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Clupeiform fishes are ecologically and economically important species contributing to industrial and artisanal fisheries worldwide. They represent key links in food webs, influencing the dynamic between trophic levels. The dietary interactions of these species are poorly studied in many regions, yet essential for fisheries management. To elucidate the role of these species in food webs of the Southern Brazilian Bight pelagic fisheries, we used metabarcoding analysis of fish stomach contents of Clupeiformes and possible predators. Onboard sampling from March to September 2016 allowed for processing of 87 stomach samples representing 31 species (including 12 samples representing three species of Clupeiformes). Links between trophic levels showed the predominance of Sardinella brasiliensis and Engraulis anchoita as important dietary items of a large range of fishes (28 species belonging to 18 families) and representing the majority of the total prey read abundance assigned to clupeiform fishes (~46% and ~32%, respectively). Opisthonema oglinum contributed to the diet of 16 species in 13 families and ~18% of total read abundance of clupeiform fishes as prey. The appearance of multiple clupeiform taxa in the diet of predators that are not commonly associated with pelagic prey indicates that ecosystem‐based fisheries management should not be separated between pelagic and demersal fisheries. The diet of Clupeiformes revealed an unexpectedly large diversity of fish species and a low proportion of invertebrates (<5% of clupeiform prey reads). This was likely due to a combination of both a limitation of the metabarcoding method (primer bias and low success of invertebrate taxonomic identification) as well as a contribution of early life stages (ichthyoplankton) to the diet of these fishes. The potential role of clupeiform fish populations as a constraint to the recruitment from the ichthyoplanktonic phase of other ecologically or commercially important fishes should be considered as an important direction for future studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evolutionary radiation is a problematic concept whose definition and classification have recently changed. Radiations can be defined as the pattern of abrupt increase in diversity of a lineage. It is relevant to evaluate the presence and interaction of different types of radiation in extant and fossil organisms to adequately delimitate the radiation types and to know the diversity in the context of Earth's history. Here, we employed the superorder Clupeomorpha at the Early–Late Cretaceous boundary as a study case to investigate radiation types and their interactions, using both taxic and morphological approaches. Clupeomorpha is an extensively studied, diverse and ancient teleostean superorder with wide geographical and ecological distributions. We propose a model for calculating rates of origination in order to analyse the taxic diversification and employ geometric morphometrics to analyse the morphological diversification that occurred at the temporal boundary. The results suggest the absence of taxic radiation due to a constant increase in taxon origination. However, the expansion of the phylomorphospace occupation and the disparity increase suggest the presence of a 'climatic–geographical' or 'broad diversification‐like' disparity, according to current classifications. This illustrates the incompatibility of current radiation classifications with this case study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shads of the genus Alosa are essential to commercial fisheries across North America and Europe, but in some areas their species boundaries remain controversial. Traditional morphology‐based taxonomy of Alosa spp. has relied heavily on the number of gill rakers and body proportions, but these can be highly variable. We use mitochondrial (mt)DNA (coI and cytb) and genome‐wide single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) along with morphological characters to assess differentiation among endemic Ponto‐Caspian shads in the Sea of Azov. Morphological species assignments based on gill‐raker number were not congruent with genetic lineages shown by mtDNA and SNPs. Iterative analysis revealed that genetic lineages were associated with sampling location and several other morphometric traits (caudal peduncle depth, pre‐anal length and head length). Phylogenetic analysis of the genus placed Ponto‐Caspian Alosa spp. in the same evolutionary lineage as endangered Alosa spp. endemic to Greece, highlighting the importance of these findings to conservation management. We conclude that gill‐raker number is not reliable for delimiting species of Alosa. This taxonomic uncertainty should be addressed by examining type material to provide a robust integrative classification for these commercially important fishes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study records the occurrence of a hermaphrodite individual of the apapá Pellona flavipinnis captured in a floodplain area of the Amazon River. Histology of the left gonad revealed the presence of testicular germ cells (spermatocytes and spermatozoa) in the cranial portion and mature ovarian cells (primary and vitellogenic oocytes) in the caudal portion, separated by connective tissue. This is the first record of a hermaphrodite fish of the family Pristigasteridae, order Clupeiformes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anchoviella hernanni sp. nov. is described from the upper Amazon River basin, in tributaries of the Marañon, Ucayali and Madre de Dios river drainages that drain the Peruvian Andes. The new taxon can be distinguished from all congeners except Anchoviella jamesi, Anchoviella manamensis and Anchoviella perezi, by having 12–15 gill rakers in the lower branch of the first gill arch (v·16–35) and from those species by the distance between verticals through the posterior margin of the orbit to the posterior margin of the upper jaw 9·5–14·8% head length; LH (v. up to 6·0% LH). An updated identification key of all freshwater species of Anchoviella and morphological comparisons between all species of the genus occurring in Peru are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Declines in Hickory shad ( Alosa mediocris) populations in Chesapeake Bay have prompted efforts at captive propagation of wild broodfish for stock enhancement and research. Objective The objectives of this study were to evaluate injuries sustained, and immediate and delayed (24 hours) effects on blood variables related to 2 fish capturing methods (electrofishing [EF] and angling). Methods Blood specimens were collected from fish immediately following capture by EF and angling ( n = 40 per sex and capture method) from the Susquehanna River (MD, USA). Additional fish ( n = 25 per sex and capture method) were collected on the same day, placed in holding tanks and bled 24 hours following capture. Blood data that were non-Gaussian in distribution were transformed (Box-Cox), and effects of sex, method of capture, and holding time were tested using ANOVA with general linear models. Fish were evaluated for injuries by necropsy and radiography. Results Sex-specific differences were observed for RBC, HGB, PCV, MCH, MCHC, total proteins (TP), globulins, glucose, calcium, AST, CK, and lactate, while RBC, HGB, PCV, MCV, MCH, MCHC, TP, albumin, globulins, glucose, potassium, sodium, AST, CK, and lactate differed significantly by fish capturing method. Electrofishing may have induced greater disruption in blood variables, but mortality (4%) was not significantly different compared to angling. Conclusions Electrofishing for Hickory shad using a constant DC voltage resulted in numerous hematologic and biochemical changes, with no additional injuries or deaths compared to angling. Capture method must be considered when evaluating fish condition, and blood variables should be partitioned by sex during spawning season. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The nature and intensity of intraspecific competition can vary greatly among taxa, yet similarities in these interactions can lead to similar population dynamics among related organisms. Variation along the spectrum of intraspecific competition, with contest and scramble competition as endpoints, leads to vastly different responses to population density. Here we investigated the diversity of intraspecific competition among fish species, predicting that functional forms of density-dependent reproduction would be conserved in related taxa. Using a hierarchical model that links stock-recruitment parameters among populations, species, and orders, we found that the strength of overcompensation, and therefore the type of intraspecific competition, is tightly clustered within taxonomic groupings, as species within an order share similar degrees of compensation. Specifically, species within the orders Salmoniformes and Pleuronectiformes exhibited density dependence indicative of scramble competition (overcompensation) while the orders Clupeiformes, Gadiformes, Perciformes, and Scorpaeniformes exhibited dynamics consistent with contest competition (compensation). Maximum potential recruitment also varied among orders, but with less clustering across species. We also tested whether stock-recruitment parameters correlated with maximum body length among species, but found no strong relationship. Our results suggest that much of the variation in the form of density-dependent reproduction among fish species may be predicted taxonomically due to evolved life history traits and reproductive behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The anadromous Japanese Grenadier AnchovyCoilia nasusis a commercially important fish that is mainly distributed in the Yangtze River and its estuarine area. Two trials were performed to determine the effect of acute salinity stress on the survival of earlyC. nasuslarvae at 0 d posthatch (DPH) and 2 DPH. The salinity treatments for these two trials were 0.4, 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25‰. A third trial compared the growth of juveniles in 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, and 18‰ salinity. Larvae could only tolerate a limited range of salinity (<5‰). Salinity challenge significantly affected the survival of earlyC. nasuslarvae. When salinity was changed, even a low concentration of 2.5‰ could adversely affect earlyC. nasuslarvae. The growth of juveniles was also influenced by salinity. High salinity (>12‰) caused low survival, and low salinity (<6‰) caused poor growth. The optimum salinity for the survival and growth ofC. nasusjuveniles ranges from 6‰ to 12‰. Received November 30, 2014; accepted April 29, 2015 [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

A range expansion of the Taiwan sardinella Sardinella hualiensis to the Philippines is reported. The data suggested that the southern translocation of S. hualiensis occurred across oceanographic features that are typically barriers to small, pelagic fish dispersal. With this addition, the Philippines is among the most diverse countries for Sardinella biodiversity in the world, second only to India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although Clupeiformes contain many economically important species, there is limited information on their reproductive physiology. To obtain more insight into reproductive mechanisms in clupeiform fishes, molecular cloning of the Japanese anchovy Engraulis japonicus luteinizing hormone β (LH β) and glycoprotein hormone α (GPH α) subunits, and immunocytochemistry of gonadotrophs in the pituitary using antisera raised against the synthetic peptides for both subunits were carried out. The cDNAs for LH β and GPH α subunits consisted of 963 and 535 nucleotides encoding 141 and 122 amino acids, respectively. The deduced amino acid sequences of the E. japonicus LH β subunit showed a 60% similarity to the Pacific herring Clupea pallasii LH β subunit and 24-31% similarities to FSH β subunits of other fish species. The E. japonicus GPH α subunit showed 52-57% similarities to anguilliform and cypriniform GPH α subunits. Both the subunits have typical structural characteristics of each subunit such as N-linked glycosylation sites, conserved cysteine residues and highly conserved short amino acid sequences. These results indicate that cDNAs cloned in this study encode the E. japonicus LH β and GPH α subunits. Reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) revealed that both the LH β and GPH α subunit genes were abundantly expressed in the pituitary, and the GPH α subunit was observed to be weakly expressed in the extrapituitary tissues. Immunocytochemistry of the E. japonicus pituitary showed that cells that immunoreacted with antiserum against the LH β subunit were distributed in the peripheral regions of proximal pars distalis, and these cells were also immunoreactive to antiserum against the GPH α subunit. An abundant number of both LH β and GPH α cells in the pituitary of matured fish were observed, in comparison with immature fish. These results indicate that the E. japonicus LH is involved in the final reproductive maturation as well as those of other teleosts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim Similar regimes of selection in different geographical settings can deterministically produce similar adaptive morphologies. We tested the hypothesis that the evolutionary trajectories of fish in upwelling zones can be altered by biogeographic contingencies in the biological and physical environment. Location Eastern Pacific and western Atlantic oceans. Methods We estimated phylogenetic relationships among eastern Pacific temperate anchovies (genus Engraulis) and tropical anchovies (genus Cetengraulis) with neighbour-joining and Bayesian tree analysis of a 521-bp segment of mitochondrial DNA cytochrome b. Available sequences for five additional engraulid taxa were included to establish polarity of the tree. Bayesian estimates (BEAST) of time to most recent common ancestor (TMRCA) for the nodes in the phylogeny were calibrated with divergence between Cetengraulis edentulus and Cetengraulis mysticetus precipitated by the rise of the Panama Isthmus 2.8–3.2 Ma. Results Neighbour-joining and Bayesian trees indicate that South American Engraulis anchoita (Argentina) and Engraulis ringens (Chile) together are basal sister taxa to the California anchovy ( Engraulis mordax) and Old World anchovies ( Engraulis japonicas, Engraulis australis, Engraulis capensis and Engraulis encrasicolus). The two tropical species of Cetengraulis are sister-taxa to Californian E. mordax, even though their phenotypes and ecologies differ markedly. A relaxed molecular clock indicates a TMRCA between Californian E. mordax and Cetengraulis at about 4.2 Ma (3.0–6.3 Ma 95% highest probability density). Main conclusions The TMRCA between the California anchovy, E. mordax, and tropical Cetengraulis coincides with the formation of the Gulf of California, which provided opportunities for allopatric isolation during climate oscillations. Mid-Pliocene warming (3.1–2.9 Ma) may have trapped ancestors of Cetengraulis in the Gulf of California, where they evolved digestive tract morphologies to exploit inshore tropical habitats with low plankton productivities. While populations of several other temperate fishes have become isolated in the Gulf of California, few of these derived species show strong adaptive shifts from temperate sister taxa or range expansions into the tropical provinces of the western Atlantic and eastern Pacific. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A multiplex haplotype-specific polymerase chain reaction (MHS-PCR) method was developed, which identified seven Clupeiform species living in the tropical Eastern Atlantic region: Sardinella aurita, Sardinella maderensis, Ethmalosa fimbriata, Sardina pilchardus, Engraulis encrasicholus, Pellonula leonensis and Ilisha africana. 16S rRNA fragments were amplified using a species-specific set of primers, yielding species-specific size fragments, and then separated using agarose gel electrophoresis, enabling direct visual identification of targeted species. This method provides an accurate, easy and rapid tool for identifying species within large Clupeiform samples. It is suitable for investigations on early Clupeiform stages, species and identification in fishery management in the tropical Eastern Atlantic area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study which examines various hatching strategies in embryos of Pacific herring Clupea pallasii and Japanese anchovy Engraulis japonicus. The species belong to the same order Clupeiformes and produce various types of egg, namely demersal adherent eggs and pelagic eggs, respectively. Researchers found that the herring embryos hatched out at later developmental stage than the anchovy embryos. Abundant nutrient in demersal eggs would allow the embryos to hatch at later stage tha those of pelagic eggs. Aside from the different migration of hatching gland cells (HGCs), there is a different expression level of hatching enzyme genes between the two species.

The distribution and abundance of fish larvae was studied along the eastern and southern shelf of Gran Canaria Island (Canary Islands) from July 2000 to June 2001. Oblique bongo hauls were carried out fortnightly during the daytime, coinciding with days of full and new moon. During February, the area was sampled every 2–5 days. About 17.3% of the ichthyoplanktonic community was composed of clupeiform larvae: 92.9% of these larvae were Sardinella aurita, whereas 4.7% and 2.4% were respectively Engraulis encrasicolus and Sardina pilchardus. Sardinella aurita larvae appeared during the whole year with two periods of maximum abundance: June to September and December to February. During the full moon their abundance was on average 38.5% (±6.8%) of their numbers during the new moon, showing a clear lunar periodicity. Engraulis encrasicolus larvae appeared from November to March, also coinciding with the new moon. Sardina pilchardus larvae only appeared during two short periods, both coinciding with filaments shed from the African coastal upwelling which reached the island. This fact confirms the transport of fish larvae from the upwelling area off northwest Africa to the Canary Islands, promoting a genetic flow among both sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To test three hypotheses accounting for bipolar distributions in Engraulis, seven of eight taxa (except E. eurystole) were surveyed with allozymes (34 loci) and 521 bp of the mitochondrial DNA cytochrome b gene. Both allozymes and mtDNA sequences revealed deep separations between New World and Old World anchovies with a mean allozyme genetic distance D = 1·26 and net mtDNA sequence divergence d = 15%. These values reflected separations of 5 to 10 million years. Contrary to previous phylogenetic hypotheses, which place north-east Pacific E. mordax and south-east Pacific E. ringens as sister taxa, the south-west Atlantic E. anchoita and E. ringens are most closely related to each other. The north-east Pacific E. mordax is the closest lineage to the Old World Engraulis, a group of taxa showing low divergences typical of population-level separations (mean D = 0·06; mean d = 0·87%). Bipolarities of sister taxa in the east Atlantic and west Pacific reflect recent dispersals. Bipolarities in the east Pacific and west Atlantic represent paraphyletic taxa in lineages isolated since the Miocene. None of the bipolarities can be attributed to tectonic separations or competitive displacements from the tropics, but the latter situation should be re-evaluated with comparisons to tropical anchovies of the New World. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Movements of animals provisioning offspring by central place foraging extend from short, highly local trips where food is brought back essentially unchanged from its normal condition to extensive interseasonal movement where the offspring are nourished from body reserves built up during the adult's absence from the breeding site. Here, appropriate strategies for maximizing lifetime reproductive success depend on the abundance and location of prey in relation to breeding sites and the energetics and speed of travel of the animal. Magellanic Penguins Spheniscus magellanicus undertake central place movements that are particularly variable during the incubation period; trips may last from a single day to over three weeks depending on colony locality. We reasoned that site-specific variability in prey distribution and abundance is responsible for this. Remote-sensing systems attached to 92 penguins from six different colonies over the species distributional range over the Patagonian Shelf were used to determine space use and foraging patterns in an attempt to understand the observed patterns. Birds in the north and south of the latitudinal range were essentially monophagic, feeding primarily on anchovies Engraulis anchoita and sprats Sprattus fuegensis, respectively, both species that are to be found relatively close to the colonies. Penguins in the center of the distributional range, where these pelagic school fish prey are essentially absent at that time of the year, traveled either north or south, to the same regions utilized by their conspecifics, presumably to exploit the same prey. A simple model is used to clarify patterns and can be used to predict which movement strategy is likely to be best according to colony location. During chick rearing, southerly movement of anchovies and northerly movement of sprats mean that Magellanic Penguins in the center of the distributional range may benefit, although the abundance of these fish is considered to be less than that closer to the Magellanic Penguin range limits. The extensive time involved in the foraging trips during incubation coupled with the postulated poorer prey conditions during the chick-rearing phase may help explain why Magellanic Penguin colony sizes in the center of the range are not elevated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Partitioned Bayesian analysis of whole mitochondrial genome sequences from 30 basal teleosts confidently placed Sundasalanx(Sundasalangidae) within the Clupeiformes, not Osmeriformes as originally thought. This study represents the first demonstration of the phylogenetic position of Sundasalanx on a phylogenetic tree. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a case of occupational protein contact dermatitis caused by herring in a dolphinarium worker. The in vivo and in vitro tests results indicated a type I allergic mechanism. In vivo cross-reactivity among fish belonging to the Clupeiformes order was observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A means to accelerate fish sauce fermentation without adversely affecting fish sauce quality was investigated. Starter cultures prepared from Virgibacillus sp. SK33, Virgibacillus sp. SK37, and Staphylococcus sp. SK1-1-5 were added separately to anchovy that was hydrolyzed by 0.25% Alcalase at 60 °C for 2 h followed by 0.5% Flavourzyme at 50 °C for 4 h. The mixtures were then adjusted to contain 25% solar salt and incubated at 35 °C for 4 mo. α-Amino contents of all inoculated samples were higher than the control (without the addition of starter culture) during the course of fermentation. After 4-mo fermentation, the samples inoculated with Staphylococcus sp. SK1-1-5 contained the highest α-amino content of 733.37 ± 13.89 mM while that of the control was 682.67 ± 3.33 mM. Amino acid profiles of inoculated samples showed similar patterns to that of commercial product fermented for 12 mo, with glutamic, aspartic, and lysine being predominant amino acids. Virgibacillus sp. SK33 appeared to decrease histamine content of fish sauce by 50% when compared to the control. Volatile compounds analyzed by GC–MS of all inoculated samples fermented for 4 mo exhibited a similar pattern to those of the 12-mo-old commercial product. Samples inoculated with Staphylococcus sp. SK1-1-5 produced higher levels of volatile fatty acids and showed similar sensory characteristics to the commercial fish sauce fermented for 12 mo. Staphylococcus sp. SK1-1-5 is a potential strain that can be applied to produce fish sauce with overall sensory characteristics of traditional fish sauce in shorter time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]