Endocrine profiles during silvering of the European eel (Anguilla anguilla L.) living in saltwater

2007 ◽  
Vol 57 (4) ◽  
pp. 453-465 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sylvie Dufour ◽  
Vincent van Ginneken ◽  
Caroline Durif ◽  
Jorg Doornbos ◽  
Kees Noorlander ◽  
...  

AbstractThe transformation of yellow eel into silver eel is called 'silvering', and takes place prior to migration. This is the first study to provide hormonal profiles of European eel (Anguilla anguilla L.) during silvering. This transformation occurs in association with hormonal surges of testosterone (T) and estradiol (E2) but not with thyroid hormones (TH) and growth hormone (GH) which have a maximum activity in spring and a minimum activity in summer and autumn. It is therefore suggested THs and GH are not important for eel gonadal development in the autumn. Based on PCA analysis with physiological, morphological and endocrinological parameters it is concluded that the transition is gradual and that eels go through several stages.

2015 ◽  
Vol 73 (1) ◽  
pp. 158-164 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael I. Pedersen ◽  
Gorm H. Rasmussen

Abstract Stocking of young eel is widely practised, as a measure, to meet the management target of the EU eel recovery plan. The target of the recovery plan is to increase the escapement to 40% silver eel biomass, relative to pristine conditions. The scientific information to predict the outcome in silver eel biomass from stocking is limited and may depend on whether translocation of wild glass eel or yellow eel is used, or if the stocked eels used are yellow eel from aquaculture. We evaluated the yield from stocking two different sizes, 3 and 9 g eels from aquaculture. A professional fishery recaptured 12.7% of the 3 g and 9.4% of the 9 g eels, originally stocked. Growth rate and mortality rate were different for the two stocked sizes, favouring the small eels. Brutto yield per recruit (YPR) was 13 and 9.2 g and netto YPR was 9.8 and 0.31 g for 3 and 9 g eel, respectively. We conclude that there seems to be no advantage in using larger 9 g eels compared with small 3 g eels for stocking.


2016 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 69-75 ◽  
Author(s):  
Piotr Dębowski ◽  
Rafał Bernaś ◽  
Michał Skóra ◽  
Jacek Morzuch

Abstract The European eel, Anguilla anguilla L., is an endangered species. Barriers to its downstream spawning migration are one of the greatest threats this species faces. There are hundreds of hydroelectric plants (HEP) on rivers in Poland (> 600), and thousands throughout Europe. Eel that pass through HEP turbines as they migrate downstream suffer high mortality, but this depends mainly on local and technical conditions. Silver eel mortality was estimated and the possibility of the fish bypassing the turbines was studied between November 2013 and June 2014 at a typical HEP in northern Poland. Two telemetry methods were used with 49 eel: passive integrated transponder (PIT) system and acoustic telemetry. Fifty five percent of eel migrated downstream in fall 2013, soon after their release, and 45% migrated the next spring. The eel did not use the fish passes designed for upstream migration; thus, they were forced to go through the turbines, which resulted in 55% mortality. HEPs cause interruptions and delays in eel spawning migrations and are responsible for high eel mortality. This can make implementing an eel restitution plan difficult or even impossible in river systems with many barriers.


2005 ◽  
Vol 56 (5) ◽  
pp. 629 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. N. Tzeng ◽  
K. P. Severin ◽  
C. H. Wang ◽  
H. Wickström

The hypothesis that elemental composition of otoliths of the eel (Anguilla spp.) changes with life stage and growth habitat was tested in the present study. The minor elements Cl, Na, K, Mg, Ca, Sr and P in otoliths of European eels (Anguilla anguilla) were examined by using an Electron Probe Microanalyser (EPMA) equipped with wavelength dispersive spectrometers (Cameca SX-50). Yellow-stage eels were collected from coastal waters and lakes of Sweden in 1987, 1988, 1991, and 1994, with ages ranging from 5 to 18 years old. Strontium maps and profiles of Sr : Ca ratio, as well as the elver check in otoliths, were used to classify life history stages of the eels as leptocephalus, and freshwater- and seawater-resident yellow eels. Canonical score plots of the otolith elemental compositions of the freshwater-resident yellow eel were completely separated from those of leptocephalus and seawater-resident yellow eel, but the latter two partially overlapped. Strontium is the primary component in determining the discrimination, but the nutrient-related (S and P), and the physiologically controlled elements (Na and Cl), may also play an important role in the discrimination. These results indicate that multiple-elemental information can provide additional insight into the migratory environmental history of diadromous fishes.


2007 ◽  
Vol 64 (7) ◽  
pp. 1472-1482 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. W. Aprahamian ◽  
A. M. Walker ◽  
B. Williams ◽  
A. Bark ◽  
B. Knights

Abstract Aprahamian, M. W., Walker, A. M., Williams, B., Bark, A., and Knights, B. 2007. On the application of models of European eel (Anguilla anguilla) production and escapement to the development of Eel Management Plans: the River Severn. – ICES Journal of Marine Science, 64: 1472–1482. The European eel stock has declined significantly since the 1980s, and the Eel Recovery Plan of the European Commission requires Member States to develop river basin Eel Management Plans (EMPs) that will achieve an escapement of silver eels that equals or exceeds 40% of the escapement biomass that would be produced in the absence of human activities. However, because silver eel escapement is not quantified within the UK, a modelling approach is required to estimate potential and actual escapement, and to assess the likely effects of management measures. We focus on two approaches developed in the UK, the Reference Condition Model (RCM) and the Scenario-based Model for Eel Populations (SMEP), and illustrate how such approaches can be used in EMPs using selected data from the River Severn. The RCM results indicate that the yellow eel population in the River Severn basin may be just 30–40% of the potential density indicated by reference conditions derived from a selection of rivers between the late 1970s and the early 1980s. The challenges of applying a model designed to be as realistic of eel production as possible, and the limited data on natural eel habitat and eel production in the Severn, preclude a SMEP analysis similar to that of the RCM, but simulations based on a simplified basin description and eel survey data from the early 1980s illustrate the potential of this model to assess compliance and test management scenarios.


2007 ◽  
Vol 57 (1) ◽  
pp. 63-77 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Paul Balm ◽  
Caroline Durif ◽  
Vincent van Ginneken ◽  
Erik Antonissen ◽  
Ron Boot ◽  
...  

AbstractThe transformation of yellow eel into silver eel is called 'silvering', and takes place prior to migration. We found the sedentary yellow phase in spring, the migratory silver phase in autumn, while August was a cross-over month. We used principal component analysis (PCA) to characterise the morphological and physiological changes that accompany silvering in the European eel (Anguilla anguilla L.). Silvering is positively related to external parameters such as eye size, internal maturation parameters like GSI, vitellogenine (VIT), and blood-substrates such as phospholipids, Free Fatty Acids (FFA), and cholesterol. The Hepatosomatic Index was not significantly different between yellow and silver groups. In contrast, a significant difference was observed for parameters of body constitution (fat, protein, dry matter) between yellow and silver stages. Furthermore, the process of silvering is accompanied with increased levels of cortisol in autumn, which plays a role in mobilisation of metabolic energy from body stores towards migratory activity and gonadal growth. Based on Principal Component Analysis (PCA) with physiological, morphological and endocrinological parameters, it is concluded that during the process of silvering, several developmental stages can be recognised, with a timeframe of the premigratory sedentary yellow phase from April until July, August is a cross-over month, and the migratory silver phase is found from September until November.


2013 ◽  
Vol 64 (4) ◽  
pp. 324 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eva B. Thorstad ◽  
Finn Økland ◽  
Håkan Westerberg ◽  
Kim Aarestrup ◽  
Julian D. Metcalfe

Effects of implanting data-storage tags in European eel, Anguilla anguilla, and the suitability of different suture materials (braided permanent silk, permanent monofilament, absorbable and absorbable antibacterial) were examined. The tags consisted of an electronic unit and three floats on a wire, making them flexible and able to follow the swimming movements of the eel. No mortality occurred, and tagged fish did not differ from the control fish in growth. Sutures were shed or dissolved slowly. After 4 weeks, there was no difference among the groups in the proportion of sutures left. After 6 months, fish with braided silk had largely shed their sutures, fish with monofilament sutures had the majority of sutures left, whereas the fish with absorbable sutures were intermediate in between. Fish with monofilament sutures showed the least-extensive inflammation reactions and fastest wound healing. Antibacterial treatment had no effect on inflammation or healing rates. After 6 months, the tag started to become expelled through the incision in five fish (12%). The internal reaction appeared stronger around the floats, suggesting that the coating material of the floats created a tissue reaction, which should be further investigated. Intraperitoneal implantation appears to be a suitable tagging method for European silver eel, and it is recommended to close incisions using permanent monofilament sutures.


1971 ◽  
Vol 49 (1) ◽  
pp. 121-128 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. W. Gray ◽  
C. W. Andrews

The age (otolith readings) and growth of American eels (Anguilla rostrata (LeSueur)) from fresh and brackish waters in Newfoundland were studied. The eels in Burnt Berry Brook grew faster than eels in the other areas. The growth of young eels in brackish water was slow. Although the growth of these eels increased in subsequent age groups, freshwater eels were consistently larger at each age.The silver eel migrates after spending 12 to 13 years in Newfoundland waters. The American eel in Newfoundland is generally larger than the European eel (Anguilla anguilla L.) at the onset of migration; however, its appearance and state of maturity parallel the condition described in the European eel.


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