Fifty years of ichthyology in Grahamstown

In July 1946, the fledgling Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) awarded Dr J.L.B. (James Leonard Brierley) Smith of Rhodes University College a research fellowship of £800 to enable him to devote his energies to ichthyology. The university responded by providing accommodation, equipment and appointing Smith a research professor. These actions marked the beginning of what has become a major academic development in Grahamstown as represented by the J.L.B. Smith Institute of Ichthyology, the Department of Ichthyology and Fisheries Science (DIFS), and the Freshwater Fish Section at the Albany Museum. At present more than 40 people are employed in one way or other in these organizations, more than 20 of them professionals, in addition to whom there are 41 postgraduate students currently studying ichthyology or fisheries science through DIFS at Rhodes University. Altogether this represents a concentration of ichthyological expertise probably unmatched anywhere else in the world. It is opportune therefore to highlight a few of the more significant milestones in the history of ichthyology in Grahamstown and so illuminate some of the key factors behind this achievement

John Nathan Cobb (1868–1930): Founding Director of the College of Fisheries, University of Washington, Seattle

John Nathan Cobb (1868–1930) became the founding Director of the College of Fisheries, University of Washington, Seattle, in 1919 without the benefit of a college education. An inquisitive and ambitious man, he began his career in the newspaper business and was introduced to commercial fisheries when he joined the U.S. Fish Commission (USFC) in 1895 as a clerk, and he was soon promoted to a “Field Agent” in the Division of Statistics, Washington, D.C. During the next 17 years, Cobb surveyed commercial fisheries from Maine to Florida, Hawaii, the Pacific Northwest, and Alaska for the USFC and its successor, the U.S. Bureau of Fisheries. In 1913, he became editor of the prominent west coast trade magazine, Pacific Fisherman, of Seattle, Wash., where he became known as a leading expert on the fisheries of the Pacific Northwest. He soon joined the campaign, led by his employer, to establish the nation’s first fisheries school at the University of Washington. After a brief interlude (1917–1918) with the Alaska Packers Association in San Francisco, Calif., he was chosen as the School’s founding director in 1919. Reflecting his experience and mindset, as well as the University’s apparent initial desire, Cobb established the College of Fisheries primarily as a training ground for those interested in applied aspects of the commercial fishing industry. Cobb attracted sufficient students, was a vigorous spokesman for the College, and had ambitions plans for expansion of the school’s faculty and facilities. He became aware that the College was not held in high esteem by his faculty colleagues or by the University administration because of the school’s failure to emphasize scholastic achievement, and he attempted to correct this deficiency. Cobb became ill with heart problems in 1929 and died on 13 January 1930. The University soon thereafter dissolved the College and dismissed all but one of its faculty. A Department of Fisheries, in the College of Science, was then established in 1930 and was led by William Francis Thompson (1888–1965), who emphasized basic science and fishery biology. The latter format continues to the present in the Department’s successor, The School of Aquatic Fisheries and Science

A case of intersex occurrence in Steindachneridion parahybae (Steindachner, 1877) (Siluriformes: Pimelodidae) under captivity condition: A cytogenetic and morphological study

Poco se sabe sobre la biología reproductiva de Steindachneridion parahybae , una especie de teleósteo gonocorístico en peligro de extinción que habita la cuenca del río Paraíba do Sul y en éste trabajo se describe por primera vez la aparición de individuo intersexo en juvenil de S. parahybae . También se describió el aspecto normal de los ovarios y de los testículos de individuos juveniles procedentes del mismo lote de cría para su comparación; se realizó además el análisis citogenético. Un espécimen fue clasificado a priori como hembra debido a las características macroscópicas de los ovarios, con pequeños oocitos amarillos, sin flecos (característica principal de los bagres macho) y más grande que los testículos; sin embargo el análisis microscópico reveló la presencia de un ovotestis, incluyendo una espermatogénesis completa. S. parahybae presentó un número diploide, 2n = 56 cromosomas, sin evidencia de cromosomas sexuales diferenciados o supernumerarios entre ellos. Estos hallazgos pueden deberse al resultado de la exposición de los individuos a desorganizadores endocrinos o estar influenciados por las condiciones ambientales. Sin embargo no se puede descartar la posibilidad de la presencia de intersexos de forma espontánea. Por lo tanto, la importancia funcional y las consecuencias reproductivas de estas anomalías permanecen aún sin ser determinadas, sugiriendo que esta especie puede ser susceptible a los disruptores endocrinos. Estos resultados contribuyen a ampliar el conocimiento de la biología reproductiva de esta especie en peligro de extinción en condiciones de cautiverio.Little is known about reproductive biology of endangered Steindachneridion parahybae , a gonochoristic teleost species inhabiting the Paraíba do Sul River Basin, and herein is the first description of intersex in S. parahybae juvenile. The normal appearance of ovaries and testes in juvenile from the same lot of breeding were also described for comparison, even as cytogenetic analysis was performed in these juveniles. One specimen was a priori classified as female due to the macroscopic characteristic of ovaries, with small yellow oocytes, without fringes (a main characteristic of catfish male), and larger than testes; however the microscopic analysis revealed the presence of ovotestes, including the complete spermatogenesis. S. parahybae had diploid number, 2n = 56 chromosomes with no evidence of differentiated sex chromosomes or supernumerary chromosomes among them. These findings may be due to the result of exposure to endocrine disrupting compounds or may also be influenced by environmental conditions. The possibility of intersexes might also happen spontaneously and it cannot be ruled out. Therefore, the functional significance and reproductive consequences of this anomaly remain to be determined, suggesting that this species may be susceptible to endocrine disruption. These results contribute to gain expertise about reproductive biology of an endangered species in captivity.Fil: Honji, Renato Massaaki. Universidade de Sao Paulo; Brasil. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Caneppele, Danilo. Companhia Energética de São Paulo. Unidade de Hidrobiologia e Aquicultura; BrasilFil: Pandolfi, Matias. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental y Aplicada. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental y Aplicada; ArgentinaFil: Lo Nostro, Fabiana Laura. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental y Aplicada. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental y Aplicada; ArgentinaFil: Moreira, Renata G.. Universidade de Sao Paulo; Brasi

Reproductive biology of the eyespot skate atlantoraja cyclophora (Elasmobranchii: Arhynchobatidae) an endemic species of the southwestern atlantic ocean (34ºs - 42ºS)

Atlantoraja cyclophora is an endemic skate to the continental shelf of the Southwestern Atlantic Ocean (22ºS-47ºS) and a bycatch species in commercial bottom trawl fisheries. The morphometric relationships, the size at maturity and the reproductive cycle of this species were analyzed, with samples collected between 34ºS and 42ºS. The size range was 190 to 674 mm total length (TL) for males and 135 to 709 mm TL for females. Sexual dimorphism between the relationships TL - disc width and TL - total weight was found, with females wider and heavier than males. The mean size at maturity for males was estimated in 530 mm TL and for females in 570 mm TL. The gonadosomatic index (GSI) in mature females varied seasonally and showed the highest value in December. The maximum follicular diameter and oviductal gland width did not show any seasonal pattern. Females with eggs in the uterus were present most of the year. The reproductive activity in males would be continuous throughout the year, evidenced by the lack of variation in the GSI between seasons. The results obtained suggest that A. cyclophora might undergo an annual reproductive cycle, in coincidence to that reported for this species in Brazilian populations.Atlantoraja cyclophora es una raya endémica de las plataformas continentales del Océano Atlántico Sudoccidental (22ºS-47ºS) que se captura incidentalmente en las pesquerías comerciales de arrastre de fondo. Se estudiaron las relaciones morfométricas, el ciclo reproductivo y se estimó la longitud media de madurez sexual de esta especie con muestras colectadas entre 34ºS y 42ºS. El rango de tamaño fue 190 a 674 mm de longitud total (LT) en machos y 135 a 709 mm LT en hembras. Se observó dimorfismo sexual entre las relaciones LT - ancho de disco y LT - peso total, siendo las hembras más anchas y pesadas que los machos. La talla de madurez se estimó en 530 mm LT para machos y en 570 mm LT para hembras. El índice gonadosomático (IGS) en hembras maduras varió estacionalmente, con el valor más alto en Diciembre. No se registró variación estacional respecto al diámetro máximo folicular y al ancho de la glándula oviductal. Se observaron hembras con huevos en los úteros durante la mayor parte del año. La actividad reproductiva en los machos sería continua durante todo el año, dada la falta de variación del IGS entre estaciones. Se sugiere que A. cyclophora experimenta un ciclo reproductivo anual, similar a lo reportado para esta especie en aguas de Brasil.Fil: Wehitt, Anahi. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Bahía Blanca. Instituto de Ciencias Biológicas y Biomédicas del Sur. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Departamento de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia. Instituto de Ciencias Biológicas y Biomédicas del Sur; ArgentinaFil: Colonello, Jorge Horacio. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata; ArgentinaFil: Macchi, Gustavo Javier. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata; ArgentinaFil: Galíndez, Elena Juana. Universidad Nacional del Sur; Argentin

Stanford University’s John Otterbein Snyder: Student, Collaborator, and Colleague of David Starr Jordan and Charles Henry Gilbert

John Otterbein Snyder (1867–1943) was an early student of David Starr Jordan at Stanford University and subsequently rose to become an assistant professor there. During his 34 years with the university he taught a wide variety of courses in various branches of zoology and advised numerous students. He eventually mentored 8 M.A. and 4 Ph.D. students to completion at Stanford. He also assisted in the collection of tens of thousands of fish specimens from the western Pacific, central Pacific, and the West Coast of North America, part of the time while stationed as “Naturalist” aboard the U.S. Fish Commission’s Steamer Albatross (1902–06). Although his early publications dealt mainly with fish groups and descriptions (often as a junior author with Jordan), after 1910 he became more autonomous and eventually rose to become one of the Pacific salmon, Oncorhynchus spp., experts on the West Coast. Throughout his career, he was especially esteemed by colleagues as “a stimulating teacher,” “an excellent biologist,” and “a fine man

Age and growth of Zapteryx brevirostris (Elasmobranchii: Rhinobatidae) in southern Brazil

Age and growth studies are fundamental to successful fisheries management. Zapteryx brevirostris (Muller & Henle, 1841) is distributed off the Brazilian continental shelf and this species is assessed as "Vulnerable" in the Red List of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Thus, the objective of this study was to present previously unknown information about the age and growth of Z. brevirostris that can be used for its management, conservation, and fisheries. A total of 162 specimens were sampled, with total lengths (TL) varying between 35.7 cm and 56 cm. The vertebrae were embedded in resin, sectioned in cuts with 0.5 mm thickness and the growth bands of the vertebrae were read under a light microscope. In the studied area, Z. brevirostris ages were estimated from 4 to 10 years according to vertebrae patterns. The species reaches its maximum asymptotic size (Linf) around 56 cm (56 cm for females and 50.37 cm for males). This is the first estimate of age and growth for a species of the Zapteryx genus, and the results support the hypothesis that this ray requires future management conservation, particularly due to its slow growth rate and consequent susceptibility to overexploitation.Coordenacao de Aperfeicoamento de Pessoal de Nivel Superior (CAPES); Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT, Fundacao para a Ciencia e Tecnologia) [IF/00253/2014

Directory of Water Related Courses Offered at Colleges and Universities in Arkansas as of November 1998

This publication lists the water and water-related courses at several universities and colleges in Arkansas as reported during the Fall of 1 998. It is anticipated that users of this directory will extend beyond college students, and will include professionals seeking continuing education, and professors desiring to exchange Information on courses. This directory is not an absolute source of water and water-related courses because all of the higher learning Institutions In Arkansas are not listed, and, secondly, because the definition of water and water-related varies from institution to institution. None-the-less this directory provides a very valuable and impressive reference on water resources courses. Users must remember that course offerings, titles, and content change; therefore, one must contact the department to confirm details about each course. We are very grateful to the many people, too numerous to list, who have cooperated in gathering the Information In this second edition of the directory

Growth and reproduction in captivity unveils remarkable life-history plasticity in the smallnose fanskate, Sympterygia bonapartii (Chondrichthyes: Rajiformes)

Analizamos el crecimiento y la reproducción de ejemplares de raya marmorada, Sympterygia bonapartii nacidas en cautiverio. Se obtuvieron ovicápsulas a partir de la oviposición de dos hembras capturadas en la naturaleza y mantenidas en el Acuario Temaikèn. Posteriormente a la eclosión, se analizó el crecimiento en 13 hembras y 21 machos hasta la madurez sexual. Se evaluó el patrón de oviposición y la performance reproductiva en seis de las hembras criadas en cautiverio. Se ajustaron cuatro modelos a los datos de crecimiento, entre los cuales la función logística fue la que logró el mejor ajuste. Para ambos sexos, la mayor tasa de crecimiento se registró durante el primer año de vida. Durante el segundo año, la tasa de crecimiento fue significativamente mayor en hembras que en machos. La talla de primera oviposición fue de 61,7 ± 3,5 cm LT, similar a la estimada en rayas silvestres. Sin embargo, las hembras criadas en cautiverio alcanzaron la madurez antes de los dos años de vida, es decir mucho antes que en el ambiente natural, lo que implica una plasticidad fenotípica significativa en esta especie. La similitud en la talla de madurez y la diferencia en la edad de madurez entre individuos cautivos y silvestres indican que hay un desacople de ambos parámetros mediado por la tasa de crecimiento. Los individuos nacidos en cautiverio se reprodujeron exitosamente y dejaron descendencia viable, lo que indica que el ambiente del Acuario Temaikèn es adecuado para que S. bonapartii complete su ciclo de vida.We analyzed growth and reproduction of captive-born smallnose fanskates Sympterygia bonapartii. Egg cases were obtained from oviposition of two females caught in the wild and held at Temaikèn Aquarium. Following hatching, growth was analyzed in 13 females and 21 males until sexual maturity. Pattern of oviposition activity and reproductive performance were evaluated in six of the captive-reared females. Four models were fitted to growth data, among which the logistic function was the one attaining the best fit. The highest growth rate for both sexes was recorded during the first year of life, whereas growth was significantly higher in females than in males during the second year. Size at first oviposition was 61.7 ± 3.5 cm TL, similar to wild specimens. However, captive-reared females reached maturity before two years of age, i.e. much earlier than wild skates, implying a significant phenotypic plasticity in this species. The similarity in size at maturity and the di ference in age at maturity between captive and wild specimens indicate that there is a decoupling of both parameters mediated through growth rates. Captive-born skates reproduced successfully and yielded viable offspring, indicating that the environment at Temaikèn Aquarium is suitable for S. bonapartii to attain its full life cycle.Fil: Jañez, Julieta. Fundación Temaikén; ArgentinaFil: Meijide, Fernando Javier. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental y Aplicada. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental y Aplicada; ArgentinaFil: Lucifora, Luis Omar. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste. Instituto de Biología Subtropical. Universidad Nacional de Misiones. Instituto de Biología Subtropical; ArgentinaFil: Abraham, Carolina. Fundación Temaikén; ArgentinaFil: Argemi, Federico. Fundación Temaikén; Argentin

A new type of lordosis and vertebral body compression in Gilthead seabream, Sparus aurata Linnaeus, 1758: aetiology, anatomy and consequences for survival

A new type of vertebral malformation is described, consisting of deformed cartilaginous neural and haemal processes and the compression and fusion of vertebral bodies. The malformation is designated as haemal vertebral compression and fusion (haemal VCF). We studied the aetiology of the malformations and described microanatomical histopathological alterations. The malformations were detected during routine quality control in one of six monitored Gilthead sea bream populations. Haemal VCF affected the posterior part of the vertebral column (haemal vertebrae). In 20% of the deformed specimens, haemal VCF was combined with lordosis. At 35dph (days post-hatching), early anatomical signs of the haemal VCF consisted of abnormal centrum mineralization, malformed cartilaginous neural and haemal processes and developing lordotic alterations. The histological examination of the deformed individuals revealed that haemal VCF is preceded by notochord abnormalities. The frequency of deformed individuals was three times higher at 35 than at 61dph (50.3% vs. 17.2%, n=157 and n=250, respectively). No signs of repair or reversion of malformations have been observed. Thus, the steep decrease in deformities in older animals suggests that haemal VCF is linked to high mortality rates. The results are discussed in respect of the possible causative factors of haemal VCF

Ictiólogos de la Argentina: Raúl Horacio Arámburu

This series will include all those people who, by means of their contributions, great and small, played a part in the consolidation of ichthyology in Argentina. The general plan of this work consists of individual factsheets containing a list of works by each author, along with reference bibliography and, whenever possible, personal pictures and additional material. The datasheets will be published primarily in chronological order, although this is subject to change by the availability of materials for successive editions. This work represents another approach for the recovery and revalorization of those who set the foundations of Argentine ichthyology while in diverse historical circumstances. I expect this to be the beginning of a major work that achieves the description of such a significant part of the history of natural sciences in Argentina