Induced spawning and embryonic and early larval development of bonefish (<scp><i>Albula vulpes</i></scp>)

Halstead, Williams R.; Mejri, Sahar; Cianciotto, Anthony C.; Wills, Paul S.; Leeuwen, Travis E. Van; Adams, Aaron J.; Shenker, Jonathan M.

doi:10.1111/jfb.14250

Cited by 4 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 31 publications

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“…Initial rapid larval growth rates (from 4 to 75 hph) in this study were similar to those previously observed in bonefish leptocephali (Halstead et al, 2020) and leptocephali of eels (Miller, 2009). The increase in HC proportions during this period, which are produced by the hydrolysis of simple and complex lipids, could be due to an increase in energy demand by the larvae.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

“…Until recently, the only elopomorph fishes successfully bred in captivity that would enable analysis of the impact of broodstock nutrition on larval development are several species of anguilliform eels (Mochioka et al, 1993; Tanaka, 2015; Tanaka et al, 2003). Newly developed methods to induce spawning in wild‐caught bonefish (Halstead et al, 2020; Mejri et al, 2019a; Mejri et al, 2020) offer the opportunity to describe the nutritional composition of early larvae, providing a basis for production and growth of larvae under controlled conditions.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Lipid Composition and Utilization in Early Stage Leptocephalus Larvae of Bonefish (Albula vulpes)

Mejri

Adams

Shenker

et al. 2020

Lipids

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In order to encourage the survival of both captive and wild populations of bonefish (Albula vulpes), a deeper understanding of the species' early developmental characteristics is necessary. During ontogenesis, bonefish utilize lipids as a source of energy before the start of exogenous feeding. The goal of this study is to gain insight into the energetic needs of bonefish leptocephalus larvae in the post‐hatch larval stage. Broodstock were collected in the wild and hormone induced. Spawning yielded eggs that were fertilized and were then incubated until hatching. Larval development was monitored throughout the duration of the trial until all larvae perished. Samples of larval tissue were taken to the lab for lipid analysis and composition was compared at different developmental stages. Larval lipid composition was significantly different across sample groups showing a change in lipid content related to development. After hatching, larvae gradually depleted wax esters‐sterol ester (WE‐SE) reserves over a period of 4 days, while simultaneously increasing hydrocarbon (HC). The role of WE‐SE is seemingly tied to both buoyancy and energy reserves due to its high abundance immediately post‐hatch and selective catabolism. As larvae weaned off of the nutrition provided by the yolk, exogenous feeding began to diversify lipid composition and overall lipid reserves were depleted. Future directions included the development of optimal larval feeds based on this analysis in order to gain more insight into the nutritional needs and requirements during the critical leptocephalus stages.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Lipid Composition and Utilization in Early Stage Leptocephalus Larvae of Bonefish (Albula vulpes)

Mejri

Adams

Shenker

et al. 2020

Lipids

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“…Recent efforts by our group led to inducing spawning in wild-caught, pre-spawning aggregation bonefish for the first time (Halstead et al, 2020;Mejri et al, 2019), as well as successful spawning of captive bonefish. However, the larvae from the spawning of wild fish and captive fish did not live past 10 days, indicating nutritional deficiencies and subsequent developmental difficulties (Wills, unpublished data).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A comprehensive biochemical characterization of settlement stage leptocephalus larvae of bonefish (Albula vulpes)

Uribe

Wills

Shenker

et al. 2021

Journal of Fish Biology

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Little is known about early development of the near-threatened bonefish (Albula vulpes), a member of superorder Elopomorpha. Members of Elopomorpha are partially defined by their synapomorphic leptocephalus larval stage, for which the nutritional requirements are not well understood. Characterizing the nutritional profile, including major nutrients (such as lipids) used for energetic processes, can help to gain a better understanding of the nutritional requirements for leptocephalus larvae. A total of 24 settlement stage A. vulpes leptocephalus larvae were collected at Long Caye

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“…Little is known about bonefish leptocephalus biology and behavior throughout the pelagic duration of their development. While captively reared bonefish leptocephali displayed a vertical orientation and sporadic short burst swimming motions [ 77 ], these observations were only during the first < 10 days of the 71-day larval period, so volitional swimming behavior throughout development is not understood well enough to inform parameterization. Although burst and critical swimming velocities of other Elopomorph leptocephali have been experimentally measured and could be used in proxy, the ecology governing sustained swimming behavior throughout ontogeny is still not known [ 78 ].…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Biophysical larval dispersal models of observed bonefish (Albula vulpes) spawning events in Abaco, The Bahamas: An assessment of population connectivity and ocean dynamics

Lombardo

Chérubin²,

Adams³

et al. 2022

PLoS ONE

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Biophysical models are a powerful tool for assessing population connectivity of marine organisms that broadcast spawn. Albula vulpes is a species of bonefish that is an economically and culturally important sportfish found throughout the Caribbean and that exhibits genetic connectivity among geographically distant populations. We created ontogenetically relevant biophysical models for bonefish larval dispersal based upon multiple observed spawning events in Abaco, The Bahamas in 2013, 2018, and 2019. Biological parameterizations were informed through active acoustic telemetry, CTD casts, captive larval rearing, and field collections of related albulids and anguillids. Ocean conditions were derived from the Regional Navy Coastal Ocean Model American Seas dataset. Each spawning event was simulated 100 times using the program Ichthyop. Ten-thousand particles were released at observed and putative spawning locations and were allowed to disperse for the full 71-day pelagic larval duration for A. vulpes. Settlement densities in defined settlement zones were assessed along with interactions with oceanographic features. The prevailing Northern dispersal paradigm exhibited strong connectivity with Grand Bahama, the Berry Islands, Andros, and self-recruitment to lower and upper Abaco. Ephemeral gyres and flow direction within Northwest and Northeast Providence Channels were shown to have important roles in larval retention to the Bahamian Archipelago. Larval development environments for larvae settling upon different islands showed few differences and dispersal was closely associated with the thermocline. Settlement patterns informed the suggestion for expansion of conservation parks in Grand Bahama, Abaco, and Andros, and the creation of a parks in Eleuthera and the Berry Islands to protect fisheries. Further observation of spawning events and the creation of biophysical models will help to maximize protection for bonefish spawning locations and nursery habitat, and may help to predict year-class strength for bonefish stocks throughout the Greater Caribbean.

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Induced spawning and embryonic and early larval development of bonefish (Albula vulpes)

Cited by 4 publications

References 31 publications

Lipid Composition and Utilization in Early Stage Leptocephalus Larvae of Bonefish (Albula vulpes)

Lipid Composition and Utilization in Early Stage Leptocephalus Larvae of Bonefish (Albula vulpes)

A comprehensive biochemical characterization of settlement stage leptocephalus larvae of bonefish (Albula vulpes)

Biophysical larval dispersal models of observed bonefish (Albula vulpes) spawning events in Abaco, The Bahamas: An assessment of population connectivity and ocean dynamics

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