Habitat utilization,feeding, and growth of wild spotted halibut <Emphasis Type="Italic">Verasper variegatus</Emphasis> in a shallow brackish lagoon: Matsukawa-ura,northeastern Japan |
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Authors: | Toshihiro Wada Kyoichi Kamiyama Shinya Shimamura Ikuo Matsumoto Takuji Mizuno Yoshiharu Nemoto |
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Institution: | (1) Fukushima Prefectural Fisheries Experimental Station, Iwaki Fukushima, 970-0316, Japan;(2) Soma Branch, Fukushima Prefectural Fisheries Experimental Station, Soma Fukushima, 976-0022, Japan |
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Abstract: | Habitat utilization, feeding, and growth of a rare pleuronectid flatfish, spotted halibut Verasper variegatus, were examined in a brackish lagoon in northeastern Japan: Matsukawa-ura. The distribution and date–length data of spotted
halibut collected mainly from beam-trawl samplings during 1983–2008 indicated that age-0 juveniles n = 25, 6.0–18.0 cm total length (TL)] and older spotted halibut (n = 71, 13.8–43.0 cm TL) inhabited almost the entire northern part of Matsukawa-ura. Comparative distribution surveys of spotted
halibut, stone flounder, and marbled flounder during 1985–1989 revealed similar distribution patterns of these flatfishes;
the highest densities were found around the central part of Matsukawa-ura, although significantly lower abundance was detected
for spotted halibut. Linear growth equations of age-0 juveniles demonstrated that spotted halibut were able to achieve high
growth after June, probably because abundant prey (e.g., mysids and gammarids) and suitable physical conditions (warmer water
temperature and lower salinity) were present. The main prey items shifted from various crustaceans including mysids, caridean
shrimps, and anomurans to brachyura Hemigrapsus spp. (≥20 cm TL). Our study shows that spotted halibut use the shallow brackish lagoon as an important nursery for juveniles,
and also as a feeding ground for young and adults. |
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