Flow and transport characteristics at an Epinephelus guttatus (red hind grouper) spawning aggregation site in St. Thomas (US Virgin Islands)

This study characterizes the flow field at a spawning site located at the shelf break of a Caribbean island for the Epinephelus guttatus (red hind grouper) in relation to this species spawning events. In order to understand the oceanographic dynamics targeted by the fishes, current measurements were profiled throughout the water column for almost a year at the spawning site. The characteristics of the flow field and its evolution after spawning were investigated by using a numerical ocean model that resolved the observed tide and simulated the island scale flow where passive, neutrally buoyant virtual particles were released for 10 days to trace the flow pathways.Observed currents during the spawning period revealed that the flow was vertically sheared, to the south and weakest at the bottom, and to the west or east at the surface. The tidal analysis revealed that the flow at the time of spawning was directed across and on-shelf, although weaker close to the bottom. The model showed that the initial on-shelf transport was counteracted by the bottom flow directed to the shelf break, where virtual particles were entrained by the downwelling flow. A significant percent of particles resided less than two hundred meters deep, in the vicinity of the chlorophyll maximum and returned to the shelf break, close to the release location within 8-10 days. This journey was largely controlled by the timing between downwelling at the spawning site and upwelling further east at the shelf break, which was driven by the coupling between wind and tide induced vertical movements at the shelf break and deeper. The release location, vertical rotation of its flow field, and its transport properties were shown to be relatively resilient to the passage of transient sub-mesoscale eddies as well as to acute mesoscale flow reversals, suggesting that physical retention is maximized in the area surrounding the spawning site.     

Assessing spawning ground hydraulic suitability for Chinese sturgeon (Acipenser sinensis) from horizontal mean vorticity in Yangtze River

The Chinese sturgeon, Acipenser sinensis, is an anadromous protected species. Its migration pattern has been blocked since the construction of Gezhouba dam and the length of the natural spawning site reduced to less than 7 km. However, the fish eventually established an alternative spawning ground in the narrow downstream reach of Gezhouba dam. In this article, we applied Delft3D-Flow model to simulate the hydraulic suitability of the spawning ground downstream Gezhouba dam. Horizontal mean vorticity was used to assess the hydraulic environment of spawning ground. The flow field state was determined through model simulation and field-measured data used to validate the model. The computational method was improved by calculating absolute horizontal mean vorticity from estimates the literature. The final vorticity was determined from the simulation output and its distribution pattern retrieved. The horizontal mean vorticity range was 0.71–4.61 10⁻³ s⁻¹ for the entire spawning grounds, with egg mass field upper limit of 1.0 × 10⁻³ s⁻¹. Vorticity strength selection of Chinese sturgeon spawning can enhance our understanding of egg fertilization rate, hence the protection of fertilized eggs. Furthermore, the results of the study would add to existing scientific database for spawning ground hydraulic environment protection, especially in the ecological regulation drive of the Three Gorges Reservoir.     

Reproductive biology of the spiny lobster, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Panulirus Penicillatus</Emphasis>, in the southeastern coastal waters off Taiwan

The reproductive biology of spiny lobster, Panulirus penicillatus, was studied based on 2,068 lobsters, ranging from 34.28 to 131.60 mm carapace length (CL), sampled in Taitung coastal waters from September 2003 to December 2004. The overall sex ratio approximated 1:1 (χ² = 0.02, P > 0.05), but the monthly sex ratios in 2004 showed significant differences and males were predominant in sizes larger than 80 mm CL. Reproductive activity, assessed using histology, a gonadosomatic index and percentage of ovigerous females, indicated that the mature females could be found in every month and that the major spawning occurred from May to September. The presence of re-developing/re-ripe ovaries by month and size-specific spawning time suggest that larger mature females (>60 mm CL) spawn at least three times a year while smaller new mature females spawn at least once a year. For females, the estimated sizes at 50% physiological and functional maturity were (mean ± SE) 56.46 ± 0.56 mm CL and 66.63 ± 1.07 mm CL. The estimated sizes at functional maturity were between 72 and 74 mm CL for males. The number of eggs per spawning event (brood size, BS) was related to CL by the equation Y _BS = 2.4 × 10^-3CL^4.18 (r ² = 0.902, n = 12). Female lobsters with CL ranging from 60 to 80 mm made the greatest contributions to egg production because of their high brood size and active reproductive activity. A minimum legal size should be established for the fishery to protect egg production potential of lobster population in the southeastern coastal waters off Taiwan.     

Nest association in fishes: evidence for mutualism

Nest association, or the habit of spawning in the nest of another species, is a widespread reproductive strategy among North American fishes, especially minnows. The hosts of nest associates include sunfishes and nest-building minnows. Previous experiments demonstrated that nest associates benefited from the parental care of hosts. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of nest associates on hosts, and thereby characterize the relationship as parasitic, mutualistic or commensal. Since hosts with associates had higher reproductive success than those without associates in this experiment, I characterize nest association as a mutualistic relationship, at least in some systems. The dilution effect is the proposed mechanism responsible for the higher reproductive success of hosts with associates.