Stage Dependent Vertical Distribution of Haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus) Eggs in a Stratified Water Column: Observations and Model

1989 ◽  
Vol 46 (S1) ◽  
pp. s55-s67 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fred H. Page ◽  
Kenneth T. Frank ◽  
Keith R. Thompson

The depth distribution of four development stages of haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus) eggs was measured during May 1984 in a continuously stratified water column over Browns Bank. The egg profile varied with development. Early stage eggs were most concentrated near the sea surface whereas late stage eggs were distributed uniformly over depth or had a subsurface maximum. In order to explain the shape of these profiles a one-dimensional (vertical) advection–diffusion model including density stratification was used. Model egg profiles compared favourably with observed profiles and indicate that a large proportion (>30%) of haddock eggs are below the Ekman depth (δe. This proportion increases as the eggs develop. For example more than 50% of the stage III and IV eggs are below δe. Surface drift bottles and other indicators of the very near surface wind-driven transport would appear to be poor indicators of egg transport in haddock and possibly several other species, such as Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) and mackerel (Scomber scombrus).

1992 ◽  
Vol 49 (2) ◽  
pp. 238-251 ◽  
Author(s):  
Keith Brander ◽  
Peter C. F. Hurley

In spring, Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) spawned progressively later from southwest to northeast along the Scotian Shelf and matched the variation in peak abundance of Calanus finmarchicus. In fall, cod spawned in some, but not all, areas where Calanus were abundant. This is consistent with the hypothesis that cod spawning is coupled to copepod production, which is a part of the "match–mismatch" hypothesis proposed by D. H. Cushing. The timing of spawning was estimated from the distributions of early- and late-stage eggs of cod, haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus), and witch flounder (Glyptocephalus cynoglossus) collected during Scotian Shelf Ichthyoplankton Survey (SSIP) cruises in 1979–81.


1987 ◽  
Vol 44 (1) ◽  
pp. 14-25 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. J. Buckley ◽  
R. G. Lough

A transect across southern Georges Bank in May 1983 showed higher levels of available prey for haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus) and cod (Gadus morhua) larvae at two stratified sites than at a well-mixed site. At the stratified sites, prey biomass was high (30–300 μg dry wt∙L−1) near the surface above the thermocline; values were lower and more uniform with depth (10–30 μg dry wt∙L−1) at the well-mixed site. Larval population centers generally coincided with prey biomass vertically. Recent growth in dry weight of haddock larvae as estimated by RNA–DNA ratio analysis was higher at the stratified sites (8–13%∙d−1) than at the well-mixed site (7%∙d−1). Larvae appeared to be in excellent condition at the stratified sites, but up to 50% of haddock larvae from the well-mixed site had RNA–DNA ratios in the range observed for starved larvae in the laboratory. Cod collected at the same site were in better condition and growing faster than haddock. The data support the hypotheses that (1) stratified conditions in the spring favor good growth and survival of haddock larvae and (2) cod larvae are better adapted to grow and survive in well-mixed waters at lower levels of available food than haddock larvae.


2009 ◽  
Vol 99 (1) ◽  
pp. 47-54 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexandre Alonso-Fernández ◽  
Ann Carole Vallejo ◽  
Fran Saborido-Rey ◽  
Hilario Murua ◽  
Edward A. Trippel

1987 ◽  
Vol 44 (1) ◽  
pp. 26-39 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Anthony Koslow ◽  
Keith R. Thompson ◽  
William Silvert

Year-class success of both Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) and haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus) stocks in the northwest Atlantic exhibits large-scale coherence and low-frequency variability with apparent periodicities of 10–20 yr. Several physical and biological variables in the region exhibit similar large-scale coherence and apparent periodicity. Multiple regression analysis indicates that year-class success in northwest Atlantic cod stocks tends to be associated with large-scale meteorological patterns and offshore winds. Recruitment to most haddock stocks from the Scotian Shelf to Georges Bank is negatively associated with abundance of 0-group mackerel, which may be due to predation over winter and/or to a combination of environmental features including sea-surface temperature, large-scale atmospheric pressure systems, and freshwater outflows. Statistical analyses often did not define a unique set of variables that best predicted fishery recruitment due to widespread intercorrelations among environmental processes and the likelihood that not all relevant processes entered directly into the analyses. There is little evidence that stock reproductive output during the study period was significantly related to year-class success.


Aquaculture ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 251 (2-4) ◽  
pp. 377-401 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.C. Perez-Casanova ◽  
H.M. Murray ◽  
J.W. Gallant ◽  
N.W. Ross ◽  
S.E. Douglas, ◽  
...  

1989 ◽  
Vol 46 (S1) ◽  
pp. s171-s182 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven E. Campana ◽  
Kenneth T. Frank ◽  
Peter C. F. Hurley ◽  
Peter A. Koeller ◽  
Fred H. Page ◽  
...  

To identify the life history stage(s) most influential in determining yearclass strength, we constructed and analyzed survival curves of the 1983, 1984, and 1985 cohorts of cod and haddock off Southwest Nova Scotia relative to their physical and biological environment. Relative abundance of each Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) and haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus) yearclass was not reflected by egg or larval abundance in any year examined. However, abundance of both pelagic and settled juveniles did appear to reflect yearclass strength. Egg and larval mortality could not be consistently linked with advection from the spawning site, and did not covary with subsequent recruitment. In both species, mortality between the larval and juvenile stage was inversely correlated with yearclass strength, but sources of the mortality could not be identified. Larval growth was inversely related to mortality of the early larval stage and independent of larval abundance. However, juvenile growth was proportional to mortality and inversely related to abundance. Despite early life coexistence and similarities in spawning time and location, the relative yearclass strengths of cod and haddock in Southwest Nova Scotia were different, suggesting that the timing of local physical and biological events may play an important role in the recruitment success of these stocks.


2008 ◽  
Vol 65 (9) ◽  
pp. 1573-1577 ◽  
Author(s):  
Freya Goodsir ◽  
Michael J. Armstrong ◽  
Peter R. Witthames ◽  
David L. Maxwell ◽  
Clive J. Fox

Abstract Goodsir, F., Armstrong, M. J., Witthames, P. R., Maxwell, D. L., and Fox, C. J. 2008. The use of species-specific TaqMan probes for identifying early stage gadoid eggs following formaldehyde fixation. – ICES Journal of Marine Science, 65: 1573–1577. Surveys of fish eggs are increasingly being used to monitor the spawning areas and stock status of commercially important species such as Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua), but early stage cod eggs are visually indistinguishable from those of several other common co-occurring species, including haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus) and whiting (Merlangius merlangus). In recent surveys in the Irish and North Seas, a molecular identification technique (TaqMan multiplex real-time polymerase chain-reaction) assay has been used to overcome this problem. The method needs high-quality DNA, so the current protocol requires that individual “cod-like” eggs are “presorted” from plankton hauls on board ship and immediately preserved in ethanol. This increases seagoing staff costs, can be a difficult process at sea, and means that plankton sampling cannot be undertaken from non-specialized vessels such as fishing boats. Successful application of TaqMan probes to DNA from eggs preserved in formalin would overcome these problems, but previous attempts have resulted in poor success. In this study, batches of hatchery-sourced cod, haddock, and whiting eggs were fixed in 4% buffered formalin for up to 3 weeks, then transferred to a formaldehyde-free solution for 1, 2, or 3 months. After these periods they were assessed visually for fixation quality and analysed using species-specific TaqMan probes. Eggs, which had been fixed for up to 3 weeks in formalin, were identified successfully, although the positive rate (84–96%) was slightly lower than samples preserved throughout in ethanol (92–99%). There was no increase in the percentage of eggs misidentified comparing formalin-fixed and ethanol-preserved material. These results suggest that TaqMan probes can be applied successfully to fish eggs fixed in 4% buffered formalin for up to 3 weeks.


2018 ◽  
Vol 75 (3) ◽  
pp. 357-374 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hannes Höffle ◽  
Cindy J.G. Van Damme ◽  
Clive Fox ◽  
Stéphanie Lelièvre ◽  
Christophe Loots ◽  
...  

Previous studies have shown that four commercially important demersal species, namely Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua), haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus), whiting (Merlangius merlangus), and European plaice (Pleuronectes platessa), spawn in distinct areas across the North Sea. Based on two comprehensive ichthyoplankton surveys in 2004 and 2009, the present study uses generalized additive mixed models to delimit these spawning grounds using the distribution of recently spawned eggs, investigates their relationship to specific environmental conditions, and examines egg dispersal during their development. Results indicate that presence–absence of early stage eggs is more related to temporal and topographic variables, while egg densities are closely linked with hydrography. Egg distribution patterns were relatively consistent during development and only changed near hatching. Compared with historic observations, the location of the spawning grounds appeared stable on the broad scale but centres of egg abundance varied between the surveyed years. Potential effects of long-term climate change and anthropogenic short-term disturbances, such as seismic surveys, on fish reproduction are discussed, pointing out the demand for multispecies studies on these issues.


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