Search

To understand the reproductive biology of Hemitripterus villosus in the Bohai Strait, and fill the key knowledge gap in verifying reproductive seasonality and documenting gonadotropin dependent reproductive cycle of this species, a year-round detail study was conducted for the first time. In total, 263 individuals were randomly sampled off the coasts of the Bohai Strait. Results show that and the overall female-to-male ratio (1.35:1) did not differ significantly from the 1:1 sex ratio. The length and weight relationship for females and males were regressed, depicting an isometric growth for both sexes. Four reproductive phases of the complete gonadotropin dependent reproductive cycle in both sexes were identified. The monthly variations in the gonadosomatic and hepatosomatic indexes for both sexes further indicated that this species spawns a single batch of eggs per year and the peak spawning period is from October to December. The average diameter of eggs ranged from 2.10 to 3.57 mm. The length at first sexual maturity was 224.87 mm for females and 241.26 mm for males. Significant positive relationships between absolute fecundity and fish size, and also gonadal weight were observed. H. villosus from the Bohai Strait exhibited smaller body size, smaller egg diameter, lower gonadosomatic index, lower absolute fecundity, and higher population extinction risk than the other populations' studied previously. Our findings contribute to understanding the status of this isolated westernmost population, and we emphasize that more efficient protection measures for the species and control measures are urgently required to improve the coastal environment in the Bohai Strait. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we used whole genome sequencing to obtain the complete mitochondrial genome of Hemitripterus villosus. This mitochondrial genome, consisting of 17,449 base pairs (bp), contains 13 protein-coding genes, 2 ribosomal RNAs, 22 transfer RNAs and 2 noncoding control regions (control region and origin of light-strand replication) as those found in other vertebrates. Control region, of 1799 bp in length, is located between tRNAPro and tRNAPhe. We identified short tandem repeat sequences in the control region, which contributed largely to the relatively long mitogenome. The complete mitogenome data provides useful genetic markers for the studies on the molecular identification, phylogenetic analysis and conservation genetics.

Hemitripterus villosus is an important economic fish. With the completion of H. villosus mitochondrial genome sequencing, the full-length mitochondrial genome of H. villosus was assembled and analyzed. All results indicate that the complete mitochondrial genome of H. villosus was 17,228 bp. There were 22 tRNAs and 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), and 2 rRNA. Besides, the phylogenetic tree of 19 teleost fish was constructed. The results showed that H. villosus was clustered with other sculpins, which including Cottus reinii, C. czerskii and Hexagrammos otakii. This mitogenome will contribute to the further systematics and evolution study of H. villosus.

To understand and clarify the geographic variations of the Korean sea raven, Hemitripterus villosus, we investigated the molecular and morphometric characteristics of 147 individuals (in morphs) and 175 individuals (in molecules) collected from three locations in the Yellow Sea (Incheon, Boryeong, and Heuksando), one location in the Korea Strait (Busan), and two locations in the East Sea (Goseong and Pohang), around the Korean peninsula. The Kruskal-Wallis test showed there were no significant differences in meristic characteristics among locations, except for the number of vertebrae (mean, 39.7 in Goseong vs. and 38.4–38.8 in the remaining locations). A canonical discriminant analysis based on 25 morphometric characters showed that two groups were separated by the center value "0" of CAN1: Yellow Sea and Korea Strait individuals had positive values, whereas East Sea individuals had negative values. An analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) based on 801 base-pair sequences of the mitochondrial DNA cytochrome b gene showed that two lineages were separated by fixation (FST) index. A pairwise FST test revealed moderate genetic differentiation between the Goseong individuals (middle East Sea) and the individuals at the remaining locations except for the Pohang individuals (southern East Sea). Our molecular and morphometric analysis results indicate that there exists two populations in the Korean sea raven, and their admixture zone may be located near Pohang. Population subdivision might be associated with sea level change during last glacial period, and this may have been subsequently maintained by the hydrographic and oceanic current heterogeneity of each sea around the Korean peninsula. Accordingly, different management measures should be adopted with regard to the two groups, the East Sea group and the Yellow Sea + Korea Strait group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we used whole genome sequencing to obtain the complete mitochondrial genome of Hemitripterus villosus. This mitochondrial genome, consisting of 17,449 base pairs (bp), contains 13 protein-coding genes, 2 ribosomal RNAs, 22 transfer RNAs and 2 noncoding control regions (control region and origin of light-strand replication) as those found in other vertebrates. Control region, of 1799 bp in length, is located between tRNAPro and tRNAPhe. We identified short tandem repeat sequences in the control region, which contributed largely to the relatively long mitogenome. The complete mitogenome data provides useful genetic markers for the studies on the molecular identification, phylogenetic analysis and conservation genetics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hemitripterus villosus is an important economic fish. With the completion of H. villosus mitochondrial genome sequencing, the full-length mitochondrial genome of H. villosus was assembled and analyzed. All results indicate that the complete mitochondrial genome of H. villosus was 17,228 bp. There were 22 tRNAs and 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), and 2 rRNA. Besides, the phylogenetic tree of 19 teleost fish was constructed. The results showed that H. villosus was clustered with other sculpins, which including Cottus reinii, C. czerskii and Hexagrammos otakii. This mitogenome will contribute to the further systematics and evolution study of H. villosus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On the basis of long-term (1981-2008) observations, it was shown that, in the northwestern part of the Sea of Japan, sea raven Hemitripterus villosus is a common species with low, but stable numbers and it is a part of elittoral ichthyocenoses. During the year it performs wintering, feeding, and spawning migrations within the shelf and the upper part of the continental slope occurring from almost the water's edge to a depth of 550 m. Highest density of sea raven is observed in Peter the Great Bay and the lowest is observed off the coasts of northern Primorye. Maximum length of H. villosus in the northwestern part of the Sea of Japan reaches 57 cm, and the modal group of fish consists of fish with a length of 25-45 cm (75%). In Peter the Great Bay, in the summer period, individuals with a length of 11-50 cm feed mainly on mass fish species; the value of daily ration of H. villosus varies from 1.6 to 3.2% of body weight, averaging 2.5%. According to an expert estimate, the biomass of sea raven in the northwestern part of the Sea of Japan reaches 2000 t. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we used whole genome sequencing to obtain the complete mitochondrial genome of Hemitripterus villosus . This mitochondrial genome, consisting of 17,449 base pairs (bp), contains 13 protein-coding genes, 2 ribosomal RNAs, 22 transfer RNAs and 2 noncoding control regions (control region and origin of light-strand replication) as those found in other vertebrates. Control region, of 1799 bp in length, is located between tRNA Pro and tRNA Phe . We identified short tandem repeat sequences in the control region, which contributed largely to the relatively long mitogenome. The complete mitogenome data provides useful genetic markers for the studies on the molecular identification, phylogenetic analysis and conservation genetics., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they do not have any conflict of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper., (© 2021 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.)