Cheilinus Undulatus 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.

The role of top-predator in the preservation of coral reefs ecosystem

The coral reef ecosystem in Indonesian as part of Coral Triangle Region has been significantly decreasing in the last decades. This damage has been known widely due to coastal development, pollution, and uncontrolled fishing and harvesting. Among other many living species in the environment, the existence of coral reefs is directly related to the existence of Drupella sp. and Acanthaster planci as the coral predators, while the existence of the predators also related to the Napoleon wrasse and Giant triton/ Trumpet shell as the top predator. This study discusses the interaction among the coral reefs, the predators and the top predators, which is represented in a dynamical model of predator-prey-top predator. In the absence of top predators, the system is reduced as a two-predator-prey model with only one surviving predator, Acanthaster planci , which has more effective predation behavior. The role of Napoleon wrasse as a top predator of both Acanthaster planci and Drupella sp . is significantly important to protect the coral reef from the excessive predation from Acanthaster planci and Drupella sp . A stable co-existence is shown between coral reef, Acanthaster planci and Napoleon wrasse. With the appearance of Giant tritons which predate only Acanthaster planci , a co-existence between five species may occur with abundant species of Giant triton.

Selectivity matters: Rules of thumb for management of plate‐sized, sex‐changing fish in the live reef food fish trade

AbstractEffective management of fisheries depends on the selectivity of different fishing methods, control of fishing effort and the life history and mating system of the target species. For sex‐changing species, it is unclear how the truncation of age‐structure or selection of specific size or age classes (by fishing for specific markets) affects population dynamics. We specifically address the consequences of plate‐sized selectivity, whereby submature, “plate‐sized” fish are preferred in the live reef food fish trade. We use an age‐structured model to investigate the decline and recovery of populations fished with three different selectivity scenarios (asymptotic, dome‐shaped and plate‐sized) applied to two sexual systems (female‐first hermaphroditism and gonochorism). We parameterized our model with life‐history data from Brown‐marbled grouper (Epinephelus fuscoguttatus) and Napoleon fish (Cheilinus undulatus). “Plate‐sized” selectivity had the greatest negative effect on population trajectories, assuming accumulated fishing effort across ages was equal, while the relative effect of fishing on biomass was greatest with low natural mortality. Fishing such sex‐changing species before maturation decreased egg production (and the spawning potential ratio) in two ways: average individual size decreased and, assuming plasticity, females became males at a smaller size. Somatic growth rate affected biomass if selectivity was based on size at age because in slow growers, a smaller proportion of total biomass was vulnerable to fishing. We recommend fisheries avoid taking individuals near their maturation age, regardless of mating system, unless catch is tightly controlled. We also discuss the implications of fishing post‐settlement individuals on population dynamics and offer practical management recommendations.

Identifying Conservation Strategies for Group-Spawning Coral Reef Fish in the Indo-Pacific, Using a Case Study of a Protogynous Giant Wrasse

Fish reproducing in group-spawning aggregations face intense fisheries during spawning events due to increased ease of capture. Other traits often associated with group spawning, such as late sexual maturation and sequential hermaphroditism, cause group-spawning species to be especially vulnerable to population declines, either because fishermen target large, reproductively mature specimens or because they target juveniles that would otherwise have reached sexual maturity and contributed to reproduction. In group-spawning species that are protogynous hermaphrodites, including species of grouper, snapper, and the giant wrasse (Cheilinus undulates) fishing large specimens skews sex ratios towards females, thereby interfering with reproduction through sperm limitation. Unprecedented sex ratio skew could cause aggregations to disappear from their historical sites, with potential evolutionary implications. In this paper, I review the unique threats afflicting group-spawning species, as well as possible resolutions to these threats. I use the highly endangered humphead wrasse as a case study in the deleterious effects of overfishing on population dynamics, in the effectiveness of trade regulations and conservation strategies already in place, and in potential solutions not yet applied. Using the conclusions of this analysis, I extrapolate trends likely to continue in the Indo-Pacific region, where aggregation spawning is unfamiliar to fisheries scientists but familiar to local fishermen, and where aggregation-forming species are apt to benefit most from the implementation of effective conservation strategies.

Control Region-Mitochondrial Partial DNA analysis of Humphead Wrasse [Cheilinus Undulates (Ruppel, 1835)] from Anambas Islands, Indonesia

Humphead wrasse [Cheilinus undulates (Ruppel, 1835)] known as one of the threatened species and had been being classified as Appendix II-type species. Nevertheless, Indonesia has a unique issue for its species, especially in Anambas Islands. Anambas island's fishermen have been successfully developed ranching-like mechanism of humphead wrasse's culture for last five decades, approximately. Against the major opinions, either juvenile or up to ten kilograms humphead wrasse could be found in Anambas fishermen's cages, abundantly. This investigation reported partial control region-mtDNA sequence analysis provided from caudal fin of Anambas humphead wrasse. Sequence comparisons were conducted by using reference reported sequence provided by NCBI genbank. mtDNA analysis resulted among all examined samples collected from Anambas islands shows no significant genetic variation. This concludes that collected Anambas humphead wrasse samples were indicated as one genetic population. Though, dissimilarities of nucleotides and amino acid sites among Anambas humphead wrasse and reference samples were observed significantly different, genetically. This phenomenon indicated that Anambas humphead wrasse possibly belonging specified genetic characteristic compared to humphead wrasse from reference sequence.

Patterns of Coral-Reef Finfish Species Disappearances Inferred from Fishers' Knowledge in Global Epicentre of Marine Shorefish Diversity.

In the Philippines, very high fishing pressure coincides with the globally greatest number of shorefish species, yet no long-term fisheries data are available to explore species-level changes that may have occurred widely in the most species rich and vulnerable marine ecosystem, namely coral reefs. Through 2655 face-to-face interviews conducted between August 2012 and July 2014, we used fishers’ recall of past catch rates of reef-associated finfish to infer species disappearances from catches in five marine key biodiversity areas (Lanuza Bay, Danajon Bank, Verde Island Passage, Polillo Islands and Honda Bay). We modeled temporal trends in perceived catch per unit effort (CPUE) based on fishers’ reports of typical good days’ catches using Generalized Linear Mixed Modelling. Fifty-nine different finfish disappeared from catches between the 1950s and 2014; 42 fish were identified to species level, two to genus, seven to family and eight to local name only. Five species occurring at all sites with the greatest number of fishers reporting zero catches were the green bumphead parrotfish (Bolbometopon muricatum), humphead wrasse (Cheilinus undulatus), African pompano (Alectis ciliaris), giant grouper (Epinephelus lanceolatus) and mangrove red snapper (Lutjanus argentimaculatus). Between the 1950s and 2014, the mean perceived CPUE of bumphead parrotfish declined by 88%, that of humphead wrasse by 82%, African pompano by 66%, giant grouper by 74% and mangrove red snapper by 64%. These declines were mainly associated with excess and uncontrolled fishing, fish life-history traits like maximum body size and socio-economic factors like access to market infrastructure and services, and overpopulation. The fishers’ knowledge is indicative of extirpations where evidence for these losses was otherwise lacking. Our models provide information as basis for area-based conservation and regional resource management particularly for the more vulnerable, once common, large, yet wide-ranging reef finfish species.

Mesophotic depths as refuge areas for fishery-targeted species on coral reefs

Coral reefs are subjected to unprecedented levels of disturbance with population growth and climate change combining to reduce standing coral cover and stocks of reef fishes. Most of the damage is concentrated in shallow waters (<30 m deep) where humans can comfortably operate and where physical disturbances are most disruptive to marine organisms. Yet coral reefs can extend to depths exceeding 100 m, potentially offering refuge from the threats facing shallower reefs. We deployed baited remote underwater stereo-video systems (stereo-BRUVs) at depths of 10–90 m around the southern Mariana Islands to investigate whether fish species targeted by fishing in the shallows may be accruing benefits from being at depth. We show that biomass, abundance and species richness of fishery-targeted species increased from shallow reef areas to a depth of 60 m, whereas at greater depths, a lack of live coral habitat corresponded to lower numbers of fish. The majority of targeted species were found to have distributions that ranged from shallow depths (10 m) to depths of at least 70 m, emphasising that habitat, not depth, is the limiting factor in their vertical distribution. While the gradient of abundance and biomass versus depth was steepest for predatory species, the first species usually targeted by fishing, we also found that fishery-targeted herbivores prevailed in similar biomass and species richness to 60 m. Compared to shallow marine protected areas, there was clearly greater biomass of fishery-targeted species accrued in mesophotic depths. Particularly some species typically harvested by depth-limited fishing methods (e.g., spearfishing), such as the endangered humphead wrasse Cheilinus undulatus, were found in greater abundance on deeper reefs. We conclude that mesophotic depths provide essential fish habitat and refuge for fishery-targeted species, representing crucial zones for fishery management and research into the resilience of disturbed coral reef ecosystems.

Umbrella species in marine systems: using the endangered humphead wrasse to conserve coral reefs

ESR Endangered Species Research Contact the journal Facebook Twitter RSS Mailing List Subscribe to our mailing list via Mailchimp HomeLatest VolumeAbout the JournalEditorsSpecials ESR 27:251-263 (2015) - DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/esr00663 Umbrella species in marine systems: using the endangered humphead wrasse to conserve coral reefs Kevin C. Weng1,*, Martin W. Pedersen2, Gen A. Del Raye3, Jennifer E. Caselle4, Andrew E. Gray3 1Virginia Institute of Marine Science, College of William & Mary, Gloucester Point, Virginia 23062-1346, USA 2National Institute of Aquatic Resources, Technical University of Denmark, 2920 Charlottenlund, Denmark 3Pelagic Fisheries Research Program, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, Hawaii 96822, USA 4Marine Science Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, California 93106, USA *Corresponding author: kevinweng@vims.edu ABSTRACT: Extinction risk is closely tied to body size, home range, and species distribution. Quantifying home range is critical for conservation, and can enable the use of concepts such as ‘umbrella species’, whose conservation protects other species due to shared habitat. To determine the value of the humphead wrasse as an umbrella species for coral reef conservation, we conducted a multi-year study of humphead wrasse home range at Palmyra Atoll, Central Tropical Pacific, tagging juvenile, female, and male individuals with acoustic transmitters. We quantified home range using 2 metrics, length and area, and determined if these metrics were related to the sex and maturity status of the individual. We recorded individual movements during 5030 fish-days, yielding detailed records for 14 individuals comprising 3 juveniles, 5 females, and 6 males. The home range of humphead wrasse measured over a 2 yr study was 0.4 to 14 km and changed with ontogeny. Females had larger home ranges than other reef fishes studied to date (n = 68), indicating value as an umbrella species for coral reefs. We compared the home range of the species to the size distribution of tropical marine protected areas (MPAs), and used a model to estimate the MPA length necessary to retain humphead wrasse. Most MPAs are too small to effectively protect the humphead wrasse. KEY WORDS: Focal species · Umbrella species · Coral reef · Humphead wrasse · Cheilinus undulatus · Home range · Protected area · Marine reserve Full text in pdf format Supplementary material PreviousNextCite this article as: Weng KC, Pedersen MW, Del Raye GA, Caselle JE, Gray AE (2015) Umbrella species in marine systems: using the endangered humphead wrasse to conserve coral reefs. Endang Species Res 27:251-263. https://doi.org/10.3354/esr00663 Export citation RSS - Facebook - Tweet - linkedIn Cited by Published in ESR Vol. 27, No. 1. Online publication date: April 29, 2015 Print ISSN: 1863-5407; Online ISSN: 1613-4796 Copyright © 2015 Inter-Research.

Emergence and epidemiology of ciguatera in the coastal cities of southern China.

In the present review of 23 published case studies, the main objective is to report the emergence and epidemiology of ciguatera in the coastal cities of southern China. There was a sudden surge in ciguatera outbreaks in 2004. Ciguatera mostly occurred in the Guangdong Province. In Shenzhen, the incidence of ciguatera in 2004 was estimated to be over 7.5 per million people. In Foshan and Zhongshan, three large outbreaks each affecting over 100–200 subjects (caused by tiger grouper served at banquets) accounted for the much higher incidence of ciguatera in 2004 (>48.7 and >129.9 per million people). Humphead wrasse and areolated coral grouper were the other important ciguatoxic fish. In some subjects, risk factors for increased likelihood of (severe) ciguatera were present, namely concomitant alcohol consumption and ingestion of large reef fishes and CTX-rich fish parts. To prevent large outbreaks and severe illness, large apex predators from coral reefs should never be served at banquets and the public should realize the increased risk of severe symptoms due to ingestion of CTX-rich fish parts with alcohol. The systematic collection of accurate details, implementation of risk assessment process and continuing education for the public on prevention are of obvious importance.

Towards an ecosystem approach to small island fisheries: A preliminary study of a balanced fishery in Kotania Bay (Seram Island, Indonesia)

The Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries (EAF) is a holistic one as EAF considers all species as important elements within the eco-system. An EAF requires that community and ecosystem structure should be maintained by harvesting fish communities in proportion to their natural productivity, thereby sustaining the balance of species and sizes in a community. This article draws from research on the reef fish community and catch in Kotania Bay on Seram Island in Maluku, Indonesia, an area of approximately 6000ha. Based on the trophic guild (ie the aggregation of species utilizing similar food resources) on the reef, the biomass of predator fish currently being captured now represents 40.4% of the total catch biomass. Members of the grouper family, the humphead wrasse (Cheilinus undulatus) and trevally (Caranx melampygus) in particular, have become targeted for sale in fish markets. If these predators are selectively targeted and exploited, the overall reef fishery and the human populations that depend on it may become imperilled, given these species’ significant roles in controlling those lower in the food chain. This study thereby emphasizes the need for balanced fisheries informed by the EAF model in small island fisheries management in order to sustain food security in such regions.

Refined bomb radiocarbon dating of two iconic fishes of the Great Barrier Reef

Refinements to the methodology of bomb radiocarbon dating made it possible to validate age estimates of the humphead wrasse (Cheilinus undulatus) and bumphead parrotfish (Bolbometopon muricatum). Age for these species has been estimated from presumed annual growth zones in otoliths at ~30 and ~40 years respectively. The validity of these estimates was tested using bomb radiocarbon dating on the small and fragile otoliths of these species, and provided an opportunity to refine the method using advanced technologies. A regional Δ14C reference record from hermatypic coral cores from the Great Barrier Reef was assembled and Δ14C measurements from extracted otolith cores of adult otoliths were successful. Validated ages supported the accuracy of growth zone derived ages using sectioned sagittal otoliths.

The complete mitochondrial genome of Cheilinus undulates based on high-throughput sequencing technique

Cheilinus undulatus is a Critically Endangered ocean fish, which is also a higher level predator in coral reef. The complete mitochondrial genome of Cheilinus undulatus has been sequenced by high-throughput sequencing technology. According to the results, the mitochondrial genome of Cheilinus undulatus is 17,184 bp long and consists of 38 protein-coding genes, 2 rRNA genes, 22 tRNA genes and a control region. The nucleotides compositions of the light strand are 27.62% of A, 24.82% of T, 16.66% of G and 30.90% of C. With the exception of ND6 and 8 tRNA genes, all other mitochondrial genes are encoded on the heavy strand. C. undulates mitochondrial genome contains a 568 bp sequences that is a non-coding DNA domain. No homology sequence had been found through BLAST in GenBank. The sequences are probably characteristic species marker of C. undulates.

Fishing down the largest coral reef fish species

Studies on remote, uninhabited, near-pristine reefs have revealed surprisingly large populations of large reef fish. Locations such as the northwestern Hawaiian Islands, northern Marianas Islands, Line Islands, U.S. remote Pacific Islands, Cocos-Keeling Atoll and Chagos archipelago have much higher reef fish biomass than islands and reefs near people. Much of the high biomass of most remote reef fish communities lies in the largest species, such as sharks, bumphead parrots, giant trevally, and humphead wrasse. Some, such as sharks and giant trevally, are apex predators, but others such as bumphead parrots and humphead wrasse, are not. At many locations, decreases in large reef fish species have been attributed to fishing. Fishing is well known to remove the largest fish first, and a quantitative measure of vulnerability to fishing indicates that large reef fish species are much more vulnerable to fishing than small fish. The removal of large reef fish by fishing parallels the extinction of terrestrial megafauna by early humans. However large reef fish have great value for various ecological roles and for reef tourism.

Euryhaline rotifer Proales similis as initial live food for rearing fish with small mouth

Abstract The SS-type rotifer Brachionus rotundiformis is a common initial food for rearing fish larvae with a small mouth. However, there are commercially important fish species whose mouth sizes are too small to feed on SS-type rotifers. In 2004, we isolated a small (body length = 82.7 ± 10.9 μm; body width 40.5 ± 6.4 μm), flexible, and iloricate rotifer, Proales similis from an estuary in Okinawa, Japan. Under laboratory conditions (25 °C, 2–25 ppt) P. similis produced its first offspring on 2.5 to 2.8 days after hatching, and produced 4.3 to 7.8 offspring within 4.0 to 4.7 days life span. Batch cultured P. similis fed Nannochloropsis oculata suspension at 28.8 μg dry weight ml− 1 and cultured at 25 °C, 25 ppt filtered seawater, increased exponentially from 25 to 2400 ind ml− 1 after 11 days of culture with an overall intrinsic rate of natural increase (r) of 0.42 day− 1. The growth rate of P. similis was not significantly different when fed fresh N. oculata and super fresh Chlorella vulgaris-V12®. Total lipid per wet weight of P. similis fed by N. oculata and C. vulgaris were 2.4 and 2.6%, respectively. The compositions of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and arachidonic acid (ARA) of P. similis fed N. oculata were 23.2, 0.0 and 5.3%, respectively, while these were 11.0, 17.5 and 0.5% respectively, when fed C. vulgaris. The use of P. similis to feed small mouth fish including seven-band grouper Epinephelus septemfasciatus, rusty angelfish Centropyge ferrugata, and humphead wrasse Cheilinus undulatus showed that it is an excellent starter food for these species because of their high selectivity index and improved survival. In addition, P. similis was ingested by Japanese eel Anguilla japonica larvae with a complicated digestive system. The use of P. similis as starter feed for small mouth fish larvae is highly recommended.

Depth Refuge and the Impacts of SCUBA Spearfishing on Coral Reef Fishes

In recent decades, spearfishing with SCUBA has emerged as an efficient method for targeting reef fish in deeper waters. However, deeper waters are increasingly recognised as a potential source of refuge that may help sustain fishery resources. We used a combination of historical catch data over a 20-year time period and fishery-independent surveys to investigate the effects of SCUBA spearfishing on coral reef fish populations in the southern Mariana Islands. Two jurisdictions were studied; Guam, where SCUBA spearfishing is practiced, and the nearby Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), where SCUBA spearfishing has been banned since 2003. Fishery-independent data were collected using baited remote underwater stereo-video systems (stereo-BRUVs) stratified by depth, marine protected area status and jurisdiction. Herbivores (primary consumers) dominated spearfishing catches, with parrotfish (scarines) and surgeonfish/unicornfish (acanthurids) the main groups harvested. However, the large, endangered humphead wrasse (Cheilinus undulatus) was the main species by weight landed by SCUBA spearfishers. SCUBA spearfishing was associated with declining size of scarines over time and catches shifting from a dominance of large parrotfishes to a mixed assemblage with increasing proportions of acanthurids. Comparisons between Guam and the nearby CNMI revealed differences in the assemblage of fished species and also greater size of scarines and acanthurids in deep water where SCUBA fishing is banned. These results suggest that SCUBA spearfishing impacts reef fish populations and that the restriction of this fishing method will ensure refuge for fish populations in deeper waters. We recommend a ban on SCUBA spearfishing to preserve or aid the recovery of large, functionally important coral reef species and to improve the sustainability of coral reef fisheries.

Coexistence of Low Coral Cover and High Fish Biomass at Farquhar Atoll, Seychelles

We report a reef ecosystem where corals may have lost their role as major reef engineering species but fish biomass and assemblage structure is comparable to unfished reefs elsewhere around the world. This scenario is based on an extensive assessment of the coral reefs of Farquhar Atoll, the most southern of the Seychelles Islands. Coral cover and overall benthic community condition at Farquhar was poor, likely due to a combination of limited habitat, localized upwelling, past coral bleaching, and cyclones. Farquhar Atoll harbors a relatively intact reef fish assemblage with very large biomass (3.2 t ha−1) reflecting natural ecological processes that are not influenced by fishing or other local anthropogenic factors. The most striking feature of the reef fish assemblage is the dominance by large groupers, snappers, and jacks with large (>1 m) potato cod (Epinephelus tukula) and marbled grouper (E. polyphekadion), commonly observed at many locations. Napoleon wrasse (Cheilinus undulatus) and bumphead parrotfish (Bolbometopon muricatum) are listed as endangered and vulnerable, respectively, but were frequently encountered at Farquhar. The high abundance and large sizes of parrotfishes at Farquhar also appears to regulate macroalgal abundance and enhance the dominance of crustose corallines, which are a necessary condition for maintenance of healthy reef communities. Overall fish biomass and biomass of large predators at Farquhar are substantially higher than other areas within the Seychelles, and are some of the highest recorded in the Indian Ocean. Remote islands like Farquhar Atoll with low human populations and limited fishing pressure offer ideal opportunities for understanding whether reefs can be resilient from global threats if local threats are minimized.

Estimating individual animal movement from observation networks

Summary Observation network data comprise animal presences detected by observer stations at fixed spatial locations. Statistical analysis of these data is complicated by spatial bias in sampling and temporal variability in detection conditions. Advanced methods for analysis of these data are required but are currently underdeveloped. We propose a state‐space model (SSM) for observation network data to estimate detailed movements of individual animals. The underlying movement model is an Ornstein–Uhlenbeck (OU) process, which is stationary, and therefore has an inherent mechanism that models home range behaviour. An integral part of the approach is the detection function, which models the probability of logging animal presences. The detection function is also used to provide absence information when animals are undetected. Since the ability to detect an animal often depends on time‐varying external factors such as environmental conditions, we use covariate information about detection efficiency as control variables. Via simulation, we found that movement estimation error scales log‐linearly with network sparsity. This result can be used to indicate the number of stations necessary to achieve a desired upper bound on estimation error. Furthermore, we found that the SSM outperforms existing techniques in terms of estimating detailed movements and that estimates are robust towards mis‐specification of the detection function. We also tested the importance of accounting for time‐varying detection conditions and found that the probability of making wrong conclusions decreases substantially when covariate information is exploited. The model is used to estimate movements and home range of a humphead wrasse (Cheilinus undulatus) at Palmyra Atoll in the central Pacific Ocean. Here, detection conditions have a strong diel component, which is controlled for using detection efficiency information from a reference device. The presented approach enhances the toolbox for analysis of observation network data as collected by acoustic telemetry or potentially other aspiring methods such as camera trapping and mobile phone tagging. By explicitly modelling movement and observation processes, the model integrates all sources of uncertainty and provides a sound statistical basis for making well‐informed management decisions from imperfect information.

The role of CITES in the conservation of marine fishes subject to international trade

AbstractAll possible tools need to be marshalled for marine fish conservation. Yet controversy has swirled around what role, if any, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) should play for marine fishes. This paper analyses the relevance and applicability of CITES as a complementary tool for fisheries management. CITES currently regulates the international trade of very few marine fish species, by listing them in its Appendices. After the first meeting of the Parties (member countries) in 1976, no new marine fish taxa were added to the CITES Appendices until 2002, when Parties agreed to act to ensure sustainable and legal international trade in seahorses (Hippocampus spp.) and two species of sharks. Progress has continued haltingly, adding only one more shark, humphead wrasse (Cheilinus undulatus) and sawfishes by 2012. Parties voice concerns that may include inadequate data, applicability of CITES listing criteria, roles of national fisheries agencies, enforcement challenges, CITES' lack of experience with marine fishes, and/or identification and by‐catch problems. A common query is the relationship between CITES and other international agreements. Yet all these arguments can be countered, revealing CITES to be a relevant and appropriate instrument for promoting sound marine fisheries management. In reality, Parties that cannot implement CITES effectively for marine fishes will also need help to manage their fisheries sustainably. CITES action complements and supports other international fisheries management measures. As CITES engages with more marine fish listings, there will be greater scope to analyse its effectiveness in supporting different taxa in different contexts.

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: an assessment of coral reef fishes in the US Pacific Islands

Widespread declines among many coral reef fisheries have led scientists and managers to become increasingly concerned over the extinction risk facing some species. To aid in assessing the extinction risks facing coral reef fishes, large-scale censuses of the abundance and distribution of individual species are critically important. We use fisheries-independent data collected as part of the NOAA Pacific Reef Assessment and Monitoring Program from 2000 to 2009 to describe the range and density across the US Pacific of coral reef fishes included on The International Union for the Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) 2011 Red List of Threatened Species. Forty-five species, including sharks, rays, groupers, humphead wrasse (Cheilinus undulatus), and bumphead parrotfish (Bolbometopon muricatum), included on the IUCN List, were recorded in the US Pacific Islands. Most species were generally rare in the US Pacific with the exception of a few species, principally small groupers and reef sharks. The greatest diversity and densities of IUCN-listed fishes were recorded at remote and uninhabited islands of the Pacific Remote Island Areas; in general, lower densities were observed at reefs of inhabited islands. Our findings complement IUCN assessment efforts, emphasize the efficacy of large-scale assessment and monitoring efforts in providing quantitative data on reef fish assemblages, and highlight the importance of protecting populations at remote and uninhabited islands where some species included on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species can be observed in abundance.

Development and characterization of microsatellite loci in a threatened marine fish, Cheilinus undulatus (humphead wrasse)

Cheilinus undulatus (humphead wrasse) is a marine fish distributed widely throughout the tropical Indo-Pacific. It has been listed as vulnerable in the IUCN Red Data Book and in CITES Appendix II four times. Fifteen microsatellite loci were isolated and characterized for this species. The number of alleles ranged from 3 to 15 per locus, and the observed and expected heterozygosity ranged between 0.0323-0.7742 and 0.2597-0.8773, respectively. The polymorphism information content ranged from 0.2353-0.8520. Four microsatellite loci deviated significantly from Hardy-Weinberg expectations. No significant linkage disequilibrium was found among any of the loci. These microsatellite loci will be useful for future investigations of genetic variation in the wrasse population.