Variations in reproductive potential between nearshore and offshore spawning contingents of hogfish in the eastern Gulf of Mexico

Hogfish, Lachnolaimus maximus (Walbaum), have multiple traits that confound measuring reproductive potential: they are protogynous, relatively long‐lived harem‐forming fish that spawn daily for months. Additionally, recent evidence demonstrates that size, age and timing of sex change vary on a spatial scale within the study area (West Florida shelf, USA). This study investigates the effect of this spatial variation on hogfish reproductive potential by evaluating spawning seasonality, spawning frequency and batch fecundity using an indeterminate egg production model. Offshore females were larger than nearshore females, and batch fecundity was related in a log‐linear manner to female size. Gonad histology demonstrated a more protracted reproductive period for females offshore (8 months) than nearshore (4 months). Spatial variations in size coincide with ontogeny because hogfish move offshore with growth; however, even after accounting for fish size, offshore females spawned more. In areas where male removal rates are elevated, spawning harems are disrupted; thus, greater fishing effort nearshore may further reduce the reproductive potential of these females. These nearshore and offshore spawning components of the population are not genetically distinct, but instead represent two contingent spawning strategies that likely enhance total population stability and resilience of this stock in the eastern Gulf of Mexico.     

Conservation of spawning time between years in lumpfish Cyclopterus lumpus and potential impacts from the temporal distribution of fishing effort

Lumpfish, Cyclopterus lumpus L., has an extended ovary development period and a relatively long spawning season. It therefore seems unlikely that individuals spawning later in the season would be able to recover from spawning and develop their gonads in time to spawn during the early part of the season the following year. The hypothesis that individuals spawning early or late in a spawning season would spawn early or late the following year was tested using fish tagged in Iceland between 2008 and 2017. The tagging date and recapture date the following year were positively correlated with an average of 356 days at large (DAL). Fish sampled from the fishery indicate that tagging/recapture date gives an indication of spawning time. From this, it was concluded that spawning time in the current year can be used to predict spawning time the following year. As fishing effort was greatest at the end of April/beginning of May, it seems likely that fish that come to spawn at this time will be subject to a higher fishing mortality. Therefore, they will be less likely to spawn successfully than fish spawning earlier or later in the year. If spawning time is under genetic control, then this could have consequences for the spawning phenology of lumpfish.     

Effects of Varying Dietary Protein Levels and Feeding Frequencies on Condition and Reproductive Performance of Channel Catfish to Produce Hybrid Catfish

The interspecific hybridization of channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus, females with blue catfish, I. furcatus, males has been identified as a method to further improve production; however, lack of spawning success has affected its commercial application. To facilitate our understanding of the interaction of brood stock nutrition and reproductive performance, we evaluated the interaction of feed quality and feeding frequency. Channel catfish females were classified into two genetic groups, namely, high and low spawning. The treatments were offered during the spring season 70–90 d prior to the start of the spawning season. Induced reproduction was performed using luteinizing hormone releasing hormone analog. Condition of the fish as well as reproductive performance using spawning success, egg production, egg size, and fertilization at 48 h were determined. Changing protein level of the diet from 32 to 42% did not influence spawning, fecundity, or fertilization, but affected egg size and biochemical composition of the eggs. Increasing the feeding frequency from three to six times per week negatively affected spawning in one of the two genetics groups, did not affect egg production and egg fertilization, but had a significant effect on egg size. Older fish performed better than younger fish in terms of spawning success and egg production.     

Formulation of management strategies for two exploited West African prawn populations

The life histories of the estuarine prawn, Nematopalaemon hastatus Aurivillius, and the brackish river prawn, Macrobrachium macrobrachion Herklots, were compared in relation to their seasonal exploitation patterns in the Cross River estuary, Nigeria. The period of intensive exploitation of N. hastatus (March to June) was outside the main spawning season (July to October), because these prawns migrate from the main fishing area in the estuary and near shore coastal waters into the deeper continental shelf waters to spawn. This probably contributes to their reproductive success and conservation of the stock. With M. macrobrachion , the peak spawning period and the major fishing season converge between July and September. These prawns also migrate from the fresh water into the major fishing zone within the estuary during the spawning season. This exposes the spawning population to intense human exploitation. On the basis of their spawning dynamics, M. macrobrachion requires more urgent management attention. An option would be a closed season for M. macrobrachion within the estuary during the spawning period.     

Effect of Photoperiod Manipulation on Broodstock Spawning, Fertilization Success, and Egg Developmental Abnormalities in Atlantic Cod, Gadus morhua

Spawning activity in two captive Atlantic cod broodstock groups previously captured from the wild stock fishery was monitored over three spawning seasons. Both groups spawned under ambient photoperiod (PP) in the first year, after which photomanipulation was applied to compress the PP cycle of one broodstock group, while the second group was maintained on natural PP. Increased total egg volumes, number of egg batches, total egg production, and duration of the spawning season were observed in both ambient PP and advanced PP groups in the second and third spawning seasons. Compared to ambient controls, the photoadvanced group commenced spawning earlier, had a longer spawning season, produced a lower total volume of eggs over the entire spawning season, and had lower mean daily batch volumes of eggs, and the eggs were of smaller mean diameter. Fertilization success was >90% in all years, increased in both groups in the first year after photomanipulation but declined to prior levels in the following year. No consistent difference in fertilization success was observed between advanced PP and ambient PP groups. Rates of cell development abnormalities were low (<10%) in both groups over the three spawning seasons. Abnormalities of cell symmetry and clarity increased in both ambient PP and advanced PP groups over the three spawning seasons. However, no consistent differences in rate of cell abnormalities were observed between advanced PP and ambient PP groups within years. We conclude that PP advancement is an effective technique to compress the time between successive spawning periods in Atlantic cod and does not negatively affect fertilization success or rates of cell developmental abnormalities. However, it has a negative effect on both volume and size of eggs produced.     

Energy acquisition and allocation to egg production in relation to fish reproductive strategies

Oogenesis in fishes follows a universal plan; yet, due to differences in the synchrony and rate of egg development, spawning frequency varies from daily to once in a lifetime. Some species spawn and feed in separate areas, during different seasons, by storing energy and drawing on it later for reproduction (i.e. capital breeding). Other species spawn using energy acquired locally, throughout a prolonged spawning season, allocating energy directly to reproduction (i.e. income breeding). Capital breeders tend to ovulate all at once and are more likely to be distributed at boreal latitudes. Income breeding allows small fish to overcome allometric constraints on egg production. Income breeders can recover more quickly when good‐feeding conditions are re‐established, which is a benefit to adults regarding bet‐hedging spawning strategies. Many species exhibit mixed capital‐ and income‐breeding patterns. An individual's position along this capital–income continuum may shift with ontogeny or in relation to environmental conditions, so breeding patterns are a conditional reproductive strategy. Poor‐feeding environments can lead to delayed maturation, skipped spawning, fewer spawning events per season or fewer eggs produced per event. In a few cases, variations in feeding environments appear to affect recruitment variability. These flexible processes of energy acquisition and allocation allow females to prioritize their own condition over their propagules' condition at any given spawning opportunity, thereby investing energy cautiously to maximize lifetime reproductive value. These findings have implications for temporal and spatial sampling designs, for measurement and interpretation of fecundity, and for interpreting fishery and ecosystem assessments.     

Predicting haddock embryo viability based on early cleavage patterns

Haddock, Melanogrammus aeglefinus, is a serial spawning, marine gadid characterized by low survivorship during the early life history stages. The potential for predicting future survival to hatching based on cleavage patterns of early embryos (8–32 blastomere stages) was investigated in order to improve efficiency of early rearing practices. In 2001, data from 36 egg batches (>95% fertilization) suggested that hatching success was inversely related to the percentage of embryos with abnormal cleavage. Mean percentage of normal cleavage did not differ throughout the spawning season but variability was much higher for embryos from early and late batches than those collected during the middle of the spawning season. In 2002, abnormalities in blastomere cleavage for 12 egg batches were further categorized as (1) asymmetric blastomere arrangement, (2) inequality of blastomere size, (3) poor adhesion between blastomeres and (4) poor definition of blastomere margins. Results suggested that all four abnormalities were co-occurring, which prevented negative effects on hatching success from being attributed to a single abnormality. Incubation of embryos with only one type of cleavage abnormality suggested that low adhesion between blastomeres significantly reduced embryo viability, while asymmetry in blastomere arrangement did not. However, because cleavage abnormalities tended to co-occur, hierarchical multiple regression revealed that asymmetry could be used to accurately predict hatching success, even if reduction in embryo viability was due to abnormalities other than asymmetry. Analysis of additional cleavage abnormalities suggested that complete separation between blastomeres was indicative of a very poor egg batch and resulted in little or no hatching, while cellular outcrops had no negative effect on hatching success. Information from detailed studies such as these could be used to predict hatching success of individual egg batches, allowing time and resources to be allocated more efficiently in hatcheries.     

Modeling the impact of climate variability on Black Sea anchovy recruitment and production

The connection of climate variability with anchovy spawning and recruitment in the Black Sea in particular, and other ecosystems in general, was studied using a two‐way coupled lower trophic level and anchovy bioenergetics model. Climate variability was represented by a 50‐yr time series of daily temperature and vertical mixing rates with stochastic variations. Temperature was found to be the dominant factor influencing early life stages and hence population dynamics of Black Sea anchovy as marked by a high correlation of anchovy egg production and recruitment success in response to changes in temperature. Each decrease of 2°C in summer mean temperatures resulted in a delay in the timing of egg production of between 12 and 19 days. Water temperatures in the spawning season had a greater influence than the number of available spawning females on the intensity of egg production. Anchovy recruitment was similarly influenced by temperature, with decreased temperatures resulting in a significant delay in the onset of peak recruitment during the fall by 21–38 days. Also, recruitment numbers in December decreased by about 20% with decreasing temperatures. The impact of temperature on production was slightly diminished by the impact of vertical mixing. The strong linkage of climate variability with anchovy spawning and recruitment has an important prediction potential for short‐term anchovy stock estimations, which may serve fisheries management purposes.     

Interannual variation in pelagic juvenile rockfish (Sebastes spp.) abundance – going with the flow

We report results from 28 yr of a midwater trawl survey of pelagic juvenile rockfish (Sebastes spp.) conducted off the central California coast. The fishery‐independent survey is designed to provide pre‐recruit indices of abundance for use in groundfish stock assessments. Standardized catch rate time series for 10 species were developed from delta‐generalized linear models that include main effects for year, station, and calendar date. Results show that interannual fluctuations of all 10 species are strongly coherent but highly variable, demonstrating both high‐ and low‐frequency components. A similarly coherent result is observed in the size composition of fish, with large fish associated with elevated catch rates. In contrast, spatial and seasonal patterns of abundance show greater species‐specific differences. A comparison of the shared common trend in pelagic juvenile rockfish abundance, derived from principal components analysis, with recruitments from five rockfish stock assessments shows that the time series are significantly correlated. An examination of oceanographic factors associated with year‐to‐year variability indicates that a signature of upwelled water at the time of the survey is only weakly related to abundance. Likewise, basin‐scale indices (the Multivariate El Niño‐Southern Oscillation Index, the Pacific Decadal Oscillation, the North Pacific Gyre Oscillation, and the Northern Oscillation Index) are poorly correlated with abundance. In contrast, sea level anomalies in the months preceding the survey are well correlated with reproductive success. In particular, equatorward anomalies in the alongshore flow field following the spawning season are associated with elevated survival and poleward anomalies with poor survival.     

Does sand content in spawning substrate result in early larval emergence? Evidence from a lithophilic cyprinid fish

The spawning success of lithophilic salmonids is strongly influenced by the fine sediment content (“fines”) of spawning substrates, yet knowledge on the impacts of fines on the spawning of non‐salmonid lithophiles remains limited, despite their ecological and socio‐economic importance in European rivers. Consequently, the aim here was to use an ex‐situ experiment to investigate the impact of sand content on egg survival and timing of larval emergence of the surface‐spawning cyprinid European barbel Barbus barbus. Thirty incubator boxes within a recirculating system were filled with one of five experimental sediment mixtures (0%–40% sand by mass) that each contained 300 fertilised eggs at a depth of 50 mm. Emerged, free‐swimming larvae were captured and counted daily to assess grain‐size effects on larval survival and emergence. Specifically, total proportion of emerged larvae, cumulative daily proportion of emerged larvae and time required to reach 50% emergence were measured during the study. Whilst the proportion of sand in the sediments did not have a significant impact on egg‐to‐emergence survival (mean survival per treatment 75%–79%), it significantly affected the timing of larval emergence to the water column; early emergence was detected in treatments with elevated sand content (on average, 50% emergence after 12–13 days versus 19 days in the control). Similar to findings from salmonid studies, these results suggest high sand content in spawning gravels can influence timing of larval emergence and potentially cyprinid lithophilic fish survival.     

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.     

Effects of reproductive timing and hatch date on fathead minnow recruitment

Abstract –  Timing of reproduction can be an important determinant of recruitment success for fish in strongly seasonal environments, both for individuals hatching at different times over extended spawning seasons and for entire cohorts, if the spawning period is accelerated or delayed among years. To examine potential demographic consequences of delayed spawning, we staggered dates that fathead minnow ( Pimephales promelas ) were introduced into experimental ponds in Alberta, Canada, by 3 weeks and compared growth and survival of offspring from early- and late-stocked fish. By autumn, size and mass were consistently greater in early-hatched minnows, regardless of cohort density. Size differences between treatments persisted through the second summer, which likely contributed to a higher proportion of early-hatched fish reaching sexual maturity as yearlings compared with late-hatched counterparts. Because late spawning can limit growth and subsequent maturation of progeny, temporal variability in reproductive timing should be considered when assessing recruitment potential of new year-classes.     

Interannual differences in growth and hatch‐date distributions of early juvenile European anchovy in the Bay of Biscay: implications for recruitment

In order to understand better the recruitment variability in European anchovy in the Bay of Biscay, it is important to investigate the processes that affect survival during the early life stages. Anchovy juvenile growth trajectories and hatch‐date distributions were inferred over a 3‐year period based on otolith microstructure analysis. Otolith growth trajectories showed a characteristic shape depending on their hatch‐date timing. Earlier‐born juveniles had notably broader maximum increments than later born conspecifics, resulting in higher growth rates. This observation suggests that early hatching would be beneficial for larval and juvenile growth, and, therefore, survival. The estimated juvenile hatch‐date distributions were relatively narrow compared with the extended anchovy spawning season (March–August) in the Bay of Biscay and indicated that only individuals originated mainly from the summer months (June–August) survived until autumn. Hatch‐date distributions were markedly different among years and seemed to influence the interannual recruitment strength of anchovy. We conclude that years characterized by juvenile survivors originating from the peak spawning period (May and June) would lead to considerable recruitment success. Downwelling events during the peak spawning period seem to affect larval survival. Furthermore, size‐dependent overwinter mortality would be an additional process that regulates recruitment strength in the anchovy population in the Bay of Biscay.     

Asynchronous and synchronous spawning by smalleye shiner Notropis buccula from the Brazos River,Texas

Abstract – We used a combination of methods to study the reproductive ecology of the imperiled smalleye shiner Notropis buccula Cross in the Brazos River, Texas between April 2003 and March 2005. Patterns in oocyte development, gonadosomatic index and oocyte size distribution indicate that reproduction occurs over a 6‐month period between April and September and that the population spawns asynchronously with individual fish spawning small batches of ova throughout the reproductive season except during periods of elevated streamflow when spawning becomes more intense and is synchronised within the population. This combination of asynchronous spawning and episodic synchronous spawning in the same species challenges the current paradigm of an exclusive association between spawning and periods of elevated streamflow for pelagic, broadcast‐spawning cyprinids in North American Great Plains Rivers. The combination of asynchronous and synchronous spawning that we observed for the smalleye shiner is likely widespread among pelagic, broadcast‐spawning cyprinids and limitations of the methods commonly used to assess reproductive ecology likely contributed to an incomplete understanding of the relationship between spawning and streamflow. An accurate understanding of this relationship is necessary to design and implement appropriate conservation and management strategies for the smalleye shiner and other imperiled broadcast‐spawning cyprinid fishes.     

Forecasting fish stock dynamics under climate change: Baltic herring (Clupea harengus) as a case study

Climate change and anthropogenic disturbances may affect marine populations and ecosystems through multiple pathways. In this study we present a framework in which we integrate existing models and knowledge on basic regulatory processes to investigate the potential impact of future scenarios of fisheries exploitation and climate change on the temporal dynamics of the central Baltic herring stock. Alternative scenarios of increasing sea surface temperature and decreasing salinity of the Baltic Sea from a global climate model were combined with two alternative fishing scenarios, and their direct and ecosystem‐mediated effects (i.e., through predation by cod and competition with sprat) on the herring population were evaluated for the period 2010–2050. Gradual increase in temperature has a positive impact on the long‐term productivity of the herring stock, but it has the potential to enhance the recovery of the herring stock only in combination with sustainable fisheries management (i.e., F_msy). Conversely, projections of herring spawning stock biomass (SSB) were generally low under elevated fishing mortality levels (F_high), comparable with those experienced by the stock during the 1990s. Under the combined effects of long‐term warming and high fishing mortality uncertainty in herring SSB projections was higher and increasing for the duration of the forecasts, suggesting a synergistic effect of fishery exploitation and climate forcing on fish populations dynamics. Our study shows that simulations of long‐term fish dynamics can be an informative tool to derive expectations of the potential long‐term impact of alternative future scenarios of exploitation and climate change.     

Influence of larval transport and temperature on recruitment dynamics of North Sea cod (Gadus morhua) across spatial scales of observation

The survival of fish eggs and larvae, and therefore recruitment success, can be critically affected by transport in ocean currents. Combining a model of early‐life stage dispersal with statistical stock–recruitment models, we investigated the role of larval transport for recruitment variability across spatial scales for the population complex of North Sea cod (Gadus morhua). By using a coupled physical–biological model, we estimated the egg and larval transport over a 44‐year period. The oceanographic component of the model, capable of capturing the interannual variability of temperature and ocean current patterns, was coupled to the biological component, an individual‐based model (IBM) that simulated the cod eggs and larvae development and mortality. This study proposes a novel method to account for larval transport and success in stock–recruitment models: weighting the spawning stock biomass by retention rate and, in the case of multiple populations, their connectivity. Our method provides an estimate of the stock biomass contributing to recruitment and the effect of larval transport on recruitment variability. Our results indicate an effect, albeit small, in some populations at the local level. Including transport anomaly as an environmental covariate in traditional stock–recruitment models in turn captures recruitment variability at larger scales. Our study aims to quantify the role of larval transport for recruitment across spatial scales, and disentangle the roles of temperature and larval transport on effective connectivity between populations, thus informing about the potential impacts of climate change on the cod population structure in the North Sea.     

2003年夏季东海区带鱼资源状况及其秋冬汛渔况的分析

根据东海区渔业资源动态监测网调查资料,对2003年伏季休渔期间的带鱼资源状况进行了分析,并展望了秋冬汛带鱼生产前景。结果表明,2003年伏季休渔前期(6月),东海区带鱼资源重量密度、资源尾数密度及发生量均比常年偏低、产卵期个体重量较常年偏大,亲鱼量属低水平年份;伏季休渔中期(7月、8月),带鱼的产卵群体比例下降,个体平均肛长偏小。同时,海区的水温较2002年偏低,不利于带鱼生长和发育。预计伏季休渔结束后,渔获状况不容乐观,秋冬汛生产前景将差于2002年。     

What are the effects of climate on the offshore and onshore movements of adult grooved tiger prawns Penaeus semisulcatus in tropical northern Australia?

Historical catch per unit effort (CPUE) from the period in the development of commercial fisheries prior to the implementation of any temporal or spatial closures can provide insight into how environmental factors affect life history events. These insights can then inform contemporary fishery management practices to improve sustainability. We examined the timing of the offshore dispersal and onshore movement to aggregate on the spawning grounds of the grooved tiger prawn Penaeus semisulcatus in the north‐west Gulf of Carpentaria using all available historical CPUE data between 1970 and 1987. The impact of climate conditions on the timing of the winter minimum CPUE (dispersal) was quantified by fitting univariate relationships with non‐parametric weighted local regression (Loess). The timing of the winter minimum CPUE was delayed by 5 weeks in years with at least 1 week of rainfall > 250 mm, and was delayed by 5 weeks in years when the wet season continued through April, rather than ending in March. Under current climate predictions, rainfall is projected to increase in variability in this region. Our results indicate that the sustainability of the prawn trawl fishery may be enhanced if seasonal fishing effort restrictions and closure dates are not fixed, but are managed to reflect variation in the timing of the end of the previous wet season.     

Density dependence in total egg production per spawner for marine fish

A paradigm of fisheries science holds that spawning stock biomass (SSB) is directly proportional to total egg production (TEP) of fish stocks. This “SSB–TEP proportionality” paradigm has been a basic premise underlying the spawner–recruitment models for fisheries management and numerous studies on recruitment mechanisms of fish. Studies on maternal effects on reproductive potential of a stock have progressed during the last few decades, leading to doubt concerning the paradigm. Nonetheless, a direct test of the paradigm at multidecadal scales has been difficult because of data limitations in the stock assessment systems worldwide. Here, we tested the paradigm for marine fish based on a novel combination of two independent 38‐year time series: fishery‐dependent stock assessment data and fishery‐independent egg survey data. Through this approach, we show that the SSB–TEP proportionality is distorted by density dependence in total egg production per spawner individual (TEPPS) or spawner unit weight (TEPPSW) at a multidecadal scale. The TEPPS/TEPPSW exponentially declined with biomass and thus was density‐dependent for Japanese sardine, a small pelagic species exhibiting a high level of population fluctuation, in the western North Pacific. By contrast, the TEPPS/TEPPSW was sardine‐density‐dependent for Japanese anchovy, another small pelagic species exhibiting a moderate level of population fluctuation well‐known for being out of phase with sardine. Our analysis revealed intraspecific (sardine) and interspecific (anchovy) density dependence in TEPPS/TEPPSW, which was previously unaccounted for in spawner–recruitment relationships. Such density‐dependent effects at the time of spawning should be considered in fisheries management and studies on recruitment mechanisms.     

Dietary fatty acid enrichment during the spawning season increases egg viability and quality in Hippocampus hippocampus

Control of the reproductive cycle is essential to achieve a successful aquaculture industry. Seahorse reared in captivity often shows eggs of poor quality and low offspring survival due to unsuitable rearing and nutritional protocols. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of dietary enrichment, added exclusively during the spawning season, on the egg quality of Hippocampus hippocampus. The effect of enriching mysis throughout the spawning season was analysed in terms of female fecundity, egg viability, egg size and fatty acid profile. The results showed that fecundity was not affected by the enrichment of the diet, but egg viability was increased when females were fed the enriched mysis (84.9 ± 4.1% compared to 62.2 ± 9.4%). Moreover, the content of several PUFA (20:4n‐6, 18:2n‐6, 22:5n‐3, 22:5n‐6, sum of n‐6) decreased throughout the spawning season, especially in the last clutch, in eggs originated from females fed non‐enriched mysis. Eggs from females fed the enriched diet maintained the fatty acid profile throughout the spawning season. In conclusion, enrichment of the diet of H. hippocampus improved egg viability and avoided a decrease in the quality of eggs by maintaining PUFA content in the last clutches of the spawning season.