Does large-scale ocean circulation structure life history connectivity in Antarctic toothfish (Dissostichus mawsoni)?

A multidisciplinary approach incorporating otolith chemistry, age data, and numerical Lagrangian particle simulations indicated a single, self-recruiting population of Antarctic toothfish (Dissostichus mawsoni) in the Southeast Pacific Basin (SPB) and Ross Sea, with a life history structured by the large-scale circulation. Chemistry deposited prior to capture along otolith edges demonstrated strong environmental heterogeneity, yet the chemistry in otolith nuclei, deposited during early life, showed no differences. Age data showed only adult fish in catches on the Pacific–Antarctic Ridge in the SPB and structuring of life stages consistent with transport pathways from the northern Ross Sea. Lagrangian particle simulations predicted that early life stages following the flow in the SPB would be transported to areas in the Ross Sea where juveniles are caught, whereas the circulation would facilitate adult movement along the shelf slope and back into the SPB where spawning adults are caught. These results suggest that successfully spawning fish spend only a part of their adult life history in the Ross Sea, areas in the eastern Ross Sea contribute disproportionately to the spawning population, and areas in the southwestern Ross Sea may supply fisheries in the southern Indian Ocean.

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The Antarctic toothfish (Dissostichus mawsoni): biology, ecology, and life history in the Ross Sea region

Hydrobiologia ◽

10.1007/s10750-015-2435-6 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 761 (1) ◽

pp. 397-414 ◽

Cited By ~ 30

Author(s):

Stuart Hanchet ◽

Alistair Dunn ◽

Steven Parker ◽

Peter Horn ◽

Darren Stevens ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Life History ◽

Ross Sea ◽

Antarctic Toothfish ◽

Dissostichus Mawsoni ◽

The Antarctic

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Physical–biological interactions influencing large toothfish over the Ross Sea shelf

Antarctic Science ◽

10.1017/s0954102017000359 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 29 (6) ◽

pp. 487-494 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Julian Ashford ◽

Michael Dinniman ◽

Cassandra Brooks

Keyword(s):

Life History ◽

Recent Literature ◽

Ross Sea ◽

Physical Structure ◽

Biological Interactions ◽

Research Groups ◽

Antarctic Toothfish ◽

Shelf Circulation ◽

Dissostichus Mawsoni ◽

Competing Hypotheses

AbstractWe add comments to a recent series of publications in peer-reviewed journals concerning the distribution of large Antarctic toothfish (Dissostichus mawsoni) found over the inner shelf of the Ross Sea. We note that earlier fish ecologists advanced innovative hypotheses invoking physical–biological interactions with life history, and that these, far from being disproved, have been relegated by more immediately pressing management concerns. We argue that, despite the considerable advances achieved by research groups working onD. mawsoni, an understanding of distribution and abundance is incomplete without reference to the physical structure that supports their life history. We briefly consider hypotheses highlighted by the recent literature in the context of major features of the shelf circulation in the Ross Sea, in particular intrusions of modified Circumpolar Deep Water along trough systems. We suggest physical–biological interactions that may be involved and call for improvements in the monitoring programme that can help test between the competing hypotheses.

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Comments on “The Antarctic toothfish (Dissostichus mawsoni): biology, ecology, and life history in the Ross Sea region,” by S. Hanchet et al.

Hydrobiologia ◽

10.1007/s10750-015-2607-4 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 771 (1) ◽

pp. 1-7 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

David G. Ainley ◽

Joseph T. Eastman ◽

Cassandra M. Brooks

Keyword(s):

Life History ◽

Ross Sea ◽

Antarctic Toothfish ◽

Dissostichus Mawsoni ◽

The Antarctic

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Erratum to: The Antarctic toothfish (Dissostichus mawsoni): biology, ecology, and life history in the Ross Sea region

Hydrobiologia ◽

10.1007/s10750-015-2513-9 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 761 (1) ◽

pp. 415-415

Author(s):

Stuart Hanchet ◽

Alistair Dunn ◽

Steven Parker ◽

Peter Horn ◽

Darren Stevens ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Life History ◽

Ross Sea ◽

Antarctic Toothfish ◽

Dissostichus Mawsoni ◽

The Antarctic

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Influence of environmental conditions on spatial distribution and abundance of early life stages of Antarctic silverfish,Pleuragramma antarcticum(Nototheniidae), in the Ross Sea

Antarctic Science ◽

10.1017/s0954102009990721 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 22 (3) ◽

pp. 243-254 ◽

Cited By ~ 31

Author(s):

Mario La Mesa ◽

Barbara Catalano ◽

Aniello Russo ◽

Silvio Greco ◽

Marino Vacchi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Spatial Distribution ◽

Early Life ◽

General Circulation ◽

Ross Sea ◽

Life Stages ◽

Early Life Stages ◽

Pleuragramma Antarcticum ◽

Antarctic Silverfish ◽

The Antarctic ◽

Western Ross Sea

AbstractThe Antarctic silverfishPleuragramma antarcticumBoulenger is the dominant fish species in the high Antarctic zone, playing a key role in the Ross Sea midwater shelf ecosystem. Unlike other notothenioids, it is holoplanktonic species, spending its entire life cycle in the water column. Early life stages ofP. antarcticumare generally found in the upper 200 m and their spatial distribution is largely affected by water masses and general circulation. To understand better the mechanisms involved in the geographical distribution of the Antarctic silverfish within the western Ross Sea, an analysis of abundance and distribution was carried out in relation to oceanographic conditions. Samples were collected in summer during the 1998, 2000 and 2004 Italian cruises, covering the majority of the western sector of the Ross Sea. Overall 127 stations were sampled using standard plankton nets for biological samples and CTD and XBT to record abiotic parameters. Although all surveys were in December–January, the yearly results differed in terms of relative abundance of larval developmental stages and of oceanographic characteristics. The 1997–98 samples were characterized by very low abundance overall and by the virtual absence of early larvae. In summers 1999–2000 and 2003–04 the abundance ofP. antarcticumwas one order of magnitude higher than in the earlier season. In 1999–2000 catches were mainly composed of pre-flexion larvae and late postlarvae, while in 2003–04 catches were made up of pre-flexion larvae and juveniles. In January 2000 the Ross Sea summer polynya was fully open as the pack ice was almost completely melted, whereas in January 1998 and 2004 the opening of the polynya was considerably delayed. As a consequence, a delay in phytoplankton blooms and a decrease in primary production were observed in the summer seasons 1998 and 2004 with respect to 2000. The spatial distribution of early life stages, that were confined to the continental shelf and shelf break of the Ross Sea, generally appeared to be positively influenced by transition zones (oceanographic fronts). In addition, most of catches were recorded on or in close proximity to the banks (Pennell, Mawson, Ross and Crary) that characterize the continental shelf of the Ross Sea. On the basis of present findings and literature data, a link between the general circulation in the western Ross Sea and the distribution pattern of the early life stages ofP. antarcticumhas been developed.

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Maturation, reproduction and early life history of anglerfish Lophius piscatorius in Faroese waters

Fróðskaparrit - Faroese Scientific Journal ◽

10.18602/fsj.v60i0.3 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 60 ◽

pp. 114 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Lise H. Ofstad ◽

Torstein Petersen ◽

Petur Steingrund

Keyword(s):

Life History ◽

Early Life ◽

Early Life History ◽

Nursery Ground ◽

Life Stages ◽

Morphological Transformation ◽

Spawning Areas ◽

History Of ◽

Males And Females ◽

First Maturity

<p>Maturation, reproduction and early life history of <em>Lophius piscatorius </em>was investigated in Faroese waters. Length at first maturity (L50) was 58 cm for males and 84 cm for females, corresponding to an age of about four years for males and seven years for females. The proportions of females and males were similar in fish less than 55 cm long, and were skewed towards more males in medium sized fish (55–75 cm). Females were predominant in the larger fish (> 85 cm). Observations of spawning males and females, egg ribbons and pelagic anglerfish larvae, suggest that the main spawning season is from February to April and the spawning area seems to be southwest of the Faroe Plateau and in the Faroe Bank area. The Faroe Plateau probably serves as a nursery ground for juvenile anglerfish. Morphological transformation from larvae to juveniles occurred when the fish were about 7–9 cm long and they settled to the bottom when they were about 11 cm long. Thus, all life stages, as well as nursery areas, spawning areas and feeding areas of anglerfish are found in Faroese waters, indicating a separate stock in the area.</p>

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The early life history of fish—there is still a lot of work to do!

ICES Journal of Marine Science ◽

10.1093/icesjms/fst219 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 71 (4) ◽

pp. 907-908 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Howard I. Browman ◽

Anne Berit Skiftesvik

Keyword(s):

Life History ◽

Early Life ◽

Larval Fish ◽

Fish Larvae ◽

Early Life History ◽

Life Stages ◽

Early Life Stages ◽

Relative Contribution ◽

History Of ◽

Fish Early Life Stages

Abstract The themed set of articles that follows this introduction contains a selection of the papers that were presented at the 36th Annual Larval Fish Conference (ALFC), convened in Osøyro, Norway, 2–6 July 2012. The conference was organized around four theme sessions, three of which are represented with articles in this collection: “Assessing the relative contribution of different sources of mortality in the early life stages of fishes”; “The contribution of mechanistic,behavioural, and physiological studies on fish larvae to ecosystem models”; “Effects of oil and natural gas surveys, extraction activity and spills on fish early life stages”. Looking back at the main themes of earlier conferences about the early life history of fish reveals that they were not very different from those of ALFC2012. Clearly, we still have a lot of work to do on these and other topics related to the biology and ecology of fish early life stages.

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Monitoring Antarctic toothfish in McMurdo Sound to evaluate the Ross Sea region Marine Protected Area

Antarctic Science ◽

10.1017/s0954102019000245 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 31 (4) ◽

pp. 195-207 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

S.J. Parker ◽

S. Mormede ◽

S.M. Hanchet ◽

A. Devries ◽

S. Canese ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Protected Area ◽

Marine Protected Area ◽

Ross Sea ◽

Size Composition ◽

Antarctic Toothfish ◽

Mcmurdo Sound ◽

Weddell Seals ◽

Ecological Relationships ◽

Dissostichus Mawsoni ◽

Northern Areas

AbstractWe developed a random, stratified, vertical longline survey in McMurdo Sound, Antarctica, to compare the local age and size composition, diet and reproductive status of Antarctic toothfish (Dissostichus mawsoni) with those observed from a vessel-based survey of the southern Ross Sea shelf that includes a McMurdo Sound stratum. Results indicated that southern McMurdo Sound toothfish were larger and older than those a short distance away in northern McMurdo Sound. These data, in addition to recoveries of tagged fish, suggest that the large toothfish in McMurdo Sound may have limited mixing with the rest of the population. The potential effects of climate change and fishing in northern areas on toothfish abundance in McMurdo Sound will depend on the mechanism of toothfish recruitment to McMurdo Sound. Understanding the ecological relationships between McMurdo Sound toothfish and the larger population is required to predict these impacts. Furthermore, because toothfish predators (type C killer whalesOrcinus orca, Weddell sealsLeptonychotes weddellii) are abundant in the south-west margins of the Ross Sea, it is important to monitor toothfish in McMurdo Sound as part of the monitoring programme for the Ross Sea region Marine Protected Area.

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How precautionary is the policy governing the Ross Sea Antarctic toothfish (Dissostichus mawsoni) fishery?

Antarctic Science ◽

10.1017/s0954102013000801 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 26 (1) ◽

pp. 3-14 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

Peter A. Abrams

Keyword(s):

Food Web ◽

Ross Sea ◽

Antarctic Toothfish ◽

Dissostichus Mawsoni ◽

Population Forecasts ◽

Accurate Picture ◽

Stock Biomass ◽

Spawning Stock ◽

Population Sizes ◽

Future Population

AbstractThis article reviews the adequacy of data and models currently being used to estimate the present and future population sizes of the Antarctic toothfish (Dissostichus mawsoniNorman) in the Ross Sea regional ecosystem. The current tagging programme is unlikely to provide an accurate picture of total population size, and estimates of both the pre-exploitation spawning stock biomass and the ratio of current to pre-exploitation biomass are unreliable. Many parameters necessary for estimating future population growth or decline have not been measured, and the current objective of a 50% reduction in biomass relative to unexploited biomass may easily fail to prevent a much larger reduction from taking place. The need to guess values of important parameters makes it impossible to set bounds on the potential errors of population forecasts. Current scientific knowledge is far from what is needed to predict the likely effects of food-web responses to harvesting of toothfish in the Ross Sea, or to predict the feedback effects of those food-web changes on toothfish populations.

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