Myron Peck
University of Hamburg, Biologie, Faculty Member
- Professor of Experimental Biological Oceanography
Associate Editor-in-Chief Marine Ecology Progress Series
Associate Editor-in-Chief Aquatic Biologyedit
Mortality during the early stages is a major cause of the natural variations in the size and recruitment strength of marine fish populations. In this study, the relation between the size-at-hatch and early survival was assessed using... more
Mortality during the early stages is a major cause of the natural variations in the size and recruitment strength of marine fish populations. In this study, the relation between the size-at-hatch and early survival was assessed using laboratory experiments and on field-caught larvae of the European sardine (Sardina pilchardus). Larval size-at-hatch was not related to the egg size but was significantly, positively related to the diameter of the otolith-at-hatch. Otolith diameter-at-hatch was also significantly correlated with survival-at-age in fed and unfed larvae in the laboratory. For sardine larvae collected in the Bay of Biscay during the spring of 2008, otolith radius-at-hatch was also significantly related to viability. Larval mortality has frequently been related to adverse environmental conditions and intrinsic factors affecting feeding ability and vulnerability to predators. Our study offers evidence indicating that a significant portion of fish mortality occurs during the endogenous (yolk) and mixed (yolk /prey) feeding period in the absence of predators, revealing that marine fish with high fecundity, such as small pelagics, can spawn a relatively large amount of eggs resulting in small larvae with no chances to survive. Our findings help to better understand the mass mortalities occurring at early stages of marine fish.
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ABSTRACT Metabolic costs are extremely high in young marine fish larvae and knowledge on how intrinsic and extrinsic factors affect metabolic costs (and how best to estimate those costs) is important if we hope to understand environmental... more
ABSTRACT Metabolic costs are extremely high in young marine fish larvae and knowledge on how intrinsic and extrinsic factors affect metabolic costs (and how best to estimate those costs) is important if we hope to understand environmental constraints on early growth and survival. We provide an historical perspective on measurements of respiration rates in larvae of marine fishes and perform a meta-analysis of results (measurement methods, metabolic rates, ontogenetic changes, taxonomic differences) obtained from 51 studies examining 50 species from 25 families. Standard (anaesthetized or darkness), routine and active respiration rates were reported in 15, 95 and 10% of the studies, respectively, and much more work has been performed on larvae of temperate (80%) compared to tropical (14%) and polar (4%) species. More than 35% of the studies have been published since 2000 owing to both advancement in oxygen sensors and the growing emphasis on understanding physiological impacts of environmental change. We recommend common protocols to facilitate cross-taxa comparisons such as the effect of temperature (Q10 1.47 to 3.47), body mass (slope of allometric changes in R from 0.5 to 1.3), and/or activity level on metabolic costs as measured via respiration rate.
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Until now, it is not known how the antioxidant and digestive enzymatic machinery of fish early life stages will change with the combined effects of future ocean acidification and warming. Here we show that high pCO2 (~1600 μatm)... more
Until now, it is not known how the antioxidant and digestive enzymatic machinery of fish early life stages will change with the combined effects of future ocean acidification and warming. Here we show that high pCO2 (~1600 μatm) significantly decreased metabolic rates (up to 27.4 %) of flatfish larvae, Solea senegalensis, at both present (18 °C) and warmer temperatures (+4 °C). Moreover, both warming and hypercapnia increased the heat shock response and the activity of antioxidant enzymes, namely catalase (CAT) and glutathione S-transferase (GST), mainly in post-metamorphic larvae (30 dph). The lack of changes in the activity of CAT and GST of pre-metamorphic larvae (10 dph) seems to indicate that earlier stages lack a fully-developed antioxidant defense system. Nevertheless, the heat shock and antioxidant responses of post-metamorphic larvae were not enough to avoid the peroxidative damage, which was greatly increased under future environmental conditions. Digestive enzymatic activity of S. senegalensis larvae was also affected by future predictions. Hypercapnic conditions led to a decrease in the activity of digestive enzymes, both pancreatic (up to 26.1 % for trypsin and 74.5 % for amylase) and intestinal enzymes (up to 36.1 % for alkaline phosphatase) in post-metamorphic larvae. Moreover, the impact of ocean acidification and warming on some of these physiological and biochemical variables (namely, lower OCR and higher HSP and MDA levels) were translated into larvae performance, being significantly correlated with decreased larval growth and survival or increased incidence of skeletal deformities. The increased vulnerability of flatfish early life stages under future ocean conditions is expected to potentially determine recruitment and population dynamics in marine ecosystems.
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Laboratory studies indicate that warming can eventually push cold-blooded organisms past their physiological limits, with detrimental effects on growth. Now evidence from the field indicates that this phenomenon is occurring in the Tasman... more
Laboratory studies indicate that warming can eventually push cold-blooded organisms past their physiological limits, with detrimental effects on growth. Now evidence from the field indicates that this phenomenon is occurring in the Tasman Sea.
The EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) requires that Good Environmental Status (GEnS), is achieved for European seas by 2020. These may deviate from GEnS, its 11 Descriptors, targets and baselines, due to endogenic managed... more
The EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) requires that Good Environmental Status (GEnS), is achieved for European seas by 2020. These may deviate from GEnS, its 11 Descriptors, targets and baselines, due to endogenic managed pressures (from activities within an area) and externally due to exogenic unmanaged pressures (e.g. climate change). Conceptual models detail the likely or perceived changes expected on marine biodiversity and GEnS Descriptors in the light of climate change. We emphasise that marine management has to accommodate 'shifting baselines' caused by climate change particularly during GEnS monitoring, assessment and management and 'unbounded boundaries' given the migration and dispersal of highly-mobile species. We suggest climate change may prevent GEnS being met, but Member States may rebut legal challenges by claiming that this is outside its control, force majeure or due to 'natural causes' (Article 14 of the MSFD). The analysis is r...
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Projected, climate-driven changes in rainfall patterns are expected to alter the salinity (S) of estuaries and larger brackish water bodies, such as the Baltic Sea. Some marine fish larvae are potentially more sensitive to low salinity... more
Projected, climate-driven changes in rainfall patterns are expected to alter the salinity (S) of estuaries and larger brackish water bodies, such as the Baltic Sea. Some marine fish larvae are potentially more sensitive to low salinity than older stages, hence we compared the low salinity tolerance of Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus) larvae at the individual and population levels including four populations in the North and Baltic Seas. Acute low salinity tolerance was similar (S = 1.9-2.7) across populations and increased with increasing body size. Based on this physiological threshold and a regionally down-scaled climate model, spawning habitats in the northern and eastern Baltic Sea are projected to be largely unsuitable for herring by 2100. Although adaptive mechanisms may attenuate the effect in some species, the limited physiological tolerance of fish larvae will remain an important bottleneck for the persistence of marine fish populations in brackish waters undergoing climate-driven freshening.
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ABSTRACT Laboratory studies indicate that warming can eventually push cold-blooded organisms past their physiological limits, with detrimental effects on growth. Now evidence from the field indicates that this phenomenon is occurring in... more
ABSTRACT Laboratory studies indicate that warming can eventually push cold-blooded organisms past their physiological limits, with detrimental effects on growth. Now evidence from the field indicates that this phenomenon is occurring in the Tasman Sea.
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ABSTRACT Despite their trophodynamic importance in many aquatic ecosystems, few studies have quantified the feeding-growth relationship of clupeid fishes. In laboratory trials, we quantified the relationship between rates of food... more
ABSTRACT Despite their trophodynamic importance in many aquatic ecosystems, few studies have quantified the feeding-growth relationship of clupeid fishes. In laboratory trials, we quantified the relationship between rates of food consumption (C, % fish energy content (Joules d−1)), somatic growth rate (G, % Joules d−1), and swimming speed (S S, body lengths (bl) s−1) for post-larval (30- to 50-mm standard length) European sprat (Sprattus sprattus L.) collected from the southwestern Baltic Sea. Measurements of G and S S were also made on groups before and after an abrupt shift in prey availability. Maintenance (0-growth) and maximum food consumption rates were 5.5 and 42 % somatic energy content d−1, respectively. Mean ± SE gross growth efficiency (K 1 = 100∙G∙C −1 ) was 26.9 ± 3.0 %. Unfed post-larvae had markedly lower S S compared to continuously-fed fish (0.1 versus 0.5 to 0.7 bl s−1). After 10 days of re-feeding, one group of previously unfed fish was hyperactive (mean S S of 1.2 bl s−1) but no re-fed groups exhibited hyperphagia (based upon prey numbers), increased K 1, or compensatory growth. Increased competition (relatively high S S) was evident during feeding in fish maintained at low to moderate but not at ad libitum prey levels. Our findings provide estimates of prey resources required to fuel in situ growth and help characterize metabolic strategies of European sprat within variable feeding environments.
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ABSTRACT Traditionally copepod nauplii have been considered the natural prey of fish larvae in the wild, meanwhile the role of microzooplankton (20 – 200 µm) has been disregarded. However these small protists are crucial for first... more
ABSTRACT Traditionally copepod nauplii have been considered the natural prey of fish larvae in the wild, meanwhile the role of microzooplankton (20 – 200 µm) has been disregarded. However these small protists are crucial for first feeding, and, depending upon the conditions, may support larval growth for short periods of time. Little is known about the prey environment experienced by larvae of autumn and winter spawning Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus) which overwinter in the North Sea. Given the low abundance of mesozooplankton during this time period the question arises whether a diet mostly consisting of dinoflagellates and ciliates is sufficient for larvae to grow at rates observed in situ? Samples were taken in September 2013, January and February 2014 during the ICES-coordinated International Herring Larval Surveys (IHLS) and the International Bottom-Trawl Surveys (IBTS). This field sampling represents the first large-scale (North Sea-wide) snapshot of microzooplankton abundance and distribution prior to and during the winter. Relationships between patterns in the distribution and abundance of microplankton and larval herring were investigated, and the link between in situ nutritional condition of herring larvae and microplankton abundance/biomass will be discussed. Further plans involving physiological larval measurements and trophic level analysis are also presented.
SUMMARY: Following previous observations, this study was undertaken to determine the level of salt required in the diet of gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata L.) juveniles in order to enhance growth performances and survival when rearing... more
SUMMARY: Following previous observations, this study was undertaken to determine the level of salt required in the diet of gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata L.) juveniles in order to enhance growth performances and survival when rearing in inland brackish water with a salinity of 2.9‰ TDS (Total Dissolved Salts). The juveniles were reared for 10 weeks in twelve rearing tanks,
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Research Interests: Geology and Oceanography
Research Interests: Geology and Oceanography
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... Myron A. Peck1, 5,*, Lawrence J. Buckley2, Elaine M. Caldarone3, David A. Bengtson4 ... Maximum rates of food consumption (Cmax) and growth (Gmax) in marine fish are typically related allo-metrically to body size (Brett &... more
... Myron A. Peck1, 5,*, Lawrence J. Buckley2, Elaine M. Caldarone3, David A. Bengtson4 ... Maximum rates of food consumption (Cmax) and growth (Gmax) in marine fish are typically related allo-metrically to body size (Brett & Groves 1979) and size-specific rates in the present ...
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ABSTRACT Hollowed, A. B., Barange, M., Ito, S-I., Kim, S., Loeng, H., and Peck, M. 2011. Effects of climate change on fish and fisheries: forecasting impacts, assessing ecosystem responses, and evaluating management strategies. – ICES... more
ABSTRACT Hollowed, A. B., Barange, M., Ito, S-I., Kim, S., Loeng, H., and Peck, M. 2011. Effects of climate change on fish and fisheries: forecasting impacts, assessing ecosystem responses, and evaluating management strategies. – ICES Journal of Marine Science, 68: 984–985.