Albatrossia Research Articles

Technochemical characteristic and prospects of utilization for grenadier liver

Three species of grenadiers dwell in the North Pacific waters of Russia. Their liver weights 4-7 % of the body weight but is never used. Its utilization for BASF production is proposed. For this purpose, chemical composition and properties of liver from the grenadier Albatrossia pectoralis are investigated. Content of inorganic cations, including toxic ones, in the liver satisfies the allowed standards. Wet liver contains 30 % of proteins and 68 % of lipids, mainly triacyl-glycerides (90 %) and phospholipids (4.5 %). The oil extracted from the liver has the acid number 1.8 KOH/g and the peroxide number 6.4 mmol after three months of frozen storage. Microbiological parameters of the liver are satisfactory after three months of frozen storage, too. Chitosan-lipid complex is prepared by treatment of water extract from the liver tissue (extracted by 5 : 1 solvent of water and natrium hydroxide during 15 hours at the temperature 10-15 o C and centrifuged) with chitosan solution and 3-hour sedimentation from water-soluble fraction. It contains mostly lipids (> 80 %, 23 % of them are saturated fatty acids, 73 % - monounsaturated fatty acids, and 4 % - polyunsaturated fatty acids) and a big amount of essential amino acids, so it could be used as a raw material for restorative BASF production. On the contrary, the water-soluble fraction is poor by proteins and free amino acids; its antioxidant activity is low. The raw oil from grenadier liver could be used in technics or veterinary.

Giant grenadier Albatrossia pectoralis in the catches of the deepwater fishing traps in Russian far-eastern waters

The biological characteristics of the giant grenadier Albatrossia pectoralis and its spatial and vertical distribution of catches are considered based on the results of experimental fisheries of the deepwater fishes by the bottom traps in four regions of Russian far-eastern waters (Pacific waters of the south-eastern coast of Kamchatka, western part of the Bering Sea, ridge of Shirshov, waters around the Commander Islands). Changing of the catch sizes depending on the depth of fishing, soak time, and fishing area is analyzed; the questions concerned with eating away of fishes by amphipods (Amphipoda) are considered.

The deep-sea fish digenean genus Tellervotrema Gibson & Bray, 1982 (Opecoelidae: Plagioporinae): Re-evaluation of the type species, T. armstrongi Gibson & Bray, 1982 and T. beringi (Mamaev, 1965)

Tellervotrema Gibson & Bray, 1982 (Digenea: Opecoelidae) was erected for Podocotyle-like species that possess asymmetrical pair of isolated groups of vitelline follicles in the posterior forebody, lack them dorsal to the caeca andparasitize archybenthal macrourid fishes. Tellervotrema armstrongi Gibson & Bray, 1982 is redescribed from the typehost, the common Atlantic grenadier, Nezumia aequalis (Günther), N. cyrano Marshall & Iwamoto, and from anunidentified macrourid collected from the northern Gulf of Mexico. Tellervotrema beringi (Mamaev, 1965) is redescribedfrom the giant grenadier, Albatrossia pectoralis (Gilbert), and Coryphaenoides sp. obtained from off Oregon. Thefollowing six features are suggested to distinguish T. armstrongi and T. beringi: egg size; position of the genital pore;posterior extent of the cirrus-sac relative to the ventral sucker; testes volume relative to hindbody size; anterior extent ofthe paired vitelline groups in the forebody; and geographic locality. The generic diagnosis of Tellervotrema is amended toinclude circumcaecal vitelline follicles, and the presence of the vitelline gap itself was found to be a more consistentdiagnostic generic character than the location of the resulting pair of distinct, isolated groups of vitelline follicles createdby the gap. A neotype and paraneotypes are designated for T. beringi. The following new host and locality records areestablished: first original report of T. armstrongi from N. cyrano; first report of a member of Tellervotrema from the giantgrenadier, A. pectoralis; and the waters off Oregon are a new locality record for Tellervotrema, a genus in the North PacificOcean known only from the Bering Sea and off Japan. A comprehensive listing of all parasites previously reported fromthe four macrourid species examined herein is given and intermediate hosts are postulated through which species of Tellervotrema may complete their life cycles in the deep.

Feeding of Albatrossia pectoralis (Macrouridae) on the continental slope of eastern Kamchatka and the Kurils

Diet of Albatrossia pectoralis in spring 2009 is investigated in bottom ichthyocenes of the continental slope from south-eastern Kamchatka to the southern Kurils. The food spectrum of Albatrossia pectoralis comprises over 50 prey species. The bulk of the food consists of cephalopods and fish. In the course of ontogenetic change of diet, Albatrossia pectoralis passes over from nektobenthophagy in the initial period of its near-bottom life (30–60 cm) to nektophagy. Prey of Albatrossia pectoralis are principally organisms of the grazing chain. Due to predominant participation in the grazing chain, Albatrossia pectoralis is a dominant predator in bottom ichthyocenes of the Kamchatka-Kuril continental slope.

Baited-camera observations of deep-sea megafaunal scavenger ecology on the California slope

Baited cameras have offered much insight into the ecology of scavenging animals in several parts of the worlds' oceans, revealing patterns of vertical zonation, trends in size and abun- dance with depth, and aspects of feeding behavior. It is surprising, then, that very little has been pub- lished on the scavenging community off the eastern Pacific continental slope, where work of this nature originated. Here we present a study of megafaunal scavenger ecology encompassing a wide range of taxa from shelf to abyssal depths off central California. During 13 baited camera deploy- ments from 105 to 3144 m, we photographed 25 scavenging taxa, consisting mainly of fish and crabs. Combined with trawl results, these data showed that prevalence of scavenging in fishes increased from 2% of all species at 100 m to 46% of all species at 3000 m, suggesting more opportunistic feed- ing habits and the increasing importance of carrion as a food source at greater depths. Of 4 scaveng- ing fish species examined, 3 (Antimora microlepis, Albatrossia pectoralis, and Anoplopoma fimbria) displayed significant increases in length with increased depth while Coryphaenoides acrolepis dis- played an opposite, 'smaller-deeper' trend. Estimates of fish density generated from camera first arrival times and trawl data were compared, yielding no significant correlation. During one camera deployment, C. armatus was used as bait, which resulted in the complete absence of C. armatus, while a peak abundance of 11 individuals was observed at similar depths/locations using non- macrourid bait. The depth-related patterns in scavenger species richness and intraspecific size-depth trends differ from those in the North Atlantic, suggesting that further regional comparisons are needed to better understand scavenger ecology on a global scale.

An antipodal link between the North Pacific and South Atlantic Oceans?

We report on the extraordinary findings of several endemic species of North Pacific deepwater fish and squid on the continental slope of the Falkland Islands in the Southwest Atlantic, namely the giant rattail grenadier Albatrossia pectoralis (Macrouridae), pelagic eelpout Lycodapus endemoscotus (Zoarcidae) and squid Gonatopsis octopedatus (Gonatidae). These deepwater dwellers might have moved more than 15,000 km from their common species ranges with Pacific Deep Water along the western slopes of both Americas and through the Drake Passage. Our findings provide further evidence of the possible role of deepwater currents in the dispersal of bathypelagic and benthopelagic animals from one polar region to another across various climatic zones of the world ocean.

Reproductive Characteristics and Mortality of Female Giant Grenadiers in the Northern Pacific Ocean

AbstractGiant grenadiersAlbatrossia pectoralisare caught as bycatch in deep‐sea commercial fisheries in relatively large numbers. The population appears to be stable, although there is no directed fishery, catch limits, or reporting requirements. The purpose of our study was to describe and quantify the reproductive life history characteristics and natural mortality of female giant grenadiers. During the summers of 2004 and 2006, a total of 338 specimens were collected from the Gulf of Alaska. Every phase of reproductive development was found, suggesting a protracted annual spawning season. An ovarian wall thickness technique was used to successfully place 31% (n= 24) of the fish with an unknown maturity status into a known category. Female age at 50% maturity was 22.9 years, and preanal fin length at 50% maturity was 26 cm. Total fecundity ranged from 35,000 to 231,000 oocytes (mean = 106,761), with a mean mature oocyte diameter of 1.26 mm. We developed a new technique for preparing otoliths for age determination by grinding off the distal surface to elucidate the growth zones; age ranged from 14 to 58 years. Estimates of natural female mortality ranged from 0.052 to 0.079 and estimates of total female mortality from 0.061 to 0.149. This life history information will be essential for future management of giant grenadier populations in the North Pacific Ocean.

Depth related trends in proximate composition of demersal fishes in the eastern North Pacific

The proximate chemistry of the white muscle and liver of 18 species of demersal fish from the eastern North Pacific was studied to determine trends with depth, locomotory mode and buoyancy mechanism, foraging strategy and to elucidate energetic strategies. Data for 24 species from shallow water were taken from the literature and included for analysis of muscle water content. Benthopelagic species, primarily gadiforms, have significantly larger lipid-rich livers than benthic species. The benthopelagic species may use this lipid to add buoyancy, but it is also used as energy storage. Buoyancy mechanism was directly related to proximate composition. Fishes using gasbladders had normal muscle composition. The two species of benthopelagic fishes without gasbladders have either very high muscle lipid content ( Anoplopoma fimbria) or gelatinous muscle ( Alepocephalus tenobrosus) to aid in achieving neutral buoyancy. The macrourid, Albatrossia pectoralis, has a very small gasbladder and also has gelatinous muscle. Both of these benthopelagic fishes with gelatinous muscle feed on pelagic organisms. Gelatinous muscle was also found in two flatfishes that inhabit the oxygen minimum zone. For these fishes, high water content may serve to lower metabolic costs while maintaining large body size. Scavengers such as Coryphaenoides armatus and Coryphaenoides acrolepis have lipid rich livers and others such as A. fimbria and Pachycara sp. have high and variable muscle lipid content. Thus foraging mode also acts to influence proximate composition. Several depth-related trends in proximate composition were found. White muscle water content increased significantly with depth, and all four gelatinous species occurred at bathyal depths. This adds evidence in support of the hypothesis that decreasing light levels shorten reactive distances and relax the selective pressure for high locomotory capacity. In addition significant declines in liver protein content were observed, suggesting that the rates of metabolism in this organ also decline with depth. There was little evidence for food availability affecting proximate composition. There were no significant changes in either muscle or liver lipid or caloric density with depth. Total lipid stores actually increased significantly, but they were driven primarily by the abyssal scavenger C. armatus suggesting that foraging strategy rather than depth may be the most important factor determining total lipid stores.

LIPID ANALYSIS OF FILLETS FROM GIANT GRENADIER (ALBATROSSIA PECTORALIS), ARROW‐TOOTH FLOUNDER (ATHERESTHES STOMIAS), PACIFIC COD (GADUS MACROCEPHALUS) AND WALLEYE POLLOCK (THERAGRA CHALCOGRAMMA)

ABSTRACT In Alaska, walleye pollock (WP [Theragra chalcogramma]) and Pacific cod (PC [Gadus macrocephalus]) are harvested in large amounts. There are also large biomasses of arrow‐tooth flounder (ATF [Atheresthes stomias]) and giant grenadier (GG [Albatrossia pectoralis]) available in Alaskan waters; however, these fish are underutilized. The objective of this study was to determine lipid content, lipid class distribution and fatty acid (FA) profiles of fillets from these four fish species. Fat content and percent triacylglycerides (TAG) in ATF was significantly higher than in other species, and percent phospholipids (PL) was lower (P < 0.05). PC had the highest levels of omega‐3 (ω‐3) FA, whereas ATF had the lowest. The ratio of ω‐3/omega‐6 (ω‐6) FA was significantly higher in ATF than in other species. Percent polyunsaturated and saturated FA's were equivalent in ATF; however, other species showed at least twice as much polyunsaturated FA as saturated FA. This study provided comparisons of the lipid characteristics in the two most abundant white fish harvested in Alaska and two other abundant but underutilized species.

The feeding habits of slope dwelling macrourid fishes in the eastern North Pacific

The diet of slope dwelling macrourid fishes in the eastern North Pacific is poorly known. We collected several hundred stomach samples to investigate the feeding habits of Coryphaenoides acrolepis and Albatrossia pectoralis, the two dominant slope dwelling macrourids off the continental United States. Coryphaenoides acrolepis exhibited a pronounced ontogenetic shift in diet. Specimens <15 cm pre-anal fin length (PAF) consumed primarily polychaetes, amphipods, cumaceans and mysids, while larger individuals consumed increasingly larger, more pelagic prey such as fish, squid, and large crustaceans. Scavenging was also very important to specimens >15 cm with scavenged food constituting approximately 20% of the weight of total prey and occurring in approximately 20% of fish 21–29 cm. Albatrossia pectoralis consumed primarily midwater fish and squid, and we believe that it feeds in the water column. There were significant differences between the diets of A. pectoralis and C. acrolepis suggesting some degree of niche separation between macrourid species on the continental slope of the eastern North Pacific. Both species are at the top of the food web on the upper continental slope and, because of their abundance, may exert significant pressures on their prey populations.

Texture Modification Processes for Giant Grenadier (Albatrossia pectoralis) Fillets

Improving the texture of soft fleshed giant grenadier (Albatrossia pectoralis) was investigated. Freeze-thaw cycles and cen-trifugation moderately improved the flesh firmness. Treatment in brine or dry salt, injection of 7.5% soy protein and 15% egg white improved texture so that it compared favorably to Dover sole. Whey protein (10% solution) produced slightly less firmness. Starch and gum solutions (10% and 0.9%, respectively) and static pressure were not effective. Comparison of dry salted and soy protein injected fillets with sole during frozen storage showed slight texture improvement over a six month period. Grenadier fillets maintained texture while sole fillets deteriorated, becoming very tough and undesirable.

Causes for Soft Flesh in Giant Grenadier (Albatrossia pectoralis) Fillets

The causes of soft flesh in giant grenadier (Albatrossia pectoralis) were investigated. The softness of giant grenadier flesh was related to its high moisture and low protein content, averaging 91.4% and 6.8%, respectively, and its muscle structure. The ratio of water to protein (13.4) was almost three times higher than for Dover sole (5.9) and Alaska pollock (4.7). Compared to Alaska pollock, giant grenadier muscle had large myotomes in loose bundles, characteristic of soft fleshed fish. Protease activity was low and as in Alaska pollock not considered a factor in soft flesh.

Elevated levels of trimethylamine oxide in muscles of deep-sea gadiform teleosts: A high-pressure adaptation?

Trimethylamine oxide (TMAO) as an osmolyte typically occurs at 20–70 mM in shallow-water marine teleost fishes. However, it has not been previously examined in deep-living species. We collected species from two families of benthic gadiform teleosts by otter trawl from the continental slope (1,800–2,000 m) and abyssal plain (2,850 m) off the Oregon coast. Muscle and plasma samples were analyzed for TMAO with a picric acid method. Muscle contents (below in millimoles/kilogram of wet weight) were found to be higher than previously reported for teleosts. Results from Macrouridae from 1,800–2,200 m were as follows: Albatrossia pectoralis, 83 ± 10; Coryphaenoides cinerus, 121 ± 11. Results from Macrouridae from 2,850 m were significantly higher: C. leptolepis, 158 ± 20; C. fillifer, 177 ± 8; C. armatus, 173 ± 5. Caught at both depths, Antimora microlepis (Moridae) had 211 ± 14. Plasmas had low TMAO (2–15 mM) and high Na+concentrations (227–273 mM), except A. microlepis plasma, which had the lowest Na+ (219 ± 30 mM) and highest TMAO (159 ± 46 mM). Osmotic pressures of fresh plasma (423–557 mosm) correlated highly with muscle TMAO and with plasma TMAO plus Na+ levels. These higher osmolalities may reduce osmoregulatory costs. However, as a methylamine known to stabilize protein, TMAO may counteract destabilizing effects of hydrostatic pressure on cellular proteins. With purified C. leptolepis muscle lactate dehydrogenase, 250 mM TMAO fully offset a 30% increase in NADH Km induced by 300 atm. J. Exp. Zool. 279:386–391, 1997. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.