Painted Comber Serranus Scriba Research Articles

Age, Growth, and Maturity of Painted Comber Serranus scriba (Serranidae) from the Crimea Region, the Black Sea

Age, Growth, and Maturity of Painted Comber Serranus scriba (Serranidae) from the Crimea Region, the Black Sea

Age, Growth, and Maturity of Painted Comber Serranus scriba (Serranidae) from the Crimea Region, the Black Sea

The painted comber Serranus scriba, a subtropical marine fish species assigned to the famiy Serranidae in the Black Sea is insufficiently studied. It is a simultaneous hermaphrodite fish. Data on age, growth, and maturity of the painted comber inhabiting the Black sea area around Crimea, including its spatial variation within the entire habitat range are reported. Overall, 537 specimens caught from July to October 2022 are analyzed. The biggest specimen ever caught in the Black Sea with 26.1 cm total length and 265.1 g weight at the age of 15 years was registered. The values for the von Bertalnffy equation parameters were estimated. Thus, asymptotic length, asymptotic weight, and growth constant made up 28.3 cm, 358.6 g, and 0.17 year−1, respectively. The exponent of 3.10 in the length-weight relationship equation (positive allometry) was estimated. Maturity was defined in 50% spesimens at 12.0 ± 0.2 cm total length in the third year of life. It was ascertained that spatial variation in the life history traits for the specimens is weakly expressed. The painted comber inhabiting the Black Sea is slightly different from the representatives of this species found in the Aegean and Adriatic Seas in age, size, and growth. In addition, the biggest and faster-growing specimens are recorded more often under the low-latitude climate conditions, in the water areas off Egypt and the Canary Islands.

MPA network design based on graph theory and emergent properties of larval dispersal

Despite the recognised effectiveness of networks of marine protected areas (MPAs) as a biodiversity conservation instrument, MPA network design frequently disregards the importance of connectivity patterns. In the case of sedentary marine populations, connectivity stems not only from the stochastic nature of the physical environment that affects dispersal of early life stages, but also from the spawning stock attributes that affect reproductive output (e.g. passive eggs and larvae) and survivorship. Early life stages are virtually impossible to track in the ocean. Therefore, numerical ocean current simulations coupled with egg and larval Lagrangian transport models remain the most common approach for the assessment of marine larval connectivity. Inferred larval connectivity may differ depending on the type of connectivity considered; consequently, the prioritisation of sites for the conservation of marine populations might also differ. Here, we introduce a framework for evaluating and designing MPA networks based on the identification of connectivity hotspots using graph theoretic analysis. As a case study, we used a network of open-access areas and MPAs off Mallorca Island (Spain), and tested its effectiveness for the protection of the painted comber Serranus scriba. Outputs from network analysis were used to (1) identify critical areas for improving overall larval connectivity, (2) assess the impact of species’ biological parameters in network connectivity and (3) explore alternative MPA configurations to improve average network connectivity. Results demonstrate the potential of graph theory to identify non-trivial egg/larval dispersal patterns and emerging collective properties of the MPA network, which are relevant for increasing protection efficiency.

Tub gurnard Chelidonichthys lucernus (Linnaeus, 1758) and painted comber Serranus scriba (Linnaeus, 1758) in the area of Tendra island and Kinburn peninsula

Tub gurnard Chelidonichthys lucernus (Linnaeus, 1758) and painted comber Serranus scriba (Linnaeus, 1758) in the area of Tendra island and Kinburn peninsula

Otolith biometry of Serranus scriba (Linnaeus, 1758) from the Southern Aegean Sea

Otoliths are widely used in stomach content analysis in fisheries biology, other than age determination or ichthyo-archeological studies, because they have species specific morphological features. It is possible determine size and species of the prey fishes in the digestive system of the piscivorous aquatic predators. In this study, the relationships were calculated between sagittal otolith measurements (otolith length (OL), height (OH) and weight (OW)) and fish size (length (TL), weight (W)) in painted comber Serranus scriba (Linnaeus, 1758) specimens (N=763, 68–241 mm in TL and 3.66–228.72 g). Fish specimens captured via bottom trawl vessels from off the Güllük Bay (Southern Aegean Sea) between January and December 2013. Regression equations were calculated as follows: TL= 20.11*OL+40.28, TL= 44.07*OH+50.24, TL= 969.1*OW0.410, W= 1.212*OL2.194, W= 11.16*OH1.850, W= 5913*OW–12.22, OH= 0.218*OL+1.213, OW= 0.00045*OL1.843, OW= 0.002*OH1.672. Calculated regressions were displayed a high coefficient of determinations ranging between 0.822 - 0.892. Otolith length (R2= 0.890) is the best indicator of the prediction of the fish length by examining the regression coefficients for S. scriba.

Linking home ranges to protected area size: The case study of the Mediterranean Sea

Protected areas not allowing extractive activities (here called fully protected area) are a spatially explicit conservation management tool commonly used to ensure populations persistence. This is achieved when an adequate fraction of a species' population spends most of its time within the boundaries of the protected area. Within a marine context, home ranges represent a tractable metric to provide guidance and evaluation of fully protected areas. We compiled peer-reviewed literature specific to the home ranges of finfishes and invertebrates of ecological and/or commercial importance in the Mediterranean Sea, and related this to the size of 184 Mediterranean fully protected areas. We also investigated the influence of fully protected areas size on fish density in contrast to fished areas with respect to home ranges. Home range estimations were available for 11 species (10 fishes and 1 lobster). The European spiny lobster Palinurus elephas had the smallest home range (0.0039 ± 0.0014 km2; mean ± 1 SE), while the painted comber Serranus scriba (1.1075 ± 0.2040 km2) had the largest. Approximately 25% of Mediterranean fully protected areas are larger than 2 times the size of the largest home range recorded. Fish densities were significantly higher when fully protected areas were larger than the home range, while no change in density occurred when home ranges were larger than fully protected areas. These results display a direct link between the effectiveness of fully protected areas and species' home range, suggesting that fully protected areas of at least 3.6 km2 may increase the density of local populations of these coastal marine species.

Myxosporea (Cnidaria : Myxozoa) infecting the saddled seabream Oblada melanura (L. 1758) (Teleostei : Sparidae) and the painted comber Serranus scriba(L. 1758) (Teleostei : Serranidae) in Tunisia.

First parasitological surveys of Myxozoa are performed on the sparid saddled seabream Oblada melanura (Linnaeus, 1758) and the serranid painted comber Serranus scriba (Linnaeus, 1758) caught from the Bay of Bizerte and the Gulf of Tunis respectively in Northeast Tunisia, Western Mediterranean. In this study, 6 bivalvulid myxosporean species belonging to the 3 genera Ceratomyxa Thélohan, 1892, Myxodavisia Zhao, Zhou, Kent & Whipps, 2008 and Zschokkella Auerbach, 1910, are isolated infecting their hosts. Two species Ceratomyxa sp. 1 ex O. melanura (Prevalence (P) = 36%) and Ceratomyxa sp. 2 ex O. melanura (P = 13%) infected the saddled seabream and four species Ceratomyxa sp. 1 ex S. scriba (P = 11.7%), Ceratomyxa sp. 2 ex S. scriba (P = 6.7%), Myxodavisia sp. (P = 8.3%) and Zschokkella sp. (P = 5.6%) infected the painted comber. These myxosporeans differ, in vegetative stages and/or in mature spores, from all the previously known congeneric species, and are described here on the basis of their morphological and morphometric features, their host and tissue specificities and their biogeographical distribution. This is the first report of myxosporean infections in O. melanura and S. scriba. The occurrence of two ceratomyxid species in each host species supports that the genus Ceratomyxa is host-specific not only in sparids but also in serranids, which agrees with data previously obtained from Sparidae in Mediterranean Sea and from Serranidae in GBR, Australia. A member of the myxosporean genus Myxodavisia is recorded from the Mediterranean Sea for the first time, and Zschokkella spp. infections have not previously been recorded from a host in Serranidae. During the examination, a several cases of Co-infection among myxosporeans, both with two and three species, are provided and statistically studied. Indeed, 5% of the breams and 9.4% of the combers are infected with more than one myxosporean parasite. The relationship between myxosporean infections and some biological parameters are pointed out. A higher prevalence of myxosporean infection is coincided with the peak period of spawning activity in May-June for S. scriba. For both hosts, analysis using Fulton's condition factor (K) has revealed no significant difference between infected and non-infected fishes. Clinically, no external signs of disease have been occurred in infected hosts, but some changes in the bile fluid, colour, and viscosity and in the gall bladder 's tissue are examined in S. scriba.

Reproductive output traits of the simultaneous hermaphrodite <I>Serranus scriba</I> in the western Mediterranean

We studied multiple individual parameters that affect the reproductive output in the painted comber Serranus scriba , a simultaneous hermaphroditic fish that is widely exploited by recreational fishing in temperate marine coastal regions. Batch fecundity was significantly affected by maternal size, but was not related to maternal age or condition. However, egg quality as estimated by egg dry weight was significantly influenced by the interaction effect of maternal size and age. An empirical assessment demonstrated the existence of a diel spawning pattern based on a daily release of a partial fraction of eggs related to sunset time. Buoyancy varied during the incubation period, but it consistently resulted in positive buoyancy that situated the eggs near the top of the water column. This study represents the first estimation of reproductive output of the simultaneous hermaphrodites S. scriba and also provides a comprehensive study about the potential maternal factors that affect egg production. These results are a crucial step towards ongoing efforts to improve the stock assessment of this species.

The Use of Histological Techniques to Study the Reproductive Biology of the Hermaphroditic Mediterranean Fishes Coris julis, Serranus scriba, and Diplodus annularis

AbstractThe usefulness and importance of histological techniques in reproductive studies have been widely discussed for gonochoristic fish species. In the case of hermaphroditic fishes, histology is a particularly important tool for the proper identification of sexual pattern (i.e., sequential, simultaneous, or nonfunctional hermaphroditism). We used a histological approach to describe hermaphroditism, dynamics of follicle development, and spawning patterns in three species from the northwestern Mediterranean Sea (Balearic Islands, Spain): the Mediterranean rainbow wrasse Coris julis (sequential hermaphrodite), painted comber Serranus scriba (simultaneous hermaphrodite), and annular sea bream Diplodus annularis (nonfunctional hermaphrodite). Development of secondary growth follicles was asynchronous in all three species, and similar peaks in spawning activity occurred between May and July. However, notable differences in sexual cycle and egg production were found. For the painted comber, hydrated follicles were present in ovarian tissue almost every day during the peak of the spawning season, suggesting daily spawning and increasing the chances of autofertilization unless a mechanism to avoid this action is present in this species. Intersexual Mediterranean rainbow wrasses were identified, and the size and age at sex change were estimated to be 132 mm total length and 4 years, respectively. Previous investigators have concluded that the annular sea bream is a protandric hermaphrodite, but our results indicate nonfunctional hermaphroditism. These three species are of little commercial interest and are considered to be bycatch by the artisanal fleet, but they are vulnerable to the impacts of some recreational angling activities. Currently, no specific management plan has been developed for these species. We address the importance of describing sexual pattern and its implications for future conservation efforts.

Short-term residence, home range size and diel patterns of the painted comber Serranus scriba in a temperate marine reserve

We examined the short-term movements of a small temperate fish, the painted comber Serranus scriba (Linnaeus 1758), within the marine protected area (MPA) of Palma Bay (NW Mediter- ranean) using passive acoustic telemetry. Fifteen adults were surgically implanted with acoustic transmitters and monitored between July 2007 and February 2008 for periods of up to 36 d. Inter- individual variability was detected for both spatial and temporal patterns. There were 2 principal movement behaviours that were recorded, with some individuals showing high site fidelity and others showing a more mobile behaviour, moving out from the monitoring area. Observation-area curves indicated that a period between 3 and 5 d was required to determine home ranges of the sedentary fish. Home range sizes were small, with a minimum shift of core areas occurring on a daily basis. Total minimum convex polygon (MCP) areas ranged between 0.102 and 0.671 km 2 , whereas 95% kernel utilization distributions (KUD) ranged between 0.760 and 1.333 km 2 . Core areas (50% KUD) ranged between 0.175 and 0.294 km 2 . There were no significant differences in home range pat- terns between day and night periods. However, the use of the continuous wavelet transform (CWT) revealed diel rhythms on the detection pattern that could be related to a resting behaviour at night. Estimation of home ranges of S. scriba agrees with the sedentary habits of the Serranidae family and suggests the potential use of MPAs for the sustainable development of the fishery of this small Serranid.

Populations of inshore serranids across the Canarian Archipelago: Relationships with human pressure and implications for conservation

We investigated spatio-temporal variability in the abundances and biomasses of four species of inshore serranids (the dusky grouper Ephinephelus marginatus, the island grouper Mycteroperca fusca, the painted comber Serranus scriba, and the blacktail comber S. atricauda) throughout the Canarian Archipelago (central-east Atlantic Ocean) with underwater visual transects. By means of a multiscaled sampling design spanning three orders of magnitude of spatial variability (from 10 s of meters among replicated 100 m 2 transects to 100 s of kilometres among islands) and four sampling periods, we related differences in the distributions of serranids to differences in the degree of human pressure, such as fishing intensity and human population. Differences in human pressure among islands provide the most parsimonious explanation for many of the consistent inter-island differences in the abundance and biomass of the analyzed species. Larger-bodied serranids ( E. marginatus and M. fusca) are more vulnerable than the smaller species ( S. scriba and S. atricauda). In fact, the larger, more vulnerable species have been almost completely extirpated from the most intensely fished islands. Our results show that the larger groupers have been overexploited throughout the Canary Islands, and highlight the urgent need for stringent management measures and better control of littoral reef fish resources.

Reproduction and growth of the painted comber Serranus scriba (Serranidae) of the Marine Reserve of Lanzarote Island (Central-Eastern Atlantic)

The population biology of painted comber Serranus scriba (Linnaeus, 1758) of the Canary Islands coast was studied to estimate gonad morphology, sexuality, age and growth. Analysis of gonad organization and development revealed that it is a functional simultaneous hermaphrodite. Its anatomy and growth pattern of the reproductive cells is similar to that described in other species of the genus Serranus, although the sequence of vesicles appearing varies during vitellogenesis. Spawning season occurred from January to September with a peak in June. Individuals reached 50% maturity at 17.3 cm TL and 95% at 22.7 cm TL. Length–weight relationship was described by the following parameters: a = 0.01 and b = 3.10, being allometric positive. Age was determined from annuli in whole forming an opaque zone and a translucent zone in each annulus per year. The high percentage of otoliths with translucent zone during the annual cycle indicated that this species presents continuous growth throughout the year. Age range was 2–11 years for fish measuring 15.0–29.4 cm TL. This species is slow-growing and long lived. The growth parameters obtained were L ∞ = 34.18 cm TL, k = 0.13 years −1, and t o = −2.50 years. Otolith length was the best predictor of fish length, while the otolith weight was the best predictor of age.

Interspecies differences in DNA single strand breaks caused by benzo( a)pyrene and marine environment

The presence of DNA single strand breaks in untreated specimens of selected species, mosquito fish Gambusia affinis, painted comber Serranus scriba, blue mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis, spiny crab Maja crispata and sea cucumber Holothuria tubulosa as well as in 10 μg/g benzo( a)pyrene (BaP) treated mosquito fish, blue mussel and spiny crab was measured, using alkaline filter elution. Interspecies differences in alkaline elution profiles were observed and attributed to different lengths of DNA from different sources and to differences in the number of strand breaks present during normal cellular events in different phyla. Spiny crab hemocytes are more sensitive to action of BaP then blue mussel hemocytes and mosquito fish hepatocytes that could be explained by differences in the rates of distinct metabolic reactions and DNA repair among the investigated species. In field study, DNA single strand breaks were measured in hepatocytes of painted comber and in hemocytes of blue mussel and spiny crab from natural population specimens collected at eight sampling sites along Istrian coast, Croatia. Spatial variations in DNA integrity for each species were detected and revealed for the first time that spiny crab is responsive to different environmental conditions. Interspecies variations in the DNA integrity due to environmental conditions, confirmed species specific susceptibility to genotoxicity of certain environment that in long-term may modify the structure of marine communities. The multi-species approach in designing biomonitoring studies was suggested.

Heavy metal distribution in different fish species from the Mauritania coast

Cadmium, copper, zinc and mercury concentrations were determined in pelagic and benthic fishes from the Mauritania coast. The pelagic fishes consisted of the round sardinella Sardinella aurita (Clupeidae), the chub mackerel Scomber japonicus (Scombridae) and the Atlantic horse mackerel Trachurus trachurus (Carangidae). Four benthic species were considered, three Serranidae: the painted comber Serranus scriba, the golden grouper Epinephelus costae, and the Niger hind Cephalopholis nigri and one Mullidae: the West African goatfish Pseudupeneus prayensis. Cadmium, copper, zinc and mercury concentrations are low in the edible muscles of the pelagic species. In the benthic fishes, metals could be determined also in the gills and liver. Cadmium and copper were present in relatively low levels in the muscle ((0.06 μg Cd g −1 dry wt., (1.6 μg Cu g −1 dry wt.) and gills ((0.23 μg Cd g −1, (3.1 μg Cu g −1) and higher levels are encountered in the livers ((51 μg Cd g −1, (49.1 μg Cu g −1). Zinc concentrations in the muscle are low ((20 μg Zn g −1 dry wt.), the concentrations in the gills ((120 μg Zn g −1) approach those of the livers for C. nigri and P. prayensis or are higher in the case of S. scriba and E. costae. Mercury concentrations in the gills and muscle of the pelagic species are very low, higher quantities are found in the livers of the benthic species. The metal concentrations in all the fishes analysed, which are restricted to approximately 40 specimens, are low except those found for cadmium in the livers of the benthic fishes.