Revealing the Shamefaced Crab Calappa granulata (Crustacea: Brachyura) from the Adriatic Sea, Northern Basin of the Mediterranean

This study presents the first data on morphometry, length–weight relationship, diet, reproductive biology, epibionts and genetic identity of the shamefaced crab Calappa granulata from the central eastern Adriatic Sea. A total of 92 crabs were collected during 2011, 2014 and 2015, of which 64 were females and 28 were males. Overall, 11 morphometric characteristics were measured. Carapace length of sampled individuals ranged from 48.46 to 76.09 mm, and body weight from 47.06 to 221.39 g. The length–weight relationship showed negative allometry for males and isometric growth for females. Analysis of the stomach content revealed the crab’s preference for crustaceans (20.28%) and cephalopods (10.58%), less for fish (3.4%) and shellfish (0.28%). Size at first sexual maturity (CL50%) of 59.25 and 66.92 mm was estimated for males and females, respectively. Epibiotic serpulid polychaetes were recorded on the crab exoskeleton with an overall prevalence of 29.3%. Analyses of a partial sequence of mtCOI showed high haplotype (Hd = 0.964) and low nucleotide diversity (π = 0.00598). Phylogenetic inference and estimation of population differentiation (FST = 0.013, p = 0.271) with publicly available Mediterranean sequences currently imply one homogenous population unit. To the best of our knowledge, these are the first nucleotide sequences of C. granulata from the Adriatic Sea made publicly available.publishedVersio

Edad, crecimiento y utilidad de la morfometría de los otolitos como predictor de la edad en el pez Coris julis (Labridae) del Adriático oriental

Age and growth of Coris julis were determined by examining sagittal otoliths belonging to fish sampled between November 2008 and October 2009 in the eastern Adriatic Sea (north-central Mediterranean Sea). A total of 1102 specimens (528 males, 487 females and 87 individuals of indeterminate sex), ranging from 48 to 222 mm total length were analysed. Ninety-two per cent of the otoliths were readable and 68% of the specimens had two readings in agreement. Counting of daily rings revealed that the second opaque ring represents the first annulus (315.1±27.8 daily rings). The maximum observed age was 7 years for males and 5 years for females, with males dominating in higher age classes ( > 3 years) and females in age classes 1+ and 2+. Growth was described by the von Bertalanffy growth curves and significant differences were found between males (L∞=29.10 cm, k=0.12 and t0=–1.48) and females (L∞=21.27 cm, k=0.21 and t0=–1.08). Otolith mass, length, width and thickness were determined for the otoliths belonging to 465 fish and the utility of these morphometrics as a predictor of age was evaluated. The most precise age estimations were obtained from the otolith length data, followed by the otolith mass.Se determinó la edad y se estimaron los parámetros de crecimiento de Coris julis basados en el análisis de los otolitos sagita de ejemplares capturados en el Adriático oriental (Norte del Mediterráneo central) entre noviembre de 2008 y octubre de 2009. Se examinó un total de 1.102 ejemplares (528 machos, 487 hembras, y 87 con sexo indeterminado), con tallas que oscilaron entre 48 y 222 mm de longitud total. El 92% de los otolitos analizados resultó legible y las lecturas fueron realizadas por dos lectores concordando en el 68 % de los individuos. El recuento de los incrementos diarios revelaron que el segundo anillo opaco corresponde al primer año (315,1±27,8 incrementos diarios). La edad máxima observada fue de 7 años para los machos y 5 años para las hembras. Los machos eran dominantes en las clases de edad más alta ( > 3 años) y las hembras en las clases de edad 1+ y 2+. El crecimiento se determinó mediante el modelo de von Bertalanffy y los parámetros de crecimiento estimados para los machos (L∞=29.10 cm, k=0.12 and t0=–1.48) y las hembras (L∞=21.27 cm, k=0.21 and t0=–1.08) fueron significativamente diferentes. La masa de los otolitos, la longitud, la anchura y el espesor se determinaron para los 465 otolitos y se ha evaluado la utilidad de estas medidas morfometrícas como un predictor de edad. Las estimaciones más precisas de edad se obtuvieron a partir de la longitud de los otolitos, y en segundo lugar por la masa de los otolitos

Upoznavanje značajki reproduktivne biologije, morfometrije i starosti vrste Chtenopteryx sicula (Cephalopoda: Chtenopterygidae) u Jadranu

The first record of the deep-sea species Chtenopteryx sicula is reported from the Adriatic Sea. Atotal of six specimens of this rare species were caught, with bottom trawl and pelagic trawl nets, in the scope of the Deep Sea Research of the bathyal fauna in the South Adriatic Pit in 2008 and 2010. Specimens were caught at depths down to 1200 m, therefore making it the deepest and northernmost finding of this species in the Mediterranean Sea. The dorsal mantle lengths of analyzed specimens ranged between 21 and 60 mm. Only in females, a visceral photophore on the ventral side of the inc sac was detected. Some new information on morphometric body and beak features was given in the paper, including the description of beak pigmentation. A number of increments in statoliths revealed that individuals were between three and five months old. A positive linear correlation between the length of statoliths and number of increments/age in days was detected. Macroscopic and histological samples of gonads proved that one specimen was sexually mature (August), four specimens were in stages of sexual maturation (May and August) and two were immature (March). The results indicated that the maturation process of the species in the South Adriatic Sea starts in spring and the full sexual maturity is reached during summer.U radu su opisani prvi nalazi dubokomorske vrste Chtenopteryx sicula u Jadranskom moru. Pridnenom i pelagičnom mrežom ulovljeno je ukupno šest primjeraka ove rijetke vrste u sklopu istraživanja dubokomorskih zajednica u južnojadranskoj kotlini 2008 i 2010. godine. Primjerci su ulovljeni na dubinama do 1200 m te predstavljaju najdublji i ujedno najsjeverniji nalaz ove vrste u Mediteranu. Dorzalna dužina plašta analiziranih jedinki kretala se od 21 do 60 mm. Samo u ženki nađeni su visceralni fotofori na ventralnoj strani vrećice sa crnilom. U radu su date nove informacije vezane uz obilježja kljuna, uključujući detaljan opis pigmentacije. Broj zona prirasta u statolitima ukazuje na starost jedinki između tri i pet mjeseci. Utvrđena je pozitivna korelacija između dužine statolita i broja zoni prirasta/starosti u danima. Makroskopski i histološki uzorci gonada potvrdili su da je jedna jedinka bila spolno zrela (kolovoz), četiri jedinke su bile u stadiju spolnog sazrijevanja (svibanj i kolovoz), a dvije su bile spolno nezrele (ožujak). Rezultati ukazuju na to da proces spolnog sazrijevanja ove vrste u južnom Jadranu počinje u proljeće, dok se puna spolna zrelost doseže tijekom ljeta

Upoznavanje značajki reproduktivne biologije, morfometrije i starosti vrste Chtenopteryx sicula (Cephalopoda: Chtenopterygidae) u Jadranu

The first record of the deep-sea species Chtenopteryx sicula is reported from the Adriatic Sea. Atotal of six specimens of this rare species were caught, with bottom trawl and pelagic trawl nets, in the scope of the Deep Sea Research of the bathyal fauna in the South Adriatic Pit in 2008 and 2010. Specimens were caught at depths down to 1200 m, therefore making it the deepest and northernmost finding of this species in the Mediterranean Sea. The dorsal mantle lengths of analyzed specimens ranged between 21 and 60 mm. Only in females, a visceral photophore on the ventral side of the inc sac was detected. Some new information on morphometric body and beak features was given in the paper, including the description of beak pigmentation. A number of increments in statoliths revealed that individuals were between three and five months old. A positive linear correlation between the length of statoliths and number of increments/age in days was detected. Macroscopic and histological samples of gonads proved that one specimen was sexually mature (August), four specimens were in stages of sexual maturation (May and August) and two were immature (March). The results indicated that the maturation process of the species in the South Adriatic Sea starts in spring and the full sexual maturity is reached during summer.U radu su opisani prvi nalazi dubokomorske vrste Chtenopteryx sicula u Jadranskom moru. Pridnenom i pelagičnom mrežom ulovljeno je ukupno šest primjeraka ove rijetke vrste u sklopu istraživanja dubokomorskih zajednica u južnojadranskoj kotlini 2008 i 2010. godine. Primjerci su ulovljeni na dubinama do 1200 m te predstavljaju najdublji i ujedno najsjeverniji nalaz ove vrste u Mediteranu. Dorzalna dužina plašta analiziranih jedinki kretala se od 21 do 60 mm. Samo u ženki nađeni su visceralni fotofori na ventralnoj strani vrećice sa crnilom. U radu su date nove informacije vezane uz obilježja kljuna, uključujući detaljan opis pigmentacije. Broj zona prirasta u statolitima ukazuje na starost jedinki između tri i pet mjeseci. Utvrđena je pozitivna korelacija između dužine statolita i broja zoni prirasta/starosti u danima. Makroskopski i histološki uzorci gonada potvrdili su da je jedna jedinka bila spolno zrela (kolovoz), četiri jedinke su bile u stadiju spolnog sazrijevanja (svibanj i kolovoz), a dvije su bile spolno nezrele (ožujak). Rezultati ukazuju na to da proces spolnog sazrijevanja ove vrste u južnom Jadranu počinje u proljeće, dok se puna spolna zrelost doseže tijekom ljeta

Škrpun Scorpaena porcus (Pisces, Scorpaenidae), novi domaćin za parazitske jednakonošce Nerocila orbigny i Ceratothoa parallela (Crustacea, Isopoda, Cymothoidae)

Two isopod species, Nerocila orbigny and Ceratothoa parallela (Crustacea, Isopoda, Cymothoidae) are reported for the first time on and in the black scorpionfish, Scorpaena porcus, collected from the eastern Adriatic Sea. Cymothoids parasitized 5.5 % (6 of 109) of the collected fish.Parazitski jednakonošci Nerocila orbigny i Ceratothoa parallela (Crustacea, Isopoda, Cymothoidae) su po prvi put zabilježeni na škrpunu, Scorpaena porcus, na području istočnog Jadrana. Od ukupnog broja pregledanih škrpuna, ovi rakovi su utvrđeni u 5.5% cjelokupnog uzorka (6 od 109 jedinki)

Use of biodegradable materials to reduce marine plastic pollution in small scale coastal longline fisheries

Pollution from lost, abandoned, or discarded fishing gear is recognized as a global nature conservation concern. Longlining with hooks is a commonly applied fishing method in fisheries around the world. The longline gear consists of a mainline with a number of baited hooks that are attached to it by thinner twine (snoods) which are often made of plastic material such as polyamide (nylon) or polyester that degrades very slowly in the marine environment. During longline fishing, some of the snoods are lost at sea contributing to marine macro- and micro-plastic pollution. The extent of the snood loss is often unknown and can vary between different longline fisheries and fishing grounds. In this study, we estimated and compared the risk for the biodegradable and nylon snood loss in an Adriatic small scale longline fishery. Further, we compared the catch composition and estimated catch efficiency between biodegradable and nylon snoods for capture of common pandora (Pagellus erythrinus), two-banded seabream (Diplodus vulgaris) and axillary seabream (Pagellus acarne). The risk for nylon snood loss in this longline fishery (3 % for each snood for each deployment), demonstrate that the use of more environmentally friendly materials is necessary for nature conservation. No significant differences between the performance of the two materials regarding snood loss rate, hook loss rate, catch efficiency and catch composition were found during short-term usage in the fishery. Based on these results, future long-term testing is encouraged to investigate whether this promising performance of the biodegradable snood material is persistent over longer fishing periods

IMPACT OF NITROGEN FERTILIZATION ON THE CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF CHARDONNAY, ITALIAN RIESLING AND WHITE RIESLING GRAPE CULTIVARS

Dušična gnojidba jedan je od uobičajenih agrotehničkih postupaka u vinogradarskoj proizvodnji, čime se može utjecati na povećanje vegetativne mase vinove loze i prinosa grožđa, ali i na dinamiku dozrijevanja, vezanu, prvenstveno, uz razlike u koncentracijama šećera, ukupne kiselosti i sadržaja organskih kiselina u grožđu. Pokus je proveden u dvije godine (2006. – 2007.) na kultivarima Chardonnay, Graševina i Rizling rajnski, uz tri različita intenziteta dušične gnojidbe 23 kg, 70 kg i 117 kg N/ha. Sadržaj šećera te jabučne i limunske kiseline nije se mijenjao s obzirom na intenzitet gnojidbe. Razlike su uočene u grožđu Rizlinga rajnskog 2006. godine pri gnojidbi s 23 kg i 70 kg N/ha te Chardonnaya pri gnojidbi s 117 kg N/ha.Nitrogen fertilization is one of the common farming practices in vine production which may affect the increase in vegetative mass of vine and grape yield, but also the dynamics of maturation related primaryly to differences in the concentrations of sugar, total acidity, and content of organic acids in grapes. The experiment was conducted in 2006 – 2007 years on cultivars Chardonnay, Riesling and Italian Riesling, with three different intensities of nitrogen fertilization 23 kg, 70 kg and 117 kg N/ha. The concentrations of sugar, malic and citric acid have not been changed due to nitrogen fertilization. Differences were observed in the Riesling grapes from 2006th year with 23 kg and 70 kg N/ha fertilization, and in the Chardonnay grapes with 117 kg N / ha fertilization

IMPACT OF NITROGEN FERTILIZATION ON THE CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF CHARDONNAY, ITALIAN RIESLING AND WHITE RIESLING GRAPE CULTIVARS

Dušična gnojidba jedan je od uobičajenih agrotehničkih postupaka u vinogradarskoj proizvodnji, čime se može utjecati na povećanje vegetativne mase vinove loze i prinosa grožđa, ali i na dinamiku dozrijevanja, vezanu, prvenstveno, uz razlike u koncentracijama šećera, ukupne kiselosti i sadržaja organskih kiselina u grožđu. Pokus je proveden u dvije godine (2006. – 2007.) na kultivarima Chardonnay, Graševina i Rizling rajnski, uz tri različita intenziteta dušične gnojidbe 23 kg, 70 kg i 117 kg N/ha. Sadržaj šećera te jabučne i limunske kiseline nije se mijenjao s obzirom na intenzitet gnojidbe. Razlike su uočene u grožđu Rizlinga rajnskog 2006. godine pri gnojidbi s 23 kg i 70 kg N/ha te Chardonnaya pri gnojidbi s 117 kg N/ha.Nitrogen fertilization is one of the common farming practices in vine production which may affect the increase in vegetative mass of vine and grape yield, but also the dynamics of maturation related primaryly to differences in the concentrations of sugar, total acidity, and content of organic acids in grapes. The experiment was conducted in 2006 – 2007 years on cultivars Chardonnay, Riesling and Italian Riesling, with three different intensities of nitrogen fertilization 23 kg, 70 kg and 117 kg N/ha. The concentrations of sugar, malic and citric acid have not been changed due to nitrogen fertilization. Differences were observed in the Riesling grapes from 2006th year with 23 kg and 70 kg N/ha fertilization, and in the Chardonnay grapes with 117 kg N / ha fertilization

Population dynamics of Illex coindetii (Vérany, 1839) (cephalopoda: ommastrephidae) in the eastern Adriatic

U ovoj su disertaciji predstavljeni rezultati istraživanja vrste Illex coindetii (Vérany, 1839) na području istočnog Jadranskog mora. Dio uzoraka (N = 12113) je sakupljen tijekom višegodišnjih ribarstvenobioloških istraživanja obavljenih na području istočnog Jadrana, a drugi dio (N = 1287) tijekom jednogodišnjeg mjesečnog uzorkovanja na području srednjeg istočnog Jadrana. Rezultati pokazuju da je lignjun rasprostranjen uzduž istočnog Jadrana, a preferira veće dubine između 100 i 200 m na kojima se i razmnožava. Najgušća naselja su na području Jabučke kotline i rubnih dijelova Južnojadranske kotline. Koćarski ulovi ove vrste su veliki, a lignjun je jedna od brojčano najzastupljenijih vrsta u ukupnom ulovu glavonožaca. Omjer spolova je iznosio 1:1,8 u korist mužjaka. Raspon dorzalne dužine plašta lignjuna je bio od 36 do 216 mm (101,20 ± 31,74 mm), a mase tijela od 1,79 do 356,90 g (37,19 ± 40,98 g). Između spolova postoji izraženi spolni dimorfizam koji se očituje u većoj dorzalnoj dužini plašta, dužini peraje i veličini kljuna kod ženki. Dužinsko-maseni rast lignjuna je pozitivno alometrijski (b = 3,040), a vrijednosti indeksa kondicije su između 0,016 i 0,052. Lignjun se tijekom cijelog životnog ciklusa intezivno hrani, i to većinom ribama (%F = 62,07), a onda rakovima (%F = 30,09) i glavonošcima (%F = 27,90). Preko zaraženog plijena, lignjun je u ranoj životnoj dobi izložen nametničkoj infekciji oblića Anisakis pegreffii i trakavice Phyllobothrium sp.. Životni vijek ove vrste je analizom mikrostrukture statolita procijenjen na oko šest mjeseci. Kod oba spola je uočen širok raspon starosti pri kojoj se odvija sazrijevanje, a potpunu spolnu zrelost lignjun dostiže u četvrtom mjesecu života. Na području istočnog srednjeg Jadrana lignjun se razmnožava tijekom cijele godine, pri čemu postoji zimski te proljetno-ljetni vrhunac razmnožavanja. Prosječan broj spermatofora u spermatofornoj vreći mužjaka je 331, dok je prosječna vrijednost potencijalnog fekunditeta ženki 105184 oocita, a relativnog fekunditeta 705 oocita/g. Histološka analiza gonada je potvrdila postojanje sinkrone ovulacije i isprekidanog mrijesta kod lignjuna.In this thesis, results of research on the broadtail shortfin squid Illex coindetii (Vérany, 1839) inhabiting the eastern Adriatic Sea are presented. One part of the sample (N = 12113) was collected during multiannual fishery-biology investigations in the eastern Adriatic, while the other part (N = 1287) during one-year monthly sampling in the central part of the eastern Adriatic. Data show wide distribution of shortfin squid over the eastern Adriatic, prefering deeper depths between 100 and 200 m where this species also reproduces. The highest species density was found in the Adriatic Pit and South Adriatic Pit. The trawl catches of this species are high and shortfin squid is one of the most represented species in the total cephalopod catch. Sex ratio was 1:1.8 in favor of males. Dorsal mantle length ranged from 36 to 216 mm (101.20 ± 31.74 mm), while body weight ranged from 1.79 to 356.90 g (37.19 ± 40.98 g). Conspicuous sexual dimorphism between sexes was found for dorsal mantle length, fin length and beak size always being bigger in females. The length-weight relationship showed positive allometric growth (b = 3.040), while values of condition index ranged from 0.016 to 0.052. During its life cycle, shortfin squid feeds intensively, mostly on fishes (%F = 62.07), crustaceans (%F = 30.09) and cephalopods (%F = 27.90). Shortfin squid acquires parasites, nematode Anisakis pegreffii and cestode Phyllobothrium sp., early in life stage by ingesting infected prey. Life span of this species was estimated at around six months by the analysis of statolith icrostructure. Both sexes mature over a wide range of age and full sexual maturity is reached at age of four months. In the central eastern Adriatic, this species reproduces throughout the whole year with two spawning peaks during winter and spring-summer months. Average number of spermatophores found in male spermatophoric sac was 331, while average potential fecundity estimated 105184 oocytes and relative fecundity 705 oocytes/g. Histological analysis of gonads confirmed synchronous ovulation and intermittent spawning of this species