Skipped spawning in female iteroparous fishes

It is often assumed that iteroparous fishes spawn annually once reaching sexual maturity, but this is not always the case. This paper reviews available information on skipped spawning in female teleost fishes. All instances of non‐annual spawning are described as one of three types (retaining, reabsorbing, resting), depending on where in the normal spawning cycle development has been interrupted. Retaining ripe eggs is caused by conditions experienced during the spawning season (fish density, mate availability, pollution), whereas failure to start vitellogenesis (resting) or the breakdown of all oocytes that enter into vitellogenesis (reabsorbing) is caused by factors experienced prior to the spawning season (primarily temperature and poor nutrition). It is speculated that the relative shortage of data on non‐annual spawning may be because of difficulties in identifying non‐reproductive individuals. In an attempt to rectify this situation, the criteria needed to identify females undergoing the three forms of spawning omission are presented in terms of external appearance of gonads, gonad indices, and histological analysis. The energy saved by not spawning in a poor year may lead to increased survival and the probability of spawning in subsequent years. As the cumulative number of progeny gained by surviving to spawn in multiple subsequent years outweighs the number of progeny lost by not spawning in a given single year, occasional omission of spawning may constitute an adaptive trait in long‐lived iteroparous fishes.     

Recruitment patterns of six species of cyprinid fishes in the lower River Trent, England

Abstract – Fisheries data were collected for six species of 0-group cyprinid fishes from eight sites in the lower reaches of the River Trent, England, between May and October 1999 inclusive, using a micromesh seine net. Recruitment and growth patterns were observed via monthly length–frequency histograms and estimations of mean length. In the cases of roach and dace, growth was approximately linear through the summer, before declining in September and October. In the cases of chub and gudgeon, and to a lesser extent bream and bleak, however, there were suggestions of multiple recruitment events. It is argued that some of the fish species examined in the present study adopt fractional or protracted spawning strategies in the lower River Trent.     

Seasonal and interannual variations in abundance of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Euphausia pacifica</Emphasis> off north-eastern Japan

ABSTRACT:   Seasonal and interannual variations in abundance of Euphausia pacifica off north-eastern Japan were examined using Remodeled Norpac net samples collected from April 1993 to February 2000. Spawning occurred mainly during April–June and August–October in every year. When abundance of eggs was high in May, those of larval and immature stages in May–June and small adults (≤15 mm) during July–October tended to be high. There were high positive correlations between monthly average abundance of eggs in May–June and average abundance of small adults during July–October. However, there was low or negative correlation between monthly abundance of eggs in April and average abundance of small adults during July–October. Recruitment time to adult takes approximately 3 months, so these results suggest that small adults during July–October are mainly derived from spawning in May–June, but rarely from spawning in April. The apparent decrease in abundance of small adults from summer to winter was observed every year despite active spawning during August–October, which would recruit to adults in late autumn–winter. The possible effects on recruitment and mortality are discussed in relation to starvation and predation caused by low temperatures and low available food abundance.     

长江中游监利江段鱼类早期资源及生态调度对鱼类繁殖的影响

为了解三峡水库开展试验性生态调度后长江中游监利江段鱼类早期资源现状,本研究于2018年、2019年的5—7月对该江段卵苗种类组成、资源量、产卵场及生态水文指标开展了调查,共鉴定出鱼类7目14科54种（属）,其中产漂流性卵鱼类26种。仔鱼组成以贝氏䱗（）（占15.2%）、沙鳅属（粒、324.2×10⁸尾;2019年分别为35.9×10⁸粒、1140.7×10⁸尾。监利江段成为鳊（）等鱼类的重要产卵场。生态调度对监利江段贝氏䱗、鳊、银鮈等鱼类的自然繁殖有明显促进作用。产卵量与涨水持续时间、流量累积涨幅呈正相关。监利江段涨水持续时间4 d及以上,流量累积涨幅3500 m³/s及以上时,产卵量可占当年调查期间鱼卵总规模的8.4%以上。建议继续开展并优化生态调度,加强对监利江段鱼类早期资源的基础研究。     

珠江禁渔对广东鲂资源补充群体的影响分析

继我国各大水系实施禁渔期制度之后,珠江水系于2011年4月1日至6月1日实现首次禁渔。广东鲂是珠江中下游地区主要的经济鱼类之一,为分析珠江实施禁渔期制度对广东鲂资源补充群体的影响,于珠江实施禁渔制度前(2006—2010年)和禁渔制度后(2011—2012年)在珠江下游肇庆江段设立固定采样点,利用定量弶网对流经该江段的广东鲂鱼苗补充群体进行调查。结果显示,禁渔前,珠江广东鲂鱼苗集中出现在4月中下旬至10月中旬,持续时间为(189±11)d,高峰期为6—8月。禁渔期制度实施之后,全年广东鲂鱼苗出现的起始时间变化不大,但是结束时间提前,持续时间略有缩短,4—5月份广东鲂鱼苗密度明显增大。广东鲂鱼苗总量及其在鱼苗补充群体中的比例均有所提高。根据禁渔前广东鲂鱼苗发生量与径流量之间存在的回归关系:LgY=0.988Lnx-4.932(R2=0.365,P0.01),结合禁渔后实际调查结果,对禁渔的实际作用进行了估算,2011年和2012年由于禁渔分别增加了9.43×108和651.81×108尾广东鲂鱼苗。研究表明,在径流量有保障的前提下,目前的禁渔制度可以有效增加广东鲂鱼苗补充群体资源量。     

Physical oceanography of the North Carolina continental shelf during the fall and winter seasons: implications for the transport of larval menhaden

The circulation over the continental shelf off the southern Middle Atlantic Bight (MAB) and northern South Atlantic Bight (SAB) is examined for the fall and winter periods. Observational data are compared with results from a three-dimensional numerical model to identify the dominant processes on the shelf. By considering wind-forcing, tides, and a specified upstream inflow (into the MAB), the observed and modelled flow fields are in close agreement in the mid- and inner shelf regions. The resulting larval drift indicates a seasonal dependence of transport pathways from spawning grounds to estuarine nursery areas for menhaden larvae and other offshore-spawning estuarine-dependent fish. Specifically, the physical oceanography of the MAB and SAB during the fall and winter months suggests a north-to-south shift in spawning areas providing recruits to the Carolina estuaries, in agreement with the observed migration of the spawning populations.     

Physical oceanography of the North Carolina continental shelf during the fall and winter seasons: implications for the transport of larval menhaden

The circulation over the continental shelf off the southern Middle Atlantic Bight (MAB) and northern South Atlantic Bight (SAB) is examined for the fall and winter periods. Observational data are compared with results from a three-dimensional numerical model to identify the dominant processes on the shelf. By considering wind-forcing, tides, and a specified upstream inflow (into the MAB), the observed and modelled flow fields are in close agreement in the mid- and inner shelf regions. The resulting larval drift indicates a seasonal dependence of transport pathways from spawning grounds to estuarine nursery areas for menhaden larvae and other offshore-spawning estuarine-dependent fish. Specifically, the physical oceanography of the MAB and SAB during the fall and winter months suggests a north-to-south shift in spawning areas providing recruits to the Carolina estuaries, in agreement with the observed migration of the spawning populations.     

Reproduction of sea urchin <Emphasis Type="Italic">Loxechinus albus</Emphasis> in Chiloé Island,Chile

ABSTRACT:   During 1986–1989, the seasonal maturation and gonad index (gonad weight/body weight × 100) of adult Loxechinus albus were examined at nine sites, and the appearance of four-armed echinopluteus larvae was investigated at three sites off the eastern coast of Chiloé Island, Chile. Spawning occurred during November–January when the gonad indices fell to a minimum, the number of mature specimens decreased and four-armed larvae appeared, corresponding to the rise in water temperature. The number of four-armed larvae appearing at the northern site was markedly less than that at the southern site. The sea urchins matured in January and February immediately after spawning at many sites and a high percentage of maturation lasted for a long period at some sites. These findings are considered to be associated with high food availability and annual narrow ranges of water temperature.     

Larval transport during winter in the SABRE study area: results of a coupled vertical larval behaviour–three-dimensional circulation model

A three-dimensional circulation model was used in conjunction with larval fish vertical behaviour models to study the interaction between larval vertical distribution, advection and the outcome of larval transport along the central portion of the east coast of the United States. The circulation model was forced by tides, a northern boundary inflow, and winds. Vertical behaviour models were developed for Atlantic menhaden ( Brevoortia tyrannus ) and spot ( Leiostomus xanthurus ). The purpose of this modelling effort was to investigate the transport pathways of Atlantic menhaden and spot larvae from offshore spawning grounds to estuarine nursery habitats. The coupled circulation and behavioural model demonstrated the importance of along-shelf transport in what is generally thought to be a 'cross-shelf' problem. Cross-shelf transport was associated with bathymetric features, such as shoals. Both physical (e.g. wind) and biological (e.g. changes in larval behaviour) events were responsible for many of the observed patterns in larval transport. Overall, larval transport was determined by circulation but was modified by larval vertical distributions.     

Confirmation of the spawning area of the striped marlin, Tetrapturus audax, in the so-called core area of the eastern tropical Pacific off Mexico

We report the presence of striped marlin larvae in coastal waters of the mouth of the Gulf of California, collected during seven oceanographic cruises during 1990 to 1993. From 169 sampled stations, 30 produced a total of 68 larvae of 2.4–30.5 mm total length. Most of the larvae were about 3 mm, indicating a recent spawn. The sea surface temperature at the sampled stations ranged from 19.4°C to 32.0°C, but larvae were caught at stations with temperatures between 27.8°C and 31.5°C. These results clarify the existence of a spawning area of striped marlin in the eastern Pacific, located closer to the coast than previously believed, during several months of the year.     

Recruitment variability and oceanographic stability

We examine the hypothesis that recruitment is more variable in populations on isolated offshore banks than nearby shelf populations. Recruitment of cod (Gadus morhua) and American plaice (Hippoghssoides plates-soides) on Flemish Cap is more variable than in any comparable population. Recruitment of haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus) on Rockall Bank is also more variable than in surrounding populations. These results are confirmed both by estimates obtained by virtual population analysis and by research surveys. Recruitment of haddock and herring (Clupea harengus) on Georges Bank is also more variable than in surrounding populations; however, the results for two other groundfish populations, cod and yellowtake flounder (Limanda ferruginae), on Georges Bank are ambiguous. We conclude that marine fish populations on isolated banks are more variable than those on nearby shelf regions.