Morphology, Physiology, Behavior, and Ecology of Perca fluviatilis L. and P. flavescens Mitchill

1977 ◽  
Vol 34 (10) ◽  
pp. 1504-1514 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. E. Thorpe

A review of literature on Perca fluviatilis and P. flavescens indicated one difference (in the position of the predorsal bone) sufficient to maintain their separateness as species. Otherwise they are overwhelmingly equivalent biologically. Their distributions are limited by the same effects of temperature, current speed, salinity, and dissolved oxygen. They are similar in gonadal development and age at first maturity; in the effects of water temperature and latitude on spawning time, and of environmental fertility on fecundity; in spawning behavior, fecundity, and the course of larval development. Growth capacities are similar and their expression subject to population density and temperature in the same way. Both species are adapted to a diet of small live animals, but will take whatever is available; cannibalism is characteristic, and may begin at the same early feeding stage. The two species show similarities in diurnal periodicity of feeding and in total food consumption. They also have the same pattern of development of light responses, of schooling, of activity and of daily and seasonal migrations. Within the fish community they fulfill the same role as converters of invertebrate foods into a form suitable for consumption by terminal fish predators, especially Stizostedion spp., influencing the population dynamics of their predators in similar ways. Key words: Percidae, morphology, physiology, ecology, Perca, life history, growth, reproduction, yellow perch, Eurasian perch

1969 ◽  
Vol 26 (6) ◽  
pp. 1672-1676 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. R. Nursall ◽  
Morley E. Pinsent

Spottail shiners (Notropis hudsonius (Clinton)) and immature yellow perch (Perca fluviatilis Linnaeus), ranging in size from 30 to 110 mm, total length, aggregate in shallow water in Beaver Lake, Alberta. The ratio of number of shiners to that of perch is about 1.5:1. Perch larger than 110 mm leave the aggregation. Eventually they will prey on it from below. Other predators include northern pike and walleye, which lie below the aggregation, and terns and gulls from above. Shiners in the aggregation are 10 times more likely to be taken by fish predators than are perch.


1985 ◽  
Vol 63 (8) ◽  
pp. 1753-1764 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathleen A. Martin-Bergmann ◽  
John H. Gee

The central mudminnow, Umbra limi (Kirtland), successfully inhabits a variable and unpredictable environment in southern Manitoba streams. Umbra accomplishes this by specializing in habitat and generalizing in resources utilized and life history strategies displayed. Mudminnows are restricted to still waters and show a preference for a variety of cover types. They are morphologically, physiologically, and behaviourally specialized for this habitat. Umbra limi inhabits areas subjected to hypoxia and all sizes are able to use both atmospheric and aquatic respiration. Mudminnows are euryphagic carnivores that eat aquatic and terrestrial invertebrates and fish. They feed from a variety of locations (benthic, midwater, and surface) and organisms attached to vegetation are included in the diet. Activity patterns (including feeding) vary daily and seasonally. Differences in rate of growth, age at first maturity, gonadal development, and survival occur between sexes. Individual and population variability is apparent. Spawning time varies and there is evidence for delayed spawning under unfavourable conditions.


2020 ◽  
Vol 223 (24) ◽  
pp. jeb235226
Author(s):  
Clinton J. Moran ◽  
Kamryn E. Jebb ◽  
Leksi Travitz ◽  
David J. Coughlin ◽  
Shannon P. Gerry

ABSTRACTTemperature can be a key abiotic factor in fish distribution, as it affects most physiological processes. Specifically, temperature can affect locomotor capabilities, especially as species are exposed to temperatures nearing their thermal limits. In this study, we aimed to understand the effects of temperature on muscle in two labrids that occupy the Northwest Atlantic Ocean. When exposed to cold temperatures in autumn, cunner (Tautogolabrus adspersus) and tautog (Tautoga onitis) go into a state of winter dormancy. Transitions into dormancy vary slightly, where tautog will make short migrations to overwintering habitats while cunner overwinter in year-round habitats. To understand how muscle function changes with temperature, we held fish for 4 weeks at either 5 or 20°C and then ran muscle kinetic and workloop experiments at 5, 10 and 20°C. Following experiments, we used immunohistochemistry staining to identify acclimation effects on myosin isoform expression. Muscle taken from warm-acclimated cunner performed the best, whereas there were relatively few differences among the other three groups. Cunner acclimated at both temperatures downregulated the myosin heavy chain, suggesting a transition in fiber type from slow-oxidative to fast-glycolytic. This change did not amount to a detectable difference in muscle power production and kinetics. However, overall poor performance at cold temperatures could force these fishes into torpor to overwinter. Tautog, alternatively, retained myosin heavy chains, which likely increases locomotor capabilities when making short migrations to overwintering habitats.


1995 ◽  
Vol 46 (4) ◽  
pp. 723 ◽  
Author(s):  
GJ Gooley ◽  
TA Anderson ◽  
P Appleford

The gonadal development of Murray cod, Maccullochella peelii peelii, in Lake Charlegrark, Victoria, and adjacent farm ponds was evaluated. Gonadosomatic index, macroscopic classification and histological analysis were used to determine the age at first maturity and the gonadal development in this introduced population. There is a marked difference between the sexes in the size at first maturity, with females maturing at approximately 6 years of age and 2000 g in weight and males maturing at 3-4 years and 700 g. Gonadosomatic index data indicate that spawning occurs around November. Ovarian development in this species follows a pattern similar to that in a number of other teleosts. Testes have a lobular structure. Macroscopic evaluation of ovaries provided a good indication of the stage of the development of the gonad. However, the presence of spermatozoa throughout the year in the gonads of mature male fish makes the macroscopic evaluation of testicular development less reliable. Three cod, approximately 1% of the population, contained gonads with both ovarian and testicular tissue.


1970 ◽  
Vol 48 (2) ◽  
pp. 317-321 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shibru Tedla ◽  
C. H. Fernando

The acanthocephalan Echinorhynchus salmonis showed a marked seasonality of occurrence in the yellow perch Perca fluviatilis in the Bay of Quinte, Lake Ontario. The incidence of the parasite started increasing in autumn and reached a peak in late winter. It started decreasing in March and fell to zero in August or September. Such seasonality has been previously observed for acanthocephalans in bodies of water which freeze, as does the Bay of Quinte. There is a single egg maturation period for the parasite in early summer, after which the parasites die. Infestation of intermediate hosts occurs in spring when the population of the hosts is high. The subsequent warm period ensures rapid development of the parasite. Within the fish the parasite is less affected by the lower temperatures prevailing in winter. No influence was apparent between the maturity and seasonality of the parasite and the food and breeding cycle of the fish.


Author(s):  
Pierre Koivogui ◽  
Yao Aristide Konan ◽  
Bakari Coulibaly ◽  
Essetchi Paul Kouamelan ◽  
Tidiani Koné

Background and Objectives: Marine catfish are abundant in the bays of Tabounsou and Sangareah in Republic of Guinea, but the knowledge on their biology is still scanty. The reproductive biology of Arius latiscutatus Günther, 1864 and A. gigas Boulenger, 1911 was studied through monthly sampling, from January to December 2016. Methodology: Fish were caught using gill nets in several sampling sites. Five gonadal stages were described, based on macroscopic observation of gonad form, size, weight, color and oocyte diameter. Results: The population was dominated by males (61%) in A. latiscutatus and females (53%) in A. gigas, showing a sex-ratio of 1:1.54 (Chi-square, P < 0.05) and 1:0.88 (P > 0.05), respectively. The length-weight relationship was a positive allometry for A. latiscutatus and A. gigas, and males (35.37 and 35.47 cm, respectively) reached first maturity earlier than females (39.7 and 40.8 cm, respectively). Changes in the gonadosomatic index (GSI) and in stages of gonadal development showed that A. latiscutatus spawned between April and October, while A. gigas spawned in May to November. The peak of condition factor was observed in June (0.68±0.05) and July (0.55±0.04) in females of A. latiscutatus and A. gigas, respectively. Conclusion: Both species, having only one annual breeding season, A. latiscutatus spawns earlier than A. gigas. Coastal fisheries should be restricted in cold season to preserve the ability of broodstock renewal for these species.


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