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Genetic identification and morphology of naturally spawned eggs of the Japanese eel Anguilla japonica collected in the western North Pacific

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Abstract

Eggs of the Japanese eel Anguilla japonica collected in the western North Pacific were identified by onboard species-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and DNA nucleotide sequencing after the cruise. Fish eggs of various species were collected by large plankton net tows at 12 stations along the southern part of the West Mariana Ridge on 19–25 May 2009. A total of 43 fish eggs were distinguished morphologically as possibly being of A. japonica. Thirty-one of those were analyzed by PCR, which included 15 eggs collected at 12°50–55′N, 141°15–20′E (in 5 tows) that showed positive results. The 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene sequences of eggs determined after the cruise indicated that 31 A. japonica eggs had been collected. The remaining eggs were of mesopelagic eel species (Serrivomeridae and Derichthyidae), or unidentified species. The morphological characteristics of the A. japonica eggs were consistent with those of artificially spawned eggs, except they had a slightly larger diameter. The egg diameter range did not overlap with those of mesopelagic eels of the Serrivomeridae, which often spawn in the same area as A. japonica. These results suggest that egg diameter and embryo shape can be used to morphologically identify naturally spawned A. japonica eggs.

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Acknowledgments

We thank the captain and crew of the R/V Hakuho Maru for their support during the 2009 sampling surveys that made this study possible. The IRAGO Institute kindly provided the photos of their artificially produced eggs. We also thank Dr. Hiroaki Kasai and Ms. Yukie Inomata of Kamaishi Biotechnology Research Institute of Kitasato University, who kindly provided us an opportunity to use their genetic analyzer. Thanks are also due to two anonymous reviewers for their critical comments on the manuscript. This study was partly supported by a grant-in-aid for scientific research (S) (21228005) from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science to K.T.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Marine Biosciences, Department of Marine Biosciences, Kitasato University, 1-15-1 Kitasato, Minami Ward, Sagamihara, Kanagawa, 252-0373, Japan

    Tatsuki Yoshinaga

  2. Atmosphere and Ocean Research Institute, The University of Tokyo, Kashiwa, Chiba, 277-8564, Japan

    Michael J. Miller, Kazuki Yokouchi, Jun Aoyama, Shun Watanabe, Machiko Oya, Ryusuke Sudo, Hyojin Ahn, Ryotaro Manabe, Seishi Hagihara, Masamichi Machida & Katsumi Tsukamoto

  3. International Coastal Research Center of the Atmosphere and Ocean Research Institute, The University of Tokyo, Otsuchi, Iwate, 028-1102, Japan

    Tsuguo Otake

  4. Graduate School of Frontier Sciences/Atmosphere and Ocean Research Institute, The University of Tokyo, Kashiwa, Chiba, 277-8564, Japan

    Shingo Kimura, Sachie Miyazaki, Kei Zenimoto, Tetsuya Takahashi, Hiroshi Morioka, Hikaru Itakura & Mayu Shiozaki

  5. Department of Biology, Tokyo Medical University, Tokyo, 160-8402, Japan

    Akira Shinoda

  6. Graduate School of Marine Science and Technology, Tokai University, Shizuoka, Shizuoka, 424-8610, Japan

    Kazuyuki Ban

  7. NPO Nihon Sakana no Kai, Yaizu, Shizuoka, 425-0051, Japan

    Bunpei Ai

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  1. Tatsuki Yoshinaga
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Correspondence to Tatsuki Yoshinaga.

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Yoshinaga, T., Miller, M.J., Yokouchi, K. et al. Genetic identification and morphology of naturally spawned eggs of the Japanese eel Anguilla japonica collected in the western North Pacific. Fish Sci 77, 983–992 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12562-011-0418-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12562-011-0418-8

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