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PubMed2005

Biogeographic provinces of total and methyl mercury in zooplankton and fish from the Beaufort and Chukchi seas: results from the SHEBA drift.

Samples of copepods (Calanus hyperboreus) and arctic cod (Boreogadus saida) were collected along the SHEBA (Surface HEat Budget of the Arctic) drift track, which commenced in the Canada Basin (October 1997) and finished in the Mendeleev Basin (October 1998). Here, we report total mercury (HgT) and CH3Hg concentrations in these biological samples and examine concentration variability along the drift track in the context of trophic variation, inputs from land, spring mercury depletion events (MDEs), and oceanographic provinces. We find background concentrations of HgT in C. hyperboreus as low as 0.02 microg/g (dw), with the Canada Basin samples exhibiting approximately 2-fold higher mercury concentrations than those from the Chukchi Plateau and Mendeleev Abyssal Plain. This east-to-west trend in mercury concentration is punctuated by two and possibly three intervals of elevated mercury (HgT, 0.10-0.12 microg/g (dw); CH3Hg, 0.023-0.028 microg/g (dw)) along the drift track. One interval of elevated HgT and CH3-Hg levels occurred during and shortly after melt. %CH3Hg reached a maximum of 60% during this time period, three times higher than any other time during the drift. This transient rise in C. hyperboreus CH3Hg concentration seems to strongly point to mercury accumulated in snow during MDEs. However, the alignment of elevated mercury samples with oceanographic fronts and the observed regional differences between basins suggest that variation of mercury concentration is primarily a consequence of ocean structure. Given that large animals such as whales selectively forage in regions of higher food concentration such as fronts, recent change in the ice climate of the western Arctic Ocean, perhaps mediated by changes in heat storage, may provide the means to change their exposure to mercury thus explaining observed increases in mercury concentrations in western beluga whales during the 1990s.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Dechlorane plus, a chlorinated flame retardant, in the Great Lakes.

A highly chlorinated flame retardant, Dechlorane Plus (DP), was detected and identified in ambient air, fish, and sediment samples from the Great Lakes region. The identity of this compound was confirmed by comparing its gas chromatographic retention times and mass spectra with those of authentic material. This compound exists as two gas chromatographically separable stereoisomers (syn and anti), the structures of which were characterized by one- and two-dimensional proton nuclear magnetic resonance. DP was detected in most air samples, even at remote sites. The atmospheric DP concentrations were higher at the eastern Great Lakes sites (Sturgeon Point, NY, and Cleveland, OH) than those at the western Great Lakes sites (Eagle Harbor, MI, Chicago, IL, and Sleeping Bear Dunes, MI). Atthe Sturgeon Point site, DP concentrations once reached 490 pg/m3. DP atmospheric concentrations were comparable to those of BDE-209 at the eastern Great Lakes sites. DP was also found in sediment cores from Lakes Michigan and Erie. The peak DP concentrations were comparable to BDE-209 concentrations in the sediment core from Lake Erie butwere about 30 times lower than BDE-209 concentrations in the core from Lake Michigan. In the sediment cores, the DP concentrations peaked around 1975-1980, and the surficial concentrations were 10-80% of peak concentrations. Higher DP concentrations in air samples from Sturgeon Point, NY, and in the sediment core from Lake Erie suggest that DP's manufacturing facility in Niagara Falls, NY, may be a source. DP was also detected in archived fish (walleye) from Lake Erie, suggesting that this compound is, at least partially, bioavailable.

Air Pollutants↗
PubMed2005

ITS1-rDNA-based methodology to identify world-wide hake species of the Genus Merluccius.

Species-specific DNA-based tags are valuable tools for the management of both fisheries and commercial fish products. In this study, we have developed a two-step molecular tool to detect the presence of hake DNA (Merluccius spp.) and to identify the exact hake species present in an blind sample. The first test involves PCR amplification of an ITS1-rDNA fragment of 193 bp using nested primers that are interspecifically conserved in Merluccius spp. and Atlantic cod, Gadus morhua. The second test consists of the PCR amplification of a 602-659 bp DNA fragment spanning part of the ribosomal cluster 18S-ITS1-5.8S and digesting it with four restriction enzymes whose targets map at interspecifically nonconserved sites of the ITS1. Alternatively, the identification of hake species can be achieved by FINS or BLAST, using the nucleotide sequence of either the whole ITS1 sequence or its nested fragment of 193 bp. Because of their high reproducibility and ease of execution, these procedures allow for routine analysis and constitute high reliable tools for the rapid identification of 12 species of hake.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Ultrastructural changes and structure and mobility of myowater in frozen-stored hake (Merluccius merluccius L.) muscle: relationship with functionality and texture.

The ultrastructural changes and the main Raman spectral features of water (3100-3500 and 50-600 cm(-)(1) ranges) in frozen-stored hake were studied with the aim of connecting these changes with loss of some functional properties such as water holding capacity, and with modifications of muscle texture. The following results were obtained: (a) The changes in the spaces between myofibrils can be related to modifications of shear resistance. (b) The behavior of the strong 160 cm(-)(1) band can be related to conformational transitions of muscle proteins, to changes in the structure of muscle water, and/or to alterations in protein-water interactions. (c) There were intensity changes in the nu(s)(OH) band that may be attributable to transfer of water to larger spatial domains during frozen storage.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Proteolytic activity in byproducts from cod species caught at three different fishing grounds.

Proteolytic activity in byproducts from cod species caught at three different fishing grounds has been characterized and compared. The overall highest activity in the byproduct fractions was found in viscera at pH 3 (35 degrees C). Cut off and liver fractions also show maximum activity at pH 3, 35 and 50 degrees C, respectively. Proteolytic activity in viscera and cut off fractions are more affected by fishing ground than by species. Proteolytic activity at pH 3 in viscera is higher in samples from the south coast of Ireland, while viscera samples from the Icelandic Sea have the highest activity at pH 7. For cut off, the activity is higher in samples from the south coast of Ireland than the other two fishing grounds.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Rheological properties of fast skeletal myosin rod and light meromyosin from walleye pollack and white croaker: contribution of myosin fragments to thermal gel formation.

Myosin rod and light meromyosin (LMM) of walleye pollack and white croaker were examined for their rheological properties by measuring dynamic viscoelastic parameters. Rods from walleye pollack and white croaker increased their storage moduli (G') in the ranges of 29-43 degrees C and 31-38 degrees C, respectively, in temperature sweep analysis. Walleye pollack LMM showed no peak of G' upon heating, whereas the white croaker counterpart exhibited a single sharp peak of G' at 35 degrees C. Loss modulus (G") showed similar temperature-dependent changes for the two fish species as the case of G', irrespective of rod and LMM, although G" values were lower than those of G'. Thus, rheological properties of rod and LMM were different between walleye pollack and white croaker. Taken together with data previously reported for myosin, it was considered that both myosin rods from walleye pollack and white croaker are attributed to thermal gel formation of myosin in a low-temperature range, though in a species-specific manner.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Inhibition of hemoglobin- and iron-promoted oxidation in fish microsomes by natural phenolics.

Natural phenolic antioxidants have been tested in hake (Merluccious merluccious) microsomes as inhibitors of lipid oxidation promoted by fish muscle prooxidants: hemoglobin (Hb), enzymatic NADH-iron and nonenzymatic ascorbate-iron. The phenolics selected were as follows: (a) a grape phenolic extract (OW), (b) a fraction (IV) with isolated grape procyanidins with a medium-low degree of polymerization and galloylation percentage, (c) hydroxytyrosol obtained from olive oil byproducts, and (d) a synthetic phenolic antioxidant, propyl gallate. All compounds delayed lipid oxidation activated by Hb, enzymatic NADH-iron, and nonenzymatic ascorbate-iron, excluding hydroxytyrosol that was not an effective antioxidant on oxidation promoted by nonenzymatic iron. The relative antioxidant efficiency was independent of the prooxidant system, IV > propyl gallate > OW > hydroxytyrosol, and showed a positive correlation with their incorporation into microsomes (p < 0.05). The reducing capacity or ability for donating electrons and the chelating properties may also contribute to the antioxidant activity of phenolics, although these factors were less decisive than their affinity for incorporating into the microsomes. Conversely, the inhibition of Hb oxidation by phenolics and their polarity did not seem to play an important role on antioxidant mechanism. These results stressed the importance of incorporating the exogenous antioxidants into the membranes where are located key substances for fish lipid oxidation (highly unsaturated phospholipids, iron-reducing enzymes, and endogenous alpha-tocopherol).

Animals↗
PubMed2006

The oxygen transport system in three species of the boreal fish family Gadidae. Molecular phylogeny of hemoglobin.

The Arctic and Antarctic marine faunas differ by age and isolation. Fishes of the two polar regions have undergone different regional histories that have driven the physiological diversities. Antarctic fish are highly stenothermal, in keeping with stable water temperatures, whereas Arctic fish, being exposed to seasonal temperature variations, exhibit higher physiological plasticity. This study reports the characterization of the oxygen transport system of three Arctic species of the family Gadidae, namely the Arctic cod Arctogadus glacialis, the polar cod Boreogadus saida, and the Atlantic cod Gadus morhua. Unlike Antarctic notothenioids, the blood displays high multiplicity, i.e. it has three hemoglobins, similar to many other acanthomorph teleosts. In the most abundant hemoglobin, oxygen binding is modulated by heterotropic effectors, with marked Bohr and Root effects. Remarkably, in two species (A. glacialis and B. saida), the Hill coefficient is very close to one in the whole pH range, indicating the apparent absence of cooperativity. The amino acid sequences have been used to gain insight into the evolution history of globins of polar fish. The results indicate that Arctic and Antarctic globins have different phylogenies and lead us to suggest that the selective pressure of environment stability allows the phylogenetic signal to be maintained in the Antarctic sequences, whereas environmental variability would tend to disrupt this signal in the Gadidae sequences.

Acclimatization↗
PubMed2005

Molecular characterization of Anisakis pegreffii larvae in Pacific cod in Japan.

It is now recognized that the morphospecies Anisakis simplex is not a single species but a complex composed of three sibling species, A. simplex sensu stricto, A. pegreffii and A. simplex C. In Japan, A. simplex-like larvae have been isolated from a variety of fish and humans, but the larvae collected have been identified as A. simplex by only light microscopy. Therefore, the epidemiology of the A. simplex complex, composed of three sibling species, is still unclear in Japan. In the present study, 26 A. simplex-like larval isolates were obtained from two Pacific cod landed in Hokkaido, Japan, and examined genetically by PCR-RFLP and direct sequencing of the ITS region of rDNA. Among the 26 isolates, 24 were identified as A. simplex sensu stricto, the other two as A. pegreffii. The present study is the first to confirm the distribution of A. pegreffii in Japan, and to detect A. pegreffii larvae in Pacific cod.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Fish host-cestode parasite stable isotope enrichment patterns in marine, estuarine and freshwater fishes from Northern Canada.

Cestode parasites from freshwater (threespine stickleback, Gasterosteus aculeatus), estuarine (brook charr, Salvelinus fontinalis) and marine (Greenland cod, Gadus ogac) fish from northern Quebec, Canada, were used to investigate the hypotheses that cestode parasites are (13)C and (15)N enriched relative to host food sources, but (15)N depleted with respect to host muscle tissue as a result of differential enrichment during the assimilation of common nutrient sources. Cestode parasites and fish were generally similarly enriched in (13)C with respect to common food sources and, in the case of Greenland cod, cestode parasites were (13)C enriched relative to host tissue. Cestode parasites were also generally (15)N enriched with respect to mean host dietary signatures, but depleted with respect to host muscle tissue. In the case of Greenland cod cestode parasites, no significant (15)N enrichment relative to host dietary signature was observed. Cestode parasites appear generally to experience smaller (15)N enrichment than hosts as a result of trophic transfer of common dietary sources. Differential (15)N enrichment patterns in parasites and fish may be attributed to differences in parasite and host metabolism, particularly the anaerobic and aerobic natures of their respective metabolisms. Results imply that isotope enrichment paradigms developed for the study of aquatic foodwebs cannot be routinely applied to quantitatively assess the role of parasites in aquatic foodwebs and that reference to host muscle tissue measures will not allow accurate characterization of parasite foodweb position. Appropriate reference to assimilated food sources is required to accurately estimate parasite isotopic enrichment patterns and to determine parasite trophic position relative to the host.

Animals↗
PubMed1958

Fine structure and function in Stentor polymorphous.

The fine structure of the ciliate Stentor has been studied by means of the electron microscope and the results have been correlated with observations made on the living organism by means of light microscopy; special reference has been made to structural features which may be responsible for contraction and extension in Stentor. Descriptions have been given of the structure of the macronucleus, the vacuolated cytoplasm, mitochondria and the pellicle; a detailed study has also been made of the adoral membranelles. About 250 membranelles encircle the peristomal cap and each is composed of 3 rows of cilia, with 20 to 25 cilia in each row; a fibrillar root system connected with the membranelles depends into the endoplasm for about 20 micro and each is essentially in the shape of a fan, the terminal ends of each root bifurcating to connect to neighbouring roots. The membranelles thus form a cohesive unit and this morphological arrangement may have a bearing on the motion and coordination of the whole system. Two structural features extending throughout the length of the animal have been identified per cortical stripe in the body wall of Stentor; first, km fibres lying just beneath the pellicle are composed of stacks of fibrillar sheets and are identical with the birefringent fibres observed in the living animal. The individual fibrils of the sheets are in turn connected to the kinetosomes of the body cilia; thus the km fibres are homologous to kinetodesmata. Secondly, M bands lie beneath the km fibres and form an interconnected system in contact with the surrounding vacuolated cytoplasm; the thickness of the M bands is greatest at the base of a contracted animal. The contractile and extensile properties of these organelles have been discussed in the light of experimental results and theoretical considerations.

Animals↗