A preliminary study on the feeding regime of European pilchard (Sardina pilchardus Walbaum 1792) in Izmir Bay, Turkey, Eastern Aegean Sea

The gut contents of Sardina pilchardus specimens captured in Izmir Bay were examined in order to determine their feeding regimes. Of the 365 stomachs examined, 321 (87.95%) contained food and 44 (12.05%) were empty. Analysis of gut contents verified that S. pilchardus feeds on zooplankton. The most important group in the diet of S. pilchardus was copepods (79.79%). Decapod crustacean larvae (8.17%) and bivalves (3.18%) were second and third, respectively, in order of importance. The application of analysis of variance to monthly data of numerical percentage, weight percentage, frequency of occurrence and index of relative importance indicated that there was no significant difference between months. Oncaea media was the most dominant species for six months of the year. Euterpina acutifrons, Centropages typicus, Calanoida, Oncaea sp. and Corycaeus sp. were the most dominant for March, April, May, September, October and December

A temporal approach for morphological indices of the common sole (Solea solea Linnaeus 1758) from the coast of the Aegean Sea, Turkey

810-818Temporal changes of the morphological indices (Relative Gut Length (RGL), Fullness Index (FI), Hepatosomatic Index (HSI), Visceral Index (VSI), Gonadosomatic Index (GSI) and Fulton condition)) in 122 (♀: 94, ♂: 19, immature: 9) common sole were evaluated. Total length-weight relationships were calculated as W = 0.085TL3.01 and W = 0.0547TL2.40 in females and males, respectively, whereby isometric growth was observed in females and negative allometric growth was observed in males. While there was no statistically significant difference was observed between the FI, HSI, Viscerosomatic Index (VSI), RGL and GSI values of both sexes, however, there was a statistically significant difference in terms of Fulton K values (P < 0.05). In addition, there are statistical differences between the sexes total lengths and the values of RGL, FI, HSI, VSI, and Fulton-K (P < 0.05), as it is discernible in their HSI and VSI index values according to the month the specimens were obtained (P < 0.05). According to the results of the analysis, it has been determined that the female common sole along the Aegean coast adjust their energy temporally and store the energy they obtain from vegetative and carnivorous feeding. Contrary to the situation seen in females, the male individuals invest in energy through omnivorous feeding, according to the diet in the active process. Based on the results, it can be stated that the VSI and HSI are both important indicators of fish condition status. The results found here may be useful in both fishery research and fishery management

A temporal approach for morphological indices of the common sole (Solea solea Linnaeus 1758) from the coast of the Aegean Sea, Turkey

Temporal changes of the morphological indices (Relative Gut Length (RGL), Fullness Index (FI), Hepatosomatic Index (HSI), Visceral Index (VSI), Gonadosomatic Index (GSI) and Fulton condition)) in 122 (♀: 94, ♂: 19, immature: 9) common sole were evaluated. Total length-weight relationships were calculated as W = 0.085TL3.01 and W = 0.0547TL2.40 in females and males, respectively, whereby isometric growth was observed in females and negative allometric growth was observed in males. While there was no statistically significant difference was observed between the FI, HSI, Viscerosomatic Index (VSI), RGL and GSI values of both sexes, however, there was a statistically significant difference in terms of Fulton K values (P &lt; 0.05). In addition, there are statistical differences between the sexes total lengths and the values of RGL, FI, HSI, VSI, and Fulton-K (P &lt; 0.05), as it is discernible in their HSI and VSI index values according to the month the specimens were obtained (P &lt; 0.05). According to the results of the analysis, it has been determined that the female common sole along the Aegean coast adjust their energy temporally and store the energy they obtain from vegetative and carnivorous feeding. Contrary to the situation seen in females, the male individuals invest in energy through omnivorous feeding, according to the diet in the active process. Based on the results, it can be stated that the VSI and HSI are both important indicators of fish condition status. The results found here may be useful in both fishery research and fishery management

Blood Cell Morphology and Plasma Biochemistry of the Captive European Pond Turtle Emys orbicularis

The morphological characteristics of peripheral blood cells, micronucleated erythrocytes counts and plasma biochemistry profile were examined in ten healthy captive European pond turtles Emys orbicularis. Blood samples were obtained from the caudal vein. The Wright staining method was used for the classification of the blood cells. Mature erythrocytes of captive Emys orbicularis were nucleated ellipsoidal cells (21.7 ±1.27μm × 13.2 ±1.12 μm) with pink cytoplasm. The nucleus (6.9 ± 0.78 μm × 5.4 ± 0.65 μm) was centrally located and stained dark purple. Seven different types of blood cells were determined: erythrocytes, thrombocytes, monocytes, eosinophils, basophils, lymphocytes and heterophils. The micronucleated erythrocyte (MNE) values were 0.0016 and 0.003 for the males and females, respectively. The MNE results were presented as the mean frequency of micronucleated erythrocytes per 1000 cells per animal. The mean plasma concentrations in the total of specimens were as follows: total protein (25 g/L), albumin (7.2 g/L), globulin (17.8 g/L), glucose (2.91 mmol/L), calcium (2.32 mmol/L), phosphorus (1.55 mmol/L), creatinine (46.85 μmol/L), urea (10.93 mmol/L) , triglycerides (0.44 mmol/L), cholesterol (1.48 mmol/L), sodium (125.76 mmol/L), potassium (3.98 mmol/L), chloride (93.94 mmol/L), iron (13.34 μmol/L) and activities of aspartate aminotransferase (2.14 μkat/L), alanine aminotransferase (0.15 μkat/L), gamma glutamyl transpeptidase (2.15 U/L), amylase (8.09 μkat/L), lactate dehydrogenase (19.93 μkat/L). We found sex-dependent differences only in ALT [(0.21 μkat/L and 0.10 μkat/L for the males and females, respectively) (t = 3,107; df = 14; p Emys orbicularis. We suggest that the biochemical profile described in the present study may be used as a standard profile for healthy Emys orbicularis kept in captivity

Comparative morphology of the Euphrates soft-shelled turtle, Rafetus euphraticus (Daudin, 1802) (Reptilia, Testudines) in Southeastern Anatolia

WOS: 000076078500004Morphometric measurements and ratios were recorded in Euphrates soft-shelled turtles, Rafetus euphraticus, sampled in the Euphrates and Tigris rivers and tributaries, Southeastern Anatolia. According to nine morphometric ratios, there are clear differences between two allopatric populations of R. euphraticus, the specimens of the Tigris population being much flatter and having a wider carapace as compared with the Euphrates population. Male:female sex ratio was 2.7.1, no sexual dimorphism was present in the morphometric ratios. Rafetus euphraticus and Trionyx triunguis, which were considered congeneric in the past, differed from each other in the ratios of the carapace length/carapace width, carapace length/plane of the greatest carapace width, carapace length/plastron length, carapace length/rostrum length, carapace width/plastron length, carapace width/head width and plastron length/rostrum length

Cranial morphology of Rafetus euphraticus (Daudin, 1801) from Southeastern Anatolia

WOS: 000079405600004Observations on cranial morphology were made on Euphrates soft-shelled turtles, Rafetus euphraticus, sampled in the Euphrates and Tigris rivers and tributaries, Southeastern Anatolia. The vomer separates the maxillaries in half of the specimens, whereas the maxillae meet on the vomer in others. The parietal has no contribution in the formation of the foramen nervi trigemini due to the contact between the prootic and the epipterygoid. There are variations in the contacts of the basisphenoid and in the formation of the trigeminal region, a prootic-epipterygoid contact participates in the trigeminal region. The contacts of the vomer-pterygoid, the vomer-basisphenoid and the vomer-pterygoid-basisphenoid are observed in some specimens. In one specimen, the parietal contacts the opisthotic. All specimens have the symphyseal ridge, althought it is weak and barely discernible

Length-weight relationships for 47 fish species from Izmir Bay (eastern Aegean Sea, Turkey)

Length-weight relationships were calculated for 47 fish species from the Izmir Bay in the Aegean Sea, Turkey. A total of 13243 fish specimens were sampled with several fishing gears in 1998-2001. The sample size ranged from 11 individuals for Nerophis ophidion to 1197 for Boops boops. The r2 values ranged from 0.82 for Nerophis ophidion to 0.99 for Scorpaena scrofa, and all regressions were highly significant (p&lt;0.001). Values of the exponent b in the length-weight regression (W = aLb) ranged 1.970-3.727. The median was 3.042 and over 50% of the values were within 2.9373.186. Information from the present survey may be used for fisheries management or other practical purposes

The relationships between gut length and prey preference of three pipefish (Syngnathus acus, Syngnathus typhle, Nerophis ophidion Linnaeus, 1758) species distributed in Aegean Sea, Turkey

WOS: 000508615300025[No abstract available]Ege UniversityEge University [SUF 002, SUF 017]The authors would like to thank to the staff for their helps in the projects SUF 002 and SUF 017 funded by Ege University

Some investigations on the taxonomic status of Emys orbicularis from the Aegean and Central Anatolian regions of Turkey

A total of 219 Emys orbicularis specimens collected at 7 localities featuring different ecological and geographical characteristics in western and central Anatolia were examined. We compared 25 different ratios to investigate the morphological differences and similarities among populations. Male-female sex ratios and growth parameters (W = aLb) were also considered. A discriminant analysis based on these 14 morphometric characters and 25 ratios clearly confirmed the differences between the E. orbicularis specimens from the Aegean and Central Anatolian regions. Considering differences in morphological characters found in both discriminant analyses and pair-wise comparison, we assume that the Boget specimens, an isolated population, are not an intermediate form between E. o. cf. hellenica in coastal areas of the Aegean region and Emys orbicularis luteofusca, from Eregli (Konya) in Central Anatolia. The Boget specimens also differentiate statistically from those in Mogan (about 180 km north of Boget) and Kayseri (about 230 km east of Boget). © 2006 Asian Network for Scientific Information