Atherina Boyeri Research Articles

Light Microscopic Description of Neocamallanus singhi and Buckleynema buckleyi third Larval Stages Infecting Labridae and Atherinidae Hosts of The Red Sea in Egypt

During a survey on helminth parasites infecting marine fishes captured from water locations at Abu-Qalawa and Saad reef regions along Hurghada coasts of the Red Sea in Egypt during the period from June to December 2017, two different species of nematode parasites were isolated as a new host and locality records. These were Neocamallanus singhi (L3, f: Camallanidae) and Buckleynema buckleyi (L3, Quimperiidae) isolated from Cheilinus undulatus (Family: labridae, no. 34) and Atherina boyeri (Family: Atherinidae, no. 18) respectively. The parasites were described morphologically by light microscopy. They were compared with similar species isolated previously from different hosts worldwide. The study concluded that marine fishes species of the Red Sea should receive much attention for parasitic species infecting fishes in order to collect a lot of data concerning parasitic worms which could be transferred to humans causing dangerous diseases.

New Record of the Big-Scale Sand Smelt Atherina boyeri Risso, 1810 (Atherinidae) in the Seyhan Dam Reservoir (Seyhan River basin, Turkey)

Fifteen specimens of the big-scale sand smelt, Atherina boyeri were caught by a single trawl haul with a net mesh size of 3 mm on February 2017 from the Seyhan Dam Reservoir (South Anatolia, Adana/Turkey). In this study the big-scale sand smelt, A. boyeri, was recorded for the first time in the Seyhan Dam Reservoir. In addition, some morphometric and meristic measurements of A. boyeri were given and these values were compared to populations in two different lakes. Furthermore, the possible ecological effects of A. boyeri on Seyhan Dam Reservoir were briefly discussed.

Feeding ecology and prey selection of sand smelt, Atherina boyeri Risso, 1810 in Eğirdir Lake (southern Anatolia, Turkey)

Feeding ecology and prey selection of sand smelt (Atherina boyeri, Risso, 1810) were investigated by taking monthly samples (January to December 2010) at four stations of Lake Eğirdir, (Turkey) using gill nets (mesh sizes 10–100 mm) and purse-seines (mesh size 6 mm). A total of 49 out of 612 analysed stomachs were empty (8.01%); stomach contents included eight major prey categories: zooplankton, phytoplankton, Arachnida, Arthropoda, Insecta, fishes as well as unidentified organisms and remains. Dominant prey items included cladocerans (Bosmina longirostris [% N = 67.92], Alona quadrangularis [% N = 5.06]), copepods (Nitokra hibernica [% N = 9.30], Mesocyclops leuckarti [% N = 3.35]), and arthropoda (Corophium curvispinum [% N = 3.46]). The importance of Insecta, Arthropoda, fishes, and unidentified eggs increased in the diet with increasing size of the sand smelt, whereas the contribution of Cladocera and Copepoda decreased. Sand smelt strongly preferred B. longirostris (selectivity index V = 0.639, χ2 = 81.689, p < .01), N. hibernica (V = 0.205, χ2 = 8.429, p < .01), and A. quadrangularis (V = 0.159, χ2 = 5.039, p < .01) despite their low abundance in the environment. Atherina boyeri (V = −0.699, χ2 = 97.812, p < .01), Aphanius anatoliae (V = −0.328, χ2 = 21.463, p < .01), Insecta (V = −0.229, χ2 = 10.497, p < .01), and Keratella cochlearis (V = −0.265, χ2 = 14.009, p < .01) were the most abundant prey in the environment, however they were negatively selected by sand smelt. Knipowitschia caucasica, Asplanchna priodonta, Trichocerca sp., Lecane sp., and Acaridae also inhabit the lake, but were not found in the sand smelt food items. Cladocerans dominated during autumn and winter, arthropods, copepods, rotifers and phytoplankton in spring, whereas Insecta and fishes were dominant in summer.

Abundance and biomass estimation of this summer individuals of alien fish species in Zaporizke reservoir

&lt;p&gt;Substantial changes in the hydroecosystem of the Zaporizke reservoir have led to a significant transformation of aquatic&lt;br /&gt;biocoenoses. As a result, number of some aboriginal fish species have decreased. The regulation of the Dnipro river has&lt;br /&gt;contributed to the spread of new species of fish. Over the past 30 years, the ichthyofauna of the reservoir has gained about 20&lt;br /&gt;species of fish that acclimatized and expanded their range. The article presents the results of ichthyological research of 2010-&lt;br /&gt;2016. The article determines main causes of the spread of new species of fish, and gives the results of complex monitoring&lt;br /&gt;studies on the number and biomass of young alien fish species of the Zaporizke reservoir. It was found that the most numerous&lt;br /&gt;first summer individuals of alien fish species are big-scale sand smelt Atherina pontica (Eichwald, 1831), Prussian carp Carassius&lt;br /&gt;gibelio (Bloch, 1782), topmouth gudgeon Pseudorasbora parva (Temminck et Schlegel, 1846), black-striped pipefish (Syngnathus&lt;br /&gt;abaster Risso, 1826) and pumpkinseed Lepomis gibbosus (Linnaeus, 1758).&lt;/p&gt;

Karadeniz Bölgesi’ndeki Sinop İli, Sarıkum Gölünün Balık Türleri Üzerine Bir Araştırma

ABSTRACT: This study was carried out between January and December 2009 in order to discover the fish species found in Sarikum Lake of Sinop Province. Sampling activities were done by using multi-filament trammel nets, scoop nets and cast nets. As a result of the sampling, 9 species (Atherina boyeri, Liza aurata, Mugil cephalus, Mugil soiuy, Neogobius melanostomus, Aphanius chantrei, Gasterosteus aculeatus, Cyprinus carpio and Platichthys flesus) were determined. Results were discussed with other studies.

Diagnostic features and taxonomy of the Mediterranean species of the big-scale sand smelts belonging to Atherina boyeri group (Atherinidae)

Morphological studies of the big-scale sand smelt from the group Atherina boyeri sensu lato were carried out using the materials of the museum collections from the Mediterranean Sea, the Black Sea, and the Sea of Azov. It has been shown that low-raker sand smelt belonging to the species A. boyeri sensu stricto, and multi-raker sand smelt, referred to the A. mochon species, are differentiated by a complex of morphological features: the number of gill rakers, the shape of scales, the length of the ascending process of praemaxillare, and the shape of the lower margin of maxillare. The key for their identification is presented. It is assumed that A. mochon is not a native Black Sea species but belongs to the invasive species originating from the Mediterranean Sea. The isolation of two cryptic species is discussed. The neotype of A. pontica is designated.

Temporal Variation in the Trophic Levels of Secondary Consumers in a Mediterranean Coastal Lagoon (Cabras Lagoon, Italy)

Trophic levels (TLs) of fish were estimated on three sampling dates (March, May, and August 2006) for different fish sizes in the Cabras Lagoon (Sardinia, Italy). A temporal TL variation for Atherina boyeri, Gobius niger, and Engraulis encrasicolus was observed. In March and May, the TL ranged from 3.3 to 3.4, characterizing these species as secondary consumers, while in August, this range moved to between 3.7 and 3.8, indicating a TL shift towards tertiary consumers. For Liza ramada, TL was consistently lower in small individuals (mean TL 2.5) than in larger individuals (mean TL 3.0). Increased TL of the fish species A. boyeri, G. niger, and E. encrasicolus in August was consistent with the seasonal changes in the macrobenthic assemblage in this system, with a dominance of primary consumers (benthic deposit feeders) in winter–spring and a dominance of secondary consumers (the nereidids Alitta succinea and Hediste diversicolor) in summer. These fish species took advantage of the high availability of nereidids leading to a rise in their TL values. Furthermore, the increase of TL with size of L. ramada, the most economically valuable fish species in the Cabras Lagoon, indicated an ontogenetic diet shift, the juveniles being omnivorous, while the adults being secondary consumers. We conclude that variability in the trophic levels of fish due to species traits, ontogenetic diet shifts, and variation in prey availability should be taken into account to further understand the food web structure of coastal lagoons.

Consecutive repetition of lordosis-kyphosis in silverside Atherina boyeri Risso, 1810 collected from a wild population in Homa Lagoon, Izmir, Turkey

Abstract The incidence of severe consecutive repetition of lordosis-kyphosis involving three flexions was reported in a specimen of the atherinid fish Atherina boyeri Risso. The values for the angles lay between the lines passing through the sides of the vertebral column and enclosing the curvatures, and the depth of the curvatures of the angles was obtained. Also, the ratio of the vertebral column to the fish total length of deformed and normal specimens of this species was calculated. Possible causes for these anomalies are discussed.

Türkiye’deki üç Atherina boyeri Risso, 1810 popülasyonunun total boy ile otolit boyutları arasındaki ilişkilerinin bölgesel varyasyonu

This study focuses on the relationships between otolith measurements and total length; otolith shape indices and the total length; among otolith measurements for three Atherina boyeri populations (Lake Eğirdir, Lake Iznik, and Hirfanlı Dam Lake) to determine regional variations of these populations in Turkey. 356 specimens with 41.0 - 103.6 mm total length of three A. boyeri populations were examined and their otoliths were extracted and measured. Otolith width is the strongest indicator for the three A. boyeri populations although the otolith length, width, and weight are good indicators for the fish length in the different populations. The linear relationship was determined between A. boyeri total length and sagittal otolith sizes in the three populations. However, the best model for the relationships among otolith sizes can be change depends on populations differentiation. Exponential model is the best model for Lake Eğirdir population while the linear model is the best model for Lake Iznik and Hirfanlı Dam Lake populations.

Occurrence of Parasites of the Genus Eustrongylides spp. (Nematoda: Dioctophymatidae) in Fish Caught in Trasimeno Lake, Italy.

Eustrongylides spp. is considered a freshwater fish zoonotic nematode. In the present study, the prevalence of Eustrongylides spp. in six edible fish (European perch - Perca fluviatilis, goldfish - Carassius auratus, largemouth black bass - Micropterus salmoides, tench- Tinca tinca, carp - Cyprinus carpio and sand smelt - Atherina boyeri) of Trasimeno lake was surveyed. The investigations were conducted from October 2014 to September 2015 and 384 specimens per species for each season were caught in Trasimeno lake and examined for the presence of larvae in the abdominal cavity and muscle. The presence of nematodes in the abdominal cavity and musculature was revealed in three fish species. The prevalence of Eustrongylides spp. infection was 6.84, 1.89 and 0.13% in perch, largemouth black bass and sand smelt, respectively. The number of parasites per fish was only one in largemouth black bass and sand smelt and ranged from one up to three in perch. This study states that the European perch, largemouth black bass and sand smelt of Trasimeno lake are infected with zoonotic parasites; therefore, food business operators have to take appropriate measures to guarantee the health of consumers.

Otolith shape analysis and mitochondrial DNA markers distinguish three sand smelt species in the Atherina boyeri species complex in western Mediterranean

Atherina boyeri is a common euryhaline teleost fish in the Mediterranean and adjacent areas, which inhabits coastal and estuarine waters, including coastal lagoons and more rarely inland waters. Several recent studies have pointed the possible existence of three distinct groups or species, one lagoon/freshwater group and two ‘punctuated and unpunctuated on the flanks' marine groups, within an A. boyeri species complex. This study is a combined approach using otolith shape and molecular markers to better define the structure of the species in the western Mediterranean.Genetic differentiation and species delimitation among nine Atherina boyeri populations from several marine and lagoon/brakish habitat sites in Algeria, Tunisia and France were investigated using three mitochondrial (control region, Cyt b and 16S) and one nuclear markers (2nd intron of S7). For further phylogenetic and phylogeographic study, we added sequences from Genbank covering more areas (Ionian Sea, Adriatic Sea, Tyrrhenian Sea, Black Sea, Atlantic). Five groups were found. Two of them perfectly corresponded to two species already recognized Atherina presbyter and Atherina hepsetus, both living in marine waters; and three additional, including Atherina boyeri (brackish and freshwater environments) and two independent groups of marine punctated and unpunctated individuals. Those findings are corroborated by the study of the otolith contour shape of 362 individuals of seven populations from different habitats using Fourier analysis. Individuals could be discriminated into five groups based on the first two functions (Wilk's lambda = 0.07, p < 0.001). Samples from Ziama inlet, marine punctuated individuals and unpunctuated marine specimens from Annaba's Gulf formed three well separated groups. Specimens from Mellah and Mauguio lagoons formed another group. The last one includes individuals from Bizerte and Thau lagoons. The divergences between them strongly support the potential species within the A. boyeri species complex.

New record and range extension of the big-scale sand smeltAtherina boyeriRisso, 1810 (Atherinidae) in the Devegecidi Dam Lake, Tigris River basin, Turkey

Summary The big-scale sand smelt, Atherina boyeri, is recorded from the Devegecidi Dam Lake in 2016, the first record of this invasive species in the Tigris River basin, with potential to extend to all countries in the Middle East. The smelts were caught with a trawl net mesh size of 6 mm. The captured specimens are described and compared. Records of A. boyeri from Turkish inland waters are summarised from the literature.

Age, growth and reproduction of the sand smelt Atherina boyeri Risso, 1810 in Mellah Lagoon (Eastern Algeria)

Age, growth and reproduction of the sand smelt <i>Atherina boyeri</i> Risso, 1810 in Mellah Lagoon (Eastern Algeria)

A photovoltaic-battery-LED lamp raft design for purse seine fishery: Application in a large Mediterranean lake

This paper describes the construction of a novel lamp raft for the purse seine fishery and its evaluation in real conditions for 14 days during a six-month period in a freshwater ecosystem (Lake Trichonis, Greece). A simple, but durable and inexpensive design was constructed comprising a LED lamp producing green light, powered by a 12V battery which is charged by a photovoltaic panel to make the device autonomous concerning its electric power needs. The new lamp raft showed very good technical performance in the field and was found to be more effective at attracting fish than traditional lamp rafts, resulting in higher catch rates for the target fish species (Atherina boyeri). The increase in catch varied between 33.3% and 157.1%, with an overall increase of 67.3%. This excellent performance, along with simplicity, durability, and the zero operational cost, makes this raft an interesting candidate to replace the traditional lamp rafts used in purse seine fishery not only in the particular lake for which it was designed, but also in other freshwater and marine ecosystems around the world.

Growth and reproduction of a marine fish, Atherina boyeri (Risso 1810),in a freshwater ecosystem

Atherina boyeri (Risso, 1810) has established abundant and successful populations in inland waters in Anatolia, although it is known as a marine species. In this study, the growth and reproduction properties of A. boyeri in the Hirfanli Reservoir were studied. Age determinations based on scale readings showed that the population had a 4-year life cycle. Sampled individuals ranged between 5.76 and 115.65 mm in total length and 0.01 and 10.48 g in total weight. The von Bertalanffy growth parameters for females were L∞ = 156.78, k = 0.197, and t0 = ?0.197; for males, L∞ = 151.02, k = 0.148, and t0 = ?0.148. Mean condition factor values, estimated from eviscerated weight, varied between 0.49 and 0.60. The length weight relationship of A. boyeri indicated allometric growth, whereas the b value for females, males, and juveniles was 3.29, 3.23, and 3.50, respectively. The sex ratio was 1:1.14 in favor of females. The reproductive season, evaluated by the gonadosomatic index, extended from May to July. Mature egg diameter ranged from 0.64 to 1.73 mm. The mean total fecundity increased with age. In the Hirfanli Reservoir, certain life-history features of A. boyeri, such as short life cycle and increasing fecundity, indicated that this species has the potential to become dominant in freshwater systems.

Effect of partial and total replacement of fishmeal with sand smelt (Atherina boyeri) meal in practical diets for mono sex Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) fingerlings.

Effect of partial and total replacement of fishmeal with sand smelt (Atherina boyeri) meal in practical diets for mono sex Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) fingerlings.

Some Morphological Characters of Female of Mothocya epimerica Costa, 1851 (Flabellifera: Cymothoidae) from Sea of Marmara

Abstract Mothocya epimerica Costa, 1851 (Flabellifera: Cymothoidae) is a cymothoid parasite of fishes belonging to Atherinidae (Atherina hepsetus, Atherina boyeri) from Mediterranean Sea, Black Sea and Atlantic Ocean. Öktener and Sezgin (2000) recorded this parasite for the first time in Turkey. The mentioned authors presented some morphological characters, although, some characters are not explained in the publication. Some morphological characters seen on the mandible, maxilliped, maxilla, maxillue and the spines on pleopods of the female of M. epimerica are shown. The characters presented in our study are based on the drawings made from collected specimens.

Organochlorine contaminants (PCBs, DDTs, HCB &amp; HBDE) in fish from the Lake Varna and Lake Beloslav, Bulgaria

Abstract Concentrations of organochlorine compounds such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), DDT and its metabolites, hexachlorobenzene (HCB) and hexachlorobutadiene (HBDE) were determined in three fish species: goby (Neogobius melanostomus), golden grey mullet (Mugil auratus) and silverside (Atherina boyeri). Samples were collected from the Lake Varna and the Lake Beloslav in 2014. The edible fish tissues were analyzed in order to investigate the presence of pollutants in species from the lakes near Varna City, Bulgaria and compared the results to the levels in other aquatic ecosystems. The fifteen congeners of PCBs, HCB, HCBD, DDT and its two main metabolites DDE and DDD were determined by capillary gas chromatography system with mass spectrometry detection. The OCPs levels in the wild fish were found in the order DDTs &gt; PCBs. The other contaminants HCB and HCBD were not detected or were below the analytical detection limit. Among the pesticides, essentially only the metabolites p, p’- DDE and p, p’- DDD were found. The concentrations of DDTs were determined from 2.66 to 17.97 ng/g wet weight and PCBs concentrations were found from 0.43 to 8.05 ng/g ww (in goby and golden grey mullet, respectively). The sum of the six Indicator PCBs did not exceed the European maximum limit 75 ng/g wet weight. The concentrations of DDTs and PCBs were found lower compared to those in similar fish species from other aquatic ecosystems.

The occurrence of acanthocephalans in teleost fish from the Bizerte lagoon, Tunisia.

Seven species of acanthocephalans were identified for the first time in teleost fish from the Bizerte lagoon, Tunisia, including Neoechinorhynchus (Hebesoma) agilis (Rudolphi, 1819) Van Cleave, 1916; N. (Neoechinorhynchus) rutili Müller, 1780 (Neoechinorhynchidae); Acanthocephaloide propinquus (Dujardin, 1845) Meyer, 1932; A. incrassatus (Molin, 1858) Meyer, 1932 (Arhythmacanthidae); Longicollum pagrosomi Yamaguti, 1935 (Pomphorhynchidae); Rhadinorhynchus cadenati (Golvan et Houin, 1964) Golvan, 1969 (Rhadinorhynchidae); and Telosentis exiguus (von Linstow, 1901) Van Cleave, 1923 (Illiosentidae). Acanthocephaloide propinquus, N. (N.) rutili, L. pagrosomi and R. cadenati were restricted to the rectum and the posterior intestine, whereas the other species (A. incrassatus, T. exiguus and N. (H.) agilis) colonized two or three parts of the intestine. The most diverse acanthocephalan fauna was recorded in Lithognathus mormyrus, with three species; two species were reported from Trachurus trachurus; and a single species was recorded in Liza aurata and in Atherina boyeri. Neoechinorhynchus (N.) rutili, L. pagrosomi and R. cadenati attained the lowest prevalences of less than 6% and were considered as to be rare species. Acanthocephaloide incrassatus, A. propinquus, T. exiguus and N. (H.) agilis were satellite species. The diversity of the acanthocephalan fauna in the fish from the Bizerte lagoon is compared with previous studies from other localities. The report of A. incrassatus, A. propinquus and N. (N.) rutili in L. mormyrus presents new host records in Mediterranean waters.

Age, growth and body condition of big-scale sand smeltAtherina boyeriRisso, 1810 inhabiting a freshwater environment: Lake Trasimeno (Italy)

Key-words: Population dynamics, Lee’s phenomenon, fishery management, introduced species, Lake Trasimeno The age, growth and body condition of the big-scale sand smelt (Atherina boyeri) population of Lake Trasimeno were investigated. In total, 3998 specimens were collected during the study and five age classes (from 0+ to 4+) were identified. From a subsample of 1017 specimens, there were 583 females, 411 males and 23 juveniles. The equations between total length (TL) and weight (W) were: log 10 W = −2.326 + 3.139 log 10 TL for males and log 10 W = −2.366 + 3.168 log 10 TL for females. There were highly significant differences between the sexes and for both sexes the value of b (slope of the log (TL-W regression) was greater than 3 (3.139 for males and 3.168 for females), indicating positive allometric growth. The parameters of the theoretical growth curve were: TLt = 10.03 cm; k = 0.18 yr −1 , t0 = −0.443 yr and Φ � = 1.65. Monthly trends of overall condition and the gonadosomatic index (GSI) indicated that the reproductive period occurred from March to September. Analysis of back-calculated lengths indicated the occurrence of a reverse Lee’s phenomenon. This could be a symptom of predation or competition, with consequences for young specimens with slower growth and smaller size.