title: Prenatal stress from trawl capture affects mothers and neonates: a case study using the southern fiddler ray (Trygonorrhina dumerilii).
abstract: Assessing fishing effects on chondrichthyan populations has predominantly focused on quantifying mortality rates. Consequently, sub-lethal effects of capture stress on the reproductive capacity of chondrichthyans are largely unknown. We investigated the reproductive consequences of capture on pregnant southern fiddler rays (Trygonorrhina dumerilii) collected from Swan Bay, Australia, in response to laboratory-simulated trawl capture (8 h) followed immediately by air exposure (30 min). Immediately prior to, and for up to 28 days post trawling, all females were measured for body mass (BM), sex steroid concentrations (17-β estradiol, progesterone, testosterone) and granulocyte to lymphocyte (G:L) ratio. At parturition, neonates were measured for total length (TL), BM and G:L ratio. Trawling reduced maternal BM and elevated the G:L ratio for up to 28 days. Trawling did not significantly affect any sex steroid concentrations relative to controls. Neonates from trawled mothers were significantly lower in BM and TL than control animals, and had an elevated G:L ratio. Our results show that capture of pregnant T. dumerilii can influence their reproductive potential and affect the fitness of neonates. We suggest other viviparous species are likely to be similarly affected. Sub-lethal effects of capture, particularly on reproduction, require further study to improve fisheries management and conservation of chondrichthyans.
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Guida
authors.affiliation: CESIMAR (Centro Para el Estudio de Sistemas Marinos) - CENPAT- CONICET, Puerto Madryn, Chubut U9120ACD, Argentina.|School of Biological Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania 7001, Australia.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Awruch
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia.
authors.forename: T I
authors.initials: TI
authors.lastname: Walker
authors.affiliation: School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia.
authors.forename: R D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Reina
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001773:Blood Cells / Q000166:cytology; D005260:Female; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones / Q000378:metabolism; D007109:Immunity; D018811:Maternal Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D012860:Skates, Fish / Q000502:physiology*; D013312:Stress, Physiological
chemical_list: D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones