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Gender differences in health and aging of Atlantic cod subject to size selective fishery.

Authors :
Carney Almroth B
Sköld M
Nilsson Sköld H
Source :
Biology open [Biol Open] 2012 Sep 15; Vol. 1 (9), pp. 922-8. Date of Electronic Publication: 2012 Jul 31.
Publication Year :
2012

Abstract

We have analyzed health and physiological aging parameters in male and female Atlantic cod, Gadus morhua, captured in Kattegat, Skagerrak and in Öresund. Gender differences were clearly evident in a number of variables. Males had longer liver telomeres and higher catalase activities than females, while females had higher superoxide dismutase activity, liver somatic index and condition factor. Effects of age were found for males where levels of the antioxidant glutathione and telomere length declined with age, indicating physiological aging. Liver somatic index increased and percentage oxidized glutathione decreased with age. Between-site comparisons of males show that percentage oxidized glutathione and catalase were lowest in Kattegat, whereas protein carbonyls and condition factor were higher in Skagerrak. Females, on the other hand, showed no differences between sites or indications of somatic aging or age-related effects in egg quality, indicating that older and larger female cod are healthy and show no changes in eggs with age. In contrast, males showed indications of physiological aging and lower condition than females. The results emphasize the importance of conserving old mature fish, in particular high egg-productive females, when managing fisheries.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
2046-6390
Volume :
1
Issue :
9
Database :
MEDLINE
Journal :
Biology open
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
23213487
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1242/bio.20121446