Interannual variation in Neocalanus biomass in the Oyashio waters of the western North Pacific

We examined the interannual variation in Neocalanus copepod biomass in the Oyashio waters in spring and summer from 1972 to 1999. In the mid‐1970s, mesozooplankton biomass in spring was high; however, it decreased significantly in the late 1970s. The timing of the decrease in mesozooplankton biomass corresponded to the 1976/77 climatic regime shift. The biomass of N. flemingeri, which dominated the Neocalanus community, was roughly constant from 1980 to 1999. Although species‐level estimates of Neocalanus biomass were not available for the 1970s, a previous study reported that Neocalanus copepods were the predominant mesozooplankton in the Oyashio waters in spring during the 1970s. Neocalanus copepods dominated the mesozooplankton community throughout the 1970s, and their biomass decreased in the late 1970s. Springtime net community production, an index of new production, also decreased in the late 1970s. We suggest that the reduction in new production negatively affected Neocalanus food availability, resulting decreased copepod biomass. New production may have been limited by a combination of subsurface iron supplies, increased vertical density gradient, and reduced vertical water mixing in winter, which resulted in diminished iron entrainment in winter. In summer, mesozooplankton biomass significantly decreased and increased synchronously with the 1976/77 and 1988/89 climatic regime shifts. The biomass of N. plumchrus, which dominated the Neocalanus community, was low in the 1980s and increased in the early 1990s. The biomass of the second‐most dominant copepod, N. cristatus, also increased in the early 1990s. Neocalanus copepods were reported to be a dominant component of the mesozooplankton community in the 1970s; Neocalanus biomass was high in the mid‐1970s and decreased in the late 1970s. Japanese sardine (Sardinops melanostictus), an important predator of Neocalanus copepods, exhibited interannual variation in standing stock that was inversely related to mesozooplankton biomass. At their peak in 1984, sardines consumed 32–138% of the daily Neocalanus production during summer. Therefore, predation pressure on Neocalanus by Japanese sardine is likely to affect interannual variation in mesozooplankton biomass during the summer.     

南极南奥克尼群岛2017年春季南极磷虾资源声学评估

南极磷虾（Euphausia superba）为南大洋中上层生态系统的关键种,对其生物量的研究有助于更准确地掌握磷虾的生态和分布信息。基于2017年我国南极磷虾声学调查采集的断面回波映像,应用声学回波后处理软件（Echoview）,评估了南奥克尼群岛周边水域的磷虾生物量。该海域磷虾体长范围为25.50~49.21 mm,平均体长为（33.01±4.06）mm;其中雌性平均体长为（33.15±3.90）mm,雄性平均体长为（32.68±4.43）mm,雌、雄磷虾体长无显著性差异。本海域声学映像可分为1338个积分单元,最大单元磷虾密度为554.07 g/m²,最小单元密度值为0 g/m²。调查海域磷虾分布不均匀,87.90%的积分单元无磷虾生物量。磷虾平均密度为71.01 g/m²,总生物量为1.77×10⁶ t,密度差异系数为97.4%。磷虾主要分布在水深<200 m的南奥克尼群岛大陆架海域,群岛东侧磷虾生物量多于西侧。积分单元中磷虾密度大于450 g/m²但小于600 g/m²的有2个,群岛东西两侧各1个;密度值大于300 g/m²但小于450 g/m²的积分单元有6个,5个位于群岛东侧。远离群岛的2个断面（1,9）和调查海域中心的2个断面（5,6）磷虾生物量较少。本海域磷虾的昼夜垂直移动对磷虾生物量评估也无影响。磷虾白天聚集在60~180 m水层,随着时间推移,磷虾逐渐向上或向下移动。光照强度是触发磷虾白天下沉、夜晚上浮的因素之一。     

黄海北部辽宁近岸海域鳀产卵场分布特征及其影响因素

为掌握黄海北部辽宁近岸海域鳀(Engraulis japonicus)产卵场的分布特征及其关键环境因子,基于2021年4—12月开展的产卵场综合调查获取的鳀样品及其鱼卵密度数据,运用Garrison重心分布法阐释鳀产卵洄游分布特征及其主产卵期;通过基于Tweedie分布的广义可加模型(generalized additive model, GAM)的构建,分析主产卵期内鳀卵密度与同步获取的海水表层温度(SST)、海水表层盐度(SSS)、海水表层叶绿素浓度(Chla)、浮游动物丰度(Fd)、浮游植物丰度(Fz)和深度(Depth)等6个环境因子,以及时间(月份,Month)和空间(经纬度、Lon和Lat)因子之间关系,并识别主控因子。结果显示,海域内鳀产卵期较长,由4月持续至11月,5—8月为主产卵期,其中,5—6月为产卵盛期。鳀产卵场规模和位置时空变化明显,时空因子与鳀卵密度分布呈密切非线性相关(累积偏差解释率为48.1%),(SST, SSS) (18.7%)和Depth (5%)次之。鳀产卵期适温范围较广,产卵场分布表现出高温高盐(低温低盐)增效作用和高温低盐限制作用。产卵初期(4月),鳀产卵场规模和鱼卵密度均较低,产卵重心位于海洋岛东南侧深水区;盛期(5月底—6月初)在SST主导下,鳀产卵场规模和鱼卵密度均至年内最高值,核心产卵场位于石城岛–庄河河口一带海域;此后,随着辽南沿岸水系盐度的下降,高温低盐的抑制作用使SSS因素主导产卵鱼群避开沿岸海域,鳀产卵场迁移至外海深水区,7月后位于30~50 m等深线之间;9—10月鳀繁殖活动基本结束,10月鳀卵仅零星分布于调查海域,直至12月未有鳀卵采获。研究可为黄海北部辽宁近岸海域鳀产卵场研究及鳀资源合理开发利用提供参考依据。     

Growth of larval and early juvenile Japanese anchovy, Engraulis japonicus, in the Kuroshio-Oyashio transition region

Larvae, juveniles, and adults of Japanese anchovy, Engraulis japonicus , were distributed throughout the Kuroshio-Oyashio transition region off northern Japan as far offshore as 170°E in 1996 and 1997. The growth trajectories of individual larvae and early juveniles were backcalculated using the biological intercept method based on the allometric relationship between otolith radius and somatic length. Mean larval growth rates ranged from 0.49 to 0.71 mm day^–1 in the transition region, and were comparable to those reported from the Pacific coastal waters of central Japan, which is the principal distribution range of E. japonicus . In terms of growth, the Kuroshio-Oyashio transition region seemed to be a favourable nursery area for larval E. japonicus . Larval growth tended to decline from the inshore to the offshore waters in the transition region. Thermal conditions did not show an inshore–offshore trend in the survey area and did not explain the longitudinal trend in growth rates.     

Distribution patterns of larval myctophid fish assemblages in the subtropical–tropical waters of the western North Pacific

We examined larval myctophid fish assemblages and their distribution patterns, based on discrete depth sampling. Samples were collected at 19 stations along a transect that crossed the subtropical–tropical waters of the western North Pacific. In total, we collected 27 189 larvae of 40 myctophid species or types, belonging to 15 genera. Three assemblages were recognized, based on their species composition: Kuroshio Axis (KuA), Kuroshio Countercurrent (KCC), and Subtropical Countercurrent–North Equatorial Current (SCC–NEC) assemblages. The distributions of these assemblages were well defined by the positions of the KuA and the Subtropical Convergence. Each species had a specific distribution depth, and none showed diel vertical migration. Larvae of the subfamily Lampanyctinae were distributed in shallower waters (0–50 m) than larvae of the subfamily Myctophinae (50–150 m). Larvae of the same species were distributed at lower depths in the SCC–NEC area than in the KCC area. This corresponded to the abundance of chlorophyll a, which would reflect abundance of prey organisms such as copepod nauplii and copepodites.     

南黄海春季鳀和赤鼻棱鳀的食物竞争

根据南黄海鳀(Engraulis japonicus)和赤鼻棱鳀(Thrissa kammalensis)及其饵料的碳氮稳定同位素比值,采用IsoSource软件计算了两者饵料的质量贡献比。发现二者食物来源较为一致,其中仔稚鱼对鳀和赤鼻棱鳀的质量贡献率分别为42%~50%和53%~70%,是两者的首要能量与营养源。在获得食物贡献比的基础上,分别采用食物重叠指数法、聚类分析法和稳定同位素法3种方法,针对5种不同的摄食条件,依次对鳀与赤鼻棱鳀的食物重叠度进行计算。其中在饵料平均贡献比条件下,3种方法的计算结果相差不大,都在70%左右,计算偏差≤5%。研究结果表明,两者的食物竞争主要是针对仔稚鱼展开的,两者间存在显著的食物竞争关系。     

Late winter larval mesopelagic fish assemblage in the Kuroshio waters of the western North Pacific

The larval mesopelagic fish assemblage and its distribution patterns were investigated in the Kuroshio region off southern Japan in late winter. A total of 8690 fish larvae was collected, 85.8% of which were mesopelagic fish larvae. Mesopelagic fish larvae were significantly more abundant in the area east of the Kuroshio axis than west of the Kuroshio axis (660.6 versus 194.5 ind 10 m^?2). Sigmops gracile, Bathylagus ochotensis, Notoscopelus japonicus, Diaphus slender type and Myctophum asperum were the five most abundant larvae and accounted for 16.9, 16.4, 15.2, 13.9 and 9.3% of the total catch in numbers, respectively. We conclude that these larvae were transported by the Kuroshio Current to the more productive transition waters, where they spend their juvenile stage from spring to early summer. The possibility of expatriation and southward long‐distance spawning migrations of N. japonicus and B. ochotensis are discussed, based on the geographic distribution patterns of their larvae, juveniles and adults.     

Variability in timing and magnitude of spring bloom in the Oyashio region, the western subarctic Pacific off Hokkaido, Japan

The spring bloom of phytoplankton is a well-established, regular, seasonal event in the western subarctic Pacific and is considered one of the most important conditions of massive production of pelagic fishes. A series of 12 cruises was conducted from 1990 to 1992 to examine the timing and magnitude of the spring phytoplankton bloom in the Oyashio region, the western subarctic Pacific off Hokkaido, Japan. An interannual variability in the bloom events was also analysed. On the basis of hydrographical characteristics, the study area was divided into three water masses: the Oyashio Water Mass, the Mixed Water Mass, and the Coastal Water Mass. Spring blooms were observed first in April in the Oyashio and the Coastal Water Masses, and continued to May in 1991 and 1992. However, no bloom was recorded in the Mixed Water Mass. High nutrient supply into the surface mixed layer during winter is likely to be one of the factors supporting an intense spring bloom in the Oyashio Water Mass. A significant positive relationship between log-transformed surface chlorophyll a concentration and maximum density gradient (MDG) within the euphotic layer was obtained in April, indicating the importance of vertical stability of the water column in the initiation of spring blooms in the Oyashio and the Coastal Water Masses. The spring blooms in 1991 were much more extensive and lasted longer than in 1990. It is suggested that meteorological conditions and abundance of grazers were responsible for this interannual difference.     

Northerly shift of warm‐water copepods in the western subarctic North Pacific: Continuous Plankton Recorder samples (2001–2013)

Spatial and temporal variation in copepod community structure, abundance, distribution and biodiversity were examined in the western subarctic North Pacific (40–53°N, 144–173°E) during 2001–2013. Continuous Plankton Recorder (CPR) observational data during the summer season (June and July) were analyzed. The latitudinal distribution of warm‐water species in June shifted northward after 2011 while no apparent latitudinal shift of cold‐water and other species was observed. Species number and the Shannon–Wiener biodiversity index (H′) in June tended to increase in the northern area after 2011. The warm‐water species abundance and center latitude of warm‐water distribution were positively correlated with sea surface temperature (SST) across sampling locations, whereas no significant correlations with SST were observed for cold‐water species or other species. Warm SSTs in June after 2011 appeared to cause the northward shift of warm‐water species distribution, which in turn contributed to the higher biodiversity in the northern area. This study demonstrated the rapid response of warm‐water species to warm SST variation, whereas cold‐water and other species did not exhibit such clear responses. These findings indicate that the response of copepods to environmental changes differs among copepod species, highlighting the importance of investigating lower trophic levels to the species level to evaluate individual species’ responses to climate change.     

冬、春季黄海南部沿岸水域浮游动物

采用2005年1月和4月在31°54′～32°06′N、121°42′～121°57′E海域2个航次的调查资料,运用定量、定性方法,分析了浮游动物季节变化,优势种对总丰度的贡献等生态学特征。结果表明:该区浮游动物以桡足类为主,冬春两季分别占总种数的92.79%和93.40%。两季各有优势种5种,其中真刺唇角水蚤(Labidocera euchaeta)和双毛纺锤水蚤(Acartia bifilosa)是冬、春季共有的优势种,优势度分别高达0.82、0.19和0.03、0.32。冬季真刺唇角水蚤对总丰度的贡献率最高,β达0.75,春季小拟哲水蚤(Paracalanus parvus)对总丰度的贡献率最高,β为0.32。春季涨落潮的多样性明显高于冬季。优势种丰度的变化是决定涨落潮总生物量变化的主要因素。     

七星列岛海域春秋季游泳动物群落特征

基于2014年秋季和2015年春季七星列岛海域的底拖网渔获物进行分析,研究七星列岛海域游泳动物的种类组成、优势种、多样性、生态位和群落结构特征,得出游泳动物共80种,隶属于3纲14目42科62属,其中鱼类52种,虾类13种,蟹类10种,头足类5种。秋季优势种有6种,春季有4种,共有种为三疣梭子蟹。两季物种多样性指数(H')、(D)、(J')均为中等水平。生态位数值较大的物种秋季有六指马鲅(10.51)、哈氏仿对虾(9.47)、海鳗(8.84)等,春季有火枪乌贼(8.93)、口虾蛄(8.51)、带鱼(7.94)等。聚类分析显示,两季物种站位均可分为3组,与NMDS分析结果一致。ABC曲线分析得出,W值秋季为0.052、春季为–0.059,均接近0。该海域游泳动物群落组成以鱼类为主,虾类次之,头足类最少,优势种变化明显;哈氏仿对虾、海鳗、口虾蛄等低价值游泳动物资源生态位数值高,占据主要竞争地位;由于组内站位间物种组成和海域环境有一定程度的相似性,两季物种站位间分组不受季节影响。ABC曲线分析显示该海域处于中度干扰状态。     

南沙群岛海域春、秋季浮游介形类生态学特征

为了解南沙群岛海域春、秋季浮游介形类生态学特征,根据2013年春季(3月中旬至4月初)及秋季(9月)在南沙群岛开展的两个航次生态环境综合调查资料,对该海域浮游介形类生态学特征进行分析研究。结果显示:(1)南沙群岛海域浮游介形类物种组成较为丰富,记录 45种隶属于2科、4亚科、19属。其中,春季有21种,秋季38种,两季均出现的共有种有14个;(2)春、秋两季浮游介形类优势种差异明显,春季优势种组成较为单一,数量低,主要生态类群为外海暖水类群和广温暖水类群,秋季优势种组成较为复杂,数量多,主要为外海暖水类群。春季优势种由后圆真浮萤、葱萤、尖头毛浮萤组成,秋季由纳米海萤、双叉真浮萤、刺喙葱萤、短形小浮萤、粗大后浮萤组成。研究表明:(1)春秋两季浮游介形类密度差异显著,密度分布不均,局部区域密度较高,与该海域局部环流密切相关;(2)浮游介形类两季平均丰富度、多样性指数和均匀度分别为0.59、1.37和0.55,秋季高于春季;(3)春季及秋季均分为岛礁群落和外海群落,群落分布随洋流改变呈季节性变化;(4)受季风影响的大环流及局部环流是浮游介形类种类组成、数量分布及多样性呈明显季节差异的主要因素。     

Biomass and taxonomic composition of micronekton in the western tropical–subtropical Pacific

The biomass distribution, community structure and species composition of the dominant micronektonic animals were determined in the western tropical Pacific, using day/night sampling from upper 200 m depth with a commercial midwater otter trawl in fall‐winter of 1994, 1995 and 1997. Night‐time micronekton biomass was significantly higher than daytime biomass except for a few cases. All the night‐time catches had similar taxonomic composition, dominated by myctophid fishes, small squids, shrimps and euphausiids. Night‐time micronekton biomass in the upper 200 m was assumed to be higher in the North Equatorial Counter Current than in the North Equatorial Current, reflecting the zooplankton biomass distribution which micronektons feed on at night. A total of 42 species of myctophid fishes, 34 species of squids, 27 species of shrimps and six species of euphausiids were collected. Community types of each dominant taxonomic group were classified by cluster analysis based on the species composition. A station located north of the subtropical convergence zone was distinct from other tropical stations south of the convergence zone, having significantly different species composition in three of the four dominant taxonomic groups (myctophids, squids and shrimps). The interaction between the larvae of commercially important fishes and micronektonic animals is discussed.     

Horizontal distribution and seasonal variability of the epipelagic chaetognath Sagitta elegans in relation to hydrography in the western subarctic Pacific Ocean

The spatial distribution and seasonal variability of epipelagic chaetognaths along the Kurile Islands and off south-east Hokkaido, in the western subarctic Pacific Ocean. were investigated during the period from May 1990 to October 1992. Sagitta elegans was the dominant species among the epipelagic chaetognaths in the study area. Juvenile S. elegans were distributed mainly along the path of the mixed water which was determined by the acceleration potential anomaly (APA) at the iso-pycnal density surface of 26.6 σθ. The location of the path of The mixed water meandered around cyclonic and anticyclonic eddies. Catches of S. elegans were made at temperatures ranging from 4.5 to 22.2C. The juvenile distribution, however, was mostly restricted to between 1 and 4C of the potential temperature determined at the isopycnal density surface of 26.6 σθ. Variability in the juvenile abundance within the path of the mixed water could be caused by predation rather than by food limitation because microzooplankton, which are known to he prey for juveniles, were abundant enough to meet the food requirements of juveniles in the study area. Adults occurred in spring (April-May) and young individuals (juvenile and stage 1) were abundant in summer (June-July), when a strong thermocline developed. The main spawning period appears to be during April-May, with a possible second spawning period in the autumn.     

Physical and biological consequences of a climate event in the central North Pacific

Climatic changes over the North Pacific which began in the mid 1970s, peaked in the early 1980s, and ended by the late 1980s, appear to have altered productivity at various trophic levels in the marine ecosystem in the central North Pacific. The climatic change resulted in increased mixed layer depth and the frequency of deep mixing events, particularly during January-March. A number of biological time series for species ranging from primary to apex levels in the North-western Hawaiian Islands, show corresponding declines in productivity of 30–50% from the early 1980s to the present. We hypothesize that during the early 1980s, increased mixing due to the climate event resulted in greater nutrient input into the euphotic zone and ultimately increased ecosystem productivity. Productivity over a range of trophic levels declined when the climate event ended.     

Feeding habits of skipjack tuna Katsuwonus pelamis and other tuna Thunnus spp. juveniles in the tropical western Pacific

ABSTRACT: The feeding habits of skipjack tuna Katsuwonus pelamis juveniles (8.5–66.8 mm standard length) were examined, collected from the tropical western Pacific in October to December 1994, and their habits were compared with those of the other tuna Thunnus spp. juveniles (9.8–55.3 mm standard length). The indices, frequency of occurrence of each food item in the total number of stomachs examined (% F ), percentage of number of each food item to the total number of all food items identified (% N ), percentage of wet weight of each food item to the total wet weight of all food items identified (% W ), and relative importance of each food item ( IRI ) were estimated in the north equatorial current (NEC) and the north equatorial countercurrent (NECC) areas. The most dominant prey item of skipjack juveniles in the two areas was fish larvae. Other major prey items in the NEC area were Euphausiacea, Amphipoda, and Copepoda; whereas those in the NECC area were Copepoda, Cephalopoda, Euphausiacea, and Amphipoda. In the other tuna juveniles, the IRI of fish larvae in the two areas was remarkably high. Other prey, Euphausiacea and Cephalopoda in the NEC area only and Cephalopoda in the NECC area, were also found. These results indicate that the skipjack juvenile is primarily a piscivorous feeder although they also depend on various other prey organisms, whereas the other tuna juveniles are stronger piscivorous feeders.     

Climate change and interspecific interactions drive species alternations between anchovy and sardine in the western North Pacific: Detection of causality by convergent cross mapping

The abundance and recruitment of anchovy Engraulis spp. and sardine Sardinops spp. alternate in a synchronized way across the Pacific. Convergent cross mapping (CCM) indicated that climate change drives the alternation of the two species in the California Current System. However, climate indices patterns in the western North Pacific contrast with those in the eastern North Pacific, despite synchronous species alternations occurring. Therefore, it is of great interest to clarify whether climate change, or any other factors, affects the population dynamics of Japanese anchovy and Japanese sardine in the western North Pacific. Using CCM, we tested whether climate change and interspecific interactions affect the population dynamics of these two species. We found that climate change affected recruitment, and we clarified the spatiotemporal pattern of this effect. This result supports the existing hypotheses that population dynamics are regulated by climate change in the western North Pacific. The present study also detected interspecific interactions between sardine and anchovy, which might promote the alternation of the two species, and has not been reported in other regions.     

Oceanographic factors affecting interannual recruitment variability of Pacific saury (Cololabis saira) in the central and western North Pacific

Pacific saury (Cololabis saira) has a short life span of 2 years and tends to exhibit marked population fluctuations. To examine the importance of sea surface temperature (SST) and mixed layer depth (MLD) as oceanographic factors for interannual variability of saury recruitment in early life history, we analyzed the relationship between abundance index (survey CPUE (catch per unit of effort)) of age‐1 fish and the oceanographic factors in the spawning and nursery grounds of the previous year when they were born, for the period of 1979–2006, in the central and western North Pacific. Applying the mixture of two linear regression models, the variability in the survey CPUE was positively correlated with previous year's winter SST in the Kuroshio Recirculation region (KR) throughout the survey period except 1994–2002. In contrast, the survey CPUE was positively correlated with the previous year's spring MLD (a proxy of spring chlorophyll a (Chl‐a) concentration) in the Kuroshio‐Oyashio Transition and Kuroshio Extension (TKE) during 1994–2002. This period is characterized by unusually deep spring MLD during 1994–1997 and anomalous climate conditions during 1998–2002. We suggest that saury recruitment variability was generally driven by the winter SST in the KR (winter spawning/nursery ground), or by the spring Chl‐a concentration (a proxy of prey for saury larvae) in the TKE (spring spawning/nursery ground). These oceanographic factors could be potentially useful to predict abundance trends of age‐1 saury in the future if the conditions leading to the switch between SST and MLD as the key input variable are elucidated further.