Horizontal and vertical distribution patterns of larval myctophid fishes in the Kuroshio Current region |
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Authors: | Chiyuki Sassa H Geoffrey Moser & Kouichi Kawaguchi |
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Institution: | Ocean Research Institute, University of Tokyo, 1–15–1 Minamidai Nakano-ku Tokyo 164–8639, Japan,;South-west Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA, PO Box 271, La Jolla, California 92038, USA |
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Abstract: | The horizontal and vertical distribution of myctophid fish larvae is described based on discrete depth sampling from the surface down to 200 m at seven stations on a transect crossing the Kuroshio Current on 6–9 July 1977. A total of 7819 larvae was collected. Myctophid larvae accounted for 72% of the total fish larvae and included 18 species or types belonging to 12 genera. Based on horizontal distribution patterns these species (or types) were categorized into three groups, i.e. Kuroshio-axis group ( Myctophum asperum , M. orientale , Lampadena luminosa and Symbolophorus evermanni ), Kuroshio east group ( Hygophum reinhardtii , Lampanyctus alatus , Diogenichthys atlanticus , Lobianchia gemellarii , M. nitidulum , Benthosema suborbitale , Lampadena sp. and Ceratoscopelus warmingii ) and Pan- Kuroshio group Diaphus stubby type (mostly D. garmani ) and D. kuroshio ]. Larvae of the subfamily Lampanyctinae were distributed in shallower (0–30 m) waters than those of the subfamily Myctophinae (50–150 m), while this relationship was opposite of the night-time depth distribution of adults of the two subfamilies. |
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Keywords: | horizontal distribution Kuroshio Current region myctophid fish larvae vertical distribution |
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