Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
4.0
4.2
Journals
Biology
Special Issues
Aquatic Biodiversity and Conservation Biology
share announcement

Aquatic Biodiversity and Conservation Biology

A special issue of Biology (ISSN 2079-7737). This special issue belongs to the section "Conservation Biology and Biodiversity".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (8 August 2022) | Viewed by 20712

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Hongyan Xu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Fisheries, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
Interests: biodiversity and conservation of aquatic animals; sustainable development of fishery; genetic resource of aquatic animals; ecosystem

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

At present, the available ecological information worldwide is dreadfully inadequate. In particular, some marine and freshwater environments are currently experiencing an alarming decline in the biodiversity of aquatic animals. On the other hand, conservation of aquatic animals requires a strong understanding of their environmental requirements, preferences, and species-associations to accompany existing tactics to improve physical and chemical conditions of sea and rivers. Therefore, the first step in conservation is to recognize a need and the interactions between the ecosystem and biodiversity.

Biodiversity is defined in the Convention on Biological Diversity as the variability among living organisms from all sources including, inter alia, terrestrial, marine, and other aquatic ecosystems, and the ecological complexes of which they are part; this includes diversity within the ecosystem, within species, and between species. That is to say, there are three levels of biodiversity, such as diversity of genetics, species, and ecosystem.

Conservation biology generally refers to the issues of species conservation, population ecology, reproductive biology, bioacoustics and behavior, and conservation genetics, in particular on the theoretical and practical issues of in situ, ex situ, and breeding conservation of endangered species. Likewise, conservation biology of aquatic animals includes studies on conservation biology of aquatic animals, with special emphasis on the biology of rare or endangered animals, the internal and external mechanisms behind endangered species, the theories and techniques of population dynamic monitoring, population biology and species recovery, and the endangered animal breeding.  

This Special Issue will mainly focus on the basic and pioneering studies of the origination and evolution of biodiversity, with the aim of finding out the origination and evolutionary regularities of aquatic organisms. The topic covers stock resources of the aquatic animals and fishery bio-techniques: theory basis and applied research of the fishery bio-techniques; preservation, conservation, and  resource utilization of the aquatic animals.

This Special Issue would put forward a theoretical framework and some counter measures for the conservation of some specially rare and endangered aquatic animals, and to provide strong evidence for the sustainable utilization of bio-resources in fishery.

Prof. Dr. Hongyan Xu
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Biology is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • biodiversity of aquatic species
  • conservation of aquatic species
  • sustainable development
  • genetic resource
  • ecosystem

Published Papers (9 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Review, Other

15 pages, 1552 KiB  
Article
Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus Linnaeus, 1758) Invasion Caused Trophic Structure Disruptions of Fish Communities in the South China River—Pearl River
by Fangmin Shuai and Jie Li
Biology 2022, 11(11), 1665; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology11111665 - 15 Nov 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2695
Abstract
Widespread introductions of non-native species, including aquaculture and ornamental species, threaten biodiversity and ecosystem functioning by modifying the trophic structure of communities. In this study, we quantified the multiple facets of trophic disruption in freshwater communities invaded by Nile tilapia, by comparing uninvaded [...] Read more.
Widespread introductions of non-native species, including aquaculture and ornamental species, threaten biodiversity and ecosystem functioning by modifying the trophic structure of communities. In this study, we quantified the multiple facets of trophic disruption in freshwater communities invaded by Nile tilapia, by comparing uninvaded and invaded rivers downstream of the Pearl River, China. Nile tilapia invasion reduced the trophic status of native fish species by forcing native herbivores and planktivores to seek new food sources. The food chain was also shortened by decreasing the trophic levels of native invertivores, omnivores, and piscivores, while the total isotopic niche area (TA) of native invertivores, omnivores, piscivores, and planktivores species also decreased. Simultaneously, Nile tilapia invasion affected the isotopic diversity of the fish community. Decreasing isotopic richness (IRic), isotopic evenness (IEve), and increasing isotopic uniqueness (IUni) indicated that Nile tilapia had a high trophic niche overlap with native species and competed with native species for food resources, and even caused the compression of the trophic niche of native species. Understanding the process described in this study is essential to conserve the stability of freshwater ecosystems, and improve the control strategy of alien aquatic organisms in south China. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Aquatic Biodiversity and Conservation Biology)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

13 pages, 2447 KiB  
Article
Genetic Structure of an East Asian Minnow (Toxabramis houdemeri) in Southern China, with Implications for Conservation
by Weitao Chen, Yuefei Li, Xingwei Cai, Denggao Xiang, Shang Gao, Ce Li, Chun Lan, Shuli Zhu, Jiping Yang, Xinhui Li and Jie Li
Biology 2022, 11(11), 1641; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology11111641 - 09 Nov 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1238
Abstract
River dynamics have been hypothesized to substantially influence the genetic structure of freshwater fish taxa. Southern China harbors abundant independent river systems, which have undergone historical rearrangements. This river system is thus an excellent model with which to test the abovementioned hypothesis. In [...] Read more.
River dynamics have been hypothesized to substantially influence the genetic structure of freshwater fish taxa. Southern China harbors abundant independent river systems, which have undergone historical rearrangements. This river system is thus an excellent model with which to test the abovementioned hypothesis. In this study, a cyprinid widespread in many independent rivers in southern China, Toxabramis houdemeri, was chosen as an exemplar species with which to explore the effects of river configuration changes on spatial genetic structure using mitochondrial and nuclear markers. The results indicated that the T. houdemeri populations fell into four mitochondrial haplotype groups, each genetically endemic to a single river or two adjacent river systems. The mitochondrial haplotype network recovered a clear genetic boundary between Hainan Island populations and mainland populations. Notable genetic differentiation was observed within populations from distinct river systems in both mitochondrial and nuclear loci. River system separation, mountain barriers, and mobility were the key factors shaping the genetic structure of T. houdemeri populations. Late Pleistocene divergence and historical immigration were identified within the four mitochondrial haplotype groups, indicating that river rearrangements triggered by the Late Pleistocene glacial cycles were important drivers of the complex genetic structure and demographic history of T. houdemeri. Historical demographics suggested that T.houdemeri populations expanded during the Late Pleistocene. The present study has important consequences for the management and conservation of T. houdemeri. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Aquatic Biodiversity and Conservation Biology)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

14 pages, 5857 KiB  
Article
Generation of a Normal Long-Term-Cultured Chinese Hook Snout Carp Spermatogonial Stem Cell Line Capable of Sperm Production In Vitro
by Xiao Chen, Yuting Kan, Ying Zhong, Muhammad Jawad, Wenbo Wei, Kaiyan Gu, Lang Gui and Mingyou Li
Biology 2022, 11(7), 1069; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology11071069 - 18 Jul 2022
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2992
Abstract
Opsariichthys bidens belongs to the family Cyprinidae and is a small freshwater economic fish widely distributed in China. In recent years, the natural resources of O. bidens have been drastically reduced due to overfishing and the destruction of the water environment. The in [...] Read more.
Opsariichthys bidens belongs to the family Cyprinidae and is a small freshwater economic fish widely distributed in China. In recent years, the natural resources of O. bidens have been drastically reduced due to overfishing and the destruction of the water environment. The in vitro culture and long-term preservation of germ stem cells are the key technologies to keep genetic resources from degeneration. However, except for the establishment of the first long-term cultured medaka spermatogonia cell line (SSC) capable of producing sperm in vitro in 2004, no other long-term cultured SSC line has been found in other fish species. In this study, we successfully established another long-term-cultured spermatogonial stem cell line from Opsariichthys bidens (ObSSC). After more than 2 years of culture, ObSSC had a diploid karyotype and stable growth, with the typical gene expression patterns of SSC. Under in vitro culture, ObSSC could be induced to differentiate into sperm and other different types of somatic cells. In vivo, ObSSC could differentiate into different cells of three germ layers upon being transplanted into zebrafish embryos. Our research helps to explore the potential and regulation mechanism of fish SSC differentiation and spermatogenesis in vitro, provides a new way for solving the problem of fish genetic resource degradation and lays a foundation for further research on fish germ cell transplantation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Aquatic Biodiversity and Conservation Biology)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

12 pages, 63146 KiB  
Article
Establishment of a Coilia nasus Gonadal Somatic Cell Line Capable of Sperm Induction In Vitro
by Yuting Kan, Ying Zhong, Muhammad Jawad, Xiao Chen, Dong Liu, Mingchun Ren, Gangchun Xu, Lang Gui and Mingyou Li
Biology 2022, 11(7), 1049; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology11071049 - 13 Jul 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2274
Abstract
Coilia nasus is an important economic anadromous migratory fish of the Yangtze River in China. In recent years, overfishing and the deterioration of the ecological environment almost led to the extinction of the wild resources of C.nasus. Thus, there is an urgent [...] Read more.
Coilia nasus is an important economic anadromous migratory fish of the Yangtze River in China. In recent years, overfishing and the deterioration of the ecological environment almost led to the extinction of the wild resources of C.nasus. Thus, there is an urgent need to protect this endangered fish. Recently, cell lines derived from fish have proven a promising tool for studying important aspects of aquaculture. In this study, a stable C. nasus gonadal somatic cell line (CnCSC) was established and characterized. After over one year of cell culture (>80 passages), this cell line kept stable growth. RT-PCR results revealed that the CnGSC expressed some somatic cell markers such as clu, fshr, hsd3β, and sox9b instead of germ cell markers like dazl, piwi, and vasa. The strong phagocytic activity of CnGSC suggested that it contained a large number of Sertoli cells. Interestingly, CnGSC could induce medaka spermatogonial cells (SG3) to differentiate into elongated spermatids while co-cultured together. In conclusion, we established a C. nasus gonadal somatic cell line capable of sperm induction in vitro. This research provides scientific evidence for the long-term culture of a gonadal cell line from farmed fish, which would lay the foundation for exploring the regulatory mechanisms between germ cells and somatic cells in fish. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Aquatic Biodiversity and Conservation Biology)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

11 pages, 1733 KiB  
Article
Endangered Schizothoracin Fish in the Tarim River Basin Are Threatened by Introgressive Hybridization
by Lei Cheng, Dan Song, Xiaoli Yu, Xue Du and Tangbin Huo
Biology 2022, 11(7), 981; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology11070981 - 28 Jun 2022
Viewed by 1630
Abstract
Big-head Schizothoracin (Aspiorhynchus laticeps) and Tarim Schizothoracin (Schizothorax biddulphi) are locally sympatric in the Tarim River Basin. Although another Schizothoracin (Schizothorax esocinus) in Tarim River basin has been speculated to be hybrid offspring of Big-head Schizothoracin and [...] Read more.
Big-head Schizothoracin (Aspiorhynchus laticeps) and Tarim Schizothoracin (Schizothorax biddulphi) are locally sympatric in the Tarim River Basin. Although another Schizothoracin (Schizothorax esocinus) in Tarim River basin has been speculated to be hybrid offspring of Big-head Schizothoracin and Tarim Schizothoracin, there was no genetic evidence. Previous studies on the genetics and evolution of Schizothoracins in Xinjiang Province were mostly based on mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), whose characteristics of maternal inheritance made it hard to answer the question of whether there was hybridization and introgression between Big-head Schizothoracin and Tarim Schizothoracin. In this study, cytochrome b (cytb) gene of mtDNA and internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) that is encoded by the nuclear genome were genotyped within the entire samples at the same time. Our results confirmed that Schizothorax esocinus was the hybrid offspring of Big-head Schizothoracin and Tarim Schizothoracin. The heterozygous ITS2 genotypes and/or Aspiorhynchus laticeps-like mtDNA were also detected in a subset of samples that should have been identified as pure Schizothorax biddulphi based on morphology. The ITS2 is characterized by multi-copy, concert evolution, and biparental inheritance. Thus, by comparing with mtDNA data, broad-scale bidirectional hybridization and introgression between Big-head Schizothoracin and Tarim Schizothoracin were revealed. Although interspecific hybridization may play a positive role in ecology and evolution, interspecific hybrids could threaten their parental species by the swamping of genetics and demography. As both parents of hybridization are critically endangered fishes, in this case, it is urgently necessary to strengthen the scientific assessment of the risks of the hybrids and the control of the hybridization and introgression between Aspiorhynchus laticeps and Schizothorax biddulphi in the Tarim River Basin. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Aquatic Biodiversity and Conservation Biology)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

12 pages, 1926 KiB  
Article
Restoring Genetic Resource through In Vitro Culturing Testicular Cells from the Cryo-Preserved Tissue of the American Shad (Alosa sapidissima)
by Hong-Yan Xu, Xiao-You Hong, Chao-Yue Zhong, Xu-Ling Wu and Xin-Ping Zhu
Biology 2022, 11(5), 790; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology11050790 - 22 May 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2116
Abstract
Germ cells, as opposed to somatic cells, can transmit heredity information between generations. Cryopreservation and in vitro culture of germ cells are key techniques for genetic resource preservation and cellular engineering breeding. In this study, two types of cryopreserved samples, namely testis pieces [...] Read more.
Germ cells, as opposed to somatic cells, can transmit heredity information between generations. Cryopreservation and in vitro culture of germ cells are key techniques for genetic resource preservation and cellular engineering breeding. In this study, two types of cryopreserved samples, namely testis pieces and testicular cells of American shad, were comparatively analyzed for cell viability. The results showed that the cell viability of the cryopreserved testis pieces was much higher than that of the cryopreserved testicular cells. The viability of cells from the cryopreserved testis pieces ranged from 65.2 ± 2.2 (%) to 93.8 ± 0.6 (%), whereas the viability of the dissociated cells after cryopreservation was 38.5 ± 0.8 (%) to 87.1 ± 2.6 (%). Intriguingly, the testicular cells from the post-thaw testicular tissue could be cultured in vitro. Likewise, most of the cultured cells exhibited germ cell properties and highly expressed Vasa and PCNA protein. This study is the first attempt to effectively preserve and culture the male germ cells through freezing tissues in the American shad. The findings of this study would benefit further investigations on genetic resource preservation and other manipulations of germ cells in a commercially and ecologically important fish species. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Aquatic Biodiversity and Conservation Biology)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

15 pages, 2058 KiB  
Article
Demographics and Yield–Per–Recruit Assessment of the Vulnerable Spiny Lobster Palinurus elephas in the Azores—Implications for Conservation and Fisheries Management
by Régis Santos, Ualerson Iran Peixoto, Wendell Medeiros-Leal, Rui M. Sequeira, Ana Novoa-Pabon and Mário Pinho
Biology 2022, 11(3), 474; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology11030474 - 19 Mar 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2702
Abstract
The spiny lobster Palinurus elephas has been intensively harvested across its range and is generally considered overfished, with global landings declining sharply from an average of 820 t in 1960–79 to 385 t in 2000–19. Despite its economic and ecological importance, limited information [...] Read more.
The spiny lobster Palinurus elephas has been intensively harvested across its range and is generally considered overfished, with global landings declining sharply from an average of 820 t in 1960–79 to 385 t in 2000–19. Despite its economic and ecological importance, limited information is available to perform stock assessments and make robust management decisions. In this study, demographics and exploitation levels of P. elephas were determined from coastal areas of the Azores, and the relevance of these data for conservation planning was discussed. Carapace length varied between 39.6 and 174.3 mm, with mean sizes decreasing by depth. Males reached larger sizes and grew faster than females but were less dominant. Lifespan was 43 years for females and 60 years for males. The estimated mean length at first capture was 101.65 mm—around 58% of its asymptotic length. Fishing mortality and exploitation levels were close to the optimal values, indicating an uncertain future for Azorean populations if stock assessment and management initiatives are not focused on this species. Conservation and management strategies may benefit from these results under the ‘precautionary approach’ principle. However, up–to–date and accurate catch and fishing effort data need to be urgently collected. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Aquatic Biodiversity and Conservation Biology)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Review

Jump to: Research, Other

12 pages, 736 KiB  
Review
Experience, Principles and Parameters in the Sturgeon Quality Assessment by Anomalies in Early Ontogenesis (A Review)
by Saule Zh. Assylbekova, Ekaterina V. Mikodina, Kuanysh B. Isbekov and Gulmira M. Shalgimbayeva
Biology 2022, 11(8), 1240; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology11081240 - 19 Aug 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2074
Abstract
Purpose: Review the experience, principles and parameters of the sturgeon assessment quality by anomalies in early ontogeny. Results: Maintaining the number of sturgeon fish in the transboundary Caspian Sea is provided by five states (Russia, Iran, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan) at 16 Sturgeon hatcheries, [...] Read more.
Purpose: Review the experience, principles and parameters of the sturgeon assessment quality by anomalies in early ontogeny. Results: Maintaining the number of sturgeon fish in the transboundary Caspian Sea is provided by five states (Russia, Iran, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan) at 16 Sturgeon hatcheries, where their artificial reproduction is carried out. FAO recognizes Russia’s leadership in creating the basic technology for the sturgeon artificial reproduction, but the other four Caspian states also make a significant contribution to its modern optimizations. There is almost a century of tradition behind the technological development of artificial reproduction in sturgeons. During the artificial reproduction of sturgeons, anomalies in the structure and functions may occur, such as deformities, defects in organs and tissues, edema, hematomas, etc. The sturgeon anomalies classification is based on structural and functional principles. Identification of anomalies is carried out on the basis of a previously created classification, divided into nine large classes. Identification of sturgeon anomalies during the period of their artificial reproduction makes it possible to clarify the real value of replenishment of their stock. Methods: Analysis of professional scientific literature and practical guides. Conclusions: The presence and number of Sturgeon anomalies make it possible to determine their death percentage to calculate the real number of replenishment of the Caspian Sturgeon stock. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Aquatic Biodiversity and Conservation Biology)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Other

Jump to: Research, Review

11 pages, 8564 KiB  
Brief Report
Status and Analysis of Artificial Breeding and Management of Aquatic Turtles in China
by Xiaoyou Hong, Xiaoyan Zhang, Xiaoli Liu, Yakun Wang, Lingyun Yu, Wei Li, Fangcan Chen and Xinping Zhu
Biology 2022, 11(9), 1368; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology11091368 - 17 Sep 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1811
Abstract
China is a major country in turtle cultivation and has a long history of artificial breeding of turtles. In this study, a census and statistical analysis of artificially domesticated aquatic turtles in 15 provinces of China were conducted. The results showed that 29 [...] Read more.
China is a major country in turtle cultivation and has a long history of artificial breeding of turtles. In this study, a census and statistical analysis of artificially domesticated aquatic turtles in 15 provinces of China were conducted. The results showed that 29 species were aquatic turtles native to China, accounting for approximately 9% of the world’s total, and a large number of exotic aquatic turtles are also domesticated in China. The present situation of artificial breeding and protection of aquatic turtles in major provinces of China is shown, and existing problems are also put forward, with suggestions for the protection and management of aquatic turtles. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Aquatic Biodiversity and Conservation Biology)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-9
Back to TopTop