Flatfish Populations Research Articles

Testing models of increasing complexity to develop ecosystem‐informed fisheries advice

AbstractDespite continued calls for the application of ecosystem‐based fisheries management, tactical fisheries management continues to be heavily reliant on single‐species stock assessments. These stock assessments rarely quantitatively integrate the effects of ecosystem processes on fish stock productivity. This lack of integration is ultimately driven by the complexity of interactions between populations, ecosystems and fisheries, which produces uncertainty when defining which processes to include and how to include them. Models developed using a structured hypothesis testing framework would allow formalizing uncertainties while underscoring the importance of incorporating different population and ecosystem processes to explain non‐stationary stock productivity. Here, we develop a conceptual framework for extending and comparing population dynamics models of increasing complexity. We illustrate the utility of the framework by investigating the population and ecosystem processes that most likely affected the differential recovery of two flatfish populations (American plaice and yellowtail flounder) on the Newfoundland Grand Banks over the past three decades. We found that yellowtail flounder population dynamics were primarily driven by recruitment variability, which was negatively affected by warmer climatological conditions, as indicated by an integrated regional climate index. Meanwhile, American plaice population dynamics were affected by a combination of temporal variability in recruitment and natural mortality, where natural mortality increased during colder than average conditions. By exploring hypotheses about the effects of population and ecosystem processes on population dynamics, this modelling framework will improve understanding about the drivers of shifts in population productivity while serving as a transparent and robust approach to support ecosystem‐based fisheries management.

Promoting the use of non-lethal sample collection for analysing the trophic relationships of inshore flatfish populations using stable isotope analysis

Trophic studies on inshore flatfish populations usually rely on stomach content analyses and/or stable isotope analysis (SIA) of dorsal white muscle that involves the collection of samples from euthanised fishes. To promote the use of non-lethal sampling methods in inshore flatfish populations of relatively high intrinsic angling and/or ecological value, the applicability of using fin tissue and/or epidermal mucus as non-lethal alternatives to muscle in SIA studies was assessed for European flounder Platichthys flesus, plaice Pleuronectes platessa and common sole Solea solea. In all species, the results indicated that there were significant differences in the δ13C and δ15N values of dorsal muscle versus their fin and mucus samples. These significant differences were, however, predictable by linear regression, with regression coefficients produced for converting fin and mucus SI values to the equivalent muscle SI values. The use of combined data across the species also provided regression coefficients for converting fin and mucus SI to equivalent muscle values for flatfish populations more generally. These results indicated that there are tissue alternatives to dorsal muscle that can be applied to the SIA of flatfish populations, with these tissues able to be collected using non-lethal sampling methods.

Temporary Allee effects among non-stationary recruitment dynamics in depleted gadid and flatfish populations.

Many considerably declined fish populations have not fully recovered despite reductions in fishing pressure. One of the possible causes of impaired recovery is the (demographic) Allee effect. To investigate whether low‐abundance recruitment dynamics can switch between compensation and depensation, the latter implying the presence of the Allee effect, we analysed the stock–recruitment time series of 17 depleted cod‐type and flatfish populations using a Bayesian change point model. The recruitment dynamics were represented with the sigmoidal Beverton–Holt and the Saila–Lorda stock–recruitment models, allowing the parameters of the models to shift at a priori unknown change points. Our synthesis study questions the common assumption that recruitment is stationary and compensatory and the high amount of scatteredness often present in stock–recruitment data is only due to random variation. When a moderate amount of such variation was assumed, stock–recruitment dynamics were best explained by a non‐stationary model for 53% of the populations, which suggests that these populations exhibit temporal changes in the stock–recruitment relationship. For four populations, we found shifts between compensation and depensation, suggesting the presence of temporary Allee effects. However, the evidence of Allee effects was highly dependent on the priors of the stock–recruitment model parameters and the amount of random variation assumed. Nonetheless, detection of changes in low‐abundance recruitment is essential in stock assessment since such changes affect the renewal ability of the population and, ultimately, its sustainable harvest limits.

Lagged recovery of fish spatial distributions following a cold-water perturbation

Anomalous local temperature and extreme events (e.g. heat-waves) can cause rapid change and gradual recovery of local environmental conditions. However, few studies have tested whether species distribution can recover following returning environmental conditions. Here, we tested for change and recovery of the spatial distributions of two flatfish populations, American plaice (Hippoglossoides platessoides) and yellowtail flounder (Limanda ferruginea), in response to consecutive decreasing and increasing water temperature on the Grand Bank off Newfoundland, Canada from 1985 to 2018. Using a Vector Autoregressive Spatiotemporal model, we found the distributions of both species shifted southwards following a period when anomalous cold water covered the northern sections of the Grand Bank. After accounting for density-dependent effects, we observed that yellowtail flounder re-distributed northwards when water temperature returned and exceeded levels recorded before the cold period, while the spatial distribution of American plaice has not recovered. Our study demonstrates nonlinear effects of an environmental factor on species distribution, implying the possibility of irreversible (or hard-to-reverse) changes of species distribution following a rapid change and gradual recovery of environmental conditions.

Examining the role of estrogenic activity and ocean temperature on declines of a coastal demersal flatfish population near the municipal wastewater outfall of Orange County, California, USA

Wastewater treatment plant effluent introduces a mixture of pollutants into marine environments; however, the impacts of chronic sublethal exposures on populations are often unclear. Presence of estrogenic agents in sediments and uptake of these compounds by demersal flatfishes has been reported at the Orange County Sanitation District (OCSD) wastewater outfall. Furthermore, estrogenic activity has been identified in male flatfish in the area, potentially contributing to observed population declines in the OCSD region. Rising ocean temperatures may further contribute to flatfish declines as relationships between temperature and abundance have been reported in the Southern California Bight. To investigate declines, sex ratios, condition factor, organ health indices, hormones, and vitellogenin were quantified in flatfish collected at OCSD outfall and reference sites. Additionally, historical temperature data was examined for trends with population abundances. Rather than being linked to estrogenic activity, results indicated that population declines were more correlated to increases in ocean temperature.

Complex movement patterns of greenback flounder (Rhombosolea tapirina) in the Murray River estuary and Coorong, Australia

The greenback flounder Rhombosolea tapirina is a commercially-important flatfish species in southern Australia and New Zealand, whose population dynamics are poorly understood. Acoustic telemetry was used to assess movement patterns and area use for R. tapirina in the Murray River estuary and Coorong, South Australia. Twenty fish (221–313mm total length) equipped with acoustic transmitters were monitored for up to seven months during a period of high freshwater inflow. Fish were detected over a large part of the system, but showed a strong preference for brackish and near-marine conditions in the inner estuary. Tagged fish exhibited complex movement patterns that differed among individuals, including: (1) within estuary movements; (2) dispersal from the estuary to the sea; and (3) return migrations between the estuary and the sea. A diurnal shift in fine-scale area use was observed in the part of the estuary where residency was highest, with individuals occupying deeper habitats during the day and shallower areas during the night. The results demonstrate the individualistic and often highly transient behaviour of this species and its ability to undertake regular movements over the spatial scale of 10s of km. Understanding such movement patterns can improve effective management of estuarine flatfish populations and ecosystems.

Adult-mediated connectivity affects inferences on population dynamics and stock assessment of nursery-dependent fish populations

We explore how alternative hypotheses on the degree of mixing among local subpopulations affect statistical inferences on the dynamics and stock assessment of a harvested flatfish population, namely, the common sole population in the Eastern Channel (ICES area VIId). The current paradigm considers a single, well-mixed, spatially homogeneous population with juveniles from all coastal nursery grounds along the French and UK coasts that contribute to a single adult population and one pool of eggs. Based on the available data and ecological knowledge, we developed a spatial Bayesian integrated life-cycle model that consists of three subpopulations (one near the UK coast and two near the French coast, denoted UK, West FR and East FR, respectively) supported by their respective local nurseries, with the connectivity among the three components limited to low exchanges during larval drift. Considering the population dynamics among three subpopulations (instead of a single homogeneous one) drastically changes our inferences on the productivity of nursery sectors and their relative contribution to total recruitment. Estimates of the East FR subpopulation’s contribution to total recruitment increase (29% in the single population model; 48% in the three subpopulation model), balanced by a decrease in the UK subpopulation’s contribution (53%; 34%). Whereas an assessment based on the hypothesis of a single spatially homogeneous population in the EC indicates exploitation far above MSY (current F/FMSY=1.8), an assessment that considers a metapopulation with three loosely connected subpopulations revealed a different status, with the UK and East FR subpopulations being exploited above MSY (current F/FMSY=1.9 and 2, respectively) and the West FR subpopulation approaching full exploitation (current F/FMSY=1.05). This approach contributes to the quantitative assessment of spatial fishery and coastal habitat management plans.

Using a spatially structured life cycle model to assess the influence of multiple stressors on an exploited coastal-nursery-dependent population

Exploited coastal-nursery-dependent fish species are subject to various stressors occurring at specific stages of the life cycle: climate-driven variability in hydrography determines the success of the first eggs/larvae stages; coastal nursery habitat suitability controls juvenile growth and survival; and fisheries target mostly adults. A life cycle approach was used to quantify the relative influence of these stressors on the Eastern English Channel (EEC) population of the common sole (Solea solea), a coastal-nursery-dependent flatfish population which sustains important fisheries. The common sole has a complex life cycle: after eggs hatch, larvae spend several weeks drifting in open water. Survivors go on to metamorphose into benthic fish. Juveniles spend the first two years of their life in coastal and estuarine nurseries. Close to maturation, they migrate to deeper areas, where different subpopulations supplied by different nurseries reproduce and are exploited by fisheries. A spatially structured age-and stage-based hierarchical Bayesian model integrating various aspects of ecological knowledge, data sources and expert knowledge was built to quantitatively describe this complex life cycle. The model included the low connectivity among three subpopulations in the EEC, the influence of hydrographic variability, the availability of suitable juvenile habitat and fisheries. Scenarios were designed to quantify the effects of interacting stressors on population renewal. Results emphasized the importance of coastal nursery habitat availability and quality for the population renewal. Realistic restoration scenarios of the highly degraded Seine estuary produced a two-third increase in catch potential for the adjacent subpopulation. Fisheries, however, remained the main source of population depletion. Setting fishing mortality to the maximum sustainable yield led to substantial increases in biomass (+100%) and catch (+33%) at the EEC scale. The approach also showed how climate-driven variability in hydrography is likely to interact with human pressures, e.g., overfishing increased the sensitivity to unfavourable conditions. Our results provided insights into the dynamics of numerous exploited coastal-nursery-dependent species while paving the way toward more robust advice for sustainable management of these resources.

Assessment of resource selection models to predict occurrence of five juvenile flatfish species (Pleuronectidae) over the continental shelf in the western Gulf of Alaska

According to the nursery size hypothesis, flatfish recruitment is constrained by nursery area. Thus, if resource selection models can be shown to accurately predict the location and geographic extent of flatfish nursery areas, they will become important tools in the management and study of flatfish population dynamics. We demonstrate that some resource selection models derived previously to predict the presence and absence of juvenile flatfishes near shore were applicable to the broader continental shelf. For other age-species groups, derivation of new models for the continental shelf was necessary. Our study was conducted in the western Gulf of Alaska (GoA) during October 2011 on four groups of age-0 juvenile flatfishes: Pacific halibut (Hippoglossus stenolepis), arrowtooth flounder (Atheresthes stomias), northern rock sole (Lepidopsetta polyxystra), and flathead sole (Hippoglossoides elassodon); and three groups of age-1 juvenile flatfishes: northern rock sole, flathead sole, and yellowfin sole (Limanda aspera). Sampling occurred at 33 sites across the continental shelf. Fish were collected using a 3-m beam trawl, and a midwater trawl. Environmental data were collected on sediment composition and water temperature and depth. Many of the age-species groups co-occurred in the Shumagin and Barnabus sea valleys; however, age-0 arrowtooth flounder occurred at more locations than other juveniles, perhaps due to a relatively broad tolerance of environmental conditions and to the utilization of midwater habitat. Thus, the large nursery area of arrowtooth flounder may be one reason why they are currently the most abundant GoA flatfish. In fact, among all species, mean recruitment at age 3 increased with the percent occurrence of age-0 juveniles at the 33 sites, a proxy for relative nursery area, in accordance with the nursery size hypothesis, suggesting that mean recruitment among GoA flatfishes is structured by nursery size.

Isolation and characterisation of 23 microsatellite markers for marbled sole, Pleuronectes yokohamae

Marbled sole, Pleuronectes yokohamae, is an important fishery resource in the northwestern Pacific Ocean that has been adversely affected by anthropogenic impacts. Information on the genetic structure of this flatfish population will be essential for its conservation. Here, we isolated 23 novel microsatellite markers using next-generation sequencing. All of the 23 loci were polymorphic, and the number of alleles per locus ranged from 3 to 29. Observed and expected heterozygosity ranged from 0.20 to 1.00 and from 0.20 to 0.94, respectively. Four of 69 cases deviated from Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium after sequential Bonferroni correction, and the presence of a null allele was suggested at two loci (Pyo18 and Pyo21). No significant linkage disequilibrium was detected between any locus pair. The 23 markers developed here will facilitate the genetic analysis and development of conservation strategies for marbled sole.

Effects of a large northern European no‐take zone on flatfish populationsa

In March 2006, a 360 km² no-take zone (NTZ) was established north of Gotland in the central Baltic Sea, with the purpose to scientifically evaluate the effects of a fishing ban on flatfish populations. A monitoring programme was set up to study the populations in the NTZ and in a reference area east of Gotland where the fishing pressure was high. The programme included fishing with multimesh survey nets, modelling of potential larval export and estimation of fish consumption by large marine predators. Overall, the results showed a clear positive effect of the NTZ on turbot Scophthalmus maximus, with higher densities in the closed area compared with the fished area and also higher densities after closure compared with before. The NTZ also had older individuals and a more even sex ratio. This, in combination with a high potential for larval export from the NTZ to Gotland, shows that the marine reserve may be important for maintaining a viable S. maximus stock at Gotland. Also, for flounder Platichthys flesus, the densities were higher in the NTZ compared to the reference area and there was a net larval export to the fished area. For both species, density-dependent growth was evident, with a lower length at age in the closed area. Potential predation by grey seal Halichoerus grypus and great cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo sinesis on flatfishes, that could hamper the evaluation of the marine reserve, was also addressed. Taken together, the results show that there are clear benefits of the fishing ban for both flatfish species within the NTZ, while the net effects on fisheries are difficult to quantify.

Non-additive and non-stationary properties in the spatial distribution of a large marine fish population

Density-independent and density-dependent variables both affect the spatial distributions of species. However, their effects are often separately addressed using different analytical techniques. We apply a spatially explicit regression framework that incorporates localized, interactive and threshold effects of both density-independent (water temperature) and density-dependent (population abundance) variables, to study the spatial distribution of a well-monitored flatfish population in the eastern Bering Sea. Results indicate that when population biomass was beyond a threshold a further increase in biomass-promoted habitat expansion in a non-additive fashion with water temperature. In contrast, during years of low population size, habitat occupancy was affected positively only by water temperature. These results reveal the spatial signature of intraspecific abundance distribution relationships as well as the non-additive and non-stationary responses of species spatial dynamics. Furthermore, these results underscore the importance of implementing analytical techniques that can simultaneously account for density-dependent and density-independent sources of variability when studying geographical distribution patterns.

Long-term trends in juvenile flatfish indicate a dramatic reduction in nursery function of the Balgzand intertidal, Dutch Wadden Sea

Since 1975, juvenile flatfish (plaice and flounder) populations have been monitored at the Balgzand intertidal and, based on this data series (1975-2007), the interannual patterns in preda- tion pressure were quantified. Temporal patterns in abundance have changed greatly, especially for plaice. Up to the early 1980s, 3 year classes (0-, I- and II-group) were present and growing up in the area, but from the late 1980s onwards, densities of the I- and II-group plaice dropped from a few hun- dred individuals per 1000 m 2 to levels close to zero. It appears that the Balgzand intertidal has lost its nursery function for I- and II-group plaice, although feeding conditions have remained the same or even slightly increased since the late 1970s. The absence of I- and II-group flatfish in the intertidal cannot be explained at present; however, processes operating offshore are most likely involved. As a consequence, the annual predation pressure by juvenile flatfish upon the intertidal macrozoobenthos dropped by 94%, declining from an average of approximately 5 to 0.25 g ash free dry mass m -2 . Such a decline in top-down predation may not only have directly influenced the macrozoobenthic commu- nity, but may also have indirectly affected food availability and accessibility for other top predators (e.g. shorebirds).

Reduction of flatfish habitat as a consequence of the proliferation of an invasive mollusc

Coastal bays provide habitats for juveniles and adults of many marine species. Mont Saint-Michel Bay (MSMB, France) hosts a highly diversified fish community and constitutes one of the most important nursery grounds for many commercially exploited marine species, such as sea bass, flatfish, clupeids and rays in the English Channel. Besides, MSMB also suffers from the massive invasion of an exotic mollusc, the American slipper-limpet ( Crepidula fornicata, L.). This species arrived four decades ago and now represents the main filter-feeder biomass in the bay (150 Mt), an order of magnitude larger than local farmed and natural shellfishes. Recent analyses underlined the impact of this small gastropod on the trophic structure of this bay and its negative influence on juvenile sole densities in the nursery grounds. The present study uses a geostatistical approach to explore the effect of the extension of the slipper-limpet on flatfish (common sole Solea solea, L.; plaice Pleuronectes platessa, L.; brill Scophthalmus rhombus, L. and flounder Platichthys flesus, L.) spatial distribution. Data collected during survey of the MSMB at the end of the 1970s and three decades later have been used to build interpolated maps of (1) slipper-limpet and (2) flatfish spatial distributions. Slipper-limpets were concentrated in a small area, in the western part of the MSMB, in the 1970s while today they occupy half of the bay. This rapid proliferation led to the decrease of available surface for flatfishes, which previously occupied the whole bay and are now restricted to its eastern part. The present study highlighted that the negative influence on fish habitat in MSMB is apparently more related to changes in the substratum than to trophic interactions. This invasion has possible consequences on flatfish population renewal at a large scale and may also damage other benthic or demersal species, such as rays.

Annual and spatial variation in the abundance length and condition of juvenile turbot ( Psetta maxima L.) on nursery grounds on the west coast of Ireland: 2000–2007

Turbot ( Psetta maxima Linnaeus) is a high value commercially exploited marine flatfish which occurs in European waters, from the Northeast Atlantic to the Arctic Circle, the Baltic and Mediterranean Sea. In Ireland, turbot are the most valuable commercial non-quota species. Very little is known about their population dynamics in the wild, in particular during the sandy beach nursery phase of the life history. In 2000, a survey was established to assess flatfish species on nursery grounds on the west coast of Ireland. Eleven sandy beaches were assessed for 0+ turbot by beach seining, over an eight year period (2000–2007) during the months of August and September. The objective of the study was to estimate juvenile turbot abundance and size structure to determine if any spatial and annual trends existed. Large scale variability in the recruitment of fish to nursery grounds may be indicative of fluctuations in the adult stock. Turbot were found to recruit to five beaches consistently over the eight year period. Temporal and spatial variability in the relative abundance and length of turbot was discerned, with no apparent overall trend. However, certain nursery grounds were shown in most of the years examined to support higher abundances of turbot in comparison to other areas over the eight year period. Turbot abundances on nursery grounds were significantly correlated with mean spring sea temperatures during the pelagic stage. The condition of turbot did not significantly differ on an annual or spatial scale. Mean densities of 0+ turbot along the Irish coast were found to be similar and at times higher than other areas in Europe, ranging from 0.1 (± 0.3) individuals 1000 m − 2 to 18.5 (± 6.9) individuals 1000 m − 2 . Mean turbot total length on beaches ranged from 3.8 cm (± 0.6) to 6.6 cm (± 4.3). The observed spatial and temporal variability in abundance and length highlights the need for long-term studies when assessing juvenile flatfish populations. Results from the present study have provided much needed baseline data on wild juvenile turbot populations which is severely lacking for this species both on an Irish and on a European scale.

Effect of nursery habitat degradation on flatfish population: Application to Solea solea in the Eastern Channel (Western Europe)

Estuaries and coastal waters are essential nursery habitats for many marine species, and especially for flatfishes. Thus, investigating how anthropogenic disturbances affect the quality of these habitats is of major importance to understand their consequences on the population renewal of marine species. The aim of the present study was to analyse the effects of estuarine habitat degradation on the population of the common sole in the Eastern Channel, a key species in the fish community and fisheries in this area. We especially focused on the drastic drop in the surface area and on the low water quality of the Seine estuary, the main river of the Eastern Channel. A geographic Information System (GIS) was used to develop quantitative maps of sole nursery habitats in the Eastern Channel by using a habitat suitability model based on bathymetry and sediment structure. This approach indicated that juvenile densities are low in the Seine estuary with regards to other nursery sectors. Then, thanks to historical maps of the Seine estuary, habitat suitability maps were built for key dates in the modifications of this estuary since 1850. This backward predictive approach suggests that habitat loss in the Seine estuary has led to a 42% decrease of its nursery capacity. As the density of juvenile sole in the Seine estuary is low in comparison to other sectors, this represents only a 3% loss at the sole population scale, in the Eastern Channel. However, when we assumed that prior to anthropogenic disturbance the juvenile density in the Seine estuary might have been equivalent to the current density of adjacent sectors with higher quality, the loss in abundance could be nearly 23% (8–36%). Results suggest that the loss in habitat surface combined with habitat degradation has led to an important loss in the contribution of the Seine estuary nursery to the whole sole population in the Eastern Channel.

Habitat selection by flatfishes in the northern Gulf of Mexico: Implications for susceptibility to hypoxia

Although eutrophication in the northern Gulf of Mexico contributes to the high fisheries productivity characteristic of the region, nutrient over-enrichment leads to the seasonal formation of hypoxic (≤ 2 mg L − 1 O 2) bottom water along the Louisiana–Texas continental shelf. Despite an increase in the magnitude and duration of hypoxic episodes in recent decades, fisheries landings have remained stable; nevertheless, hypoxia remains a threat to the long-term sustainability of regional fisheries production. The greatest threat to mobile nekton is likely to be the influence of reduced dissolved oxygen concentrations on habitat quality that potentially forces individuals and/or prey from generally favorable habitats. We examined patterns of habitat use by several flatfishes, taxa likely to be especially sensitive to the effects of bottom hypoxia, to unravel the potential influence of hypoxia using data collected during SEAMAP groundfish surveys from 1987 to 2000. Habitat suitability analyses indicated that most flatfishes examined selected a restricted range of suitable depths, temperatures, and salinities. Hypoxic environments were generally avoided by most flatfishes, indicating that hypoxia is likely to render large areas of the Gulf of Mexico unsuitable. In comparisons of spatial habitat suitabilities between years of moderate (areal extent of hypoxia < 12,500 km 2) and severe hypoxia (areal extent of hypoxia > 15,500 km 2), most flatfishes reflected a reduction in the suitability of areas immediately west of the Mississippi River and a concomitant increase in suitability within adjacent areas, although this pattern was not universal. Altered spatial distributions generally corresponded to species-specific suitabilities along depth, temperature, and salinity gradients, indicating that habitat suitability analyses may effectively predict population-level responses to hypoxia. Effects attributable to severe hypoxia persisted into fall, indicating that hypoxic episodes likely result in lingering effects to flatfish populations.

Impact of warming on abundance and occurrence of flatfish populations in the Bay of Biscay (France)

The aim of the present study was to analyse the influence of warming on flatfish populations in the Bay of Biscay. 17 autumn cruises conducted from 1987 to 2006 over the whole shelf of the Bay of Biscay provided data for the abundance and occurrence of adults for twenty flatfish species. Trends in flatfish abundance were analysed with regard to geographic range of populations and interannual fluctuations in abundance were related to seawater temperature. Results showed significant trends in abundance and occurrence for 55% of the flatfish species in the Bay of Biscay. The response to warming of seawater was correlated to geographic ranges of species. While the abundance of the northern temperate species decreased, that of southern ones increased. Moreover, for 40% of the species which densities have significantly changed, abundances were correlated to temperatures in their year of birth, positively for southern species and negatively for northern ones. Last, the abundance of flatfish adults over the Bay of Biscay was compared to previous data on juveniles in the Bay of Vilaine, one of the estuarine nursery ground in this area. For the northern species which have disappeared, the decline in juvenile abundances preceded that of adults by several years, indicating that the recruitment is the process affected. We concluded on a major impact of warming to explain changes in flatfish species abundances. Nevertheless, the impact of fishing interacts with that of climate change because the exploited species appeared to be the most negatively affected.

Differentiation of commercially important flatfish populations along the Portuguese coast: Evidence from morphology and parasitology

The population differentiation of seven flatfish species, Citharus linguatula, Lepidorhombus boscii, Platichthys flesus, Microchirus azevia, Solea lascaris, Solea senegalensis and Solea solea, widely distributed along the eastern north Atlantic and occurring in sympatry along the Portuguese coast was studied using morphological and parasitological data. Fish were obtained from commercial fishing vessels operating in three locations along the Portuguese coast (north, centre and south) between January 2003 and June 2005. Eleven morphometric and seven meristic characters were considered in morphological analyses. Size effect was removed from morphometric measurements by principal component analysis and a multivariate discriminant analysis was performed to investigate the differences between populations using both morphometric and meristic data, separately. Individuals were examined for macroparasites infections according to standard procedures, and a multivariate discriminant analysis was also applied to investigate population differences. Analyses of both types of data (morphological and parasitological) revealed a similar pattern of a generally low differentiation evidenced by the high overlap of individuals in the ordination diagrams. However, some differentiation was found between samples from the west (north and centre) and the south Portuguese coast evidencing the existence of an ecological differentiation along the Portuguese coast. Broad scale population studies should, therefore, take into account the information provided by such data, especially with regard to fisheries’ management policies and stock definition.

Evaluation of relationships between reproductive metrics, gender and vitellogenin expression in demersal flatfish collected near the municipal wastewater outfall of Orange County, California, USA

Estrogenic activity in fish has primarily been evaluated using vitellogenin (vtg) expression in male and juvenile animals. Although the response has been widespread in field and laboratory studies, the relevance of the response to higher level adverse effects, particularly in the field, is less than clear. Previous evaluations of vtg within flatfish species collected near the Orange County Sanitation District (OCSD) outfall and stations as far as 7.7 km down current indicated bioavailable estrogens within demersal flatfish populations. In order to evaluate the persistence of estrogenic activity and relationships to reproduction and development, fish were sampled in the winter and summer of 2003 and 2004 at the outfall and a reference location. Vtg, plasma estradiol (E2) concentrations, gonadosomatic indices (GSI), sperm DNA damage, development, and gender ratios were measured in English Sole ( Pleuronectes vetulus) and Hornyhead Turbot ( Pleuronichthys verticalis). Variable levels of vtg were continually observed in the plasma samples of fish collected at both locations. Vtg expression and plasma E2 levels were significantly correlated in females. A positive relationship was demonstrated between plasma E2 levels and sperm DNA damage. Rather than an expected feminization of populations, a trend toward masculinization was observed particularly at the OCSD outfall, as indicated by gender ratios and significantly higher GSI in males versus females. These results are consistent with previous studies showing vtg expression in male flatfish, but no alteration in overall flatfish abundance at the sampled sites.