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.

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.

The early life-history dynamics of Northeast Arctic cod: levels of natural mortality and abundance during the first 3 years of life

2016 ◽  
Vol 73 (2) ◽  
pp. 246-256 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bjarte Bogstad ◽  
Natalia A. Yaragina ◽  
Richard D.M. Nash
Keyword(s):  
Life History ◽  
Early Life ◽  
Egg Production ◽  
Gadus Morhua ◽  
Early Life History ◽  
Natural Mortality ◽  
Arctic Cod ◽  
Stock Assessments ◽  
Class Strength ◽  
New Generation

Recruitment at age 3 of the Northeast Arctic cod (Gadus morhua) is highly variable. It has generally been believed that year-class strength for this stock is determined prior to settlement to the bottom after about 6 months. However, newer observations indicate that year-class strength may change considerably between settlement and recruitment at age 3. Our analyses cover the 1983–2009 year classes where comprehensive data from total egg production (TEP), surveys, and stock assessments were available for a thorough examination of these cohorts. On average, only 6 out of 1 million of a new generation at the TEP stage reaches the age of recruitment to the fishery. The between-cohort variability in abundance is greatest at the ages 0–1 stage. Although the mortality is highest during the first months of life, the year-class strength can also be affected considerably by processes taking place between the 0-group stage (∼6 months) and age 3. The mortality in this period of life seems to be strongly density-dependent, and cannibalism is an important source of mortality.

scholarly journals Timing and determination of potential fecundity in Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua)

2006 ◽  
Vol 63 (2) ◽  
pp. 310-320 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jon Egil Skjæraasen ◽  
Trygve Nilsen ◽  
Olav S Kjesbu
Keyword(s):  
Egg Production ◽  
Gadus Morhua ◽  
Atlantic Cod ◽  
Explanatory Power ◽  
Temporal Variations ◽  
Energy Reserves ◽  
Potential Fecundity ◽  
Time Determination ◽  
Spawning Periods

Studies using annual averages of lipid storage or estimated quality of the feeding season have shown that energy reserves influence egg production in Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua). However, vitellogenesis starts months before spawning. Therefore, energy reserves near the start of vitellogenesis might provide better proxies of fecundity and hence egg production than yearly averages. If so, proxies with large temporal variations (e.g., weight and lipid energy) should vary similarly in their predictive power, and females with different spawning periods should have their fecundity determined at different times. We exposed cod to two photoperiods to induce different spawning seasons. Growth before spawning was monitored, and potential fecundity was measured at the onset of spawning. The date yielding the greatest explanatory power differed between photoperiods. As proxies, length varied less and had lower explanatory power than weight. Lipid energy at the onset of spawning was a poor proxy. The greatest explanatory power was found ~3–4 months before spawning around the start of vitellogenesis, indicating that potential fecundity was highly influenced by female energy reserves at this time. Determination of potential fecundity early in vitellogenesis may be a common feature for determinate teleost spawners.

Robustness of egg production methods as a fishery independent alternative to assess the Eastern Baltic cod stock (Gadus morhua callarias L.)

2012 ◽  
Vol 117-118 ◽  
pp. 75-85 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gerd Kraus ◽  
Hans-Harald Hinrichsen ◽  
Rüdiger Voss ◽  
Eske Teschner ◽  
Jonna Tomkiewicz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Egg Production ◽  
Gadus Morhua ◽  
Production Methods ◽  
Eastern Baltic ◽  
Baltic Cod

Accuracy and precision in stock separation of north-east Arctic and Norwegian coastal cod by otoliths - comparing readings, image analyses and a genetic method

2005 ◽  
Vol 56 (5) ◽  
pp. 753 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erik Berg ◽  
Tuula H. Sarvas ◽  
Alf Harbitz ◽  
Svein Erik Fevolden ◽  
Arnt Børre Salberg
Keyword(s):  
Visual Inspection ◽  
Gadus Morhua ◽  
Atlantic Cod ◽  
Complete Separation ◽  
Arctic Cod ◽  
Genetic Method ◽  
North East ◽  
Accuracy And Precision ◽  
Growth Zones ◽  
The Difference

The distinction between north-east Arctic cod and Norwegian coastal cod, two major groups of Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua L.), has for many years been based on different distance and shape similarities between the two first translucent growth zones in the otoliths, subjectively decided by visual inspection in a binocular. To analyse the certainty of this technique, four independent readers have classified 263 cod otoliths in total from five different geographical areas. For three of the readers, between 82% and 89% of the classification results coincided with independent results based on genetic analyses. Further, 38 cod otoliths, where the readers were certain of the classification (21 north-east Arctic cod and 17 coastal cod) were classified by several image analysis methods. A complete separation was obtained by using the ratio of the circumferences of the two zones, providing a typical ratio of approximately 2 for coastal and 1.5 for north-east Arctic cod. The otolith method for separating the two types of cod has been considered adequately accurate in assessing the two stocks of cod. However, the method is sensitive to subjective interpretation, and action needs to be taken to minimise the difference in interpretation among otolith readers.

scholarly journals Does increased information about reproductive potential result in better prediction of recruitment?

2011 ◽  
Vol 68 (8) ◽  
pp. 1361-1368 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Joanne Morgan ◽  
Alfonso Perez-Rodriguez ◽  
Fran Saborido-Rey
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Biology ◽  
Egg Production ◽  
Gadus Morhua ◽  
Reproductive Potential ◽  
Essential Element ◽  
Greenland Halibut ◽  
Greenland Halibut Reinhardtius Hippoglossoides ◽  
Difficult Challenge ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Hippoglossoides Platessoides

The relationship between stock size and recruitment is an essential element in the understanding of the productivity of a population. However, predicting the number of recruits produced by a population has proven to be a difficult challenge. This may in part be a result of poor estimation of reproductive potential (RP). We determined if including increased information on reproductive biology in indices of RP results in better predictions of recruitment. We investigated some of the conditions that lead to better (or worse) recruitment prediction when more biologically complex indices of RP are used. Data from four populations in the Northwest Atlantic were examined: southern Grand Bank (NAFO Division 3NO) cod ( Gadus morhua ), Flemish Cap (NAFO Division 3M) cod, Newfoundland (NAFO Division 3LNO) American plaice ( Hippoglossoides platessoides ), and Greenland halibut ( Reinhardtius hippoglossoides ) (NAFO Subarea 2 + Division 3KLMNO). Stock–recruit models paired with complex indices of RP gave a better estimate of recruitment in slightly more than half of the tests conducted. When there were larger trends in the reproductive biology (maturity at age, sex ratio and egg production), more complex indices of RP were more likely to provide a better estimate of recruitment.

Population Dynamics of the Arcto-Norwegian Cod

1967 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 145-190 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. J. Garrod
Keyword(s):  
Gadus Morhua ◽  
Barents Sea ◽  
Fishing Effort ◽  
Catch Per Unit Effort ◽  
Group Iii ◽  
Spawning Stock ◽  
Stock Recruitment ◽  
Post War ◽  
The One ◽  
Definition Of

By reason of its geographical distribution, the Arcto-Norwegian cod (Gadus morhua) supports three distinct fisheries, two feeding fisheries in the Barents Sea and at Bear Island–Spitsbergen, and a spawning fishery off the Norway coast. In the past this diversity of fishing on the one stock has made it difficult to unify all the data to give an overall description of post-war changes in the stock. In this contribution three modifications of conventional procedures are introduced which enable this to be done. These are: (i) a system of weighting the catch per unit effort data from each fishery to a level of comparability; (ii) a more rigorous definition of the effective fishing effort on each age-group; (iii) a method of estimation of the effective fishing effort on partially recruited age-groups.Using these methods the analysis presents the effects of fishing on each fishery in the context of its effect on the total stock, and at the same time it indicates ways in which factors other than fishing may have influenced the apparent abundance of the stock. The treatment of the data is also used to derive estimates of spawning stock and recruitment of 3-year-old cod for subsequent analysis of stock–recruitment relationships.

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