First molecular timetree of billfishes (Istiophoriformes: Acanthomorpha) shows a Late Miocene radiation of marlins and allies

Santini, Francesco; Sorenson, Laurie

doi:10.1080/11250003.2013.848945

Cited by 25 publications

(27 citation statements)

References 34 publications

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“…A total of 33 fish heads (five billfish species and one scombroid species) were collected from recreational fishing tournaments and commercial fisheries along the Gulf of Mexico, the Florida Keys, Ocean city, Maryland and Hawaii and kept frozen until dissections were performed. All five billfish species were selected to represent a wide range of rostrum morphologies and taxa according to the latest available phylogeny (Santini & Sorenson, ). Species collected include blue marlin ( Makaira nigricans , N = 6), swordfish ( Xiphias gladius , N = 6), white marlin ( Kajikia albida N = 6), shortbill spearfish ( Tetrapturus angustrirostris N = 5) and sailfish ( Istiophorus albicans N = 3).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Species collected include blue marlin ( Makaira nigricans , N = 6), swordfish ( Xiphias gladius , N = 6), white marlin ( Kajikia albida N = 6), shortbill spearfish ( Tetrapturus angustrirostris N = 5) and sailfish ( Istiophorus albicans N = 3). In addition a non‐billfish species, the wahoo ( Acanthocybium solandri) was also collected ( N = 6) and assigned as the out‐group for comparative purposes (Santini & Sorenson, ). Variables including body mass and rostrum length (from tip to orbit) were taken when possible (Table ).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Both the OLS and PGLS analyses were fitted using the gls() function from the nlme package (Pinheiro et al, 2007) assuming a maximum likelihood estimator (ML), and the PGLS models had an additional Brownian correlation structure defined by the corBrownian() function from the ape R package (Paradis et al, 2004). The phylogenetic tree used in size-corrections and phylogenetic analyses had a topology based on Santini & Sorenson (2013) and internode divergence times based on Santini & Sorenson (2013) and Hedges, Dudley & Kumar (2006) (Fig. S1).…”

Section: Bite Force Predictors and Best Fit Modelsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Theoretical calculations of bite force in billfishes

et al. 2017

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Bite force is one of the most utilized performance measures due to its association with feeding and consequently fitness. Due to their large size and the concomitant increase in the adductor muscles it is expected that apex predators may rely on high biting performance allowing for increased dietary breadth. Billfish are apex marine predators characterized by the extreme elongation of the upper jaw bones forming a rostrum. This structure has been shown to facilitate prey capture and processing, but little is known as to whether this elongated structure has had an effect on biting performance in this group of enigmatic fishes. The goal of this study was to investigate bite force among five billfish species differing in size and rostrum morphology, and to determine the relationship between bite force and cranial anatomy. Because prey processing is partially decoupled from the oral jaws in these fishes, we hypothesized that bite force will be relatively low in billfishes compared to other fish, and that mass specific bite force will be inversely proportional to rostrum length. Anterior and posterior values of bite force ranged from 29 to 330 N and 99 to 1361 N, respectively among billfish species. Although absolute bite forces reached high values, mass specific bite force was among the lowest recorded for cartilaginous and bony fishes. Contrary to our hypothesis, rostrum length was not a predictor of bite force. The evolution of this novel structure, however, has been demonstrated to have a role in feeding, and the relatively low bite force in billfishes may indicate a lack of dependence on this performance metric for prey capture and processing.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Bite Force Predictors and Best Fit Modelsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Theoretical calculations of bite force in billfishes

et al. 2017

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“…This drop in fish tooth flux is somewhat counter-intuitive, as most modern diatom-dominated modern ecosystems have a high abundance of fish due to the more efficient food web based on the large phytoplankton. Notably, the Early Miocene coincides with the radiations of baleen whales [25,29,32], large pelagic ray-finned fish like tunas [33], and many sea birds [26], all of which may have been competitors for resources with elasmobranchs, either directly by targeting common prey, or indirectly by targeting lower trophic levels like krill and forage fish. Pelagic elasmobranchs obviously did not become extinct, indeed, there are numerous notable pelagic shark species, including Megalodon, that have a prominent fossil record during the Neogene [34].…”

Section: Modern Oceanmentioning

confidence: 99%

Eighty-five million years of Pacific Ocean gyre ecosystem structure: long-term stability marked by punctuated change

et al. 2016

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While the history of taxonomic diversification in open ocean lineages of ray-finned fish and elasmobranchs is increasingly known, the evolution of their roles within the open ocean ecosystem remains poorly understood. To assess the relative importance of these groups through time, we measured the accumulation rate of microfossil fish teeth and elasmobranch dermal denticles (ichthyoliths) in deep-sea sediment cores from the North and South Pacific gyres over the past 85 million years (Myr). We find three distinct and stable open ocean ecosystem structures, each defined by the relative and absolute abundance of elasmobranch and ray-finned fish remains. The Cretaceous Ocean (pre-66 Ma) was characterized by abundant elasmobranch denticles, but low abundances of fish teeth. The Palaeogene Ocean (66-20 Ma), initiated by the Cretaceous/Palaeogene mass extinction, had nearly four times the abundance of fish teeth compared with elasmobranch denticles. This Palaeogene Ocean structure remained stable during the Eocene greenhouse (50 Ma) and the Eocene-Oligocene glaciation (34 Ma), despite large changes in the overall accumulation of both groups during those intervals, suggesting that climate change is not a primary driver of ecosystem structure. Dermal denticles virtually disappeared from open ocean ichthyolith assemblages approximately 20 Ma, while fish tooth accumulation increased dramatically in variability, marking the beginning of the Modern Ocean. Together, these results suggest that open ocean fish community structure is stable on long timescales, independent of total production and climate change. The timing of the abrupt transitions between these states suggests that the transitions may be due to interactions with other, non-preserved pelagic consumer groups.

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“…Another phylogenetic uncertainty concerns the placement of the roundscale spearfish [Tetrapturus georgii (Lowe, 1841)]. A phylogenetic reconstruction by Santini and Sorenson (2013), recovered T. georgii deeply nested within Tetrapturus using concatenated sequences from eight mitochondrial and two nuclear markers. A second study to investigate the distribution of T. georgii using the ND4L-ND4 region highlighted further issues for the phylogenetic positioning of taxa within both…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The global biology, ecology and phylogenetic status of black marlin (Istiompax indica)

Williams¹

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The black marlin [Istiompax indica (Morrow, 1968)] is one of the largest teleost fish and has a continuous distribution throughout tropical waters of the Indo-Pacific. Throughout its range, I. indica has been documented to undertake wide-ranging, transoceanic and transequatorial movements. In coastal waters and on the high seas I. indica may be targeted by commercial and artisanal fisheries, but the majority of the world's landings are as a by-product species of tuna longline and purse seine fisheries. Due to its large size and 'fighting qualities', I. indica is also valued as a prized sport or game fish in recreational fisheries. While considerable effort to understand the level of exploitation of high value species such as the tunas has occurred, the stock status for many other species caught on the high seas such as many sharks, dolphinfish and istiophorid billfishes remain unassessed. This lack of attention is reflected by I. indica being listed as 'Data Deficient' on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List. The lack of attention and data available on I. indica extends to biological, ecological, taxonomic and fisheries catch records, which in turn hinders stock assessments and management. This thesis aims to improve the biological and ecological knowledge of I. indica, thereby providing a stronger foundation for assessments and management of stocks globally. PUBLICATIONS DURING CANDIDATURE Peer-reviewed papers and book chaptersA Cohen, D. Spooner and SM. Williams (In Press). Examining the importance of marine transport and transport infrastructure and the initiatives adopted for managing potential impacts whilst enhancing transport services. Moreton Bay and Catchment.

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First molecular timetree of billfishes (Istiophoriformes: Acanthomorpha) shows a Late Miocene radiation of marlins and allies

Cited by 25 publications

References 34 publications

Theoretical calculations of bite force in billfishes

Theoretical calculations of bite force in billfishes

Eighty-five million years of Pacific Ocean gyre ecosystem structure: long-term stability marked by punctuated change

The global biology, ecology and phylogenetic status of black marlin (Istiompax indica)

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