Overlap in distribution and diets of Atlantic mackerel (Scomber scombrus), Norwegian spring-spawning herring (Clupea harengus) and blue whiting (Micromesistius poutassou) in the Norwegian Sea during late summer

Abstract Weight-at-length and length-/weight-at-age were analysed for mature 3- to 8-year-old Northeast Atlantic mackerel (Scomber scombrus; n= 26 084) collected annually in autumn (September and October) at the end of the annual feeding season during 1984–2013 in the northern North Sea. The age range represented 92% of the mackerel stock size (age 3+). During the most recent decade, mackerel length- and weight-at-age continually declined. In 2013, the average mackerel was 3.7 cm shorter and weighed 175 g less than the average individual in 2002. Individual weight-at-length, demonstrating annual summer feeding success, continually declined during the most recent 5 years, whereas somatic growth of cohorts aged 3–8 continually declined for the last 11 of 25 cohorts investigated. Growth of the latest cohort was 34% of the maximum cohort growth recorded. Both weight-at-length and cohort growth were negatively affected by mackerel stock size and Norwegian spring-spawning herring (Clupea harengus) stock size (weight-at-length: r2 = 0.89; growth (length): r2 = 0.68; growth (weight): r2 = 0.78), while temperature was not significant. Conspecific density-dependence was most likely mediated via intensified competition associated with greater mackerel density. Negative effects of herring were likely mediated by exploitative competition for shared food resources rather than direct competition due to limited spatio-temporal overlap between mackerel and herring during the feeding season. Herring begin their seasonal feeding migration at least a month before mackerel; therefore, herring consumption influences prey availability for the later-arriving mackerel. Record low mackerel growth and negative effects of mackerel and herring stock size suggest that the carrying capacity of the Norwegian Sea and adjacent areas for plankton-feeding fish stocks have been reached. However, compounding effects of a less productive Norwegian Sea during the 30-year period cannot be excluded.

Download Full-text

Endurance at intermediate swimming speeds of Atlantic mackerel, Scomber scombrus L., herring, Clupea harengus L., and saithe, Pollachius virens L.

Journal of Fish Biology ◽

10.1111/j.1095-8649.1988.tb05468.x ◽

1988 ◽

Vol 33 (2) ◽

pp. 255-266 ◽

Cited By ~ 78

Author(s):

P. He ◽

C. S. Wardle

Keyword(s):

Clupea Harengus ◽

Atlantic Mackerel ◽

Scomber Scombrus

Download Full-text

Di-n-hexyl Phthalate (DHP), a Newly Identified Contaminant in Atlantic Herring (Clupea harengus harengus) and Atlantic Mackerel (Scomber scombrus)

Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences ◽

10.1139/f81-113 ◽

1981 ◽

Vol 38 (7) ◽

pp. 856-859 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Charles J. Musial ◽

John F. Uthe ◽

Gary R. Sirota ◽

B. Garth Burns ◽

Michael W. Gilgan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Acid Ester ◽

Phthalic Acid ◽

Clupea Harengus ◽

Proton Nuclear Magnetic Resonance ◽

Atlantic Herring ◽

Isolation And Identification ◽

Atlantic Mackerel ◽

Scomber Scombrus ◽

Phthalic Acid Ester ◽

Clupea Harengus Harengus

We describe the isolation and identification of di-n-hexyl phthalate, a new marine pollutant found in Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus harengus) and Atlantic mackerel (Scomber scombrus). This compound was isolated from extracted lipids by a combination of gel permeation, high performance liquid and column chromatography, and selective precipitation of impurities. Conclusive proof of its structure was obtained from gas chromatographic–mass spectrometric analysis and proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The concentrations of di-n-hexyl phthalate (17–27 μg/g wet weight), which is not a major industrial phthalic acid ester, far exceeded those of dibutyl and di-2-ethylhexyl phthalates, the major industrial phthalic acid esters. Thus the possibility of selective bioaccumulation of DHP in herring and mackerel was indicated. This finding is important in view of the paucity of toxicological information concerning this compound.Key words: phthalic acid ester, di-n-hexyl phthalate (DHP), analysis, mackerel, herring, marine fish, pollution

Download Full-text

Quantitative molecular detection of larval Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus) in stomach contents of Atlantic mackerel (Scomber scombrus) marks regions of predation pressure

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-021-84545-7 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Bridie Jean Marie Allan ◽

Jessica Louise Ray ◽

Maik Tiedemann ◽

Valeriya Komyakova ◽

Frode Vikebø ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Early Life ◽

Molecular Detection ◽

Stomach Contents ◽

Early Life History ◽

Predation Pressure ◽

Clupea Harengus ◽

Atlantic Herring ◽

Atlantic Mackerel ◽

Life History Stages ◽

Scomber Scombrus

AbstractMortality rates in the early life-history stages of fishes are generally high yet identifying the causes remain unclear. Faltering recruitment rates of Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus) in the Norwegian Sea indicate a need to identify which mortality factors influence larval herring survival. Previous research suggests that increased predation pressure by Atlantic mackerel (Scomber scombrus) may contribute to the disconnect between spawning stock biomass and recruitment. To quantify the contribution of predation pressure by Atlantic mackerel to herring larval mortality, two research cruises were conducted within a probable “hot spot” (67–72° N) for intensified mackerel predation based on particle drift simulations. Mackerel stomach contents were analysed for herring larvae content using droplet digital polymerase chain reaction (ddPCR) with a quantitative molecular detection assay specific for herring. The ddPCR results demonstrate clear predation by mackerel on herring larvae and also suggest that the alternative use of visual examination may give misleading results. Our results show that mackerel should be considered a potentially important predator on herring larvae. The quantitative molecular assay presented here shows great promise as an efficient and specific tool to correctly identify and quantify predation pressure on early life-history stages of fishes.

Download Full-text

Mackerel predation on herring larvae during summer feeding in the Norwegian Sea

ICES Journal of Marine Science ◽

10.1093/icesjms/fsv087 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 72 (8) ◽

pp. 2313-2321 ◽

Cited By ~ 20

Author(s):

Georg Skaret ◽

Eneko Bachiller ◽

Herdis Langøy ◽

Erling K. Stenevik

Keyword(s):

Clupea Harengus ◽

Distribution Area ◽

Calanoid Copepods ◽

Norwegian Sea ◽

Atlantic Mackerel ◽

Investigation Area ◽

Pelagic Larvae ◽

Coastal Shelf ◽

Regulatory Effects ◽

Summer Feeding

Abstract In the course of the past two decades, Atlantic mackerel, Scomber scombrus, have expanded their summer feeding distribution in the Norwegian Sea substantially, and now potentially overlap with pelagic larvae of Norwegian spring-spawning herring, Clupea harengus, as these drift northwards. Mackerel are known to be opportunistic predators, and the aim of this study was to evaluate mackerel predation in an area of overlap between mackerel and herring larvae, with particular focus on predation on herring larvae. In early June 2013, we followed a predefined transect in the expected core larvae distribution area on the Norwegian coastal shelf between about 66°N and 69°N. The transect was repeated twice, and samples of mackerel for stomach analyses and subsequent herring larvae samples were obtained at pre-defined stations. Mackerel were caught in all but one of the trawl hauls, but were hardly ever observed acoustically, suggesting that they were dispersed close to the surface throughout the study area. Herring larvae were caught in all samples. Calanoid copepods were the dominant prey of the mackerel, but 45% of the mackerel guts contained herring larvae, with a maximum of 225 larvae counted in a single gut. Both the frequency of guts containing herring larvae and the average amount of herring larvae increased in line with increasing abundance of larvae. On the other hand, no spatial correlation between mackerel abundance and herring larvae abundance was found at the station level. The results suggest that mackerel fed opportunistically on herring larvae, and that predation pressure therefore largely depends on the degree of overlap in time and space. Rough areal projections suggest that the mackerel would be capable of consuming the herring larvae present in the investigation area in 6–7 d, and that such predation therefore could have regulatory effects on stocks of Norwegian spring-spawning herring.

Download Full-text

Routine respiration rates of Atlantic mackerel, Scomber scombrus L., and herring, Clupea harengus L., at low activity levels

Journal of Fish Biology ◽

10.1111/j.1095-8649.1993.tb00314.x ◽

1993 ◽

Vol 42 (1) ◽

pp. 149-151 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

A. D. F. Johnstone ◽

C. S. Wardle ◽

S. M. Almatar

Keyword(s):

Clupea Harengus ◽

Activity Levels ◽

Atlantic Mackerel ◽

Scomber Scombrus ◽

Respiration Rates ◽

Low Activity

Download Full-text

Feeding Ecology of Northeast Atlantic Mackerel, Norwegian Spring-Spawning Herring and Blue Whiting in the Norwegian Sea

PLoS ONE ◽

10.1371/journal.pone.0149238 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 11 (2) ◽

pp. e0149238 ◽

Cited By ~ 32

Author(s):

Eneko Bachiller ◽

Georg Skaret ◽

Leif Nøttestad ◽

Aril Slotte

Keyword(s):

Feeding Ecology ◽

Norwegian Sea ◽

Northeast Atlantic ◽

Blue Whiting ◽

Atlantic Mackerel

Download Full-text

Behaviour of mackerel schools during summer feeding migration in the Norwegian Sea, as observed from fishing vessel sonars

ICES Journal of Marine Science ◽

10.1016/j.icesjms.2004.06.009 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 61 (7) ◽

pp. 1093-1099 ◽

Cited By ~ 22

Author(s):

Olav Rune Godø ◽

Vidar Hjellvik ◽

Svein A. Iversen ◽

Aril Slotte ◽

Eirik Tenningen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

School Size ◽

Migration Speed ◽

Fishing Vessel ◽

Norwegian Sea ◽

Atlantic Mackerel ◽

Scomber Scombrus ◽

School Tracking ◽

And Migration ◽

Feeding Migration ◽

Summer Feeding

Abstract In July 2002, two commercial vessels were used to study the distribution of Northeast Atlantic mackerel (Scomber scombrus L.) during their feeding migration in the eastern part of the Norwegian Sea between 62°N and 70°N. Pelagic trawling and school tracking with SIMRAD 24–36 kHz sonar demonstrated that the stock was distributed throughout the study area. Information about time, geographic position, size, depth, speed, and direction was stored for each school during tracking. This study reports analyses of data from 63 schools that were tracked for 30 s or longer. All schools were recorded at depths of less than 100 m, and the majority (65%) were found between the surface and 40 m. The direction of migration (north 0° ± 22.5°, northeast 45° ± 22.5°, etc.) was non-random, with east and west as dominant swimming directions. School size and migration speed varied from 1 to 7000 tonnes and 0 to 6 m s−1, respectively. Methodological improvements are discussed.

Download Full-text