected by directly interviewing 99 farmers in traditional areas and 101 farmers in recently converted areas in the study sites and analyzed by using the stochastic frontier method. The calculated technical efficiency was around 72.9 percent, suggesting that farmers could increase their output level by about 27.1%, given constant inputs. There was no difference in the technical efficiency of the two groups, indicating that the converted farms have sufficient adaptability when switching to white leg shrimp farming. The output loss in farmers’ production is still very high, with an average loss of 1973 kg/hectare. Full article

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10 pages, 1853 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceReview

Foundation and Prospects of Wild Population Reconstruction of Acipenser dabryanus

by Junyi Li, Hao Du, Jinming Wu, Hui Zhang, Li Shen and Qiwei Wei

Fishes 2021, 6(4), 55; https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes6040055 - 30 Oct 2021

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3090

Abstract

Acipenser dabryanus is an endemic fish inhabiting the upper reaches of the Yangtze River in China. It is classified as a first-class nationally protected animal in China and is listed in the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Critically [...] Read more.

Acipenser dabryanus is an endemic fish inhabiting the upper reaches of the Yangtze River in China. It is classified as a first-class nationally protected animal in China and is listed in the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Critically Endangered Species (CR). Recently, there has been a decrease in natural reproduction of A. dabryanus, and the wild population is almost extinct. This paper summarizes the changes observed in the natural population of A.dabryanus and the factors leading to its endangerment. Based on the process of artificial propagation and achievement of relevant protection goals, this paper presents the concept and technical framework for reconstruction of the wild population of A. dabryanus. In addition, by comprehensively reviewing the research findings and existing problems in the resource protection and monitoring of A. dabryanus in recent years, we assessed the possibility of wild population reconstruction and resource restoration for A. dabryanus. Reconstruction and restoration measures for the wild population of A. dabryanus are proposed, with the aim of providing a scientific basis for the reconstruction of the natural population and the improvement and restoration of critical habitat of this species. Furthermore, it is hoped that this paper will serve as a reference for the protection and restoration of other endangered fishes. Full article

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16 pages, 2514 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Experimental Study of the Environmental Effects of Summertime Cocultures of Seaweed Gracilaria lemaneiformis (Rhodophyta) and Japanese Scallop Patinopecten yessoensis in Sanggou Bay, China

by Yi Liu, Xinmeng Wang, Wenguang Wu, Jun Yang, Ningning Wu and Jihong Zhang

Fishes 2021, 6(4), 53; https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes6040053 - 22 Oct 2021

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 3460

Abstract

The shellfish–algae mode of integrated multitrophic aquaculture (IMTA) is a sustainable aquaculture method that benefits the environment and the carbon cycle. However, most current shellfish–algae aquaculture modes are based on the expansion of kelp aquaculture. Due to the low tolerance of kelp to [...] Read more.

The shellfish–algae mode of integrated multitrophic aquaculture (IMTA) is a sustainable aquaculture method that benefits the environment and the carbon cycle. However, most current shellfish–algae aquaculture modes are based on the expansion of kelp aquaculture. Due to the low tolerance of kelp to high temperatures, integrated shellfish–algae aquaculture areas often become shellfish monocultures in summer, which may lead to both high mortality rate of shellfish and to economic loss while causing serious environmental harm via eutrophication, decreases in dissolved oxygen (DO), and decreases in pH. In this study, we investigated the effects of different ratios of seaweed (Gracilaria lemaneiformis), which is tolerant of high temperatures, to Japanese scallop (Patinopecten yessoensis) on water quality and environmental parameters. A two-day small-scale enclosure water body experiment was conducted in Sanggou Bay (Shandong, China) in August 2019. The results demonstrated that culturing shellfish alone significantly affected pH, DO, eutrophication, and other environmental indicators, as well as the carbonate system. The negative environmental impact of the shellfish–algae aquaculture system was much smaller. However, too high a proportion of algae might consume excessive amounts of dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) and nutrients, while too low a proportion of algae might not fully absorb the nutrients released by the cultured shellfish, in turn leading to an increased risk of eutrophication. The shellfish–algae aquaculture system not only improved the inorganic carbon system, but also the organic carbon system. At the end of the experiment, all the parameters of the inorganic carbon system had decreased significantly, while all the parameters of the organic carbon system had increased significantly. The results of this study illustrate the need to include macroalgae rotations in summer, and that an appropriate ratio of shellfish to algae is necessary to achieve a sustainable aquaculture system. Moreover, this research has also confirmed the importance of the future and related research in the actual production, which will provide useful information to guide governmental strategies for summer aquaculture rotations and insight into the controversy concerning whether aquaculture is a carbon source or sink. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Aquaculture and Fisheries)

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17 pages, 3316 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Nondestructive Monitoring of Soft Bottom Fish and Habitats Using a Standardized, Remote and Unbaited 360° Video Sampling Method

by Delphine Mallet, Marion Olivry, Sophia Ighiouer, Michel Kulbicki and Laurent Wantiez

Fishes 2021, 6(4), 50; https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes6040050 - 15 Oct 2021

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 3823

Abstract

Lagoon soft-bottoms are key habitats within coral reef seascapes. Coral reef fish use these habitats as nurseries, feeding grounds and transit areas. At present, most soft-bottom sampling methods are destructive (trawling, longlining, hook and line). We developed a remote, unbaited 360° video sampling [...] Read more.

Lagoon soft-bottoms are key habitats within coral reef seascapes. Coral reef fish use these habitats as nurseries, feeding grounds and transit areas. At present, most soft-bottom sampling methods are destructive (trawling, longlining, hook and line). We developed a remote, unbaited 360° video sampling method (RUV360) to monitor fish species assemblages in soft bottoms. A low-cost, high-definition camera enclosed in a waterproof housing and fixed on a tripod was set on the sea floor in New Caledonia from a boat. Then, 534 videos were recorded to assess the efficiency of the RUV360. The technique was successful in sampling bare soft-bottoms, seagrass beds, macroalgae meadows and mixed soft-bottoms. It is easy to use and particularly efficient, i.e., 88% of the stations were sampled successfully. We observed 10,007 fish belonging to 172 species, including 45 species targeted by fishermen in New Caledonia, as well as many key species. The results are consistent with the known characteristics of the lagoon soft bottom fish assemblages of New Caledonia. We provide future users with general recommendations and reference plots to estimate the proportion of the theoretical total species richness sampled, according to the number of stations or the duration of the footage. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Current Advances and Challenges in Fisheries and Aquaculture Science: Feature Papers for the New Journey of Fishes)

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13 pages, 3339 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Influence of Spatial Scale Selection of Environmental Factors on the Prediction of Distribution of Coilia nasus in Changjiang River Estuary

by Weizhao Meng, Yihe Gong, Xuefang Wang, Jianfeng Tong, Dongyan Han, Jinhui Chen and Jianhui Wu

Fishes 2021, 6(4), 48; https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes6040048 - 12 Oct 2021

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2764

Abstract

An estuary region is a complex environment with a transition from fresh to brackish to salt water, and in which some environmental factors change dramatically over small ranges. Therefore, it is important to understand the impact of the selection of spatial scale on [...] Read more.

An estuary region is a complex environment with a transition from fresh to brackish to salt water, and in which some environmental factors change dramatically over small ranges. Therefore, it is important to understand the impact of the selection of spatial scale on the prediction of the distribution of estuarine species. As the largest estuary in China, the Changjiang River estuary is the spawning ground, feeding ground, and migration channel for many species. Based on Coilia nasus, an important economic fish species in the Changjiang River estuary, this study uses the two-stage generalized additive model (GAM) to investigate the potential differences in the response of species’ spatial distribution when environmental factors are assessed at different spatial scales (1′ × 1′, 2′ × 2′, 3′ × 3′, 4′ × 4′, 5′ × 5′). The results showed the following: (1) according to the analysis of the variance inflation factor (VIF), the values of all environmental factors were less than three and we found no correlation among the environmental variables selected. (2) The first stage GAM retained six variables, including year, month, latitude (Lat), water depth (Depth, m), bottom salinity (Sal, mg/L), and chemical oxygen demand (COD, mg/L). The second stage GAM retained four variables, including Year, Lat, pH, and chlorophyll a (Chl-a, μg/L). (3) The mean value of the Chla for the 3′ × 3′ spatial scale was significantly lower than that of the other spatial scales, and the mean value of Sal for the 5′ × 5′ spatial scale was higher than that of the other spatial scales. (4) In terms of the spatial distribution of abundance, the distribution patterns of C. nasus predicted by all scales were not very similar, and the distribution patterns predicted by the 5′ × 5′ scale, in the autumn of 2012, were significantly different from those at other scales. Therefore, the selection of spatiotemporal scales may affect predictions of the spatial distributions of species. We suggest that potential spatiotemporal scale effects should be evaluated in future studies. Full article

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13 pages, 3890 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Genetic Evaluation of Black Sea Bream (Acanthopagrus schlegelii) Stock Enhancement in the South China Sea Based on Microsatellite DNA Markers

by Xi Wang, Zhuoying Weng, Yang Yang, Sijie Hua, Hanfei Zhang and Zining Meng

Fishes 2021, 6(4), 47; https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes6040047 - 11 Oct 2021

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 3527

Abstract

This is the first genetic evaluation of hatchery-based stock enhancement of black sea bream (Acanthopagrus schlegelii) in the South China Sea after a two-year monitoring period. In this study, microsatellite DNA markers were used to calculate the contribution rate and analyze [...] Read more.

This is the first genetic evaluation of hatchery-based stock enhancement of black sea bream (Acanthopagrus schlegelii) in the South China Sea after a two-year monitoring period. In this study, microsatellite DNA markers were used to calculate the contribution rate and analyze genetic changes before and after stock enhancement. Two out of one hundred and sixty nine individuals from three recaptured populations were assigned to broodstock with a contribution rate of 1.18%, revealing that the hatchery-released juvenile fish could survive in the natural environment and had a positive effect on population replenishment in wild black sea bream abundance. However, we found that the release population had the lowest genetic diversity and significant genetic differentiation from other populations. In addition, genetic diversity detected in the recaptured population was lower than that in the wild population, and their genetic differentiation reached a significant level. Our results suggested that releasing cultured black sea bream juveniles with low genetic quality might be genetically harmful for the maintenance of wild genotypes. Therefore, it is necessary to assess the genetic variation of the hatchery population before implementing a stock enhancement and establish a long-term evaluation for monitoring the genetic effect caused by releasing this fish species. Full article

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12 pages, 9246 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Comparison of Metabolic Rates of Young of the Year Beluga (Huso huso), Sterlet (Acipenser ruthenus) and Bester Hybrid Reared in a Recirculating Aquaculture System

by Mirela Crețu, Raluca-Cristina Guriencu, Lorena Dediu and Maria-Desimira Stroe

Fishes 2021, 6(4), 46; https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes6040046 - 9 Oct 2021

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3593

Abstract

In the present study, oxygen consumption of two sturgeon species, beluga (Huso huso), sterlet (Acipenser ruthenus), and their hybrid reared in a recirculating aquaculture system were compared over body intervals from 54–107 g to determine the interspecific variation of [...] Read more.

In the present study, oxygen consumption of two sturgeon species, beluga (Huso huso), sterlet (Acipenser ruthenus), and their hybrid reared in a recirculating aquaculture system were compared over body intervals from 54–107 g to determine the interspecific variation of metabolic rate. Metabolic rates were measured using the intermittent-flow respirometry technique. Standard oxygen consumption rates (SMR, mg O₂ h⁻¹) of sterlet were 30% higher compared with beluga and 22% higher compared with bester hybrid. The routine metabolic rate (RMR, mg O₂ h⁻¹) averaged 1.58 ± 0.13 times the SMR for A. ruthenus, 1.59 ± 0.3 for H. huso, and 1.42 ± 0.15 for the hybrid bester. However, the study revealed no significant differences (p > 0.05) between mean values of SMR and RMR for beluga and bester hybrid. The scaling coefficient reflected a closed isometry for the hybrid (b = 0.97), while for the purebred species the coefficient of 0.8 suggests a reduction in oxygen consumption with increasing body mass. These findings may contribute to understanding the differences in growth performances and oxygen requirements of the studied species reared in intensive aquaculture system. Full article

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21 pages, 1999 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Aurantiochytrium sp. Meal Improved Body Fatty Acid Profile and Morphophysiology in Nile Tilapia Reared at Low Temperature

by Rosana Oliveira Batista, Renata Oselame Nobrega, Delano Dias Schleder, James Eugene Pettigrew and Débora Machado Fracalossi

Fishes 2021, 6(4), 45; https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes6040045 - 8 Oct 2021

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 3736

Abstract

Aurantiochytrium sp. is a heterotrophic microorganism that produces docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), thus being considered as a possible replacement for fish oil in aquafeeds. We investigated the effect of Aurantiochytrium sp. meal (AM) dietary levels (0, 5, 10, 20, and 40 g kg⁻¹ [...] Read more.

Aurantiochytrium sp. is a heterotrophic microorganism that produces docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), thus being considered as a possible replacement for fish oil in aquafeeds. We investigated the effect of Aurantiochytrium sp. meal (AM) dietary levels (0, 5, 10, 20, and 40 g kg⁻¹) on Nile tilapia body and hepatopancreas fatty acid (FA) profile, body FA retention, somatic indices, and morphophysiological changes in the intestine and hepatopancreas, after feeding Nile tilapia juveniles (average initial weight 8.47 g) for 87 days at 22 °C. The 10AM diet was compared to a control diet containing cod liver oil (CLO), since their DHA concentration was similar. Within fish fed diets containing increasing levels of AM, there was a linear increase in n-3 FA content, especially DHA, which varied in the body (0.02 to 0.41 g 100 g⁻¹) and hepatopancreas (0.15 to 1.05 g 100 g⁻¹). The morphology of the intestines and hepatopancreas was positively affected in AM-fed fish. Fish fed 10AM showed less accumulation of n-3 FAs in the body and hepatopancreas when compared to fish fed CLO. Therefore, AM is an adequate substitute for fish oil in winter diets for Nile tilapia, with the supplementation of 40AM promoting the best results regarding intestine and hepatopancreas morphophysiology. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Current Advances and Challenges in Fisheries and Aquaculture Science: Feature Papers for the New Journey of Fishes)

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17 pages, 2838 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

The Snakeskin Gourami (Trichopodus pectoralis) Tends to Exhibit XX/XY Sex Determination

by Thitipong Panthum, Nararat Laopichienpong, Ekaphan Kraichak, Worapong Singchat, Dung Ho My Nguyen, Nattakan Ariyaraphong, Syed Farhan Ahmad, Narongrit Muangmai, Prateep Duengkae, Surin Peyachoknagul, Tariq Ezaz and Kornsorn Srikulnath

Fishes 2021, 6(4), 43; https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes6040043 - 23 Sep 2021

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 4893

Abstract

The snakeskin gourami (Trichopodus pectoralis) has a high meat yield and is one of the top five aquaculture freshwater fishes in Thailand. The species is not externally sexually dimorphic, and its sex determination system is unknown. Understanding the sex determination system [...] Read more.

The snakeskin gourami (Trichopodus pectoralis) has a high meat yield and is one of the top five aquaculture freshwater fishes in Thailand. The species is not externally sexually dimorphic, and its sex determination system is unknown. Understanding the sex determination system of this species will contribute to its full-scale commercialization. In this study, a cytogenetic analysis did not reveal any between-sex differences in chromosomal patterns. However, we used genotyping-by-sequencing to identify 4 male-linked loci and 1 female-linked locus, indicating that the snakeskin gourami tends to exhibit an XX/XY sex determination system. However, we did not find any male-specific loci after filtering the loci for a ratio of 100:0 ratio of males:females. This suggests that the putative Y chromosome is young and that the sex determination region is cryptic. This approach provides solid information that can help identify the sex determination mechanism and potential sex determination regions in the snakeskin gourami, allowing further investigation of genetic improvements in the species. Full article

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18 pages, 3199 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Growth Performance, Feed Utilization, Gut Integrity, and Economic Revenue of Grey Mullet, Mugil cephalus, Fed an Increasing Level of Dried Zooplankton Biomass Meal as Fishmeal Substitutions

by Hamdy A. Abo-Taleb, Mohamed M. M. El-feky, Ahmad M. Azab, Mohamed M. Mabrouk, Mohamed A. Elokaby, Mohamed Ashour, Abdallah Tageldein Mansour, Othman F. Abdelzaher, Khamael M Abualnaja and Ahmed E. Sallam

Fishes 2021, 6(3), 38; https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes6030038 - 10 Sep 2021

Cited by 25 | Viewed by 4896

Abstract

Fishmeal is the most expensive feedstuff in the aquafeed and one of the most environmentally limiting factor of aquaculture development. Therefore, the search for alternative protein sources is a continuous process. The present feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the effects of replacing [...] Read more.

Fishmeal is the most expensive feedstuff in the aquafeed and one of the most environmentally limiting factor of aquaculture development. Therefore, the search for alternative protein sources is a continuous process. The present feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the effects of replacing fishmeal with zooplankton biomass meal (ZBM) on the growth performance, nutrient utilization, intestine, and liver histological changes of grey mullet, Mugil cephalus (initial weight of 0.10 ± 0.01 g). Five isoproteic (35% crude protein) and isolipidic (8% crude lipid) diets were formulated as the control diet (Z₀) and the other four diets (Z₂₅, Z₅₀, Z₇₅, and Z₁₀₀), where 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% of fishmeal was replaced by ZBM, respectively. After 60 days of feeding, the final weight, weight gain, and daily growth index of the grey mullet fed the Z₁₀₀ diet were higher than those fed the control diet (p < 0.05). In addition, the better values of feed conversion ratio, protein efficiency ratio and lipid efficiency ratio were recorded in the fish fed with the Z₁₀₀ diet. Additionally, the intestinal villus length, crypts depth, and muscle thickness were significantly improved with ZBM inclusion (p < 0.05). Meanwhile, there were no histopathological changes observed on the liver when compared with the control group. From the economic point of view, dietary substitution of fishmeal by ZBM (Z₁₀₀) reduced the cost of diet formulation by 18% and the price per kg weight gain by about 40%. Overall, according to the findings of this study, substituting fishmeal with ZBM up to 100% could improve growth performance, feed utilization, gut health status, and profit ability of rearing M. cephalus juveniles. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutrition and Immunity of Fish and Shellfish)

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14 pages, 2021 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Shelf-Life Prediction of Glazed Large Yellow Croaker (Pseudosciaena crocea) during Frozen Storage Based on Arrhenius Model and Long-Short-Term Memory Neural Networks Model

by Yuanming Chu, Mingtang Tan, Zhengkai Yi, Zhaoyang Ding, Dazhang Yang and Jing Xie

Fishes 2021, 6(3), 39; https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes6030039 - 10 Sep 2021

Cited by 16 | Viewed by 3685

Abstract

In this study, the changes in centrifugal loss, TVB-N, K-value, whiteness and sensory evaluation of glazed large yellow croaker were analyzed at −10, −20, −30 and −40 °C storage. The Arrhenius prediction model and long-short-term memory neural networks (LSTM-NN) prediction model were developed [...] Read more.

In this study, the changes in centrifugal loss, TVB-N, K-value, whiteness and sensory evaluation of glazed large yellow croaker were analyzed at −10, −20, −30 and −40 °C storage. The Arrhenius prediction model and long-short-term memory neural networks (LSTM-NN) prediction model were developed to predict the shelf-life of the glazed large yellow croaker. The results showed that the quality of glazed large yellow croaker gradually decreased with the extension of frozen storage time, and the decrease in quality slowed down at lower temperatures. Both the Arrhenius model and the LSTM-NN prediction model were good tools for predicting the shelf-life of glazed large yellow croaker. However, for the relative error, the prediction accuracy of LSTM-NN (with a mean value of 7.78%) was higher than that of Arrhenius model (with a mean value of 11.90%). Moreover, the LSTM-NN model had a more intelligent, convenient and fast data processing capability, so the new LSTM-NN model provided a better choice for predicting the shelf-life of glazed large yellow croaker. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Aquaculture and Fisheries)

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15 pages, 5140 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Deep Heat: A Comparison of Water Temperature, Anemone Bleaching, Anemonefish Density and Reproduction between Shallow and Mesophotic Reefs

by Anne Haguenauer, Frédéric Zuberer, Gilles Siu, Daphne Cortese, Ricardo Beldade and Suzanne C. Mills

Fishes 2021, 6(3), 37; https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes6030037 - 9 Sep 2021

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 5257

Abstract

French Polynesia is experiencing increasing coral bleaching events in shallow waters triggered by thermal anomalies and marine heatwaves linked to climate change, a trend that is replicated worldwide. As sea surface thermal anomalies are assumed to lessen with depth, mesophotic deep reefs have [...] Read more.

French Polynesia is experiencing increasing coral bleaching events in shallow waters triggered by thermal anomalies and marine heatwaves linked to climate change, a trend that is replicated worldwide. As sea surface thermal anomalies are assumed to lessen with depth, mesophotic deep reefs have been hypothesized to act as refuges from anthropogenic and natural disturbances, the ‘deep reef refugia hypothesis’ (DRRH). However, evidence supporting the DRRH is either inconclusive or conflicting. We address this by investigating four assumptions of the DRRH focusing on the symbiotic association between anemones and anemonefish. First, we compare long-term temperature conditions between shallow (8 m) and mesophotic sites (50 m) on the island of Moorea from 2011–2020. Second, we compare the densities of the orange-fin anemonefish, Amphiprion chrysopterus between shallow and mesophotic (down to 60 m) reefs across three archipelagos in French Polynesia. Finally, we compare the percentage of anemone bleaching, as well as anemonefish reproduction, between shallow and mesophotic reefs. We found that the water column was well mixed in the cooler austral winter months with only a 0.19 °C difference in temperature between depths, but in the warmer summer months mixing was reduced resulting in a 0.71–1.03 °C temperature difference. However, during thermal anomalies, despite a time lag in warm surface waters reaching mesophotic reefs, there was ultimately a 1.0 °C increase in water temperature at both 8 and 50 m, pushing temperatures over bleaching thresholds at both depths. As such, anemone bleaching was observed in mesophotic reefs during these thermal anomalies, but was buffered compared to the percentage of bleaching in shallower waters, which was nearly five times greater. Our large-scale sampling across French Polynesia found orange-fin anemonefish, A. chrysopterus, in mesophotic zones in two high islands and one atoll across two archipelagos, extending its bathymetric limit to 60 m; however, orange-fin anemonefish densities were either similar to, or 25–92 times lower than in shallower zones. Three spawning events were observed at 50 m, which occurred at a similar frequency to spawning on shallower reefs at the same date. Our findings of thermal anomalies and bleaching in mesophotic reefs, coupled with mainly lower densities of anemonefish in mesophotic populations, suggest that mesophotic reefs show only a limited ability to provide refugia from anthropogenic and natural disturbances. Full article

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17 pages, 3392 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

SNP Development in Penaeus vannamei via Next-Generation Sequencing and DNA Pool Sequencing

by Yongyu Huang, Lili Zhang, Hui Ge, Guodong Wang, Shiyu Huang and Zhangwu Yang

Fishes 2021, 6(3), 36; https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes6030036 - 7 Sep 2021

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3303

Abstract

Next-generation sequencing and pool sequencing have been widely used in SNP (single-nucleotide polymorphism) detection and population genetics research; however, there are few reports on SNPs related to the growth of Penaeus vannamei. The purpose of this study was to call SNPs from rapid-growing [...] Read more.

Next-generation sequencing and pool sequencing have been widely used in SNP (single-nucleotide polymorphism) detection and population genetics research; however, there are few reports on SNPs related to the growth of Penaeus vannamei. The purpose of this study was to call SNPs from rapid-growing (RG) and slow-growing (SG) individuals’ transcriptomes and use DNA pool sequencing to assess the reliability of SNPs. Two parameters were applied to detect SNPs. One parameter was the p-values generated using Fisher’s exact test, which were used to calculate the significance of allele frequency differences between RG and SG. The other one was the AFI (minor allele frequency imbalance), which was defined to highlight the fold changes in MAF (minor allele frequency) values between RG and SG. There were 216,015 hypothetical SNPs, which were obtained based on the transcriptome data. Finally, 104 high-quality SNPs and 96,819 low-quality SNPs were predicted. Then, 18 high-quality SNPs and 17 low-quality SNPs were selected to assess the reliability of the detection process. Here, 72.22% (13/18) accuracy was achieved for high-quality SNPs, while only 52.94% (9/17) accuracy was achieved for low-quality SNPs. These SNPs enrich the data for population genetics studies of P. vannamei and may play a role in the development of SNP markers for future breeding studies. Full article

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11 pages, 879 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Using Observed Residual Error Structure Yields the Best Estimates of Individual Growth Parameters

by Marcelo V. Curiel-Bernal, E. Alberto Aragón-Noriega, Miguel Á. Cisneros-Mata, Laura Sánchez-Velasco, S. Patricia A. Jiménez-Rosenberg and Alejandro Parés-Sierra

Fishes 2021, 6(3), 35; https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes6030035 - 2 Sep 2021

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3334

Abstract

Obtaining the best possible estimates of individual growth parameters is essential in studies of physiology, fisheries management, and conservation of natural resources since growth is a key component of population dynamics. In the present work, we use data of an endangered fish species [...] Read more.

Obtaining the best possible estimates of individual growth parameters is essential in studies of physiology, fisheries management, and conservation of natural resources since growth is a key component of population dynamics. In the present work, we use data of an endangered fish species to demonstrate the importance of selecting the right data error structure when fitting growth models in multimodel inference. The totoaba (Totoaba macdonaldi) is a fish species endemic to the Gulf of California increasingly studied in recent times due to a perceived threat of extinction. Previous works estimated individual growth using the von Bertalanffy model assuming a constant variance of length-at-age. Here, we reanalyze the same data under five different variance assumptions to fit the von Bertalanffy and Gompertz models. We found consistent significant differences between the constant and nonconstant error structure scenarios and provide an example of the consequences using the growth performance index ϕ′ to show how using the wrong error structure can produce growth parameter values that can lead to biased conclusions. Based on these results, for totoaba and other related species, we recommend using the observed error structure to obtain the individual growth parameters. Full article

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15 pages, 2961 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Conservative Scoring Approach in Productivity Susceptibility Analysis Leads to an Overestimation of Vulnerability: A Study from the Hilsa Gillnet Bycatch Stocks of Bangladesh

by Hasan Faruque and Hiroyuki Matsuda

Fishes 2021, 6(3), 33; https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes6030033 - 24 Aug 2021

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 4060

Abstract

Despite different approaches used to assign the risk scores for missing information in productivity susceptibility analysis (PSA)—a widely used semi-quantitative risk assessment tool for target and non-target fisheries stocks—for the selected attributes of a given species, no formal comparison has been made between [...] Read more.

Despite different approaches used to assign the risk scores for missing information in productivity susceptibility analysis (PSA)—a widely used semi-quantitative risk assessment tool for target and non-target fisheries stocks—for the selected attributes of a given species, no formal comparison has been made between scoring approaches in terms of how well they can predict species vulnerability. The present study evaluated the PSA findings of 21 bycatch stocks of the Hilsa (Tenualosa ilisha) gillnet fishery of Bangladesh using two different scoring approaches (the conservative scoring approach, CSA; and the alternative scoring approach, ASA) to determine the most reliable approach to minimize false estimates of species vulnerability. Our analysis revealed that the V scores increased by 0.0−0.20 with a mean value of 0.09 for 21 selected bycatches when CSA was applied. The inconsistency between the vulnerability (V)-score-suggested fishing status (V ≤ 1.8 = underfishing, V > 1.8 = overfishing) and the fishing status defined by exploitation rate (E > 0.5 = overfishing, E < 0.5 = underfishing) were 38.1% and 19.0% under CSA and ASA, respectively. Likewise, the consistency between the V-score-suggested fishing status and fishers’ perceived catch trends was found to be higher when using ASA than when using CSA. Our analysis suggests that CSA could overestimate species vulnerability. Therefore, ASA is more reliable than CSA in PSA, which may increase the confidence of fisheries stakeholders in PSA. Full article

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13 pages, 1460 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

In Vitro Antimicrobial and Antibiofilm Activity of S-(-)-Limonene and R-(+)-Limonene against Fish Bacteria

by Elisia Gomes da Silva, Guerino Bandeira Junior, Juliana Felipetto Cargnelutti, Roberto Christ Vianna Santos, André Gündel and Bernardo Baldisserotto

Fishes 2021, 6(3), 32; https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes6030032 - 19 Aug 2021

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 3892

Abstract

Brazilian fish farming goes together with the emergence of numerous bacterial diseases, with Aeromonas hydrophila being the main bacterial pathogen. As a consequence, antimicrobials are excessively used. Considering that antimicrobials are relatively stable and nonbiodegradable, medicinal plants and their phytochemicals have been used [...] Read more.

Brazilian fish farming goes together with the emergence of numerous bacterial diseases, with Aeromonas hydrophila being the main bacterial pathogen. As a consequence, antimicrobials are excessively used. Considering that antimicrobials are relatively stable and nonbiodegradable, medicinal plants and their phytochemicals have been used as alternative treatments of bacteriosis in fish farming. Limonene is a monoterpene available in two enantiomers: R-(+)-limonene and S-(-)-limonene. This study analyzed the antibacterial activity of the phytochemicals S-(-)-limonene and R-(+)-limonene against some bacteria isolated from silver catfish (Rhamdia quelen). Furthermore, by means of spectrophotometry and atomic force microscopy, we also investigated the combination therapy of phytochemicals with antimicrobials and their activity in terms of inhibiting biofilm formation. Six clinical isolates and a standard strain were selected for antimicrobial activity testing. Biofilm formation was tested in 96-well plates and nylon cubes. The most sensitive of the strains tested was the A. hydrophila strain (MF 372510). S-(-)-limonene and R-(+)-limonene had high minimum inhibitory concentrations; however, they strongly inhibited A. hydrophila biofilm formation. R-(+)-limonene and S-(-)-limonene had an additive effect when combined with florfenicol and an antagonistic effect with oxytetracycline. In general, the phytochemicals tested showed strong antibiofilm activity against A. hydrophila, and when in combination therapy with florfenicol, they showed an additive effect against the treatment of A. hydrophila. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Phytochemicals in Aquaculture)

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6 pages, 384 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceCommunication

Dusky Grouper Epinephelus marginatus Growth and Survival When Exposed to Different Photoperiods

by Paulo Henrique R. Aride, Maria Fernanda S. Gomes, Darlan G. Azevedo, Gilson R. Sangali, Ana Cláudia F. Silva, Henrique D. Lavander, André B. Souza, Marcelo F. Polese, Douglas C. Mattos, Lucas A. Bassul, Leonardo D. Cardoso, Adriano T. Oliveira and Caterina Faggio

Fishes 2021, 6(3), 31; https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes6030031 - 12 Aug 2021

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 3932

Abstract

Photoperiod is considered an environmental factor that influences reproduction and the growth processes of fish throughout the year. In the present study, we subjected dusky grouper Epinephelus marginatus to different photoperiods in order to evaluate growth and survival. Juvenile dusky grouper were randomly [...] Read more.

Photoperiod is considered an environmental factor that influences reproduction and the growth processes of fish throughout the year. In the present study, we subjected dusky grouper Epinephelus marginatus to different photoperiods in order to evaluate growth and survival. Juvenile dusky grouper were randomly distributed in twelve 100 L tanks containing four fish per aquarium. The fish were exposed to continuous light, normal photoperiod or continuous darkness for 50 days. Fish were fed 3% of their total biomass, twice a day, and the diet consisted of ground commercial dry pellets (42% crude protein, 12% humidity, 9% ether extract, 15% mineral matter, 4% crude fiber, 3.5% calcium and 3% vitamin C, in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions). There was no mortality during the experiment. After 50 days, the best performance was found for exposure to continuous light (24 h artificial light). The final weight of the fish reared under continuous light was significantly higher than that of the fish exposed to continuous darkness. The specific growth rate of the fish exposed to continuous light was significantly higher than that of the fish exposed to the natural photoperiod and to continuous darkness. Modifications to the photoperiod can be a key factor in increasing the efficacy of current production and the improvement of current aquaculture protocols. Full article

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17 pages, 1878 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Bioproduction of Prodigiosin from Fishery Processing Waste Shrimp Heads and Evaluation of Its Potential Bioactivities

by Van Bon Nguyen, San-Lang Wang, Anh Dzung Nguyen, Tu Quy Phan, Kuaanan Techato and Siriporn Pradit

Fishes 2021, 6(3), 30; https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes6030030 - 11 Aug 2021

Cited by 20 | Viewed by 4847

Abstract

The aim of this work was to reuse a fish processing waste, shrimp head powder (SHP), for the production of prodigiosin (PG) via microbial technology and to assess its potential bioactivities. PG was produced in a 12 L-bioreactor system, and the highest PG [...] Read more.

The aim of this work was to reuse a fish processing waste, shrimp head powder (SHP), for the production of prodigiosin (PG) via microbial technology and to assess its potential bioactivities. PG was produced in a 12 L-bioreactor system, and the highest PG productivity of 6310 mg L⁻¹ was achieved when Serratia marcescens CC17 was used for fermentation in a novel designed medium (6.75 L) containing 1.5% C/N source (SHP/casein = 9/1), 0.02% K₂SO₄, ans 0.025% Ca₃(PO₄)₂, with initial pH 7.0, and fermentation was performed at 28 °C for 8 h. The purified PG showed moderate antioxidants, efficient anti-NO (anti-nitric oxide), and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitory activities. In a docking study, PG showed better binding energy scores (−12.3 kcal/mol) and more interactions (6 linkages) with several prominent amino acids in the biding sites on AChE that were superior to those of Berberine chloride (−10.8 kcal/mol and one linkage). Notably, this is the first investigation using shrimp heads for the mass bioproduction of PG with high productivity, and Ca₃(PO₄)₂ salt was also newly found to significantly enhance PG production by S. marcescens. This study also provided available data on the anti-NO and anti-AChE effects of PG, especially from the docking simulation PG towards AChE that was described for the first time in this study. The above results suggest that SHP is a good material for the cost-effective bioproduction of PG, which is a potential candidate for anti-NO and anti-Alzheimer drugs. Full article

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10 pages, 1032 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Cryobank of Mediterranean Brown Trout Semen: Evaluation of the Use of Frozen Semen up to Six Hours Post-Collection

by Giusy Rusco, Michele Di Iorio, Roberta Iampietro, Alessandra Roncarati, Stefano Esposito and Nicolaia Iaffaldano

Fishes 2021, 6(3), 26; https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes6030026 - 2 Aug 2021

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3141

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of different cold-storage time intervals between collection and semen-freezing on both fresh and cryopreserved semen motility parameters and the post-thaw fertilizing ability of Mediterranean brown trout semen. The ejaculates were split into six [...] Read more.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of different cold-storage time intervals between collection and semen-freezing on both fresh and cryopreserved semen motility parameters and the post-thaw fertilizing ability of Mediterranean brown trout semen. The ejaculates were split into six aliquots and stored on ice from 1 to 6 h, until freezing. Fresh and post-thaw sperm motility was evaluated by a Computer-Assisted Sperm Analysis system, whilst the fertilizing ability was assessed by in vivo trials. In fresh semen, at 3 h of storage, a significant decrease of total motility, linear movement (STR, LIN) and beat cross frequency (BCF) was recorded, whilst the amplitude of lateral displacement of the spermatozoon head (ALH) underwent a significant increase. In frozen semen, no significant difference was observed for all the motility parameters evaluated, except for the total motility between 1 and 6 h of storage and the duration of sperm movement between 1 and 5 h. Cold-storage time did not significantly affect the percentage of live embryos following the use of frozen semen. In conclusion, our results showed that, if necessary, the Mediterranean brown trout semen can be frozen even until 6 h post-collection without losing its fertilizing ability. Full article

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21 pages, 2300 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Evaluating the Sampling Design of a Long-Term Community-Based Estuary Monitoring Program

by Jess A. Kidd, Monica Boudreau, Robert C. Bailey, Michael R. van den Heuvel, Mark R. Servos and Simon C. Courtenay

Fishes 2021, 6(3), 27; https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes6030027 - 2 Aug 2021

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3658

Abstract

Community-based monitoring programs (CBMPs) are a cost-effective option to collect the long-term data required to effectively monitor estuaries. Data quality concerns have caused some CBMP datasets, which could fill knowledge gaps for aquatic ecosystems, to go unused. The Community Aquatic Monitoring Program (CAMP) [...] Read more.

Community-based monitoring programs (CBMPs) are a cost-effective option to collect the long-term data required to effectively monitor estuaries. Data quality concerns have caused some CBMP datasets, which could fill knowledge gaps for aquatic ecosystems, to go unused. The Community Aquatic Monitoring Program (CAMP) is a CBMP that has collected littoral nekton assemblage data from estuaries in the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence since 2003. Concerns with the CAMP sampling design (station placement and numbers) have prevented decision-makers from using the data to inform estuary health assessments. This study tested if CAMP’s sampling design that accommodates volunteer participation provides similar information as a scientific sampling approach. Six CAMP stations and six stations selected using a stratified random design were sampled at ten estuaries. A permutational-MANOVA revealed nekton assemblages were generally not significantly different between the two sampling designs. The current six CAMP stations are sufficient to detect the larger differences in species abundances that may indicate differences in estuary condition. The predicted increase in precision (2%) with twelve stations is not substantive enough to warrant an increased sampling effort. CAMP’s scientific utility is not limited by station selection bias or numbers. Furthermore, well-designed CBMPs can produce comparable data to scientific studies. Full article

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18 pages, 1422 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Integrating Literature, Biodiversity Databases, and Citizen-Science to Reconstruct the Checklist of Chondrichthyans in Cyprus (Eastern Mediterranean Sea)

by Ioannis Giovos, Fabrizio Serena, Dimitra Katsada, Athanasios Anastasiadis, Adi Barash, Charis Charilaou, Jason M. Hall-Spencer, Fabio Crocetta, Alexander Kaminas, Demetris Kletou, Mary Maximiadi, Vasileios Minasidis, Dimitrios K. Moutopoulos, Roxani Naasan Aga-Spyridopoulou, Ioannis Thasitis and Periklis Kleitou

Fishes 2021, 6(3), 24; https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes6030024 - 26 Jul 2021

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 8348

Abstract

Chondrichthyans are apex predators influencing the trophic web through a top-down process thus their depletion will affect the remaining biota. Notwithstanding that, research on chondrichthyans is sparse or data-limited in several biogeographic areas worldwide, including the Levantine Sea. We revise and update the [...] Read more.

Chondrichthyans are apex predators influencing the trophic web through a top-down process thus their depletion will affect the remaining biota. Notwithstanding that, research on chondrichthyans is sparse or data-limited in several biogeographic areas worldwide, including the Levantine Sea. We revise and update the knowledge of chondrichthyans in Cyprus based on a bibliographic review that gains information retrieved from peer-reviewed and grey literature, Global Biodiversity Information Facility (135 records of at least 18 species) and the Ocean Biodiversity Information System (65 records of at least14 species), and the citizen science project Mediterranean Elasmobranchs Citizen Observations (117 records per 23 species). Our updated checklist reports 60 species that account for about 70% of the Mediterranean chondrichthyan biota. The list includes 15 more species than the previous checklist and our study reports three new species for Cyprus waters, namely the blackmouth catshark Dalatias licha, the round fantail stingray Taeniurops grabatus, and the sawback angelshark Squatina aculeata. Our research highlights the need for conservation measures and more studies regarding the highly threatened blackchin guitarfish Glaucostegus cemiculus and the devil ray Mobula mobular, and stresses the importance for training a new generation of observers to strengthen the knowledge and conservation of elasmobranchs in the region. Full article

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19 pages, 1059 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Growth, Chemical Composition, Histology and Antioxidant Genes of Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar) Fed Whole or Pre-Processed Nannochloropsis oceanica and Tetraselmis sp.

by Solveig Lysfjord Sørensen, Ateshm Ghirmay, Yangyang Gong, Dalia Dahle, Ghana Vasanth, Mette Sørensen and Viswanath Kiron

Fishes 2021, 6(3), 23; https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes6030023 - 23 Jul 2021

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 5074

Abstract

New sustainable feed ingredients are a necessity for the salmon aquaculture industry. In this study, we examined the effect of pre-extrusion processing of two microalgae, Nannochloropsis oceanica and Tetraselmis sp., on the growth, fatty acid content in the flesh and health of [...] Read more.

New sustainable feed ingredients are a necessity for the salmon aquaculture industry. In this study, we examined the effect of pre-extrusion processing of two microalgae, Nannochloropsis oceanica and Tetraselmis sp., on the growth, fatty acid content in the flesh and health of Atlantic salmon. The fish were fed one of the following five diets for nine weeks: (1) CO: a fish meal-based control (basal) diet, (2) NU: a Nannochloropsis diet, (3) NE: a pre-extruded Nannochloropsis diet, (4) TU: a Tetraselmis diet, and (5) TE: a pre-extruded Tetraselmis diet. The algae-incorporated diets contained 30% of the respective microalgae. Our results showed that the best growth performance was achieved by the CO diet, followed by the NE diets. Feeding of unprocessed Nannochloropsis and Tetraselmis resulted in a significant reduction in enterocyte vacuolization compared to the CO feeding. A significant effect of processing was noted in the fillet fatty acid content, the intestine and liver structure and the expression of selected genes in the liver. The expression of antioxidant genes in both the liver and intestine, and the accumulation of different fatty acids in the fillet and liver of the extruded algae-fed groups, warrants further investigation. In conclusion, based on the short-term study, 30% inclusion of the microalgae Nannochloropsis oceanica and Tetraselmis sp. can be considered in Atlantic salmon feeds. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Integration of Nutrition and Physiology in Aquatic Animals)

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13 pages, 1287 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Dynamics of Two Anadromous Species in a Dam Intersected River: Analysis of Two 100-Year Datasets

by Ulisses M. Azeiteiro, Mário J. Pereira, Amadeu M. V. M. Soares, Heitor O. Braga, Fernando Morgado, Magda C. Sousa, João M. Dias and Carlos Antunes

Fishes 2021, 6(2), 21; https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes6020021 - 5 Jun 2021

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 4928

Abstract

Long-term time-series datasets are key for assessing the population dynamics of fish species with economic interest. This study examines two 100-year datasets for sea lamprey Petromyzon marinus and allis shad Alosa alosa from the Minho River. This basin on the Iberian Peninsula is [...] Read more.

Long-term time-series datasets are key for assessing the population dynamics of fish species with economic interest. This study examines two 100-year datasets for sea lamprey Petromyzon marinus and allis shad Alosa alosa from the Minho River. This basin on the Iberian Peninsula is home to one of the largest populations at the southern distribution limit of these critically endangered anadromous fish species. Besides assessing the importance of the environmental drivers of fish capture data (temperature, salinity, upwelling, precipitation, and climatic oscillation), this study also assesses how dam construction affected these populations using intervention analysis—A statistical tool to detect significant breakpoints in time series data. Results showed contrasting trends between sea lamprey and allis shad, with the number of captured fish from the first progressively improving from 1914 to 2017, and the latter recording a significant decline over time. Although no significant correlations were detected between fishing data and environmental variables, some of the identified breakpoints in the time series data matched the dates when the major dams in Minho River were built. Other historical activities associated with mining might explain the notable changes detected in the trends, while issues associated with illegal, unreported, and unregulated capture data are also discussed. Full article

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13 pages, 1768 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Effect of 3-Aminobenzoic Acid Ethyl Ester Methanesulfonate (MS-222) on Quality of Marine Cultured Turbot (Scophthalmus maximus) during Simulated Transport in Water

by Jie Cao, Qi Wang, Jun Mei and Jing Xie

Fishes 2021, 6(2), 20; https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes6020020 - 19 May 2021

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 4230

Abstract

This study evaluated the effect of different concentrations (20, 40 and 60 mg/L) of 3-aminobenzoic acid ethyl ester methanesulfonate (MS-222) on the quality changes in turbot during simulated transport in water. The results showed that the ammonia nitrogen content in the transportation water [...] Read more.

This study evaluated the effect of different concentrations (20, 40 and 60 mg/L) of 3-aminobenzoic acid ethyl ester methanesulfonate (MS-222) on the quality changes in turbot during simulated transport in water. The results showed that the ammonia nitrogen content in the transportation water of each sample increased significantly, and the dissolved oxygen level decreased. The dissolved oxygen content in MS-222-treated samples was higher than that of control group (CK) samples. For turbot flesh quality, simulated transport in water led to a decrease in moisture, fat and protein contents in all samples. The MS-222-treated turbot samples showed higher pH values, glycogen contents, springiness and chewiness values and lower lactic acid contents comparing with the CK samples during simulated transport in water. In addition, the fresh and bitter amino acids in the muscle of turbot increased in each treatment group compared to the non-transported fish at the end of the simulated transport. The results showed that MS-222 treatment could retard the turbot transport stress and improve the quality of turbot during simulated transport in water. Full article

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13 pages, 1952 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Effects of Different Densities of Sea Grape Caulerpa lentillifera on Water Quality, Growth and Survival of the Whiteleg Shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei in Polyculture System

by Khanh Van Ly, David Kamau Murungu, Dung Phuong Nguyen and Ngoc Anh Thi Nguyen

Fishes 2021, 6(2), 19; https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes6020019 - 5 May 2021

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 8892

Abstract

The integrated aquaculture-seaweed system has been identified as a bio-mitigation strategy to overcome environmental damage, improve the efficiency of nutrient use, maintain good water quality, and ensure the system’s sustainability. This study was conducted to determine the appropriate density of sea grape ( [...] Read more.

The integrated aquaculture-seaweed system has been identified as a bio-mitigation strategy to overcome environmental damage, improve the efficiency of nutrient use, maintain good water quality, and ensure the system’s sustainability. This study was conducted to determine the appropriate density of sea grape (Caulerpa lentillifera) in polyculture with whiteleg shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) in the same culture tank. Five treatments were randomly designed in triplicate tanks where shrimp was monocultured (without sea grape) as a control treatment and four polyculture treatments with different seaweed density levels (0.5, 1, 1.5, and 2 kg m⁻³) for 56 days. The results showed that polyculture of shrimp and sea grape significantly reduced the concentrations of total ammonia nitrogen (TAN), nitrite (NO₂⁻), nitrate (NO₃⁻), and phosphate (PO₄³⁻) in the rearing tanks and significantly improved (p < 0.05) the growth rate (6.67–6.76% day⁻¹), survival (73.3–78.5%), and production of shrimp (3.44–3.87 kg m⁻³) compared to monoculture (6.24% day⁻¹, 54.8%, and 2.02 kg m⁻³, respectively). Applying shrimp and sea grape polyculture at a density of 1 kg m⁻³ provided a relatively better shrimp performance and feed conversion ratio than other seaweed densities, although not significantly different among polyculture treatments. The findings suggested that sea grape could be used at densities of 0.5–2 kg m⁻³ in polyculture with whiteleg shrimp, of which 1 kg m⁻³ resulted in higher production and feed efficiency. Full article

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12 pages, 27488 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Molecular Characterization of Hsp47 in Grass Carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) and Its Correlation with Type I Collagen in Response to Fish Aerobic Exercise

by Xiao Liang, Ying Wan, Zhiyuan Shen, Yanmei Liu, Dapeng Li, Li Li, Rong Tang and Xi Zhang

Fishes 2021, 6(2), 17; https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes6020017 - 23 Apr 2021

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3827

Abstract

Heat shock protein 47 (Hsp47) is a collagen-specific molecular chaperone that is indispensable for molecular maturation of collagen. In this study, hsp47 and hsp47-like cDNAs were cloned and characterized in grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella). The cDNAs were 1212 and 1218 base [...] Read more.

Heat shock protein 47 (Hsp47) is a collagen-specific molecular chaperone that is indispensable for molecular maturation of collagen. In this study, hsp47 and hsp47-like cDNAs were cloned and characterized in grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella). The cDNAs were 1212 and 1218 base pairs long, respectively, and included an open reading frame encoding 403 and 405 amino acids. The molecular phylogeny based on the deduced amino acid sequences indicated that the correct sequences of the hsp47 and hsp47-like cDNA were obtained and the deduced proteins clustered distinctly into teleost clades. Primary structure analysis and characterization of Hsp47 and Hsp47-like shared the basic structure and biofunctions of Hsp47 in vertebrates. The spatial pattern of gene expression revealed that hsp47 and hsp47-like were relatively ubiquitous in different tissues and highly expressed in heart and skin. The expression levels of hsp47 and hsp47-like and type I collagen mRNAs varied similarly in different tissues. Type I collagen content increased significantly with the increase of water velocity in the muscle of grass carp in response to aerobic exercise. Among the gene expression changes of hsp47, hsp47-like, col1a1 and col1a2 in muscle that occurred in response to aerobic exercise, the change of type I collagen was most strongly correlated with hsp47 expression. Additionally, col1a1 showed the highest correlation with hsp47-like and col1a2 showed the highest correlation with hsp47. These findings suggest that grass carp Hsp47 and Hsp47-like are closely related to type I collagen synthesis. This study firstly suggests fish aerobic exercise can improve type I collagen content and Hsp47 gene expression in muscle of grass carp. Full article

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13 pages, 2233 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Wound-Induced Changes in Antioxidant Enzyme Activities in Skin Mucus and in Gene Expression in the Skin of Gilthead Seabream (Sparus aurata L.)

by Cristóbal Espinosa-Ruíz and María Ángeles Esteban

Fishes 2021, 6(2), 15; https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes6020015 - 18 Apr 2021

Cited by 17 | Viewed by 4636

Abstract

This study investigated the antioxidant enzyme activities in the skin mucus of gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata L.) at 3 and 7 days post-wounding (dpw). The expression levels of the genes that encode stress proteins (grp170, grp94, grp75, sod [...] Read more.

This study investigated the antioxidant enzyme activities in the skin mucus of gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata L.) at 3 and 7 days post-wounding (dpw). The expression levels of the genes that encode stress proteins (grp170, grp94, grp75, sod and hsp70) and skin regeneration-related proteins (tf, igf1, tgfb1, der1, apo1 and erdj3) in the skin also were determined. Mucus and skin samples were obtained from the left and right flanks of non-wounded and wounded fish. In both flanks of the wounded fish, catalase and glutathione reductase activities in the skin mucus increased (p < 0.05) at 3 and 7 dpw (100 ± 31% and 111 ± 25%, respectively), whereas superoxide dismutase activity increased (p < 0.05) only at 7 dpw (135 ± 15%). The expression levels of stress proteins in the skin of the wounded flank of the wounded fish mainly increased at 7 dpw (grp170 increased to 288 ± 85%, grp94 to 502 ± 143%, grp75 to 274 ± 69%, sod to 569 ± 99%, and hsp70 increased to 537 ± 14%) (p < 0.05). However, the expression levels of the tissue regeneration-related genes varied depending on the flank investigated, on the experimental time, and on the gene studied. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first work to determine the effect of a wound in different skin parts of the same fish. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Insights on Fish Immunology)

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11 pages, 2435 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Effects of Wastewater Treatment Plant Effluent in a Receiving Stream on Reproductive Behavior of Fathead Minnows (Pimephales promelas)

by Joseph M. Leese, Julia McMahon and Joseph C. Colosi

Fishes 2021, 6(2), 14; https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes6020014 - 12 Apr 2021

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2958

Abstract

Wastewater treatment plant effluents contain a variety of endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs), including chemicals with estrogenic activity such as 17β-estradiol (E2), 17α-ethinyl estradiol (EE2), and nonylphenols. These substances can affect both behavior and physiology in vertebrate animals. To explore the presence and effects [...] Read more.

Wastewater treatment plant effluents contain a variety of endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs), including chemicals with estrogenic activity such as 17β-estradiol (E2), 17α-ethinyl estradiol (EE2), and nonylphenols. These substances can affect both behavior and physiology in vertebrate animals. To explore the presence and effects of these EDCs in a natural setting, juvenile and adult male fathead minnows, Pimephales promelas, were held in cages upstream and downstream of the effluent site of a wastewater treatment plant for 21 days and subsequently tested for changes in reproductive behaviors and production of vitellogenin. Additionally, estrogenic activity in the stream was measured using a yeast bioassay. Estrogenicity was found to be significantly higher downstream of the wastewater effluent when compared to levels upstream. Vitellogenin levels did not show a correlational pattern with levels of estrogenicity in the water, but two measures of reproductive behaviors occurred significantly less often in downstream males than upstream males. This suggests that a brief (three-week) exposure to stream water containing wastewater treatment plant effluent can bring about changes in reproductive behavior of fish and that behavior may be more sensitive to low levels of environmental endocrine disruptors than vitellogenin production. Full article

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7 pages, 949 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceCommunication

Black Caviar Perturbs Reflection of Russian Geography: A Research Note of Aquaculture-Triggered Place Naming Puzzle

by Dmitry A. Ruban and Vladimir A. Ermolaev

Fishes 2021, 6(2), 13; https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes6020013 - 6 Apr 2021

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3864

Abstract

Black caviar is often thought to be a typically Russian luxurious food product. Recently, its production has extended due to sturgeon aquaculture development. The analysis of the geographical affinities of the full-cycle companies and their aquaculture-sourced black caviar implies that the majority of [...] Read more.

Black caviar is often thought to be a typically Russian luxurious food product. Recently, its production has extended due to sturgeon aquaculture development. The analysis of the geographical affinities of the full-cycle companies and their aquaculture-sourced black caviar implies that the majority of them employs the Russian Caviar brand and/or refers to the Russian traditions and history. However, names, brands, and/or product positioning of several companies tend to mention geographical objects associated with the tradition places of black caviar production (Astrakhan, the Caspian Sea, and the Volga River), whereas these companies are located in the other, sometimes remote places (with distances over 1000 km). Such marketing solutions of black caviar producers perturb reflection of the Russian geography. The geographical indication (place of origin) of this fish product needs improvement, which is a task for companies, state, and professional societies. Full article

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12 pages, 1438 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Mechanism of Delayed Convulsion in Fish: The Actions of Norepinephrine in Spinal Cord

by Cheng-Linn Lee, Yuri Kominami and Hideki Ushio

Fishes 2021, 6(2), 12; https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes6020012 - 31 Mar 2021

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 6298

Abstract

Cranial spiking (CS) is among the most popular slaughtering methods for delaying the rigor mortis progress of fish muscles. However, it may cause a convulsion (subsequently referred to as delayed convulsion), which undermines the meat quality and taste. This study aimed to elucidate [...] Read more.

Cranial spiking (CS) is among the most popular slaughtering methods for delaying the rigor mortis progress of fish muscles. However, it may cause a convulsion (subsequently referred to as delayed convulsion), which undermines the meat quality and taste. This study aimed to elucidate the mechanism underlying the delayed convulsion and examine its influence on ATP consumption. Ten carps, nine tilapias, ten rainbow trouts, two ayus, three greenling, thirty-five red seabreams, two striped jack and two stone flounders underwent CS around the medulla oblongata area, which induced different delayed convulsion profiles specific to each species. To investigate the norepinephrine (NE) actions related to delayed convulsion, 27 red seabreams, a representative fish species that exhibits delayed convulsion, were treated with a monoamine-depleting agent, reserpine, or with a monoamine oxidase inhibitor, pargyline, two hours before CS. Spinal cord destruction (SCD) was employed to completely prevent spinal cord functions of the fish in another group. Compared with the control group (CS only), the reserpine, pargyline, and SCD groups showed significantly inhibited delayed convulsion and ATP consumption. This suggests that delayed convulsion is the main ATP-consuming response. Our findings suggest that delayed clonic convulsion in red seabreams is associated with the rapid decrease in spinal cord NE levels, which triggered the rebound motor neuron hyperactivity. Full article

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