Spirlin Alburnoides Bipunctatus Research Articles

Assessing spirlin Alburnoides bipunctatus (Bloch, 1782) as an early indicator of climate change and anthropogenic stressors using ecological modeling and machine learning

Combining single-species ecological modeling with advanced machine learning to investigate the long-term population dynamics of the rheophilic fish spirlin offers a powerful approach to understanding environmental changes and climate shifts in aquatic ecosystems. A new ESHIPPOClim model was developed by integrating climate change assessment into the ESHIPPO model. The model identifies spirlin as a potential early indicator of environmental changes, highlighting the interactive effects of climate change and anthropogenic stressors on fish populations and freshwater ecosystems. The ESHIPPOClim model reveals that 28.72 % of the spirlin's data indicates high resilience and ecological responsiveness, with 34.92 % showing medium-high adaptability, suggesting its substantial ability to withstand environmental stressors. With 36.51 % of the data in medium level and no data in the low category, spirlin may serve as a sentinel species, providing early warnings of environmental stressors before they severely impact other species or ecosystems. The results of uniform manifold approximation and projection (UMAP) and a decision tree show that pollution has the highest impact on the population dynamics of spirlin, followed by annual water temperature, overexploitation, and invasive species. Despite the obtained key drivers, higher abundance, dominance, and frequency values were detected in habitats with higher HIPPO stressors and climate change effects. Integrating state-of-the-art machine learning models has enhanced the predictive power of the ESHIPPOClim model, achieving approximately 90 % accuracy in identifying spirlin as an early indicator of climate change and anthropogenic stressors. The ESHIPPOClim model offers a holistic approach with broad practical applications using a simplified 3-point scale, adaptable to various fish species, communities, and regions. The ecological modeling supported with advanced machine learning could serve as a foundation for rapid and cost-effective management of aquatic ecosystems, revealing the adaptability potential of fish species, which is crucial in rapidly changing environments.

Cellular responses of spirlin Alburnoides bipunctatus spermatozoa exposed to Bisphenol A: Biochemical response and sperm quality alterations evaluation

Plastics are one of the global environmental problems owing to their highest production. Bisphenol A (BPA) is used in the manufacturing of plastics including polycarbonate, polyvinyl chloride and resins. In particular, aquatic ecosystems are adversely affected by the occurrence of micropollutants. In addition, BPA as a typical endocrine-disrupting chemical (EDC) seriously influences androgenic activity and reproduction of aquatic organisms, particularly fish as non-target organism. In toxicological assays, sperm cells can be used as a potential tool for reliable and practical assessment. For these reasons, sperm cells were exposed to lower concentrations (0 µg/L, 0.5 µg/L, 1.25 µg/L, 2.5 µg/L and 5 µg/L) of BPA and the study focused on BPA-induced oxidative stress. The enzymatic [glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD)] activities and lipid peroxidation (MDA) were analyzed in spermatozoa. The study findings showed that the activities of SOD and GSH-Px were significantly decreased by BPA but lipid peroxidation (MDA) and CAT acticity increased. Notably, the percentage and duration of motile sperm cells decreased. Collectively, spermatozoa clearly showed the sensitivity even at extremely low concentrations. This is first report to assess the impact of BPA on sperm cells of spirlin Alburnoides bipunctatus.

Diet of the endangered spirlin (Alburnoides bipunctatus) at the centre of its distribution in Europe

The feeding habits of spirlin Alburnoides bipunctatus were investigated in a tributary of the River Vistula (Poland). To evaluate size-related patterns of resource use, fish were assigned to three size classes, defined according to size at first maturation: small (29–70-mm total length, TL), medium (71–90mm TL) and large (91–104mm TL). There was a significant ontogenetic shift in the feeding pattern among size classes, marked by differences in the proportion of the main taxonomic groups of prey consumed: small spirlin primarily consumed chironomid larvae, whereas medium and large spirlin showed a preference for Coleoptera, Ephemeroptera and imagines of unidentified insects. The proportion of prey taken from the water column was significantly lower for small- than medium- and large-sized spirlin. This difference was attributed to the benthic habits of small spirlin compared with medium and large spirlin. The shift to open water feeding in spirlin corresponded with sexual maturation, with habitat segregation between the smallest size class (comprising juveniles) and larger size classes (mature individuals). Size-specific changes in the diet composition of this species have not previously been documented.

Glochidial infestation by the endangered mollusc Unio crassus in rivers of north‐eastern France: Phoxinus phoxinus and Cottus gobio as primary fish hosts

Abstract The thick‐shelled river mussel Unio crassus is an endangered freshwater bivalve species with a life cycle that includes an obligate glochidial larval stage that attaches to the gills of freshwater fish for several days to months. Fish hosts were identified in nine north‐eastern French rivers in order to improve unionid conservation management. Eurasian minnow Phoxinus phoxinus was the most important host at all study sites, with prevalence ranging from 15–100% (122 of 238 individuals infested), and bullhead Cottus gobio usually the second most important (prevalence 0–73%; 37 of 121). Other host species had a relatively low rate of infestation: chub Squalius cephalus (5 of 41), roach Rutilus rutilus (1 of 23), gudgeon Gobio gobio (2 of 50), stone loach Barbatula barbatula (2 of 58) and dace Leuciscus leuciscus (1 of 19). No glochidia were found on spirlin Alburnoides bipunctatus (0 of 24). Parasitic load usually ranged between one and three per fish (60% of cases), and rarely exceeded 10. First results suggest that U. crassus glochidia influence the weight:length ratio of P. phoxinus but not C. gobio, with infested fish being heavier. To date, the ecological function of P. phoxinus (and C. gobio) in small streams has been largely underestimated or ignored as the species is small, common and of no interest to anglers. There is increasing evidence, however, that P. phoxinus deserves conservation management owing to the essential role it plays in the reproduction, development and distribution of U. crassus. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

First record of Octomacrum europaeum Roman et Bychowsky, 1956 on the gills of spirlin Alburnoides bipunctatus (Bloch, 1782) in north-eastern Europe

Abstract Octomacrum europaeum (Monogenea: Octomacridae) was collected, for the first time in north-eastern Europe, from the gills of spirlin (Alburnoides bipunctatus). Morphometric characters were compared with those of other populations and conform to the original description of the species.

Microhabitat Use by Stream-Dwelling SpirlinAlburnoides bipunctatusand Accompanying Species: Implications for Conservation

Microhabitat use in the endangered cyprinid species spirlin Alburnoides bipunctatus and accompanying species was examined in three water courses of Slovakia to determine the species' environmental requirements as a basis for informing conservation policy and management. In all three rivers, water velocity, water depth and substratum character were central features of spirlin microhabitat use, regardless of year or season of sampling, with only limited variation in microhabitat associations as a function of time of day. Clear differences in microhabitat use and intra-specific associations during development were observed in two of the rivers. In particular, a shift in velocity preference towards faster flowing waters appears characteristic of spirlin during their larval and juvenile development, and possibly also that of gudgeon Gobio gobio, European minnow Phoxinus phoxinus, and chub Leuciscus cephalus, which are all species that may be significantly associated with young spirlin. Disproportionate use of deeper waters tended to increase with age in spirlin, and in gudgeon and barbel Barbus barbus, but spirlin preference for substratum was less uniform, with affinities ranging from indifference to strong preference. This contrasts the clear preferences for sand in gudgeon and for cobbles in European bullhead Cottus gobio. Of particular importance to young-of-the-year (YOY) spirlin are lentic zones with some sort of ligneous debris — habitat also used by YOY gudgeon and minnow. Contrary to previous reports elsewhere, spirlin did not avoid in-stream vegetation where present, and in one river it was preferred by YOY and 1 spirlin. To avoid declines in spirlin and accompanying stream-dwelling species, such as reported elsewhere in Europe, river management in water courses such as these should be limited to the rehabilitation of regulated sections to achieve a natural, heterogeneous channel character.

Ontogenetic variability in external morphology and microhabitat use of spirlin Alburnoides bipunctatus from the River Rudava (Danube catchment)

The external morphometry of spirlin Alburnoides bipunctatus, a threatened species in parts of its native range, was re‐examined in specimens from the River Rudava, Slovakia, using geometrical shape analysis, and the relationships between morphometry and habitat use were evaluated. Spirlin <40 mm standard length (LS)(early and ‘middle’ juveniles) were found to differ significantly from those >51 mm (adults), whereas individuals between 41 and 50 mm LS(late juveniles) represented an intermediate interval during which major changes in shape appeared to occur. Adults had proportionally smaller eyes, deeper body, and longer preanal part of the body than the early and ‘middle’ juveniles. These differences tended to coincide with the differences observed in microhabitat use of spirlin, namely a generally increasing preference for high velocity areas with increasing age of the fish. Thus, changes in external morphometry occurring during the ontogeny of spirlin might reflect an increasing affinity for more complex, lotic microhabitats as well as developments associated with sexual maturation.