Okan Özaydın

Organochlorine pesticides and antioxidant enzymes are inversely correlated with liver enzyme gene expression in Cyprinus carpio.

The present study was designed to investigate the association between levels of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and liver enzyme responses in Cyprinus carpio. Fish were caught at three stations in the Büyük Menderes River (BMR): the origin, the Sarayköy station, and the estuary. Seventeen OCPs were quantified in liver tissue, as well as in river water by gas chromatography (GC)-electron capture detection, and structures were confirmed by negative chemical ionization-GC-mass spectrometry. The activities of CYP1A, GST, Se-GPx, CAT, and SODs were determined by spectrophotometry or fluorimetry. The mRNA levels of CYP1A, GST, and SOD1 were quantified by real-time RT-PCR. CYP1A and antioxidant enzyme activities were dramatically higher at the Sarayköy station, where OCP pollution is higher than the other two stations. Mn-SOD is responsible for the increase in total SOD activity in the Sarayköy samples. However, gene expression levels of certain enzymes were heavily suppressed. Our findings show that the transcriptional and functional responses of CYP1A and antioxidant enzymes are inversely correlated.

Growth Characteristics and Reproduction of Comber, Serranus Cabrilla (Actinopterygii, Perciformes, Serranidae), in the Aegean Sea

The comber, Serranus cabrilla (Linnaeus, 1758), is a moderately exploited commercial serranid species occurring in the Eastern Atlantic and the Mediterranean to a depth of 500 m, on rocks, Posidonia beds, sandy and muddy bottoms (Whitehead et al. 1986). Aegean Sea is an important region for the Turkish fishing industry, accounting for 44 386 t total catch. S. cabrilla is reported to have contributed about 0.18% (in weight) in total catch, which included 64 fish species in the Aegean Sea (Anonymous 2007). In spite of its wide distribution, this species is especially a by catch species for trawls and trammel nets and has a minor commercial value, so that knowledge on the biology of this species is incomplete and scarce when compared by other demersal fish species in the area. Bouain 1981 and Benmouna et al. 1984, who studied comber, focused on the physiology and reproductive biology of the species, ignoring growth and mortality, crucial for stock assessment. Papaconstantinou et al. (1994) reported data on the growth parameters and the length at first maturation for comber in the North Aegean Sea (Greece), while Politou and Papaconstantinou (1995), presented growth parameters and age composition of comber in the Northern Greece. Feeding habits of this species were determined in the Canary Islands by Tuset et al. (1996). Stergiou (1997) and Garcia-Diaz et al. (1997) examined the spawning seasonality and the sex and reproductive aspects in Serranus cabrilla in the English Channel and the Canary Island, respectively. The length–weight relations for comber were presented by Goncalves et al. (1997) and Stergiou and Motopoulos (2001) in south-west coast of Portugal and Greek waters, respectively. Tserpes and Tsimenides (2001) reported data on the age, growth, and mortality of comber from the Cretan shelf. Shape indices to identify regional differences in otolith morphology of comber otoliths were examined by Tuset et al. (2003) from the Atlantic and Mediterranean. From Turkish Seas, Turker-Cakir and Torcu-Koc (2002) examined its feeding habits and also ACTA ICHTHYOLOGICA ET PISCATORIA (2010) 40 (1): 55–60 DOI: 10.3750/AIP2010.40.1.07

Diet composition of the Thornback Ray, Raja clavata Linnaeus, 1758 (Elasmobranchii: Rajidae) in the Turkish Aegean Sea

The diet of Raja clavata (Thornback Ray) was studied in 2008–2009 in Sığacık Bay in the eastern Mediterranean, based on 187 stomach contents obtained by commercial trawl operations. 40 different prey species were found. Mysidacea, Parapenaeus longirostris and Plesionika sp. were the most abundant prey items. The results indicate that the main prey varies considerably depending on the ecological characteristics of the habitat.

Some Morphometric Aspects of Munida Rutllanti Zariquiey Alvarez, 1952 (Decapoda, Anomura, Galatheidae) in Sigacik Bay (Southeastern Aegean Sea)

[A total of 491 Munida rutllanti specimens was captured between depths of 150 and 380 m in Sigacik Bay in the commercial trawl fisheries season of 2006-2007. During this sampling, 208 females (42.36%) and 283 males (57.64%) were found. Undamaged female (104) and male specimens (107) were measured for morphometric features such as total carapace length with rostrum, carapace length, rostrum length, rostrum basis width, anterior carapace width, maximum carapace width, cheliped length, total length, and wet weight. Length–weight relationship parameters were calculated as W = 2.1623 TL – 4.018 for males, and W = 2.7417 TL – 5.083 for females, respectively. Au total, 491 specimens de Munida rutllanti ont ete captures a des profondeurs allant de 150 a 380 m dans la baie de Sigacik au cours de la saison de peche commerciale de 2006-2007. Au cours de cet echantillonnage, 208 femelles (42,36%) et 283 mâles (57,64%) ont ete trouves. Des specimens intacts, femelles (104) et mâles (107) ont ete mesures sur les criteres morphometriques suivants: longueur totale de la carapace avec rostre, longueur de la carapace, longueur du rostre, largeur de la base du rostre, largeur de la partie anterieure de la carapace, largeur maximale de la carapace, longueur du chelipede, longueur totale et poids humide. Les parametres de la relation longueur–poids ont ete calcules ainsi: W = 2,1623 TL – 4,018 pour les mâles, et W = 2,7417 TL – 5,083 pour les femelles, respectivement., A total of 491 Munida rutllanti specimens was captured between depths of 150 and 380 m in Sigacik Bay in the commercial trawl fisheries season of 2006-2007. During this sampling, 208 females (42.36%) and 283 males (57.64%) were found. Undamaged female (104) and male specimens (107) were measured for morphometric features such as total carapace length with rostrum, carapace length, rostrum length, rostrum basis width, anterior carapace width, maximum carapace width, cheliped length, total length, and wet weight. Length–weight relationship parameters were calculated as W = 2.1623 TL – 4.018 for males, and W = 2.7417 TL – 5.083 for females, respectively. Au total, 491 specimens de Munida rutllanti ont ete captures a des profondeurs allant de 150 a 380 m dans la baie de Sigacik au cours de la saison de peche commerciale de 2006-2007. Au cours de cet echantillonnage, 208 femelles (42,36%) et 283 mâles (57,64%) ont ete trouves. Des specimens intacts, femelles (104) et mâles (107) ont ete mesures sur les criteres morphometriques suivants: longueur totale de la carapace avec rostre, longueur de la carapace, longueur du rostre, largeur de la base du rostre, largeur de la partie anterieure de la carapace, largeur maximale de la carapace, longueur du chelipede, longueur totale et poids humide. Les parametres de la relation longueur–poids ont ete calcules ainsi: W = 2,1623 TL – 4,018 pour les mâles, et W = 2,7417 TL – 5,083 pour les femelles, respectivement.]

Periodic monitoring of persistent organic pollutants and molecular damage in Cyprinus carpio from Büyük Menderes River

Concentrations of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) were quantified in river water and sediment, as well as in the liver and muscle tissues of Cyprinus carpio that were sampled four times in a year at three stations in the Büyük Menderes River (BMR). Potential biomarkers of possible cellular molecular damage, namely lipid peroxidation (LPO) degradation products, protein carbonyls (PCO) and DNA repair product 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), were analysed. All the targeted pollutants were measurable both in biotic and abiotic samples. Interestingly, the results suggested that there was recent organochlorine pesticide (OCP) input into the river water in the first two sampling periods in all stations in contrast to prohibition, while input of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polybrominated diphenylethers (PBDEs) was not detected. Liver POP concentrations were higher than in muscle, as expected, and were found to decrease from the first to the fourth sampling period in all stations, except PBDEs. Levels of LPO degradation products in the liver and in muscle tissues decreased from the first to the fourth sampling period. This suggests that these markers reflect the lipid damage in respective tissues due to the tissue burden of targeted POPs. Protein carbonyls were the highest in the first sampling period, followed by a dramatic decrease in the second, and then a gradual increase towards the fourth sampling period in all stations. 8-OHdG levels were lower in Sarayköy station in the first sampling period. Among the measured biomarkers, only several LPO degradation products were significantly correlated with OCPs and PCBs in liver tissue.

FIRST RECORD OF FACCIOLA'S SORCERER, FACCIOLELLA OXYRHYNCHA (ACTINOPTERYGII, ANGUILLIFORMES, NETTASTOMATIDAE) FROM THE AEGEAN SEA

A specimen of Facciolas sorcerer, Facciolella oxyrhyncha (Bellotti, 1883), was caught for the first time in the central Aegean Sea, on January 2007 by a commercial bottom trawler at a depth of about 230 m on the muddy bottom of Southern Sigacik Bay, Aegean Sea, Turkey.

LENGTH-WEIGHT RELATIONSHIPS FOR 30 DEMERSAL FISH SPECIES FROM ÇANDARLI BAY (NORTH AEGEAN SEA, TURKEY)

Length-weight relationships were investigated for 30 demersal fish species from Candarlo Bay in the North Aegean Sea. Fish samples were caught from depths of 30-95 m in five different stations by bottom trawl between March 2003 and August 2004. The b v alues in the length-weight relationship va- ried between 1.654 and 3.977, over 50% of which between 2.968 and 3.265 with a mean value of 2.949 (SE = ±0.05). The growth type was deter- mined by t-test: 13 species (43%) showed positive allometries (b > 3; t-test, P 0.05) and the remaning 4 species (14%) negative allometries (b<3; t-test, P < 0.05).

Gut contents and feeding habits of the Great Pipefish, Syngnathus acus Linnaeus, 1758, in İzmir Bay (Aegean Sea, Turkey)

Abstract A total of 112 stomachs of the Great Pipefish, Syngnathus acus Linnaeus, 1758 (56 females and 38 males), was collected in İzmir Bay (Aegean Sea) and analysed in order to determine the feeding habits. 95 specimens (85.6%) were found with prey items in their stomachs. Zooplanktonic organisms were the main food and in terms of numerical (NO%) and frequency (FO%) of occurrence, four main prey categories were determined in the gut content of this species. The most dominant group was found to be harpacticoid copepods (33.6% NO; 57.7% FO), followed by Amphipoda (22.3% NO; 38.2% FO), cypris larvae (12.8%NO; 21.9%FO) and decapod crustaceans (9.5% NO; 16.3% FO), respectively. The numbers of their occurrence indicated that there were significant differences between the seasons. Seasonal differences in the gut content were found in 9 prey groups in spring (p<0.05) and 6 in winter (p<0.05), showing that feeding is more diverse in spring than in winter. Similarly, the number of occurrences indicated that there was a significant difference in the first (p<0.05) and fourth size groups (p<0.05). However, no significant difference was found in the feeding pattern between sexes (p>0.05). Consequently, small crustaceans were the most important prey to be consumed in all seasons by all size groups of Syngnathus acus, whereas decapod crustacean larvae/eggs, larger prey items, were preferred by larger specimens.