Links between reproduction and immunity in two sympatric wild marine fishes.

According to life-history theory, limited resources can result in trade-offs between costly physiological functions. Particularly, it can be expected that individuals present lower immune function, or an alternative immunological strategy, during their reproductive compared to their non-reproductive season. Here we investigate the link between reproduction and immunity in two sympatric marine fish species, the rockfish Sebastes oculatus and the sandperch Pinguipes brasilianus.

Anthropogenic impact on the reproductive health of two wild Patagonian fish species with differing reproductive strategies.

A particularly concerning outcome of environmental pollution is the disturbance of reproductive processes. However, studies on the impacts of pollution on the reproductive health of fish inhabiting South American environments are limited. We studied the impact of anthropogenic pollution on the reproductive health of two sympatric Patagonian marine fish species with different reproductive strategies: the live-bearing rockfish Sebastes oculatus and the egg-laying Brazilian sandperch Pinguipes brasilianus.

Immunity and health of two wild marine fishes naturally exposed to anthropogenic pollution.

There are increasing global concerns of the alarming pollution impacts on marine life, thus it is becoming essential to generate reliable tools to monitor and understand the effects of these impacts on aquatic organisms. We performed a field study assessing how exposure to anthropogenic pollution impacts immunological and health-state parameters and parasite infection of a wild marine fish, the Brazilian sandperch Pinguipes brasilianus. Then we compared this information to previously published data of a sympatric species, the Patagonian rockfish Sebastes oculatus inhabiting the same polluted and pristine areas.

Seasonality of Immunological and Health-State Parameters of Wild Broadnose Sevengill Shark, Notorynchus cepedianus.

Seasonal fluctuation in environmental parameters can influence immune responses of vertebrates and consequently influence their health and disease resistance. Although seasonality of immune function is well documented in a broad range of vertebrate taxa, this information remains virtually unexplored in cartilaginous fish. Here we examine seasonal variation in immune and general-health parameters of free-living adult broadnose sevengill sharks, Notorynchus cepedianus, along an annual cycle.

Parasite infection and immune and health-state in wild fish exposed to marine pollution.

Association between parasitism and immunity and health-state was investigated in wild Sebastes oculatus after having determined that pollution exposure is associated with altered immune and health-state parameters. Given the importance of the immune system in antiparasite defense we predicted: (i) parasite infection would be higher in pollution-exposed than in control fish and (ii) fish with lower immune and health-state parameters would show higher parasitism than fish in better condition. Metazoan parasite fauna was compared between pollution-exposed and non-exposed fish and parasitic indices were correlated with integrated measures of immunity and health-state.

Immunological and health-state parameters in the Patagonian rockfish Sebastes oculatus. Their relation to chemical stressors and seasonal changes.

We present the results of a field study that evaluates whether exposure to anthropogenic pollution impacts immunological and health-state parameters of wild marine fish during the breeding and non-breeding periods. We assessed aspects of innate immunity (bactericidal capacity, bacterial agglutination, and leukocyte profile) and general health-related parameters (neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio, hematocrit, and condition factor) in the Patagonian rockfish (Sebastes oculatus) sampled from polluted (exposed) and reference (control) sites during winter (i.e.

Marine fouling invasions in ports of Patagonia (Argentina) with implications for legislation and monitoring programs.

Ports are a key factor in the understanding and solving of most problems associated with marine invasive species across regional and global scales. Yet many regions with active ports remain understudied. The aim of this work was to (a) identify and quantify the marine fouling organisms in all Patagonian ports of Argentina classifying them as native, exotic or cryptogenic species through a rapid assessment survey and experimental studies, (b) survey the environmental and anthropogenic variables of these ports and (c) analyze and discuss these results in the light of the South America context for the study of marine invasive species, legislation and commerce.