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Ocean acidification potentially influences the biotoxicity of metals and the antioxidant defense systems of marine organisms. This study investigated how pCO

This study analyzed and compared variations of the sulcus and otolith outlines of three geographic stocks (Huanghe (Yellow) River estuary (HHE), Jiaozhou Bay (JZB), and Changjiang (Yangtze) River estuary (CJE)) of white croaker Pennahia argentata in northern Chinese coastal waters. The sulcus and otolith outline analyses via elliptical Fourier transform (EFT, i.e. outline analysis) achieved an overall classification rate of 80.4% and 87.2%, respectively. Based on a combination of sulcus and otolith shape indices (SIs) and two derivative ratios, a moderate discriminatory efficiency of 64.7% was obtained. The results indicate that sulcus outline analysis could be used alone to discriminate white croaker stocks, and that both sulcus and otolith outline analyses discriminated the fish stocks at a higher classification rate than the shape indices. The sulcus outline analysis provided complementary information to the whole otolith outline analysis for stock discrimination. Both the sulcus and otolith outline analyses efficiently discriminated between the most geographically separated CJE and HHE stocks, indicating that they could be considered discrete stocks for fishery management.

Microplastic (MP) pollution in oceans is an emerging environmental problem that poses ecological risks for marine ecosystems. Based on the abundance, distribution, and characteristics of microplastics (MPs) in surface water, sediment, and organisms, MP sources, pollution, trophic transfer, and ecological risk in Xiangshan Bay, an area of intensive mariculture in East China Sea, were assessed in this study. MPs were prevalent in the environment and organisms, with overall abundances at a low-medium level compared with the levels in the coastal areas. In water, MPs were more abundant in the inner bay (0.32 items m

This study investigated the trophic transfer of four common toxic metals (Cd, Cr, Cu and Hg) in the food web and assessed their potential ecological risks in Laizhou Bay, a spawning area for fishery populations in the Bohai Sea, North China. Based on the predation relations of 43 species that were representatives of the main trophic levels (TLs), a simplified food web was constructed using stomach content analysis and stable nitrogen isotope ratio (δ15N) analysis. Using copepods as the baseline species (TL = 2.00), the TLs of the organisms ranged from 1.96 (Polychaeta) to 4.47 (Japanese flounder) and showed the following ranking order: predatory pelagic or demersal fish > medium demersal fish > crustacean, cephalopod, small pelagic or demersal fish > zooplankton and Polychaeta. The metals showed different trophic transfer behaviors in the food web. Hg and Cr tended to be efficiently biomagnified between TLs, along the main food chains and in the food web. Cu biodiluted significantly with increasing TLs, while Cd showed no biomagnification or biodilution trends in the food web. At low or moderate levels of Cd and Hg, potential ecological risks were detected in the water and sediments at only a few sites, indicating their overall low ecological risks in the environment. The metals in the important fishery species (four top predatory fish, two cephalopods and eight crustaceans) were below the permissible limits, except for Cd in octopus and paddle crab, which reached or exceeded the most restrictive criteria. Based on the provisional tolerable weekly intake (PTWI) criteria, the safe weekly human consumption levels by humans of the predatory fish, cephalopods and crustaceans were species-specific (0.20–4.44 kg) and should be cautiously assessed.

Methylmercury (MeHg) is a widespread pollutant in aquatic ecosystems, but its toxicity to the early life stages of marine fish has not been adequately investigated. This study used acute toxicity tests on embryonic-larval stages of a marine flounder Paralichthys olivaceus to determine the LC50 values for embryos and larvae and evaluate the responses of several biological endpoints to subacute MeHg exposure. Under exposures (0–15 μg L−1) below LC50 values (

Otolith morphology is widely used for fish stock identification. The sulcus, a structure on the medial side of the otolith, is an important feature in morphological analysis. This study was conducted to evaluate the feasibility of using sulcus morphology for stock identification and to compare its performance with commonly used otolith morphology analysis. Otoliths were collected and analyzed from three geographical groups (the Huanghe (Yellow) River estuary, HHE; the Jiaozhou Bay, JZB; and the Changjiang (Yangtze) River estuary, CJE) of yellow drum Nibea albiflora. The results show that the analysis of sulcus morphology based on shape indices (SIs), elliptic Fourier coefficients (EFc), and a combination of the two parameters identified stocks at overall classification rates of 51.0%, 72.5%, and 73.2%, respectively. These classification rates are similar to those obtained using otolith morphology analysis (57.0%, 73.8%, and 76.5% by SIs, EFc, and their combination, respectively). The findings suggest that sulcus morphology is comparable to the commonly used otolith morphology for identifying stocks of sciaenids, such as the yellow drum. For both otolith and sulcus morphology, EFc could identify the stocks more efficiently than SIs, while the combination of SIs and EFc was even better.

Seawater acidification can cause threats to both calcifying and uncalcifying marine organisms, affecting their acid-base regulatory functions like immune system and biomineralization. Marine pollutants, such as cadmium (Cd) that is globally distributed in coastal ecosystems, do not affect organisms alone but commonly as combined stressors. To investigate the toxicological effects of Cd on the immune and biomineralization of marine fishes under seawater acidification, flounder Paralichthys olivaceus was exposed to seawater acidification (control (pH 8.10), 7.70 and 7.30) and Cd exposure (control (0.36 μg L−1), 0.01 and 0.15 mg L−1 Cd) for 49 days from embryonic stage until they became settled. Immune and biomineralization-related biomarkers of flounder at the end of exposure were investigated. Results showed that single seawater acidification and Cd exposure or combined exposure significantly affected the immune system-related enzyme activities. Specifically, lysozyme (LZM) activity was significantly inhibited by single seawater acidification and Cd exposure, indicating innate immunosuppression under two stressors. Contents of IgM, HSP70 and MT were induced by seawater acidification or Cd exposure, indicating a detoxification mechanism that responded to the stressors. The expressions of immune-related genes were upregulated (hsp70 and mt) or downregulated (lzm) under Cd exposure. Of the biomineralization-related enzymes, activities of carbonic anhydrase (CA), Na+/K+-ATPase and Ca2+-ATPase increased under seawater acidification and Cd exposure, a potential mechanism in response to changes of acid-base balance induced by the stressors. Generally, immune and biomineralization of the flounder responded more sensitively to Cd exposure than seawater acidification. Seawater acidification aggravated the toxicological effects of Cd exposure on the two physiological functions, while high Cd exposure augmented their responses to seawater acidification.

Plastics are globally distributed in oceans and can pose a threat to the environment and organisms. In this study, plastic pollution in surface water and sediments of the Bohai Sea was assessed based on plastic abundance, distribution and characteristics (shape, polymer, size and color). Water and sediment samples were collected across the sea using a plankton net (330 μm) and a grab sampler, respectively. The following conclusions were reached. 1) In surface water, large plastics were less abundant (0.14 items/m3) and showed less diverse characteristics than microplastics (0.79 items/m3) but did not significantly differ in spatial distribution. 2) Microplastics in water were more abundant (1.95 items/m3) with more diverse characteristics in Liaodong Bay than in other regions of the sea (0.26–0.59 items/m3). Plastic waste from highly concentrated agricultural, industrial and fishery activities could make large contributions to microplastics in Liaodong Bay. Additionally, low hydrodynamics and long distance to Bohai Strait are unfavorable for diffusion of particles, facilitating the retention of microplastics and increasing the abundance in this bay. 3) Microplastics in sediments were smaller in terms of dominant sizes (

Methylmercury (MeHg) is the most toxic form of mercury and can accumulate in the cells of marine organisms, such as fish, causing adverse effects on various physiological functions. This study examined MeHg accumulation and its toxicological role in antioxidant defenses in tissues, including the liver, gills, and muscle of flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) juveniles. After 30 d of MeHg exposure (0, 0.1, 1.0, 10.0, and 20.0 µg L−1), the accumulation of MeHg in the three tissues correlated positively with the concentration of MeHg and exhibited tissue specificity in the order of liver > gills > muscle. Among the antioxidant markers, the activities of SOD (superoxide dismutase) and GST (glutathione S-transferase) as well as the content of glutathione (GSH) in the liver and gills were induced at 0.1–10.0 µg L−1 but repressed at 20.0 µg L−1. The activities of SOD and GST and the content of GSH in the muscle significantly increased with increasing MeHg concentration. Catalase (CAT) activity in the liver was induced at 0.1–1.0 µg L−1 but inhibited at 10.0–20.0 µg L−1, whereas exposure to MeHg did not remarkably affect CAT activity in the gills and muscle. The levels of lipid peroxidation (LPO) increased dose dependently, showing tissue specificity with the highest level in the liver, then the gills, followed by muscles. Overall, higher sensitivity to oxidative stress induced by MeHg was detected in the liver than the gills and muscle. These findings improve our understanding of the tissue-specific accumulation of heavy metals and their roles in antioxidant responses in marine fish subjected to MeHg exposure.

This study compared and evaluated the efficiency of two otolith shape descriptors (i.e., the elliptic Fourier transform (EFT) and discrete wavelet transform (DWT)) and morphometrics for stock discrimination. To accomplish this, sample fish from three stocks of yellow croaker Larimichthys polyactis along the Chinese coast (LDB stock from the Liaodong Bay of the Bohai Sea, JZB stock from the Jiaozhou Bay of the Yellow Sea and CJE stock from the Changjiang River estuary of the East China Sea) were used for otolith morphology analyses. The results showed that morphometrics produced an overall classification success rate of 70.8% in contrast with success rates of 80.0% or 82.0% obtained using EFT or DWT, respectively. This suggests that the two shape descriptors comparably discriminated among the stocks and performed more efficiently than morphometrics. During data adjustment and acquisition, some size variables were excluded from the subsequent discriminant analysis for stock discrimination because they were statistically “ineffective,” which could reduce the efficiency of morphometrics and lead to relatively low overall classification success. Both EFT and DWT retain the contour coefficients and thus provide a detailed description of otolith shape, which could improve discriminatory efficiency compared with morphometrics.

The otolith morphology of two croaker species (Collichthys lucidus and Collichthys niveatus) from three areas (Liaodong Bay, LD; Huanghe (Yellow) River estuary, HRE; Jiaozhou Bay, JZ) along the northern Chinese coast were investigated for species identification and stock discrimination. The otolith contour shape described by elliptic Fourier coefficients (EFC) were analysed using principal components analysis (PCA) and stepwise canonical discriminant analysis (CDA) to identify species and stocks. The two species were well differentiated, with an overall classification success rate of 97.8%. And variations in the otolith shapes were significant enough to discriminate among the three geographical samples of C. lucidus (67.7%) or C. niveatus (65.2%). Relatively high mis-assignment occurred between the geographically adjacent LD and HRE samples, which implied that individual mixing may exist between the two samples. This study yielded information complementary to that derived from genetic studies and provided information for assessing the stock structure of C. lucidus and C. niveatus in the Bohai Sea and the Yellow Sea.

Using otolith microchemistry as a natural proxy to retrospectively trace the environmental histories of fish is based on the principle that the relationships between otolith elemental incorporation and environmental factors are well understood. In the present study, nine treatments using temperature (16, 19 and 22 ℃) and salinity (22, 26 and 31) as categorical variables in an orthogonal design were established to investigate the relative and interactive effects of temperature and salinity on strontium (88Sr) and barium (138Ba) incorporation into otoliths of flounder Paralichthys olivaceus from larval to juvenile stages (15–93 days post hatching). The results indicated that temperature facilitated the Sr and Ba incorporation into otoliths, while salinity promoted the Sr incorporation but inhibited the Ba incorporation into otoliths of flounder at early life stages. The partition coefficient of Sr was positively related to salinity and temperature, while an opposite salinity effect was found on the partition coefficient of Ba. The partition coefficient of Sr or Ba was not significantly correlated with the somatic growth or otolith precipitation that was promoted by temperature. These findings suggested that the efficiency of elemental incorporation into otoliths from ambient water showed unique responses to temperature or salinity changes, depending on elements and environmental effects. The results in our study did not consistently agree with all previous studies, in which temperature or salinity effects on otolith incorporation of both elements were commonly diverse and species-specific. Nonetheless, this study indicated that Sr:Ca and Ba:Ca ratios in otoliths could provide knowledge for understanding the environmental history of the flounder at early life stages.

Removal of the length effect in otolith shape analysis for stock identification using length scaling is an important issue; however, few studies have attempted to investigate the effectiveness or weakness of this methodology in application. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether commonly used size scaling methods and normalized elliptic Fourier descriptors (NEFDs) could effectively remove the size effect of fish in stock discrimination. To achieve this goal, length groups from two known geographical stocks of yellow croaker, Larimichthys polyactis, along the Chinese coast (five groups from the Changjiang River estuary of the East China Sea and three groups from the Bohai Sea) were subjected to otolith shape analysis. The results indicated that the variation of otolith shape caused by intra-stock fish length might exceed that due to inter-stock geographical separation, even when otolith shape variables are standardized with length scaling methods. This variation could easily result in misleading stock discrimination through otolith shape analysis. Therefore, conclusions about fish stock structure should be carefully drawn from otolith shape analysis because the observed discrimination may primarily be due to length effects, rather than differences among stocks. The application of multiple methods, such as otoliths shape analysis combined with elemental fingering, tagging or genetic analysis, is recommended for sock identification.

Although the relationship between the incorporation of an element into otoliths and the concentration of the element in water has been extensively investigated in many fish species, the interactive effects of multiple elements in water on the otolith incorporation of an element are not adequately explored or well understood. In this study, 16 treatments in triplicate using strontium (Sr; 1, 2, 3 and 4 times the ambient baseline, 6.5 mg l-1) and barium (Ba; 1, 2, 4 and 6 times the ambient baseline, 40 μg l-1) as categorical variables in an orthogonal design were established to evaluate the relative or interactive effects of water elements on otolith elemental incorporation in juvenile flounder Paralichthys olivaceus (from 15 to 116 days post hatching). The results revealed that otolith incorporation (Me:CaOtolith) of Sr and Ba were positively dependent on the concentrations of the elements in water (Me:CaWater). Overall, Sr was incorporated into otoliths more efficiently than was Ba, and the partition efficiency (DMe) of both elements decreased with increasing water elemental concentrations. Increasing Sr concentrations in water appeared to negatively affect the uptake of Ba into otoliths rather than facilitate it, as previously reported in fish reared in freshwater and brackish water, or showed no effect on fish in seawater. Conversely, the Ba concentration in water did not influence the otolith uptake of Sr, which agrees with the findings for other fish species. When applying otolith microchemistry to fish ecology studies, it is essential to cautiously address the interactive effects of multiple elements in the environment on otolith elemental incorporation.

In this study, the population structure of Japanese Spanish mackerel Scomberomorus niphonius were investigated based on the geographical variation of otolith features, and the concept of random forests was introduced as a classifier. Samples were collected from eight main spawning grounds using commercial gill nets, covering the distribution range along the coast of China. Otolith shape was described by the shape variables and principle components of Fourier coefficients. Every possible combination of otolith variable was tested to search for an optimal variable combination. An intermediate number of variables (8 out of 13) produced the most discriminating signal, and then the eight grounds were divided into three stocks with 64.5 % global accuracy. The discriminant result provided phenotypic evidence for the common migration trajectory, and further confirmed the existence of a metapopulation in Japanese Spanish mackerel at a larger scale.

In this study the morphometric characteristics based on the truss network system were constructed from the body shapes and used to investigate the population structure of the small yellow croaker (Larimichthys polyactis Bleeker, 1877). From April to June 2013, a total of 431 fish samples were collected from commercial catches acquired with bottom trawlers (20x20mm) in seven main spawning grounds along the coast of China. The results of principal component and discriminant function analyses indicated a clear distinction among the regional stocks and within the Haizhou Bay (HZB) stock. Observed differences primarily involved head measurements, body length and tail size, which were associated with environmental factors. Latitudinal gradient of the stock distribution and the relationship among the stocks provided further evidence for the existence of subpopulations and the re-division of the East China Sea group. Moreover, the temporal inter-structure of the HZB stock is a potential reason for the contrast in results from previous studies. Additional thorough studies of migration trajectories are required for a conclusive and improved understanding of the population structure.

Increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide has led to a decrease in the pH of the ocean, which influences the speciation of heavy metals and consequently affects metal toxicity in marine organisms. To investigate the effects of seawater acidification and metals on the antioxidant defenses of marine fishes, the flounder Paralichthys olivaceus, was continuously exposed to cadmium (Cd; control, 0.01 and 0.15 mg L−1) and acidified seawater (control (pH 8.10), 7.70 and 7.30) for 49 days from embryogenesis to settlement. The results demonstrated that both Cd and acidified seawater could induce oxidative stress and consequently cause lipid peroxidation (LPO) in the larvae. Antioxidants (i.e., superoxide dismutase, SOD; catalase, CAT; reduced glutathione, GSH; glutathione S-transferase, GST; glutathione peroxidase, GPx; and glutathione reductase, GR) functioned to defend the larvae against oxidative damage. Overall, Cd induced (SOD, GST and GSH) or inhibited (CAT and GPx) the enzymatic activities or contents of all the selected antioxidants except for GR. The antioxidants responded differently to seawater acidification, depending on their interaction with the metal. Similarly, the mRNA expressions of the antioxidant-related genes were upregulated (sod, gr and gst) or downregulated (cat and gpx) in response to increasing Cd exposure. Seawater acidification did not necessarily affect all of the biomarkers; in some cases (e.g., SOD and sod, GR and gr), Cd stress may have exceeded and masked the stress from seawater acidification in regulating the antioxidant defense of the larvae. The integrated biomarker response (IBR) was enhanced with increasing levels of the stressors. These findings support the hypothesis that seawater acidification not only directly affects the antioxidant defense in flounder larvae but also interacts with Cd to further regulate this defense. This study has ecological significance for assessing the long-term impacts of ocean acidification and metal pollution on the recruitment of fish populations in the wild.

The concentrations of total mercury (THg) and methylmercury (MeHg) were assessed in water, sediment and biota (54 species) samples from the coast of Laizhou Bay, to evaluate MeHg biomagnification in Laizhou Bay food web. The trophic web structure was determined with stable isotope ratios. The MeHg concentrations were highly variable among species ranged from 4.8 ng g−1 in primary producers to 411.2 ng g−1 in spotted sea bass. Weight and ecotype were the principal parameters related to the mercury concentrations for most species. The trophic magnification factors (TMFs) for MeHg and THg were 2.09 and 1.69, respectively, indicating that mercury biomagnification is occurring in this marine food web. The estimated weekly intake (EWI) and target hazard quotient (THQ) values demonstrated that consuming predatory fishes from the bay could cause potential health risks to humans.

Methylmercury (MeHg) is a highly toxic contaminant in coastal environments and poses threats to marine fish in early life stages (ELSs). However, MeHg toxicity to fish embryos and larvae is not well investigated. This study investigated the antioxidant defenses and immune responses of flounder Paralichthys olivaceus larvae exposed to waterborne MeHg (0, 0.1, 1.0 and 10.0 μg L−1) for 35 days, from embryogenesis to settlement. The results revealed that metal accumulation in the larvae was positively correlated with MeHg concentration, reduced larval growth and survival. The activities of catalase and glutathione reductase were significantly increased at 10.0 μg L−1, while glutathione peroxidase activity and lipid peroxidation level were significantly increased at concentrations over 1.0 μg L−1. The corresponding antioxidant-related genes were upregulated under MeHg exposure (cat and gpx at 10.0 μg L−1; gr over 1.0 μg L−1). Lysozyme content was significantly increased, but immunoglobulin M content was significantly decreased at 10.0 μg L−1. The immune-related genes were significantly upregulated (hsp70 at 0.1 and 10.0 μg L−1; lzm and il-1β over 1.0 μg L−1; tnf-α and il-6 at 10.0 μg L−1) or downregulated (igm, over 0.1 μg L−1). Overall, MeHg exposure induced oxidative stress and caused immunotoxicity at concentrations over 1.0 μg L−1 and 10.0 μg L−1, respectively. The transcription of selected genes correlated with the corresponding biochemical markers in response to MeHg toxicity. These findings improve our knowledge to better understand the mechanisms by which marine fish at ELSs cope with oxidative stress and immunotoxicity induced by MeHg.

This study evaluates the size-dependent predation of fish larvae by jellyfish, exemplified with flounder Paralichthys olivaceus and moon jellyfish Aurelia aurita under laboratory conditions. The effects of some environmental factors on the size-dependent predation were also investigated. The results indicate that the predation rate increased with larval development, until the larvae had developed the ability to actively avoid predation at approximately 11-day post-hatching and decreased thereafter. This suggests a size-dependent predation on the fish larvae. Water temperature and predator size significantly affected the predation rate of the medusae on the fish larvae, but the temperature and size effects were markedly reduced as the larvae reached post-larval stage. These findings suggest that water temperature and jellyfish size interacted with the ontogenetic development of the fish larvae to affect the predation rates. The presence of alternative prey Artemia salina, could alleviate the predation rate on the fish larvae, whereas light conditions showed no effects on the predation rate. Due to their overlaps in spatial and temporal distributions along the north Chinese coast, jellyfish are likely to prey upon flounder larvae and thus affect the recruitment of the wild fish populations.

We tested the use of otolith shape analysis to discriminate between species and stocks of five goby species (Ctenotrypauchen chinensis, Odontamblyopus lacepedii, Amblychaeturichthys hexanema, Chaeturichthys stigmatias, and Acanthogobius hasta) found in northern Chinese coastal waters. The five species were well differentiated with high overall classification success using shape indices (83.7%), elliptic Fourier coefficients (98.6%), or the combination of both methods (94.9%). However, shape analysis alone was only moderately successful at discriminating among the four stocks (Liaodong Bay, LD; Bohai Bay, BH; Huanghe (Yellow) River estuary HRE, and Jiaozhou Bay, JZ stocks) of A. hasta (50%-54%) and C. stigmatias (65.7%-75.8%). For these two species, shape analysis was moderately successful at discriminating the HRE or JZ stocks from other stocks, but failed to effectively identify the LD and BH stocks. A large number of otoliths were misclassified between the HRE and JZ stocks, which are geographically well separated. The classification success for stock discrimination was higher using elliptic Fourier coefficients alone (70.2%) or in combination with shape indices (75.8%) than using only shape indices (65.7%) in C. stigmatias whereas there was little difference among the three methods for A. hasta. Our results supported the common belief that otolith shape analysis is generally more effective for interspecific identification than intraspecific discrimination. Moreover, compared with shape indices analysis, Fourier analysis improves classification success during inter- and intra-species discrimination by otolith shape analysis, although this did not necessarily always occur in all fish species.

Zinc (Zn) and copper (Cu) concentrations were determined in the tissues (muscle, stomach, liver, gills, skin, and gonads) of five commercial fish species (mullet Liza haematocheilus, flathead Platycephalus indicus, mackerel Scomberomorus niphonius, silver pomfret Pampus argenteus, and sea bass Lateolabrax japonicus) from Laizhou Bay in the Bohai Sea. Metal bioaccumulation was highest in the metabolically active tissues of the gonads and liver. Bioconcentration factors for Zn were higher in all tissues (gonads 44.35, stomach 7.73, gills 7.72, liver 5.61, skin 4.88, and muscle 1.63) than the corresponding values for Cu (gonads 3.50, stomach 3.00, gills 1.60, liver 5.43, skin 1.50, and muscle 0.93). Mackerel tissues accumulated metal to higher concentrations than did other fish species, but bioaccumulation levels were not significantly correlated with the trophic levels of the fish. Zn and Cu concentrations in the tissues were generally negatively correlated with fish length, except for a few tissues of sea bass. Risk assessment based on national and international permissible limits and provisional tolerances for weekly intake of Zn and Cu revealed that the concentrations of these two metals in muscle were relatively low and would not pose hazards to human health.

This study investigated the tissue- and species-specific bioaccumulation of heavy metals (Cr, Cu, Hg, Zn, As, Cd, and Pb) in three benthic bivalves (the ark shell, Scapharca subcrenata; the surf clam, Mactra veneriformis; and the Manila clam, Ruditapes philippinarum) collected from the coast of Laizhou Bay in the Bohai Sea. The results demonstrated that the visceral masses of the bivalves tended to accumulate heavy metals more efficiently than their muscles. The capacities of the bivalves to bioaccumulate metals followed a similar order: Cd>Hg>Zn=As>Cu>Cr=Pb. The conditions of metal contamination in the bivalves tended to be worse along the eastern coast than in other regions. Overall, the Manila clam was more severely contaminated by heavy metals than the surf clam and ark shell. Judging by the hazard quotients (HQ) of the metals in the muscles of the bivalves, the greatest hazard risk to human health comes primarily from As.

Mercury (Hg) concentrations in the tissues (muscle, stomach, liver, gills, skin, and gonads) of five fish species (mullet Liza ha em atocheil us, flathead fish Platycephalus indicus, sea bass Lateolabrax japonic u s, mackerel Scomberomorus niphonius and silver pomfret Pampus argenteus) collected from Laizhou Bay in the Bohai Sea of China were investigated. The results indicate that Hg bioaccumulation in the five fish was tissue-specific, with the highest levels in the muscle and liver, followed by the stomach and gonads. The lowest levels were found in the gills and skin. Fish at higher trophic levels (flathead fish and sea bass) exhibited higher Hg concentrations than consumers at lower trophic levels. Mercury bioaccumulation tended to be positively correlated with fish length in mullet, silver pomfret, mackerel, and flathead fish, but was negatively correlated with fish length in sea bass. The Hg concentrations in the muscles of all fish species in Laizhou Bay were within the permissible limits of food safety set by national and international criteria. However, the suggesting maximum consumption of sea bass is 263 g per week for human health.

In the present study, a microcosm experiment was conducted for 12 days during the spring near Dongtou Island in the East China Sea with the aim of investigating the effects of different nitrogen-phosphorus (NIP) ratios (1N:1P, 4N:1P, 16N:1P, 64N:1P, and 256N:1P) on phytoplankton community growth and succession. The results indicated that the cell abundance, chlorophyll a (chl a) concentration, specific growth rate, diversity indices, and species composition of the phytoplankton community varied significantly with the N/P ratios. A higher growth rate (evaluated based on cell abundance and chl a) of the phytoplankton community was observed during the early phase of test (days 1 to 4) with high N/P ratio treatments and with low N/P ratio treatments during the late phase of test (after day 6). The H' was most the sensitive among the diversity indices we used in the present study, and it decreased significantly in the low N/P ratio treatments on day 4 but increased in the low N/P ratio treatments on day 8 and day 12. On the other hand, a definite community succession order from diatoms (Skeletonema costatum) to dinoflagellates (Protoperidinium bipes and Prorocentrum donghaiense) was observed in all treatments. However, the proportion and occurrence time of the dominant species varied with different N/P treatments. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

To understand mercury (Hg) toxicity in marine fish, we measured Hg accumulation in juvenile Japanese flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) and assessed the effects on growth and antioxidant responses. After Hg exposure (control, 5, 40, and 160 μg/L Hg) for 28 d, fish growth was significantly reduced. The accumulation of Hg in fish was dose-dependent and tissue-specific, with the maximum accumulation in kidney and liver, followed by gills, bone, and muscle. Different antioxidants responded differently to Hg exposure to cope with the induction of lipid peroxidation (LPO), which was also tissue-specific and dosedependent. As Hg concentration increased, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities increased significantly, whereas glutathione S -transferase (GST) activity and glutathione (GSH) levels decreased significantly in the gills. SOD and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activities and the GSH level increased significantly in the liver. SOD activity and GSH levels increased significantly, but CAT activity decreased significantly with an increase in Hg concentration in the kidney. LPO was induced significantly by elevated Hg in the gills and kidney but was least affected in the liver. Therefore, oxidative stress biomarkers in gills were more sensitive than those in the liver and kidney to Hg exposure. Thus, the gills have potential as bioindicators for evaluating Hg toxicity in juvenile flounder.

The migratory history of tapertail anchovy Coilia nasus in the Yangtze River Estuary, China was investigated using otolith Sr:Ca ratios and two-dimensional images of the Sr level from an X-ray electron probe microanalyzer (EPMA). The results showed that 17 of the 22 young-of-the-year (YOY) specimens had low Sr:Ca ratios (1.2–2.4 × 10−3;1.5 ± 0.3 × 10−3) at the central otolith area, indicating their riverine origin and initial freshwater residence. In addition, 11 of the 14 adult specimens had low Sr:Ca ratios (1.3–2.2 × 10−3; 1.7 ± 0.4 × 10−3) at the central otolith area but showed alternating changes between high (>4.0 × 10−3) and low (

The elemental signature in otolith nuclei was determined using laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICPMS) for stock discrimination of adult anadromous tapertail anchovy, Coilia nasus, in five Chinese estuaries. Five elements (Na, Mg, K, Sr, and Ba) were well detected in the otolith nuclei of the adult fish. Results showed that the elemental composition in the otolith nuclei varied substantially among the estuaries. Age and fish length data showed no significant influences on the elemental concentration ratios across the sample sites. The Sr:Ca and Ba:Ca ratios were inter-site distinct and could be used as natal tags for discriminating among stocks. Discriminant function analyses (DFA) showed that these ratios can be used in discriminating the Liaohe River estuary (LD, 92.3 %), the Yangtze River estuary (CJ, 86.7 %), and the Yellow River estuary (HH, 76.9 %) samples with high classification accuracy, followed by the Haihe River estuary (BH, 58.3 %) and the Daguhe River estuary (JZ, 46.2 %) samples. An overall classification accuracy rate of 72.7 % from the discriminant functions indicated that elemental fingerprinting appeared to have the potential to discriminate between tapertail anchovy stocks in these estuaries.

This study investigated the accumulation of cadmium (0-8 mg Cd L-1) and its toxicological effects on oxidative stress biomarkers in different tissues of Japanese flounder juveniles. Following Cd exposure for 28 d, accumulation of Cd in fish was dose-dependent and tissue-specific, with the greatest accumulation in the liver, followed by the kidney, gill, and muscle. Although the gill and liver mounted active antioxidant responses at >= 4 mg L-1 Cd including a decrease in glutathione level and GST and GPx activities, the antioxidant response failed to prevent lipid peroxidation induction in these organs. In the kidney, increased GPx and GST activities and decreased SOD activity were observed in fish exposed to high Cd concentrations, but LPO levels did not significantly differ among the exposure concentrations. The gill was most sensitive to oxidative damage, followed by the liver; the kidney was the least affected tissue. (C) 2011 Published by Elsevier B.V.

This study investigated the acute and sub-lethal toxicities of waterborne mercuric chloride to Japanese flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) embryos and larvae. Acute toxicity tests indicated that the 48-h LC(50) values of mercury to the embryos and larvae were 48.1 (32.8-63.6) and 99.4 (72.9-147.0) mu g L(-1) respectively. Mercury could cause low hatching success, delayed hatching process, reduced growth at concentrations >= 20 mu g L(-1), and induce reduced survival and higher morphological malformations at concentrations >= 40 mu g L(-1) in the embryos and larvae. In sub-lethal toxicity test, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities, reduced glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehyde (MDA) contents of the larvae were significantly increased, while glutathione-S-transferase (GST) was decreased by 10 days of 0-10 mu g Hg(2+) L(-1) exposure. These findings suggested that the hatching, survival, growth and antioxidant biomarkers of the flounder were sensitive to the highest mercury concentrations and could thereby serve as potential biomarkers for evaluating mercury contamination in the aquatic environment. (c) 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

At 18 degrees C and 33 psu, 24 and 48 h LC(50) values of cadmium (Cd) for red sea bream Pagrus major embryos were 9.8 and 6.6 mg l(-1), respectively, while 24,48, 72, and 96 h LC(50) values for larvae were 18.9,16.2, 8.0, and 5.6 mg l(-1), respectively, indicating that embryos were more sensitive to Cd toxicity than larvae. Cd concentrations at >= 0.8 mg l(-1) led to low hatchability (0-90% in >= 0.8 mg l(-1) solutions vs. 97-100% in lower ones), delay in time to hatch, high mortality (38-100% vs. 1-10%), morphological abnormality (42-100% vs. 1-10%), reduced length (3.55-3.60 vs. 3.71-3.72 mm) in the embryos and larvae. They were Cd concentration dependent and potential biological significant endpoints for assessing the risk of Cd to aquatic organisms. Heart beat and yolk absorption of the larvae were significantly inhibited at some high concentrations but they were not as sensitive as other endpoints to Cd exposure. (C) 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

The growth, mortality and digestive enzymes (trypsin, amylase and lipase) in miiuy croaker Miichthys miiuy larvae and juveniles (2-53 dph) were investigated at four photoperiods: 24L:OD), 18L:6D, 12L:12D and OL:24D. Larvae could not feed at OL:24D and did not survive up to 7 dph. In the 24L:OD, 18L:6D, 12L:12D groups, photoperiod had not significant effects on the growth of the rniiuy croaker younger than 20 dph. However, their total length and specific growth rate (SGR) were significantly larger at 18L:6D and 24L:OD than 12L:12D after 20 dph. Photoperiod also affected the mortality of the first feeding larvae (5 dph). being apparently higher in 5 dph larvae at OL:24D (60%) than at other photopenods (20-27%), but no significant differences in mortality were found among other photoperiods. High mortality of the miiuy croaker in 12L:12D, 18L:6D and 24 L:OD groups mainly occurred from 5 (20-27%) to 11 dph (11-16%) and tended to decrease gradually from 15 dph onwards. Digestive enzymes activities in the rniiuy croaker larvae and juveniles had a similar change trend with age at all photoperiods. They underwent drastic changes with age. The specific activity of lipase was significantly higher at 18L:6D and 24L:0D than 12L:12D, but there were no significant differences in specific activities of either trypsin or amylase among photoperiods. With regard to the total length, SGR, survival and digestive enzyme activities, our findings suggested that the optimal light regime for the culture of miiuy croaker during the early life stage was 18L:6D. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

We investigated the effects of the timing of first feeding (larvae in F0, F1, F2, F3 and S were first fed on day 3, 4, 5, 6 days after hatching (DAH) and unfed, respectively) on feeding, morphological changes, survival and growth in miiuy croaker larvae at 24°C. The fed larvae initiated feeding on 3 DAH and reached point of no return (PNR) on 6 DAH. Larvae in F0 and F1 groups survived apparently better than F2 group at the end of the experiment on 36 DAH. High larval mortality occurred from 3 to 7 DAH in all feeding groups, accounting for 40% (F0, F1 and F2 groups) to 90% (F3 and S groups) of the total mortality. Larvae in F0 and F1 groups grew better than F2 group throughout the experiment. Eye diameter, body height, head height and mouth gape of the first feeding larvae were more sensitive to starvation than other morphometrics and could be used as indicators for evaluating their nutritional status. Results indicated that delayed first feeding over 1 day after yolk exhaustion could lead to poor larval survival and growth. To avoid starvation and obtain good growth in culturing, larvae feeding should be initiated within 1 day after yolk exhaustion at 24°C.

The effects of the timing of first feeding (0, 1 and 2 days after yolk exhaustion) and starvation on the point-of-no-return (PNR), survival and growth of laboratory-reared rock bream larvae were studied under controlled conditions. Larvae began to feed exogenously at 3 days after hatching (dah) and reached PNR on 54 h after yolk exhaustion at 22 +/- 1.5 degrees C. Larvae growth was significantly affected by the time of first exogenous feeding. The growth of 0 day delayed first feeding larvae was obviously faster than those of the other delayed first feeding larvae (P

We studied the influence of temperature on the spawning performance of artificially matured Japanese eels, Anguilla japonica, in captivity. We used routine hormone injections to bring females and males to maturity in separate aquaria. We recorded the behavior of three pairs of such hormone-treated matured eels in an aquarium (2 replicates) at four temperatures: 14, 18, 22, and 27 degrees C, respectively. They became active and frequently left the bottom swimming in the water column, and spawning events occurred. Females released eggs in the water column around the activity peaks. Males preceded females in reaching activity peaks (presumably the timing of sperm ejection and egg release), possibly resulting in the low fertilization we observed in this experiment. Males and females returned back to the aquarium bottoms and became quiet after spawning. On several occasions, male-female or female-female pairs were observed to 'cruise together' in the water column for several to tens of seconds prior to egg releasing, but no courtship behavior indicative of spawning such as pairing and chasing was observed in the eels in our study. Our results suggest that 18-22 degrees C might be the thermal preference for spawning for Japanese eels, which approximates the temperature range of the 500 m deep water layer around the Mariana Islands seamount area, the presumed spawning site for the Japanese eel.

Spawning behavior of artificially matured Japanese eels Anguillo japonica in captivity was investigated using a DVD Video image system. Following a routine hormone treatment technique for this fish, female eels were artificially matured by weekly intramuscular injections of salmon pituitary extracts (SPE) at a dosage of 40 mg kg(-1) BW for a total of 7-11 doses to induce ovarian maturation, while male eels received weekly intramuscular injections of human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) at a dosage of 1000 IU kg(-1) BW for a total of 6-11 doses at 18 degrees C to induce testicular maturation in a separate aquarium. In this experiment, three pairs of such hormone-treated matured eels were acclimatized in seawater in 1.5 m(3) experimental aquaria with or without shelters at 20 degrees C for 24 h. Twenty four hours after the acclimatization terminated, the females received SPE injections to boost maturation and ovulation. Twenty four hours following these injections, the females received injections of HCG (1000 IU per fish, HCG injection) and 17 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone (2 mg per fish) to induce ovulation, while males were given HCG injections (1000 IU per fish, HCG injection) to induce spermiation. Video taping started after the 24 h acclimatization terminated and last for a total of 96 h. Before the HCG injections, both sexes were inactive, staying on the bottom or in shelters if available. Following these HCG injections, they became active and frequently left the bottom swimming in the water column. During the 24 h following HCG injections, activity accounted for 67% and 45% of the total activity in no shelter treatment for females and males, respectively, in comparison with 77% and 78% in shelter treatment. Activity was significantly more pronounced during this phase than during other phases for each sex in either shelter treatment. Egg release and sperm ejection occurred in the water column around the time eels' activity reached peaks. Eels either returned into the shelters or stayed motionlessly on the bottom of the aquaria after egg release and sperm ejection. Eight out of nine (89%) females in no shelter treatment spontaneously released eggs with a total of 11 batches 14-18 h following HCG injections, in contrast with four out of nine (44%) females releasing eggs for 4 batches 16-20 h in shelter treatment. Males arrived at activity peaks 11-13 h following HCG injections in no shelter treatment, 2-4 h ahead of the females (14-16 h), in comparison with 8-11 h in shelter treatment with 5-6 h ahead of the females (14-17 h). Courtship behavior indicative of spawning such as pairing, chasing and touching bodies was not observed in the eels in this study. However, on many occasions, eels of both sexes (male-female or female-female) were found to "cruise together" in water column for a short time period or frequently come together prior to releasing eggs and ejecting sperm, suggesting the possibility of group mating in artificially matured Japanese eels. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

A histological method was used to describe the ontogenetic development of the digestive tract of laboratory-reared miiuy croaker (Miichthys miiuy) and to evaluate the effects of short-term food deprivation on the morphology and histology of the digestive tract. Larvae and juveniles were maintained at 24 °C in a thermostatically controlled system. Three starvation experiments were conducted during different developmental stages: 1–7 days after hatching (dah; prior to benthic swimming); 26–35 dah (during settling); and 42–53 dah (after benthic swimming). According to the structural changes in the ontogenetic development of the digestive tract, three stages were observed. The first stage was from hatching to 3 dah; the digestive tract was undifferentiated in newly hatched larvae and then showed remarkable morphological changes and differentiation. During this period, larvae depended on endogenous nutrition. The second stage (4–20 dah) was a critical period in which larvae transitioned from endogenous feeding to exogenous feeding and the digestive tract fully differentiated into the buccopharynx, oesophagus, stomach, anterior intestine and posterior intestine. Goblet cells and vacuoles appeared in the digestive tract, and pharyngeal teeth and taste buds developed. During the third stage (20–36 dah), the gastric glands developed and the stomach differentiated into the fundic, cardiac and pyloric regions. At 25 dah, pyloric caeca developed and mucosal folds and spiral valves were clearly distinguishable. After 30 dah, the digestive tract did not undergo any noticeable differentiation, indicating the complete development of the digestive system. The wet weight and SGR (specific growth rate) of miiuy croaker larvae and juveniles greatly decreased when they were deprived of food, and compensatory growth was observed in re-feeding juveniles. The livers of starved larvae and juveniles were atrophied and dark coloured, the intestines were transparent and thin, and the stomach cubages were reduced. The histological effects of starvation were mainly evident in the degeneration of cells in digestive organs, as seen in the shrinkage and separation of cells and the loss of intercellular substances in the liver, pancreas, intestine and stomach. These changes became more severe with increased duration of starvation. In addition, the histological structure of the digestive tracts of starved larvae and juveniles partly recovered after re-feeding, and the effects of starvation on miiuy croaker were age dependent.

Japanese flounder Paralichthys olivaceus (T. & S.)juveniles were size-graded and divided into three groups (small, large, and mixture of small and large flounder), and their social interactions (feeding, aggressive attacking and activity) and growth were investigated. The growth of the small flounder was markedly suppressed by the presence of the large flounder. Large flounder did not significantly suppress the overall food intake of the small flounder but exhibited high aggressive attacking on them and consequently inhibited their activity. Size dominance showed little influence on the aggressive behavior, feeding, activity and growth of the large flounder. The large flounder could not effectively defend the food in excess during the experiments ruling out disproportional food acquisition as the primary mechanism responsible for the size hierarchy effect. Aggressive interaction of the large flounder on the small flounder might be an important cause for the growth retardation of the small flounder. In culture, size grading could markedly improve the growth and survival of the early juvenile flounder. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

The growth and activity of juvenile Japanese eels Anguilla Japonica in different pigmentation stages from the glass eel to the elver stage were studied in the laboratory at 15, 20 and 25degrees C. The growth and activity of the eels were significantly influenced by both temperature and fish size. Growth rate generally declined with increasing fish size, and fish were least active and experienced a low growth during the pigmenting stage at all temperatures. They were nocturnal and spent significantly more time moving (swimming, feeding and moving over the substratum) at 20 and 25degrees C than at 15degrees C at night within each pigmentation stage. Accordingly, they grew significantly Faster at 20 and 25degrees C than at 15degrees C throughout the study. The development of pigmentation appeared to be dependant on water temperature but not on fish size. This study suggested that the growth and activity of juvenile Japanese eels were positively correlated, because fish were least active and grew slowest at low temperature (15degrees C) or during the pigmenting stage at all temperatures. (C) 2003 The Fisheries Society of the British Isles.

Glass eels of the temperate anguillid species, Anguilla japonica, clearly showed a nocturnal activity rhythm under laboratory conditions. Light-dark cycle was a determinant factor affecting their photonegative behavior, nocturnal locomotor activity, and feeding behavior. Under natural light conditions, glass eels remained in shelters with little daytime feeding, but came out to forage during darkness. They moved and foraged actively in the following dark, and then their activity gradually declined possibly because of food satiation. They finally buried in the sand or stayed in tubes immediately after the lights came on. Under constant light, glass eels often came out of the shelters to forage in the lights but spent little time moving outside the shelters (e.g. swimming or crawling on the sand). Glass eels took shelter to avoid light and preferred tubes to sand for shelter possibly because tubes were much easier for them to take refuge in than sand. Feeding and locomotor activities of the glass eels were nocturnal and well synchronized. They appeared to depend on olfaction rather than vision to detect and capture prey in darkness. Feeding was the driving force for glass eels to come out of sand under constant light. However, in the dark, some glass eels swam or crept actively on sand even when they were fully fed. The lunar cycles of activity rhythms of glass eels that have been observed in some estuarine areas were not detected under these laboratory conditions.

A series of experiments were conducted to identify the factors that affected the growth and survival of the settling flounder larvae Paralichthys olivaceus. Settling larvae 24 days after hatching (DAH) were reared in 10-l experimental tanks up to 40 DAH, and two of the following factors were changed as controlled factors in each experiment: light regime (24L:0D or 12L:12D), prey density (1500, 3000, or 5000 Artemia l(-1)), shelter (sand or no sand) and stocking density (5, 10, or 15 fish l(-1)). Early settling larvae (24-35 DAH) experienced little mortality (less than 10% of the overall mortality) that was not significantly affected by above factors. In contrast, late settling larvae (36-40 DAH) suffered high cannibalistic mortality which was significantly influenced by each of the above factors. Larvae experienced significantly lower mortality at 10 fish l(-1) level than at other densities. Larvae at 15 fish l(-1) level had higher mortality than at 5 fish l(-1) when all other factors were identical. Larvae at 3000 and 5000 Artemia l(-1) treatments survived significantly better than at 1500 Artemia l(-1), but no significant differences in larval mortality were found between the two higher densities. Larvae suffered higher mortality at low prey density or at the absence of sand when they were exposed to longer photoperiod. Low stocking density significantly improved the growth of the settling larvae. The average daily instantaneous growth rate (G) at 5 and 15 fish l(-1) treatments were 0.050 and 0.034, with the coefficient of variation (CV) in final length at 16.4 and 23.5, respectively. Daily instantaneous growth rate increased significantly from 0.033 in the 1500 Artemia l(-1) to 0.041 and 0.045 in the 3000 and 5000 Artennia l(-1), respectively, but no significant difference in larval growth existed between the two higher prey densities. These findings suggested that the optimal prey density for growth and survival of the settling flounder larvae at a stocking density of 5 - 15 fish l(-1) was around 3000 Artemia l(-1) . Larvae that were exposed to 24L showed 20% increase in growth ( G = 0.046, CV = 18.7) than those exposed to 12L ( G = 0.037, CV = 20.5). Longer exposure to light significantly improved larval growth, provided sufficient food was available. Sand substrate did not show significant effects on larval growth, possibly because the larvae spent most of the time swimming or feeding in the water column during this stage. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Japanese flounder Paralichthys olivaceus larvae established first feeding 3 days after hatching (DAH) at c. 17degreesC. Non-fed fish reached irreversible starvation at age 5 DAH. Non-fed fish showed similar feeding rate and feeding intensity as the fed fish when they were provided with prey before 5 DAH, after which the starved larvae did not feed even when prey became available. None of the six morphological measurements examined (total length, body height, eye height, head height, gut height and myotome height) showed significant differences between the non-fed and fed larvae until 5 DAH. Normal development continued only in the fed group, and the non-fed larvae showed reverse growth or body collapse after 5 DAH. Owing to the shrinkage and collapse at the top of head due to starvation, head height could be a sensitive indicator of starvation in Japanese flounder larvae. In the fed treatments, high mortality occurred from first feeding (3 DAH) to irreversible starvation (5 DAH), accounting for about two-thirds to three-quarters of the overall mortality (46-52%) throughout the experiments. This mortality was not prey density or larval density dependent. Mortality during the same period in the non-fed larvae accounted for about a third of the overall mortality (100%). (C) 2002 The Fisheries Society of the British Isles. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

Tank-reared Japanese flounder larvae, Paralichthys olivaceus, had a major feeding peak in the morning and a secondary peak in the afternoon throughout the larval development, with light being the primary factor regulating their feeding activity. The larvae consumed rotifers in preference to Artemia for up to 10 days, after which the food preference shifted to Artemia. Feeding rates of the larvae prior to 10 days post-batch depended on prey density, but in the old larvae, feeding rates were independent of prey density. Maximum feeding rate occurred at 19 degrees C. The occurrence of the attack posture, after its onset at first feeding (2 days post-hatch), increased up to 25 days, began to decrease when the larvae prepared to settle down, then disappeared after settlement. The occurrence frequency of the attack posture was positively related to fish density, but inversely related to starvation duration, and occurred most frequently at 19 degrees C. This posture depended on prey density in larvae prior to 10 days post-hatch, but became independent of prey density as the larvae developed. It was obvious that, for flounder larvae, attack posture was a behavioural character closely related to feeding and subject to larval development and environmental factors. (C) 2000 The Fisheries Society of the British Isles.