The Fish Vet's Blog

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Reviews in Fisheries Science
Volume 20, Number 4 (October 2012)
	Coping with the Lionfish Invasion: Can Targeted Removals Yield Beneficial Effects?
	Authors:	ThomasK. Frazer 1, CharlesA. Jacoby 2, MorganA. Edwards 1, SavannaC. Barry 1, CarrieM. Manfrino 3
	Author Affiliations:	1: Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences Program, School of Forest Resources and Conservation, University of Florida 2: Soil and Water Science Department, University of Florida 3: Department of Geology & Meteorology, Kean University
	Source:	Reviews in Fisheries Science, Volume 20, Number 4 (October 2012)
	Page Numbers:	185 – 191
	Available Full Text:	Full Text: Subscription Required to view full text Format: PDF Size: unknown Location: Publisher’s Site Authentication: EBSCOhost EJS
	Abstract:	Invasive species generate significant environmental and economic costs, with maintenance management constituting a major expenditure. Such costs are generated by invasive Indo-Pacific lionfish (Pteroisspp.) that further threaten already stressed coral reefs in the western Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea. This brief review documents rapid range expansion and potential impacts of lionfish. In addition, preliminary experimental data from targeted removals contribute to debates about maintenance management. Removals at sites off Little Cayman Island shifted the size frequency distribution of remaining lionfish toward smaller individuals whose stomachs contained less prey and fewer fish. Fewer lionfish and decreased predation on threatened grouper, herbivores and other economically and ecologically important fishes represent key steps toward protecting reefs. However, complete evaluation of success requires long-term data detailing immigration and recruitment by lionfish, compensatory growth and reproduction of lionfish, reduced direct effects on prey assemblages, and reduced indirect effects mediated by competition for food. Preventing introductions is the best way to avoid impacts from invasive species, and early detection linked to rapid response ranks second. Nevertheless, results from this case study suggest that targeted removals represent a viable option for shifting direct impacts of invasive lionfish away from highly vulnerable components of ecosystems.
	Citation:	ThomasK. Frazer, CharlesA. Jacoby, MorganA. Edwards, SavannaC. Barry, CarrieM. Manfrino . Coping with the Lionfish Invasion: Can Targeted Removals Yield Beneficial Effects?. Reviews in Fisheries Science, Volume 20, Number 4 (October 2012), pp. 185-191, ;
	URL:	http://ejournals.ebsco.com/direct.asp?ArticleID=4D2DB9DD4D1A1FA1731F

Check out how many fish this lionfish can consume!

Picture courtesy of Joanne Marie De Lourdes via Facebook.

http://mobile.news.com.au/breaking-news/national/abalone-fishers-urged-to-take-care/story-e6frfku9-1226527714024

Via AquaVet:
http://tnaci.blogspot.com.au/2012/11/new-fishes-named-after-us-leaders-three.html?m=1

I get this question a lot. This paper attempts to explains that the genetics of the fish play a large role in resistance to the white spot parasite.

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Journal of Fish Diseases
Volume 35, Number 12 (December 2012)
	Susceptibility of three strains of blue catfish, Ictalurus furcatus(Valenciennes), to Ichthyophthirius multifiliis
	Authors:	D-H Xu, P H Klesius, B G Bosworth, N Chatakondi
	Author Affiliations:	no affiliations available
	Source:	Journal of Fish Diseases, Volume 35, Number 12 (December 2012)
	Page Numbers:	887 – 895
	Available Full Text:	Full Text: Subscription Required to view full text Format: PDF Size: unknown Location: Publisher’s Site Authentication: EBSCOhost EJS
	Abstract:	This study compared the susceptibility of three blue catfish strains (D&B,USDA101 and USDA102) to the parasite Ichthyophthirius multifiliis(Ich). In Trial I, a cohabitation study (all strains stocked communally) was conducted and fish were exposed to theronts at 0, 200, 1000, 5000 or 25 000 theronts fish-1, respectively. All fish died when exposed to theronts at 5000 or 25 000 theronts fish-1. When exposed to 1000 theronts fish-1, USDA102 strain of blue catfish showed significantly lower mortality (78.5%) compared to USDA101 and D&B strains (92.7% and 100%). In Trial II, the same three strains of blue fish were evaluated for their susceptibility to Ich with strains challenged in separate tanks by adding Ich theronts at 0, 200 and 1000 theronts fish-1, respectively. All D&Band USDA101 blue catfish died; however, 42.3% of USDA102 strain survived the infection when exposed to 1000 theronts per fish. The results indicate that there are differences among strains of blue catfish for susceptibility to Ich, and these differences will be useful in the development of improved catfish germplasm for commercial aquaculture.
	Citation:	D-H Xu, P H Klesius, B G Bosworth, N Chatakondi . Susceptibility of three strains of blue catfish, Ictalurus furcatus(Valenciennes), to Ichthyophthirius multifiliis. Journal of Fish Diseases, Volume 35, Number 12 (December 2012), pp. 887-895, ;
	URL:	http://ejournals.ebsco.com/direct.asp?ArticleID=4913A625B97643BE36D9

Off to Melbourne to play with some fishes, meet some fishy colleagues, attend an awards ceremony and a wedding.

“Pfiesteria piscicida and a second species, Pfiesteria shumwayae, have been implicated as the primary causative agents of well over a billion fish deaths… When human flesh comes in contact with water infested by the Cells, blisters and abscesses can form on the exposed skin as well as on the chest and face. According to researchers at the North Carolina State University, other symptoms of Pfiesteria piscicida exposure are a “drugged” effect; red eyes, severe headaches, blurred vision, nausea/vomiting, asthma-like difficulty breathing, kidney and liver dysfunction, acute short-term memory loss, and serious difficulty being able to read, remember one’s own name, dial a telephone number, or do simple arithmetic…. ability to produce toxins that can aerosolise. In this free-moving form, the toxins can be inhaled to affect more people and animals…”

Read more here –
http://www.abc.net.au/science/slab/cells/default.htm

Shared by my colleague, Dr Chris Hawkins.

Cute story shared by my friend Yancey.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-11-27/breeding-leopard-shark-takes-one-too-many-bites/4395654

This is such an interesting read and thought I’d share it with you.

Is this fish the missing link? Or does it suggest that evolution doesn’t exist?

madjellyfish.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/the-coelacanth-living-fossil-tetrapod.html?m=1

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Yours sincerely,

Dr Richmond Loh
BSc BVMS MPhil MANZCVS (Aq & Pathol)
The Fish Vet, Perth, Western Australia.
Veterinary Medicine for fish.
http://www.thefishvet.com.au
Ph: +61 (0)421 822 383

http://health.auplurk.com/2012/11/dpi-warns-against-toxic-algal-bloom.html?m=1