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This thesis focuses on the link between condition, defined as the magnitude of fat reserves, and maturation in two sub-populations of Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus L.). Histological, fatty acid (FA), univariate and multivariate analyses were used in a multi-scale approach to elucidate the relationship between body fat and maturity. Furthermore, the accuracy of commonly used proxies of condition and maturity was tested. No evidence was found to support the hypothesis that a threshold of fat must be exceeded for first maturation to occur; however, a size threshold was observed. During maturation, herring may be capable of both selectively incorporating certain FA into the ovary and also of synthesising FA within the ovary itself. Mesenteric fat was highly dynamic during maturation and likely plays a role in gonad development. Commonly used morphometric condition indices were not related to mesenteric fat and the relationship between morphometric indices and other more direct indices was dependent on maturity stage. Macroscopic maturity staging was unreliable and errors led to an under-estimation of the herring spawning stock biomass of up to 26%. A gonadosomatic index was validated which was able to discern between immature, mature and recovering fish more accurately than macroscopic staging. Few differences were found between North Sea autumn-spawning (NSAS) and Norwegian spring-spawning (NSS) herring in this study. The FA profiles of both sub-populations were similar over the maturity cycle and the effects of length and maturity stage on mesenteric fat were analogous for both populations. A photoperiod cue of first maturation was found for Atlantic herring. However, this cue differed between the subpopulations, with NSAS herring maturation being triggered by the spring equinox and NSS herring maturation being triggered later. A multi-scale approach was successfully employed to demonstrate that there is an intrinsic link between fat reserves and maturity in herring.

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These (Ph.D.)--Dalhousie University, 2008. / Title from PDF title page. Abstract, table of contents in French and English. Available through UMI ProQuest Digital Dissertations. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 88-97). Also issued in print.

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The swimbladder of Atlantic and Pacific herring has a pneumatic duct arising from the stomach caecum and a direct posterior opening to the exterior. The thesis is advanced that these peculiarities are associated with differences in function which may be related to the life of the herring. Herring obtain swimbladder gas by swallowing air at the surface but not by secretion or bacterial gas generation over one week. Gas release from the swimbladder through the posterior duct occurs in response to pressure reduction, sympathomimetic drugs and atropine and is inhibited by spinal section or brain removal suggesting a gas release mechanism involving the central nervous system. Gas loss through the pneumatic duct is prevented by the swimbladder valve which opens in response to adrenalin. The swimbladder responds to adrenalin by moving its contained gas anteriorly and to pilocarpine by increasing internal gas pressure. The pneumatic duct, normally fluid filled, controls the applied pressure at which gas flow in either direction starts and finishes. This duct mechanically prevents the entry of particulate matter from the stomach and is able to remove air bubbles leaving a mean net force of 3.2 dynes/ml downwards to be compensated for by movements of the fish. As the herring swimbladder functions as a hydrostatic organ the low skeletal body content and high fat content results in a low swimbladder volume, so reducing the change in density with depth, an advantage to a fish undergoing diurnal vertical migrations. It was calculated that herring of Passamaquoddy Bay, N.B. can descend to their median daytime depth of 10 metres in August and 35 metres in February for sinking factors of 1016 and 1018 respectively. Predation may be reduced by the ability of herring to complete air uptake rapidly, to move upward without restriction by expelling any excess gas through the posterior duct and to liberate gas in times of stress in response to adrenaline so increasing body density and permitting rapid downward movement. Thus in many ways the herring because of its anatomical modifications has been able to adapt the physostome condition successfully to its marine environment. / Science, Faculty of / Zoology, Department of / Graduate