The use of environmental DNA (eDNA) to determine the presence and distribution of aquatic organisms has become an important tool to monitor and investigate freshwater communities. The successful ...application of this method in the field, however, is dependent on the effectiveness of positive DNA verification, which is influenced by site-specific environmental parameters. Factors affecting eDNA concentrations in aquatic ecosystems include flow conditions, and the presence of substances that possess DNA-binding properties or inhibitory effects. In this study we investigated the influence of different environmental parameters on the detection success of eDNA using the invasive goby Neogobius melanostomus. In a standardized laboratory setup, different conditions of flow, sediment-properties, and fish density were compared, as well as different potential natural inhibitors such as algae, humic substances, and suspended sediment particles. The presence of sediment was mainly responsible for lower eDNA detection in the water samples, regardless of flow-through or standing water conditions and a delayed release of eDNA was detected in the presence of sediment. Humic substances had the highest inhibitory effect on eDNA detection followed by algae and siliceous sediment particles. The results of our study highlight that a successful application of eDNA methods in field surveys strongly depends on site-specific conditions, such as water flow conditions, sediment composition, and suspended particles. All these factors should be carefully considered when sampling, analyzing, and interpreting eDNA detection results.
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DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Briggs () published the first checklist of circumtropical fishes with 107 species. This work served for a half century as the most comprehensive checklist of globally distributed fishes, but the ...intervening years witnessed many discoveries, and molecular data have changed the way we evaluate species. Here, we update the list guided by taxonomic revisions, phylogenies, phylogeographic data and DNA barcodes. The resulting list now includes 284 species. The dramatic increase is primarily due to two trends: (i) continued oceanic exploration leading to range revisions and species discoveries and (ii) public databases such as FishBase and the Catalogue of Fishes make range data more accessible. Five species were removed from the list as closer scrutiny revealed multiple taxa, 14 were removed due to updated range information, and 35 more are suspected to be species complexes. The species listed here are mostly pelagic and bathypelagic fishes. Euryhaline, anadromous, catadromous, freshwater, and with few exceptions, reef fishes do not achieve global distributions. The most species‐rich family of marine fishes (Gobiidae) is absent. The fishes with the longest pelagic larval stage (Anguillidae) are absent. In contrast, requiem sharks (Carcharhinidae), tunas (Scombridae), jacks (Carangidae), remoras (Echeneidae) and especially lanternfishes (Myctophidae) have multiple representatives. The combined evidence indicates that high mobility as an adult is a key requirement to achieve a global distribution. Many others are members of monotypic genera or families, indicating old lineages that did not diversify. We conclude that global ranges may promote persistence over evolutionary timescales, but also reduce opportunities for speciation.
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DOBA, FZAB, GIS, IJS, IZUM, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
A major goal of the aquaculture industry is to reduce collection pressure on wild populations by developing captive breeding techniques for marine ornamental species, particularly coral reef fishes. ...The objective of this study was to develop a rearing protocol for two recently described species of neon gobies that are endemic to the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef: 1) Elacatinus lori; and 2) Elacatinus colini. First, the current study describes the reproductive behavior and larval development of both species. Second, it evaluates the effects of different rotifer and Artemia densities on the survival and growth of E. lori and E. colini larvae. Third, it compares the survival and growth of E. colini larvae fed wild plankton to those fed a combination of rotifers and Artemia. Once acclimated, pairs of E. lori began spawning in 53.2±12.4 d (mean±sd), while pairs of E. colini took only 12.2±10.3 d. E. lori produced more embryos per clutch (1009±477) than E. colini (168±83). E. lori larvae hatched 8.18±0.4days after initial observation with a notochord length of 3.67±0.2mm. In comparison, E. colini larvae hatched 6.8±0.4days after initial observation with a notochord length of 3.51±2.3mm. Both species settled as early as 28days post hatch at 9–9.5mm standard length, following the fusion of the pelvic fins to form a pelvic disc. During rotifer density trials, from 0 to 6days post hatch, there was no significant difference in survival or standard length between treatments fed 10, 15 or 20rotifersml−1 for either species. During Artemia density trials, from 6 to 14days post hatch, control treatments fed solely on 15rotifersml−1 had significantly higher survival than treatments that were fed rotifers in combination with 3, 6 or 9Artemiaml−1. Finally, E. colini larvae that were fed wild plankton had significantly higher survival and growth than those fed with a combination of 15rotifersml−1 and 3Artemiaml−1. The results of this study suggest that Artemia nauplii are not a suitable prey for E. lori or E. colini larvae. Our results demonstrate the feasibility of rearing E. lori and E. colini to settlement, and suggest that 10–20rotifersml−1 and wild plankton provide a viable starting point for optimizing the survival and growth of Elacatinus spp. larvae.
•A description of reproductive behavior and a larval rearing protocol are provided for two species of Elacatinus gobies.•There was no difference in the survival or standard length of larvae that were fed 10, 15 or 20rotifers ml−1.•Larvae fed Artemia beginning at 6days post hatch had lower survival than controls fed solely with rotifers.•E. colini larvae fed wild plankton had higher survival and growth than those fed a combination of rotifers and Artemia.•A diet of 10 – 20rotifers ml−1 and wild plankton provides a viable starting point for rearing Elacatinus spp. larvae.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZRSKP
•CTMax was tested for 35 coastal species.•Tropical and temperate crabs, shrimp and fish were used.•Warming tolerance was higher for temperate species.•Acclimation capacity was higher for temperate ...species.•Tropical species seem to be more vulnerable to further climate warming.
Ecological forecasting on the likely impacts of climate warming is crucial at a time when several ecosystems seem to be responding to this environmental threat. Among the most important questions are: which are the most vulnerable organisms to climate warming and where are they? Recently, there has been debate on whether the tropics or temperate zones are more vulnerable to warming. Vulnerability toward higher temperatures will depend on the organisms’ thermal limits and also on their acclimation capacity, which remains largely unknown for most species. The aim of the present work was to estimate (1) the upper thermal limits (Critical Thermal Maximum (CTMax)), (2) the warming tolerance (CTMax – Maximum Habitat Temperature) and (3) the acclimation capacity of tropical and temperate rocky shore organisms. Differences in biological groups (decapod crustaceans vs fish) were investigated and the effect of region (tropical vs temperate) and habitat (intertidal vs subtidal) was tested. Overall, 35 species were tested. For the assessment of the acclimation capacity, tropical-temperate pairs of closely related species of shrimp, crab and fish were selected. Warming tolerance was higher for temperate species than for tropical species and higher for subtidal species than for intertidal species, confirming that species with the highest thermal limits have the lowest warming tolerance. All species tested presented some acclimation capacity (CTMaxTrial−CTMaxControl), with the exception of gobiid fish, which was not observed to acclimate. The tropical species tested showed a lower acclimation capacity than their temperate counterparts. Given that tropical rocky shore organisms are already living very close to their thermal limits and that their acclimation capacity is limited, it is likely that the impacts of global warming will be evident sooner in the tropics than in the temperate zone.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK
Reconstructing fossil bony fish faunas using otoliths is a well-established method that allows a diverse and dense record in time and space to be assembled. Here we report about a rich otolith-based ...fish fauna from the middle Sarmatian s.l. (middle Bessarabian) from Jurkine, Kerch Peninsula, Crimea. The study is based on more than 5,000 specimens constituting 36 different species, 24 of which are new and 2 remain in open nomenclature. This assemblage represents the first major otolith association described from the Bessarabian. It also represents a fish fauna from the last continuous restricted marine environment that evolved in the Eastern Paratethys, was recruited from the Badenian/Tarkhanian fauna, and was not affected by the subsequent Khersonian crisis. The association of otoliths is characterized by a high content of endemic fishes that derived from the relatively well-known early Sarmatian s.l. (Volhynian) fish fauna, and it contains certain faunal elements that were trapped in the then-secluded Eastern Paratethys and did not range into younger strata. This forced endemic evolution explains the unusually high percentage of new taxa. The fish fauna is dominated by stenohaline marine shelf fishes apparently recruited from the Konkian and earlier Sarmatian s.l. (Volhynian) fauna after the Karaganian crisis. The families Gobiidae and Gadidae benefited most in this restricted marine environment, while deep-water fishes disappeared with the Karaganian crisis. In this study, we discuss the further evolution of Eastern Paratethyan fishes as far as can be reconstructed from the relatively limited data from post-Bessarabian strata, and we also outline targets for future research in the field. The stratigraphic sequence of the Jurkine section is being revised based on a detailed suite of benthic foraminifera. Implications for the stratigraphy of the middle and upper Sarmatian s.l., their boundary, and the paleoenvironments of this part of the Kerch Peninsula are discussed.
A checklist of 73 gobiid species (Teleostei: Gobiidae) recorded to date from the Mediterranean Sea is established following the evidence approach for checklists. The Mediterranean gobiofauna ...currently has 62 known native species and 11 alien species. An identification key to gobiid species known from the area is provided. The principles of character selection for the key are discussed.
Live corals are the key habitat forming organisms on coral reefs, contributing to both biological and physical structure. Understanding the importance of corals for reef fishes is, however, ...restricted to a few key families of fishes, whereas it is likely that a vast number of fish species will be adversely affected by the loss of live corals. This study used data from published literature together with independent field based surveys to quantify the range of reef fish species that use live coral habitats. A total of 320 species from 39 families use live coral habitats, accounting for approximately 8 % of all reef fishes. Many of the fishes reported to use live corals are from the families Pomacentridae (68 spp.) and Gobiidae (44 spp.) and most (66 %) are either planktivores or omnivores. 126 species of fish associate with corals as juveniles, although many of these fishes have no apparent affiliation with coral as adults, suggesting an ontogenetic shift in coral reliance. Collectively, reef fishes have been reported to use at least 93 species of coral, mainly from the genus Acropora and Porities and associate predominantly with branching growth forms. Some fish associate with a single coral species, whilst others can be found on more than 20 different species of coral indicating there is considerable variation in habitat specialisation among coral associated fish species. The large number of fishes that rely on coral highlights that habitat degradation and coral loss will have significant consequences for biodiversity and productivity of reef fish assemblages.
Five Gobiid fish species have recently increased their ranges along the Danube/Rhine river corridor. Studies to date, however, have tended to be local, site specific and reactive, examining just one ...or few species. As such, overall range has tended to be assumed based on a summary of patchy, and sometimes contradictory, data. This study provides an up-to-date literature review of first records of occurrence for all five species along their expansion route. In addition, available shipping data are examined to identify possible proximal causes of introduction. Three main discontinuous population centres were identified; all at or near important container ports: Vienna, Duisburg and Rotterdam. Shipping is confirmed as an important factor in the rapid national and international expansion of Ponto-Caspian Gobiids, with downstream drift, rip-rap and heavy boat traffic contributing to rapid spread on the Rhine. Geopolitical factors, however, such as the fall of communism and the Balkan conflict, have been key in influencing where, when, and by which route gobies first appear. Rapid expansion of Gobiids in the Rhine raises the possibility of establishment throughout mainland Europe via two new potential invasion corridors across Germany/Poland and France.Original Abstract: Cinq especes de poissons Gobiidae ont recemment etendu leurs repartitions dans le corridor Danube/Rhin. Les etudes menees a ce jour ont cependant tendance a etre locales, specifiques au site, et n'examinent seulement qu'une ou quelques especes. De ce fait, la repartition globale a tendance a etre evaluee sur la base d'un resume de donnees fragmentaires et parfois contradictoires. Cette etude est une synthese de la litterature des premiers signalements de presence pour les cinq especes le long de leur itineraire d'expansion. En outre, les donnees de navigation disponibles sont examinees afin de determiner les causes proximales possibles d'introduction. Trois principaux centres de population disjoints ont ete identifies, tous dans ou pres des ports a conteneurs importants : Vienne, Duisbourg et Rotterdam. La navigation est confirmee comme un facteur important dans l'expansion nationale et internationale rapide des Gobiidae pontocaspiens, avec une derive vers l'aval; les enrochements et la circulation de gros bateaux contribuant a la propagation rapide sur le Rhin. Des facteurs geopolitiques, cependant, comme la chute du communisme et le conflit des Balkans, ont joue un role cle en influencant ou, quand et par quelle voie les gobies apparaissent en premier. L'expansion rapide des Gobiidae dans le Rhin souleve la possibilite d'implantation dans toute l'Europe continentale via deux nouveaux corridors d'invasion potentiels a travers l'Allemagne/Pologne et la France.
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