Feeding selectivity in larvae of the European hake (Merluccius merluccius) in relation to ontogeny and visual capabilities

Morote, Elvira; Olivar, M. Pilar; Bozzano, Anna; Villate, Fernando; Uriarte, Ibon

doi:10.1007/s00227-011-1654-2

Cited by 39 publications

(49 citation statements)

References 45 publications

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“…Thus, the relationship between these plankton components could have arisen from the horizontal coincidence between them. Nevertheless, trophic interaction cannot be ruled out because at least two of the most abundant species of fish larvae caught in this study consume mesozooplankton; M. poutassou larvae feed on relatively large zooplankton prey (Hillgruber et al 1997) and even first feeding larvae of M. merluccius feed on mesozooplankton (Morote et al 2011).…”

Section: Lfcmentioning

confidence: 93%

Composition and structure of the larval fish community in the NW Iberian upwelling system during the winter mixing period

Rodrı́guez

Cabrero²,

Gago³

et al. 2015

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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The composition and structure of the larval fish community (LFC) in the NW Iberian upwelling system in late winter 2012 were examined, and the influence of abiotic and biotic factors on the horizontal distribution of fish larvae and on the horizontal structure of the LFC was investigated. The LFC, composed of 62 taxa (59 species and 3 genera) in 28 families, was dominated by Micromesistius poutassou followed by Scomber scombrus, Merluccius merluccius and Maurolicus muelleri. Multivariate analyses identified depth, sea surface temperature, geostrophic velocity and mesozooplankton biomass as the environmental factors involved in explaining variability in the LFC parameters (larval fish abundance, species richness and diversity) and revealed that the LFC was structured into coastal and slope larval fish assemblages. The main factor defining these assemblages was depth. However, the unusual coastal downwelling that occurred during the study would have participated in creating them and in maintaining assemblage boundaries, so that the importance of depth to the cross-shelf structuring of the LFC may have been overestimated. Our results suggest that larval fish assemblages in regions of coastal upwelling are driven by coastal downwelling during the winter mixing period and support the idea that fish larvae act as short-term (~10 d) biological tracers of the hydrography of the region during that period.

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Section: Lfcmentioning

confidence: 93%

Composition and structure of the larval fish community in the NW Iberian upwelling system during the winter mixing period

Rodrı́guez

Cabrero²,

Gago³

et al. 2015

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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“…In European hake larval development, prey capture became guaranteed early, because of the early development of gut, jaws, fins, swim bladder, teeth and sensory organs (Mas-Riera 1991, Palomera et al 2005, Bjelland and Skifftesvik 2006, Morote et al 2011, Sánchez et al 2011. During the endo-exotrophic feeding phase of hake larvae, gut widening takes places, which is a factor as important as mouth size for determining the ingestion of prey.…”

Section: General Proteinsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…An important aspect of larval development related to the feeding success of M. merluccius is its well-developed visual acuity from its earliest stages, which must help to detect a wide range of prey, or prey of the same size from a greater distance (Morote et al 2011). The appearance of functional photoreceptors (cones and rods) in fish retina (Blaxter 1986, Kawaumura and Washiyama 1989, Kawaumura et al 1984, Mas-Riera 1991, Margulies 1997 can be related to higher visual sensitivity, and it is very important during adaptation to lower light intensities, especially when fish shift from pelagic environments to bentho-pelagic environments (MasRiera 1991, Morote et al 2011). The first indicator of functional eyes is the occurrence of melanin within the eyecup, first seen in hake larvae at 4 dph.…”

Section: General Proteinsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In hatchery-reared hake larvae, rods were well developed at 9 to 10 dph (4.30 mm TL). Recently, Morote et al (2011) suggested that in the smallest wild-caught hake larvae (2.4 mm), the complete functionality of the retina was questionable, because no pigment migration was observed. However, retinal pigment migration was detected in larvae larger than 3 mm, which had a pure cone-like retina; presumptive rod precursor cells in the outer nuclear layer were first reported in wild-caught hake larvae of 7 mm TL.…”

Section: General Proteinsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Rods provide a better vision under low intensity levels (Kawamura 1984) and they are much more photosensitive than cones, which are related to acute form vision. High sensitivity due to rods could be involved in movement perception, and may be particularly important in predator avoidance (Blaxter 1986, Morote et al 2011.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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A morphohistological and histochemical study of hatchery-reared European hake, <i>Merluccius merluccius</i> (Linnaeus, 1758), during the lecitho-exotrophic larval phase

Ortiz-Delgado¹,

Iglesias²,

Sánchez³

et al. 2012

Sci. Mar.

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SUMMARY:The larval development of reared European hake, Merluccius merluccius (Linnaeus, 1758), during the lecithotrophic phase, from hatching until 5 days post-hatching (dph), and throughout the endo-exotrophic feeding phase (6-10 dph) was studied by histology and histochemistry. Many crucial morphological, cellular and tissular changes were observed during both feeding phases, mostly those related to digestive and visual ontogenetic events, such as differentiation of buccopharyngeal cavity and eye development (at hatching); pigmentation and differentiation of cone-photoreceptors (4 dph); opening of the mouth and anus, appearance of intestinal valves (5-6 dph); presence of buccopharyngo-esophageal (5-6 dph) and intestinal (9 dph) mucous cells; folding of intestinal mucosa (6 dph); development of regional specific digestive musculature (6 dph); typical structure and functionality of the liver (sinusoids, biliary and pancreatic ducts, glycogen, protein and lipid reserves) (4-6 dph); and characteristic acinar distribution pattern of eosinophilic zymogen granules of the exocrine pancreas (6 dph). Between 9 and 10 dph, the hake larvae showed evident signs of lipid absorption within enterocytes of the anterior intestinal region and a remarkable process of pynocitosis and intracellular digestion was detected in the posterior intestine (supranuclear inclusions or acidophilic protein vesicles). In hake larvae at 10 dph, a proliferation of renal tubules, spleen differentiation and gill development, as well as the presence of the first thyroid follicle, were clearly distinguished. At this time, stomach gastric gland differentiation was not detected and endocrine pancreas and gill lamellae were not evidenced. However, and interestingly, swim bladder and eyes (developing rods) were well differentiated in larval development from 9 dph onwards. In summary, in European hake larval development during the endo-exogenous feeding phase and especially at 9 to 10 dph, most systems, organs and tissues were well differentiated. Particularly, digestive and visual systems were developed and physiologically functional some days before the start of the exogenous feeding phase.Keywords: European hake, Merluccius merluccius, larvae, histology, histochemistry, ontogeny, yolk sac, endo-exotrophic feeding, visual acuity. RESUMEN:Estudio morfohistológico e histoquímico de larvas cultivadas de merluza europea, Merluccius Merluccius (Linnaeus, 1758), durante la fase lecito-exotrófica. -Se ha realizado un estudio histológico e histoquími-co del desarrollo larvario de la merluza europea, Merluccius merluccius (Linnaeus, 1758) durante la fase lecitotrófica, desde la eclosión hasta los 5 días post-eclosión -dpe-, y en la fase endo-exotrófica (larvas de 6-10 dpe). Durante ambas fases alimentarias se han observado importantes cambios morfológicos, celulares y tisulares, principalmente aquellos relacionados con la ontogenia digestiva y visual, tales como: la diferenciación de la cavidad bucofaríngea y desarrollo y diferenciación ocular (en el momento de...

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European hake ( Merluccius merluccius ) in the Northeast Atlantic Ocean

Korta

García

Santurtún

et al. 2015

Hakes

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Feeding selectivity in larvae of the European hake (Merluccius merluccius) in relation to ontogeny and visual capabilities

Cited by 39 publications

References 45 publications

Composition and structure of the larval fish community in the NW Iberian upwelling system during the winter mixing period

Composition and structure of the larval fish community in the NW Iberian upwelling system during the winter mixing period

A morphohistological and histochemical study of hatchery-reared European hake, <i>Merluccius merluccius</i> (Linnaeus, 1758), during the lecitho-exotrophic larval phase

European hake ( Merluccius merluccius ) in the Northeast Atlantic Ocean

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