An improved gastric lavage device for removing stomach contents from live fish

Hartleb, Christopher F.; Moring, John R.

doi:10.1016/0165-7836(95)00390-v

Cited by 53 publications

(52 citation statements)

References 19 publications

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“…The flushing method, or gastric lavage, is the most simple and efficient method used to safely remove food items without sacrificing the fish (Hyslop, 1980;Hartleb & Moring, 1995;Hakala & Johnson, 2004), and has been used safely and efficiently in studies of food habits of various salmonids and sturgeon species (see Kamler & Pope, 2001;Brosse et al, 2002).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessing diet composition of seahorses in the wild using a non destructive method: Hippocampus reidi (Teleostei: Syngnathidae) as a study-case

et al. 2008

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This paper presents the results of the first analysis of the natural diet of Hippocampus reidi, one of the most sought after seahorse species in the international aquarium trade. Its main goals were to investigate food items and prey categories consumed by the species, and to discuss feeding strategy and inter and intra-individual components of niche breadth. Data were gathered from October 2005 to September 2006 at the Mamanguape estuary, State of Paraíba, NE Brazil. Food items from seahorses anaesthetized with clove oil were obtained by using a modified version of the flushing method, and were counted and identified to the lowest possible taxonomic level. Specimens were marked and had their height, sex, life and reproductive stage recorded, and then returned to the same place where they were found for the further assessment of anaesthetization/gut flushing on seahorses. Food items were analyzed using frequency of occurrence, relative abundance, index of preponderance and prey-specific abundance using the points method. The graphic method of Amundsen et al. (1996) was used to interpret the feeding strategy and contribution to niche breadth. Nematodes and crustaceans were the most important items found, the latter item usually being the most commonly found in the gut contents of syngnathids. No significant differences in diet composition were found between reproductive stages, however, a higher proportion of large items were consumed by the larger seahorses. The feeding strategy and niche breadth analysis suggests that H. reidi has a generalist feeding strategy, with high variation between phenotypes. Our results suggest that the anaesthetization-flushing technique has the potential to be a useful tool in seahorse research.Este artigo apresenta os resultados do primeiro estudo sobre a alimentação natural de Hippocampus reidi, uma das espécies de cavalos-marinhos mais intensamente comercializadas pelo mercado aquarista. Seus principais objetivos foram descrever os itens alimentares e categorias de presas consumidos pela espécie e fornecer informações acerca da estratégia alimentar e dos componentes inter e intra-individuais para a largura de nicho. As amostragens foram realizadas mensalmente por meio de busca intensiva, entre outubro de 2005 e setembro de 2006, no estuário do rio Mamanguape, Paraíba, onde os cavalos marinhos foram marcados, anestesiados com óleo de cravo e submetidos à técnica da lavagem estomacal. Para cada cavalo-marinho registrouse a altura, sexo, estágio de vida e estado reprodutivo. Após a coleta de dados, todos os cavalos-marinhos foram devolvidos ao mesmo local onde haviam sido encontrados e o material obtido através da lavagem foi identificado, em laboratório, até o menor nível taxonômico possível, com o auxílio de especialistas. Os itens alimentares foram descritos através de freqüência de ocorrência, abundância relativa, índice de preponderância e abundância específica; já a estratégia alimentar e contribuição para a largura de nicho foram descritos através do método de Amundsen. Os pri...

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessing diet composition of seahorses in the wild using a non destructive method: Hippocampus reidi (Teleostei: Syngnathidae) as a study-case

et al. 2008

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“…Additionally, it was ineffective for removing the stomach contents of chain pickerel (E. niger), which may have been due to the constricted digestive systems in small specimens. The method also caused 60% mortality in golden shiners (Notemigonus crysoleucas) and was ineffective at removing their stomach contents (Hartleb and Moring, 1995). Hartleb and Moring (1995) concluded that the advantages of this method were low costs, ease of operation for one person, efficiency of removing stomach contents, and durability and portability of the apparatus.…”

Section: B Mechanized Pressurementioning

confidence: 99%

“…This method included the use of hose clamps with a quick-disconnect fitting for greater speed when changing the size of the tubing. Additionally, a trough was used to collect flushed contents of stomachs for more efficient analysis of prey items under field conditions (Hartleb and Moring, 1995). Hartleb and Moring (1995) evaluated this method for several species of fish and found it be 100% effective with no mortality on yellow perch, largemouth bass, pumpkinseed, and white perch (M. americana).…”

Section: B Mechanized Pressurementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Additionally, a trough was used to collect flushed contents of stomachs for more efficient analysis of prey items under field conditions (Hartleb and Moring, 1995). Hartleb and Moring (1995) evaluated this method for several species of fish and found it be 100% effective with no mortality on yellow perch, largemouth bass, pumpkinseed, and white perch (M. americana). However, this method was only 75% effective at removing the complete stomach contents for brown bullheads, and difficulty was experienced in dislodging large food items.…”

Section: B Mechanized Pressurementioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, sacrificing fish for food habit studies may cause poor public relations and may not be a preferable option if study fish are threatened, endangered, economically valuable, or come from a low density population (Baker and Fraser, 1976;Crossman and Hamilton, 1978;Light et al, 1983;Haley, 1998). Additionally, lethal methods may significantly alter the population structure of fish in some areas (Light et al, 1983;Hartleb and Moring, 1995). Therefore, several nonlethal methods were developed over the last 70 years to assess food habits of fish.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Nonlethal Methods of Examining Fish Stomach Contents

Kamler

Pope

2001

Reviews in Fisheries Science

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Several nonlethal methods have been developed to determine the stomach contents of fish, including gastroscopes, tubes, stomach suction, stomach flushing, emetics, forceps, and chronic fistulas. By reviewing the literature on this subject, we found that the effectiveness (ability to remove all stomach contents) of the different methods depends on size, age, species of fish, and the size of the food items in the stomach. Overall, various methods of stomach flushing were the most effective method of recovering stomach items from a variety of fishes. Mechanized pressure appeared to be the most efficient method of stomach flushing for most large fishes. The use of syringes allowed stomach flushing to be performed on most young and small fishes. The use of tubes and stomach suctions, much simpler and less expensive methods than stomach flushing, were nearly as effective for some fishes such as black bass (Micropterus spp.) and salmonids.

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Guidance on assessing the potential impacts of selenium in freshwater ecosystems

Palace,

Graves,

Brandt

2024

Integr Envir Assess & Manag

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Despite decades of fate and effects studies, environmental selenium (Se) contamination and management remain an issue for many freshwater systems in North America. Several regulatory bodies have promulgated updated targets or management levels for Se; however, additional guidance on best practices for monitoring Se to protect freshwater aquatic life is warranted. In this article, we describe current approaches to assessing the ecological risks of Se in impaired freshwater systems and outline recommended methods for collecting and analyzing biological and abiotic samples and interpreting data. Because reproductive impairment of fish populations is most commonly used to determine the potential impacts of Se, several biological factors that could affect Se toxicity are explored, including diet, trophic positions, reproductive biology, body size and maturity, migratory movements, and use of seasonal habitats. Measuring Se concentrations in mature eggs is the most reliable metric for estimating potential reproductive impairment in fish populations because the range of toxicity thresholds is relatively narrow for all but a few tolerant fish species. In situations where collecting mature eggs is not feasible, we review the use of alternative fish tissue for estimating potential effects. Factors affecting Se uptake from freshwater are also considered with guidance on collecting abiotic (e.g., water and sediment) and biotic components of aquatic food webs (e.g., macroinvertebrates, biofilm). Integr Environ Assess Manag 2024;00:1–16. © 2024 SETAC

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An improved gastric lavage device for removing stomach contents from live fish

Cited by 53 publications

References 19 publications

Assessing diet composition of seahorses in the wild using a non destructive method: Hippocampus reidi (Teleostei: Syngnathidae) as a study-case

Assessing diet composition of seahorses in the wild using a non destructive method: Hippocampus reidi (Teleostei: Syngnathidae) as a study-case

Nonlethal Methods of Examining Fish Stomach Contents

Guidance on assessing the potential impacts of selenium in freshwater ecosystems

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