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As a food resource in both Eastern and Western countries, the eel is an important fish. Over the years, remarkable progress has been achieved in understanding the mysterious life cycle of eels that has fascinated scientists since the age of Aristotle. The spawning area of the Japanese eel was discovered and the migratory route of its larvae was elucidated. With the development of techniques for artificial induction of gonadal maturation, it became possible to obtain hatched larvae. Larval rearing to the leptocephalus stage, one of the most difficult tasks involved in eel culture, finally was achieved. By presenting these important breakthroughs, Eel Biology will be of great help in the development of effective management strategies for maintaining stable eel populations. With contributions by leading experts, this book is a valuable source for researchers as well as industry technicians in the fields of aquatic biology, aquaculture, and fisheries.
List of contents
1 Taxonomy, Phylogeny, Population Structure, and Speciation.- 1 Taxonomy of the Freshwater Eels, Genus Anguilla Schrank, 1798.- 2 Origin and Evolution of the Freshwater Eels, Genus Anguilla.- 3 Catadromous Eels of the North Atlantic: A Review of Molecular Genetic Findings Relevant to Natural History, Population Structure, Speciation, and Phylogeny.- 2 Life History.- 4 Leptocephali.- 5 Metamorphosis.- 6 The Glass Eel.- 7 The Yellow Eel.- 8 The Silver Eel.- 3 Migration.- 9 Spawning Area of the Japanese Eel.- 10 Spawning Areas of the Atlantic Eels.- 11 The Worldwide Distribution of Anguillid Leptocephali.- 12 Larval Transport of the Japanese Eel.- 13 The Processes of Onshore Migration of the Japanese Eel Anguilla japonica as Revealed by Otolith Microstructure.- 14 A Review of Upstream Migration and Movements in Inland Waters by Anguillid Eels: Toward a General Theory.- 15 Downstream Migration of Silver-Phase Anguillid Eels.- 16 Migration from Continental Waters to the Spawning Grounds.- 4 Resources.- 17 Status of the European Eel Stock and Fisheries.- 18 Dynamics of Resources of the American Eel, Anguilla rostrata: Declining Abundance in the 1990s.- 19 The Distribution and Biology of the South Pacific Species of Anguilla.- 20 Eel Resources in East Asia.- 5 Regulatory Mechanisms of Reproduction.- 21 Oogenesis in the Japanese Eel, Anguilla japonica.- 22 Spermatogenesis in the Japanese Eel.- 23 The Physiology of Silvering in Anguillid Eels: Androgens and Control of Metamorphosis from the Yellow to Silver Stage.- 24 GTH and GnRH Molecules and Their Expression in the Japanese Eel.- 25 Reproductive Endocrinology of the European Eel, Anguilla anguilla.- 6 Techniques for Artificial Induction of Maturation.- 26 Induction of Vitellogenesis.- 27 Artificial Induction of Oocyte Maturation and Ovulation.- 28 Induction of Sperm Maturation.- 7 Larval Rearing and Physiology.- 29 Techniques for Larval Rearing.- 30 The Digestive System of Eel Larvae.- 31 Hatching Enzymes in the Japanese Eel.- 32 Chloride Cells in the Japanese Eel During Their Early Life Stages and Downstream Migration.- 33 Nonspecific Defense Mechanisms of the Eel.
Summary
As a food resource in both Eastern and Western countries, the eel is an important fish. Over the years, remarkable progress has been achieved in understanding the mysterious life cycle of eels that has fascinated scientists since the age of Aristotle. The spawning area of the Japanese eel was discovered and the migratory route of its larvae was elucidated. With the development of techniques for artificial induction of gonadal maturation, it became possible to obtain hatched larvae. Larval rearing to the leptocephalus stage, one of the most difficult tasks involved in eel culture, finally was achieved. By presenting these important breakthroughs, Eel Biology will be of great help in the development of effective management strategies for maintaining stable eel populations. With contributions by leading experts, this book is a valuable source for researchers as well as industry technicians in the fields of aquatic biology, aquaculture, and fisheries.
