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19 pages, 19929 KiB  
Article
Mitogenomic Characterization and Phylogenetic Placement of African Hind, Cephalopholis taeniops: Shedding Light on the Evolution of Groupers (Serranidae: Epinephelinae)
by Shantanu Kundu, Hye-Eun Kang, Ah Ran Kim, Soo Rin Lee, Eun-Bi Kim, Muhammad Hilman Fu’adil Amin, Sapto Andriyono, Hyun-Woo Kim and Kyoungmi Kang
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(3), 1822; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25031822 - 2 Feb 2024
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2834
Abstract
The global exploration of evolutionary trends in groupers, based on mitogenomes, is currently underway. This research extensively investigates the structure of and variations in Cephalopholis species mitogenomes, along with their phylogenetic relationships, focusing specifically on Cephalopholis taeniops from the Eastern Atlantic Ocean. The [...] Read more.
The global exploration of evolutionary trends in groupers, based on mitogenomes, is currently underway. This research extensively investigates the structure of and variations in Cephalopholis species mitogenomes, along with their phylogenetic relationships, focusing specifically on Cephalopholis taeniops from the Eastern Atlantic Ocean. The generated mitogenome spans 16,572 base pairs and exhibits a gene order analogous to that of the ancestral teleost’s, featuring 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), two ribosomal RNA genes (rRNAs), 22 transfer RNA genes (tRNAs), and an AT-rich control region. The mitogenome of C. taeniops displays an AT bias (54.99%), aligning with related species. The majority of PCGs in the mitogenome initiate with the start codon ATG, with the exceptions being COI (GTG) and atp6 (TTG). The relative synonymous codon usage analysis revealed the maximum abundance of leucine, proline, serine, and threonine. The nonsynonymous/synonymous ratios were <1, which indicates a strong negative selection among all PCGs of the Cephalopholis species. In C. taeniops, the prevalent transfer RNAs display conventional cloverleaf secondary structures, except for tRNA-serine (GCT), which lacks a dihydrouracil (DHU) stem. A comparative examination of conserved domains and sequence blocks across various Cephalopholis species indicates noteworthy variations in length and nucleotide diversity. Maximum likelihood, neighbor-joining, and Bayesian phylogenetic analyses, employing the concatenated PCGs and a combination of PCGs + rRNAs, distinctly separate all Cephalopholis species, including C. taeniops. Overall, these findings deepen our understanding of evolutionary relationships among serranid groupers, emphasizing the significance of structural considerations in mitogenomic analyses. Full article
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11 pages, 1401 KiB  
Article
Discarded but Not Dismissed: A Comprehensive Study of the Feeding Habits of the Brown Comber (Serranus hepatus, (Linneaus 1758)) in the Gulf of Cádiz (NE Atlantic)
by Sara Madera-Santana, Carlos Rodríguez-García, Jairo Castro-Gutiérrez, Ángel Rafael Domínguez-Bustos and Remedios Cabrera-Castro
Fishes 2023, 8(11), 541; https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes8110541 - 2 Nov 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2175
Abstract
The brown comber (Serranus hepatus) is a small benthopelagic species with no commercial value, primarily caught by bottom trawls as a by-catch. In this work, we studied the feeding habits of this species. For this purpose, samples were obtained from the [...] Read more.
The brown comber (Serranus hepatus) is a small benthopelagic species with no commercial value, primarily caught by bottom trawls as a by-catch. In this work, we studied the feeding habits of this species. For this purpose, samples were obtained from the trawl fleet within the different editions of the ECOFISH project carried out between 2019 and 2022. A total of 1534 individuals were analyzed. In the diet analysis, various factors were considered, such as the season, the depth, and the time of day of the capture, as well as the size range of the individuals caught. For the feeding analysis, different indexes were calculated, such as the vacuity index (%Vi) and index of relative importance (%IRI). The size range of the specimens was between 3.2–16.3 cm, and the weight was between 1.02–39.73 g. Of the stomach content analyzed, 49.7% of the stomachs were found to be empty. The resources with the greatest importance in the diet of the brown comber were from the crustacean group, especially mysidaceans and decapods. There were differences in the diet according to season, depth, and size; however, there was no variation in diet by the time of day. Full article
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30 pages, 2604 KiB  
Article
Influence of Docosahexaenoic and Eicosapentaenoic Acid Ratio and Temperature on the Growth Performance, Fatty Acid Profile, and Liver Morphology of Dusky Grouper (Epinephelus marginatus) (Teleostei: Serranidae) Juveniles
by Ethiene Fernandes de Oliveira, Bruno Cavalheiro Araújo, Victor Hugo Marques, Paulo Henrique de Mello, Renata Guimarães Moreira and Renato Massaaki Honji
Animals 2023, 13(20), 3212; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13203212 - 14 Oct 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1949
Abstract
An 8-week trial was performed to evaluate the influence of docosahexaenoic (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) ratios and temperature on the fatty acid (FA) metabolism and liver morphology of Epinephelus marginatus. A basal diet was manufactured, and DHA (D1:0.5%; D2:0.75%; D3:1%; and [...] Read more.
An 8-week trial was performed to evaluate the influence of docosahexaenoic (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) ratios and temperature on the fatty acid (FA) metabolism and liver morphology of Epinephelus marginatus. A basal diet was manufactured, and DHA (D1:0.5%; D2:0.75%; D3:1%; and D4:1.5%) and EPA (D1:1.0%; D2:0.75%; D3:0.5%; and D4:0%) levels were added. E. marginatus were kept in twelve tanks with a lower temperature (LT, 23.17 ± 0.12 °C) and twelve with a higher temperature (HT, 28.63 ± 0.06 °C). The DHA/EPA ratio did not affect performance, regardless of the temperature, but the animals fed with the D4 diet showed better growth at HT. A higher lipid deposition and a large lipid vacuole area in the hepatocytes at HT were observed, regardless of the diet. Triacylglycerol (TG) in reflected the diet FA profile mainly in the muscle and liver, whereas the phospholipid (PL) was less influenced by the diet. The same DHA content in the TG fraction of muscle (D3 and D4) were observed at LT; however, only the DHA/EPA ratio of D4 could be differentially stored in the TG fraction of muscle (HT). Monounsaturated and polyunsaturated FA increased in the PL of the eyes at HT, whereas saturated FA was reduced in the TG and PL fractions at LT. These results evidence the importance of temperature and a balanced DHA/EPA ratio in the diet of marine fish. Full article
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19 pages, 3049 KiB  
Article
Integrated Metabolome and Transcriptome Analyses Reveal the Efficacy of Steroidal Saponins for Glucose and Lipid Metabolism in Hybrid Grouper (♀Epinephelus fuscoguttatus × ♂Epinephelus lanceolatu) Fed Higher-Lipid Diets
by Hongjin Deng, Guiqiong Chen, Jiacheng Zhang, Qihui Yang, Xiaohui Dong, Shiwei Xie, Weixing Liang, Beiping Tan and Shuyan Chi
Animals 2023, 13(18), 2894; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13182894 - 12 Sep 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2057
Abstract
An analysis of the extent of the effect of steroidal saponin addition on glucose and lipid metabolism in hybrid grouper liver was performed at the transcriptomic and metabolomic levels. Feeds (52% crude protein, 14% crude lipid) were prepared containing 0% (S0), [...] Read more.
An analysis of the extent of the effect of steroidal saponin addition on glucose and lipid metabolism in hybrid grouper liver was performed at the transcriptomic and metabolomic levels. Feeds (52% crude protein, 14% crude lipid) were prepared containing 0% (S0), 0.1% (S0.1), and 0.2% (S0.2) steroidal saponins. After eight weeks of feeding trial, compared to the S0 group, the activities of serum albumin, alanine aminotransferase, and aspartate transaminase were significantly lower and the activities of lysozyme, acid phosphatase, and alkaline phosphatase were significantly higher in the S0.1 group (p < 0.05). The superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase activities in the livers of the S0.1 group were significantly higher than those of the S0 group, while the malondialdehyde content was significantly lower than that of the S0 group (p < 0.05). There were forty-two differentially expressed genes and thirty-two differential metabolites associated with glucose and lipid metabolism enriched using KEGG and GO. In the S0 group, the expression of prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase 1, prostaglandin E synthase 1, and thromboxane-2 synthase mRNA was significantly higher than in the S0.1 group (p < 0.05). The expression levels of genes in the S0 group were significantly higher than those in the S0.1 group (p < 0.05), including for glycogen synthase kinase, glucose-6-phosphatase catalytic subunit 2, fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase, phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase, glucose transporter 4, and malate dehydrogenase. The expression of mRNA such as fatty acid synthase, acetyl-CoA carboxylase, and sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1 was significantly lower in the S0.1 group than in the S0 group, while the expression of carnitine acyltransferase 1, acyl-CoA synthetase, and acyl-CoA dehydrogenase genes was significantly higher in the S0 group (p < 0.05). In summary, glycogen synthesis, gluconeogenesis, and the arachidonic acid metabolism pathway were inhibited by 0.1% steroidal saponins, and glycogenolysis, glycolysis, the tricarboxylic acid cycle, and the fatty acid β-oxidation pathway were activated. This study aims to provide a reference for the formulation of grouper feeds with a higher crude-lipid level. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Metabolic Adaptation and Regulation in Aquatic Animals)
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16 pages, 726 KiB  
Article
Building a Teleost Fish Traceability Program Based on Genetic Data from Pacific Panama Fish Markets
by Edgardo Díaz-Ferguson, Magaly Chial, Maribel Gonzalez, Edgardo Muñoz, Olga Chen, Ovidio Durán, Angel Javier Vega and Carlos Ramos Delgado
Animals 2023, 13(14), 2272; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13142272 - 12 Jul 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2439
Abstract
Fish tissue samples from 203 adult individuals were collected in the main ports and markets of the Pacific coast of Panama. Molecular identification based on a cytochrome oxidase I gene segment of all species was verified by GENBANK reference sequences. A total of [...] Read more.
Fish tissue samples from 203 adult individuals were collected in the main ports and markets of the Pacific coast of Panama. Molecular identification based on a cytochrome oxidase I gene segment of all species was verified by GENBANK reference sequences. A total of 34 species from 14 families (Ariidae, Caranjidae, Centropomidae, Gerreidae, Haemulidae, Lobotidae, Lutjanidae, Malacanthidae, Mugilidae, Scianidae, Scombridae, Serranidae, Sphyraenidae, Stromateidae) were identified at the species level from 164 sequences. Additionally, three Caribbean species were molecularly identified among the analyzed samples (Mycteroperca xenarcha, Paralonchurus brasilensis and Lobotes surinamensis). Species diversity was slightly higher in the Gulf of Panama than in the Gulf of Chiriquí. For species with five or more individual sequences, genetic diversity and genetic connectivity parameters such as total number of haplotypes (H), haplotype diversity (Hd), and nucleotide diversity (π) were calculated. Overall, pelagic-migratory species showed higher values of genetic diversity than coastal and estuarine species with some exceptions. Connectivity between Gulf areas was compared using values of genetic distances and genetic differentiation (Fst). The high level of connectivity observed between the Gulf of Chiriqui and the Gulf of Montijo indicates the existence of a single stock in that area for the following species: Scomberomorus sierra, Caranx caninus and Lutjanus guttatus. The demographic history of the most common species was examined using Tajima’s D values, suggesting population expansion for two snapper species, L. peru and L. argentiventris, having significant and higher values. Another important contribution from this research was the production of primers and dual-labeled probes for environmental DNA detection using qPCR for the five most abundant species (spotted rose snapper, yellow snapper, green jack, Pacific crevalle jack and the Pacific sierra fish). These markers represent a new set of tools for environmental DNA (eDNA) detection and molecular traceability of three commercially important fish species along the supply chain including landing sites and markets of the main fishery areas. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Genetic and Genomic Advances in Fisheries and Aquaculture)
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19 pages, 4024 KiB  
Article
Benthic Fish Communities Associated with Posidonia oceanica Beds May Reveal the Fishing Impact and Effectiveness of Marine Protected Areas: Two Case Studies in the Southern Tyrrhenian Sea
by Luca Appolloni, Alberto Pagliarani, Adele Cocozza di Montanara, Francesco Rendina, Luigia Donnarumma, Domenico Ciorciaro, Federica Ferrigno, Floriana Di Stefano, Roberto Sandulli and Giovanni Fulvio Russo
Water 2023, 15(10), 1967; https://doi.org/10.3390/w15101967 - 22 May 2023
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2963
Abstract
The effectiveness of a Marine Protected Area (MPA) is strongly related to its zoning design, management, and surveillance, and fish communities are considered indicators of conservation effects. Posidonia oceanica beds and fish assemblages were studied here to evaluate the fishing impacts and the [...] Read more.
The effectiveness of a Marine Protected Area (MPA) is strongly related to its zoning design, management, and surveillance, and fish communities are considered indicators of conservation effects. Posidonia oceanica beds and fish assemblages were studied here to evaluate the fishing impacts and the effectiveness of the Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) of Santa Maria di Castellabate (SMC) and Costa degli Infreschi e della Masseta (CIM) in the South Tyrrhenian Sea, Italy. P. oceanica characteristics were estimated counting and collecting shoots, while fish communities were investigated by visual census. Multivariate analyses were performed to detect differences in fish assemblages among the MPA protection levels and seagrass characteristics. Significant differences in fish communities were observed between the depth and protection levels. The latter are probably due to the zoning design at SMC, which does not allow a spillover effect, and to fishing activities, as showed by the ABC curve results. Trophic analyses suggested the use of longlines at SMC, due to the dominance of planktivorous fish species, and of trammel nets at CIM, due to the great heterogeneity of the fish trophic groups. Shoot density and leaf length were significantly correlated with fish communities. CCA analyses showed omnivorous species, mostly belonging to the Sparidae family, correlated with the highest shoot densities, with their feeding habits mostly directed to crustaceans, while macro- and microinvertivores, mainly belonging to the Serranidae and Labridae families, correlated with the highest leaf lengths, where they sough shelter and feed. In conclusion, the data suggest that a zoning redesign at SMC and an increase in the surveillance of fishing activities at CIM might enhance the effectiveness of these MPAs, highlighting the role of fish community studies in identifying MPA efficiency issues and providing trustful guidelines for their management. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Anthropogenic Impacts on Benthic Marine Ecosystems)
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16 pages, 2850 KiB  
Article
Distribution Pattern of Coral Reef Fishes in China
by Juan Shi, Chunhou Li, Teng Wang, Jinfa Zhao, Yong Liu and Yayuan Xiao
Sustainability 2022, 14(22), 15107; https://doi.org/10.3390/su142215107 - 15 Nov 2022
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 3037
Abstract
Coral reefs are known as “tropical rain forests” in the ocean. Fish diversity is extremely high, accounting for one-third of marine fishes. To better protect and manage coral reef fishes, this study systematically compiled documents and databases published in China. We counted 2855 [...] Read more.
Coral reefs are known as “tropical rain forests” in the ocean. Fish diversity is extremely high, accounting for one-third of marine fishes. To better protect and manage coral reef fishes, this study systematically compiled documents and databases published in China. We counted 2855 species of coral reef fishes in China, which belong to 3 classes, 41 orders, 252 families, and 1017 genera. Among these, Perciformes was the dominant order, accounting for 57.31% of the total species. Gobiidae (7.43%), Labridae (5.36%), Pomacentridae (4.52%), and Serranidae (4.38%) were the main families, while other families accounted for less than 4%. Furthermore, 5.56% of coral reef fish species have entered the IUCN Red List. The present study found that coral reef fishes can be divided into nearshore and offshore. This was mainly because the nearshore coral reef fishes were more affected by human disturbance and runoff from the mainland, whereas offshore coral reef fishes were in areas with high salinity and temperature far from the mainland, where human disturbance was less. Coral reef fish species’ diversity had a significant positive correlation with coral species diversity (p < 0.05), mainly because corals provide habitat and shelter. This study is the first systematic compilation and analysis of coral reef fishes in China and provides a basic reference for global protection management and biological geographical analysis. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wetlands: Conservation, Management, Restoration and Policy)
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2 pages, 215 KiB  
Abstract
Restocking Trials with Hatchery-Reared Dusky Groupers in a Marine Protected Area of the Southwestern Portuguese Coast
by Ana Filipa Silva, Bárbara Horta e Costa, José Lino Costa, Esmeralda Pereira, João Pedro Marques, João J. Castro, Pedro G. Lino, Ana Candeias-Mendes, Pedro Pousão-Ferreira, Inês Sousa, Luís Bentes, Jorge M. S. Gonçalves, Pedro Raposo de Almeida and Bernardo Ruivo Quintella
Biol. Life Sci. Forum 2022, 13(1), 117; https://doi.org/10.3390/blsf2022013117 - 17 Jun 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1163
Abstract
Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) have played an important role in the protection of endangered species such as the dusky grouper (Epinephelus marginatus), and the no-take areas have been particularly crucial for this purpose. Yet, despite the establishment of no-take areas and [...] Read more.
Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) have played an important role in the protection of endangered species such as the dusky grouper (Epinephelus marginatus), and the no-take areas have been particularly crucial for this purpose. Yet, despite the establishment of no-take areas and the legislation banning dusky groupers’ catches since 2011 in a southwestern Portuguese MPA (SACVMP—‘Sudoeste Alentejano’ and ‘Costa Vicentina’ Marine Park), there is still no evidence of this population’s recovery. In the face of this, the present work aimed to monitor the experimental hatchery-reared adult dusky groupers’ restocking of two no-take areas of SACVMP with acoustic biotelemetry. In 2019 and 2021, thirty groupers tagged with acoustic transmitters were released in two no-take areas, and the site attachment and their movements were assessed. None of the tagged fish set residency in either of the releasing areas, mostly leaving there at dusk and night. A rarely reported event for this species was also observed, as some individuals moved for more than a hundred kilometers along the Portuguese coast. At least some of those ranging movements were performed close to the rocky shore, which may point out the importance of coastal MPAs in promoting the connectivity of fish species associated with rocky reef habitats. Future studies must focus on the conditions that promote the site attachment and the site fidelity of released hatchery-reared dusky groupers so that large-scale restocking programs can be successfully implemented in MPAs with appropriate habitats. Full article
(This article belongs to the Proceedings of The IX Iberian Congress of Ichthyology)
15 pages, 5955 KiB  
Article
Comparative Analysis of Four Complete Mitochondrial Genomes of Epinephelidae (Perciformes)
by Chen Wang, Peiyuan Ye, Min Liu, Yue Zhang, Haiqing Feng, Jingyu Liu, Haolang Zhou, Junjie Wang and Xiao Chen
Genes 2022, 13(4), 660; https://doi.org/10.3390/genes13040660 - 8 Apr 2022
Cited by 13 | Viewed by 3172
Abstract
Groupers are commercial, mainly reef-associated fishes, classified in the family Epinephelidae (Perciformes). This study first sequenced the complete mitogenomes of Cephalopholis leopardus, Cephalopholis spiloparaea, Epinephelus amblycephalus, and Epinephelus hexagonatus. The lengths of the four Epinephelidae mitogenomes ranged from 16,585 [...] Read more.
Groupers are commercial, mainly reef-associated fishes, classified in the family Epinephelidae (Perciformes). This study first sequenced the complete mitogenomes of Cephalopholis leopardus, Cephalopholis spiloparaea, Epinephelus amblycephalus, and Epinephelus hexagonatus. The lengths of the four Epinephelidae mitogenomes ranged from 16,585 base pair (bp) to 16,872 bp with the typical gene order. All tRNA genes had a typical cloverleaf structure, except the tRNA-Ser (AGY) gene which was lacking the entire dihydrouridine arm. The ratio of nonsynonymous substitution (Ka) and synonymous substitution (Ks) indicated that four groupers were suffering a purifying selection. Phylogenetic relationships were reconstructed by Bayesian inference (BI) and maximum likelihood (ML) methods based on all mitogenomic data of 41 groupers and 2 outgroups. The identical topologies result with high support values showed that Cephalopholis and Epinephelus are not monophyletic genera. Anyperodon and Cromileptes clustered to Epinephelus. Aethaloperca rogaa and Cephalopholis argus assembled a clad. Cephalopholis leopardus, C. spiloparaea, and Cephalopholis miniata are also in a clade. Epinephelushexagonatus is close to Epinephelus tauvina and Epinephelus merra, and E. amblycephalus is a sister group with Epinephelus stictus. More mitogenomic data from Epinephelidae species are essential to understand its taxonomic status with the family Serranidae. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Animal Genetics and Genomics)
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12 pages, 1828 KiB  
Article
Effects of Nitrite Exposure on the Hematological Properties, Antioxidant and Stress Responses of Juvenile Hybrid Groupers, Epinephelus lanceolatus ♂ × Epinephelus fuscoguttatus
by Jun-Hwan Kim, Yue Jai Kang and Kyung Mi Lee
Antioxidants 2022, 11(3), 545; https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox11030545 - 14 Mar 2022
Cited by 20 | Viewed by 3315
Abstract
Nitrite concentrations can reach high levels in indoor aquaculture systems, thus it is vital to determine the nitrite tolerance of aquaculture fish species. Here, juvenile hybrid groupers (Epinephelus lanceolatus ♂ × Epinephelus fuscoguttatus ♀, Family: Serranidae) were exposed to waterborne nitrite at [...] Read more.
Nitrite concentrations can reach high levels in indoor aquaculture systems, thus it is vital to determine the nitrite tolerance of aquaculture fish species. Here, juvenile hybrid groupers (Epinephelus lanceolatus ♂ × Epinephelus fuscoguttatus ♀, Family: Serranidae) were exposed to waterborne nitrite at 0, 10, 20, 40, and 80 mg NO2/L for 2 weeks. Nitrite exposure caused significant reductions in hematocrit and hemoglobin levels, significant increases in plasma calcium and plasma ALP levels, but had no significant effects on magnesium and total protein levels. Of the antioxidant responses investigated, SOD activity increased significantly in the liver and gills, but GST activity and GSH levels were significantly inhibited by nitrite exposure. Stress indicators, such as plasma cortisol and HSP 70 levels, were significantly stimulated by nitrite exposure. In brief, nitrite exposure over 20 mg NO2/L had toxic effects and affected the hematological properties, antioxidant responses, and stress indicators of juvenile hybrid groupers. Full article
(This article belongs to the Topic Oxidative Stress and Inflammation)
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17 pages, 4221 KiB  
Article
Molecular Characterization, Tissue Distribution and Differential Nutritional Regulation of Three n-3 LC-PUFA Biosynthesis-Related Genes in Hybrid Grouper (Epinephelus fuscoguttatus ♀ × Epinephelus lanceolatus ♂)
by Qingjun Wu, Zhi Zheng, Chuijin Wang, Yao Wang, Yuejia Sun and Yujie Gao
Animals 2022, 12(3), 234; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12030234 - 19 Jan 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2219
Abstract
Elongases of very long-chain fatty acids (Elovls) and fatty acid desaturases (Fads) are crucial enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFAs). In this paper, we report the molecular cloning and characterization of three genes from the marine teleost Epinephelus [...] Read more.
Elongases of very long-chain fatty acids (Elovls) and fatty acid desaturases (Fads) are crucial enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFAs). In this paper, we report the molecular cloning and characterization of three genes from the marine teleost Epinephelus fuscoguttatus ♀ × Epinephelus lanceolatus ♂, and analyzed tissue distribution and their expression in response to dietary n-3 LC-PUFA levels after a 42-day feeding experiment. The elovl5, elovl8 and fads2 genes encoded 294, 263 and 445 amino acids, respectively, which exhibited all the characteristics of the Elovl and Fads family. Tissue distribution analysis revealed that elovl5, elovl8 and fads2 were widely transcribed in various tissues, with the highest level in the brain, as described in other carnivorous marine teleosts. The transcript levels of elovl5, elovl8 and fads2 in the liver were significantly affected by dietary n-3 LC-PUFA, and higher LC-PUFA levels repressed their expression. These results demonstrated, for the first time, the presence and nutritional modulation of elovl5, elovl8 and fads2 cDNA in the juvenile hybrid grouper. Further studies are needed to determine the functional characterization of these genes and explore the mechanism of these genes when regulated by dietary fatty lipid profiles in this species. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Future of Aquaculture Research)
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24 pages, 2775 KiB  
Article
Deep-Water Fish Are Potential Vectors of Ciguatera Poisoning in the Gambier Islands, French Polynesia
by Hélène Taiana Darius, Taina Revel, Philippe Cruchet, Jérôme Viallon, Clémence Mahana iti Gatti, Manoëlla Sibat, Philipp Hess and Mireille Chinain
Mar. Drugs 2021, 19(11), 644; https://doi.org/10.3390/md19110644 - 17 Nov 2021
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 4711
Abstract
Ciguatera poisoning (CP) cases linked to the consumption of deep-water fish occurred in 2003 in the Gambier Islands (French Polynesia). In 2004, on the request of two local fishermen, the presence of ciguatoxins (CTXs) was examined in part of their fish catches, i.e., [...] Read more.
Ciguatera poisoning (CP) cases linked to the consumption of deep-water fish occurred in 2003 in the Gambier Islands (French Polynesia). In 2004, on the request of two local fishermen, the presence of ciguatoxins (CTXs) was examined in part of their fish catches, i.e., 22 specimens representing five deep-water fish species. Using the radioactive receptor binding assay (rRBA) and mouse bioassay (MBA), significant CTX levels were detected in seven deep-water specimens in Lutjanidae, Serranidae, and Bramidae families. Following additional purification steps on the remaining liposoluble fractions for 13 of these samples (kept at −20 °C), these latter were reanalyzed in 2018 with improved protocols of the neuroblastoma cell-based assay (CBA-N2a) and liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS). Using the CBA-N2a, the highest CTX-like content found in a specimen of Eumegistus illustris (Bramidae) was 2.94 ± 0.27 µg CTX1B eq. kg−1. Its toxin profile consisted of 52-epi-54-deoxyCTX1B, CTX1B, and 54-deoxyCTX1B, as assessed by LC–MS/MS. This is the first study demonstrating that deep-water fish are potential ciguatera vectors and highlighting the importance of a systematic monitoring of CTXs in all exploited fish species, especially in ciguatera hotspots, including deep-water fish, which constitute a significant portion of the commercial deep-sea fisheries in many Asian–Pacific countries. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Marine Biotoxins)
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12 pages, 1221 KiB  
Article
Environmental DNA (eDNA) Metabarcoding in the Fish Market and Nearby Seafood Restaurants in Taiwan Reveals the Underestimation of Fish Species Diversity in Seafood
by Hung-Tai Lee, Cheng-Hsin Liao and Te-Hua Hsu
Biology 2021, 10(11), 1132; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology10111132 - 4 Nov 2021
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 4871
Abstract
Seafood, especially the traditional one in Taiwan, is rarely sourced from a fixed species and routinely from similar species depending on their availability. Hence, the species composition of seafood can be complicated. While a DNA-based approach has been routinely utilized for species identification, [...] Read more.
Seafood, especially the traditional one in Taiwan, is rarely sourced from a fixed species and routinely from similar species depending on their availability. Hence, the species composition of seafood can be complicated. While a DNA-based approach has been routinely utilized for species identification, a large scale of seafood identification in fish markets and restaurants could be challenging (e.g., elevated cost and time-consuming only for a limited number of species identification). In the present study, we aimed to identify the majority of fish species potentially consumed in fish markets and nearby seafood restaurants using environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding. Four eDNA samplings from a local fish market and nearby seafood restaurants were conducted using Sterivex cartridges. Nineteen universal primers previously validated for fish species identification were utilized to amplify the fragments of mitochondrial DNA (12S, COI, ND5) of species in eDNA samples and sequenced with NovaSeq 6000 sequencing. A total of 153 fish species have been identified based on 417 fish related operational taxonomic units (OTUs) generated from 50,534,995 reads. Principal Coordinate Analysis (PCoA) further showed the differences in fish species between the sampling times and sampling sites. Of these fish species, 22 chondrichthyan fish, 14 Anguilliformes species, and 15 Serranidae species were respectively associated with smoked sharks, braised moray eels, and grouper fish soups. To our best knowledge, this work represents the first study to demonstrate the feasibility of a large scale of seafood identification using eDNA metabarcoding approach. Our findings also imply the species diversity in traditional seafood might be seriously underestimated and crucial for the conservation and management of marine resources. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Conservation Biology and Biodiversity)
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17 pages, 2091 KiB  
Article
Homogeneous Nature of Malaysian Marine Fish Epinephelus fuscoguttatus (Perciformes; Serranidae): Evidence Based on Molecular Markers, Morphology and Fourier Transform Infrared Analysis
by A'wani Aziz Nurdalila, Hamidun Bunawan, Subbiah Vijay Kumar, Kenneth Francis Rodrigues and Syarul Nataqain Baharum
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2015, 16(7), 14884-14900; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms160714884 - 2 Jul 2015
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Abstract
Taxonomic confusion exists within the genus Epinephelus due to the lack of morphological specializations and the overwhelming number of species reported in several studies. The homogenous nature of the morphology has created confusion in the Malaysian Marine fish species Epinephelus fuscoguttatus and Epinephelus [...] Read more.
Taxonomic confusion exists within the genus Epinephelus due to the lack of morphological specializations and the overwhelming number of species reported in several studies. The homogenous nature of the morphology has created confusion in the Malaysian Marine fish species Epinephelus fuscoguttatus and Epinephelus hexagonatus. In this study, the partial DNA sequence of the 16S gene and mitochondrial nucleotide sequences of two gene regions, Cytochrome Oxidase Subunit I and III were used to investigate the phylogenetic relationship between them. In the phylogenetic trees, E. fuscoguttatus was monophyletic with E. hexagonatus species and morphology examination shows that no significant differences were found in the morphometric features between these two taxa. This suggests that E. fuscoguttatus is not distinguishable from E. hexagonatus species, and that E. fuscoguttatus have been identified to be E. hexagonatus species is likely attributed to differences in environment and ability to camouflage themselves under certain conditions. Interestingly, this finding was also supported by Principal Component Analysis on Attenuated Total Reflectance–Fourier-transform Infrared (ATR-FTIR) data analysis. Molecular, morphological and meristic characteristics were combined with ATR-FTIR analysis used in this study offer new perspectives in fish species identification. To our knowledge, this is the first report of an extensive genetic population study of E. fuscoguttatus in Malaysia and this understanding will play an important role in informing genetic stock-specific strategies for the management and conservation of this highly valued fish. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fish Molecular Biology)
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