Trachidermus Research Articles

Development and characterization of fourteen microsatellite loci in a threatened catadromous fish Trachidermus fasciatus

Trachidermus fasciatus (roughskin sculpin), is a catadromous fish distributed along southern coasts of Korean Peninsula, coast of China and Japan. Fourteen microsatellite loci were isolated and characterized for this species. Number of alleles ranged from 8 to 18 per locus, and the observed and expected heterozygosity ranged between 0.682–1.000 and 0.853–0.953, respectively. No evidence of linkage disequilibrium was detected. The significant departures from Hardy–Weinberg expectations at two loci suggested the presence of null alleles. These microsatellite loci will be useful for studying population genetic variation.

Importance of the upper estuary as a nursery ground for fishes in Ariake Bay, Japan

To examine the importance of the upper estuarine areas of Ariake Bay as a nursery ground for fish, assemblages of larvae and juveniles were compared among various aquatic habitats. The upper estuaries of the bay (the Rokkaku and Hayatsue estuaries) are brackish, highly turbid waters with high tidal velocities, and differ substantially from the Isahaya area, which has been separated from the bay by a man-made dike, to the middle estuary (the Kikuchi estuary). Abundances of larvae and juveniles were higher in the estuaries than in the open bay and Isahaya areas. Abundant species in the upper estuaries were similar to each other, but differed from those of the middle estuary. This was primarily due to larvae and juveniles of fishes that occurred almost entirely in the upper estuaries, such as Acanthogobius hasta, Boleophthalmus pectinirostris, Coilia nasus, Cynoglossus abbreviatus, Nibea albiflora, Odontamblyopus lacepedii, Trachidermus fasciatus and Tridentiger barbatus. These results suggest that the upper estuaries play an important role as nursery grounds for fishes.

Habitat degradation and future conservation of Japanese populations of the roughskin sculpin, Trachidermus fasciatus

Habitat degradation and future conservation of Japanese populations of the roughskin sculpin, Trachidermus fasciatus

Identification and characterization of myostatin gene in rough-skinned sculp, Trachidermus fasciatus

Myostatin is a member of the TGF-beta superfamily and acts as a negative regulator of skeletal muscle growth. The characterization of the myostatin gene and its expression in Trachidermus fasciatus was reported in the current study. A full-length of 2 568 bp myostatin cDNA sequence in T. fasciats was cloned by 5' and 3' RACE, which included a 1 131 bp complete ORF encoding a 376 amino acid peptide, a 106 bp long 5'-UTR and a 1331 bp long 3'UTR. As other MSTN, the putative peptide contains a 22 amino acids long signal peptide, a conserved RARR proteolytic processing site, and 10 conserved cysteine residues in the C terminal of the protein. The Trachidermus fasciatus MSTN has high homology with Umbrina cirrosa, Morone saxatilis, Morone americana, Morone chrysops myostatin while has low homology with mammalian and birds myostatin. The phylogenetic analysis showed that the T. fasciatus myostatin had the closest relationship with U. cirrosa. In the four examined tissues, the myostatin gene was highly expressed in muscle and intestine and weakly expressed in brain and liver. These results suggested that the fish myostatin gene might not only play roles in muscle development but also contribute to other biological functions.

Growth and migration of the roughskin sculpin, Trachidermus fasciatus, in the Kashima River, Kyushu Island, Japan

Growth and migration of the roughskin sculpin, Trachidermus fasciatus, in the Kashima River, Kyushu Island, Japan

Distribution and Life History of Trachidermus fasciatus in Rivers around Ariake Sound, Kyushu, Japan

Distribution and Life History of Trachidermus fasciatus in Rivers around Ariake Sound, Kyushu, Japan

Age, Growth and Hatching Dates Based on Otolith Increments of Larvae and Juveniles of the Roughskin Sculpin Trachidermus fasciatus (Scorpaeniformes : Cottidae) in Ariake Bay, Kyushu Island, Japan

Age, Growth and Hatching Dates Based on Otolith Increments of Larvae and Juveniles of the Roughskin Sculpin Trachidermus fasciatus (Scorpaeniformes : Cottidae) in Ariake Bay, Kyushu Island, Japan

Threatened fishes of the world: Trachidermus fasciatus Heckel, 1837 (Cottidae)

Common name: Roughskin sculpin. Conservation status: Not in IUCN Red List; Listed as critically endangered in Category II of the National Key Protected Wildlife List and in China Red Data book of Endangered Animals-Pisces (Yue and Chen 1998). Identification: D VIII-IX/18–20, A 16–18, P I/17–18; Pectoral fin fan-shaped; Caudal fin truncate. Depressed body; Head large; Mouth large; Protruding upper jaw and largest spine on pre-operculum; Pseudobranch present; No scale (Right to illustration held by Kim Ik-Soo). Distribution: Distributed along southern and western coasts of Korean Peninsula, eastern coast of China, and rivers flowing into Ariake Bay on Kyushu Island of Japan (Norio et al. 2002). Habitat and ecology: Benthic, catadromous and carnivorous, feeding on zooplankton, fish and shrimp. Juveniles occur in freshwater lakes and rivers; adults enter estuaries and sea during reproductive season. Euryhaline (0∼32‰) indicates flexibility for reproduction and early life (Kinoshita et al. 1999). Reproduction: Age at first maturity is 1 year. Spawning sites locate in intertidal zone with oyster reefs. When water temperature reaches 4–5°C, spawn in empty shells of oyster or bivalve during February to March (Takeshita et al. 1999). Eggs adhesive, 1.48∼1.58 mm in diameters. Absolute fecundity 5,100∼12,800 eggs∙fish (Wang 1999). Threats: Wild populations have seriously declined since 1970s mainly due to the destruction of natural habitats and spawning sites, as well as overfishing and lack of regulation for sustainable fisheries. Conservation action: China has established protected areas (Wendeng, Shandong province), and investigated habitat requirements. Japan and South Korea studied spawning nests, distribution and life history. Conservation recommendations: Since most populations disappear in traditional habitats (Zhuang et al. 2006), long term protection of the remaining population should be ensured. Industrial water in coastal areas should be treated before discharge and further research needed to access the feasibility of fish passage construction around dams. Environ Biol Fish (2009) 86:63–64 DOI 10.1007/s10641-007-9318-2

Estimation of the frequency of maturity and sexual differences in the maturation period of the roughskin sculpin Trachidermus fasciatus

Estimation of the frequency of maturity and sexual differences in the maturation period of the roughskin sculpin Trachidermus fasciatus

Distribution and diet of the roughskin sculpin, Trachidermus fasciatus, larvae and juveniles in the Chikugo River estuary, Ariake Bay, Japan

Larvae and juveniles of the roughskin sculpin Trachidermus fasciatus were collected during four cruises in March and April 2001 to study the distribution and diet of the fish in the Chikugo estuary in the northern Ariake Bay, Japan. Sampling was conducted at seven stations covering an area approximately 30 km in length along the estuary, with salinity ranging from nearly 0 to about 30 PSU. Gut contents were analyzed by separating, identifying, and counting the prey organisms. Plankton samples were collected during each cruise to study the numerical composition and abundance of copepods in ambient water. A total of 1790 larvae and juveniles of T. fasciatus were collected; they were distributed in the five uppermost stations, covering approximately 20 km and ranging in salinity from 0.4 to 27.4 PSU. The fish fed almost exclusively on a single calanoid copepod species, Sinocalanus sinensis, which was numerically the most abundant in the ambient water at the upper part of the Chikugo River. At the lower part of the river, the fish positively selected S. sinensis while negatively selecting other species. T. fasciatus larvae experienced a high proportion of empty guts and low feeding intensity at around 9.0 mm body length, which appears to be associated with commencement of exogenous feeding. The proportion of empty guts reduced sharply at subsequent stages and was accompanied by an increase in feeding intensity. The oligohaline and mesohaline areas are important nursery grounds, and S. sinensis is an important prey copepod species for the larval and juvenile T. fasciatus in the Chikugo estuary.

Tidal and diurnal variations in larval fish abundance in an estuarine inlet in Ariake Bay, Japan: implication for selective tidal stream transport

AbstractWe have conducted a preliminary study of tidal and diurnal variations in the distribution of dominant larval and juvenile fishes in the Chikugo River inlet (Ariake Bay, Kyushu, Japan) to determine whether selective tidal stream transport (STST) occurs. Larval and juvenile fish were collected from the mesohaline zone of the Chikugo River inlet during spring 2002. Temperature, salinity, depth, and current velocity were measured. Larval and juvenile abundance were compared among four tidal conditions, flooding tide, high tide, ebbing tide, and low tide, and between day and night. A total of 12 families, 15 species, and 5,577 individuals were collected. Temperature did not vary significantly with tidal conditions whereas salinity, depth, and current velocity varied significantly. Salinity also was correlated significantly and positively with depth. The abundance of most of the fishes was correlated positively and significantly with salinity and depth. Lateolabrax japonicus, Trachidermus fasciatus, Acanthogobius hasta, and other gobiid larvae (Gobiidae spp.) were significantly more abundant during high tide; in contrast, Coilia nasus and Neosalanx reganius were most abundant during low tide. The abundance of most of the fishes was higher during high tides at night than during the day, indicating the existence of STST, which may be strategically associated with ascending progress to upstream nursery areas.

Diverse migratory histories of Japanese Trachidermus and Cottus species (Cottidae) as inferred from otolith microchemistry

The migratory histories of Japanese freshwater sculpins, one Trachidermus and four Cottus species, were studied by examining strontium (Sr) and calcium (Ca) concentrations in their otoliths using wavelength dispersive X‐ray spectrometry on an electron microprobe. The Sr : Ca ratios in the otoliths changed with salinity of the habitat. The otoliths of Cottus nozawae showed consistently low Sr : Ca ratios, with an average of 3·37 × 10−3 from the core to the edge, suggesting a freshwater resident life cycle. In contrast, the otolith Sr : Ca ratios for Trachidermus fasciatus and Cottus kazika changed along the life history transects possibly in accordance with their migration patterns from sea to fresh water. The ratios of T. fasciatus and C. kazika averaged 5·4 × 10−3 and 5·3 × 10−3 respectively, in the otolith region from the core to the points 450–890 μm, and changed to the lower levels, averaging 2·0 × 10−3 and 2·7 × 10−3, in the outer otolith region. These data suggest that both the species have a catadromous life cycle. The otoliths of Cottus hangiongensis had low Sr : Ca ratios in the two regions from the core to the points 15–30 μm and the points 415–582 μm to the edge, averaging 2·0 × 10−3 and 1·9 × 10−3, with significantly higher ratios in the narrow area between these regions, averaging 4·6 × 10−3. Similar ontogenetic changes in otolith Sr : Ca ratios were found in the otoliths of Cottus amblystomopsis, suggesting their amphidromous life cycle. These findings suggest that otolith Sr : Ca ratios reflect individual life histories and that Japanese Trachidermus and Cottus species have diverse migratory histories.

Distribution and diets of larval and juvenile fishes: Influence of salinity gradient and turbidity maximum in a temperate estuary in upper Ariake Bay, Japan

We investigated the fish assemblage and distribution, diversity, and diets in relation to copepod prey communities along the Chikugo estuarine gradient in the Ariake Bay, Japan. Larval and juvenile fish samples, ambient copepod samples were collected and major hydrographic parameters were recorded at seven selected sampling stations (salinity range: 0.4–28.8 psu) during four sampling cruises in spring 2001. A zone of estuarine turbidity maximum (ETM) was identified in the upper part of the estuary which was characterized by low salinity. Two different fish and copepod communities based on the spatial distribution patterns were identified: the oligohaline community in the upper estuary, which was associated with the ETM; and the euryhaline community in the lower estuary, downstream of the ETM. The oligohaline fish community was composed of Acanthogobius flavimanus, Acanthogobius hasta, Coilia nasus, Neosalanx reganius, and Trachidermus fasciatus while the euryhaline community was composed of Engraulis japonicus and Sebastes inermis. Lateolabrax japonicus was distributed over wide spatial areas. Sinocalanus sinensis was the single dominant member of the oligohaline copepod community while the euryhaline community was dominated by Oithona davisae, Acartia omorii and Paracalanus parvus. Strong dietary relationships were identified between fishes and copepods in the same community. ETM appears to have significant influence on the distribution and abundance of the oligohaline copepod S. sinensis and this prey copepod appears to have strong influence on the fishes in the oligohaline regions. Most of the fishes were distributed in the low saline upper estuary where they foraged on the single dominant copepod S. sinensis which contributes the majority of the copepod standing biomass of the estuary and thus appear to support nursery for fishes. It was concluded that the ETM-based copepod S. sinensis plays a key role in survival and distribution of larval and juvenile fishes in Chikugo estuary.

Distribution and traits of the biology of roughskin sculpin Rastrinus scutiger (cottidae) in the pacific waters of the Northern Kuril Islands

Distribution and traits of the biology of roughskin sculpin Rastrinus scutiger (cottidae) in the pacific waters of the Northern Kuril Islands

Spawning grounds and nests of Trachidermus fasciatus (Cottidae) in the Kashima and Shiota estuaries system facing Ariake Bay, Japan

The spawning grounds of a cottid fish, Trachidermus fasciatus, were investigated off the mouth of the Kashima River in Ariake Bay from January to March, 1996–1999. The nests were found about 1.1–2.3 km off the mouth of the river, where the bottom salinity was 8‰–21‰ at low tides. Oyster shells were mainly found to be used as nests. A male, a pair, a male and egg clusters, a pair and egg clusters, or a female were found inside shells. The average number of guarded egg clusters per male in shells was 1.3 ± 0.4.

Embryonic, larval and juvenile development of the roughskin sculpin,Trachidermus fasciatus (Scorpaeniformes: Cottidae)

Embryonic, larval and juvenile development of the catadromous roughskin sculpin,Trachidermus fasciatus, were described using eggs spawned in an aquarium. The eggs, measuring 1.98–2.21 mm in diameter, were light reddish-yellow and had many oil globules, 0.05–0.18 mm in diameter. Hatching occurred 30 days after spawning at 2.3–11.3°C. The newly-hatched larvae, measuring 6.9–7.3 mm BL, had a single oil globule, 9–10+25–26=34–36 myomeres and 6 or 7 large stellate melanophores dorsally along the gut. The yolk was almost resorbed, number of pectoral-fin rays attained 16–17, and two parietal, one nuchal and four preopercular spines were formed, 5 days after hatching, at 8.2–8.4 mm BL. The oil globule disappeared, and one supracleithral spine was formed, 11 days after hatching, at 8.9–9.5 mm BL. Notochord flexion began 15 days after hatching, at 9.7–10.3 mm BL. A posttemporal spine was formed 20 days after hatching, at 10.7–10.9 mm BL. The first dorsal fin spines (VII–VIII), second dorsal fin and anal fin rays (18–19, 16–18, respectively) appeared 23 days after hatching, at 12.0–13.7 mm BL. The pelvic fin spine and rays (I, 4) were formed and black bands on the head and sides of the body began to develop 27 days after hatching, at 13.8–15.8 mm BL.

The Effect of Salinity on the Viability of Eggs of the Roughskin Sculpin <i>Trachidermus fasciatus</i>

The Effect of Salinity on the Viability of Eggs of the Roughskin Sculpin <i>Trachidermus fasciatus</i>

A Review of the Freshwater Cottoid Fishes of the Pacific Slope of Asia

la. Head without crests. 2a. Vomerine teeth well developed. 3a. No palatine teeth. 4a. Innermost ray of V not more than 40 per cent of the longest ray. Lateral line incomplete, running above the middle of sides. Cottus poecilopus 4b. Innermost ray of V more than 40 per cent of the longest ray. Lateral line complete, running along the middle of body..C. amblystomopsis. 3b. Palatine bones each with a conspicuous band of teeth........ C. czerskii. 2b. Teeth on vomer feeble or wholly absent C. kaganowskii. lb. Head with crests. 3c. No palatine teeth ......Mesocottus haitej. 3d. Palatine teeth present Trachidermus fasciatus.