Lunar periodicity in growth increment formation in otoliths of hilsa shad (Tenualosa ilisha, Clupeidae) in Bangladesh waters

doi:10.1016/j.fishres.2006.06.026

Fisheries Research

Volume 81, Issues 2–3, November 2006, Pages 342-344

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fishres.2006.06.026 Get rights and content

Abstract

Microstructure examination of otoliths of hilsa shad (Tenualosa ilisha, Clupeidae) revealed the influence of lunar cycle on the formation of growth rings (increments). The daily increments grouped with the two tidal phases, viz., neap tide and spring tide period of the 14-day lunar cycle. Eleven smaller rings represented the daily increments formed during the 11 days of the neap tide period and three larger rings represented the daily increments formed during the 3 days of the spring tide period in each 14-day lunar cycle.

Introduction

The hilsa shad (Tenualosa ilisha, Clupeidae) is an important migratory species in the Indo-Pak subcontinent and the Persian Gulf region, especially in Bangladesh and India. As for other tropical fish, ageing of hilsa is problematic, because of the absence of annual rings on scales. To partly solve this problem, microstructure examination of daily rings in otoliths of the species was conducted with limited success in Bangladesh waters, as increments were found to be visible for the first few hundred days but the microstructural pattern became unreadable thereafter (Quddus, 1982, Quddus et al., 1984, BFRI/RS, 1994, Mazid, 1998, Blaber et al., 2003). Lunar periodicity in the otoliths of hilsa shad has not been documented. However, Pannella (1974) and Hayashi et al. (2001) reported the lunar periodicity in the otoliths of other species. Lunar periodicity of the daily rings in otoliths of hilsa shad was observed in the present study and were successfully used to age the species.

Section snippets

Materials and methods

Sagital otoliths from approximately 100 fresh hilsa were examined. The samples were collected at random from different major fishing ports on the two main rivers of Bangladesh, viz., the Padma and the Meghna, and sagittal otoliths were extracted. The otoliths were washed, air-dried and stored in a dry place in sealed and labelled polyethylene envelops for subsequent examination. The total length of fish and otolith were recorded in millimetres.

The otoliths were ground and polished to remove

Results

Two types of increments, viz., lunar rings and daily rings were found. The larger increments, termed lunar rings (Fig. 1), were considered to appear rhythmically in relation to the lunar cycle. The rhythmically appeared increments may be verified as daily or lunar rings either by rearing the species in captivity (Hayashi et al., 2001) or by marginal increment analysis (Gartner, 1991). In this study, the increments were verified based on the comparison of growth of juveniles (jatka) from the

Discussion

The percentage of unreadable area accepted in this study (<10%), was considered suitable compared to some other studies where up to 20% unreadable areas were reported (Methot, 1983, Waldron and Gerneke, 1997). The reason for failure to get an acceptably readable axis with core for counting daily rings was the lack of a suitable polishing method. The otolith has a convex (slight oval) shape and when polished on a flat surface, the top of the oval surface is ground faster and the edge remains

Acknowledgements

We wish to acknowledge the field assistants and researchers of the hilsa research team of Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute (BFRI) and Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Australia who made some field data/samples available to us. The work was supported jointly by the CSIRO and BFRI.

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Preliminary microchemical analyses of North-western Persian Gulf hilsa shad otolith trace elements: Indications of complex migratory behavior and stock structure
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Hilsa shad (Tenualosa ilisha) is an important anadromous fish species, supporting significant commercial and subsistence fisheries throughout south Asia. Otolith Sr:Ca and Ba:Ca profiles were used along with age data to examine the migratory history of hilsa shad from two major river systems in the northwestern Persian Gulf (Karun and Zohreh). In addition, elemental ratios (Sr:Ca, Ba:Ca, and Li:Ca) were analyzed using principal component analysis to investigate regional population structure. Variation in movement patterns was observed, though all fish analyzed had spent some time in freshwater, and most otolith signatures suggested a double downstream marine/upstream freshwater migration. There were however differences among rivers: the majority of fish from Zohreh River showed a single downstream/upstream migration through their life cycle, while Karun signatures were more complex, with multiple migrations and potential estuarine or freshwater residence. When comparing stock structure during the marine phase, the otolith signatures of Zohreh River fish showed greater separation while others tended to overlap, indicating that Zohreh fish were likely to have reared in a different location than the others. Although comprising a relatively small sample size, our results provide some preliminary insights into the life-history and stock structure of Persian Gulf hilsa shad, informing the management needs of this important fishery, and suggesting further more detailed investigations of migration and stock structure are warranted.
Sustainable fisheries/aquaculture of hilsa, Tenualosa ilisha in changing and dynamic riverine ecosystem of India and its neighborhood
2022, Ecological Significance of River Ecosystems: Challenges and Management Strategies
Hilsa (Tenualosa ilisha) is commonly known as the Indian shad and belongs to the family of Clupeidae. This fish is spread over Indo-Pacific province from the Arabian Gulf (Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, and Burma) to South Vietnam. Hilsa is a euryhaline and anadromous fish. This fish naturally attains the growth and maturation in the sea water and later migrates to freshwater rivers for spawning. After spawning, embryonic and larval development take place in freshwater. Larvae migrate to lower regions of rivers (downstream rivers), which is nursery ground and finally to near shore coastal waters. Larvae grow to juveniles hilsa (locally called as jatka in Bangladesh and West Bengal) remain in the nursery grounds for 5–6 months. The juveniles are euryhaline in nature and move to seawater for feeding, growth, and sexual maturation and when the fishes are sexually matured (adult fish, 1.5 years old) migrates toward freshwater rivers for spawning. Different life stages of T. ilisha pass through diverse habitats due to migratory nature, which have different ecosystem and food available. It is an important commercial fish of the Indo-Pacific region, especially Bangladesh, India, and Myanmar where its fishery generates employment and income for millions of people. Now a days, catch of hilsa has dropped because of overfishing and changes in the dynamics of riverine ecosystem. The main causes of the ecological changes are pollution, obstruction of natural migration, and river sedimentation. In our current research, we have refined the artificial breeding of hilsa through dry stripping form wild mature broodstock. We also developed the nursery rearing protocol in pond ecosystem. Further, domesticated F1 broodstock of hilsa is developed in pond and recirculatory aquaculture system (RAS). We also aim to complete the breeding cycle of hilsa in captivity, which will help in development of conservation strategies and aquaculture of hilsa.
Biology and fisheries of Hilsa shad in Bay of Bengal
2019, Science of the Total Environment
Citation Excerpt :
Dams and embankments interfere directly with the successful completion of the breeding and feeding migrations of the Hilsa (Ahsan et al., 2014). Hilsa does not show any parental care and it is the high fecundity the source of its resilience to predation and hostile environmental conditions (Raja, 1985; de Graaf, 2003; Rahman and Cowx, 2006). There are several piscivorous species that have the potential to predate on Hilsa (Bahadur, 2010; Murugan et al., 2012) such as jellyfish, aquatic birds, minks, dolphins (Platanista gangetica gangetica), tooth whales, and larger predatory fishes like sharks, Indian mottled eel (Anguilla bengalensis), river catfishes, perches, narrow-barred Spanish mackerel (Scomberomorus commerson), and tunas (Katsuwonus pelamis, Thunnus albacares and Thunnus obesus) (Tesch, 1977; Nelson, 1998; Naser, 2014).
Hilsa (Tenualosa ilisha) or river shad is an anadromous fish species widely distributed in the North Indian Ocean, mainly in the Bay of Bengal (BoB). Hilsa is the national fish of Bangladesh and it contributes 10% of the total fish production of the country, with a market value of $1.74 billion. Hilsa also holds a very important place in the economics of West Bengal of India with 12.5% of the catch and also tops the marine capture in Myanmar. During the last two decades Hilsa production from inland waters has been stable, whereas marine yields in the BoB increased substantially. In order to sustainably manage the trans-boundary stock of Hilsa, the taxonomy, distribution, habitat, migration patterns, population dynamics, fisheries and socio-economics aspects of the fishery have been reviewed here. To achieve a successful trans-boundary management for the Hilsa stock, complete ban on undersize fishing, well-targeted temporal and spatial bans, creation of protected areas in strategic points, incentive for Hilsa fishers and ecological restoration of Hilsa habitats and more work on technological development of Hilsa aquaculture are recommended.
Discovering spawning ground of Hilsa shad (Tenualosa ilisha) in the coastal waters of Bangladesh
2014, Ecological Modelling
Citation Excerpt :
The broods of Hilsa migrate from saline water to estuaries and rivers for spawning where the eggs hatch to larvae. Their spawning phase is closely synchronized with the lunar cycle and a spontaneous spawning is noticed during the new and full moon (Rahman and Cowx, 2006) at monsoon wet season (March–September) characterized with high turbidity, strong freshwater flow, low salinity (0–5‰) and large tidal variation (Blaber et al., 1997, 2003a; Haroon, 1998; Milton and Chenery, 2003). Spawning at this time appears to be adapted to reduce predation from visual predators (Milton, 2009; Blaber, 2000).
The availability of suitable freshwater spawning habitat is considered to be a major factor limiting the natural recruitment of anadromous Hilsa shad (Tenualosa ilisha) in the coastal waters of Bangladesh. Against this context, we applied georeferenced habitat database to determine spawning habitat suitability index of Hilsa shad. Landsat imagery and thematic layers were analyzed with ENVI and GIS, and developed a series of GIS models to identify and ranking of suitable spawning grounds. Thus, among the studied 29,484 km² aquatic ecosystems, only 6% (=1851 km²) area is the most suitable consisting of the rivers Meghna, Shahbazpur, Tetulia and Ander Manik as well as the channel of Sandwip island. Whereas, 20% (=5996 km²) area including river, estuary and near shore water bodies are moderately suitable, and in particular, the offshore deep waters occupying 73% (=21,637 km²) area is least suitable. The model outputs were verified after field data of fishers’ indigenous knowledge with an accuracy level of 87%. This study suggests that necessary measures, such as conservation and management of spawning habitat should be implemented for an increased reproductive and recruitment success that will eventually improve populations of wild Hilsa shad in Bangladesh.
Spring-neap cycle as a major driver of temporal variations in feeding of intertidal fishes: Evidence from the sea catfish Sciades herzbergii (Ariidae) of equatorial west Atlantic mangrove creeks
2008, Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology
On macrotidal coasts, short- to medium term variations in feeding of intertidal fishes are influenced by several interacting time scales. To identify the driver of major variations in the feeding habits of intertidal fish, we used the pemecou sea catfish Sciades herzbergii (Ariidae), an abundant intertidal benthic second order consumer, as a model species. We analyzed the influence of the spring-neap and the day-night cycle on intertidal abundance, stomach fullness, diet composition and food consumption of S. herzbergii using block nets set at slack high tides in two mangrove creeks in north Brazil. At spring tides, intertidal abundance, stomach fullness, and total daily consumption of S. herzbergii were on average 8.8, 1.9, and 3.8 times higher than at neap tides, respectively. At spring tides, Uca spp. and Grapsidae (mostly Pachygrapsus gracilis) dominated the diet, irrespective of the time of day. Other important food items were Insecta and the semiterrestrial crab Ucides cordatus. At neap tides, Capitellidae contributed to the diet of nightly inundations while no specimens were caught at daytime. Creek location had no effect on any variable. Results from our study area and evidence from other studies suggest that the spring-neap tide pulse is likely the major driver of short- to medium term variations in feeding of intertidal fishes. This has important implications for feeding-related issues on macro- and probably also on mesotidal coasts: (i) juvenile fishes may have fortnightly growth spurts, (ii) intertidal prey populations may suffer regular fluctuations in mortality, (iii) studies of the feeding ecology of intertidal fishes should cover the combined effects of the tidal, diel, lunar and seasonal cycles, and (iv) the modeling of food webs should consider the differences between highly dynamic spring tide and quieter neap tide conditions.
Changing Monsoonal Waterworlds Sensing Delta Volatility through Hilsa Fish
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¹: The article is a part of the Ph.D. thesis of the first author.

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Fisheries Research

Abstract

Introduction

Section snippets

Materials and methods

Results

Discussion

Acknowledgements

References (14)

New insights into the life history of Tenualosa ilisha and fishery implications

Am. Fish. Soc. Symp.

Analysis of otolith microstructure data

Life histories of three species of lanternfishes (Pisces: Myctophidae) from the eastern Gulf of Mexico. I: morphological and microstructural analysis of sagital otoliths

Mar. Biol.

Daily growth increment formation and its lunar periodicity in otoliths of the myctophid fish Myctophum asperum (Pisces: Myctophidae)

Fish. Sci.

Theme of the workshop—an overview of hilsa fishery research in Bangladesh

Seasonal variation in survival of larval northern anchovy, Engraulis mordax, estimated from the age distribution of juveniles

Fish. Bull. U.S.

Cited by (28)

Preliminary microchemical analyses of North-western Persian Gulf hilsa shad otolith trace elements: Indications of complex migratory behavior and stock structure

Sustainable fisheries/aquaculture of hilsa, Tenualosa ilisha in changing and dynamic riverine ecosystem of India and its neighborhood

Biology and fisheries of Hilsa shad in Bay of Bengal

Discovering spawning ground of Hilsa shad (Tenualosa ilisha) in the coastal waters of Bangladesh

Spring-neap cycle as a major driver of temporal variations in feeding of intertidal fishes: Evidence from the sea catfish Sciades herzbergii (Ariidae) of equatorial west Atlantic mangrove creeks

Changing Monsoonal Waterworlds Sensing Delta Volatility through Hilsa Fish

Short communicationLunar periodicity in growth increment formation in otoliths of hilsa shad (Tenualosa ilisha, Clupeidae) in Bangladesh waters

Abstract

Introduction

Section snippets

Materials and methods

Results

Discussion

Acknowledgements

New insights into the life history of Tenualosa ilisha and fishery implications

Am. Fish. Soc. Symp.

Analysis of otolith microstructure data

Life histories of three species of lanternfishes (Pisces: Myctophidae) from the eastern Gulf of Mexico. I: morphological and microstructural analysis of sagital otoliths

Mar. Biol.

Daily growth increment formation and its lunar periodicity in otoliths of the myctophid fish Myctophum asperum (Pisces: Myctophidae)

Fish. Sci.

Theme of the workshop—an overview of hilsa fishery research in Bangladesh

Seasonal variation in survival of larval northern anchovy, Engraulis mordax, estimated from the age distribution of juveniles

Fish. Bull. U.S.

Short communication
Lunar periodicity in growth increment formation in otoliths of hilsa shad (Tenualosa ilisha, Clupeidae) in Bangladesh waters