Entrainment of larval fish assemblages from the inner shelf into the East Australian Current and into the western Tasman Front

Entrainment and transport of larval fish assemblages by the East Australian Current (EAC) were examined from the coastal waters of northern New South Wales (NSW) to the western Tasman Front, via the separation of the EAC from the coast, during the austral spring of 2004. Shore‐normal transects from the coast to the EAC off northern NSW revealed an inner shelf assemblage of near‐shore families (Clupeidae, Engraulidae, Platycephalidae and Triglidae), an EAC assemblage dominated by Myctophidae and Gonostomatidae, and a broadly distributed assemblage over the continental shelf dominated by Scombridae and Carangidae. Further south and after the EAC had separated from the coast, we observed a western Tasman Front assemblage of inner shelf and shelf families (Clupeidae, Engraulidae, Serranidae, Scombridae, Carangidae, Bothidae and Macroramphosidae). The abundance of these families declined with distance from the coast. Surprisingly, there was no distinctive or abundant larval fish assemblage in the chlorophyll‐ and zooplankton‐enriched waters of the Tasman Sea. Water type properties (temperature‐salinity, T‐S), the larval fish assemblages and family‐specific T‐S signatures revealed the western Tasman Front to be an entrained mix of EAC and coastal water types. We found an abundance of commercially important species including larval sardine (Sardinops sagax, Clupeidae), blue mackerel (Scomber australasicus, Scombridae) and anchovy (Engraulis australis, Engraulidae). The entrainment and transport of larval fish from the northern inner shelf to the western Tasman Front by the EAC reflects similar processes with the Gulf Stream Front and the Kuroshio Extension.     

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.     

Entrainment and advection of larval sardine,Sardinops sagax,by the East Australian Current and retention in the western Tasman Front

The poleward flowing East Australian Current (EAC) drives sporadic upwelling, entrains coastal water and forms the western Tasman Front (wTF), creating a mosaic of water types and larval transport routes along south eastern Australia. The spatial distribution, otolith chemistry and growth rates of larval sardine (Sardinops sagax) were examined to infer spawning location and larval transport. A gradient of increasing larval size from north to south along the shelf was not detected but was evident between the shelf and offshore in the wTF. Here larvae were larger and older. Based on the occurrence of newly hatched larvae, spawning by S. sagax between southern Queensland and mid New South Wales (NSW) was more extensive than previously reported. The otolith chemistry from two wTF larval size classes differed, implying different origins. The otolith chemistry of wTF post‐flexion larvae was similar to larvae from northern NSW, whereas wTF flexion larvae were similar to larvae observed nearby from mid‐NSW. Two possible larval transport routes, direct and indirect, are inferred from otolith chemistry, current velocities and a previously published particle tracking study. Either larvae from northern NSW were advected south and entrained with younger larvae directly into the wTF, or larvae from a range of shelf regions were advected around the southern edge of an anticyclonic eddy, to join younger larvae directly entrained into the wTF. Based on the co‐occurrence of larval ages and sizes in the wTF and their advection routes, the wTF appears to be an important larval retention zone.     

Subtropical water influences temporal fluctuations of early life stages of Vinciguerria lucetia (Osteichthyes: Phosichthyidae) in the Humboldt Current System (1998–2004)

In the last decades, the fish Vinciguerria lucetia (Garman) has been of important interest to the fisheries sector; nonetheless, the spawning and nursery zones in the Humboldt Current System (HCS) have not yet been defined. By using a temporal series of 23 oceanographic surveys from austral spring of 1998 to autumn 2004 off northern Chile, the spatial and temporal distribution and abundance of eggs and larvae of V. lucetia were studied. The relationships with environmental conditions (sea surface temperature, water column stratification, salinity, dissolved oxygen) were modeled using generalized additive models (GAMs). Seasonal variations in eggs and larval abundances were recorded, and higher abundances were observed in spring and summer, respectively. The main spawning areas were located at approximately between 40 and 80 nautical miles offshore. The largest abundances of V. lucetia eggs were found during spring 2003; however, larval abundances reached the highest values following the strongest ENSO event 1997–98. GAMs predicted that offshore location, sea surface temperature, and the deepening of the oxygen minimum zone, characteristics of the subtropical waters (22–24°C, >34.9, 3–6 ml/L) drove eggs and larval distributions of V. lucetia in the HCS during 1998–2004, toward areas with scarce food availability for larvae. These results suggest that spawning and larval development of this oceanic species occur in oligotrophic waters as a loophole strategy, in order to reduce predation risk during early life stages.     

Relative importance of gulf and shelf waters for spawning and recruitment of Australian anchovy, Engraulis australis, in South Australia

Gonosomatic indices and egg and larval densities observed from 1986 to 2001 suggest that the peak spawning season of the Australian anchovy (Engraulis australis) in South Australia occurs during January to March (summer and autumn). This coincides with the spawning season of sardine (Sardinops sagax) and the period when productivity in shelf waters is enhanced by upwelling. Anchovy eggs were abundant throughout gulf and shelf waters, but the highest densities occurred in the northern parts of Spencer Gulf and Gulf St Vincent where sea surface temperatures (SST) were 24–26°C. In contrast, larvae >10 mm total length (TL) were found mainly in shelf waters near upwelling zones where SSTs were relatively low (<20°C) and levels of chlorophyll a (chl a) relatively high. Larvae >15 mm TL were collected only from shelf waters near upwelling zones. The high levels of larval abundance in the upwelling zones may reflect higher levels of recruitment to later stages in these areas compared with the gulfs. The sardine spawns mainly in shelf waters; few eggs and no larvae were collected from the northern gulfs. The abundance of anchovy eggs and larvae in shelf waters increased when sardine abundance was reduced by large‐scale mortality events, and decreased as the sardine numbers subsequently recovered. We hypothesize that the upwelling zones provide optimal conditions for the survival of larval anchovy in South Australia, but that anchovy can only utilize these zones effectively when the sardine population is low. At other times, northern gulf waters of South Australia may provide a refuge for the anchovy that the sardine cannot utilize.     

Spawning patterns provide further evidence for multiple stocks of sardine (Sardinops sagax) off eastern Australia

Previous studies have suggested that sardine, Sardinops sagax, off eastern Australia spawns across its entire range when habitat conditions are suitable. However, recent studies have suggested that separate sub‐populations and spawning groups may occur in the region. Spawning patterns off eastern Australia were investigated using data collected during nine ichthyoplankton surveys conducted between 1997–2015, and adult reproductive data obtained from ad hoc commercial sampling off New South Wales (NSW). The egg surveys covered the known distribution of sardine off eastern Australia and included year‐round sampling in the northern and southern parts of this range. Egg distributions and analysis of gonadosomatic indices identified two spatio‐temporally separate spawning groups; one occurring off southern Queensland to northern NSW during late winter and early spring, and a smaller group off eastern Tasmania to southern NSW during summer. Most eggs were collected from waters 50–90 m deep, with sea surface temperatures of 18–23°C. Additive modelling indicated depth was the most significant factor driving selection of spawning habitat, followed by the interaction of month and latitude. Low egg densities were recorded in waters between 34–37°S, despite conditions within the ranges suitable for spawning. The presence of two spawning groups of sardine off eastern Australia supports recent findings that two sub‐populations occur in the region. Findings of this study will help to optimise the spatio‐temporal extent of future egg surveys and further confirm the need to coordinate future management of each sub‐population among relevant jurisdictions.     

Larval fish assemblages along the south-eastern Australian shelf: linking mesoscale non-depth-discriminate structure and water masses

We present findings of the first mesoscale study linking larval fish assemblages and water masses along shelf waters off south-eastern Australia (southern Queensland-New South Wales), based on vertical, non-depth discriminate data from surveys in October 2002 and 2003 (spring) and July 2004 (winter). Clustering and ordination were employed to discriminate between larval assemblages and, for the first time, to define water masses from water column temperature frequencies. Surveys yielded 18 128 larval fishes comprising 143 taxa from 96 identifiable families, with small pelagics accounting for 53% of the total. Three major recurrent larval assemblages were identified during the study, each of which matched one of three water masses, namely East Australian Current to the north (EAC; 20.5–23.4°C), Tasman Sea to the south (TAS; 14.8–17.5°C), and mixed EAC–TAS water in between (MIX; 18.3–19.9°C). All three assemblages were present in spring, whereas only EAC and MIX occurred in the more northerly constrained winter survey. Furthermore, boundaries between the EAC, MIX and TAS assemblages were found to be dynamic, with locations shifting temporally and spatially depending on EAC extent. Assemblage composition differed significantly between water masses across surveys, with EAC–TAS being most dissimilar. Such contrast was due to the presence of tropical/temperate taxa in EAC, primarily temperate-associated taxa in TAS, and a combination of EAC–TAS taxa within MIX consistent with the convergence of both waters. Results highlight the strength of employing larval assemblages as indicators of water masses, particularly in view of the potential effect of climate change on spawning habitats of shelf fishes.     

Estimation of seasonal spawning ground locations and ambient sea surface temperatures for eggs and larvae of Pacific saury (Cololabis saira) in the western North Pacific

Since there have been practically no surveys of the eggs of Pacific saury (Cololabis saira) in the western North Pacific (WNP), its spawning ground (SG) distribution has been poorly resolved, based mainly on the larval distribution. This means of estimating SG distribution is imprecise because saury eggs drift for more than a week before they hatch, in a region with intense western boundary currents and their extensions. To improve our understanding of the immature saury, a large number of larvae (body length <25 mm) collected in the WNP during 1993–96 were numerically backtracked to take into account the advection by geostrophic and wind‐forced Ekman currents, and the SG locations and ambient sea surface temperatures (SSTs) for the eggs and larvae on the backtracking trajectories were estimated. The resulting seasonal distributions of SGs indicated that both the locations and the intensities of spawning change from season to season. Moreover, the ambient SSTs for eggs just after fertilization ranged from a high of around 21.5°C in early autumn (September to October) to a low of around 15.0°C in late spring (May to June) with an intermediate of around 20.0°C in winter (January to February). The ambient SSTs showed seasonally different gradients while the individuals developed from eggs to early larvae: the SSTs decreased throughout the autumn (September to December), stayed rather constant in winter (January to February), and increased throughout the spring (March to June). The ambient SSTs for the early larvae were at around 19.0°C in autumn and winter (September to February) and around 16.5°C throughout the spring (March to June).     

Egg and larval distributions of seven fish species in north-east Atlantic waters

The distribution of egg and larvae of mackerel, horse mackerel, sardine, hake, megrim, blue whiting and anchovy along the European Atlantic waters (south Portugal to Scotland) during 1998 is described. Time of the year, sea surface temperature and bottom depth are used to define the spawning habitat of the different species. Mackerel, horse mackerel, and sardine eggs and larvae presented the widest distribution, whereas megrim and anchovy showed a limited distribution, restricted to the Celtic Sea and the Bay of Biscay respectively. Correspondingly mackerel, horse mackerel and sardine showed the highest aggregation indices. Blue whiting larvae were found at the lowest temperatures, whereas anchovy eggs and larvae were found in the warmest waters. The analysis is a basis for evaluation of ongoing changes in the pelagic ecosystem of the north‐east Atlantic.     

Environmental control of Northeast Atlantic mackerel (Scomber scombrus) recruitment in the southern Bay of Biscay: case study of failure in the year 2000

We investigate the effect of strong meteorological perturbations in early spring on the success of mackerel (Scomber scombrus) recruitment in the N/NW Iberian area (southern Bay of Biscay) for the period 1999–2008. In 2000, the year of the most pronounced recruitment failure on record, two consecutive multidisciplinary surveys sampled hydrographic conditions and mackerel eggs, larvae and post‐larvae over the main mackerel spawning grounds of the north and northwest coast of the Iberian Peninsula. Analysis of egg and larval abundance and birthdates based on the otoliths of mackerel juveniles caught between July and October 2000 showed that there were no survivors from the early spring spawns, indicating a massive loss of early spawning effort. Moreover, the abundance of 1‐year‐old mackerel estimated from an acoustic survey carried out in 2001 was the lowest observed within the 1999–2008 time series. This low or null survival from the early spawns in 2000 could be due to the meteorological and oceanographic conditions of that spring, in particular two storm events in April after a relatively calm March. The first storm event from the north caused strong local wind in the southern Bay of Biscay but a weak oceanographic response. The second storm event from the southwest was mainly felt west of Galicia and caused a notable increase in shelf currents and a shift of the hydrographical structure along the shelf. Detailed analysis of strong wind pulses in early spring within the historical recruitment record suggests that strong local turbulence generated by high wind speeds and advection of larvae caused by the enhancement of shelf currents can contribute to reduced recruitment. Our observations indicate that, in 2000, both mechanisms were present.     

Differing body size between the autumn and the winter–spring cohorts of neon flying squid (Ommastrephes bartramii) related to the oceanographic regime in the North Pacific: a hypothesis

The neon flying squid (Ommastrephes bartramii), which is the target of an important North Pacific fishery, is comprised of an autumn and winter–spring cohort. During summer, there is a clear separation of mantle length (ML) between the autumn (ML range: 38–46 cm) and the winter–spring cohorts (ML range: 16–28 cm) despite their apparently contiguous hatching periods. We examined oceanic conditions associated with spawning/nursery and northward migration habitats of the two different‐sized cohorts. The seasonal meridional movement of the sea surface temperature (SST) range at which spawning is thought to occur (21–25°C) indicates that the spawning ground occurs farther north during autumn (28–34°N) than winter–spring (20–28°N). The autumn spawning ground coincides with the Subtropical Frontal Zone (STFZ), characterized by enhanced productivity in winter because of its close proximity to the Transition Zone Chlorophyll Front (TZCF), which move south to the STFZ from the Subarctic Boundary. Hence this area is thought to become a food‐rich nursery ground in winter. The winter–spring spawning ground, on the other hand, coincides with the Subtropical Domain, which is less productive throughout the year. Furthermore, as the TZCF and SST front migrate northward in spring and summer, the autumn cohort has the advantage of being in the SST front and productive area north of the chlorophyll front, whereas the winter–spring cohort remains to the south in a less productive area. Thus, the autumn cohort can utilize a food‐rich habitat from winter through summer, which, we hypothesize, causes its members to grow larger than those in the winter–spring cohort in summer.     

东海生态系统中鱼卵、仔稚鱼种类组成、数量分布及其与环境因素的关系

为了解当前东海生态系统中鱼卵、仔稚鱼种类组成和数量分布的现状及其变化与物理环境因素的关系,根据2006年11月—2008年6月5个航次的鱼卵、仔稚鱼和物理环境调查资料,对鱼卵、仔稚鱼种类组成、数量分布与产卵场物理环境进行分析,探讨不同季节、不同年份鱼卵、仔稚鱼种类组成和数量分布的变化及其与物理环境的关系。结果显示,5个航次采集到74 813粒鱼卵、16 826尾仔稚鱼,共有135个种类。其中,鉴定到种的有109种,隶属于15目67科99属,还有17个种类仅能鉴定到属、6个种类仅能鉴定到科和3个种类仅能鉴定到目。2006年—2007年秋季、冬季和春季鱼卵、仔稚鱼的种类和数量随着季节变化逐渐增多;2008年春季的种类和数量较2007年春季明显偏少;2008年初夏种类的数量与2008年春季基本相近,但鱼卵的数量明显增多,仔稚鱼的数量基本相近。42种优势种类、重要种类和主要种类构成当前东海生态系统中鱼卵、仔稚鱼种类组成的主要成分。东海表层水温和盐度分布有显著的季节变化。秋、冬季表层水温锋面强度最强,春季次之,初夏最弱;锋面的位置秋季离岸最近,冬季次之,春季和初夏离岸最远,冬季偏南,初夏季节北移。表层盐度锋面主要分布在近岸区域,与岸线大致平行,其强度冬季最强,春、秋季次之,初夏季节最弱。秋、冬季节陆架深水海域的水温较沿岸海域高,鱼类生殖群体在陆架深水高温区产卵;春季和初夏季节沿岸海域明显升温,鱼类生殖群体由深水区向近岸海域进行生殖洄游,产卵场分布由陆架中部向近岸海域扩展,并在近岸海域形成了中心产卵场。鱼卵和仔稚鱼的分布与温、盐锋面和种类的温、盐属性的关系密切,主要分布在温度锋面暖水一侧,并有各自最适宜的温度和盐度范围。水温、盐度与种类的繁殖生物学特性是导致鱼卵和仔稚鱼种类组成与数量发生变化的主要因素;适宜的温度和盐度范围、锋区的辐聚和卷夹作用以及种类的生物学属性是影响鱼卵和仔稚鱼数量分布以及密集分布区形成的主要因素。     

Diversity and distribution of early life stages of carangid fishes in the northwestern Mediterranean: responses to environmental drivers

The diversity and distribution of the early stages of carangid fishes were investigated in relation to environmental conditions off the Catalan Coast (NW Mediterranean). Data were obtained during four oceanographic cruises conducted in spring–summer 2003 and 2004. A total of 4743 larvae from seven species and five genera were identified. Most were thermophilic species very abundant in the warm waters of the south and eastern Mediterranean. The presence of larvae and juveniles of Caranx crysos, Caranx rhonchus, Seriola dumerili and Trachinotus ovatus in the northwestern Mediterranean is reported for the first time. Except for Trachurus trachurus, which spawns in winter–spring, all species reproduce in spring–summer with a temporal succession in their spawning peaks. On average, the spatial patterns of different species (except T. trachurus) showed common features: a clear preference for spawning in coastal areas, high abundance of larvae in the south warmer zone in relation to the surface productive waters of Ebro river runoff and relatively high larval concentrations south of the thermal front and its associated anticyclonic eddy. The presence of larvae of thermophilic species of carangids in the northwestern Mediterranean indicates successful reproduction and establishment of these species in the cold part of the basin.     

Dual effects of reversed winter–spring temperatures on year‐to‐year variation in the recruitment of chub mackerel (Scomber japonicus)

To clarify the effects of temperature on the recruitment of chub mackerel (Scomber japonicus) in the North Pacific, we investigated the influence of winter surface temperature (WST) on spawners at the time of maturity around the spawning grounds and the influence of ambient spring temperature on larvae using estimated temperature (ET) obtained from particle tracking experiments. We found a significant positive correlation between ET approximately 10 days following hatching and the recruitment per spawning stock biomass (RPS) after 2000. The closer (more meandering) the Kuroshio Current (KC) axis was in relation to the spawning ground, the higher (lower) the spring surface temperature and the higher (lower) RPS was in the spawning ground. In contrast, WST inside KC near the maturity/spawning ground was significantly negatively correlated with RPS. A significant negative correlation between the temperatures in winter and spring was detected in the area after 2000, when the conditions of the Pacific decadal oscillation index and the stability of the Kuroshio Extension were synchronous, indicating that KC shifted northward during this time. The reversed temperature pattern was consistent with the winter–spring movement of KC axis in the offshore direction and was correlated with the winter–spring difference in the intensity of the Aleutian low. These results suggest that the annual variation in chub mackerel recruitment after 2000 was strongly affected by the combined effects of ambient temperature because of the reversal of conditions that occurred between winter and spring around the maturity/spawning ground, which was related to the KC path.     

Spatial and temporal distribution and abundance of European hake, Merluccius merluccius, eggs and larvae in the Catalan coast (NW Mediterranean)

Plankton hauls were conducted on five surveys from November 1998 to November 1999 to study the spatial distribution of eggs and larvae of European hake off Catalonia (NW Mediterranean Sea). Also CTD casts to record hydrographic parameters were carried out on a closely spaced station grid. Merluccius merluccius eggs and larvae appeared mainly in late spring, summer and autumn surveys and were very scarce in winter. Strong differences in terms of egg and larval densities were observed between the two November surveys, which could be attributed to the anomalous hydrographic situation during November 1998. M. merluccius egg and larvae were mainly distributed over the continental shelf, with peak abundances between the 100 m isobath and the edge of the shelf. On the evidence of larval size frequency distributions in the different sampling sectors and the closely overlapping distribution patterns for the eggs and the adult spawning stock, drifting of hake eggs and larvae was not a major factor. The larval distribution extended only slightly further offshore than the egg distribution. Using the hydrographic information and the larval distribution data, an attempt was made to relate the different seasonal productivity levels over the spawning period and the distribution of the larvae.     

Reproduction and recruitment of the brown shrimp Crangon crangon in the inner German Bight (North Sea): An interannual study and critical reappraisal

The brown shrimp, Crangon crangon, is the most important target of the coastal crustacean fisheries in the German Bight. In order to evaluate the relation between the abundance of ovigerous females and larvae in spring and the recruitment success in autumn, we first analysed the seasonal appearance of ovigerous females and larvae from weekly samples throughout 2012. The spawning season in the German Bight extends over several months comprising multiple unsynchronized spawning events. The minimum shares of ovigerous females appeared in early autumn, and the highest shares in late winter bearing mostly early egg stages. We defined the putative start of the reproductive cycle for November when the frequency of ovigerous females started to increase. There was no distinct separation between winter and summer eggs, but a continuous transition between large eggs spawned in winter (the early spawning season) and batches of smaller eggs in spring and summer. Larval densities peaked in April/May. Consequently, regular annual larval surveys from 2013 to 2016 were scheduled for April/May and extended to six transects covering the inner German Bight. Ovigerous females were most abundant in shallow waters above the 20‐m isobaths, which also explained regional differences in abundance between the regions off North Frisia and East Frisia. No relation was obvious between the number of larvae in spring and recruited stock in autumn. Due to the short lifespan of C. crangon, the combination of various abiotic factors and predator presence seems to be the principal parameters controlling stock size.     

OPTIMAL SALINITY-TEMPERATURE COMBINATIONS FOR THE EARLY LIFE STAGES OF GILTHEAD BREAM,Sparus auratus L.

High larval mortalities during rearing of gilthead bream, Sparus auratus L., led to experiments on the influence of salinity and temperature on eggs and yolk-sac larvae. Test salinities ranged from 5 to 70 ppt for eggs and from 15 to 45 ppt for larvae; experimental temperatures were 18–20°C for eggs and 18, 23 and 26°C for larvae. Spawning conditions were 18–20°C and 33–35 ppt salinity; the yolk-sac larvae were chosen from hatches obtained under similar conditions (18°C and 35 ppt salinity). For eggs the optimum survival range was found to be 30–50 ppt at 18°C and 15–60 ppt at 23°C, while that for yolk-sac larvae was 15–25 ppt at all three temperatures. Choosing normal development (no dorsal curvature) as the decisive criterion, the optimum salinity range for egg incubation was reduced to 30–40 ppt at 18°C and to 35–45 ppt at 23°C, while that for the yolk-sac stage remained 15–25 ppt at all test temperatures. Egg incubation was most successful at salinity-temperature combinations close to those during spawning, whereas salinity had to be reduced by at least 10 ppt for yolk-sac larvae.     

First‐year survival of North East Atlantic mackerel (Scomber scombrus) from 1998 to 2012 appears to be driven by availability of Calanus,a preferred copepod prey

Mackerel (Scomber scombrus) is one of the ecologically and economically most important fish species in the Atlantic. Its recruitment has, for unknown reasons, been exceptional from 1998 to 2012. The majority (75%) of the survivors in the first winter were found north of an oceanographic division at approximately 52°N, despite the fact that mackerel spawns over a wide range of latitudes. Multivariate time series modelling of survivor abundance in the north revealed a significant correlation with the abundance of copepodites (stage I–IV) of Calanus sp. in the spawning season (April to June). The copepodites were a mix of C. helgolandicus (dominating) and C. finmarchicus. The growth of mackerel larvae is known to be positively related to the availability of nauplii and copopodites of preferred prey species, namely, large calanoid copepod species such as Calanus. The statistical relationship between mackerel survivors and abundance of Calanus, therefore, most likely, reflected a causal relationship: high availability of Calanus probably reduced starvation, stage‐specific predation and cannibalism (owing to prey switching). The effects of other abundant, but less preferred zooplankton taxa, (Acartia sp., Branchiopoda spp. and Echinodermata spp. larvae), as well as stock size, temperature and wind‐induced turbulence were not found to be significant. However, stock size was retained in the final model because of a significant interaction with Calanus in oceanic areas west of the North European continental shelf. This was suggested to be a consequence of a density driven expansion of the spawning area that increased the overlap between early life stages of mackerel and food (Calanus) in new areas.     

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.     

Winter monsoon promotes the transport of Japanese temperate bass Lateolabrax japonicus eggs and larvae toward the innermost part of Tango Bay,the Sea of Japan

Northwesterly cold winds characteristic of the East Asian Winter Monsoon (EAWM) dictate winter climatic conditions over the Japanese Archipelago. Japanese temperate bass Lateolabrax japonicus is a commercially important coastal fish that spawns offshore in winter and uses shallow waters as nursery habitats. To investigate the effects of EAWM on the planktonic period of L. japonicus, eggs, larvae, and juveniles were quantitatively collected in Tango Bay on the Sea of Japan side in winter and spring from 2007 to 2017. Although eggs occurred close to the mouth of the bay, planktonic larvae occurred further inside as they developed. The horizontal distribution of planktonic larvae, combined with water velocity data obtained from mooring observations, indicated that planktonic larvae are transported south‐ to westward through Ekman current and an anticyclonic circulation, which are driven by northwesterly winds. To evaluate survival during the planktonic period in each year class, the abundance of benthic larvae/juveniles was divided by winter total landings of Lateolabrax spp. (proxy of the spawning stock size). This survival index exhibited a positive correlation with the northwesterly component of winter winds, and a negative correlation with winter air temperature (average from December to February, Spearman's correlation, p < .05). There was, however, no significant correlation with winter water temperature or winter freshwater discharge in the bay. We conclude that northwesterly cold winds of EAWM play a critical role in transporting L. japonicus eggs and larvae toward nursery habitats, specifically beaches and estuaries fringing the innermost part of Tango Bay.