Sustainable aquatic resource management and inland fisheries in tropical Asia: Interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary approaches.

The intensive utilization of tropical inland water bodies for multiple and sometimes competing activities underlines the necessity for their integrated and holistic co-management. This paper presents our synthesis on lake and reservoir fisheries in South and Southeast Asia as social-ecological systems, based on a synopsis of our research findings from a previous EU-funded research programme in Sri Lanka, Thailand and the Philippines (FISHSTRAT project). The paper attempts to merge our results with recent developments in research, policy and practice. We explore the effects of the main external and internal control mechanisms of the trophic state and pinpoint to the high production potential of traditionally unexploited small indigenous fish species. The limitations of conventional centralized management systems highlight the importance of introducing transdisciplinary approaches which integrate limnology, fish ecology and fisheries with the interests of other resource using stakeholders and decision makers in order to develop locally appropriate co-management strategies for sustainable aquatic resource use.

Small-scale metapopulation structure of a limnophilic fish species in a natural river system investigated using microsatellite genotyping by amplicon sequencing (SSR-GBAS).

Habitat niches of fish species can exert a strong influence on population structure, even on a small geographical scale. In this scope, Pelasgus thesproticus is a great model species to study connectivity in riverine environments owing to its naturally patchy habitat distribution. Furthermore, it is important to conduct such studies in near-natural systems to avoid the impact of human disturbances on the river, such as fragmentation, morphological changes and habitat degradation. In this sense, the Vjosa in Albania is an excellent study area. A total of 204 individuals were sampled from five locations in the lower Vjosa and two tributaries and genotyped with 33 newly designed microsatellites loci using high throughput sequencing. The application of microsatellite genotyping by sequencing revealed genetic structure and some differentiation, even at a small spatial scale (< 65 river km). A total of 500 alleles were found with an average of 0.93 private alleles among sites with rather low FST values (< 0.04). The extent of admixture observed in some populations indicate that the genetic structure is mainly influenced by upstream populations, either from the main river itself or from tributaries. In addition, the connection between a tributary and the other sites is disrupted by the flow regime, which is reflected in a high degree of divergence from the other populations. Our results indicate that hydrological conditions of the flowing river present strong barriers to gene flow, particularly in the upstream direction, but at the same time act as dispersal corridors in the downstream direction and exhibit source-sink dynamics in which upstream populations contribute disproportionately to downstream populations for this habitat specialist along the river. It is suggested that processes of colonization and reinforcement may play an important role in shaping the genetic structure of patchily distributed fish species in natural river systems. Future studies should increase the knowledge of dispersal factors, habitat heterogeneity, consequence of source-sink dynamics, and gene flow within the system, which will help to understand and maintain important processes related to metapopulation theory and the potential evolutionary consequences of habitat loss and fragmentation.

Infection patterns of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus L.) by two helminth species with contrasting life styles.

The larval stages of Bolbophorus sp. (digenean) and Amirthalingamia macracantha (cestode) are frequently reported in Oreochromis niloticus in Uganda. Little, however, is known about their infection patterns. This study examined the influence of habitat type, host size, and sex and weather patterns on the parasite populations in Uganda. A total of 650 fish were collected between January and November 2008 from a reservoir, cages, fishponds and a stream. The prevalence and intensity of A. macracantha and the prevalence of Bolbophorus sp. differed across the water bodies reflecting the effect of habitat characteristics on parasite transmission. Host sex did not significantly influence the infection patterns, although female fish were slightly more parasitized than male and sexually undifferentiated individuals. The fish size was positively correlated with helminth infections demonstrating accumulation and prolonged exposure of larger (older) fish to the parasites. The metacercariae population did not vary significantly across months, while monthly A. macracantha infection fluctuated markedly. With regard to rain seasons, higher prevalence and intensity of A. macracantha were recorded in wet season. For Bolbophorus sp., only the prevalence varied with seasons, with higher prevalence recorded in the dry season than in wet season. Generally, Bolbophorus sp. responded weakly to changes in water body, host sex and size and weather patterns. Rainfall appears to be an essential cue for coracidia hatching.

Parasite fauna of farmed Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) and African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) in Uganda.

An intensive parasite survey was conducted in 2008 to better understand the parasite fauna occurrence, distribution and diversity in the commercial aquaculture fish species in Uganda. A total of 265 fish collected from hatcheries and grow-out systems were examined for parasites using routine parasitological techniques. The survey yielded 17 parasite species: 11 from Oreochromis niloticus and ten from Clarias gariepinus. Four parasites-Amirthalingamia macracantha, Monobothrioides sp., Zoogonoides sp. and a member of the family Amphilinidae-were recorded for the first time in the country. The parasite diversity was similar between hosts; however, O. niloticus was dominated by free-living stage-transmitted parasites in lower numbers, whereas both trophically and free-living stage-transmitted parasites were equally represented in C. gariepinus in relatively high intensities. The patterns in parasite numbers and composition in the two hosts reflect differences in fish habitat use and diet. A shift in parasite composition from monoxenous species-dominated communities in small-sized fish to heteroxenous in large fishes was recorded in both hosts. This was linked to ontogenetic feeding changes and prolonged exposure to parasites. Polyculture systems showed no effect on parasite intensity and composition. The gills were highly parasitized, mainly by protozoans and monogeneans. Generally, the occurrence and diversity of parasites in these fish species highlight the likelihood of disease outbreak in the proposed intensive aquaculture systems. This calls for raising awareness in fish health management among potential farmers, service providers and researchers.

Trade-offs in thermal adaptation: the need for a molecular to ecological integration.

Through functional analyses, integrative physiology is able to link molecular biology with ecology as well as evolutionary biology and is thereby expected to provide access to the evolution of molecular, cellular, and organismic functions; the genetic basis of adaptability; and the shaping of ecological patterns. This paper compiles several exemplary studies of thermal physiology and ecology, carried out at various levels of biological organization from single genes (proteins) to ecosystems. In each of those examples, trade-offs and constraints in thermal adaptation are addressed; these trade-offs and constraints may limit species' distribution and define their level of fitness. For a more comprehensive understanding, the paper sets out to elaborate the functional and conceptual connections among these independent studies and the various organizational levels addressed. This effort illustrates the need for an overarching concept of thermal adaptation that encompasses molecular, organellar, cellular, and whole-organism information as well as the mechanistic links between fitness, ecological success, and organismal physiology. For this data, the hypothesis of oxygen- and capacity-limited thermal tolerance in animals provides such a conceptual framework and allows interpreting the mechanisms of thermal limitation of animals as relevant at the ecological level. While, ideally, evolutionary studies over multiple generations, illustrated by an example study in bacteria, are necessary to test the validity of such complex concepts and underlying hypotheses, animal physiology frequently is constrained to functional studies within one generation. Comparisons of populations in a latitudinal cline, closely related species from different climates, and ontogenetic stages from riverine clines illustrate how evolutionary information can still be gained. An understanding of temperature-dependent shifts in energy turnover, associated with adjustments in aerobic scope and performance, will result. This understanding builds on a mechanistic analysis of the width and location of thermal windows on the temperature scale and also on study of the functional properties of relevant proteins and associated gene expression mechanisms.

The impact of surface water exchange on the nutrient and particle dynamics in side-arms along the River Danube, Austria.

Results of two monitoring programs obtained in the free-flowing section of the Danube downstream of Vienna were used to evaluate the effects of river restoration designed to increase surface water inputs into side-arms. Functional descriptors like hydrochemical parameters and plankton react immediately to restored hydrological conditions and offer the opportunity to elucidate the hydrological control on organic processing as an important ecosystem function in fluvial landscapes. Two hydraulic parameters were estimated and linked to basic ecological properties. The level of hydrological connectivity was defined as the average annual duration (days per year) of upstream surface connection and can be used as a 'simple to estimate' parameter within the planning phase. Water age, an adapted measure of residence time based on more detailed information, allow description of the temporal development in side-arms. Greater hydrological connectivity leads to lower conductivity levels and increased nutrient concentrations due to the shift of the dominating source to river water. The contribution of river flow is indicated by higher suspended solid concentrations in side-arms than disconnected water bodies. The phytoplankton biomass shows the highest mean values at a duration of integration of 1 month a(-1) and decrease with increasing connectivity. The relationships point to a more 'main channel like' hydrochemical situation in the side-arms, with a medium level of phytoplankton biomass and increased autochthonous carbon export. No evidence of eutrophication was found due to the shift of the side-arm from an organic matter sink to a source. On a more detailed level, water age demonstrates the temporal patterns of riverine input, the development of plankton production and the shift between hydrological and biological control of phytoplankton vs. riverine flow in a side-arm. The hydrologic parameters were useful predictors for evaluating the effects of restoration measures in river floodplain systems.

Bacteria and viruses in the water column of tropical freshwater reservoirs.

In tropical freshwater reservoirs of Sri Lanka, which are linked in an aquatic network, bacterial abundance and production as well as virus abundance, frequency of viral infection and virus production were investigated together with a set of nutrient species (Kjeldahl-N, NO3-N, total P, soluble P, PO4-P). At two characteristic seasons (wet season, dry season), samples were taken from two types of reservoirs (new upland impoundment and ancient, shallow lowland reservoir), each during 4 days at various depths of the entire water columns. Kjeldahl-N and total P were greatly elevated in the wind-mixed water body of the shallow impoundment during the dry season, whereas the deeper reservoir type exhibited no obvious seasonality. In SYBR green trade mark -stained samples, bacterial abundance showed no seasonal pattern in either reservoir type. Bacterial secondary production, however, was significantly elevated in the entire water column of the shallow impoundment under wind-mixed conditions in the dry season. Highest abundance of virus particles and elevated frequency of bacteria containing mature phages were also observed in the shallow reservoir during the dry season indicating favourable conditions for virus propagation. Data from this aquatic network show that most virus parameters, such as abundance or frequency of visibly infected cells, were positively linked to bacterial abundance and production, but also to organic nitrogen or some phosphorus species. We calculated that between 13.2% and 46.1% of the bacterial standing stocks would be subjected to virus-mediated mortality. Estimates of bacteriophage production revealed that from 10 x 10(9) up to 98 x 10(9) phages were produced per litre and day. Bacteria and viruses in the studied tropical freshwater system appear to be linked to various environmental conditions and may affect processes at the ecosystem scale.

The early life history stages of riverine fish: ecophysiological and environmental bottlenecks.

Fish are good indicators of the environmental health of rivers and their catchments as well as important conservation targets. Bioindication has to be based on an understanding of the requirement of characteristic species with regard to: (a). The match/mismatch between reproductive strategies and environmental conditions. (b). The niche dimensions of critical stages vis-a-vis the key conditions. (c). The availability of microhabitats along the ontogenetic niche profiles, i.e. the connectivity from spawning substrates to early life history microhabitats. The main conditions for the embryonic period are temperature and oxygen supply which are responsible for embryonic mortality, the duration of the period, and size and condition of newly-hatched larvae. For the exogenously feeding larvae the functional of food acquisition, growth and bioenergetics to temperature, food availability and current velocity is decisive. Studies concentrated on Chondrostoma nasus, a target species for monitoring and conservation in large European river systems. Results obtained in experimental studies are compared with those from field studies in order to evaluate the match/mismatch between performances and microhabitat choice and population dynamics in the field. Discrepancies between requirements and field conditions in regulated rivers underline the significance of inshore zones as microhabitats (expressed in the 'Inshore Retention Concept') and the requirement for ecophysiological studies on target species for river restoration and conservation.

The oxygen consumption of a freshwater benthic nematode, Tobrilus gracilis (Bastian).

Tobrilus gracilis (Bastian) was found to live predominantly in oxygen deficient mud layers of Neusiedlersee, Austria. The O2-consumption of all active life stages was measured with Cartesian diver respirometers. The respiration-body weight regression (R=aW b; in µl O2·10-3/individual·h and µg wet weight) was calculated to be R=0.522 W 0.693. This suggests that the species is not obligatory anaerobic but can use oxygen when available. Furthermore, a respiration-body weight regression was calculated for four other nematodes from a wide range of habitats using literature data. The regression coefficients ranged from 0.68-0.85 but were not significantly different (P=0.05). The intercept of the y-axis ("a" in the regression equation), which indicates the metabolic rate of a species, ranged from 1.34-2.01 µl·10-3 O2/individual·h at 20°C. Covariance analysis was used to test the differences in the level of metabolic activity for Tobrilus gracilis, Aphelenchus avenae and Panagrolaimus rigidus. It could be shown, that oxygen consumption of Tobrilus is significantly lower compared with the other species and it is concluded that the metabolism of this species is partially anaerobic, even when oxygen is available.

Respiration rates of two species of Gnathostomulids.

Respiration rates for two species of Gnathostomulida from poorly oxygenated subtidal sands of Bermuda were measured using Cartesian diver respirometers.ForHaplognathia cf.ruberrima a respiration-body weight regression gaveR=0.790·W 0,649 (in µl·10-3O2/h and µg wet weight). Respiration rates for adult animals ofGnathostomula sp. of a mean weight of 1.3 µg ranged between 0.25 and 0.63 µl·10-3 O2/h. These rates are low when compared with literature data on meiobenthic species from a wider habitat range but similar to respiration rates of marine and limnic nematodes living in sediments with strongly reducing capacity.