Hostname: page-component-76fb5796d-wq484 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-26T05:24:04.575Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Reproductive biology of Benthosema pterotum (Teleostei: Myctophidae) in the shelf region of the East China Sea

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 October 2013

Chiyuki Sassa ,
Seiji Ohshimo ,
Hiroshige Tanaka  and
Youichi Tsukamoto
Chiyuki Sassa*
Affiliation:
Seikai National Fisheries Research Institute, Fisheries Research Agency, 1551-8 Taira-machi, Nagasaki 851-2213, Japan
Seiji Ohshimo
Affiliation:
Seikai National Fisheries Research Institute, Fisheries Research Agency, 1551-8 Taira-machi, Nagasaki 851-2213, Japan
Hiroshige Tanaka
Affiliation:
Seikai National Fisheries Research Institute, Fisheries Research Agency, 1551-8 Taira-machi, Nagasaki 851-2213, Japan
Youichi Tsukamoto
Affiliation:
Seikai National Fisheries Research Institute, Fisheries Research Agency, 1551-8 Taira-machi, Nagasaki 851-2213, Japan
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: C. Sassa, Seikai National Fisheries Research Institute, Fisheries Research Agency, 1551-8 Taira-machi, Nagasaki 851-2213, Japan. email: csassa@fra.affrc.go.jp
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Benthosema pterotum is a dominant myctophid in the shelf region of the East China Sea (ECS). They are a key species linking secondary producers and upper trophic levels. We examined the reproductive biology of B. pterotum in the ECS, based on 3065 specimens (10.7–54.8 mm standard length (SL)) sampled during cruises in 1999 and 2004–2009 to enable data over a 12 month cycle to be assessed. Between 14 and 30 mm SL, the ratio of females to males was ~1:1; it increased with SL, and all individuals ≥46 mm SL were females. The gonadosomatic index (GSI) at 50% sexual maturity of females and males was 3.91 and 0.24, respectively. Based on this criterion, females and males can mature at sizes larger than 28 mm and 24 mm SL, respectively. Although mature females having GSI ≥3.91 occurred over nine months (May–January), mean GSI of females peaked sharply during August–September, i.e. the primary spawning period. The hepatosomatic index peaked during April–July, and declined during August–September, indicating storage of materials and energy for reproduction. Based on data from seasonal bottom trawl surveys, small individuals of B. pterotum began to occur abundantly in autumn, and modal body lengths increased progressively during spring–summer, corresponding to the above reproductive seasonality. Oocytes at various sizes were found in mature ovaries, indicating that they are multiple spawners. Egg size at hydration ranged from 0.5 to 0.85 mm. Batch fecundity was positively correlated with SL, and ranged from 253 to 1942 eggs in fish from 30.1–54.8 mm SL.

Keywords

batch fecundityBenthosema pterotummultiple spawnersMyctophidaereproductive seasonalitysex-ratiosexual maturityshelf region of the East China Sea
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom , Volume 94 , Issue 2 , March 2014 , pp. 423 - 433
Copyright
Copyright © Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 2013 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Alekseyeva, Y.I. and Alekseyev, F.Y. (1983) Some aspects of reproductive biology of the lanternfishes, Myctophum punctatum and Notoscopelus resplendens (Myctophidae), from the eastern tropical Atlantic. Journal of Ichthyology 23, 56–63.Google Scholar
Baeck, G.W. and Huh, S.H. (2003) Feeding habits of juvenile Lophius litulon in the coastal waters of Kori, Korea. Journal of the Korean Fisheries Society 36, 695–699.Google Scholar
Barnes, A.T. and Case, J.F. (1974) The luminescence of lanternfishes (Myctophidae): spontaneous activity and responses to mechanical, electrical, and chemical stimulation. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 15, 203–221.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Brodeur, R.D. and Yamamura, O. (2005) Micronekton of the North Pacific. PICES Scientific Report 30, 1–115.Google Scholar
Chiou, W.D. and Lee, L.K. (2004) Migration of kawakawa Euthynnus affinis in the waters near Taiwan. Fisheries Science 70, 746–757.Google Scholar
Chiou, W.D., Chen, C.Y., Wang, C.M. and Chen, C.T. (2006) Food and feeding habits of ribbonfish Trichiurus lepturus in coastal waters of south-western Taiwan. Fisheries Science 72, 373–381.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Clarke, T.A. (1973) Some aspects of the ecology of lanternfishes (Myctophidae) in the Pacific Ocean near Hawaii. Fishery Bulletin 71, 401–434.Google Scholar
Clarke, T.A. (1983) Sex ratios and sexual differences in size among mesopelagic fishes from the central Pacific Ocean. Marine Biology 73, 203–209.Google Scholar
Clarke, T.A. (1984) Fecundity and other aspects of reproductive effort in mesopelagic fishes from the North Central and Equatorial Pacific. Biological Oceanography 3, 147–165.Google Scholar
Dalpadado, P. (1988) Reproductive biology of the lanternfish Benthosema pterotum from the Indian Ocean. Marine Biology 98, 307–316.Google Scholar
Dalpadado, P. and Gjøsæter, J. (1987) Observation on mesopelagic fish from the Red Sea. Marine Biology 96, 173–183.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dalpadado, P. and Gjøsæter, J. (1988) Feeding ecology of the lanternfish Benthosema pterotum from the Indian Ocean. Marine Biology 99, 555–567.Google Scholar
Gartner, J.V. Jr (1993) Patterns of reproduction in the dominant lanternfish species (Pisces: Myctophidae) of the eastern Gulf of Mexico, with a review of reproduction among tropical–subtropical Myctophidae. Bulletin of Marine Science 52, 721–750.Google Scholar
Gartner, J.V. Jr, Sulak, K.J., Ross, S.W. and Necaise, A.M. (2008) Persistent near-bottom aggregations of mesopelagic animals along the North Carolina and Virginia continental slopes. Marine Biology 153, 825–841.Google Scholar
Gjøsæter, J. (1981) Growth, production and reproduction of myctophid fish Benthosema glaciale from western Norway and adjacent seas. Fiskeridirektoratets Skrifter, Serie Havundersøkelser 17, 79–108.Google Scholar
Gjøsæter, J. (1984) Mesopelagic fish, a large potential resource in the Arabian Sea. Deep-Sea Research 31, 1019–1035.Google Scholar
Gjøsæter, J. and Kawaguchi, K. (1980) A review of the world resources of mesopelagic fish. FAO Fisheries Technical Paper 193, 1–151.Google Scholar
Gjøsæter, J. and Tilseth, S. (1988) Spawning behavior, egg and larval development of the myctophid fish Benthosema pterotum. Marine Biology 98, 1–6.Google Scholar
Greely, T.M., Gartner, J.V. Jr and Torres, J.J. (1999) Age and growth of Electrona antarctica (Pisces: Myctophidae), the dominant mesopelagic fish in the Southern Ocean. Marine Biology 133, 145–158.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hara, M. (2007) Ultrastructure of spermatozoa of two species of Myctophidae: Symbolophorus californiensis and Notoscopelus sp. Japanese Journal of Ichthyology 54, 41–46. [In Japanese, with English abstract.]Google Scholar
Herring, P.J. (2007) Sex with the lights on? A review of bioluminescent sexual dimorphism in the sea. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 87, 829–842.Google Scholar
Hulley, P.A. (1992) Upper-slope distributions of oceanic lanternfishes (family: Myctophidae). Marine Biology 114, 365–383.Google Scholar
Hussain, S.M. (1992) The reproductive biology of the lantern fish Benthosema fibulatum from the northern Arabian Sea. Fisheries Research 13, 381–393.Google Scholar
Hussain, S.M. and Ali-Khan, J. (1987) Fecundity of Benthosema fibulatum and Benthosema pterotum from the northern Arabian Sea. Deep-Sea Research 34, 1293–1299.Google Scholar
Hussain, S.M. and Ali-Khan, J. (1988) On the ovarian eggs of Benthosema fibulatum and B. pterotum (Myctophidae) from the northern Arabian Sea. Indian Journal of Fisheries 35, 66–67.Google Scholar
Ishihara, S. and Kubota, T. (1997) Food habits of the lanternfish Benthosema pterotum in the East China Sea and Yellow Sea. Nippon Suisan Gakkaishi 63, 522–530. [In Japanese, with English abstract.]Google Scholar
Ishihara, S., Kubota, T. and Yamada, U. (1995) Some morphological characteristics of a lanternfish, Benthosema pterotum (Alcock), in the East China and Yellow Seas. Bulletin of Institute of Oceanic Research and Development, Tokai University 16, 1–12. [In Japanese, with English abstract.]Google Scholar
Kawaguchi, K. and Shimizu, H. (1978) Taxonomy and distribution of the lanternfishes, genus Diaphus (Pisces, Myctophidae) in the western Pacific, eastern Indian Ocean and the southeast Asian seas. Bulletin of the Ocean Research Institute University of Tokyo 10, 1–145.Google Scholar
Kawaguchi, K. and Mauchline, J. (1982) Biology of myctophid fishes (family Myctophidae) in the Rockall Trough, northeastern Atlantic Ocean. Biological Oceanography 1, 337–373.Google Scholar
Kawasaki, T. (1982) Pelagic fish population dynamics. Fisheries Series 9. Tokyo: Koseisha-Koseikaku. [In Japanese.]Google Scholar
Kinzer, J., Böttger-Schnack, R. and Schulz, K. (1993) Aspects of horizontal distribution and diet of myctophid fish in the Arabian Sea with reference to the deep water oxygen deficiency. Deep-Sea Research Part II 40, 783–800.Google Scholar
Kjesbu, O.S., Witthames, P.R., Solemdal, P. and Greer-Walker, M. (1998) Temporal variations in the fecundity of Arcto-Norwegian cod (Gadus morhua) in response to natural changes in food and temperature. Journal of Sea Research 40, 303–321.Google Scholar
Kondo, M. (1985) Oceanographic investigations of fishing grounds in the East China Sea and the Yellow Sea. I. Characteristics of the mean temperature and salinity distributions measured at 50 m and near the bottom. Bulletin of the Seikai Regional Fisheries Research Laboratory 62, 19–66. [In Japanese, with English abstract.]Google Scholar
Kurita, Y. (2006) Procedures to estimate reproductive traits of fish by combining field surveys and tank experiments. Bulletin of Fisheries Research Agency Supplement 4, 87–99. [In Japanese, with English abstract.]Google Scholar
Lam, T.J. (1983) Environmental influences on gonadal activity in fish. In Hoar, W.S., Randall, D.J. and Donaldson, E.M. (eds) Fish physiology, Volume 9B. New York: Academic Press, pp. 65–116.Google Scholar
Linkowski, T.B. (1997) Morphological variation, systematics and speciation of the Ceratoscopelus townsendi–C. warmingii complex (Osteichthyes: Myctophidae) based on the studies on the morphology and microstructure of otoliths. Gdynia: Morski Instytut Rybacki.Google Scholar
Linkowski, T.B., Radtke, R.L. and Lenz, P.H. (1993) Otolith microstructure, age and growth of two species of Ceratoscopelus (Osteichthyes: Myctophidae) from the eastern North Atlantic. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 167, 237–260.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lisovenko, L.A. and Prut'ko, V.G. (1987) Reproductive biology of Diaphus suborbitalis (Myctophidae) in the equatorial part of the Indian Ocean. 1. Nature of oogenesis and type of spawning. Journal of Ichthyology 26, 47–58.Google Scholar
Longhurst, A. (2006) Ecological geography of the sea. 2nd edition. London: Academic Press.Google Scholar
Mio, S., Tagawa, M., Shinohara, F. and Yamada, U. (1984) Ecological study on the demersal fish associations in the East China Sea and the Yellow Sea, with reference to food relationships. Bulletin of the Seikai Regional Fisheries Research Laboratory 61, 1–221. [In Japanese, with English abstract.]Google Scholar
Moku, M. (2000) Ecological study of myctophid fishes in the subarctic and transitional waters of the western North Pacific. PhD thesis. University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan. [In Japanese.]Google Scholar
Murua, H. and Saborido-Rey, F. (2003) Female reproductive strategies of marine fish species of the North Atlantic. Journal of Northwest Atlantic Fishery Science 33, 23–31.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Nakamura, E.L. (1970) Observations on the biology of the myctophid, Diaphus garmani. Copeia 1970, 374–377.Google Scholar
Ohshimo, S., Yasuda, T., Tanaka, H. and Sassa, C. (2012) Biomass fluctuation of two dominant lanternfish Diaphus garmani and D. chrysorhynchus with environmental changes in the East China Sea. Fisheries Science 78, 33–39.Google Scholar
Ohshimo, S., Yoda, M., Itasaka, N., Morinaga, N. and Ichimaru, T. (2006) Age, growth and reproductive characteristics of round scad Decapterus maruadsi in the waters off west Kyushu, the East China Sea. Fisheries Science 72, 855–859.Google Scholar
Oozeki, Y., Hu, F., Kubota, H., Sugisaki, H. and Kimura, R. (2004) Newly designed quantitative frame trawl for sampling larval and juvenile pelagic fish. Fisheries Science 70, 223–232.Google Scholar
Oven, L.S. (1985) Comparative analysis of reproductive biology of some lanternfishes (Myctophidae) from the tropical zone of the Atlantic Ocean. Journal of Ichthyology 25, 50–60.Google Scholar
Ozawa, T. and Peñaflor, G.C. (1990) Otolith microstructure and early ontogeny of a myctophid species Benthosema pterotum. Nippon Suisan Gakkaishi 56, 1987–1995.Google Scholar
Reid, S.B., Hirota, J., Young, R.E. and Hallacher, L.E. (1991) Mesopelagic-boundary community in Hawaii: micronekton at the interface between neritic and oceanic ecosystems. Marine Biology 109, 427–440.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Röpke, A. (1993) Do larvae of mesopelagic fishes in the Arabian Sea adjust their vertical distribution to physical and biological gradients? Marine Ecology Progress Series 101, 223–235.Google Scholar
Sassa, C., Moser, H.G. and Kawaguchi, K. (2002) Horizontal and vertical distribution patterns of larval myctophid fishes in the Kuroshio Current region. Fisheries Oceanography 11, 1–10.Google Scholar
Sassa, C., Tsukamoto, Y., Yamamoto, K. and Tokimura, M. (2010) Spatio-temporal distribution and biomass of Benthosema pterotum (Pisces: Myctophidae) in the shelf region of the East China Sea. Marine Ecology Progress Series 407, 227–241.Google Scholar
Sassa, C., Yamamoto, K., Tsukamoto, Y., Konishi, Y. and Tokimura, M. (2009) Distribution and migration of age-0 jack mackerel (Trachurus japonicus) in the East China and Yellow Seas, based on seasonal bottom trawl surveys. Fisheries Oceanography 18, 255–267.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Shimizu, A. (2010) Environmental regulations of reproductive cycles in teleosts. Bulletin of the Japanese Society of Fisheries Oceanography 74 (Special issue), 58–65. [In Japanese, with English abstract.]Google Scholar
Shimose, T. and Tachihara, K. (2006) Age, growth, and reproductive biology of the Waigieu seaperch Psammoperca waigiensis (Perciformes: Latidae) around Okinawa Island, Japan. Ichthyological Research 53, 166–171.Google Scholar
Smoker, W. and Pearcy, W.G. (1970) Growth and reproduction of the lanternfish Stenobrachius leucopsarus. Journal of the Fisheries Research Board of Canada 27, 1265–1275.Google Scholar
Valinassab, T., Pierce, G.J. and Johannesson, K. (2007) Lantern fish (Benthosema pterotum) resources as a target for commercial exploitation in the Oman Sea. Journal of Applied Ichthyology 23, 573–577.Google Scholar
Wallace, R. and Selman, K. (1981) Cellular and dynamic aspects of oocyte growth in teleosts. American Zoologist 21, 325–343.Google Scholar
Witthames, P.R., Greer-Walker, M., Dinis, M.T. and Whiting, C.L. (1995) The geographical variation in the potential annual fecundity of Dover sole Solea solea (L) from European shelf waters during 1991. Netherlands Journal of Sea Research 34, 45–58.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Xu, Z.L. and Chen, B.J. (2007) Seasonal distribution of Calanus sinicus (Copepoda, Crustacea) in the East China Sea. Acta Oceanologica Sinica 26, 150–159.Google Scholar
Yamada, U., Tokimura, M., Horikawa, H. and Nakabo, T. (2007) Fishes and fisheries of the East China and Yellow Seas. Tokyo: Tokai University Press. [In Japanese.]Google Scholar
Yamamoto, K. (1956) Studies on the formation of fish eggs. I. Annual cycle in the development of ovarian eggs in the flounder, Liopsetta obscura. Journal of the Faculty of Science, Hokkaido University. Series 6, Zoology 12, 362–373.Google Scholar
Yamashita, H., Sakai, T., Katayama, S. and Tokai, T. (2011) Re-examination of growth and maturation of red tilefish Branchiostegus japonicus in the East China Sea. Nippon Suisan Gakkaishi 77, 188–198. [In Japanese, with English abstract.]CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Yoneda, M., Miura, H., Mitsuhashi, M., Matsuyama, M. and Matsuura, S. (2000) Sexual maturation, annual reproductive cycle, and spawning periodicity of the shore scorpionfish, Scorpaenodes littoralis. Environmental Biology of Fishes 58, 307–319.Google Scholar
Yoneda, M., Tokimura, M., Fujita, H., Takeshita, N., Takeshita, K., Matsuyama, M. and Matsuura, S. (2001) Reproductive cycle, fecundity, and seasonal distribution of the anglerfish Lophius litulon in the East China and Yellow Seas. Fishery Bulletin 99, 356–370.Google Scholar
Young, J.W., Blaber, S.J.M. and Rose, R. (1987) Reproductive biology of three species of midwater fishes associated with the continental slope of eastern Tasmania, Australia. Marine Biology 95, 323–332.CrossRefGoogle Scholar