DOCSLIB.ORG

LMR/CF/03/08 Final Report

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
LMR/CF/03/08 Final Report BCLME project LMR/CF/03/08 Report on BCLME project LMR/CF/03/08 Benguela Environment Fisheries In teraction & Training Programme Review of the state of knowledge, research (past and present) of the distribution, biology, ecology, and abundance of non-exploited mesopelagic fish (Order Anguilliformes, Argentiniformes, Stomiiformes, Myctophiformes, Aulopiformes) and the bearded goby (Sufflogobius bibarbatus) in the Benguela Ecosystem. A. Staby1 and J-O. Krakstad2 1 University of Bergen, Norway 2 Institute of Marine Research, Centre for Development Cooperation, Bergen, Norway 1 BCLME project LMR/CF/03/08 Table of Contents 1 Introduction................................................................................................................. 4 2 Materials and Methods................................................................................................ 7 2.1 Regional data sources ........................................................................................ 7 2.1.1 Nan-Sis........................................................................................................ 7 2.1.2 NatMIRC data............................................................................................. 8 3 Overview and Results ................................................................................................. 9 3.1 Gobies ................................................................................................................. 9 3.1.1 Species identity and diversity ..................................................................... 9 3.1.2 Species distribution..................................................................................... 9 3.1.3 Biology...................................................................................................... 15 3.1.4 Ecology ..................................................................................................... 16 3.1.5 Growth parameters.................................................................................... 17 3.1.6 Reproduction............................................................................................. 17 3.1.7 Abundance ................................................................................................ 18 3.1.8 Catch history ............................................................................................. 20 3.2 Mesopelagics .................................................................................................... 21 3.2.1 Species identity and diversity ................................................................... 21 3.2.2 Species distribution................................................................................... 22 3.2.3 Biology...................................................................................................... 25 3.2.4 Ecology ..................................................................................................... 25 3.2.5 Life history................................................................................................ 26 3.2.6 Spawning and early life stages.................................................................. 28 3.2.7 Abundance ................................................................................................ 30 3.2.8 Catch history ............................................................................................. 31 3.3 Regional data sources ...................................................................................... 32 3.3.1 Nan-Sis...................................................................................................... 32 3.3.2 MCM data ................................................................................................. 35 3.3.3 NatMIRC data........................................................................................... 35 3.4 Ongoing and recently completed research projects........................................ 37 4 Summary................................................................................................................... 40 4.1 Recommendations on future studies ............................................................... 41 5 References................................................................................................................. 42 5.1 Gobies ............................................................................................................... 42 5.2 Mesopelagics .................................................................................................... 46 2 BCLME project LMR/CF/03/08 Annexes Annex 1: Picture gallery of some mesopelagic species .............................................. 54 Annex 2: Picture gallery of some mesopelagic species .............................................. 55 Annex 3: Picture gallery of some mesopelagic species .............................................. 56 Annex 4: Nan-Sis database mesopelagic species listed - Angola............................... 57 Annex 4: Nan-Sis database mesopelagic species listed – Angola contnd.................. 58 Annex 5: Nan-Sis database mesopelagic species listed - Namibia............................. 59 Annex 5: Nan-Sis database mesopelagic species listed – Namibia contnd................ 60 Annex 6: Database mesopelagic species listed - South Africa................................... 61 Annex 6: Database mesopelagic species listed - South Africa contnd....................... 62 Annex 6: Database mesopelagic species listed - South Africa contnd....................... 63 Annex 6: Database mesopelagic species listed - South Africa contnd....................... 64 Annex 6: Database mesopelagic species listed - South Africa contnd....................... 65 Annex 6: Database mesopelagic species listed - South Africa contnd....................... 66 Annex 6: Database mesopelagic species listed - South Africa contnd....................... 67 Annex 7: Nan-Sis database mesopelagic species listed – BENEFIT......................... 68 Annex 7: Nan-Sis database mesopelagic species listed – BENEFIT contnd. ........... 69 Annex 7: Nan-Sis database mesopelagic species listed – BENEFIT contnd. ........... 70 Annex 8: Distribution maps - Order Anguilliformes and Argentiformes.................. 71 Annex 9: Distribution maps - Order Stomiiformes..................................................... 72 Annex 10: Distribution maps - Order Stomiiformes continued ................................. 73 Annex 11: Distribution maps - Order Stomiiformes and Aulopiformes.................... 74 Annex 12: Distribution maps - Order Myctophiformes.............................................. 75 Annex 13: Distribution of gobies and mesopelagic species collected by R.V. Welwitchia during horse mackerel surveys................................................................. 76 Annex 14: Catch history .............................................................................................. 77 Annex 15: BENFIT survey proposal on mesopelagics............................................... 78 Annex 16: Contact details............................................................................................ 84 3 BCLME project LMR/CF/03/08 1 Introduction The Benguela upwelling system on the south west coast of Africa is one of the worlds’ four major western boundary upwelling regions, and one of the most productive marine ecosystems in the world (Shannon, 1985). This marine system is characterised by a high primary production rate due to strong upwelling occurring throughout the year and peaking in late winter and spring. Essential nutrients are convected from the deeper waters to the ocean surface as a result of this upwelling - the offshore movement of the surface water masses, caused by strong southerly winds and the presence of colder deep water masses (Garrison, 1998). The primary production is the basis for the large production of pelagic fish of which the commercial species like sardine, anchovy, round herring and horse mackerel has received most attention. However the most abundant species are maybe the non-commercial mesopelagics and the gobies that play a key role in the ecosystem, assimilating plankton and as prey making this energy available for species higher in the food chain. The northern part of the ecosystem, the northern Benguela, is also characterised by widespread areas of low oxygen waters overlying the diatomaceous mud belt of the central Namibian shelf (Chapman and Shannon 1985, Dingle and Nelson 1993), affecting the distribution of many demersal and pelagic species. Gobies and some mesopelagic species seem to be among those species well adapted to this hostile environment and are frequently found in these regions. Figure 1: The Benguela Current Large Marine Ecosystem (BCLME). (Taken from Sumaila et al. 2003). 4 BCLME project LMR/CF/03/08 Gobies are reported to be the largest family of marine fishes (possibly > 2,000), and also common in fresh and brackish waters. The smallest fishes (and vertebrates) in the world belong to this family. Gobies are grouped together on the basis of several hard to discern characters: bones of the head, and a family-unique sperm gland. Most live in or on the bottom and are aptly adapted to a demersal existence. They are roughly torpedo- cylindrically shaped, and have reduced lateral line systems coupled with enhanced vision. Generally gobies lack swim-bladders and display degrees of fusion of their pelvic fins that are located anteriorly under their pectorals and used
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Phylogeny Classification Additional Readings Clupeomorpha and Ostariophysi
    Teleostei - AccessScience from McGraw-Hill Education http://www.accessscience.com/content/teleostei/680400 (http://www.accessscience.com/) Article by: Boschung, Herbert Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Gardiner, Brian Linnean Society of London, Burlington House, Piccadilly, London, United Kingdom. Publication year: 2014 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1036/1097-8542.680400 (http://dx.doi.org/10.1036/1097-8542.680400) Content Morphology Euteleostei Bibliography Phylogeny Classification Additional Readings Clupeomorpha and Ostariophysi The most recent group of actinopterygians (rayfin fishes), first appearing in the Upper Triassic (Fig. 1). About 26,840 species are contained within the Teleostei, accounting for more than half of all living vertebrates and over 96% of all living fishes. Teleosts comprise 517 families, of which 69 are extinct, leaving 448 extant families; of these, about 43% have no fossil record. See also: Actinopterygii (/content/actinopterygii/009100); Osteichthyes (/content/osteichthyes/478500) Fig. 1 Cladogram showing the relationships of the extant teleosts with the other extant actinopterygians. (J. S. Nelson, Fishes of the World, 4th ed., Wiley, New York, 2006) 1 of 9 10/7/2015 1:07 PM Teleostei - AccessScience from McGraw-Hill Education http://www.accessscience.com/content/teleostei/680400 Morphology Much of the evidence for teleost monophyly (evolving from a common ancestral form) and relationships comes from the caudal skeleton and concomitant acquisition of a homocercal tail (upper and lower lobes of the caudal fin are symmetrical). This type of tail primitively results from an ontogenetic fusion of centra (bodies of vertebrae) and the possession of paired bracing bones located bilaterally along the dorsal region of the caudal skeleton, derived ontogenetically from the neural arches (uroneurals) of the ural (tail) centra.
    [Show full text]
  • CHECKLIST and BIOGEOGRAPHY of FISHES from GUADALUPE ISLAND, WESTERN MEXICO Héctor Reyes-Bonilla, Arturo Ayala-Bocos, Luis E
    ReyeS-BONIllA eT Al: CheCklIST AND BIOgeOgRAphy Of fISheS fROm gUADAlUpe ISlAND CalCOfI Rep., Vol. 51, 2010 CHECKLIST AND BIOGEOGRAPHY OF FISHES FROM GUADALUPE ISLAND, WESTERN MEXICO Héctor REyES-BONILLA, Arturo AyALA-BOCOS, LUIS E. Calderon-AGUILERA SAúL GONzáLEz-Romero, ISRAEL SáNCHEz-ALCántara Centro de Investigación Científica y de Educación Superior de Ensenada AND MARIANA Walther MENDOzA Carretera Tijuana - Ensenada # 3918, zona Playitas, C.P. 22860 Universidad Autónoma de Baja California Sur Ensenada, B.C., México Departamento de Biología Marina Tel: +52 646 1750500, ext. 25257; Fax: +52 646 Apartado postal 19-B, CP 23080 [email protected] La Paz, B.C.S., México. Tel: (612) 123-8800, ext. 4160; Fax: (612) 123-8819 NADIA C. Olivares-BAñUELOS [email protected] Reserva de la Biosfera Isla Guadalupe Comisión Nacional de áreas Naturales Protegidas yULIANA R. BEDOLLA-GUzMáN AND Avenida del Puerto 375, local 30 Arturo RAMíREz-VALDEz Fraccionamiento Playas de Ensenada, C.P. 22880 Universidad Autónoma de Baja California Ensenada, B.C., México Facultad de Ciencias Marinas, Instituto de Investigaciones Oceanológicas Universidad Autónoma de Baja California, Carr. Tijuana-Ensenada km. 107, Apartado postal 453, C.P. 22890 Ensenada, B.C., México ABSTRACT recognized the biological and ecological significance of Guadalupe Island, off Baja California, México, is Guadalupe Island, and declared it a Biosphere Reserve an important fishing area which also harbors high (SEMARNAT 2005). marine biodiversity. Based on field data, literature Guadalupe Island is isolated, far away from the main- reviews, and scientific collection records, we pres- land and has limited logistic facilities to conduct scien- ent a comprehensive checklist of the local fish fauna, tific studies.
    [Show full text]
  • Early Stages of Fishes in the Western North Atlantic Ocean Volume
    ISBN 0-9689167-4-x Early Stages of Fishes in the Western North Atlantic Ocean (Davis Strait, Southern Greenland and Flemish Cap to Cape Hatteras) Volume One Acipenseriformes through Syngnathiformes Michael P. Fahay ii Early Stages of Fishes in the Western North Atlantic Ocean iii Dedication This monograph is dedicated to those highly skilled larval fish illustrators whose talents and efforts have greatly facilitated the study of fish ontogeny. The works of many of those fine illustrators grace these pages. iv Early Stages of Fishes in the Western North Atlantic Ocean v Preface The contents of this monograph are a revision and update of an earlier atlas describing the eggs and larvae of western Atlantic marine fishes occurring between the Scotian Shelf and Cape Hatteras, North Carolina (Fahay, 1983). The three-fold increase in the total num- ber of species covered in the current compilation is the result of both a larger study area and a recent increase in published ontogenetic studies of fishes by many authors and students of the morphology of early stages of marine fishes. It is a tribute to the efforts of those authors that the ontogeny of greater than 70% of species known from the western North Atlantic Ocean is now well described. Michael Fahay 241 Sabino Road West Bath, Maine 04530 U.S.A. vi Acknowledgements I greatly appreciate the help provided by a number of very knowledgeable friends and colleagues dur- ing the preparation of this monograph. Jon Hare undertook a painstakingly critical review of the entire monograph, corrected omissions, inconsistencies, and errors of fact, and made suggestions which markedly improved its organization and presentation.
    [Show full text]
  • Fishes of the Eastern Ross Sea, Antarctica
    Polar Biol (2004) 27: 637–650 DOI 10.1007/s00300-004-0632-2 REVIEW Joseph Donnelly Æ Joseph J. Torres Tracey T. Sutton Æ Christina Simoniello Fishes of the eastern Ross Sea, Antarctica Received: 26 November 2003 / Revised: 16 April 2004 / Accepted: 20 April 2004 / Published online: 16 June 2004 Ó Springer-Verlag 2004 Abstract Antarctic fishes were sampled with 41 midwater in Antarctica is dominated by a few fish families and 6 benthic trawls during the 1999–2000 austral (Bathylagidae, Gonostomatidae, Myctophidae and summer in the eastern Ross Sea. The oceanic pelagic Paralepididae) with faunal diversity decreasing south assemblage (0–1,000 m) contained Electrona antarctica, from the Antarctic Polar Front to the continent (Ever- Gymnoscopelus opisthopterus, Bathylagus antarcticus, son 1984; Kock 1992; Kellermann 1996). South of the Cyclothone kobayashii and Notolepis coatsi. These were Polar Front, the majority of meso- and bathypelagic replaced over the shelf by notothenioids, primarily Ple- fishes have circum-Antarctic distributions (McGinnis uragramma antarcticum. Pelagic biomass was low and 1982; Gon and Heemstra 1990). Taken collectively, the concentrated below 500 m. The demersal assemblage fishes are significant contributors to the pelagic biomass was characteristic of East Antarctica and included seven and are important trophic elements, both as predators species each of Artedidraconidae, Bathydraconidae and and prey (Rowedder 1979; Hopkins and Torres 1989; Channichthyidae, ten species of Nototheniidae, and Lancraft et al. 1989, 1991; Duhamel 1998). Over the three species each of Rajidae and Zoarcidae. Common continental slope and shelf, notothenioids dominate the species were Trematomus eulepidotus (36.5%), T. scotti ichthyofauna (DeWitt 1970). Most members of this (32.0%), Prionodraco evansii (4.9%), T.
    [Show full text]
  • Updated Checklist of Marine Fishes (Chordata: Craniata) from Portugal and the Proposed Extension of the Portuguese Continental Shelf
    European Journal of Taxonomy 73: 1-73 ISSN 2118-9773 http://dx.doi.org/10.5852/ejt.2014.73 www.europeanjournaloftaxonomy.eu 2014 · Carneiro M. et al. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License. Monograph urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:9A5F217D-8E7B-448A-9CAB-2CCC9CC6F857 Updated checklist of marine fishes (Chordata: Craniata) from Portugal and the proposed extension of the Portuguese continental shelf Miguel CARNEIRO1,5, Rogélia MARTINS2,6, Monica LANDI*,3,7 & Filipe O. COSTA4,8 1,2 DIV-RP (Modelling and Management Fishery Resources Division), Instituto Português do Mar e da Atmosfera, Av. Brasilia 1449-006 Lisboa, Portugal. E-mail: [email protected], [email protected] 3,4 CBMA (Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology), Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal. E-mail: [email protected], [email protected] * corresponding author: [email protected] 5 urn:lsid:zoobank.org:author:90A98A50-327E-4648-9DCE-75709C7A2472 6 urn:lsid:zoobank.org:author:1EB6DE00-9E91-407C-B7C4-34F31F29FD88 7 urn:lsid:zoobank.org:author:6D3AC760-77F2-4CFA-B5C7-665CB07F4CEB 8 urn:lsid:zoobank.org:author:48E53CF3-71C8-403C-BECD-10B20B3C15B4 Abstract. The study of the Portuguese marine ichthyofauna has a long historical tradition, rooted back in the 18th Century. Here we present an annotated checklist of the marine fishes from Portuguese waters, including the area encompassed by the proposed extension of the Portuguese continental shelf and the Economic Exclusive Zone (EEZ). The list is based on historical literature records and taxon occurrence data obtained from natural history collections, together with new revisions and occurrences.
    [Show full text]
  • New Zealand Fishes a Field Guide to Common Species Caught by Bottom, Midwater, and Surface Fishing Cover Photos: Top – Kingfish (Seriola Lalandi), Malcolm Francis
    New Zealand fishes A field guide to common species caught by bottom, midwater, and surface fishing Cover photos: Top – Kingfish (Seriola lalandi), Malcolm Francis. Top left – Snapper (Chrysophrys auratus), Malcolm Francis. Centre – Catch of hoki (Macruronus novaezelandiae), Neil Bagley (NIWA). Bottom left – Jack mackerel (Trachurus sp.), Malcolm Francis. Bottom – Orange roughy (Hoplostethus atlanticus), NIWA. New Zealand fishes A field guide to common species caught by bottom, midwater, and surface fishing New Zealand Aquatic Environment and Biodiversity Report No: 208 Prepared for Fisheries New Zealand by P. J. McMillan M. P. Francis G. D. James L. J. Paul P. Marriott E. J. Mackay B. A. Wood D. W. Stevens L. H. Griggs S. J. Baird C. D. Roberts‡ A. L. Stewart‡ C. D. Struthers‡ J. E. Robbins NIWA, Private Bag 14901, Wellington 6241 ‡ Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, PO Box 467, Wellington, 6011Wellington ISSN 1176-9440 (print) ISSN 1179-6480 (online) ISBN 978-1-98-859425-5 (print) ISBN 978-1-98-859426-2 (online) 2019 Disclaimer While every effort was made to ensure the information in this publication is accurate, Fisheries New Zealand does not accept any responsibility or liability for error of fact, omission, interpretation or opinion that may be present, nor for the consequences of any decisions based on this information. Requests for further copies should be directed to: Publications Logistics Officer Ministry for Primary Industries PO Box 2526 WELLINGTON 6140 Email: [email protected] Telephone: 0800 00 83 33 Facsimile: 04-894 0300 This publication is also available on the Ministry for Primary Industries website at http://www.mpi.govt.nz/news-and-resources/publications/ A higher resolution (larger) PDF of this guide is also available by application to: [email protected] Citation: McMillan, P.J.; Francis, M.P.; James, G.D.; Paul, L.J.; Marriott, P.; Mackay, E.; Wood, B.A.; Stevens, D.W.; Griggs, L.H.; Baird, S.J.; Roberts, C.D.; Stewart, A.L.; Struthers, C.D.; Robbins, J.E.
    [Show full text]
  • A Dissertation Entitled Evolution, Systematics
    A Dissertation Entitled Evolution, systematics, and phylogeography of Ponto-Caspian gobies (Benthophilinae: Gobiidae: Teleostei) By Matthew E. Neilson Submitted as partial fulfillment of the requirements for The Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Biology (Ecology) ____________________________________ Adviser: Dr. Carol A. Stepien ____________________________________ Committee Member: Dr. Christine M. Mayer ____________________________________ Committee Member: Dr. Elliot J. Tramer ____________________________________ Committee Member: Dr. David J. Jude ____________________________________ Committee Member: Dr. Juan L. Bouzat ____________________________________ College of Graduate Studies The University of Toledo December 2009 Copyright © 2009 This document is copyrighted material. Under copyright law, no parts of this document may be reproduced without the expressed permission of the author. _______________________________________________________________________ An Abstract of Evolution, systematics, and phylogeography of Ponto-Caspian gobies (Benthophilinae: Gobiidae: Teleostei) Matthew E. Neilson Submitted as partial fulfillment of the requirements for The Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Biology (Ecology) The University of Toledo December 2009 The study of biodiversity, at multiple hierarchical levels, provides insight into the evolutionary history of taxa and provides a framework for understanding patterns in ecology. This is especially poignant in invasion biology, where the prevalence of invasiveness in certain taxonomic groups could
    [Show full text]
  • Age and Growth of Brauer's Lanternfish Gymnoscopelus Braueri and Rhombic Lanternfish Krefftichthys Anderssoni (Family Myctophidae) in the Scotia Sea, Southern Ocean
    Received: 22 July 2019 Accepted: 14 November 2019 DOI: 10.1111/jfb.14206 REGULAR PAPER FISH Age and growth of Brauer's lanternfish Gymnoscopelus braueri and rhombic lanternfish Krefftichthys anderssoni (Family Myctophidae) in the Scotia Sea, Southern Ocean Ryan A. Saunders1 | Silvia Lourenço2,3 | Rui P. Vieira4 | Martin A. Collins1 | Carlos A. Assis5,6 | Jose C. Xavier7,1 1British Antarctic Survey, Natural Environment Research Council, Cambridge, UK Abstract 2MARE - Marine and Environmental Sciences This study examines age and growth of Brauer's lanternfish Gymnoscopelus braueri and Centre, Polytechnic of Leiria, Peniche, Portugal rhombic lanternfish Krefftichthys anderssoni from the Scotia Sea in the Southern Ocean, 3CIIMAR/CIMAR, Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, through the analysis of annual growth increments deposited on sagittal otoliths. Oto- University of Porto, Matosinhos, Portugal lith pairs from 177 G. braueri and 118 K. anderssoni were collected in different seasons 4 Centre for Environment Fisheries and from the region between 2004 and 2009. Otolith-edge analysis suggested a seasonal Aquaculture Sciences, Lowestoft, UK change in opaque and hyaline depositions, indicative of an annual growth pattern, 5MARE-ULisboa – Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, Faculty of Sciences, although variation within the populations of both species was apparent. Age estimates University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal varied from 1 to 6 years for G. braueri (40 to 139 mm standard length; LS)andfrom 6Department of Animal Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal 0 to 2 years for K. anderssoni (26 to 70 mm LS). Length-at-age data were broadly con- 7Department of Life Sciences, MARE-UC, sistent with population cohort parameters identified in concurrent length-frequency University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal data from the region for both species.
    [Show full text]
  • Taxonomic Research of the Gobioid Fishes (Perciformes: Gobioidei) in China
    KOREAN JOURNAL OF ICHTHYOLOGY, Vol. 21 Supplement, 63-72, July 2009 Received : April 17, 2009 ISSN: 1225-8598 Revised : June 15, 2009 Accepted : July 13, 2009 Taxonomic Research of the Gobioid Fishes (Perciformes: Gobioidei) in China By Han-Lin Wu, Jun-Sheng Zhong1,* and I-Shiung Chen2 Ichthyological Laboratory, Shanghai Ocean University, 999 Hucheng Ring Rd., 201306 Shanghai, China 1Ichthyological Laboratory, Shanghai Ocean University, 999 Hucheng Ring Rd., 201306 Shanghai, China 2Institute of Marine Biology, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung 202, Taiwan ABSTRACT The taxonomic research based on extensive investigations and specimen collections throughout all varieties of freshwater and marine habitats of Chinese waters, including mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan, which involved accounting the vast number of collected specimens, data and literature (both within and outside China) were carried out over the last 40 years. There are totally 361 recorded species of gobioid fishes belonging to 113 genera, 5 subfamilies, and 9 families. This gobioid fauna of China comprises 16.2% of 2211 known living gobioid species of the world. This report repre- sents a summary of previous researches on the suborder Gobioidei. A recently diagnosed subfamily, Polyspondylogobiinae, were assigned from the type genus and type species: Polyspondylogobius sinen- sis Kimura & Wu, 1994 which collected around the Pearl River Delta with high extremity of vertebral count up to 52-54. The undated comprehensive checklist of gobioid fishes in China will be provided in this paper. Key words : Gobioid fish, fish taxonomy, species checklist, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan INTRODUCTION benthic perciforms: gobioid fishes to evolve and active- ly radiate. The fishes of suborder Gobioidei belong to the largest The gobioid fishes in China have long received little group of those in present living Perciformes.
    [Show full text]
  • Order MYCTOPHIFORMES NEOSCOPELIDAE Horizontal Rows
    click for previous page 942 Bony Fishes Order MYCTOPHIFORMES NEOSCOPELIDAE Neoscopelids By K.E. Hartel, Harvard University, Massachusetts, USA and J.E. Craddock, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Massachusetts, USA iagnostic characters: Small fishes, usually 15 to 30 cm as adults. Body elongate with no photophores D(Scopelengys) or with 3 rows of large photophores when viewed from below (Neoscopelus).Eyes variable, small to large. Mouth large, extending to or beyond vertical from posterior margin of eye; tongue with photophores around margin in Neoscopelus. Gill rakers 9 to 16. Dorsal fin single, its origin above or slightly in front of pelvic fin, well in front of anal fins; 11 to 13 soft rays. Dorsal adipose fin over end of anal fin. Anal-fin origin well behind dorsal-fin base, anal fin with 10 to 14 soft rays. Pectoral fins long, reaching to about anus, anal fin with 15 to 19 rays.Pelvic fins large, usually reaching to anus.Scales large, cycloid, and de- ciduous. Colour: reddish silvery in Neoscopelus; blackish in Scopelengys. dorsal adipose fin anal-fin origin well behind dorsal-fin base Habitat, biology, and fisheries: Large adults of Neoscopelus usually benthopelagic below 1 000 m, but subadults mostly in midwater between 500 and 1 000 m in tropical and subtropical areas. Scopelengys meso- to bathypelagic. No known fisheries. Remarks: Three genera and 5 species with Solivomer not known from the Atlantic. All Atlantic species probably circumglobal . Similar families in occurring in area Myctophidae: photophores arranged in groups not in straight horizontal rows (except Taaningichthys paurolychnus which lacks photophores). Anal-fin origin under posterior dorsal-fin anal-fin base.
    [Show full text]
  • Diel Variation in the Vertical Distribution of Deep-Water Scattering Layers in the Gulf of Mexico
    Deep-Sea Research I 115 (2016) 91–102 Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Deep-Sea Research I journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/dsri Diel variation in the vertical distribution of deep-water scattering layers in the Gulf of Mexico Marta D'Elia a, Joseph D. Warren b, Ivan Rodriguez-Pinto a, Tracey T. Sutton c, April Cook c, Kevin M. Boswell a,n a Marine Sciences Program, Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, United States b School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences, Stony Brook University, United States c Oceanographic Center, Nova Southeastern University, United States article info abstract Article history: Sound scattering layers (SSLs) are important components of oceanic ecosystems with ubiquitous dis- Received 8 December 2015 tribution throughout the world's oceans. This vertical movement is an important mechanism for ex- Received in revised form changing organic matter from the surface to the deep ocean, as many of the organisms comprising SSLs 24 May 2016 serve as prey resources for linking the lower trophic levels to larger predators. Variations in abundance Accepted 27 May 2016 and taxonomic composition of mesopelagic organisms were quantified using repeated discrete net Available online 5 June 2016 sampling and acoustics over a 30-h survey, performed during 26–27 June 2011 at single site (27°28’51”N Keywords: and 88°27’54”W) in the northern Gulf of Mexico. We acoustically classified the mesopelagic SSL into four Gulf of Mexico broad taxonomic categories, crustacean and small non-swimbladdered fish (CSNSBF), large non-swim- Deep scattering layers bladdered fish (LNSBF), swimbladdered fish (SBF) and unclassified and we quantified the abundance of Acoustic backscatter mesopelagic organisms over three discrete depth intervals; epipelagic (0–200 m); upper mesopelagic Multifrequency acoustics – – Diel vertical migration (200 600 m) and lower mesopelagic (600 1000 m).
    [Show full text]
  • Fish-T1K (Transcriptomes of 1,000 Fishes) Project: Large-Scale Transcriptome Data for Fish Evolution Studies Ying Sun1,2*†, Yu Huang2†, Xiaofeng Li2†, Carole C
    Sun et al. GigaScience (2016) 5:18 DOI 10.1186/s13742-016-0124-7 COMMENTARY Open Access Fish-T1K (Transcriptomes of 1,000 Fishes) Project: large-scale transcriptome data for fish evolution studies Ying Sun1,2*†, Yu Huang2†, Xiaofeng Li2†, Carole C. Baldwin3, Zhuocheng Zhou4, Zhixiang Yan5, Keith A. Crandall6, Yong Zhang2, Xiaomeng Zhao2, Min Wang2,7, Alex Wong8, Chao Fang2, Xinhui Zhang2, Hai Huang9, Jose V. Lopez10, Kirk Kilfoyle10, Yong Zhang1, Guillermo Ortí6*, Byrappa Venkatesh11* and Qiong Shi2,7,12* Abstract Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii) represent more than 50 % of extant vertebrates and are of great evolutionary, ecologic and economic significance, but they are relatively underrepresented in ‘omics studies. Increased availability of transcriptome data for these species will allow researchers to better understand changes in gene expression, and to carry out functional analyses. An international project known as the “Transcriptomes of 1,000 Fishes” (Fish-T1K) project has been established to generate RNA-seq transcriptome sequences for 1,000 diverse species of ray-finned fishes. The first phase of this project has produced transcriptomes from more than 180 ray-finned fishes, representing 142 species and covering 51 orders and 109 families. Here we provide an overview of the goals of this project and the work done so far. Keywords: Fish-T1K, Fish, Transcriptome, RNA, Database, Biodiversity Background whole genomes of only 38 fish species have been pub- Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii) are the most diverse lished (Additional file 1) and, although the number is and abundant group of extant vertebrates. Thus far, ap- growing (Additional file 2), searching the National Cen- proximately 32,900 fish species are recorded in FishBase ter for Biotechnology Information (NCBI)’s Sequence [1].
    [Show full text]