Postulating the Modality of Integrative Taxonomy in Describing the Cryptic Congener Pampus griseus (Cuvier) and Systematics of the Genus Pampus (Perciformes: Stromateidae)

Pomfrets (genus Pampus), a highly commercial fishery resource distributed in the Indo-Western Pacific that includes Lessepsian migrants, have witnessed a series of systematic reforms. In this study, based on comprehensive sampling spanning type localities and coevals in the Northern Indian Ocean, the cryptic and valid species Stromateus griseus is resurrected from the synonymy and re-described as Pampus griseus (New Combination) based on 35 specimens from the Bay of Bengal, corroborated by a molecular analysis, which indicated a confined distribution of the species. The Bayesian phylogeny of the genus was reconstructed, incorporating redressed barcodes (582 nucleotides) and concatenated mitochondrial gene sequence data (1,822 nucleotides) generated from the recorded species P. candidus, P. chinensis and the neophyte along with sequences from GenBank entrusting the latest literature. The phylograms differed in topology as for seven valid species, and the one predicated on the concatenated data erected a highly supported polytomous clade for the P. cinereus complex (P. griseus, P. cinereus, and P. candidus) which shares synapomorphies. Pampus argenteus and P. minor, together, formed a sister clade to the rest. Climate-driven vicariant events during glacial epochs and the Indo-Pacific Barrier effect can be the drivers behind the Indian and Pacific Ocean sister lineages in P. chinensis. A multivariate analysis isolated the cryptic species from its congeners. This article portrays the systematics revision of genus Pampus with an integrative taxonomic approach compiling distinctive molecular, morphological, and anatomical features, revised key for species identification, taxonomic archives of Indian stromateids, and winds up with specific remarks.

Redescription of Nothobomolochus triceros (Bassett-Smith, 1898) (Copepoda, Cyclopoida, Bomolochidae), with descriptions of the male and copepodids V-II of the species

Nothobomolochus triceros (Bassett-Smith, 1898), based on specimens recovered from the original host Pampus argenteus (Euphrasen, 1788) in Japan, are redescribed, and the male, both sexes of copepodids V and IV, and sex undetermined copepodids III and II of the species are described for the first time. The maxilliped is sexually dimorphic only in the adult in Bomolochidae, on the other hand, the rostral plate, antennule, and legs 1, 4, and 5 are sexually dimorphic in Nothobomolochus throughout the adult and copepodids V-IV. Sex is as yet undetermined in copepodids III and II in the genus.

Data-Limited Stock Assessment for Fish Species Devoid of Catch Statistics: Case Studies for Pampus argenteus and Setipinna taty in the Bohai and Yellow Seas

For many fish stocks, such as Pampus argenteus and Setipinna taty in China, size composition data are more accessible than catch data. Varied results can arise when different length-based stock assessment models are applied to these data, and fishery managers often need to reconcile conflicting estimates of population status. Superensemble modeling, a relatively recent innovation in fish stock assessments commonly used in other fields, may provide an effective solution to resolving uncertainties among the results from multiple length-based models. To verify potential for this approach to improve estimates of population status, we applied ensemble modeling to fit simulated data of P. argenteus and S. taty in the Bohai and Yellow Seas using predictions from a length-based integrated mixed effects (LIME) and length-based spawning potential ratio (LB-SPR) models as covariables in a superensemble model developed in this study. All simulation modeling of P. argenteus and S. taty in the Bohai and Yellow Seas was conducted using the operating model in the R package LIME. Initially, the LIME and LB-SPR performances were tested separately under three scenarios of fishing mortality and recruitment variability (“equilibrium scenario,” “endogenous scenario,” and “one-way base scenario”). Then, estimates of spawning potential ratio (SPR) were combined with the superensemble models (a linear model, a support vector machines, a random forest and a boosted regression tree). We trained our superensemble models with 80% of the simulated data and tested them with the remaining 20%. Our results showed that superensemble modeling substantially improved the estimates of SPR, with support vector machines performing the best at estimating population status: precision improved by 12.7% for S. taty and 8% for P. argenteus on average (namely, median absolute proportional error decreased by 0.127 and 0.08 on average) compared to the individual models. This finding has important implications for fisheries management in the context of species for which catch data are unavailable. Applying the size composition survey data, the results from support vector machines superensemble model suggested that neither S. taty nor P. argenteus in the Bohai Sea in 2019 are overfished, but the stock status of P. argenteus warrants vigilant monitoring.

COMPARATIVE STUDY OF HEAVY METALS IN THE MUSCLE OF TWO EDIBLE FINFISH SPECIES IN AND AROUND INDIAN SUNDARBANS

We analyzed the concentrations of zinc, copper, and lead in the muscle of two commercially important finfish species namely, Pampus argenteus and Scatophagus argus in and around the World Heritage site of Indian Sundarbans from 8th to 15th July 2021 using an Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. The sequence of bioaccumulation of the selected metals is as per the order Zn > Cu > Pb irrespective of the species. The degree of metal accumulation showed variation between the species with the highest value in Scatophagus argus followed by Pampus argenteus, which may be related to the difference in their food habit or degree of exposure to ambient media contaminated with heavy metals.

Description of Megacolax gen. nov. and redescription of Megacolax insolitus (Ho & Lin, 2003) (Copepoda, Cyclopoida, Bomolochidae) parasitic in the nasal cavity of the silver pomfret Pampus argenteus (Euphrasen, 1788) (Pisces, Stromateidae)

Megacolax gen. nov. (Copepoda, Cyclopoida, Bomolochidae) is established to accommodate Naricolax insolitus Ho & Lin, 2003, and next Megacolax insolitus (Ho & Lin, 2003) emended is redescribed based on specimens of both sexes recovered from the nasal cavity of the original host, Pampus argenteus (Euphrasen, 1788) (Pisces, Stromateidae) in Japan. The male is described for the first time for the species.

Selectivity of Gillnet to Catch Silver Pomfret (Pampus argenteus) in Pangandaran Waters, Indonesia

The purpose of this research was to determine the most selective mesh size of gillnet fishing gear for Pampus argenteus in coastal waters of Pangandaran Regency, West Java. Research on the selectivity of gillnet fishing gear was carried out in the coastal waters of Pangandaran, West Java Province, from August 2018 to January 2019. The method used in this research is experimental fishing, namely operating gillnet fishing gear directly in the fishing area with fishermen. The primary data collected was the measurement of the catch (fish weight, number, fork length, how the fish was caught, circumference (girth opercullum, maximum body girth). Meanwhile, the secondary data collected were supporting data from the Pangandaran District Fisheries and Marine Service, and literature study. In determining the sampling, the method used is the purposive sampling method. The operation of gillnets using 4.5 inches obtained a higher proportion of main catch (75%) than gillnets with a mesh size of 5 inches (44%). Gillnet with a mesh size of 4.5 inches, the silver pomfret caught was distributed between 17-22 cm in size with the highest mode in the 19 cm fork length. Unlike the gillnet fishing gear with a mesh size of 5 inches, the silver pomfret caught was distributed in the fork length range of 17-25 cm with the highest mode in the length class 19 cm fork length. mesh size 4.5 inches has a hanging ratio value of 0.51. Meanwhile, the 5 inch mesh size has a hanging ratio value of 0.54. Based on the length distribution, gillnets with a mesh size of 5 inches were more dominant in catching silver pomfret in a larger size class interval than gillnets with a mesh size of 4,5 inches. Based on the L50 value, both selective gillnets caught more fish at 50% second chance. The selectivity curve shows that gillnet fishing gear with a mesh size of 5 inches has more selective results than gillnets with a mesh size of 4.5 inches.