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This study represents a preliminary report on the occurrence of Atherina boyeri in the Porsuk Dam Lake, with a total of 420 individuals obtained from local fishermen between May and July 2023. Of these specimens, 34.76% (146 individuals) were males and 65.24% (274 individuals) were females, resulting in a calculated sex ratio (females:males) of 1:0.53. The total length of the sampled fish ranged from 6.06 to 10.84 cm and their weight ranged from 1.34 to 8.60 g. The length–weight relationship (LWR) based on total length was calculated as W = 0.00001003 L2.9359 for the female population, W = 0.00000525 L3.0665 for the male population, and W = 0.00000474 L3.0975 for the entire population. The exponential value of the total length to weight ratio, denoted as 'b', was determined as 3.0975, indicating isometric growth for the species. The mean value of the condition factor for females, males, and all individuals of A. boyeri was determined as 0.755 ± 0.085, 0.710 ± 0.076, and 0.740 ± 0.084, respectively. This study not only provides preliminary and valuable data on the presence of A. boyeri in the Porsuk Dam Lake, but also offers a significant perspective on the biodiversity of the new habitat. The findings of the study are considered to be applicable to local fisheries management authorities and decision-makers to ensure the sustainability of fishery resources and the implementation of appropriate fisheries management strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Economidichthys trichonis is the smallest teleostean of Europe and is inhabited Lake Trichonis (Greece). Previous investigation concerning the feeding of the dominant fish of this lake (Atherina boyeri) revealed that the use of fishing lights in the purse seine fishery of this species may result to its increased predation upon the larvae of E. trichonis, which come close to light. This study investigates the diet of these larvae, to understand why they approach to the light although they suffer heavy predation by A. boyeri. Collection of the larvae was made using light traps, where the light was produced by Cyalume light sticks of different colours (white, red, yellow, blue and green). The traps were deployed in the lake during moonless nights in May, June, July, September and October 2020. In total, 833 larvae were caught with greater numbers in the traps with the green, the yellow and the white colour. Gut content analysis revealed a diet comprised of 10 taxa, among which the copepod Eudiaptomus drieschi dominated accounting for an average frequency of occurrence (F) of 98.6%. The cladoceran Diaphanosoma orghidani and the mollusk larvae of Dreissena blanci followed (F = 42.5% and 32.5%, respectively). E. trichonis larvae approach to light following the accumulation of zooplankton and face intense interspecific competition with A. boyeri since they have almost the same food preferences. The predation exerted by A. boyeri on its competitor reduces this interspecific competition, while providing it energy from this high nutritional prey. This study confirms that fishing lights favour the predatory instinct of different fish species and affect drastically the survival and growth of E. trichonis, an endangered species. Considering that fishing with light is exercised worldwide, the actual consequences of this practice on fish larvae survival is challenging to be evaluated in other marine and freshwater ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fishing with light is an old and common practice yielding a substantial catch volume globally. Despite the popularity of the method and the efforts to improve it, there is a lack of field studies on the effects of light on the feeding preferences of the attracted fishes. A previous report suggested that purse seine fishing lights can differentiate the feeding preferences of the approaching fishes, such as Atherina boyeri Risso, 1810 in Lake Trichonis (Greece). The presently reported study aims to verify these findings by investigating the diet of the endemic Scardinius acarnanicus Economidis, 1991. The feeding behavior of S. acarnanicus was studied from 2016 to 2019 through gut content analysis, in specimens from Lake Trichonis that came from purse seining with light and specimens caught without light. The same investigation was carried out comparatively in specimens taken by gillnets from two nearby lakes (lakes Ozeros and Amvrakia), where S. acarnanicus is present, but no fishing with light is exercised. The stomach content analysis conducted on 699 S. acarnanicus specimens revealed the intense effect of light on its diet resulting in the alteration of its feeding habits towards fish predation and especially Atherina boyeri. On the contrary, the specimens taken with the use of gillnets, from the three lakes, showed a typical omnivorous feeding behavior. The findings of the presently reported study support the assumption that the elevated concentration of fish close to fishing lights alters the feeding behavior of certain species making them predators. Considering that fishing with light is practiced worldwide, this could be of great ecological significance to the ichthyofauna not only of inland waters but also of marine areas, affecting perhaps several commercial species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Purse seining with the use of light is among the most common fishing practices around the world, but there is lack of studies on the effect of light on the feeding of the target species in this kind of fishery and the possible consequences for other prey species. The presently reported investigation intended to provide indications on this issue by studying the diet of Atherina boyeri Risso, 1810, which is the target species of professional purse seine fishery, conducted using light in Lake Trichonis (Greece), and by comparing the acquired results with those of previous studies where the samples were taken without using light. Materials and methods. A seven-month (June through December 2014) purse seining fishing was conducted at night around two lamp rafts: 1) a traditional lamp raft producing white LED light and 2) an autonomous photovoltaic-battery-LED lamp raft producing green LED light. Stomach content analysis was conducted on 100 randomly selected specimens from each sample and the relative prey abundance and frequency of occurrence for each prey category was estimated. Calculations of predation pressure of A. boyeri upon the fish larvae of a goby, Economidichthys trichonis Economidis et Miller, 1990, were performed. Results. The study revealed the intense effect of light on the attraction and capture of prey species rarely found in previous studies, such as the larvae of the native and endangered fish E. trichonis, amphipods, and copepod nauplii. No significant differences were observed between the two light colours. A preference shift to larger prey with the increase of ontogenetic stage of A. boyeri was observed. Several thousands of pre-recruited E. trichonis larvae may be preyed upon each night around a single lamp especially during summer. Conclusion. Fishing with light may alter the dietary preference of the target fish species and even of the entire fish community. This may have serious consequences on the younger ontogenetic stages of other fish populations, especially when it coincides with their reproductive period. Considering the lack of similar field studies, the present results may stimulate analogous investigations on the effects of fishing lights in other marine and freshwater ecosystems worldwide.

Population structure, growth, age, mortality and exploitation status of Atherina boyeri, caught in the period from June 2013 to May 2014 in the Lesina lagoon (Apulia region, southern Adriatic) was studied. Samples were taken each month by using beach seines . The length–weight relationship of all sand smell specimens was described by the equation W=0.012*TL 3.10; (R2= 0.84). Population parameters including the asymptotic length (L∞) and growth coefficient (K) were assessed to evaluate the stock status. The recruitment pattern was modeled with a FiSAT routine. The asymptotic length (L∞) was 111.0 mm, while the growth coefficient (K) was 0.68 year−1. The growth performance index ((φ’) reached 3.92. The total mortality coefficient “Z”, the natural mortality coefficient “M” and the fishing mortality coefficient “F” were estimated as 2.24, 1.48 and 0.76 year-1, respectively. Exploitation rate for the population of A. boyeri in the Lesina lagoon estimated as 0.34 was resulted still lower than the predicted maximum value of Emax 0.59. The probability of capture indicated that L50 was of 55.57 mm, indicating that the stock of sand smelt in Lesina lagoon is not being over-fished. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study was investigated some biometric properties of the sand smelt with ANN's, Atherina boyeri Risso, 1810, population in Íznik Lake. Twenty-three morphometric characters of samples were measured. The fork length of individuals which were caught (TL) were between 6.20 and 10.40 cm, and their weight (W) were ranged between 1.70 and 7.20 g. The effect of Artificial Neural Networks was investigated in predicting the statistical of fishery industry. The present study provides the first information on the biometric properties of Atherina boyeri in Íznik Lake by Artificial Neural Networks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Parasitological examination of Black Sea aterina (Atherina boyeri) has been held in two districts of the Black Sea, Crimean seashore. Fish liver infected by larvae of Contracaecum rudolphii l. has been studied with classical histology and microscopy, the comparative analysis of the obtained data has been carried out with materials of invasion free individuals. It has been observed that pathomorphological changes occur in the aterine liver under C. rudolphii l. parasitizing. Particularly, the parenchyma destruction, tissue dystrophy, microcirculation disorders have been registered. It has been found that the most pronounced changes are recorded in the liver because of severe infestation of nematodes from the aterina (A. boyeri): the organ is significantly increased, the edges are rounded, tuberous surface, coloring is light, uneven; the cut liver obtains visible mosaic pattern due to moves done by the larvae of the nematode C. rudolphii l. in the liver parenchyma. Microscopy of histological sections in cases of invasions in the liver parenchyma shows signs of acute congestive hyperemia: central veins and capillaries lobules located closer to them are full of blood and expanded. Hepatocytes in the center of the lobules because of compression of dilated capillaries are subjected to atrophy. In bile ducts acute catarrh accompanied by focal hyperplasia of the epithelial cells is observed; in the aperture of the bile ducts accumulation of mucus with a mixture of desquamated epithelial cells and macrophages is seen.

In this study growth of Atherina boyeri, collected from Süreyyabey Dam Lake, was determination by Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) along with study of length weight relationships (LWRs). A total of 394 individuals including 32.5% female and 67.5% male specimens were studied collected during the fishing season between May 2015 and May 2016 from the local fisherman. The total length and weight of the specimens were 32–90 mm and 0.225–4.062 g respectively. The relationships were W = 0.01285708 L2.67 (R2 = 0.983) for females, W = 0.00678019 L2.95 (R2 = 0.969) for males and W = 0.00641527 L2.87 (R2 = 0.970) for pooled individuals. Mean Absolute Percentage Error (MAPE) of ANNs (0.182) for all specimens was lower than MAPE value of LWR (1.763). The results of study show that ANNs are superior tool to LWRs for fishes of Süreyyabey Dam Lake.

It is aimed to predict of length-weight relationship (LWR) parameters by using Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs). The present study investigates the properties of the Big-scale Sand Smelt. Atherina boyeri Risso, 1810 in Yamula Dam Lake (Kayseri, Turkey). Minimum and maximum fork length size and weight were found 3.5 and 8.3 cm; 0.38 and 4.82 g for all individuals. The weight-length relationships were W = 0.01285708 L2.8167 (R2 = 0.934) for females, W = 0.00972323 L2.8690 (R2 = 0.950) for males and W=0.1014131 L2.8476(R2 = 0.940) for all individuals. The condition factor was calculated as 0.812, 0.797 and 0.804 for females, males and all individuals respectively. The results obtained by ANNs and LWR equation are compared to those obtained by the growth rate. LWR and ANNs models was found for females, males and all individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current investigation was planned to investigate the biochemical changes and economical estimation of salted Sand smelt fish (Atherina boyeri). Dry salting levels; 10, 15, 20 and 25% were applied. Results showed that the raw whole fish composed 75.49% moisture, 13.02% crude protein, 1.83% lipid and 9.60% ash content. pH value and thiobarbituric acid (TBA) values were 6.35 and 0.88 mg Malonaldhyde (MA)/ kg sample, respectively. Concerning the bacterial load; total plate count (TBC) and Hallophillic bacterial count (HBC) were 2.48 and 2.00 log10 cfu/g samples, respectively. All of these values changed as affected by salt concentration used and storage period. Sensory scores were higher in heavy salted products (20% and 25% salt) than light salted products (10% and 15% salt). Economically, fish salting is a simple technique can be created new working chances (small projects) for many people and also it can be reduced of fish protein gap. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the last years, increasing interest has been dedicated to the quality assessment of brackish-water systems. Traditionally, fish community is an important biological element used to assess the quality status of transitional water bodies. In this study, we analysed the effect of anthropogenic pressures on the population of a small teleost, the sand smelt Atherina boyeri, in a Mediterranean lagoon by means of body condition. Fish were sampled once a year during the period 2010-2012, in 32 sampling sites, and for each specimen individual body condition factor was estimated. A negative significant correlation was found between condition factor and pressures related to alteration of the hydrographic regime, while a significant positive correlation was found with trophic status indicators and fishery activities. Therefore, morphological and hydrological alteration of coastal lagoons, modifying the quality and the availability of resources, seems to influence the health of resident populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted in Karacaoren I Dam Lake between December 2009 and April 2010, which also covers the spawning period of sand smelt. In the study, the sex ratio, length and weight distributions, condition factor and length-weight relation of sand smelt were examined. A total of 513 sand smelt were caught with an electroshocker. The sex ratio of the samples was found to be 1:1.24 in favour of male individuals. The total length of sand smelt ranged from 4.5 to 8.5 cm. It was determined that individuals with a length of 5.0-5.9 cm constituted the majority of the population. Individuals with an average weight of 0.80-1.6 g constituted the majority of the population. The value of average condition factor was found to be 0.673 for all individuals. The length-weight relation parameters were calculated as a= 0.0096, b= 2.7912, r²= 0.8722 for all individuals and it was determined that the individuals exhibited negative allometry. A. boyeri's growth states under Karacaoren I Dam Lake conditions and their interactions with other fish species should be monitored periodically. In this way, invasive fish species can be kept under control, and necessary precautions can be taken to prevent their spread in our inland waters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ecological factors affect many animals, especially the aquatic animals that are highly dependent on the living environment. Atherina boyeri are accidentally introduced to rivers, lakes, and reservoirs in Turkey and the invasive fish species pose to threats lentic, lotic ecosystems, habitats or species. Their unique features make it easy to adapt to different habitats and ecological conditions. Invasive species may lead to changes in biological attributes and biodiversity; therefore, identification of the non-indigenous fish populations is quite important in the fisheries management. In the current study, morphometric otolith characters such as length, weight, perimeter, width, area, aspect ratio, roundness, circularity, rectangularity, ellipticity and form factor were investigated in order to discriminate invasive A. boyeri populations from Hirfanh Dam Lake, Lake Iznik, and Lake Egirdir (Turkey). The overall classification score was determined as 92.0% by of the Canonical Discriminant Analysis for A. boyeri populations. The lowest and highest classification scores were detected for Iznik (87.7%) and Egirdir (94.6%) populations, respectively. The otolith morphometrics can provide easy and reliable discrimination tool for the invasive fish populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Purse seining with the use of light is among the most common fishing practices around the world, but there is lack of studies on the effect of light on the feeding of the target species in this kind of fishery and the possible consequences for other prey species. The presently reported investigation intended to provide indications on this issue by studying the diet of Atherina boyeri Risso, 1810, which is the target species of professional purse seine fishery, conducted using light in Lake Trichonis (Greece), and by comparing the acquired results with those of previous studies where the samples were taken without using light. Materials and methods. A seven-month (June through December 2014) purse seining fishing was conducted at night around two lamp rafts: 1) a traditional lamp raft producing white LED light and 2) an autonomous photovoltaic-battery-LED lamp raft producing green LED light. Stomach content analysis was conducted on 100 randomly selected specimens from each sample and the relative prey abundance and frequency of occurrence for each prey category was estimated. Calculations of predation pressure of A. boyeri upon the fish larvae of a goby, Economidichthys trichonis Economidis et Miller, 1990, were performed. Results. The study revealed the intense effect of light on the attraction and capture of prey species rarely found in previous studies, such as the larvae of the native and endangered fish E. trichonis, amphipods, and copepod nauplii. No significant differences were observed between the two light colours. A preference shift to larger prey with the increase of ontogenetic stage of A. boyeri was observed. Several thousands of pre-recruited E. trichonis larvae may be preyed upon each night around a single lamp especially during summer. Conclusion. Fishing with light may alter the dietary preference of the target fish species and even of the entire fish community. This may have serious consequences on the younger ontogenetic stages of other fish populations, especially when it coincides with their reproductive period. Considering the lack of similar field studies, the present results may stimulate analogous investigations on the effects of fishing lights in other marine and freshwater ecosystems worldwide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Morphological studies of the big-scale sand smelt from the group Atherina boyeri sensu lato were carried out using the materials of the museum collections from the Mediterranean Sea, the Black Sea, and the Sea of Azov. It has been shown that low-raker sand smelt belonging to the species A. boyeri sensu stricto, and multi-raker sand smelt, referred to the A. mochon species, are differentiated by a complex of morphological features: the number of gill rakers, the shape of scales, the length of the ascending process of praemaxillare, and the shape of the lower margin of maxillare. The key for their identification is presented. It is assumed that A. mochon is not a native Black Sea species but belongs to the invasive species originating from the Mediterranean Sea. The isolation of two cryptic species is discussed. The neotype of A. pontica is designated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes the construction of a novel lamp raft for the purse seine fishery and its evaluation in real conditions for 14 days during a six-month period in a freshwater ecosystem (Lake Trichonis, Greece). A simple, but durable and inexpensive design was constructed comprising a LED lamp producing green light, powered by a 12 V battery which is charged by a photovoltaic panel to make the device autonomous concerning its electric power needs. The new lamp raft showed very good technical performance in the field and was found to be more effective at attracting fish than traditional lamp rafts, resulting in higher catch rates for the target fish species ( Atherina boyeri ). The increase in catch varied between 33.3% and 157.1%, with an overall increase of 67.3%. This excellent performance, along with simplicity, durability, and the zero operational cost, makes this raft an interesting candidate to replace the traditional lamp rafts used in purse seine fishery not only in the particular lake for which it was designed, but also in other freshwater and marine ecosystems around the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study of morphology and biological charactristics of A. boyeri in the southern Caspian Sea was investigated during 2000-2001. The fish samples were collected by beach seine (mesh size = 6 mm) monthly and then fixed in formalin 5%. The biometric and morphometric results are as follow: Total length = 73.82 ± 17.73, mean weigth = 3.15± 2.02, number of lateral line scale= 48± 3, number of branched rays of first dorsal fin 8; number of branched rays of second dorsal fin = 12; number of branched rays of anal fin = 13; number of branched rays of ventral fin = 5, number of vertebra = 47 and gill rakers = 34. Also, the results of other measurments (in mm) were: head length = 23 , head depth = 14, inter orbital width = 5, post-orbital length = 7, maximum body depth= 14, minimum body depth = 5, peduncle length = 19, first dorsal fin length= 7, pectoral fin length = 14, pelvic fin length = 11, pelvic-anal fin distance= 34, pectoral-pelvic fin distance= 43, post-dorsal distance= 20 and predorsal distance= 43mm. The comparance between males and females showed that from point of 2 meristic and one morphometric parameters, they showed significant difference. The study on population structure of Atherina boyeri indicated the range of 1 to 3 years old with average of 1.7 year. The total length and body weight equation was caclulated W=0.00000615 T.L3.02. The sex ratio of this species was estimated as M:F=0.47:0.53.

Los parámetros relacionados con la edad y crecimiento de Atberina bayeri Risso, 1810, en el Mar Menor, fueron estudiados a partir de muestras procedentes de capturas comerciales entre noviembre de 1997 y septiembre de 1998. Las longitudes máximas observadas fueron de 94 mm (LF) en las hembras y 87 mm (LF) en los machos. La determinación de la edad, basada en la lectura de escamas y contrastada mediante los análisis de las distribuciones de frecuencias de talla, puso de manifiesto que la población está estructurada en cuatro clases de edad (máximo 3+). La condición somática fue similar en ambos sexos, con un mínimo en junio y máximos en noviembre y abril. Machos y hembras mostraron un pico en el ciclo hepático en mayo y abril, respectivamente.

In this study it was aimed to determine acute toxicity of zinc on sand smelt (Atherina boyeri). In the experiments were used sand smelt which have average length of 4.41±0.068 cm and weights 0.60±0.027 g. The test fish were exposed to following concentrations of zinc (7.78, 12.96, 21.6, 36, 60 and 100 mg/L) for 24 hours. In preparation of test solutions zinc sulphate and artesian water which has temperature 19° C, total hardness 350 mg/L CaCO3 and 5.72 mg/L DO. Test fish were placed in plastic containers to replications experimental groups as hourly and daily morphological observations were made and recorded time of death in acute toxicity test. In zinc-acute toxicity test were used static bioassay methods for 24 hour intervals. Data obtained from the zinc acute toxicity tests were evaluated using the Probit Analysis to LC50 and LT50. LC50 zinc concentrations values were ranged between 1.768 mg/L were observed. The longer the duration of zinc showed a decrease in the value of LC50. LC50 value of the application factor is applied (1.768x0.1) to sand smelt zinc maximum acceptable concentration (safe concentration), 0.1768 mg/L Zn+2, respectively. Lethal concentration, depending on the time interval is 1 hour and 5 minutes to 6 hours 27 minutes LT50 values ranged and decreases the concentrations of zinc have been found. During the experiment, the surface concentrations of fish depending on the movements of assembly and also the opposite effect and side swims away from a fast-moving, uncontrolled swimming, to escape out of the water movement, perpendicular to the water, swimming, breathing movements are observed approaching the surface of the water. As a result, in the light of other fish sand smelt were found to be more sensitive than many fish. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, specimens of the large-scale sand smelts Atherina boyeri, a fish species occurring in different environments (freshwater lakes, coastal lagoons, sea), were examined for their body shape and the differences observed were analysed statistically. The variation of external morphology was investigated in 11 populations from different environments. The morphology was characterized by means of geometric morphometrics and compared; results showed that the phenotypic (morphometric) distances among samples differed significantly by Relative Warp Analysis, specimens from the coastal lagoon being clearly separated from those belonging to lake and marine populations on the first RW1 axis and the latter ones separated on the RW2 axis. The results obtained also show the absence of a gradient of shape differences according to lake–lagoon–sea origin or eidonomic convergence in fish from environments with similar (high) trophic productivity. An integration of geometric morphometric data in a multidisciplinary approach with genetic, biochemical, geographical, molecular and other morphological analyses is necessary to describe the phylogenetic relationships of Atherinidae, shedding light on some ambiguous taxonomic ranks. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Abstract: Sand-smelts are small fishes inhabiting inshore, brackish and freshwater environments and with a distribution in the eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean Sea, extending south into the Indian Ocean. Here, we present a broad phylogenetic analysis of the genus Atherina using three mitochondrial (control region, 12S and 16S) and two nuclear markers (rhodopsin and 2nd intron of S7). Phylogenetic analyses fully support the monophyly of the genus. Two anti-tropical clades were identified, separating the South African Atherina breviceps from the north-eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean Atherina’ species. In European waters, two groups were found. The first clade formed by a well supported species-pair: Atherina presbyter (eastern Atlantic) and Atherina hepsetus (Mediterranean), both living in marine waters; a second clade included Atherina boyeri (brackish and freshwater environments) and two independent lineages of marine punctated and non-punctated fishes, recently proposed as separate species. Sequence divergence values strongly suggest multiple species within the A. boyeri complex. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Sand smelt, Atherina boyeri, is a very abundant, widespread, locally harvested species, able to successfully survive and reproduce over a wide range of abiotic conditions and aquatic ecosystem types. In the North Sea and in the Mediterranean Sea transitional ecosystems its life history is well known, but very little information is available about the influence of intra-ecosystemic abiotic gradients on micro-scale patterns of distribution, body size and condition of individuals. In a small non-tidal Mediterranean lagoon, the cohorts'' structure and evolution of sand smelt was described and the temporal and spatial variability of abundance, size structure and body condition was addressed. The study was carried out at the Acquatina lagoon (Lecce, Italy) where four stations, situated in two habitat types along a confinement gradient, were sampled twice per month for one year with fyke nets. The abundance of collected individuals was very high throughout the sampling period, with a peak in Summer and a constant decrease afterwards. Measured Standard Length ranged from 20 to 90mm and the majority of individuals were estimated to be within 2 years old. The confined station resulted more abundantly colonized, especially by smaller size classes, and characterized by a narrower size frequency distribution. Also relative body condition showed significant spatial variations, with larger individuals having a better condition than smaller ones where optimal temperature and dissolved oxygen levels were available. Size-specific temporal patterns of body condition followed the seasonal climatic oscillations and the species'' cycle of growth and reproduction, with larger individuals reaching higher fatness than smaller ones during Autumn and Winter, thus having more chances to survive and contribute to the reproductive effort. The results of the present study emphasised that, even at a very small scale, the presence of strong environmental gradients can drive movements, habitat preference and condition of individuals and thus promote an intra-ecosystemic spatial heterogeneity comparable to that observed between ecosystems at the land–ocean or geographical scale. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This study reports the isolation and characterization of 11 polymorphic microsatellites from a sand smelt ( Atherina boyeri) genomic library. Enrichment was performed with di-, tri- and tetranucleotide motifs following the FIASCO procedure (fast isolation by AFLP of sequences containing repeats). All loci were found to be in linkage and in Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium. This represents the first microsatellite isolation for the family Atherinidae and the isolated loci were accordingly tested on four additional species of the family: two recognized ( A. presbyter and A. hepsetus) and two proposed (‘punctata’ and ‘non-punctata’ forms). Moreover their cross-species suitability on Menidia menidia, belonging to the same order but to the family Atherinopsidae, was also tested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A total of 2256 specimens of Atherina boyeri caught in Gomishan wetland (a marsh lagoon located at the southeast Caspian Sea) during spawning season from February to August 2007 were examined for life-history attributes. The population has a 4-year life cycle. Length–weight relationship was estimated as W = 0.0053TL3.0181 for males and W = 0.0050TL3.063 for females, being allometrically positive for both sexes. The von Bertalanffy growth function fitted to back-calculated size at age data was: Lt = 155.17[1 − exp − 0.28(t + 0.738)] and Lt = 162.77[1 − exp − 0.27(t + 0.727)] for males and females respectively. The sex ratio was 1:1.30 in favor of females. The reproductive season, evaluated from GSI, extended from March to July, with a peak in March. The average absolute and relative fecundities were 2976 eggs and 874 eggs g−1 of body weight respectively. The diameter of oocytes ranged from 0.03 to 0.20 mm with a mean value of 0.68. The life-history patterns of A. boyeri in the population under study imply that the population of this species in the southeast Caspian Sea differs markedly from those of other localities of its range distribution. The differences were thought to be due to differences in geographical locations. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Genetic differentiation and phylogenetic relationships among 15 Atherina boyeri populations from several marine and lagoon or lake sites in Greece were investigated using mtDNA analysis. PCR-RFLP analysis of 12s, 16s rRNA genes and D-loop revealed 23 haplotypes. All the lake or lagoon populations, as well as the Kymi and Kalymnos populations that originated from sites with lagoonlike environmental conditions, showed haplotypes 1–6, clearly distinguishable from the marine populations, which exhibited types 7–23. The genetic divergence values estimated between the lagoon and the marine populations ranged from 5.55 to 10.45%. The high genetic differentiation observed between these two types of populations is also highlighted by the dendrograms obtained using UPGMA and maximum parsimony methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In this paper, we compare the genetic structure and the historical demography of two populations of the sand smelt Atherina boyeri from the rivers Tagus and Mondego (Portugal) with two groups of samples of the closely related marine Atherina presbyter collected on the shore at comparable latitudes. A. presbyter is a pelagic marine inshore fish, while A. boyeri is typically found in coastal lagoons, estuaries and freshwaters bodies. Analysis of mtDNA control region sequences showed that the marine A. presbyter did not display signs of genetic differentiation between sites some hundreds of kilometers apart. On the contrary, A. boyeri showed clear differences between populations. The populations of A. boyeri showed a much lower genetic diversity and younger coalescence times when compared with A. presbyter. We suggest that these differences reflect the interplay between differences in ecology between the two species and the historical impact of the glaciations. While A. presbyter likely moved to the south evading the cold periods, A. boyeri probably went extinct and its populations in Western Europe are recent recolonizations from western Mediterranean refugia. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

On the basis of morphoanatomical parameters, the sand smelt species (Atherina boyeri Risso, 1810) is viewed as a highly polymorphic complex. In this study, intraspecific sequence variation in a portion of the cytochrome b gene was examined in 88 individuals from Tunisia and France. The correlation between the results of statistical analysis of the sequence data using a variety of tree-building algorithms and morphoanatomical analyses demonstrated the subdivision into three putative species: A. boyeri, which only includes non-punctuated fishes, A. punctata, which corresponds to punctuated fishes and A. lagunae, which corresponds to atherines living in lagoons. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Atherina boyeri, a pelagic species, mainly entered a Mediterranean lagoon in the Rhone River Delta, during the day, whatever the flow direction. Flow velocity did not appear to be a significant factor and its swimming abilities seemed to be sufficient to cope with the observed velocity. The combined responses ofPomatoschistus spp., benthic species, to the different environmental factors clearly demonstrated a change in behavioural response during their ontogenic development, i.e. a shift from passive to active or active-passive migration. YoungPomatoschistus spp. (<20 mm LT) exhibited a behaviour that correspond to the classical selective tidal stream transport of young fishes towards estuarine areas (passive drifting). Large Pomatoschistus spp. were also able to enter the lagoon with the flow, but they remained negatively affected by the flow velocity. The diel cycle appeared to be the main factor controlling the immigration of A. boyeri into the lagoon whereasPomatoschistus spp. seemed more sensitive to hydrographic conditions prevailing at the connection. Copyright 2002 The Fisheries Society of the British Isles. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In male sand smelt Atherina boyeri, from three coastal brackish lagoons of southern France, the duration of the reproductive season differed according to fish size: larger fish exhibited an extended reproductive season from February to August while smaller males reproduced only from April to June–July. Smaller and larger fish showed differences in their seasonal pattern of reserves. Through the cold season, energy content was exhausted for over-winter maintenance and reproductive needs, and was restored just after fish ceased reproducing. In smaller fish, however, reserves were more rapidly restored than in larger fish, and exhibited a decrease in autumn. This result suggested that small fish invested their energy into growth and winter survival rather than reproduction while older fish invested in reproduction. These results are discussed in terms of life history strategies. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The population of sand smelt, Atherina boyeri, living in the Lesina lagoon (Italy, south-western Adriatic Sea) is infested by the cymothoid isopod Mthocya epimerica. Monthly samples of sand smelt were takenfrom July 1990 to May 1991. Male hosts were more infested than females. No relationship was found between the prevalence of infestation and the gonadosomatic and hepatosomatic indices of sand smelt. Mothocya epimerica is a protandric hermaphrodite. Reproduction occurs about four times from early summer to early winter, at 2 month intervals. Females produce multiple broods and their life span is at least 6 months during the reproductive season. From February to May reproduction is considerably reduced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]