Editorial

6 pages, 197 KiB

Open AccessEditorial

Contemporary Ichthyological and Fisheries Research of Deepwater Fish: New Advances, Current Challenges, and Future Developments

by Alexei M. Orlov

J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2022, 10(2), 166; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse10020166 - 27 Jan 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2051

Abstract

Deepwater fishes are a very diverse group of chondrichthyans and teleosts widely distributed in the world ocean from the Arctic to the Antarctic and inhabiting the water column and seabed of continental slopes, seamounts, and high seas usually at depths greater than 400 [...] Read more.

Deepwater fishes are a very diverse group of chondrichthyans and teleosts widely distributed in the world ocean from the Arctic to the Antarctic and inhabiting the water column and seabed of continental slopes, seamounts, and high seas usually at depths greater than 400 m [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Deepwater Fishes)

Research

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64 pages, 14564 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Taxonomy and Distribution of the Deep-Sea Batfish Genus Halieutopsis (Teleostei: Ogcocephalidae), with Descriptions of Five New Species

by Hsuan-Ching Ho

J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2022, 10(1), 34; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse10010034 - 30 Dec 2021

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 4789

Abstract

The deep-sea batfish genus Halieutopsis is reviewed based on worldwide collections. Sixteen species are recognized, including five newly described species: Halieutopsis echinoderma sp. nov. from eastern Taiwan and northeastern Australia, Halieutopsis kawaii sp. nov. from Taiwan and Indonesia, Halieutopsis okamurai sp. nov. from [...] Read more.

The deep-sea batfish genus Halieutopsis is reviewed based on worldwide collections. Sixteen species are recognized, including five newly described species: Halieutopsis echinoderma sp. nov. from eastern Taiwan and northeastern Australia, Halieutopsis kawaii sp. nov. from Taiwan and Indonesia, Halieutopsis okamurai sp. nov. from southeastern Japan, Halieutopsis murrayi sp. nov. from the Gulf of Aden, and Halieutopsis taiwanea sp. nov. from northeastern Taiwan. These species differ from their congeners in escal morphology, squamation, and morphometric proportions. Dibranchus nasutus Alcock, 1891, a senior synonym of Halieutopsis vermicularis Smith & Radcliffe, 1912, as well as Dibranchus nudiventer Lloyd, 1909 and Coelophrys oblonga Smith & Radcliffe, 1912, are recognized as valid species in Halieutopsis. Comments on the systematics and biogeographic distributions of the species of Halieutopsis are provided, along with a key to the species. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Deepwater Fishes)

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14 pages, 31256 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Bidenichthys okamotoi, a New Species of the Bythitidae (Ophidiiformes, Teleostei) from the Koko Seamount, Central North Pacific

by Peter R. Møller, Werner W. Schwarzhans, Henrik Lauridsen and Jørgen G. Nielsen

J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2021, 9(12), 1399; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse9121399 - 08 Dec 2021

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2926

Abstract

Two specimens from the Koko Seamount (Koko Guyot), in the Hawaiian-Emperor seamount chain, Central North Pacific, caught in 2009 and 2010 are here described as a new species, Bidenichthys okamotoi. The taxonomy of the species in the genera Bidenichthys Barnard, 1934, and [...] Read more.

Two specimens from the Koko Seamount (Koko Guyot), in the Hawaiian-Emperor seamount chain, Central North Pacific, caught in 2009 and 2010 are here described as a new species, Bidenichthys okamotoi. The taxonomy of the species in the genera Bidenichthys Barnard, 1934, and Fiordichthys Paulin, 1995, has been confusing due to the lost type of B. consorbrinus (Hutton, 1876) and the rarity of some of the species. Following the synonymization of Fiordichthys Paulin, 1995, with Bidenichthys by Møller and Nielsen 2015 and of Bidenichthys beeblebroxi Paulin, 1995, with Bidenichthys consobrinus Hutton, 1876, the genus Bidenichthys now comprises five species: B. capensis, B. consobrinus, B. okamotoi, B. paxtoni and B. slartibartfasti. Bidenichthys okamotoi differs from its congeners in, e.g., the fewer precaudal vertebrae (12 vs. 13), more palatine teeth rows (4–6 vs. 2–3), shorter pelvic fins (12.1–13.4% vs. 14.4–21.0% SL), max size (187 vs. 147 mm SL) and the shape of the sulcus of the otolith. We here present an updated diagnosis of the genus. A computed tomography (CT) scan of the holotype of B. okamotoi provides for additional anatomical details. The disjunctive occurrence of Bidenichthys okamotoi on the Emperor Seamount chain about 7500 km from the nearest congeneric taxon in New Zealand is discussed. The fossil otolith-based record of the genus Bidenichthys and its systematic implications is briefly discussed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Deepwater Fishes)

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20 pages, 5908 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Deep-Sea Fish Fauna on the Seamounts of Southern Japan with Taxonomic Notes on the Observed Species

by Keita Koeda, Soutarou Takashima, Takehisa Yamakita, Shinji Tsuchida and Yoshihiro Fujiwara

J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2021, 9(11), 1294; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse9111294 - 19 Nov 2021

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3874

Abstract

Several volcanic islands and submarine volcanoes exist in the sea connecting the Izu-Bonin Islands with the Mariana Islands, with trenches and islands formed by the submergence of the Pacific Plate under the Philippine Sea Plate. Although designated as a Marine Protected Area (MPA) [...] Read more.

Several volcanic islands and submarine volcanoes exist in the sea connecting the Izu-Bonin Islands with the Mariana Islands, with trenches and islands formed by the submergence of the Pacific Plate under the Philippine Sea Plate. Although designated as a Marine Protected Area (MPA) in December 2020, the seamounts’ biodiversity has not been sufficiently researched. Therefore, direct observations and specimen sampling were conducted on four seamounts in this area using a remotely operated vehicle (ROV), autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV), and baited cameras (BCs). The ROV survey was conducted for 2–4 days on each seamount and divided into shallow and deep areas. During the expedition, 20 orders and 51 families of 81 deep-sea fish species were observed, including several potentially undescribed species, new genus or species records from Japanese waters, new depth records, new ecological information, and several rare fishes. The fish fauna and biodiversity abundance clearly differed among the seamounts; the seamount with a hydrothermal vent had the lowest diversity among the four seamounts. In shallow water, 23, 7, and 12 species were recorded only by ROV, AUV, and BC, respectively, indicating that combining these methods is beneficial for understanding the fish fauna of seamounts. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Deepwater Fishes)

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18 pages, 1961 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Walleye Pollock Gadus chalcogrammus, a Species with Continuous Range from the Norwegian Sea to Korea, Japan, and California: New Records from the Siberian Arctic

by Alexei M. Orlov, Maxim O. Rybakov, Elena V. Vedishcheva, Alexander A. Volkov and Svetlana Yu. Orlova

J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2021, 9(10), 1141; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse9101141 - 17 Oct 2021

Cited by 17 | Viewed by 2991

Abstract

The first records of walleye pollock Gadus chalcogrammus Pallas, 1814 in the seas of the Siberian Arctic (the Laptev Sea, the Kara Sea, the southeastern Barents Sea), are documented. Information about the external morphology (morphometric and meristic characters), photos of sagittal otoliths and [...] Read more.

The first records of walleye pollock Gadus chalcogrammus Pallas, 1814 in the seas of the Siberian Arctic (the Laptev Sea, the Kara Sea, the southeastern Barents Sea), are documented. Information about the external morphology (morphometric and meristic characters), photos of sagittal otoliths and fish, and data on the sequences of the CO1 mtDNA gene are presented. The results of a comparative analysis indicate that walleye pollock caught in the Siberian Arctic do not differ in principle from North Pacific and North Atlantic individuals. Previous conclusions about the conspecificity of the walleye and Norwegian pollock Theragra finnmarchica are confirmed. New captures of walleye pollock in the Siberian Arctic allow us to formulate a hypothesis about its continuous species’ range from the coasts of Norway in the North Atlantic to the coasts of Korea, Japan, and California in the North Pacific. The few records of walleye pollock in the North Atlantic originate from the North Pacific due to the transport of early pelagic juveniles to the Arctic by currents through the Bering Strait and further active westward migrations of individuals which have switched to the bentho-pelagic mode of life. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Deepwater Fishes)

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14 pages, 1601 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Exploring Deep-Sea Biodiversity in the Porcupine Bank (NE Atlantic) through Fish Integrative Taxonomy

by Rafael Bañón, Alejandro de Carlos, Carlos Farias, Nair Vilas-Arrondo and Francisco Baldó

J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2021, 9(10), 1075; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse9101075 - 01 Oct 2021

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2612

Abstract

This study combined morphological and molecular approaches to the species assignment of several rare or poorly known deep-water fishes caught between 549 and 1371 m depth during a Spanish bottom trawl survey in the Porcupine Bank, west of Ireland. The following fish species [...] Read more.

This study combined morphological and molecular approaches to the species assignment of several rare or poorly known deep-water fishes caught between 549 and 1371 m depth during a Spanish bottom trawl survey in the Porcupine Bank, west of Ireland. The following fish species were identified: Nessorhamphus ingolfianus (Schmidt, 1912), Borostomias antarcticus (Lönnberg 1905), Scopelosaurus lepidus (Krefft and Maul 1955), Bathypterois dubius Vaillant, 1888, Evermannella balbo (Risso, 1820), Antimora rostrata (Günther, 1878), Melanonus zugmayeri Norman, 1930, Lyconus brachycolus Holt and Byrne, 1906; Paraliparis hystrix Merrett, 1983, Neocyttus helgae (Holt and Byrne, 1908); Platyberyx opalescens Zugmayer, 1911; Howella atlantica Post and Quéro, 1991, Lycodes terraenovae Collett, 1896 and Pseudoscopelus altipinnis Parr, 1933. The presence of L. brachycolus, P. opalescens and P. altipinnis is reported for the first time in the Bank. The DNA barcoding results were largely consistent with morphological identification in 10 species but four did not fit the current taxonomy, indicating cases of potential cryptic speciation, misidentification, synonymy or recent diversification. Among them, the results strongly suggest that P. garmani and P. hystrix are conspecific, making P. hystrix a junior synonym of P. garmani. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Deepwater Fishes)

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11 pages, 1642 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Biology of Mesopelagic Fishes and Their Catches (1950–2018) by Commercial and Experimental Fisheries

by Daniel Pauly, Chiara Piroddi, Lincoln Hood, Nicolas Bailly, Elaine Chu, Vicky Lam, Evgeny A. Pakhomov, Leonid K. Pshenichnov, Vladimir I. Radchenko and Maria Lourdes D. Palomares

J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2021, 9(10), 1057; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse9101057 - 25 Sep 2021

Cited by 17 | Viewed by 4290

Abstract

Following a brief review of their biology, this contribution is an attempt to provide a global overview of the catches of mesopelagic fishes (of which 2.68 million tonnes were officially reported to the FAO) throughout the world ocean from 1950 to 2018, to [...] Read more.

Following a brief review of their biology, this contribution is an attempt to provide a global overview of the catches of mesopelagic fishes (of which 2.68 million tonnes were officially reported to the FAO) throughout the world ocean from 1950 to 2018, to serve as a baseline to a future development of these fisheries. The overview is based on a thorough scanning of the literature dealing with commercial or experimental fisheries for mesopelagics and their catches, and/or the mesopelagic bycatch of other fisheries. All commercial (industrial and artisanal) fisheries for mesopelagic fishes were included, as well as experimental fisheries of which we were aware, while catches performed only to obtain scientific samples were omitted. The processes of generating bycatch and causing discards are discussed, with emphasis on Russian fisheries. From peer-reviewed and gray literature, we lifted information on mesopelagic fisheries and assembled it into one document, which we then summarized into two text tables with catch data, one by country/region, the other by species or species groups. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Deepwater Fishes)

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16 pages, 3098 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Age, Growth and Otolith Microstructure of the Spotted Lanternfish Myctophum punctatum Rafinesque 1810

by Francesco Longo, Danilo Malara, Maria Giulia Stipa, Pierpaolo Consoli, Teresa Romeo, Marilena Sanfilippo, Francesco Abbate, Franco Andaloro and Pietro Battaglia

J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2021, 9(8), 801; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse9080801 - 25 Jul 2021

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2531

Abstract

This study investigated, for the first time, the age and growth of the spotted lanternfish Myctophum punctatum through an analysis of otolith microstructure. A total of 377 individuals were collected from the Strait of Messina (central Mediterranean Sea), ranging between 20.3 and 73.7 [...] Read more.

This study investigated, for the first time, the age and growth of the spotted lanternfish Myctophum punctatum through an analysis of otolith microstructure. A total of 377 individuals were collected from the Strait of Messina (central Mediterranean Sea), ranging between 20.3 and 73.7 mm of standard length. Their length–weight relationship was estimated, and these outputs indicated an isometric growth, for all specimens and when males and females were analysed separately. The sagittal otoliths were removed from 185 fish, although the microincrement readings were considered valid for only 173 otoliths. Microincrement counts ranged from 32 to 48 (average = 37.6) in the otolith central zone, 30 to 56 (average = 44.3) in the middle zone, and 36 to 384 (average = 165.5) in the external zone. Overall, total microincrements ranged between 106 and 469. Different growth models (Gompertz, von Bertalanffy and logistic models) were considered, to understand which one fit best in describing the growth patterns in M. punctatum. The Gompertz model was then selected as the best-fitting model and its parameters for all individuals were L_∞ = 74.79, k = 0.0084 and I = 139.60. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Deepwater Fishes)

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18 pages, 7040 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Very Large Spawning Aggregation of a Deep-Sea Eel: Magnitude and Status

by Alan Williams, Deborah Osterhage, Franziska Althaus, Timothy Ryan, Mark Green and John Pogonoski

J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2021, 9(7), 723; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse9070723 - 30 Jun 2021

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2221

Abstract

Multiple lines of evidence substantiate the existence of a very large aggregation of the basketwork eel, Diastobranchus capensis, on the small (3 km²) Patience Seamount off southeast Australia. The aggregation appears to be present year-round, but largest in the austral [...] Read more.

Multiple lines of evidence substantiate the existence of a very large aggregation of the basketwork eel, Diastobranchus capensis, on the small (3 km²) Patience Seamount off southeast Australia. The aggregation appears to be present year-round, but largest in the austral autumn when composed of spawning eels. Twenty eels caught in April 2015 (14 female, 6 male) were all in advanced stages of spawning condition. The eel’s abundance in the aggregation was very high as measured at seamount, local and regional scales. Hydroacoustic measurement of the spawning aggregation’s dimensions (~100 × 1000 m) and conservative counts of 100 s of eels along camera transects of ~1000–2000 m length indicate 10,000 s individual eels may have been present. The absence of other known spawning locations indicates the Patience Seamount is a regional-scale spatial anchor for spawning. The aggregation was protected in a marine park in 2007 following a decades-long impact from bottom trawling, indicating that the population can be expected to stabilise and recover. Monitoring the aggregation’s status, and validating seasonal spawning, provide important opportunities to examine conservation-led recovery in the deep sea as part of Australia’s new national strategy of Monitoring, Evaluation, Reporting and Improvement (MERI) for conservation values within marine parks. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Deepwater Fishes)

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14 pages, 1633 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Deep-Water Cartilaginous Fishes in the Central Mediterranean Sea: Comparison between Geographic Areas with Two Low Impact Tools for Sampling

by Angela Carluccio, Francesca Capezzuto, Porzia Maiorano, Letizia Sion and Gianfranco D’Onghia

J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2021, 9(7), 686; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse9070686 - 22 Jun 2021

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2092

Abstract

Baited lander represents a low impact technique, an alternative to the traditional trawl sampling for collecting data on fish diversity and abundance, especially for threatened species such as Chondrichthyes living in sensitive habitats. In this study, distribution and abundance of cartilaginous fish were [...] Read more.

Baited lander represents a low impact technique, an alternative to the traditional trawl sampling for collecting data on fish diversity and abundance, especially for threatened species such as Chondrichthyes living in sensitive habitats. In this study, distribution and abundance of cartilaginous fish were compared between two geographic areas, the southern Adriatic Sea and the north-western Ionian Sea, with two low impact sampling gears, an experimental bottom longline and a baited lander. Species diversity was evaluated by applying ecological indices and difference in mean abundances were tested using multivariate analysis. A total of 13 species of cartilaginous fish were collected. Significant differences in the assemblage recorded in the same area using different sampling tools were detected and no significant differences were detected among different areas explored with the same method. Using longline, the most abundant species collected in both areas was Galeus melastomus, while using lander, the most observed species were Dalatias licha in the southern Adriatic Sea and Hexanchus griseus in the north-western Ionian Sea. According to IUCN classification, of the 13 species collected, 2 are near threatened and 5 are threatened. A better governance of sensitive habitats coinciding with the essential fish habitat for these species would ensure them a better conservation status. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Deepwater Fishes)

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14 pages, 1691 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Effects of Capture and Time Out of Water on Sablefish (Anoplopoma fimbria) Reflexes, Mortality, and Health

by Cara Rodgveller, Christiane V. Löhr and John A. Dimond

J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2021, 9(6), 675; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse9060675 - 19 Jun 2021

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2318

Abstract

It is unknown if capture coupled with time out of water on-deck affect sablefish (Anoplopoma fimbria) health and reflexes, and whether it contributes to acute or delayed mortality. In this study, 35 sablefish were caught using hook-and-line gear and given six [...] Read more.

It is unknown if capture coupled with time out of water on-deck affect sablefish (Anoplopoma fimbria) health and reflexes, and whether it contributes to acute or delayed mortality. In this study, 35 sablefish were caught using hook-and-line gear and given six reflex tests after capture. Thirty-two were subsequently transported to the laboratory, held for 45–52 days, and then experimentally held out of the water for either 0, 3, 6, or 11 min. After 7–10 days of holding in the laboratory after the experiment, to monitor for mortalities, reflexes were tested for a second time and necropsies and histopathology were performed. There were no histological findings and no mortalities; however, parasites and minor inflammation were observed. All occurrences were not a result of capture or experiments. Some reflexes were absent after capture (77% could right themselves, 69% responded to a tail grab, and 57% responded to sound.) The only test where the reflex did not improve to 100% in the laboratory was the sound reflex. The sound reflex was highest for control fish (63%) and there were no positive sound reflexes for fish held out of water for 11 min. The absence of reflexes may result in predation after release and present issues with feeding or communication. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Deepwater Fishes)

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