Distribution of jack mackerel (Trachurus japonicus) larvae and juveniles in the East China Sea, with special reference to the larval transport by the Kuroshio Current

Horizontal distribution patterns of jack mackerel (Trachurus japonicus) larvae and juveniles were investigated in the East China Sea between 4 February and 30 April 2001. A total of 1549 larvae and juveniles were collected by bongo and neuston nets at 357 stations. The larvae were concentrated in the frontal area between the Kuroshio Current and shelf waters in the upstream region of the Kuroshio. The abundance of small larvae (<3 mm notochord length) was highest in the southern East China Sea (SECS) south of 28°N, suggesting that the principal spawning ground is formed in the SECS from late winter to spring. Jack mackerel also spawned in the northern and central East China Sea (NECS and CECS, respectively), as some small larvae were also collected in these areas. In the SECS, the abundance of small larvae was highest in February and gradually decreased from March to April. The habitat temperature of small larvae in the SECS and CECS (20–26°C) was higher than that in the NECS (15–21°C), suggesting higher growth rates in the SECS and CECS than in the NECS. The juveniles (10‐ to 30‐mm standard length) became abundant in the NECS off the west coast of Kyushu Island and CECS in April and were collected in association with scyphozoans typical of the Kuroshio waters. However, juveniles were rarely collected in the SECS, where the small larvae were concentrated. Considering the current systems in the study area, a large number of the eggs and larvae spawned and hatched in the SECS would be transported northeastward by the Kuroshio and its branches into the jack mackerels’ nursery grounds, such as the shallow waters off the west coast of Kyushu and the Pacific coast of southern Japan.     

Transport and survival processes of eggs and larvae of jack mackerel <Emphasis Type="Italic">Trachurus japonicus</Emphasis> in the East China Sea

ABSTRACT:   Recent surveys showed substantial aggregation of larvae of jack mackerel in the southern East China Sea, indicating intensive spawning grounds near Taiwan. A numerical model was applied to investigate transport and survival processes of eggs and larvae of jack mackerel from the spawning area to the nurseries. The results show that: (i) the distributions of larvae simulated by the model agreed well with those obtained by field survey; (ii) the stock of jack mackerel in the Sea of Japan is composed of both groups from north of Taiwan and from the western coast of Kyushu. It takes more than two months for the former to reach the Sea of Japan, while it is within 40 days for the latter; and (iii) large proportions of the eggs and larvae spawned off the north of Taiwan are transported rapidly to the Pacific side of Kyushu by the Kuroshio Current, and the rest slowly to the east or north-east along the continental slope in the East China Sea. In contrast to the larval flux, survivors are more abundant in the northern East China Sea than in the Pacific Ocean, indicating that survival in the northern East China Sea would determine the jack mackerel stock in Japan.     

Distribution and abundance of copepod nauplii in southern part of the East China Sea: implications for prey availability to jack mackerel Trachurus japonicus larvae

In the southern part of the East China Sea (ECS), a large spawning ground of jack mackerel Trachurus japonicus has recently been found: Larval survival during the period of transport from the spawning ground along the shelf break is potentially a critical stage prior to recruitment. As such, the distribution of copepod nauplii in this region was investigated during the main spawning period in 2003–2006. The average naupliar density in 2003 was significantly higher than the other years along the shelf break, which is a major transport pathway for jack mackerel larvae (sea-surface temperature 20–23°C). Estimated egg production rates for Paracalanus spp., one of the most dominant genera of copepods in the southern ECS, based on temperature and chlorophyll-a concentration could not fully explain the spatial and annual variation in naupliar distribution and abundance. Although naupliar densities showed significant positive correlations with chlorophyll-a concentration for all years, an analysis of covariance revealed that naupliar density in 2003 was high even if the effect of chlorophyll-a concentration was excluded. This suggests that apart from copepod production, adult female distribution plays an important role in variability of the naupliar distribution and abundance in the southern ECS.     

Multiple cohorts of juvenile jack mackerel Trachurus japonicus in waters along the Tsushima Warm Current

The jack mackerel, Trachurus japonicus, has a prolonged spawning season and widely spread spawning grounds. The population in the coastal waters of Japan seems to be composed of several cohorts spawned seasonally from different waters. To understand its population structure along the Tsushima Warm Current, we analysed hatchdates and growth histories of fish from Kunda Bay, the southern, central and northern East China Sea (ECS), the southern Sea of Japan, and Maizuru Bay. Seven cohorts were detected from fish collected between June 2005 and June 2006 in Kunda Bay. Comparing hatchdate distributions and growth trajectories of the seven cohorts with those of the other five regional samples, we did not find that cohorts collected in Kunda Bay originated in the southern ECS. Therefore, these coastal waters of Japan appear to be significant spawning grounds for juvenile jack mackerel.     

Biomass fluctuation of two dominant lanternfish <Emphasis Type="Italic">Diaphus</Emphasis><Emphasis Type="Italic">garmani</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">D. chrysorhynchus</Emphasis> with environmental changes in the East China Sea

Acoustic surveys have been conducted for estimating the biomass of commercially important fish (e.g., anchovy, jack mackerel), lanternfish (Diaphus garmani and D. chrysorhynchus), and pearlside (Maurolicus japonicus) in summer in the East China Sea (ECS) since 1997. The biomass of lanternfish and pearlside was 2.26–19.16 times that of commercially important fish, and these species represented substantial biomass in the ECS. Though there were no correlations between biomass of pearlside and environmental indices, significant correlations between biomass of lanternfish and southern oscillation index (SOI) in March (positive correlation), arctic oscillation (AO) in March (negative) and October (positive), monsoon index (MOI) in February (positive), and Kuroshio flow mass in winter (positive) were observed. Weak AO and strong MOI would cool down the sea temperature and would lead to increased primary and secondary production in the ECS, thereby enhancing larval survival of lanternfish. The SOI would affect the Kuroshio meander in the ECS, and strong SOI and Kuroshio flow mass would transport larvae of lanternfish to the present survey area. This is the first report on the lanternfish standing stock and its fluctuation in the ECS.     

Codend selectivity for jack mackerel and whitefin jack and unequal split parameter estimates observed in trouser trawl experiments

Codend selectivity for the jack mackerel Trachurus japonicus and the whitefin jack Kaiwarinus equula were evaluated based on data from trouser trawl experiments carried out in the East China Sea, using a test codend of 60 mm diamond mesh and a control codend made of minnow net with a square mesh of 9 mm bar length. Between-haul variations in parameters and the mean selection curves were tested with the catch data in the SELECT approach, and then the model of between-haul variation in the split parameter with the mean selection curve was chosen as the best fit using Akaike’s information criterion model selection. The 50% retention lengths and the selection ranges were 11.4 and 3.36 cm for jack mackerel and 8.83 and 0.93 cm for whitefin jack, respectively. The selection curve for whitefin jack was sharp, whereas that for jack mackerel was relatively wide. As the estimated split parameters indicated, about 80% of the whitefin jack entered the control codend, but 85 and 90% of the jack mackerel entered the control codend in the second and third hauls, respectively. The inequality in the split parameter is discussed from the viewpoint of the animal’s swimming behavior and water movement based on underwater video observations.     

Vertical distribution of jack mackerel Trachurus japonicus larvae in the southern part of the East China Sea

ABSTRACT:   The vertical distribution of jack mackerel Trachurus japonicus larvae was described based on discrete depth sampling using a MTD net system from the surface down to 100 m depth at 13 stations in the southern East China Sea between 27 February and 10 March 2002. Of the 20 782 fish larvae collected, T. japonicus larvae were most abundant, accounting for 37.0% of the total catch. The average abundance of the larvae was 419.0 individuals/10 m², with the average (± standard deviation [SD]) body length of 2.6 ± 0.3 mm (range 1.8–7.5 mm). The larvae were concentrated in the mixed layer, with peak densities in the 10–30 m layer. The average (±SD) weighted mean depth was 21.5 ± 7.8 m. There was no evidence of either diel or ontogenetic vertical migration for the early larvae of <5 mm. More than 90% of the T. japonicus larvae were collected in the water temperature ranging from 21 to 23°C. Vertical profiles of the larval densities and chlorophyll a coincided with each other, which might reflect the abundance of their main prey organisms, copepod nauplii and copepodites, since copepod production is known to be closely related with the chlorophyll a concentration.     

南海北部近海竹荚鱼资源密度的概率分布型特征

竹荚鱼(Trachurusjaponicus)是中国南海北部近海主要渔获物之一,其空间分布具有非均匀性。根据2014—2017年南海北部近海两个周期(2014—2015年为第1周期, 2016—2017年为第2周期)的底拖网调查数据,以单位捕捞努力量(catchperuniteffort,CPUE)表征资源密度,采用柯尔莫可洛夫-斯米洛夫检验(Kolmogorov-Smirnov,K-S test)探索了11种概率分布特征。结果表明,南海北部陆架区竹荚鱼不具明显的概率分布特征,而北部湾海域竹荚鱼资源密度服从对数正态分布型且第二周期较第一周期更为显著。同时,采用基于对数正态理论模型法(对数正态模型与Delta模型)与调查设计法(均值法)对该海域进行资源密度估值比较,发现基于对数正态理论模型更切合竹荚鱼资源密度结构分布特征,而在对数正态理论模型中Delta模型法更适用于该物种资源密度估值。     

Estimation of the spawning grounds of chub mackerel <Emphasis Type="Italic">Scomber japonicus</Emphasis> and spotted mackerel <Emphasis Type="Italic">Scomber australasicus</Emphasis> in the East China Sea based on catch statistics and biometric data

The spawning grounds of the chub mackerel (Scomber japonicus) and spotted mackerel (Scomber australasicus) in the East China Sea were estimated based on catch statistics of the Japanese large- and medium-type purse seine fishery from 1992 to 2006. Biometric data were obtained from specimens caught by purse seiners in the East China Sea from 1998 to 2006. Gonadosomatic index (GSI) at 50% sexual maturity of chub mackerel and spotted mackerel females was 2.5 and 2.6, respectively. Using this criterion for GSI, chub mackerel larger than 275 mm and spotted mackerel larger than 310 mm in fork length were considered to be mature. Mature chub mackerel was observed in the area of 15–22°C sea surface temperature (SST), and mature spotted mackerel was observed in the area of 17–25°C SST. The spawning period of chub mackerel ranged from February to June, and that of spotted mackerel ranged from February to May in the East China Sea. The spawning grounds were estimated from the distributions of catch per unit effort (CPUE) of spawners and SST. As a result, the spawning ground of chub mackerel was estimated to be in the central and southern part of the East China Sea and the area west of Kyushu in February, March, and April, and in the central part of the East China Sea, the area west of Kyushu and Tsushima Straight in May, and in Tsushima Straight and western part of the Sea of Japan in June. The spawning ground of spotted mackerel was estimated to be in the central and southern part of the East China Sea and southern coastal area of Kyushu in February, March, and April, and the central and southern part of the East China Sea and the area west of Kyushu in May.     

Jack mackerel <Emphasis Type="Italic">Trachurus japonicus</Emphasis> juveniles use jellyfish for predator avoidance and as a prey collector

ABSTRACT:   Juveniles of carangid fishes including jack mackerel Trachurus japonicus are known to associate with jellyfishes. The function of this association behavior was studied through rearing experiments and underwater visual observations. Association behavior of jack mackerel with moon jellyfish in experimental tanks was more frequent in the presence compared to the absence of predators (chub mackerel Scomber japonicus ). In the experimental tanks, the presence of jellyfish, however, did not mitigate predation by these predators. Although jack mackerel did not feed on the jellyfish itself, they frequently fed on the captured prey ( Artemia nauplii) whilst in the gut cavity of the jellyfish. Underwater observations of giant jellyfish Nemopilema nomurai off Kyoto and Fukui prefectures revealed that approximately 30% of these jellyfish were accompanied by jack mackerel juveniles with body sizes ranging 10–45 mm standard length (SL). Considering that jack mackerel juveniles found in subtidal rocky reefs ranged 40–120 mm SL, we considered that jack mackerel from 10 to 45 mm SL associate with jellyfish as a hiding place as well as a food collector, until they find a suitable reef habitat when they attain approximately 40 mm SL.     

东海蓝圆鲹的摄食习性

以2008年5月至2009年2月东海灯光围网采集到的叉长范围为52～276 mm的444尾蓝圆鲹为对象,对其胃含物进行分析,应用K-W非参数检验、卡方检验、聚类分析等方法,对不同季节和发育阶段条件下蓝圆鲹的食性进行了研究。结果表明,蓝圆鲹的摄食种类有80余种,浮游甲壳类(主要包括浮游甲壳类幼体、磷虾和桡足类等)和小型鱼类为其主要食物类群。若按相对重要性指数百分比(IRI%)排序,优势饵料种类最高的是七星底灯鱼(IRI%为40.44%),其次是口虾蛄Alima幼体(IRI%为14.24%)、太平洋磷虾(IRI%为11.26%)等。统计分析检验表明,蓝圆鲹的空胃率和平均胃饱满系数有显著的季节变化和叉长变化(P<0.01),摄食强度春季最高,秋季和夏季相对较高,而冬季最低;叉长50～99 mm和200～299mm的蓝圆鲹的摄食强度较高,其余叉长的强度相对较低。食物组成也随季节和发育阶段的不同而有所变化,在春季主要以七星底灯鱼和口虾蛄Alima幼体为食,夏季主要以甲壳类幼体为食,秋季主要以七星底灯鱼和太平洋磷虾为主食,冬季食物匮乏,小型桡足类丽隆剑水蚤和糠虾类占其食物组成的很大比例。聚类分析的结果表明,蓝圆鲹叉长200 mm是其摄食取向的拐点,小于这个叉长的蓝圆鲹以浮游甲壳类为主,大于这个叉长的以捕食小型鱼类为主,随着叉长的增大,蓝圆鲹更多的以游泳动物为食。根据蓝圆鲹摄食饵料的类群变化,东海蓝圆鲹的营养级为3.55,属于浮游动物和游泳动物混合食性的肉食性鱼类。     

春季钓鱼岛海域竹鱼产卵群体生物学特征的研究

利用2005年3月在钓鱼岛海域捕获的竹鱼产卵群体样品测定数据,对其主要生物学特征、主要产卵期和繁殖力特征进行了研究。结果表明,钓鱼岛海域是春季东海南部竹鱼的主要产卵场,主要产卵期为3月中下旬。根据叉长和体重的频率分布图,可以看出该产卵群体主要有3个叉长优势组,其中以200～220mm和230～240mm叉长组为主,260～270mm叉长组个体极少;体重的组成特征与叉长组成基本一致。由于所取样品处于产卵后期,因此条件生长因子相对较小。个体绝对生殖力在12264～37629粒/尾,个体平均绝对生殖力为27844±10179粒/尾;单位长度生殖力范围为50～157粒/mm,平均值为121±42粒/mm;单位纯体重生殖力为82～238粒/g,平均值为202±68粒/g。     

Ontogeny of anti-predator behavior in hatchery-reared jack mackerel Trachurus japonicus larvae and juveniles: patchiness formation, swimming capability, and interaction with jellyfish

ABSTRACT:   Laboratory rearing and behavioral observations of larval and juvenile jack mackerel Trachurus japonicus were conducted to elucidate their life-history traits with emphasis on the interaction with the moon jellyfish Aurelia aurita . Jack mackerel were raised from naturally spawned fertilized eggs and they attained 10.3 ± 0.7 (mean ± standard deviation) mm in body length (BL) by 30 days post hatching (dph) and 26.6 ± 1.8 mm BL at 48 dph raised at 19.3–25.0°C. Patchiness (dense aggregation) was confirmed from 5–16 dph (2.9–5.9 mm BL) during the day and from 9–48 dph (4.0–27 mm BL) at night. Cruise and burst swimming speeds were 1.5–1.9 BL/s and 16–24 BL/s, respectively, during larval and juvenile stages, in experimental tanks. Although escape performance from jellyfish was not different between the larvae of jack mackerel and chub mackerel Scomber japonicus , both species showed better survival compared to red sea bream Pagrus major larvae of a similar size. Although jack mackerel were slow in growth, their slow cruise swimming may reduce the chance of encountering predators and fast burst swimming may help escape from gelatinous predators.     

Transport of larval jack mackerel (Trachurus japonicus) estimated from trajectories of satellite-tracked drifters and advective velocity fields obtained from sequential satellite thermal images in the eastern East China Sea

Transport processes of jack mackerel (Trachurus japonicus) larvae in the waters off the west coast of Kyushu in the eastern East China Sea, have been investigated using satellite‐tracked surface drifters and consecutive satellite thermal images. Trajectories of drifters describe northward flows over the continental shelf, eastward flows of the Kuroshio south‐west of Kyushu, and a weak clockwise gyre off the west coast of Kyushu. In particular, the clockwise gyre causes the entrainment of jack mackerel larvae into the waters off the west coast of Kyushu. Consecutive satellite thermal images help to elucidate the northward warm water intrusion from the Kuroshio front south‐west of Kyushu. Particle trajectories using sea surface current fields computed with the Maximum Cross Correlation (MCC) technique also reveal that the transport of jack mackerel larvae into the nursery ground off the west coast of Kyushu caused by the anti‐cyclonic gyre and the warm streamers are an important process for successful recruitment.     

捕捞压力和气候变化对东海马面纯渔获量的影响

为了研究捕捞压力和气候变化对东海马面纯（Navodon spp．）渔获量的影响,对1976年～2006年的东海马面纯渔获量进行了分析。东海马面纯渔获量可划分成因捕捞效应所产生的趋势变化和因气候变动所导致的渔获量变动,前者可用Fox模型来拟合。Fox模型拟合结果显示,东海马面纯渔获量与捕捞努力量显著相关（P〈0．01）。移除捕捞压力增长引起的变化趋势后,其渔获量变动与热带气旋影响指数、东海海表温度、东海冬季季风和黄海夏季季风呈显著正偏相关（P〈0．03）,与热带气旋影响指数、黄海冬季季风及长江流域和东海沿岸降雨呈显著负偏相关（P〈0．03）。根据捕捞努力量和气候变量对东海马面纯渔获量进行拟合,结果显示,拟合的渔获量与实际渔获量显著相关（R=0．91,P〈0．01）,说明捕捞压力和气候变化显著影响东海马面纯渔获量的变动。此外,由于未来气候的变化,东海马面鲍渔获量可能出现更大波动。     

Genetic identification of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Conger myriaster</Emphasis> leptocephali in East China Sea

ABSTRACT:   A subsample of Conger leptocephali collected in the East China Sea (ECS) was genetically analyzed and most were found to be the larvae of Conger myriaster , the most commercially important marine eel species in East Asia. However, these leptocephali (22.3–74.0 mm total length [TL]) did not have a complete row of lateral pigmentation, like the leptocephali of this species are commonly known to have when they are collected over the continental shelf or in coastal waters as they recruit. These leptocephali were in the western edge of the Kuroshio Current and the mixing zone over the shelf in the northern part of the ECS, and two smaller leptocephali (22.3, 46.5 mm TL) were collected to the south of the Ryukyu Islands. This evidence of an ontogenetic change in the presence of lateral pigmentation of C. myriaster indicates that previous efforts to determine the spawning area and recruitment patterns based on only morphological examination of Conger leptocephali in the region must be reconsidered. New research efforts based on genetic identification methods are needed to understand the spawning ecology and recruitment of this important fishery species.     

东海发光鲷生物量分布及其与环境的关系

根据2005年12月~2006年11月东海(27°00′~34°00′N、122°00′~127°00′E)底拖网资源调查资料,分析了东海发光鲷的生物量的分布特征以及与环境条件的关系。结果表明:春、秋季发光鲷主要分布在东海南部外海,生物量较高;夏季分布较广,以东海北部外海为主,生物量较低;冬季分布较为集中,以东海南部外海为主。夏季发光鲷的生物量与温度、盐度以及水深的关系的曲线拟合显示,夏、秋季发光鲷主要分布于24℃左右的水温,最适盐度在33左右,最适水深在75 m左右。     

东、黄海日本鲭种群鉴定和划分的研究进展

分布于东、黄海的日本鲭(Scomber japoncus)在我国海洋渔业中具有重要的地位,随着中韩、中日渔业协定的生效,开展日本鲭等重要经济鱼类的种群归属研究显得尤为重要。关于东、黄海日本鲭种群划分,20世纪中日两国学者利用标志放流和渔业调查数据分别进行了研判,但中日间以及国内对其种群划分存在不同见解。21世纪以来,中国一些研究者利用形态框架法和分子遗传学方法对前辈的种群划分进行了验证并提供了一些证据,但分析结果值得商榷。总结相关研究结果,多数中国学者将分布于东、黄海的日本鲭划分为东海西部种群、五岛西部种群和闽南—粤东地方种群,也有中国学者将其划分为东海群系和闽南—粤东地方种群;日本学者将分布于东海不同越冬场日本鲭归属为对马暖流群系,也有日本学者将分布于东、黄海和日本海西部的日本鲭划分为九州西部群系和东海西部群系。针对东、黄海日本鲭种群划分存在的不同观点,今后研究者应同时利用目前较为先进的、相对可操作的鱼类框架形态和分子遗传等判别技术,增加产卵场样本采集覆盖面,以获得判别东、黄海日本鲭种群相对最为科学的证据。     

鱼类栖息地模拟的比较研究—以东海鲐鱼为例

利用东海海域1997年10月、1998年3月、1999年7月和2000年1月鲐鱼渔获率及表层温度、盐度和初级生产力等环境因子数据,构建东海鲐鱼资源空间分布与环境因子间的一般线性模型(GLM)和广义加性模型(GAM),并将GLM和GAM模拟值的均值分别与实测值进行独立样本t检验及其误差分析.分析结果表明,GLM与GAM模型的独立样本t检验P值均大于0.05,因此两者都可模拟东海鲐鱼栖息地的空间分布.其中,GLM模型对鲐鱼渔获率空间分布趋势的模拟更为准确;而GAM模拟值对鲐鱼栖息地环境因子的变化比较敏感,能够解释更多空间数据的变化,因而GAM在分析鱼类栖息地与环境因子间关联程度或资源评估方面具有优势.     

我国东、黄海鲐鱼灯光围网渔业CPUE标准化研究

日本鲐是我国近海重要的中上层鱼类资源之一,评估其资源量需要对单位捕捞努力量渔获量（CPUE）进行标准化。影响CPUE标准化的因素很多，包括季节、区域和海洋环境等。本文利用广义线型模型（GLM）和广义加性模型（GAM），结合时空、捕捞船、表温等因子，对1998-2006年东、黄海大型灯光围网渔业鲐鱼CPUE进行标准化，并评价各因子对CPUE的影响。首先应用GLM模型评价时间、空间、环境以及捕捞渔船参数对CPUE的影响，并确定显著性变量。其次，将显著性变量逐一加入GAM模型，根据Akaike信息法则（AIC），选择最优的GAM模型。最后，利用最优的GAM模型对CPUE标准化，并定量分析时间、空间、环境以及捕捞渔船参数对鲐鱼CPUE的影响。GLM模型结果表明：8个变量对CPUE有重要影响，依次为年、船队、船队与年的交互效应、月、船队与月份的交换效应、经度、纬度和海表温。根据AIC，包含上述8个显著性变量的GAM模型为最优模型，对CPUE偏差的解释为27.78%。GAM模型结果表明：高CPUE分别出现在夏季海表温为28～31 ℃的东海中部和冬季海表温为12～16 ℃的黄海；1998-2006年，标准化后的CPUE呈逐年下降趋势，与持续增长的捕捞努力量有关。