Species Of Marine Teleost Fishes Research Articles

Lipids of midwater marine fish: family gonostomatidae

1. 1. Six species of marine teleost fishes of the family Gonostomatidae contained 3.1–30% dry wt lipid. 2. 2. Wax esters were major neutral lipids in four species; a bathypelagic species, Cyclothone acclinidens, contained the highest percentage (44%), while a species caught at the surface, Vinciguerria lucetia, contained only traces. 3. 3. The main wax esters were even numbered C 30–C 42 components, most with one double bond. 4. 4. The structures of the monoenoic alcohols and acids of C. acclinidens wax esters were consistent with Δ 9- desaturation of the saturated C 16, C 18 and C 20 homologs, followed by chain elongation by one or two steps.

Effects of hydrostatic pressure on (Na+ + K+)‐ATPase and Mg2+‐ATPase in gills of marine teleost fish

AbstractThe effects of hydrostatic pressure on branchial NaK‐ATPase and Mg‐ATPase activities were studied in two species of marine teleost fish: the relatively shallow water Scorpaena guttata, collected from a depth of 20 m, and the deeper living Anoplopoma fimbria, collected from a depth of 310 m. Specific activities in gill microsomes, measured at 18oC, were similar in both species, with the NaK‐ATPase usually comprising about 30–40% of the total ATPase activity. NaK‐ATPase activity of S. guttata was activated by low hydrostatic pressure (68 atm) but activity was inhibited at pressures above 136 atm. The NaK‐ATPase of A. fimbria showed a similar activation at low hydrostatic pressure but was less sensitive to a pressure of 340 atm than the enzymefrom S. guttata. At a pressure of 476 atm, the NaK‐ATPase activity of both species was inhibited to the same extent. The Mg‐ATPase of both species was activated by pressure (maximal activation occurred at 136 atm), but in contrast to the NaK‐ATPase, remained activated at all pressures tested. Solubilization of the enzymes from gill microsomes of A. fimbria with Lubrol WX did not significantly alter the pressure responses. Inhibition of NaK‐ATPase at high pressure was reversible upon release of pressure. Inhibition of branchial NaK‐ATPase in both species occurred at pressures higher than the fish normally experience in their environment.

The visual pigments of epipelagic and rocky-shore fishes

Visual pigments of eleven species of marine teleost fishes have been studied in aqueous digitonin extracts of dark-adapted retinae. Five species that occur in habitats along rocky coasts have “rhodopsins” with λ max near 500 mμ. In six epipelagic species the visual pigments are also “rhodopsins”, but there is a trend for λ max to be at shorter wavelengths. These results are correlated with the spectral transmission of sunlight by the types of sea water in which these fishes live. In addition, a second “rhodopsin”, more sensitive to red light, has been characterized in several of the species.

COMPARATIVE STUDY OF THE GILL AREA OF MARINE FISHES

1. The gill areas of 31 species of marine teleost fishes have been compared.2. Active, fast swimming, schooling, streamlined fishes (such as menhaden, mackerel, bluefish) have relatively much greater gill areas than do sluggish, benthic species (toadfish, goosefish, flounders). Fishes of moderate activity (scup, sheepshead, sea bass, sea robin, puffer) are also intermediate in gill area.3. Species differences in gill area exist whether comparison is based on unit of body surface area or on unit of body weight.4. In general benthic fishes have fewer gill lamellae spaced farther apart than do fast swimmers.

A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF THE RESPIRATORY METABOLISM OF EXCISED BRAIN TISSUE OF MARINE TELEOSTS

1. The oxygen consumption of brain tissue of 17 species of marine teleost fishes was determined at 30° C.2. A positive correlation exists between rate of oxygen consumption and activity of fishes. The more active fishes, like the menhaden, had a higher Qo2 then the sluggish fishes, such as the toadfish.3. In general, when comparing results of this paper with various physiological indices of activity, a positive relationship was noted.4. Qo2 of brain tissue of the pinfish and the toadfish were independent of body weight and body length.