scholarly journals The logic of skipped spawning in fish

2006 ◽  
Vol 63 (1) ◽  
pp. 200-211 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christian Jørgensen ◽  
Bruno Ernande ◽  
Øyvind Fiksen ◽  
Ulf Dieckmann
Keyword(s):  
Gadus Morhua ◽  
Atlantic Cod ◽  
Gonad Development ◽  
Fishing Mortality ◽  
Skipped Spawning ◽  
Stock Recruitment ◽  
Mature Fish ◽  
Future Gain ◽  
Sexually Mature ◽  
Shed Light

That sexually mature fish skip reproduction, especially in response to poor condition, has been documented in many species. We present results from an energy-allocation life history model that shed light on the underlying logic of skipped spawning, based on the Northeast Arctic stock of Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua). The model predicts that skipped spawning is a regular phenomenon, with up to 30% of the sexually mature biomass skipping spawning. Spawning should be skipped if the expected future gain in reproductive output, discounted by survival, more than balances the expected reproductive success the current year. Skipped spawning was most common (i) among potential second-time spawners and (ii) early in life, (iii) when fishing mortality at the spawning grounds was high, (iv) when fishing mortality at the feeding grounds was low, (v) when natural mortality was low, and (vi) when the energetic and mortality costs associated with migration and spawning were high. Cod skipped spawning more often when food availability was both increased (opportunities for better growth) and decreased (too little energy for gonad development), and this pattern interacted with mortality rate. We conclude that skipped spawning may be more widespread than appreciated and highlight potential consequences for the understanding of stock–recruitment relationships.

scholarly journals Non-linearity in stock–recruitment relationships of Atlantic cod: insights from a multi-model approach

2019 ◽  
Vol 77 (4) ◽  
pp. 1492-1502 ◽  
Author(s):  
Camilla Sguotti ◽  
Saskia A Otto ◽  
Xochitl Cormon ◽  
Karl M Werner ◽  
Ethan Deyle ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Variables ◽  
Gadus Morhua ◽  
Fishery Management ◽  
Atlantic Cod ◽  
Stock Assessment ◽  
Fish Stock ◽  
Recovery Potential ◽  
Stock Recruitment ◽  
Model Approach ◽  
Non Parametric

Abstract The stock–recruitment relationship is the basis of any stock prediction and thus fundamental for fishery management. Traditional parametric stock–recruitment models often poorly fit empirical data, nevertheless they are still the rule in fish stock assessment procedures. We here apply a multi-model approach to predict recruitment of 20 Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) stocks as a function of adult biomass and environmental variables. We compare the traditional Ricker model with two non-parametric approaches: (i) the stochastic cusp model from catastrophe theory and (ii) multivariate simplex projections, based on attractor state-space reconstruction. We show that the performance of each model is contingent on the historical dynamics of individual stocks, and that stocks which experienced abrupt and state-dependent dynamics are best modelled using non-parametric approaches. These dynamics are pervasive in Western stocks highlighting a geographical distinction between cod stocks, which have implications for their recovery potential. Furthermore, the addition of environmental variables always improved the models’ predictive power indicating that they should be considered in stock assessment and management routines. Using our multi-model approach, we demonstrate that we should be more flexible when modelling recruitment and tailor our approaches to the dynamical properties of each individual stock.

scholarly journals Trade-offs between growth and reproduction in wild Atlantic cod

2014 ◽  
Vol 71 (7) ◽  
pp. 1106-1112 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arild Folkvord ◽  
Christian Jørgensen ◽  
Knut Korsbrekke ◽  
Richard D.M. Nash ◽  
Trygve Nilsen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gadus Morhua ◽  
Atlantic Cod ◽  
Life History Strategy ◽  
Skipped Spawning ◽  
Growth Increments ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
Survival And Reproduction ◽  
Size At Age ◽  
Allocation Strategies ◽  
Growth And Reproduction

Animals partition and trade off their resources between competing needs such as growth, maintenance, and reproduction. Over a lifetime, allocation strategies should result in distinct trajectories for growth, survival, and reproduction, but such longitudinal individual data are difficult to reconstruct for wild animals and especially marine fish. We were able to reconstruct two of these trajectories in wild-caught Northeast Arctic cod (Gadus morhua) females: size-at-age was back-calculated from otolith growth increments, and recent spawning history was reconstructed from postovulatory follicles and present oocyte development. Our findings indicate distinct trade-offs between length growth and reproduction. Fish that sexually matured early had attained a larger size at age 3 than immatures, but onset of reproduction caused slower growth compared with immatures. We found that 6- and 7-year-old females skipping spawning grew significantly more in the year of missed spawning than females spawning for the second consecutive year. The latter tentatively supports the hypothesis that skipped spawning may occur as an adaptive life-history strategy, given the potential future fecundity gain with increased size.

scholarly journals Mechanisms regulating oocyte recruitment and skipped spawning in Northeast Arctic cod (Gadus morhua)

2009 ◽  
Vol 66 (9) ◽  
pp. 1582-1596 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jon Egil Skjæraasen ◽  
James Kennedy ◽  
Anders Thorsen ◽  
Merete Fonn ◽  
Bente Njøs Strand ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Egg Production ◽  
Gadus Morhua ◽  
Energy Reserves ◽  
Lower Plasma ◽  
Arctic Cod ◽  
Food Regimes ◽  
Skipped Spawning ◽  
Physical Measurements ◽  
Stock Recruitment ◽  
17Β Estradiol

To examine mechanisms that affect fecundity, atresia, and skipped spawning in Northeast Arctic cod ( Gadus morhua ), we conducted an experiment where wild-caught cod (>60 cm) kept under restricted food regimes were subjected to monthly biopsies and hormonal and physical measurements. The power of body weight as a fecundity proxy increased until the presumed end of follicle proliferation in early November; thereafter, it remained stable. Atresia occurred in most females, but for maturing females, mainly close to spawning. Eighteen percent of the females had small gonads with predominantly previtellogenic oocytes at sacrifice in January. These females were past-spawners, verified by postovulatory follicles in their gonads. These “skippers” had lower condition than maturing cod from December, smaller livers upon sacrifice, and lower plasma 17β-estradiol values from early November. Until November, oocytes developed similarly for all females, but in November, oocyte development was arrested at the early cortical alveoli stage and atresia occurred in all skippers. In summary, fecundity and skipped spawning seem highly influenced by energy reserves during early vitellogenesis and was limited to females only. Finally, skippers were identifiable long before the predicted onset of spawning, which could have implications for forecasting of egg production and hence stock–recruitment relationships.

Time series bias in the estimation of density-dependent mortality in stock-recruitment models

1995 ◽  
Vol 52 (1) ◽  
pp. 223-232 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ransom A. Myers ◽  
N. J. Barrowman
Keyword(s):  
Time Series ◽  
Gadus Morhua ◽  
Large Time ◽  
Atlantic Cod ◽  
Model Misspecification ◽  
Parameter Estimates ◽  
Density Dependent Mortality ◽  
Stock Recruitment ◽  
Iteroparous Species ◽  
The Relationship

Large biases can occur in parameter estimates for stock–recruitment models because the stock sizes are not chosen independently, being correlated with variability in recruitment. We examine the importance of this "time series bias" by a comprehensive analysis of available stock–recruitment data and the use of simulations. For semelparous species, i.e., species that reproduce only once, time series bias is important for all populations for which we had data. For iteroparous species, i.e., species that reproduce more than once, large biases occur if the populations are exploited at close to the maximum that is biologically possible. Notably, when there is autocorrelation in natural mortality, for univoltine species, the direction of bias is reversed due to model misspecification. Given moderate sample sizes and moderate levels of exploitation, time series bias is small for species such as Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua), for which α, the slope of the relationship between recruitment and number of spawners as the number of spawners goes to zero, is large. Time series bias will usually be important in species such as hakes (Merluccius) for which α appears to be relatively small.

Improving the stock-recruitment relationship in Icelandic cod (Gadus morhua) by including age diversity of spawners

1998 ◽  
Vol 55 (6) ◽  
pp. 1372-1377 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gudrun Marteinsdottir ◽  
Kristjan Thorarinsson
Keyword(s):  
Gadus Morhua ◽  
Extended Period ◽  
Shannon Index ◽  
Age Composition ◽  
Stock Size ◽  
Age Diversity ◽  
Spawning Stock ◽  
Stock Recruitment ◽  
Mature Fish

The size of the Icelandic cod stock has been gradually declining since the middle of this century. Recruitment has been poor over an extended period of time and much below the long-term average since 1985. Except for the concurrent decrease in stock size and recruitment during this period, the stock size - recruitment relationship is weak. This relationship is improved by including the age composition of the spawning stock. Spawning stock age diversity in each year from 1955 to 1992 was estimated with the Shannon index using the number of mature fish in each age group. By including information on age composition, 31% of the total variation in recruitment was accounted for by the model with stock size, age diversity, and the interaction between the two, compared with less than 15% by single factor models of either age diversity or stock size. These results indicate that age diversity is an important component in stock-recruitment models and that one of the management goals for fish species should be to maintain high age diversity in the spawning stocks.

Estimating and testing non-additivity in fishing mortality: implications for detecting a fisheries collapse

2002 ◽  
Vol 59 (4) ◽  
pp. 597-601 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ransom A Myers ◽  
Terrance J Quinn II
Keyword(s):  
Population Model ◽  
Gadus Morhua ◽  
Atlantic Cod ◽  
Fishing Mortality ◽  
Catch Per Unit Effort ◽  
Structured Population Model ◽  
Structured Population ◽  
Powerful Approach ◽  
Age Structured ◽  
Age Structured Model

Common in many fisheries collapses is a disproportionate increase in fishing mortality at younger ages. One mechanism by which this increase could occur is sufficient depletion of the population at older ages due to strong overfishing, which leads to targeting of younger fish. Thus, it is essential for assessments to estimate and test for a change in selectivity in the fishery. We introduce a simple and powerful approach based upon Tukey's one degree of freedom test for non-additivity. This approach can be applied within any statistical age-structured population model that estimates selectivity. We illustrate the approach with data from Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) from St. Pierre Bank, Canada. The results show significant non-additivity in fishing mortality that translates into an increase in selectivity on younger ages when fishing mortality is high. This approach also can be applied to the output of an age-structured model that assumes catch-at-age is known without error or to any survey or catch-per-unit-effort data for which estimates of abundance are made by year and age. We believe that this approach should be routinely applied in assessments, particularly when overfishing has led to depletion of the overall population or to truncation of the age structure.

In what direction should the fishing mortality target change when natural mortality increases within an assessment?

2016 ◽  
Vol 73 (3) ◽  
pp. 349-357 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher M. Legault ◽  
Michael C. Palmer
Keyword(s):  
Mortality Rate ◽  
Empirical Evidence ◽  
Gadus Morhua ◽  
Atlantic Cod ◽  
Stock Assessment ◽  
Total Mortality ◽  
Natural Mortality ◽  
Fishing Mortality ◽  
Limanda Ferruginea ◽  
Trade Offs

Traditionally, the natural mortality rate (M) in a stock assessment is assumed to be constant. When M increases within an assessment, the question arises how to change the fishing mortality rate target (FTarget). Per recruit considerations lead to an increase in FTarget, while limiting total mortality leads to a decrease in FTarget. Application of either approach can result in nonsensical results. Short-term gains in yield associated with high FTarget values should be considered in light of potential losses in future yield if the high total mortality rate leads to a decrease in recruitment. Examples using yellowtail flounder (Limanda ferruginea) and Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) are used to demonstrate that FTarget can change when M increases within an assessment and to illustrate the consequences of different FTarget values. When a change in M within an assessment is contemplated, first consider the amount and strength of empirical evidence to support the change. When the empirical evidence is not strong, we recommend using a constant M. If strong empirical evidence exists, we recommend estimating FTarget for a range of stock–recruitment relationships and evaluating the trade-offs between risk of overfishing and forgone yield.

Potential effects of maternal factors on spawning stock–recruitment relationships under varying fishing pressure

1999 ◽  
Vol 56 (10) ◽  
pp. 1882-1890 ◽  
Author(s):  
Beth Scott ◽  
Gudrun Marteinsdottir ◽  
Peter Wright
Keyword(s):  
Gadus Morhua ◽  
Reproductive Output ◽  
Atlantic Cod ◽  
Reproductive Potential ◽  
Fishing Pressure ◽  
Age Composition ◽  
Standard Population ◽  
Stock Biomass ◽  
Spawning Stock ◽  
Stock Recruitment

The use of spawning stock biomass as a direct measure of reproductive potential may not be valid because of age- or size-specific differences in fecundity and the effect of maternal size and condition on offspring viability. In this study, we examine the potential significance of these effects using modelled Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) populations. We quantify how changes in the age composition of the spawning stock, due to a range of fishing pressures and under different stock-recruitment relationships, could influence the reproductive output. Quantitative comparisons were made between a "standard" population where all age-classes only suffer natural instantaneous mortality (M = 0.2) and populations that suffer increasing levels of fishing pressure (F = 0.0-1.0). The results of the modelling exercise suggests that if the effects of the loss of more fecund older/larger individuals in the population are not considered, the number of potential recruits produced by populations under higher levels of fishing mortality could be overestimated by as much as 60%. When age/size-related maternal effects on egg viability are also considered, the amount of potential recruits can be overestimated by a further 10% in the heavily exploited populations.

The reproductive cycle of male Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua L.) from Placentia Bay, Newfoundland

2000 ◽  
Vol 78 (6) ◽  
pp. 1017-1025 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rick M Rideout ◽  
Margaret PM Burton
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Cycle ◽  
Gadus Morhua ◽  
Atlantic Cod ◽  
Rapid Development ◽  
Liver Lipid ◽  
Gonad Development ◽  
Feeding Intensity ◽  
Gonad Mass ◽  
Gonad Size ◽  
Placentia Bay

The timing of the reproductive cycle of male Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua L.) from Placentia Bay, Newfoundland, was determined from histological gonad samples collected throughout the year. Cycles in gonad mass, whole mass, and somatic mass indices were also determined. Results were consistent with a spring spawning population, with males having testes filled with spermatozoa as early as January. There was a short resting period following spermiation, during which residual sperm was resorbed, followed by rapid development so that some sperm was again evident in the testes as early as November. At first, the presence of spermatozoa was accompanied by cells in all other stages of development, but by spermiation the testes were filled mostly with spermatozoa. Gonad size was largest in April, smallest in October, and increased steeply again in November. Energy for gonad growth came from food intake, as well as liver lipid stores. Gonad development was, for the most part, finished prior to the winter reduction in feeding intensity.

Fishing under low productivity conditions is further delaying recovery of Northwest Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua)

2006 ◽  
Vol 63 (2) ◽  
pp. 235-238 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter A Shelton ◽  
Alan F Sinclair ◽  
Ghislain A Chouinard ◽  
Robert Mohn ◽  
Daniel E Duplisea
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rates ◽  
Gadus Morhua ◽  
Atlantic Cod ◽  
Rank Order ◽  
Fishing Mortality ◽  
Contributing Factors ◽  
Northwest Atlantic ◽  
Average Growth ◽  
Northern Portion ◽  
Predominant Factor

Excessive and unsustainable fishing mortality was the predominant factor in the depletion of Northwest Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) stocks. However, despite imposition of severe catch restrictions for over a decade, stocks have mostly failed to recover at predicted rates. A number of explanations have been considered. Our analysis of demographic characteristics of 12 of these stocks indicates that recent productivity over the northern portion of the range is much lower than 20 years previous when several stocks recovered from less severe declines. Main contributing factors are, in rank order, increased natural mortality, decreased body growth, and in a few cases, reduced recruitment rates. Continued fishing in directed and bycatch fisheries is also an important factor. Under current conditions, we estimate negative or very low (<2% per year) average growth rates in eight stocks. If fishing ceases, growth rates of >5% would be expected in six stocks, with >10% in four of these. Although productivity is low, we conclude that fishing mortality is further delaying recovery.

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