Prenatal stress from trawl capture affects mothers and neonates: a case study using the southern fiddler ray (Trygonorrhina dumerilii).

Assessing fishing effects on chondrichthyan populations has predominantly focused on quantifying mortality rates. Consequently, sub-lethal effects of capture stress on the reproductive capacity of chondrichthyans are largely unknown. We investigated the reproductive consequences of capture on pregnant southern fiddler rays (Trygonorrhina dumerilii) collected from Swan Bay, Australia, in response to laboratory-simulated trawl capture (8 h) followed immediately by air exposure (30 min). Immediately prior to, and for up to 28 days post trawling, all females were measured for body mass (BM), sex steroid concentrations (17-ß estradiol, progesterone, testosterone) and granulocyte to lymphocyte (G:L) ratio. At parturition, neonates were measured for total length (TL), BM and G:L ratio. Trawling reduced maternal BM and elevated the G:L ratio for up to 28 days. Trawling did not significantly affect any sex steroid concentrations relative to controls. Neonates from trawled mothers were significantly lower in BM and TL than control animals, and had an elevated G:L ratio. Our results show that capture of pregnant T. dumerilii can influence their reproductive potential and affect the fitness of neonates. We suggest other viviparous species are likely to be similarly affected. Sub-lethal effects of capture, particularly on reproduction, require further study to improve fisheries management and conservation of chondrichthyans.

Geographical variability in life-history traits of a midslope dogfish: the brier shark Deania calcea.

Deania calcea (n = 420) were collected from the catch of deep-water trawlers in the southern and eastern scalefish and shark fishery in southern Australia during the years 2008-2011. The total length (LT ) range varied between sexes, females being larger (n = 264; 280-1530 mm) than males (n = 156; 310-921 mm). The reproductive cycle in this population is non-continuous and asynchronous. The estimated LT at which 50% of males are mature is 807 mm and is 914 mm for females. Populations of D. calcea in higher latitudes appear to mature at a larger size than conspecifics in lower latitudes, in both the northern and southern hemispheres. Litters ranged from three to 10 embryos with a 1:1 sex ratio, but litter size does not increase with maternal LT . Deania calcea shows geographical variability in its biological parameters and gathering information on life-history traits of populations is vital to understand the trade-offs made by this species in response to environmental conditions and to predict intraspecific spatial differences. Such information is a basis for specific spatial management to protect populations from excessive fishing.

Reproductive biology of the greeneye spurdog Squalus chloroculus (Squaliformes, Squalidae).

The reproduction of the greeneye spurdog Squalus chloroculus was studied based on animals caught in the multispecies and multi-gear southern and eastern scalefish and shark fishery on the upper continental slope off southern Australia. One hundred and ninety-nine females (502-990 mm, total length, LT ) and 189 males (515-810 mm LT ) were examined. The female reproductive cycle, based on 41 breeding animals, is continuous and triennial, with the pregnancy period estimated to be 31-34 months, seasonal and synchronous with the ovarian cycle; a third of the breeding female population is estimated to give birth between September and December each year. The estimated LT at which 50% of females are mature is 799 mm (95% c.i.: 794, 804), whereas the LT at which 50% are maternal is 825 mm (95% c.i.: 817-833), but these estimates are probably biased by the phenomenon of apparent change of LT at maternity and LT at maturity following severe length-selective fishing mortality. Litters ranged from four to 15 embryos with a 1:1 sex ratio, and litter size increased with maternal length. The breeding cycle of males is neither seasonal nor synchronous with the female cycle. The estimated LT of males where 50% are mature was 629 mm (95% c.i.: 603, 645).

Biennial reproductive cycle in an extensive matrotrophic viviparous batoid: the sandyback stingaree Urolophus bucculentus from south-eastern Australia.

Urolophus bucculentus, the largest urolophid species found in southern Australia, exhibits a biennial reproductive cycle. Ovulation occurs during October to January followed by a 15-19 month period of gestation followed by parturition during April to May and a short rest period while the ovarian follicles continue to develop for subsequent ovulation. Male breeding condition peaks during April to June to coincide with the period of parturition. Urolophus bucculentus has the highest matrotrophic contribution reported for any urolophid species, with a mean wet mass gain from egg in utero (4 g) to full-term embryo in utero (250 g) of c. 6250% (maximum c. 7200%), and perhaps explains the biennial female reproductive cycle where 50% of females contribute to each year's recruitment. Litter size (one to five) increases with total length (L(T) ). Females reach a longer maximum L(T) (L(Tmax) ) than do males (885 v. 660 mm). The L(T) at maturity for males and females at 50% mature (L(T50) ) is c. 414 mm (63% of L(Tmax) ) for males and c. 502 mm (57% of L(Tmax) ) for females, length at maternity indicates that recruitment production occurs later in life at c. 632 mm L(T) (71% of L(Tmax) ).

Using rapid assessment and demographic methods to evaluate the effects of fishing on Heterodontus portusjacksoni off far-eastern Victoria, Australia.

A rapid semi-quantitative ecological risk assessment method (productivity and susceptibility analysis) indicated that, despite its low biological productivity, the Port Jackson shark Heterodontus portusjacksoni is at low risk to all fishing methods in far-eastern Victoria, Australia, under the present fishing practices, because of its low catch susceptibility. The risk to this population, however, would increase if the shark gillnet fishery operating in the region were to retain the species as a by-product. Demographic analysis indicated that the species has medium intrinsic population growth rate and potential rebound in comparison with other chondrichthyan species, juveniles have higher elasticity than mature females and both juvenile and mature females have higher elasticities than hatchlings. Because of its low biological productivity and moderate resilience to the effects of fishing, cautious management measures will be necessary to ensure the sustainable use of H. portusjacksoni if its marketing increases in the future. Information on the dynamics of a population that is valuable to provide management advice can be obtained through demographic methods, but rapid assessment methods can also provide complementary information on the effects of fishing by considering the catch susceptibility of the population to each fishing method.

Parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP) production sites in elasmobranchs.

This study describes the distribution of parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP) antigen and its mRNA in seven species of cartilaginous fish from six elasmobranch families. Antigen was detected using antibodies to synthetic human PTHrP and the mRNA with a riboprobe to human PTHrP gene sequence. The distribution pattern of PTHrP in the cartilaginous fish studied, reflected that observed in mammals but PTHrP further occurs in some sites unique to cartilaginous fish. Of particular note was the demonstration of PTHrP in the shark skeleton, which although considered not to contain bone, may form by a process similar to that forming the early stages of mammalian endochondral bone. The distribution of PTHrP in the elasmobranch skeleton resembled the distribution of PTHrP in the developing mammalian skeleton. Differences in the staining pattern between antisera to N-terminal PTHrP and mid-molecule PTHrP in the brain and pituitary suggested that the PTHrP molecule might be post-translationally processed in these tissues. The successful use of antibodies and a probe to human PTHrP in tissues from the early vertebrates examined in this study suggests that the PTHrP molecule is conserved from elasmobranchs to humans.

Effects of water temperature and salinity on parathyroid hormone-related protein in the circulation and tissues of elasmobranchs.

Parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP) is a hypercalcemic factor in mammals. The PTHrP antigen has been localized in both bony and cartilaginous fish tissues. Sites of localization included gills, skin and kidney, organs involved in osmoregulation. Physiological and localization experiments were carried out in elasmobranchs to dissect PTHrP's possible role in osmoregulation. The effects of alterations in the external environment on PTHrP in sharks were examined by keeping juvenile animals under conditions of increased temperature or decreased salinity. There were no alterations in the PTHrP levels in either the circulation or tissues. Significant correlations between plasma PTHrP, electrolyte and urea levels were seen in the pretreatment samples. The localization of PTHrP by immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization revealed conserved sites of distribution from elasmobranchs to mammals, including skin, kidney, muscle and skeleton.

Parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP) in cartilaginous and bony fish tissues.

Tissues from a range of fish were examined for the presence of parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP) to investigate PTHrP protein distribution and PTHrP gene expression in jawless fish, cartilaginous fish, and bony fish. Immunoreactive PTHrP was localized using antisera to N-terminal and mid-molecule regions of human PTHrP and PTHrP gene expression examined using a digoxigenin labeled riboprobe to a conserved region of the mammalian PTHrP gene. In all of the fish studied, PTHrP protein and messenger RNA (mRNA) were localized to the skin, kidney, and skeletal muscle, following the pattern seen in higher vertebrates. Additional sites of localization for both protein and mRNA included gill, nerve cord, and pituitary, as well as developing dermal denticles and rectal gland in the elasmobranch species. The sites of PTHrP distribution indicate that PTHrP may have roles in ionoregulation as well as growth and differentiation in fish, as has been suggested in higher vertebrates. The results imply that the distribution of PTHrP is widespread in fish and that there is homology between the PTHrP molecules found in humans and fish. The conservation of localization and possible similarity of the PTHrP molecules between tetrapods and fish suggests that PTHrP has a number of fundamental roles in vertebrates. J. Exp. Zool. 284:541-548, 1999.

Statistical comparison of the results from six analytical chemistry laboratories of the mercury content of muscle tissue of two species of sharks.

Statistical tests were carried out on the results of chemical analysis for total mercury concentrations of replicate samples of muscle tissue of school shark Galeorhinus australis (Macleay) and gummy shark Mustelus antarcticus Guenther from six independent analytical laboratories. These tests showed that one laboratory produced results 9% below the overall average of all results, another 1% below average while the other four were all 5% above average. Moreover, one laboratory had significantly lower scatter of results than the others, and the percentage scatter (standard error expressed as a percentage of the mean) in two of the laboratories tended to diminish as the magnitude of the results increased. Correction for what were concluded to be wild points indicated that the scatter for all laboratories was below 14%.