Showing papers by "National Marine Fisheries Service published in 1973"
TL;DR: Premature pupping in California sea lions has been noted on the breeding islands since 1968 and organochlorine pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyl residues were two to eight times higher than in similar tissues of full-term parturient females and pups collected on San Miguel Island in 1970.
Abstract: Premature pupping in California sea lions has been noted on the breeding islands since 1968. Organochlorine pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyl residues were two to eight times higher in tissues of premature parturient females and pups than in similar tissues of full-term parturient females and pups collected on San Miguel Island in 1970.
292 citations
TL;DR: The acute toxicity of 11 heavy metals to embryos of the American oyster Crassostrea virginica was studied and the concentrations at which 50% of the embryos did not develop were determined.
Abstract: The acute toxicity of 11 heavy metals to embryos of the American oyster Crassostrea virginica was studied and the concentrations at which 50% of the embryos did not develop were determined. The most toxic metals and their LC50 values were mercury (0.0056 ppm), silver (0.0058 ppm), copper (0.103 ppm) and zinc (0.31 ppm). Those metals that were not as toxic and their LC50 values were nickel (1.18 ppm), lead (2.45 ppm) and cadmium (3.80 ppm). Those metals that were relatively non-toxic and their LC50 values were arsenic (7.5 ppm), chromium (10.3 ppm) and manganese (16.0 ppm). Aluminum was non-toxic at 7.5 ppm, the highest concentration tested.
274 citations
TL;DR: Copper had no effect on gill-tissue oxygen consumption; however, cadmium reduced the rate of oxygen consumption in both species tested, and elevated greencrab serum above its normal hyperosmotic state.
Abstract: Green crabs (Carcinus maenas) and rock crabs (Cancer irroratus) were exposed to various concentrations of copper as cupric chloride (CuCl2 · 2 H2O), and cadmium as cadmium chloride (CdCl2 · 21/2 H2O) for 48 h. The exposures were conducted at 5 different salinities. At the end of each exposure period, tests of blood-serum osmolality and gill-tissue oxygen consumption were performed. Copper-exposed crabs exhibited loss of osmoregulatory function with increasing copper concentration until normally hyperosmotic serum became isosmotic with the surrounding medium. Cadmium elevated greencrab serum above its normal hyperosmotic state. Copper had no effect on gill-tissue oxygen consumption; however, cadmium reduced the rate of oxygen consumption in both species tested.
168 citations
TL;DR: The behavior and oxygen consumption rates of adult mud snails, exposed to five metals individually (arsenic, cadmium, copper, silver and zinc) and to one combination of two metals (cadmium and copper) have been examined as discussed by the authors.
56 citations
TL;DR: Results of these studies indicate a bacterial cause of fin rot disease in at least 22 species of marine and euryhaline fishes in the New York Bight and suspect pollution had a role in the disease.
Abstract: A fin rot disease reached epizootic proportions in 1967 among at least 22 species of marine and euryhaline fishes in the New York Bight and has continued to occur annually to the present time. Fin necrosis was the consistent external sign of the disease; other external pathological changes included skin hemorrhages, skin ulcers and, occasionally, blindness. Bluefish, summer flounder, winter flounder, and weakfish were the principal species affected. Results of these studies indicate a bacterial cause. Bacteria of three genera, Aeromonas, Vibrio and Pseudomonas are likely implicated. Similar epizootics among freshwater fishes have been associated with unsanitary conditions in aquaria and with water pollution in nature. The epizootic primary center, lower New York Harbor, is grossly polluted with sewage and industrial wastes. We suspect pollution had a role in the disease.
53 citations
01 Mar 1973
TL;DR: Experiments conducted using juvenile chinook salmon, Oncorhynchus tshawytscha, and striped bass exhibited a narcosis that caused a decrease in respiration rates after exposure to benzene, which is highly toxic to mammals.
Abstract: Interest surrounding the potential effects of crude oil on aquatic organisms has increased in recent years due to the incidence of accidental oil spills. There are few experimental results reported, however, dealing with the effect on aquatic species of water-soluble aromatic hydrocarbons contained in crude oil. Such compounds are highly toxic to mammals. Experiments were conducted using juvenile chinook salmon, Oncorhynchus tshawytscha, and striped bass, Morone saxatilis. The fish were exposed to sub-lethal concentrations of the aromatic hydrocarbon benzene, for periods ranging from 1–96 hours. Prior to exposure, and after exposure to the benzene, respiration rates of individual fish were measured. Results show increases in respiratory rate up to 115 percent above that of control fish after exposure periods of 24 hours for striped bass and 48 hours for chinook salmon. Fish exposed to benzene concentrations of 10 ppm for periods longer than those listed exhibited a narcosis that caused a decrease...
49 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the effects of selected bacteria on healthy embryos and larvae of the American oyster, Crassostrea virginica, were investigated using a 36 μm Nitex screen.
45 citations
TL;DR: The wound healing process first observed at 24 hr post-tagging showed a pronounced hemocytic infiltration of the wound area, which was lollowed by the appearance of fibrocytes and the deposition of collagenlike fibers along the would channel 48 hr after wounding.
43 citations
01 Mar 1973
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors suggest techniques for obtaining and analyzing petroleum hydrocarbon data which can lead to a standard method for detecting and following the biological uptake of oil by living organisms from the aquatic environment.
Abstract: Normal paraffin hydrocarbons are one of the major groups of compounds in crude oil and petroleum products. Since these compounds can be readily separated from aquatic organisms using solvent extraction and liquid-solid chromatography and identified by gas-liquid chromatography, the normal paraffins can serve as indicators of petroleum pollution in the aquatic environment. It is necessary, however, to differentiate between natural (or biogenic) hydrocarbons and those assimilated by the organisms from pollution sources by comparing the natural hydrocarbon content and pattern (n-C14 to n-C37) of organisms from areas of pollution with those of organisms from relatively “unpolluted” areas. The paper suggests techniques for obtaining and analyzing petroleum hydrocarbon data which can lead to a standard method for detecting and following the biological uptake of oil by living organisms from the aquatic environment.
38 citations
TL;DR: A primary mycosis of larvae of the white shrimp, Penaeus setiferus, first became apparent in larvae in the second protozoeal stage and disappeared as the shrimp reached the first mysis stage, where they became immobilized by near complete tissue destruction and replacement by the expanding mycelium.
37 citations
TL;DR: An estimate of the genetic polymorphism and average hetorozygosity in three species of rockfish, Sebastes alutus, S. caurinus, and S. elongatus' was made using differences in electrophoretic mobility of proteins on starch gel to yield estimates of 8,4 and 8 per cent of all polymorphic for the average species population.
Abstract: 1. 1. An estimate of the genetic polymorphism and average hetorozygosity in three species of rockfish, Sebastes alutus, S. caurinus, and S. elongatus' was made using differences in electrophoretic mobility of proteins on starch gel. 2. 2. In S. alutus two of twenty-five loci; in S. caurinus, one of twenty-five loci; and in S. elongatus, two of twenty-four loci were polymorphic. 3. 3. This yields estimates of 8,4 and 8 per cent of all polymorphic for the average species population and values of 3·8, 1·8 and 3·3 per cent for the proportion of the genome heterozygous per individual in the average population.
TL;DR: The present study was undertaken to determine the toxicity of acute exposure of cadmium to the mud crab, Eurypanopeus depressus, as evidenced by mortality and by differential oxygen consumption occurring at non-lethal levels of this contaminant.
Abstract: Although there is an increasing interest in heavy metals as pollutants in the marine environment, relatively little work has been done to determine the effect of such metals on marine organisms (Katzet al. 1971, 1972; Reish 1970, 1971, 1972; Selleck 1970, 1971). Most of these studies have dealt with lethal effects of copper and mercury on fouling organisms (Bryan 1971). Several investigators have reported heavy-metal effects on adult decapod crustaceans (Eisler 1971; Eisleret al. 1972; Raymont and Shields 1964; Vernberg and O'Hara 1972). There is, however, a paucity of information on the effects of cadmium on this group. The present study was undertaken to determine the toxicity of acute exposure of cadmium to the mud crab,Eurypanopeus depressus, as evidenced by mortality and by differential oxygen consumption occurring at non-lethal levels of this contaminant.E depressus was chosen for study because its estuarine habitat is likely to be polluted with heavy metals in the heavily industrialized areas of the Northeast. Cadmium was chosen as the test metal because of the growing awareness of its toxic properties, its persistent nature and its increasing occurrence in the environment. (U. S. Council on environmental quality 1971).
TL;DR: Studies were made in Core Sound, North Carolina to determine the abundance and distribution of juvenile blue crabs,Callinectes sapidus, and their subsequent relation to the commercial fishery.
Abstract: Studies were made in Core Sound, North Carolina to determine the abundance and distribution of juvenile blue crabs,Callinectes sapidus, and their subsequent relation to the commercial fishery. Estimates of juvenile abundance were based on catches of small crabs in the marsh creeks bordering Core Sound. Young-of-the-year blue crabs (2.5–5.0 mm) begin to enter Core Sound estuary in early October. These small crabs move through the open waters of the sound and bays into the small marsh creeks and remain there until the following spring. At this time (April–May) the juvenile crabs move into the bays and sound proper where they remain to maturity. Catch and effort statistics from Core Sound Commercial crab fishery were collected from November 1964 through June 1968. Landings of approximately 680,000 kg annually constitute the fishery.
TL;DR: The nearly simultaneous, very recent rediscovery of the species in three widely separated areas of the world is reported, and its external coloration and form is described.
Abstract: F. C. FRASER1 described Lagenodelphis hosei in 1956 from a skeleton collected by E. Hose2 before 1895 on a sea beach in Sarawak. There have been no further records of the species, and its external appearance has remained unknown. We report here the nearly simultaneous, very recent rediscovery of the species in three widely separated areas of the world, and describe its external coloration and form.
01 Mar 1973
TL;DR: In this paper, experiments were conducted at the National Marine Fisheries Service, Auke Bay Fisheries Laboratory to determine the concentrations of Prudhoe Bay crude oil that are acutely toxic to pink salmon fry in fresh water and seawater.
Abstract: With the potential of oil pollution harming Alaska's marine resources, experiments were conducted at the National Marine Fisheries Service, Auke Bay Fisheries Laboratory to determine the concentrations of Prudhoe Bay crude oil that are acutely toxic to pink salmon fry in fresh water and seawater and also the concentrations of this oil that the fry would avoid. Observed 96-hour TLM values were 88 mg of oil/liter of water in fresh water and 213 mg/liter in seawater in June and 110 mg/liter in seawater in August. Among fry held in seawater, older fry were more susceptible to oil toxicity than younger fry and older fry were also more sensitive in their detection and avoidance of oil; older fry in seawater avoided oil concentrations as low as 1.6 mg of oil/liter of water. The avoidance of oil by salmon fry was quite apparent and suggests that there is potential for oil pollution to change their migration behavior.
TL;DR: In this article, a combination of nightlighting and man-made structure fish attraction techniques are proposed for harvesting coastal pelagic fish aggregations which occur around existing petroleton drilling platforms, well heads, and other areas presently inaccessible to conventional fishing gear.
Abstract: Field experiments were conducted in the northeastern Gulf of Mexico to evaluate techniques for using sequentially-operated lamp strings and moving lamps to lead and concentrate light-attracted coastal pelagic fishes. Fish were successfully led between sequentially-operated under-water lamps separated by distances up to 20 meters. Mobile lamps were used to lead fish distances up to approximately 1 kilometer. Fish aggregations which form daily around man-made structures were held after dark and led clear with moving lamps for capture by purse seine. A combination of nightlighting and man-made structure fish attraction techniques are proposed for harvesting coastal pelagic fish aggregations which occur around existing petroleton drilling platforms, well heads, and other areas presently inaccessible to conventional fishing gear.
TL;DR: Evidence is presented of a six-allele system in this species and thirteen phenotypes of aspartate aminotransferase were detected in extracts of Mytilus edulis by starch gel electrophoresis.
Abstract: 1. 1. Thirteen phenotypes of aspartate aminotransferase were detected in extracts of Mytilus edulis by starch gel electrophoresis. 2. 2. Evidence is presented of a six-allele system in this species.
TL;DR: Copper rockfish (Sebastes caurinus), a species that is becoming increasingly important as a sport fish, were studied in two shallow areas in Puget Sound from 1963 to 1968 to obtain information on seasonal availability, growth, maturation, feeding habits, and ecology.
Abstract: Copper rockfish (Sebastes caurinus), a species that is becoming increasingly important as a sport fish, were studied in two shallow areas in Puget Sound, from 1963 to 1968, to obtain information on seasonal availability, growth, maturation, feeding habits, and ecology. Specimens examined ranged from 6.8 to 47.0 cm in fork length and from 0 to 8 years old. Availability was greatest in September and October and least in June and July. Length-weight regression was the same for both sexes but differed by time of year (W = 0.0000162313.040252 for September to November and W = 0.0000249452.953381 for December to March). Both sexes were usually mature at age IV. Crustacea and fish were the principal foods. The rockfish hid in rock interstices in the winter but not in the summer.
TL;DR: White shrimp infected by the plerocercoid larva of the trypanorhynchid cestode, Prochristianella penaei, respond to infections in the heptaopancreas by developing a progressively denser cyst, composed of hemocytes, fibroblasts, and collagenlike fibers, around the parasite.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors conducted 14, 5 and 4 day studies in the U.S. Virgin Islands, Bahama Islands and Florida during April, 1970, December, 1971, and January, 1972.
Abstract: 1. Saturation diving from the undersea laboratories Tektite II, Hydro-Lab and Edalhab permitted scientists to conduct extended in situ observations of fish within the influence of traps. The 14, 5 and 4 day studies were conducted in the U.S. Virgin Islands, Bahama Islands and Florida during April, 1970, December, 1971, and January, 1972. 2. Virgin Island style traps captured the greatest number of fish, although they were smaller than those captured in experimental traps. Trap entrance design was a major factor in its effectiveness. An ungated web tunnel worked poorly when the orifice slit was drawn tight because fish would not readily push through it. However, when loosened, very large fish entered, including several groupers and 1.8 m long nurse sharks. Few fish escaped through the Virgin Island trap tunnels, whereas numerous fish were seen swimming from the gated experimental trap tunnels. 3. Cut bait seemed to play a minor role in attracting fish to traps. However, large fish were attracted by escape efforts of smaller trapped fish. Trap location in relation to natural fish aggregating areas or movement routes affected the catch. 4. Numerous behavioral characteristics relating to fishes within the influence of the traps were noted, including territorial defense, social behavior and predator-prey relationships.
TL;DR: Le titre de l'hémagglutinine naturelle qui se trouve dans le sérum du crabe bleu,Callinectes sapidus, par l'inoculation d’hématies de vertébrés, s’agit là d'une réponse intérieure défensive and non-spécifique due à quelque force extérieur.
Abstract: Nous avons essaye d'augmenter le titre de l'hemagglutinine naturelle qui se trouve dans le serum du crabe bleu,Callinectes sapidus, par l'inoculation d'hematies de vertebres. On a note une augmentation legere de ce titre apres 48 h, mais elle n'etait apparemment pas specifique, puisque on peut la provoquer avec l'antigene heterologique et une solution saline ainsi que l'antigene homologique. Il appert qu'il s'agit la d'une reponse interieure defensive et non-specifique due a quelque force exterieure.
TL;DR: A 28-foot gillnetter was modified to catch juvenile salmon and steelhead trout by purse seining in the estuary of the Columbia River with relative economy, practicality, and safety.
Abstract: A 28-foot gillnetter was modified to catch juvenile salmon and steelhead trout by purse seining in the estuary of the Columbia River. This vessel and equipment enabled effective sampling with relative economy, practicality, and safety. The main limitation was the lack of space for handling fish. Juvenile salmon and steelhead trout comprised the majority of the catch. Also taken in large numbers were surf smelt, American shad, northern anchovy, and longfin smelt in brackish water and peamouth in fresh water. The incidental catch included cutthroat trout, Pacific herring, eulachon, threespine stickleback, carp, shiner perch, starry flounder, and largescale sucker.
TL;DR: Both large- molecule and small-molecule agglutinins have been found in rainbow trout serum but only the large-molescule aggLutinin was induced by exposure to antigen.
Abstract: Both large-molecule and small-molecule agglutinins have been found in rainbow trout serum. Only the large-molecule agglutinin was induced by exposure to antigen.
01 Mar 1973
TL;DR: An interagency team of biologists, chemists, oceanographers and engineers has been investigating the long-term effects of oil spilled by the troopship GENERAL M. C. MEIGS January 6, 1972, on an ocean coast intertidal community of plants and animals.
Abstract: An interagency team of biologists, chemists, oceanographers and engineers has been investigating the long-term effects of oil spilled by the grounding of the troopship GENERAL M. C. MEIGS January 6, 1972, on an ocean coast intertidal community of plants and animals. Oil has continuously been released from the 440,000 liters of Navy Special Fuel Oil carried by the vessel. The team assessed biological damage by making 1) surveys of abundance and physiological condition of animals, 2) qualitative evaluation of obvious damage to plants, and 3) measurements of the hydrocarbon uptake in both plants and animals. A series of sites, forming a vertical profile of the rocky shelf area from the upper intertidal zone to the lowest low tide level in Wreck Cove, have been studied. This report describes the preliminary findings of the first ten months (January-October, 1972) of the investigation. Abnormal and dead urchins (Strongylocentrotus purpuratus) indicated that this species was affected. Loss of fronds an...
TL;DR: The internal ferromagnetic body tags from the commercial menhaden fisheries indicate the juveniles migrate as far south as Florida in the fall and winter and then redistribute northward along the coast by size as age-I fish during the following spring and summer.
Abstract: From 1967 to 1971 over 80,000 juvenile Atlantic menhaden, Brevoortia tyrannus, were tagged from Florida to Massachusetts. Returns of the internal ferromagnetic body tags from the commercial menhaden fisheries indicate the juveniles migrate as far south as Florida in the fall and winter and then redistribute northward along the coast by size as age-I fish during the following spring and summer. Larger 1-year-old fish migrate north earlier and in greater numbers than small ones which remain in more southern waters where some are not available to the fisheries for part of the year. Some northward movement of age-I fish from the South Atlantic fishing area to Chesapeake Bay, evidently occurs through midsummer.
TL;DR: In this article, the radiation sensitivities of five estuarine decapod crustacea were compared: three species of fiddler crabs,Uca pugilator, U. pugnax, and U. minax: the blue crab, Callinectes sapidus, and grass shrimp,Palaemonetes pugio.
Abstract: The radiation sensitivities of five estuarine decapod crustacea were compared: three species of fiddler crabs,Uca pugilator, U. pugnax, U. minax: the blue crab,Callinectes sapidus, and the grass shrimp,Palaemonetes pugio. Temperature and salinity (20 C and 30 o/oo) and radiation dose rate (310 rad/min) were the same for all species. The 40-day LD-50 values for the fiddler crabs (U. pugilator, 9,800 rad;U. pugnax, 16,500 rad; andU. minax, 13,500 rad) fell between those of the blue crab, 42,000 rad, and grass shrimp, 215 rad. Possible physiological and ecological explanations for the differences in sensitivity are discussed.
29 Jun 1973
TL;DR: A 15-mo study was initiated in July 1972 to demonstrate the potential of using satellite-acquired environmental data to provide fisheries information as discussed by the authors, where imagery from ERTS-l (Earth Resources Tech- nology Satellite) was used in conjunction with aerial photographically sensed menhaden distribution information, sea-truth oceanographic measurements, and commercial fishing information from a 8,670km' study area in the north central portion of the Gulf of Mexico.
Abstract: A 15-mo study was initiated in July 1972 to demonstrate the potential of using satellite-acquired environmental data to provide fisheries information. Imagery from ERTS-l (Earth Resources Tech nology Satellite) was used in conjunction with aerial photographically sensed menhaden distribution information, sea-truth oceanographic measurements, and commercial fishing information from a 8,670-km' study area in the north central portion of the Gulf of Mexico. Objectives were to demon strate relationships between selected oceanographic parameters and menhaden distribution, ERTS-l imagery and menhaden distribution, and ERTS-l imagery and oceanographic parameters. ERTS-l, MSS Band 5 imagery density levels correlated with photographically-detected menhaden distribution patterns and could be explained based on sea-truth secchi disc transparency and water-depth mea surements. These two parameters, together with surface salinity, Forel-Ule color, and chlorophyll a, also were found to correlate significantly with menhaden distribution. Eight empirical models were developed which provided menhaden distribution predictions for the study area based on combinations of secchi disc transparency, water depth, surface salinity, and Forel-Ule color measurements. A need of managers and users alike of living marine resources is timely synoptic information about the distribution and abundance of the re sources. For users, this need is particularly criti cal in that daily decisions must be made about where to deploy fishing vessels and less frequent decisions about investment strategies for men and equipment. The increasing pressures placed on living marine resources by domestic and foreign fishing fleets interacting with environmental changes demand that resource managers also be kept fully aware of the current status of the stocks to prevent possible catastrophic fluc tuations in specific fish populations. Unfortu nately, the tools required to satisfy this need economically are lacking, forcing users to base decisions on inituition and often biased personal knowledge and resource managers to formulate recommendations based on historical rather than current information. In response to this need, a number of relatively new technologies are being examined by the National Marine Fisheries
TL;DR: In this paper, it has been argued that the finback whale, Balaenoptera physalus, is one of the generators of the low frequency acoustic signals of baleen whales.
Abstract: SINCE the advent, some 25 yr ago, of recording equipment responsive over a wide frequency band, listening stations at scattered ocean locations have recorded long, repetitious trains of powerful, low frequency sound pulses that vary over a narrow 6 Hz band centred at about 20 Hz1,2. Once an enigma, the source of these remarkable signals is now thought to be baleen whales, and although several types of signals have been recorded3, implying that more than one species is responsible, strong evidence implicates the finback whale, Balaenoptera physalus, as one of the generators1. The low frequency acoustic mechanisms of whales are as yet unknown4 but, based mainly on sound propagation theory, it has been both suggested2,4 and vigorously argued5 that the whales use the signals for long-range communication.
TL;DR: While conducting juvenile Atlantic and Gulf menhaden abundance surveys and tagging studies in estuaries from Brownsville, Texas to Barnstable Harbor, Mass. in 1971, anomalous men haden and other species were collected.
Abstract: While conducting juvenile Atlantic and Gulf menhaden (Brevoortia tyrannus andB. patronus) abundance surveys and tagging studies in estuaries from Brownsville, Texas to Barnstable Harbor, Mass. in 1971, anomalous menhaden and other species were collected. A total of nine new and five previously reported anomalies for menhaden and six new anomalies for five other species are reported. The five species were spot,Leiostomus xanthurus; white mullet,Mugil curema; Atlantic silverside,Menidia menidia; Atlantic needlefish,Strongylura marina and longnose gar,Lepisosteus osseus.
TL;DR: A kill of lobsters around wrecks off the New Jersey coast seem not to be a direct result of pollution but may have been due to an influx of water causing reduced oxygen levels combined with high temperatures as discussed by the authors.