European Flounder Platichthys Flesus Research Articles

Benthic food webs support the production of sympatric flatfish larvae in estuarine nursery habitat

Identifying nursery habitats is of paramount importance to define proper management and conservation strategies for flatfish species. Flatfish nursery studies usually report upon habitat occupation, but few attempted to quantify the importance of those habitats to larvae development. The reliance of two sympatric flatfish species larvae, the European flounder Platichthys flesus and the common sole Solea solea, on the estuarine food web (benthic vs. pelagic) was determined through carbon and nitrogen stable isotope analysis. The organic matter sources supporting the production of P. flesus and S. solea larvae biomass originates chiefly in the benthic food web. However, these species have significantly different δ13C and δ15N values which suggests that they prey on organisms that use a different mixture of sources or assimilate different components from similar OM pools (or both).

Bioenergetic Transcriptomic Responses of European Flounder (Platichthys Flesus) Populations in Contrasted Environments: Impacts of Pollution and Global Warming.

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Flatfishes of the White Sea: New data on the biology of the Arctic Flounder Liopsetta glacialis, European flounder Platichthys flesus, and common dab Limanda limanda

Biological characteristics have been studied in three flatfish species, the Arctic flounder Liopsetta glacialis, European flounder Platichthys flesus, and common dab Limanda limanda, collected by trawling and with fixed nets in different areas of the White Sea in 2001–2013. Flatfishes of the eastern areas of the sea are characterized by slower growth rates and a longer age series with a considerable proportion of older individuals. The greatest proportion of left-eye European flounders has been found in western areas of the sea. Pigmentation of the blind side of the body is recorded most frequently in Arctic flounders of Onega Bay.

Proteomic analysis of the European flounder Platichthys flesus response to experimental PAH–PCB contamination

Platichthys flesus is often used as a sentinel species to monitor the estuarine water quality. In this study, we carried out an experimental contamination of fish using a PAHs/PCBs mixture, which was designed to mimic the concentrations found in the Seine estuary (C1) and 10 times these concentrations (C2). We used a proteomic approach to understand the molecular mechanisms implied in the response of P. flesus to these xenobiotics. We showed that 54 proteins were differentially accumulated in one or several conditions, which 34 displayed accumulation factors higher than two. 18 of these proteins were identified by MALDI TOF–TOF mass spectrometry. The results indicated the deregulation of oxidative stress- and glutathione metabolism-(GST, GPx) proteins as well as of several proteins belonging to the betaine demethylation pathway and the methionine cycle (BHMT, SHMT, SAHH), suggesting a role for these different pathways in the P. flesus response to chemical contamination.

A comparative SEM study of ossicles in the Pleuronectiformes (Teleostei) of the Baltic Sea

The morphologies of ossicles of the European plaice Pleuronectes platessa Linnaeus, the European flounder Platichthys flesus trachurus (Linnaeus) (Pleuronectidae), and the turbot Scophthalmus maximus (Linnaeus) (Scophthalmidae) are described and compared. The examined material of these flatfishes (Pleuronectiformes) originates from Estonian waters, the eastern Baltic Sea. The cycloid and ctenoid scales, tubercles, lateral line scales and segments, and swivel-joint platelets noticeably differ among the three studied species. Because of characteristics of ctenii and development of the ctenial pattern, the scales of the flounder have been separated into a new subtype, the overgrowing ctenoid scales belonging to a general type of ctenoid scales. Two different appearances of tubercles, ctenoid and circuloid, are described for the flounder and turbot, respectively. Although the ossicles of the European plaice and European flounder differ in many details, they are not as highly modified as are the circuloid tubercles of the turbot. In the European plaice, a strong difference also occurs between the scales of males and females. In the European flounder and turbot, nodular ultrasculpture on the external surface of ossicles and structure formed by Mandl's corpuscles on their internal surface, known to be caused by mineralization processes, are imaged under scanning electron microscope and also described.

Coupling natural tags to assess connectivity patterns and population structure of fish species with ontogenetic migrations

Event Abstract Back to Event Coupling natural tags to assess connectivity patterns and population structure of fish species with ontogenetic migrations Patrick Reis-Santos1, 2*, Susanne E. Tanner1, Maria A. Aboim1, Rita P. Vasconcelos1, 3 and Henrique N. Cabral1, 3 1 MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Portugal 2 Southern Seas Ecology Laboratories, School of Biological Sciences, Darling Building, The University of Adelaide, Australia 3 Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Portugal Connectivity and population structure are influenced by physical, biological and ecological processes and interactions that impact over a range of temporal scales. Therefore the best inference on population connectivity may be achieved by using multiple and potentially complementary techniques that integrate over different spatio-temporal scales. In the present study, we examined natal origin, movement and population structure of European flounder Platichthys flesus and Senagelense sole Solea senegalensis by combining otolith geochemical composition and microsatellite DNA markers of fish collected from multiple areas along the northeast Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea. A Bayesian statistical framework was used to simultaneously analyse the two datasets. This integrated approach of otolith and genotypic markers enhanced the present connectivity assessment. The added value of using otolith geochemistry to complement the assessment of early life stage dispersal in marine populations with high gene flow is discussed, as well as the advantages of objectively integrating data from these different natural markers. Ultimately, unravelling connectivity and population structure via multiple methodological approaches are increasingly important to identify management requirements for these commercially important species. Acknowledgements This study had the support of Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) (Projects UID/MAR/04292/2013 and PTDC/MAR/117084/2010). PRS and SET were funded by FCT postdoctoral grants (SFRH/BPD/95784/2013 and SFRH/BPD/84278/2012, respectively), and RV by the Investigador FCT Programme 2013 (IF/00058/2013). Keywords: Natural tags, otolith chemistry, microsatellites, Bayesian Models, connectivity, Conservation of Natural Resources Conference: XV European Congress of Ichthyology, Porto, Portugal, 7 Sep - 11 Sep, 2015. Presentation Type: Oral Presentation Topic: Life Cycles, Migration and Connectivity Citation: Reis-Santos P, Tanner SE, Aboim MA, Vasconcelos RP and Cabral HN (2015). Coupling natural tags to assess connectivity patterns and population structure of fish species with ontogenetic migrations. Front. Mar. Sci. Conference Abstract: XV European Congress of Ichthyology. doi: 10.3389/conf.fmars.2015.03.00032 Copyright: The abstracts in this collection have not been subject to any Frontiers peer review or checks, and are not endorsed by Frontiers. They are made available through the Frontiers publishing platform as a service to conference organizers and presenters. The copyright in the individual abstracts is owned by the author of each abstract or his/her employer unless otherwise stated. Each abstract, as well as the collection of abstracts, are published under a Creative Commons CC-BY 4.0 (attribution) licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) and may thus be reproduced, translated, adapted and be the subject of derivative works provided the authors and Frontiers are attributed. For Frontiers’ terms and conditions please see https://www.frontiersin.org/legal/terms-and-conditions. Received: 26 Oct 2015; Published Online: 05 Nov 2015. * Correspondence: Dr. Patrick Reis-Santos, MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Lisboa, 1749-016, Portugal, patrick.santos@adelaide.edu.au Login Required This action requires you to be registered with Frontiers and logged in. To register or login click here. Abstract Info Abstract The Authors in Frontiers Patrick Reis-Santos Susanne E Tanner Maria A Aboim Rita P Vasconcelos Henrique N Cabral Google Patrick Reis-Santos Susanne E Tanner Maria A Aboim Rita P Vasconcelos Henrique N Cabral Google Scholar Patrick Reis-Santos Susanne E Tanner Maria A Aboim Rita P Vasconcelos Henrique N Cabral PubMed Patrick Reis-Santos Susanne E Tanner Maria A Aboim Rita P Vasconcelos Henrique N Cabral Related Article in Frontiers Google Scholar PubMed Abstract Close Back to top Javascript is disabled. Please enable Javascript in your browser settings in order to see all the content on this page.

Sex-specific distribution and diet of Platichthys flesus at the end of spawning in the northern Baltic Sea

This study examined the relationship of seascape structure, prey availability and sex on the post-spawning distribution and diet of European flounder Platichthys flesus in the northern Baltic Sea. The objectives were to determine whether: (1) wave exposure and substratum affect abundance and distribution of P. flesus, (2) diet reflects the benthic prey composition and (3) sex affects the distribution or diet of P. flesus. The results showed that P. flesus was evenly spread in the archipelago with no correlation to wave exposure. The distribution was, however, sex specific; reproductive males dominated the exposed zone and mainly post-reproductive females dominated the intermediate and sheltered zones. Platichthys flesus fed mainly on two bivalve prey species: blue mussels Mytilus edulis and Baltic tellins Macoma balthica. Hard substratum invertebrates dominated the diet in all habitats and apart from some typical soft substratum species, there was no clear link between fish feeding and the dominance structure of benthic prey. Diet was further sex specific, with females showing a broader range of diet than males. Results suggest that P. flesus is a specialist molluscivore found commonly and equally in soft- and hard-substratum habitats throughout the archipelago area. Previous studies on P. flesus in the Baltic Sea have yielded inconsistent results regarding diet and it has commonly been believed that the distribution of Baltic Sea P. flesus is linked to sand and soft substrata. The present findings emphasize the importance of including the entire range of habitats when diet and regional species distributions are assessed.

Cryptic Behaviour of Juvenile Turbot <i>Psetta maxima</i> L. and European Flounder <i>Platichthys flesus</i> L.

The aim of this study was to examine the burying behaviour of hatchery-reared European flounder Platichthys flesus and turbot Psetta maxima, and whether conditioning on a sandy substrate would improve burying efficiency. Both species buried shortly after release on a sandy substrate. However, the study revealed interspecies differences; the flounder buried immediately after release, while the turbot buried gradually. No significant difference in burying efficiency was observed between na&iumlve and conditioned flounder and turbot. An effect of size on burial efficiency was observed for both flounder and turbot with a tendency for larger fish to bury more efficiently than smaller fish, despite previous conditioning. Size at settlement was found to be >2 cm for flounder and >3 cm for turbot.

Tissue specific haemoglobin gene expression suggests adaptation to local marine conditions in North Sea flounder (Platichthys flesus L.)

Recent genetic analyses of candidate genes and gene expression in marine fishes have provided evidence of local adaptation in response to environmental differences, despite the lack of strong signals of population structure from conventional neutral genetic markers. In this study expression of the haemoglobin alpha and beta subunit genes was studied in reciprocally transplanted European flounder Platichthys flesus from the highly saline North Sea and the brackish Baltic Sea. Clear differences in expression patterns of haemoglobin alpha and beta subunit genes were found among different types of tissue in flounder. In gill tissue a plastic response to salinity treatments was observed with general up-regulation of these genes concomitant with higher salinity. For liver tissue a population specific expression differences was observed with lower expression at simulated non-native compared to native salinities. Finally, for kidney tissue a stress response was observed in one population, with gene up-regulation when North Sea flounders were transplanted to low salinity. This study underlines the importance of tissue specific gene expression and the significance of gene expression for evolution of local adaptation in high gene flow marine fishes.

Population ecology and habitat preferences of juvenile flounder Platichthys flesus (Actinopterygii: Pleuronectidae) in a temperate estuary

The European flounder Platichthys flesus is a widely distributed epibenthic species and an important component of demersal fish assemblages in the European Atlantic coastal waters. In Portuguese estuaries, this species reaches high densities, especially in Minho estuary (NW Iberian Peninsula, Europe), potentially playing an important role in the system's ecology. In this context, the population structure, production and the habitat use of juvenile P. flesus were investigated. Sampling took place monthly, from February 2009 until July 2010 along the entire estuarine gradient (5 sampling stations distributed in the first 29km from the river mouth, with S1 located near the river mouth, S2 inside a salt marsh, S3 in a salinity transition zone, while S4 and S5 were located in the upper estuary). Flounder's density varied significantly among sampling stations and seasons (two-way PERMANOVA: p<0.001), with the majority of the individuals being found during the spring (30.1%) and in S3 and S4 (72.6%). Males and females presented an even distribution, with a higher proportion of males observed during summer. Fish length also differed among sampling stations and seasons (two-way PERMANOVA: p<0.001), with larger fishes being found in S1 during the autumn (168.50±59.50mm) and the smallest in S4 during the spring (33.80±3.12mm). Size classes associated differently with environmental variables, with larger juveniles being more abundant in the downstream areas of the estuary, whereas smaller juveniles were related to higher water temperatures, suggesting a habitat segregation of P. flesus of different sizes. The fish condition of P. flesus in Minho estuary was higher than in other systems, probably due to the dominance of juveniles on the population. Also, the densities found in this estuary were up to 32 times higher than in other locations, suggesting that Minho estuary is an important nursery area for the species. The estimated secondary production of P. flesus was lower than previous studies acknowledged in the system (0.037g.WWm−2.year−1), indicating that the production estimates of this species in estuaries can vary considerably depending on of several factors such as the sampling year and strategy, population and fish size.

Genetic structure of European flounder Platichthys flesus: effects of both the southern limit of the species’ range and chemical stress

The genetic structure of European flounder Platichthys flesus populations was analysed in the southern part of the species' distribution area, from England to Portugal; samples were collected in 5 estuaries which were chosen because of their latitudinal cline, the level of contaminants and the possibility of hypoxia: the Tamar in England; the Canche, Seine and Vilaine in France; and the Mondego in Portugal. Analysing the variability of a mitochondrial marker (cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1), we observed (1) a moderately higher nucleotide diversity in the Tamar and Canche, reflecting the probable existence of a major refugium in this sector during the last glacial maximum, and (2) a reduced genetic differentiation over the whole data set. The use of 8 microsatellites underlined the maintenance of genetic diversity in the peripheral population of the Mondego, located near the southern limit of the species' range; furthermore, significant pairwise differentiations of populations including Mondego underlined the particular genetic status of this Portuguese population. The polymorphism of a candidate gene involved in energetic metabolism, AMP-desaminase isoform 1, was investigated focusing on exon 1; we found the highest heterozygosities in the more polluted populations (Seine, Tamar) and marked differentiations compared to the other group of populations (Mondego, Vilaine, Canche). The pattern of variability observed for the AMP-desaminase suggests that in chronically contaminated flounder populations, cocktails of pollutants act as selective agents directly or indirectly on this locus.

Responses of juvenile European flounder (Platichthys flesus) to multistress in the Vilaine estuary, during a 6-month survey

Physiological and genetic responses of age 0+ Platichthys flesus were investigated in the eutrophicated and moderately contaminated Vilaine estuary, during a 6-month survey. The main objective of this study was to explore the biological responses of fishes during their juvenile period in an estuarine system in order to detect a possible selective pressure induced by the environmental stress. Our results showed a general convergence in physiological responses along the survey: an increase in genotoxicity was associated with an increase in mRNA expression of ATPase and betaine homocysteine methyltransferase. These results could suggest an increase of cellular damage, energetic request, and detoxification rate related to the growing exposure time to stress. Considering the aging of the cohort, the genetic characteristics of the Vilaine flounder cohort came closer to the one observed in a highly stressed system, the Seine estuary, suggesting a potential selective pressure mainly induced by the chemical stress.

Cellular and molecular responses of the European flounder (Platichthys flesus) to the effects of climate change, hypoxia and chemical stress, in several estuaries from France to Portugal

Cellular and molecular responses of the European flounder (Platichthys flesus) to the effects of climate change, hypoxia and chemical stress, in several estuaries from France to Portugal

Response of the European flounder Platichthys flesus to experimental and in situ contaminations: A proteomic approach

Response of the European flounder Platichthys flesus to experimental and in situ contaminations: A proteomic approach

Comparisons of liver proteomes in the European flounder Platichthys flesus from three contrasted estuaries

Estuaries are important areas highly susceptible to anthropogenic degradations like pollution. Estuarine species have thus to cope with many types of constraints depending on the estuaries' characteristics. The European flounder Platichthys flesus is considered as a sentinel species for the monitoring of estuarine water quality. In this study, juvenile flounders (0+ group) were sampled from three contrasted Channel estuaries, i.e. the Seine, the Canche and the Tamar, and we characterized their liver proteomes by using a two-dimensional electrophoresis based proteomic approach.We showed that 27 protein spots differentially accumulated between the 3 populations. Six of these proteins were identified by MALDI TOF–TOF mass spectrometry. Flounders from the Seine and from the Tamar, two highly polluted estuaries, displayed common differences, i.e. an increase of the energetic- and the glutathione-metabolism. The most accumulated protein in the Seine's samples (6.7-fold) was a Vitelline Membrane Outer layer protein 1 homolog, suggesting oogenesis deregulation in these juvenile (sexually immature) flounders. Future works applying this kind of proteomic approach on flounders experimentally exposed to conditions that mimic environmental constraints will help to better understand the significance of these environmental proteomic signatures.

Alternative flood tide transport tactics in catadromous species: Anguilla anguilla, Liza ramada and Platichthys flesus

Flood Tide Transport (FTT) was investigated using experimental annular flumes and analysed by Maximum Entropy Spectral Analysis (MESA) to compare 3 species which use FTT: thinlip mullet Liza ramada, European eel Anguilla anguilla and European flounder Platichthys flesus. Juvenile fishes were submitted to experimental conditions simulating estuarine conditions in order to induce a behavioural rhythm which can be deemed comparable to FTT. MESA highlighted several behavioural rhythms within the same time series. The three species exhibited tidal rhythms in relation to time of day of migration, social behaviour and behaviour during ebb-tides. We hypothesise that ecological and morphological traits could induce these behaviours and indicate that it is possible to predict FTT variations for all catadromous species using diet ecology and morphology.

The migration patterns of the European flounder Platichthys flesus (Linnaeus, 1758) (Pleuronectidae, Pisces) at the southern limit of its distribution range: Ecological implications and fishery management

This study aims to determine the diversity of migration patterns of the European flounder ( Platichthys flesus (Linnaeus, 1758)) present in the Minho estuary and in the adjacent coastal area (NW-Iberian Peninsula). Assessing the diversity of flounder migration patterns at the southern limit of its distribution allows the determination of characteristics of the species' ecology and provides useful information for fishery managers, since it is a regionally important estuarine fishery. An unexpected result of our study was that flounder appears to spawn in both estuarine and coastal areas and not just in coastal areas as was previously widely accepted. Our interpretation of otolith strontium distribution patterns from flounder specimens collected in the freshwater tidal area of the Minho estuary and in the lower estuary suggested that the flounders hatched in the estuary, while only 6.7% of those captured in the coastal area hatched in the coastal area. Ultimately, studies aimed at collecting larval stages and adult flounders must be made to confirm that flounders spawn in the estuary and to define new and better scientifically supported fishing policies, or simply to confirm the existing ones regarding temporal and spatial closures for each gear used in the Minho estuary.

Impacts of mixtures of herbicides on molecular and physiological responses of the European flounder Platichthys flesus

The widespread use of pesticides results in a growing contamination of the aquatic environment. The effects of (1) a simple mixture of a glyphosate-based formulation and AMPA (Aminomethylphosphonic acid — a primary metabolite of glyphosate) and of (2) a more complex mixture of herbicides (glyphosate/AMPA/mecoprop/acetochlor/2,4D) were explored on the molecular and physiological responses of the European flounder Platichthys flesus, considering a long-term and environmentally realistic contamination. Molecular responses were identified using suppression subtractive hybridization on liver samples: the level of gene transcription was significantly different between contaminated fishes vs control ones for 532 sequences, after a 62-day contamination. Among them, 222 sequences were identified by homology with data-based sequences; they encoded several metabolic pathways including: methionine and lipid metabolism, immunity, protein regulation, coagulation and energetic metabolism. Expression pattern of nine transcripts in the liver was confirmed by real-time PCR. The molecular study underlined that potential markers of liver injury were expressed for both mixtures, in particular betaine homocysteine methyl transferase and chemotaxin. Physiological responses were analysed considering blood parameters and condition factor; after the two months contamination period; no significant physiological difference was detected between contaminated and control fish.

Genetic polymorphism and its potential relation to environmental stress in five populations of the European flounder Platichthys flesus, along the French Atlantic coast

In this study, new DNA markers were explored for the flounder Platichthys flesus. cDNA and genomic sequences of the genes encoding the glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate-deshydrogenase (GAPDH), the cytosolic creatine kinase (CK), the prostaglandin D synthase (PGDS) and the betaine homocysteine methyltransferase (BHMT) were characterized. The tumour suppressor p53 gene structure was already described. A PCR–SSCP ( Single Strand Conformation Polymorphism) analysis was finally conducted to study the genetic polymorphism of different populations of flounders collected along the French Atlantic coast. Four highly contaminated French estuaries (Seine, Vilaine, Loire and Gironde) were sampled and compared to a reference estuary (Ster) to explore possible selective effect of the environment on specific allelic frequencies. Our results showed that two loci p53 and PGDS, could be potential markers of chemical stress: p53A allele frequency increased in contaminated systems compared to the reference system. In the Vilaine estuary, PGDS polymorphism could be related to pesticide stress.

Responses of the European flounder Platichthys flesus to the chemical stress in estuaries: load of contaminants, gene expression, cellular impact and growth rate

European flounder responses to the chemical stress were assessed by a comparative approach on four estuaries displaying contrasted patterns of contamination. The contamination typology of the estuaries was investigated by individual measurements of contaminants in fish. Molecular and physiological responses were studied by gene expression, genotoxicity, neurotoxicity and growth rate. Fishes in contaminated estuaries were characterized by high levels of bioaccumulated contaminants, slow energetic metabolism and reduced growth rate, in contrast to the fish responses in the reference site. A seasonal effect was highlighted for contaminated flounder populations, with high PCB levels, high genotoxicity and elevated detoxification rate in summer compared with winter.