meristics

Counts of meristic characters in Tilapia zillii. TAUP numbers are voucher specimens deposited in the National Collection of Natural History at Tel- Aviv University. Populations of origin are denoted as follows: TM, Taninim (coastal); EA, Ein Afek (coastal); KN, Kishon (Kishon); KT, Kinneret (Jordan); BS, Beit She’an (Jordan); EF, Ein Feshkha (Dead Sea); NH, Ne’ot HaKikar (Dead-Sea introduced); RG, Ramat Gan (coastal introduced); NM, Nitzanim (coastal introduced); MA, HaMa'apil (coastal introduced). The characters considered are denoted as follows: LL1, Number of scales along the upper lateral line; LL2, Number of scales along the lower lateral line; TR1, Number of scales between the dorsal fin and the upper lateral line; TR2, Number of scales between the upper and lower lateral line; TR3, Number of scales between the lower lateral line and the anal fin; P, Number of rays in the pectoral fin; Pbr, Number of branched rays in the pectoral fin; V, Number of rays in the ventral fin; Vbr, Number of branched rays in the ventral fin; D, Number of rays in the dorsal fin; Dbr, Number of branched rays in the dorsal fin; DS, Number of spikes in the dorsal fin; A, Number of rays in the anal fin; Abr, Number of branched rays in the anal fin; AS, Number of spikes in the anal fin; C, Number of rays in the caudal fin; Cbr, Number of branched rays in the caudal fin; LPR, The position of the longest pectoral ray; LVR, The position of the longest ventral ray; LDR, The position of the longest dorsal ray; LAR, The position of the longest anal ray; GR, The number of gill raker

First record of the Brassy Chub <i>Kyphosus vaigiensis</i> (Quoy & Gaimard, 1825) in the Eastern Mediterranean (Osteichthyes: Perciformes: Kyphosidae)

<p>The Brassy Chub, <i>Kyphosus vaigiensis</i>, first recorded in the Mediterranean in 1998, is reported herein from the coast of Israel. The identity of the specimen was confirmed by morphological and molecular analysis. This is the first record of <i>K. vaigiensis</i> from the Eastern Mediterranean. The possible origins of the Israeli record is discussed.</p

The diet of native and invasive fish species along the eastern Mediterranean coast (Osteichthyes)

<p>The opening of the Suez Canal in 1869 enabled the invasion of more than 100 alien fish species into the Mediterranean. The aim of the present study was to compare the diet of native and alien fish species and to identify possibly shared food resources. We examined the diet composition of 13 of the most abundant fish species (6 alien, 7 native) on shallow soft bottom off southern Israel. All 13 species are omnivorous/carnivorous. The native fish exhibited a wider diversity of food types than the aliens. Alien fish prey upon and are preyed by native species as well as by other alien fish. A high level of diet overlap was found among some species, the aliens <i>Saurida lessepsianus</i> and <i>Scomberomorus commerson</i> overlapped with the native <i>Synodus saurus</i>; and the alien <i>Nemipterus randalli</i> with the native species <i>Pagrus caeruleostictus, Lithognathus mormyrus</i> and <i>Pagellus erythrinus</i>. The identified diet overlap is discussed, and the possibility of competitive interactions between these species is considered.</p

Ohalo II fish remains taxonomic composition, species richness and diversity, by studied loci (taxonomic abundance (%) is calculated according to the different taxonomic levels: Family, genus and species, and therefore the total NISP varies).

<p>Ohalo II fish remains taxonomic composition, species richness and diversity, by studied loci (taxonomic abundance (%) is calculated according to the different taxonomic levels: Family, genus and species, and therefore the total NISP varies).</p

Frequency (NISP) of colors and signs of burning recorded on fish remains from Ohalo II, according to the studied loci.

<p>Frequency (NISP) of colors and signs of burning recorded on fish remains from Ohalo II, according to the studied loci.</p

Total NISP and relative abundance calculated for fish recovered at Ohalo-II, according to the four taxonomic groups^* and loci.

<p>Total NISP and relative abundance calculated for fish recovered at Ohalo-II, according to the four taxonomic groups^{<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0198747#t003fn001" target="_blank">*</a>} and loci.</p

Number of skeletal elements identified at Ohalo II, according to the studied loci and taxonomic group.

<p>Number of skeletal elements identified at Ohalo II, according to the studied loci and taxonomic group.</p

List of Lake Kinneret and Jordan Rift valley fish, their maximum total length (TL^†), presence at Ohalo II, season of breeding (winter in green and spring-summer in red), and breeding area [49, 52, 53, 83].

<p>List of Lake Kinneret and Jordan Rift valley fish, their maximum total length (TL^{<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0198747#t001fn002" target="_blank">†</a>}), presence at Ohalo II, season of breeding (winter in green and spring-summer in red), and breeding area [<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0198747#pone.0198747.ref049" target="_blank">49</a>, <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0198747#pone.0198747.ref052" target="_blank">52</a>, <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0198747#pone.0198747.ref053" target="_blank">53</a>, <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0198747#pone.0198747.ref083" target="_blank">83</a>].</p

Frequency (NISP), percentage, and survival index (SI) calculated for cranial and postcranial bones, according to the studied loci at Ohalo II.

<p>Frequency (NISP), percentage, and survival index (SI) calculated for cranial and postcranial bones, according to the studied loci at Ohalo II.</p

Correspondence analysis of taxonomic groups’ relative abundance (%) in the natural accumulation and at Loci 1, 3, 7, and 8.

<p>Correspondence analysis of taxonomic groups’ relative abundance (%) in the natural accumulation and at Loci 1, 3, 7, and 8.</p