Temporal changes in lipid condition and parasitic infection by digenean metacercariae of young-of-year common sole Solea solea (L.) in an Atlantic nursery ground (Bay of Biscay, France)

Abstract

Little attention has been paid to flatfish parasitism as a potential factor of variation in year-class strength. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between parasitic infection and nutritional condition of young-of-year (YOY) common sole. Sole were collected monthly from May (early settlement) to November 2004 in a mussel pole culture area, using a push-net or a trawl, and dissected for parasite identification and counts. Total lipids were extracted from the whole body and lipid classes quantified. Triacylglycerols to sterols (free form) ratio (TAG/ST) was used as an index of nutritional status. Digenean metacercariae infection, characterized by two dominant genera, displayed clear seasonal dynamics and the highest records yet reported for sole. Prevalence (P%) and mean abundance (Ab ± SE) increased for Timoniella spp.

Influence of Hydrocarbons Exposure on Survival, Growth and Condition of Juvenile Flatfish: A Mesocosm Experiment

“…The exposed juveniles exhibit lower condition factors. As lipid reserve in control juvenile appeared especially high with regards to in situ measurments in adjacent coastal nurseries, the exposed juvenile presented and TAG:ST ratios dramatically lower than in situ observed minimum (Durieux et al 2007). A similar, toxicant-induced starvation associated with reduced growth and lipid content was also found in juvenile Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) fed PAH-contaminated food (Meador et al 2006).…”

Growth and condition indices in juvenile sole Solea solea measured to assess the quality of essential fish habitat

“…In addition, like many flatfish species, juvenile sole are strongly habitat-specific during the early juvenile stages (Amara 2003). Following settlement on the nursery, 0-group sole show a strong decline in swimming activity levels during summer, with relatively low activity levels remaining until November (Durieux 2007). Because of the strong habitat association characteristic of this species, growth and condition values of 0-group sole analysed were assumed to reflect the quality of the nursery where they were caught.…”

“…TAGs are the major energy storage form in fish and have important ecophysiological relevance as indicators of growth potential and survival (Sogard & Olla 2000). In 0-group sole, lipid storage is generally observed prior to the winter and allows juveniles to survive periods of starvation, which are more frequent in winter (Durieux et al 2007). …”

“…Like other benthic fish, sole are likely to be exposed to contaminants in sediments because they spend most of their time resting on the sediment and feed on infaunal invertebrates. In addition, because of their morphology and negative buoyancy, sole and flatfish in general have limited behavioural means to respond to environmental fluctuations (Durieux 2007) and are more likely to be exposed to environmentmediated changes in their physiological performance. We attempted to obtain a general diagnostic of the quality of nursery grounds by examining growth and condition of fishes located in areas that were classified according to the degree of anthropogenic pressure.…”

Health and reproduction of red mullet, Mullus barbatus, in the western Mediterranean Sea

“…With regard to marine exploited species, information on the effects of parasites on the energy reserves is limited to a few studies on northwestern Atlantic cod, Gadus morhua, (Khan & Lacey, 1986), young-of-year common sole, Solea solea L. 1758, in the northeastern Atlantic Ocean (Durieux et al, 2007), anchovy, Engraulis encrasicolus L. 1758, in the Black Sea (Shchepkina, 1980) and Japanese anchovy, E. japonicus Temminck & Schlegel 1846, (Sajiki et al, 1992). To our knowledge, the only study into the relationships between parasitism, energy reserves and reproductive capacity of an exploited marine species is our previous work on the European hake, Merluccius merluccius L. 1758, in the northwestern Mediterranean Sea (FerrerMaza et al, 2014).…”