Use of Linkage Disequilibrium Data to Estimate Effective Size of Hatchery and Natural Fish Populations

A primary parameter in the assessment of the viability of a population is its effective population size ( Ne ). Allozyme analysis of four groups of fishes provided data on linkage disequilibrium, which were then used to estimate Ne . The groups included hatchery samples of juvenile white seabass, Atractoscion nobilis , juvenile rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss , from the Shasta Hatchery, and juvenile chinook salmon, O. tshawytscha , from the Coleman National Fish Hatchery. The fourth sample consisted of juvenile chinook salmon from the threatened winter run in the upper Sacramento River. The groups of fish were chosen to represent different applications of the methodology to conservation of fishes. For a variety of reasons. Ne may be considerably lower than census counts of fish present in the parental populations. The Ne of the hatchery broodstock that produced the sample of juvenile white seabass was estimated to be approximately 10, although 25 adult white seabass were present in a mass spawning tank. Ne estimates for the parental populations of the Shasta and Coleman Hatchery samples were 35.8 and 132.5, respectively. The actual number of fish spawned at the Shasta Hatchery was approximately 40, whereas nearly 10,000 salmon were spawned at the Coleman Hatchery. The threatened winter run of chinook salmon had an estimated Ne of 85.5 and an approximate run size of 2000 salmon. The method of estimating effective population size from linkage disequilibrium data appears to result in realistic estimates of effective population size when adequate sample size and a sufficient number of polymorphic loci are available.     

Element levels in cultured and wild sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) and gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata) from the Adriatic Sea and potential risk assessment

In this study, the role of aquaculture activity as a source of selected metals was analyzed. Significant differences in element content between cultured (Dicentrarchus labrax, Sparus aurata) and wild fishes as well as between fish muscle and their feed were detected. Higher concentrations of trace elements (i.e., As, Cu, Hg, Se) in wild fish tissues in comparison with cultured ones indicate additional sources of metals beside fish feed as natural and/or anthropogenic sources. Generally, mean Cd, Cu, Pb, Se, and Zn concentrations in cultured (0.016, 1.79, 0.14, 0.87, and 34.32 μg/g, respectively) and wild (0.011, 1.97, 0.10, 1.78, and 23,54 μg/g, respectively) fish samples were below the permissible levels, while mean As (2.57 μg/g in cultured, 4.77 μg/g in wild) and Cr (5.25 μg/g in cultured, 2.92 μg/g in wild) values exceeded those limits. Hg values were lower in cultured (0.17 μg/g) and higher in wild (1.04 μg/g) fish specimens. The highest elemental concentrations were observed in almost all fish samples from Kor?ula sampling site. The smallest cultured sea basses showed As (4.01 μg/g), Cr (49.10 μg/g), Pb (0.65 μg/g), and Zn (136 μg/g) concentrations above the recommended limits; however, values decreased as fish size increased. Therefore, the majority of metal concentrations in commercial fishes showed no problems for human consumption. Also calculated Se:Hg molar ratios (all >1) and selenium health benefit values (Se-HBVs) (all positive) showed that consumption of all observed fishes in human nutrition is not risk.     

饵料加标研究二甲苯麝香在鱼体内的蓄积和清除能力

二甲苯麝香(musk xylene,MX)是一种人造麝香,具有强烈的麝香气,可用作化妆品香精和皂用香精等的定香剂。由于其持续不断地输入环境,它们在水、土壤、大气中的浓度逐渐升高,并且在动物和人体组织中产生了蓄积,其蓄积效应相当于有机氯农药(organochlorine pesticides,OCPs)等持久性有机污染物,因而研究MX在鱼体内的蓄积特征是十分必要的。本文用含浓度为50 mg·kg-1和100 mg·kg-1的MX的饵料投喂斑马鱼(Danio rerio)和稀有鮈鲫(Gobiocypris rarus)14 d,继而进入为期28 d的清除实验。通过快速溶剂萃取(accelerated solvent extraction,ASE)、凝胶渗透色谱(gel permeation chromatography,GPC)、气相色谱-质谱联用法(gas chromatography-mass spectrometry,GC-MS)测定斑马鱼和稀有鮈鲫体内MX的浓度,继而评估鱼对MX的清除能力。结果表明,饵料中MX浓度越高,鱼体内MX的蓄积水平越高,100 mg·kg-1浓度组的蓄积水平为50 mg·kg-1浓度组的蓄积水平的2~3倍。在整个试验阶段的不同时间点分析鱼的体重和脂肪与鱼体内MX浓度的关系,数据显示,MX在鱼体内的蓄积水平与鱼的体重存在正线性关系,而与鱼体内脂肪含量的关系还有待进一步研究。经28 d的清除,鱼体内的MX残留量接近于零,说明斑马鱼和稀有鮈鲫对MX的清除能力较强。     

Restoring native fish assemblages to a regulated California stream using the natural flow regime concept

We examined the response of fishes to establishment of a new flow regime in lower Putah Creek, a regulated stream in California, U.S.A. The new flow regime was designed to mimic the seasonal timing of natural increases and decreases in stream flow. We monitored fish assemblages annually at six sample sites distributed over approximately 30 km of stream for eight years before and nine years after the new flow regime was implemented. Our purpose was to determine whether more natural stream flow patterns would reestablish native fishes and reduce the abundances of alien (nonnative) fishes. At the onset of our study, native fishes were constrained to habitat immediately (<1 km) below the diversion dam, and alien species were numerically dominant at all downstream sample sites. Following implementation of the new flow regime, native fishes regained dominance across more than 20 km of lower Putah Creek. We propose that the expansion of native fishes was facilitated by creation of favorable spawning and rearing conditions (e.g., elevated springtime flows), cooler water temperatures, maintenance of lotic (flowing) conditions over the length of the creek, and displacement of alien species by naturally occurring high-discharge events. Importantly, restoration of native fishes was achieved by manipulating stream flows at biologically important times of the year and only required a small increase in the total volume of water delivered downstream (i.e., water that was not diverted for other uses) during most water years. Our results validate that natural flow regimes can be used to effectively manipulate and manage fish assemblages in regulated rivers.     

Differences in the structures of fish assemblages inThalassia testudinum beds in Guadeloupe,French West Indies,and their ecological significance

The structures of fish assemblages in twoThalassia testudinum beds in Guadeloupe, French West Indies, one adjacent to mangroves and the other adjacent to coral reefs, were compared between January 1983 and May 1984. The aim of the study was to compare the influences of mangroves and coral reefs on the utilization of seagrass beds by fishes through examination of species composition, catch rate, size of fishes and temporal changes. The two fish assemblages were similar in terms of the number of species they had in common (nearly 44% of the total number of species collected) and the great abundance of juveniles. They both comprised species that usually inhabit other habitats, i.e., estuaries, open waters or coral reefs. Estuary-associated species (e.g. Gerreidae) were the most abundant species in the seagrass bed near the mangroves, while small pelagic species (e.g. Clupeidae) were the most abundant species in the seagrass bed near the coral reefs. The seagrass bed near the mangroves was preferentially utilized as a nursery area by small juveniles of various species (e.g. Clupeidae, Sparidae, Gerreidae, and at least one coral reef species,Ocyurus chrysurus). The abundance of these species varied frequently, suggesting successive arrivals and departures of juveniles over time. The seagrass bed near the coral reefs was characteristically utilized by fishes that are more able to avoid predation, i.e., fishes that forage over seagrass beds at night and shelter in or near the coral reefs during the day (large juveniles of coral reef species and adults of schooling pelagic species, respectively). The constant migrations of these fishes between the coral reefs and seagrass beds explained the relative stability of the structure of the fish assemblage in the seagrass bed over time. Thus, the two seagrass beds were not equivalent habitats for fishes. The distinct ecological influences of the mangroves (as a nursery for small juveniles) and coral reefs (as a shelter for larger fishes) on the nearby seagrass beds was clearly reflected by the distinct utilizations of these seagrass beds by fishes.     

Yolk resorption,onset of feeding and survival potential of larvae of three tropical marine fish species reared in the hatchery

This paper provides basic early life-history information on milkfish (Chanos chanos), seabass (Lates calcarifer) and rabbitfish (Siganus guttatus) which may explain in part the observed differences in their survival performance in the hatchery. Egg size, larval size, amount of yolk and oil reserves and mouth size are all greater in milkfish than in seabass, and greater in the latter than in rabbitfish. During the first 24 h after hatching, rabbitfish larvae grow much faster than milkfish and seabass larvae at similar ambient temperatures (range 26°–30°C, mean about 28°C). The eyes become fully pigmented and the mouths open earlier in seabass and rabbitfish (32–36 h from hatching) than in milkfish (54 h). Seabass larvae learn to feed the earliest. Yolk is completely resorbed at 120 h from hatching in milkfish, and yolk plus oil at 120 h in seabass and 72 h in rabbitfish at 26° to 30°C. Milkfish and seabass larvae have more time than rabbitfish to initiate external feeding before the endogenous reserves are completely resorbed. Delayed feeding experiments showed that 50% of unfed milkfish larvae die at 78 h and all die at 150 h from hatching. Milkfish larvae fed within 54 to 78 h after hatching had improved survival times: 50% mortality occurred at 96 to 120 h, and 10 to 13% survived beyond 150 h. Unfed seabass larvae all died at 144 h, while 6 to 13% of those fed within 32 to 56 h after hatching survived beyond 144 h and well into the subsequent weeks. Unfed rabbitfish larvae all died at 88 h, while 7 to 12% of those fed within 32 to 56 h after hatching survived beyond 88 h. A delay in initial feeding of more than 24 h after eye pigmentation and opening of the mouth may be fatal for all three species.Contribution No. 167 from the SEAFDEC Aquaculture Department     

Oxygen uptake in relation to group size in the juveniles of a climbing perch, Anabas testudineus (Bloch)

The present work reports oxygen uptake in relation to group size in the juveniles (body weight: 0.70 to 1.30 g) of a climbing perch, Anabas testudineus (Bloch). The experiments were conducted at 21.5 +/- 1.0 degrees C using a cylindrical glass respirometer having continuous water flow system. With an increase in the number of fish at an interval of 5 from 5 to 40 in each fourth subsequent experiment, the weight specific aquatic oxygen uptake of a fish decreased from 0.192 +/- 0.030 to 0.800 +/- 0.006 ml O2 x g(-1)x(h(-1). When compared with a controlled fish, there was a reduction of 27.80% in the oxygen uptake in a group of 5 but 58.39% in a group of 40. A negative and significant correlation (r = 0.8411, p < 0.01) was calculated between oxygen uptake and group size of fishes. The investigation showed that probably due to shoaling behaviour, the aquatic oxygen uptake in the juveniles of A. testudineus always remained high in controlled fish or a fish in isolation than when they were in a group.     

广东典型湿地环境沉积物及鱼体中多环芳烃的污染特征及风险评估

为了解广东典型湿地环境表层沉积物及鱼体中多环芳烃(PAHs)的污染特征,分别于2014年10月和2015年4月采集沉积物及鱼类样品,分析其中16种US EPA优控多环芳烃的主要来源和风险。结果表明,广东典型湿地环境表层沉积物中多环芳烃的含量范围为139.4～1 134.3 ng·g~(-1)干重,鱼类肌肉中多环芳烃含量范围为11.1～33.9 ng·g~(-1)湿重。表层沉积物中有机碳与不同环数的多环芳烃含量均呈现显著的正相关关系。来源分析的结果表明,研究区域表层沉积物中多环芳烃的主要来源为石油排放及燃烧来源的混合。风险评估的结果表明,该区域表层沉积物中多环芳烃存在一定的生态风险,需引起重视;通过食用鱼类造成的致癌风险为2.25×10~(-6)～4.23×10~(-6),略高于美国环保局(US EPA)推荐的可接受风险(10~(-6)),存在一定的潜在致癌风险。对于成年人来说,研究区域鱼类肌肉中多环芳烃产生致癌风险允许的最大日食用量(CR_(lim))范围为124.5～234.6 g·d~(-1),尽管食用这几种鱼的致癌风险不大,居民摄入时仍应加以控制。     

Nitrogen content of food as an index of absorption efficiency in fishes

Gravimetric estimation of absorption efficiency in fishes is a time-consuming process and still subject to technical errors. Available marker methods require no quantitative recovery of feces, but their applicability is limited (e.g. chromic oxide method) or their reliability is questionable (e.g. Conover's ash ratio method). From over 100 values reported for about 50 fish species, it has been observed that nitrogen content of food holds a positive correlation to absorption efficiency; the relation is significantly (P<0.001) correlated (r=>0.9). Hence absorption efficiency (Ae) of fishes is predictable from the nitrogen content of food with less than 8% error, using the equation log Ae=1.3706+0.5807 log N.Dedicated to Professor O. Kinne on his 61st birthday, August 30, 1984     

Flows, droughts, and aliens: factors affecting the fish assemblage in a Sierra Nevada, California, stream

The fishes of Martis Creek, in the Sierra Nevada of California (USA), were sampled at four sites annually over 30 years, 1979-2008. This long-term data set was used to examine (1) the persistence and stability of the Martis Creek fish assemblage in the face of environmental stochasticity; (2) whether native and alien fishes responded differently to a natural hydrologic regime (e.g., timing and magnitude of high and low flows); and (3) the importance of various hydrologic and physical habitat variables in explaining the abundances of native and alien fish species through time. Our results showed that fish assemblages were persistent at all sample sites, but individual species exhibited marked interannual variability in density, biomass, and relative abundance. The density and biomass of native fishes generally declined over the period of study, whereas most alien species showed no significant long-term trends. Only alien rainbow trout increased in both density and biomass at all sites over time. Redundancy analysis identified three hydrologic variables (annual 7-day minimum discharge, maximum winter discharge, and number of distinct winter floods) and two habitat variables (percentage of pool habitat and percentage of gravel substrate) that each explained a significant portion of the annual variation in fish assemblage structure. For alien taxa, their proportional contribution to the total fish assemblage was inversely related to mean annual streamflow, one-day maximum discharge in both winter and spring, and the frequency of springtime floods. Results of this study highlight the need for continuous annual monitoring of streams with highly variable flow regimes to evaluate shifts in fish community structure. Apparent successes or failures in stream management may appear differently depending on the time series of available data.     

Effects of human footprint and biophysical factors on the body-size structure of fished marine species

Marine fisheries in coastal ecosystems in many areas of the world have historically removed large-bodied individuals, potentially impairing ecosystem functioning and the long-term sustainability of fish populations. Reporting on size-based indicators that link to food-web structure can contribute to ecosystem-based management, but the application of these indicators over large (cross-ecosystem) geographical scales has been limited to either fisheries-dependent catch data or diver-based methods restricted to shallow waters (<20 m) that can misrepresent the abundance of large-bodied fished species. We obtained data on the body-size structure of 82 recreationally or commercially targeted marine demersal teleosts from 2904 deployments of baited remote underwater stereo-video (stereo-BRUV). Sampling was at up to 50 m depth and covered approximately 10,000 km of the continental shelf of Australia. Seascape relief, water depth, and human gravity (i.e., a proxy of human impacts) were the strongest predictors of the probability of occurrence of large fishes and the abundance of fishes above the minimum legal size of capture. No-take marine reserves had a positive effect on the abundance of fishes above legal size, although the effect varied across species groups. In contrast, sublegal fishes were best predicted by gradients in sea surface temperature (mean and variance). In areas of low human impact, large fishes were about three times more likely to be encountered and fishes of legal size were approximately five times more abundant. For conspicuous species groups with contrasting habitat, environmental, and biogeographic affinities, abundance of legal-size fishes typically declined as human impact increased. Our large-scale quantitative analyses highlight the combined importance of seascape complexity, regions with low human footprint, and no-take marine reserves in protecting large-bodied fishes across a broad range of species and ecosystem configurations.     

Sensitivity of marine fishes to toxins from the red-tide dinoflagellate Gonyaulax excavata and implications for fish kills

Marine fishes (Atlantic herring, American pollock, winter flounder, Atlantic salmon, and cod) were dosed orally and intraperitoneally (i.p.) with paralytic shellfish toxins extracted from Bay of Fundy Gonyaulax excavata (tamarensis) cells. The toxins are lethal to these fishes in low oral doses, and in extremely low i.p. doses. Symptoms are the same among these fishes, both for oral and i.p. administrations, including loss of equilibrium within 5 to 15 min, followed by immobilization and shallow, arrhythmic breathing. Death generally occurs within 20 to 60 min of toxin administration. Dose responses are also similar among these fishes. Oral LD50 values are 400 to 750 g saxitoxin (STX) equivalent kg^-1 body weight. Intraperitoneal LD50 values are 4 to 12 g STX equivalent kg^-1. Toxins are undetectable in fish muscle tissue following lethal oral doses. The similarity of symptoms and dose responses suggest that fish as a group are sensitive to G. excavata toxins. Results, in combination with reports implicating these toxins in herring, sand lance, and menhaden kills, show the plausibility that the nearly worldwide blooms and red tides of G. excavata and its relatives may cause kills of a variety of fishes.     

Shift in Trophic Level of Mediterranean Mariculture Species

The mean trophic level of the farmed fish species in the Mediterranean has been increasing. We examined the farming‐up hypothesis (i.e., the increase in the production of high‐trophic‐level species) in the Mediterranean by determining the trophic level of the aquafeeds (i.e., what the fish are fed) of 5 species of farmed marine fishes: common dentex (Dentex dentex), common pandora (Pagellus erythrinus), European seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax), gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata), and red porgy (Pagrus sp.). The mean trophic level of aquafeed used in mariculture from 1950 to 2011 was higher (3.93) than the prey farmed fish consume in the wild (3.72) and increased at a faster rate (0.48/decade) compared with that based on their diets in the wild (0.43/decade). Future expected replacement of the fishmeal and oil in aquafeeds by plant materials may reverse the farming‐up trend, although there are a number of concerns regarding operational, nutritional, environmental, and economic issues. The farming‐up reversal can be achieved in an ecologically friendly manner by facilitating the mariculture of low‐trophic‐level fishes and by promoting high efficiency in the use of living marine resources in aquafeeds. Cambios en el Nivel Trófico de las Especies de Maricultura Mediterránea     

Ecological Impact of Introduced Crayfish on Benthic Fishes in a British Lowland River

Pacifastacus leniusculus (Dana), a native crayfish of western North America, was introduced into the U.K. in 1976. Our study examined some interactions between P. leniusculus and benthic fish in a British lowland river, the River Great Ouse. In a river survey an inverse correlation was found between the abundance of crayfish and the two dominant benthic fishes, bullhead (Cottus gobio L.) and stone loach (   Noemacheilus barbatulus [L.]) in six riffles. The benthic fishes were least abundant in the riffle nearest the original site of crayfish introduction and gradually increased in abundance both up and down river as crayfish abundance decreased. The hypotheses that crayfish compete with bullheads and stone loach for shelter and prey on fish were tested by laboratory experiments in an outdoor artificial stream (6 × 2 m) with recirculating water and 12 artificial shelters on the bottom. In competition experiments 12 fish of one species were alternatively kept alone and with 12 crayfish for 3-day cycles lasting a total of 12 days. The results showed that crayfish out-competed both fish species for shelter. Predation was measured by keeping 24 fish of each species alone and with 36 crayfish for 10 days respectively in the artificial stream. The mortalities of both fish species were significantly higher when crayfish were present. The loss of fish could be partly due to predation because crayfish guts contained the remains of some lost fish and they were observed preying on both fishes in a tank. In the river crayfish lived at high densities reaching ≥ to 20 m⁻² in riffles, and they continued to disperse. This may lead to a great reduction in benthic fish abundance if not local extinctions.     

Resistenzadaptation bei gehemmeter Proteinbiosynthese. Versuche mit Actinomycin D an dem Fisch Rhodeus amarus

Rhodeus amarus acclimated to 10° or 20°C die at 31.7° or 36.4°C, respectively (cessation of operculum movements). After raising the adaptation temperature (AT) from 10° to 20°C, adaptation is complete after 8 days. The toxicity of actinomycin D, injected intraperitoneally, is AT-dependent (e.g. at 5°C, LD_{50–7 days}=0.8 μg/g fish; at 25°C, LD_{50–7 days}=0.35 μg/g fish). In the following experiments 0.5 μg actinomycin/g fish were used. After actinomycin-injection, RNA-values in white dorsal muscle decreased about 50% within 12 h and the values of control individuals were finally attained after 16 days. Following an AT-change from 10° to 20°C, DNA-values in the white dorsal muscle increased about 10%, RNA-values about 30%, within 12 h. However, in fish injected intraperitoneally with actinomycin, no increase in DNA or RNA was noticed. Actinomycin injection per se causes increased heat resistance. This process lasts 10 days. If AT is raised now from 10° to 20°C, the new resistance level is reached later. The control fish gain resistance at a rate of about 1 C°/day during the first days after the temperature change. Actinomycin-treated individuals, however, exhibit an increase of 0.25 C°/day. Inhibition of resistance adaptation due to proteinbiosynthesis-inhibitors supports the view that protein synthesis is of importance for adjustments in heat resistance of intact animals.

     

Extremes, plasticity, and invariance in vertebrate life history traits: insights from coral reef fishes

Life history theory predicts a range of directional generic responses in life history traits with increasing organism size. Among these are the relationships between size and longevity, mortality, growth rate, timing of maturity, and lifetime reproductive output. Spanning three orders of magnitude in size, coral reef fishes provide an ecologically diverse and species-rich vertebrate assemblage in which to test these generic responses. Here we examined these relationships by quantifying the life cycles of three miniature species of coral reef fish from the genus Eviota (Gobiidae) and compared their life history characteristics with other reef fish species. We found that all three species of Eviota have life spans of < 100 days, suffer high daily mortality rates of 7-8%, exhibit rapid linear growth, and matured at an earlier than expected size. Although lifetime reproductive output was low, consistent with their small body sizes, short generation times of 47-74 days help overcome low individual fecundity and appear to be a critical feature in maintaining Eviota populations. Comparisons with other coral reef fish species showed that Eviota species live on the evolutionary margins of life history possibilities for vertebrate animals. This addition of demographic information on these smallest size classes of coral reef fishes greatly extends our knowledge to encompass the full size spectrum and highlights the potential for coral reef fishes to contribute to vertebrate life history studies.     

Interception and dispersal of artificial food falls by scavenging fishes in the abyssal Northeast Atlantic: early-season observations prior to annual deposition of phytodetritus

The hypothesis that the behaviour of deep-sea scavenging fishes is influenced by seasonal input of organic matter from the ocean surface was investigated by observing responses to baits placed on the sea floor at 4800 m depth in the NE Atlantic (48°50′N; 16°30′W) during spring (April 1994). Data from the present study are compared with those from previous studies of the same location made in summer 1989. The first fishes to arrive at baits were the grenadier Coryphaenoides (Nematonurus) armatus and the eel Histiobranchus bathybius, after delays of 28 and 29 min, respectively; these results are not significantly different from those of summer 1989. Similarly, other indices of activity (staying time and swimming speed) showed no evidence of differences between years/seasons. However, the rate of radial dispersal of bait (0.009 m s⁻¹) by C. (N.) armatus was much slower than in all previous studies. A change in the size distribution of C. (N.) armatus to smaller individuals in spring 1994 was also evident. It is suggested that the fish on the abyssal plain may not comprise a steady-state population and that major episodic or seasonal migrations may occur. Received: 18 October 1996 / Accepted: 20 December 1996     

Relative influence of environmental factors and fishing on coral reef fish assemblages

Understanding whether assemblages of species respond more strongly to bottom-up (availability of trophic resources or habitats) or top-down (predation pressure) processes is important for effective management of resources and ecosystems. We determined the relative influence of environmental factors and predation by humans in shaping the density, biomass, and species richness of 4 medium-bodied (10–40 cm total length [TL]) coral reef fish groups targeted by fishers (mesopredators, planktivores, grazer and detritivores, and scrapers) and the density of 2 groups not targeted by fishers (invertivores, small fish ≤10 cm TL) in the central Philippines. Boosted regression trees were used to model the response of each fish group to 21 predictor variables: 13 habitat variables, 5 island variables, and 3 fishing variables (no-take marine reserve [NTMR] presence or absence, NTMR size, and NTMR age). Targeted and nontargeted fish groups responded most strongly to habitat variables, then island variables. Fishing (NTMR) variables generally had less influence on fish groups. Of the habitat variables, live hard coral cover, structural complexity or habitat complexity index, and depth had the greatest effects on density, biomass, and species richness of targeted fish groups and on the density of nontargeted fishes. Of the island variables, proximity to the nearest river and island elevation had the most influence on fish groups. The NTMRs affected only fishes targeted by fishers; NTMR size positively correlated with density, biomass, and species richness of targeted fishes, particularly mesopredatory, and grazing and detritivorous fishes. Importantly, NTMRs as small as 15 ha positively affected medium-bodied fishes. This finding provides reassurance for regions that have invested in small-scale community-managed NTMRs. However, management strategies that integrate sound coastal land-use practices to conserve adjacent reef fish habitat, strategic NTMR placement, and establishment of larger NTMRs will be crucial for maintaining biodiversity and fisheries.     

Sodium and potassium in the edible portions of thirty fish species

The 30 species of limnic and marine fishes analyzed in the present study represent excellent foods for inclusion in diets that require a low sodium content. In none of these species, not even in the marine ones, did the content of sodium exceed the maximum amount (100 mg/100 g fish meat) specified by food authorities for low sodium diets.     

Exploited species impacts on trophic linkages along reef-seagrass interfaces in the Florida Keys

The removal of fish biomass by extensive commercial and recreational fishing has been hypothesized to drastically alter the strength of trophic linkages among adjacent habitats. We evaluated the effects of removing predatory fishes on trophic transfers between coral reefs and adjacent seagrass meadows by comparing fish community structure, grazing intensity, and invertebrate predation potential in predator-rich no-take sites and nearby predator-poor fished sites in the Florida Keys (USA). Exploited fishes were more abundant at the no-take sites than at the fished sites. Most of the exploited fishes were either omnivores or invertivores. More piscivores were recorded at no-take sites, but most (approximately 95%) were moderately fished and unexploited species (barracuda and bar jacks, respectively). Impacts of these consumers on lower trophic levels were modest. Herbivorous and smaller prey fish (< 10 cm total length) densities and seagrass grazing diminished with distance from reefs and were not negatively impacted by the elevated densities of exploited fishes at no-take sites. Predation by reef fishes on most tethered invertebrates was high, but exploited species impacts varied with prey type. The results of the study show that, even though abundances of reef-associated fishes have been reduced at fished sites, there is little evidence that this has produced cascading trophic effects or interrupted cross-habitat energy exchanges between coral reefs and seagrasses.