Non-lethal approach identifies variability of δ (15)N values in the fin rays of Atlantic Goliath Grouper, Epinephelus itajara.
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ABSTRACT:
SUBMITTER: Tzadik OE
PROVIDER: S-EPMC4465958 | biostudies-literature |
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
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Project description:The Atlantic Goliath Grouper (Epinephelus itajara) population has rebounded from near extinction to an international status as vulnerable due in part to regional species recovery efforts. The southeastern US population has been recovering with the main spawning locations off the coasts of Florida. Despite their economic importance to the catch-and-release fishery and the dive industry, and their ecological importance as ecosystem engineers resulting in positive impacts on reefs and species richness, baseline health assessment information is very limited in this species to date. The objectives of this study were to: (1) establish reference intervals for hematological and plasma biochemical analytes, and report immune function, oxidative stress, and vitellogenin in mature males and females; (2) evaluate total length, age, and sex in relation to blood analytes in juvenile and mature fish; (3) assess analytes across sampled months in mature male and female fish; and (4) describe the typical light microscopy findings in liver and gill biopsies, including quantitative assessment of pigmented macrophage aggregates. Health indices are reported as reference intervals when applicable, or otherwise descriptively. Blood analyte correlations with length and age, sex differences, and comparisons across months provided relevant physiological considerations, including differences in protein/energy metabolism, tissue growth, sexual maturation, active reproduction, and antigenic stimulation. Liver histology identified changes associated with life stage, active reproduction, or of subclinically to clinically insignificant infectious and/or inflammatory processes. Hepatocellular vacuolation and pigmented macrophage aggregates were prominent. Pigmented macrophage aggregates correlated with total length, presumably from continuous antigenic stimulation and/or metabolic changes as fish grow. Gill histological findings were subtle. The data presented herein provide an essential baseline assessment of a suite of health variables in an iconic marine teleost species, serves as a springboard for future studies relevant to conservation physiology, and allows for population-level applications for conservation management and policy.
| S-EPMC7546827 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Inertial measurement unit sensors (IMU; i.e., accelerometer, gyroscope and magnetometer combinations) are frequently fitted to animals to better understand their activity patterns and energy expenditure. Capable of recording hundreds of data points a second, these sensors can quickly produce large datasets that require methods to automate behavioral classification. Here, we describe behaviors derived from a custom-built multi-sensor bio-logging tag attached to Atlantic Goliath grouper (Epinephelus itajara) within a simulated ecosystem. We then compared the performance of two commonly applied machine learning approaches (random forest and support vector machine) to a deep learning approach (convolutional neural network, or CNN) for classifying IMU data from this tag. CNNs are frequently used to recognize activities from IMU data obtained from humans but are less commonly considered for other animals. Thirteen behavioral classes were identified during ethogram development, nine of which were classified. For the conventional machine learning approaches, 187 summary statistics were extracted from the data, including time and frequency domain features. The CNN was fed absolute values obtained from fast Fourier transformations of the raw tri-axial accelerometer, gyroscope and magnetometer channels, with a frequency resolution of 512 data points. Five metrics were used to assess classifier performance; the deep learning approach performed better across all metrics (Sensitivity = 0.962; Specificity = 0.996; F1-score = 0.962; Matthew's Correlation Coefficient = 0.959; Cohen's Kappa = 0.833) than both conventional machine learning approaches. Generally, the random forest performed better than the support vector machine. In some instances, a conventional learning approach yielded a higher performance metric for particular classes (e.g., the random forest had a F1-score of 0.971 for backward swimming compared to 0.955 for the CNN). Deep learning approaches could potentially improve behavioral classification from IMU data, beyond that obtained from conventional machine learning methods.
| S-EPMC8512029 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Jinhu groupers, the hybrid offspring of tiger groupers (Epinephelus fuscoguttatus) and potato groupers (Epinephelus tukula), have excellent heterosis in fast growth and strong stress resistance. However, compared with the maternal tiger grouper, Jinhu groupers show delayed gonadal development. To explore the interspecific difference in gonadal development, we compared the transcriptomes of brain, pituitary, and gonadal tissues between Jinhu groupers and tiger groupers at 24-months old. In total, 3034 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were obtained. KEGG (Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes) enrichment analyses showed that the osteoclast differentiation, oocyte meiosis, and ovarian steroidogenesis may be involved in the difference in gonadal development. Trend analysis showed that the DEGs were mainly related to signal transduction and cell growth and death. Additionally, differences in expression levels of nr4a1, pgr, dmrta2, tbx19, and cyp19a1 may be related to gonadal retardation in Jinhu groupers. A weighted gene co-expression network analysis revealed three modules (i.e., saddlebrown, paleturquoise, and greenyellow) that were significantly related to gonadal development in the brain, pituitary, and gonadal tissues, respectively, of Jinhu groupers and tiger groupers. Network diagrams of the target modules were constructed and the respective hub genes were determined (i.e., cdh6, col18a1, and hat1). This study provides additional insight into the molecular mechanism underlying ovarian stunting in grouper hybrids.
| S-EPMC11275438 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundOrange-spotted grouper (Epinephelus coioides) is an economically important marine fish cultured in China and Southeast Asian countries. The emergence of infectious viral diseases, including iridovirus and betanodavirus, have severely affected food products based on this species, causing heavy economic losses. Limited available information on the genomics of E. coioides has hampered the understanding of the molecular mechanisms that underlie host-virus interactions. In this study, we used a 454 pyrosequencing method to investigate differentially-expressed genes in the spleen of the E. coioides infected with Singapore grouper iridovirus (SGIV).ResultsUsing 454 pyrosequencing, we obtained abundant high-quality ESTs from two spleen-complementary DNA libraries which were constructed from SGIV-infected (V) and PBS-injected fish (used as a control: C). A total of 407,027 and 421,141 ESTs were produced in control and SGIV infected libraries, respectively. Among the assembled ESTs, 9,616 (C) and 10,426 (V) ESTs were successfully matched against known genes in the NCBI non-redundant (nr) database with a cut-off E-value above 10-5. Gene ontology (GO) analysis indicated that "cell part", "cellular process" and "binding" represented the largest category. Among the 25 clusters of orthologous group (COG) categories, the cluster for "translation, ribosomal structure and biogenesis" represented the largest group in the control (185 ESTs) and infected (172 ESTs) libraries. Further KEGG analysis revealed that pathways, including cellular metabolism and intracellular immune signaling, existed in the control and infected libraries. Comparative expression analysis indicated that certain genes associated with mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), chemokine, toll-like receptor and RIG-I signaling pathway were alternated in response to SGIV infection. Moreover, changes in the pattern of gene expression were validated by qRT-PCR, including cytokines, cytokine receptors, and transcription factors, apoptosis-associated genes, and interferon related genes.ConclusionThis study provided abundant ESTs that could contribute greatly to disclosing novel genes in marine fish. Furthermore, the alterations of predicted gene expression patterns reflected possible responses of these fish to the virus infection. Taken together, our data not only provided new information for identification of novel genes from marine vertebrates, but also shed new light on the understanding of defense mechanisms of marine fish to viral pathogens.
| S-EPMC3226587 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Understanding the evolutionary transformation of fish fins into tetrapod limbs is a fundamental problem in biology. The search for antecedents of tetrapod digits in fish has remained controversial because the distal skeletons of limbs and fins differ structurally, developmentally, and histologically. Moreover, comparisons of fins with limbs have been limited by a relative paucity of data on the cellular and molecular processes underlying the development of the fin skeleton. Here, we provide a functional analysis, using CRISPR/Cas9 and fate mapping, of 5' hox genes and enhancers in zebrafish that are indispensable for the development of the wrists and digits of tetrapods. We show that cells marked by the activity of an autopodial hoxa13 enhancer exclusively form elements of the fin fold, including the osteoblasts of the dermal rays. In hox13 knockout fish, we find that a marked reduction and loss of fin rays is associated with an increased number of endochondral distal radials. These discoveries reveal a cellular and genetic connection between the fin rays of fish and the digits of tetrapods and suggest that digits originated via the transition of distal cellular fates.
| S-EPMC5161576 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Processes that regulate size and patterning along an axis must be highly integrated to generate robust shapes; relative changes in these processes underlie both congenital disease and evolutionary change. Fin length mutants in zebrafish have provided considerable insight into the pathways regulating fin size, yet signals underlying patterning have remained less clear. The bony rays of the fins possess distinct patterning along the proximodistal axis, reflected in the location of ray bifurcations and the lengths of ray segments, which show progressive shortening along the axis. Here, we show that thyroid hormone (TH) regulates aspects of proximodistal patterning of the caudal fin rays, regardless of fin size. TH promotes distal gene expression patterns, coordinating ray bifurcations and segment shortening with skeletal outgrowth along the proximodistal axis. This distalizing role for TH is conserved between development and regeneration, in all fins (paired and medial), and between Danio species as well as distantly related medaka. During regenerative outgrowth, TH acutely induces Shh-mediated skeletal bifurcation. Zebrafish have multiple nuclear TH receptors, and we found that unliganded Thrab-but not Thraa or Thrb-inhibits the formation of distal features. Broadly, these results demonstrate that proximodistal morphology is regulated independently from size-instructive signals. Modulating proximodistal patterning relative to size-either through changes to TH metabolism or other hormone-independent pathways-can shift skeletal patterning in ways that recapitulate aspects of fin ray diversity found in nature.
| S-EPMC10214145 | biostudies-literature
Project description:The purpose of subject was to explore the optimum protein requirement of juvenile grouper (Epinephelus coioides). In the test, 450 juveniles with an average weight (10.02 ± 0.22) g were randomly divided into six groups with triplicate, and were fed with 350, 400, 450, 500, 550 and 600 g/kg iso-lipid test diet twice 1 day for 8 weeks, respectively. The results showed that: (1) With the increase of protein level, the body weight gain rate and specific growth rate first increased and then reduced, while the feed coefficient rate first decreased and then increased, while the protein efficiency significantly decreased (P < 0.05). (2) With the increase of protein level, the condition factor, hepaticsomatic index and visceralsomatic index significantly reduced (P < 0.05). (3) With the increase of protein level, the crude protein content of whole fish and muscle gradually increased, while the crude lipid content gradually decreased. (4) High-protein diet (550-600 g/kg) significantly increased the plasma total protein content and decreased the triglyceride content of orange-spotted grouper (P < 0.05). (5) Compared with the 350 g/kg group, 500, 550, 600 g/kg groups significantly increased the activities of glutamic-pyruvic transaminase and glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase in liver (P < 0.05). (6) With the increase of protein level, the protease activity of intestine first increased and then decreased, and reached the maximum at the protein level of 500 g/kg, while lipase and amylase decreased significantly (P < 0.05). (7) The activities of acid phosphatase, superoxide dismutase and lysozyme in liver increased first and then decreased with the increase of protein level, and reached the maximum in the 400 g/kg protein group. According to the analysis specific growth rate, the optimum protein level of juvenile orange-spotted grouper is 521.84 g/kg.
| S-EPMC7973734 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Transcriptome data of brain, pituitary and gonad from Jinhu grouper and Epinephelus fuscoguttatus
| PRJNA955319 | ENA
Project description:Hermaphroditism, associated with territoriality and dominance behavior, is common in the marine environment. While male sex-specific coloration patterns have been documented in groupers, particularly during the spawning season, few data regarding social structure and the context for these color displays are available. In the present study, we define the social structure and male typical behavior of rock hind (Epinephelus adscensionis) in the wild. In addition, we detail the captive conditions and time period necessary to induce the onset of the sex-specific coloration and sexual change. At six oil production platform locations in the Gulf of Mexico, rock hind social group size and typical male rock hind social behavior were documented. We observed a rapid temporary color display in rock hind that could be turned on and off within three seconds and was used for confronting territory intruders and displays of aggression towards females. The male-specific "tuxedo" pattern consists of a bright yellow tail, a body with alternating dark brown and white patches and a dark bar extending from the upper mandible to the operculum. Identification and size ranges of male, female and intersex fish collected from oil platforms were determined in conjunction with gonadal histology. Rock hind social order is haremic with one dominant male defending a territory and a linear dominance hierarchy among individuals. In five captive experiments, the largest remaining female rock hind displayed the male specific color pattern within 32d after dominant male removal from the social group. To our knowledge, this is the first evidence in a grouper species of color patterning used to display territoriality and dominance outside of spawning aggregations. The behavioral paradigm described here is a key advance that will enable mechanistic studies of this complex sex change process.
| S-EPMC3102057 | biostudies-other
Project description:Determining the cellular source of new skeletal elements is critical for understanding appendage regeneration in amphibians and fish. Recent lineage-tracing studies indicated that zebrafish fin ray bone regenerates through the dedifferentiation and proliferation of spared osteoblasts, with limited if any contribution from other cell types. Here, we examined the requirement for this mechanism by using genetic ablation techniques to destroy virtually all skeletal osteoblasts in adult zebrafish fins. Animals survived this injury and restored the osteoblast population within 2 weeks. Moreover, amputated fins depleted of osteoblasts regenerated new fin ray structures at rates indistinguishable from fins possessing a resident osteoblast population. Inducible genetic fate mapping confirmed that new bone cells do not arise from dedifferentiated osteoblasts under these conditions. Our findings demonstrate diversity in the cellular origins of appendage bone and reveal that de novo osteoblasts can fully support the regeneration of amputated zebrafish fins.
| S-EPMC3341140 | biostudies-literature