Fecundity of silver-phase eels (Anguilla anguilla) from different habitat types and geographic locations
Abstract The reproductive ecology of European eel (Anguilla anguilla) is poorly understood, though information on life-history traits such as fecundity is necessary for appropriate management of this critically endangered species. During the growth period of the life cycle, yellow-phase eels can be...
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Oxford University Press (OUP)
2015
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Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/icesjms/fsv065 http://academic.oup.com/icesjms/article-pdf/73/1/135/31228898/fsv065.pdf |
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croxfordunivpr:10.1093/icesjms/fsv065 2024-09-15T17:39:36+00:00 Fecundity of silver-phase eels (Anguilla anguilla) from different habitat types and geographic locations MacNamara, Ruairí McCarthy, T. Kieran Wickström, Håkan Clevestam, Patrik D. 2015 http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/icesjms/fsv065 http://academic.oup.com/icesjms/article-pdf/73/1/135/31228898/fsv065.pdf en eng Oxford University Press (OUP) ICES Journal of Marine Science volume 73, issue 1, page 135-141 ISSN 1095-9289 1054-3139 journal-article 2015 croxfordunivpr https://doi.org/10.1093/icesjms/fsv065 2024-08-12T04:23:47Z Abstract The reproductive ecology of European eel (Anguilla anguilla) is poorly understood, though information on life-history traits such as fecundity is necessary for appropriate management of this critically endangered species. During the growth period of the life cycle, yellow-phase eels can be resident in different habitat types (e.g. salinity ranging from freshwater to marine) over a wide geographic distribution. Consequently, maturing silver-phase eels migrating back to the oceanic spawning grounds can display considerable variation in certain life-history traits depending on their habitat and/or geographic origin. Few fecundity estimates are available from wild A. anguilla, and no investigation of the effects of habitat type (i.e. salinity) or geographic location on variation in fecundity has been undertaken. To assess the former, we examined silver-phase eels which had predominantly been resident in freshwater (Lake Mälaren, Sweden) or brackish (Baltic Sea) habitats. Despite Lake Mälaren eels generally being larger, there was no difference in the fecundity–body size relationship between these salinity zones. Second, we determined if fecundity differed between silver-phase eels sampled from different geographic locations: Lake Mälaren and the Baltic Sea outlet in Sweden, the River Shannon in Ireland (northwest Europe) and Vistonis Lake in Greece (eastern Mediterranean). Our results showed that silver-phase eels from Sweden (Lake Mälaren and Baltic Sea outlet) and Greece were significantly more fecund at a given body size than those from Ireland. Spawner models and conservation policies should therefore take account of eel geographic origin in particular when incorporating this life-history parameter. Article in Journal/Newspaper Anguilla anguilla European eel Oxford University Press ICES Journal of Marine Science 73 1 135 141 |
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Oxford University Press |
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English |
description |
Abstract The reproductive ecology of European eel (Anguilla anguilla) is poorly understood, though information on life-history traits such as fecundity is necessary for appropriate management of this critically endangered species. During the growth period of the life cycle, yellow-phase eels can be resident in different habitat types (e.g. salinity ranging from freshwater to marine) over a wide geographic distribution. Consequently, maturing silver-phase eels migrating back to the oceanic spawning grounds can display considerable variation in certain life-history traits depending on their habitat and/or geographic origin. Few fecundity estimates are available from wild A. anguilla, and no investigation of the effects of habitat type (i.e. salinity) or geographic location on variation in fecundity has been undertaken. To assess the former, we examined silver-phase eels which had predominantly been resident in freshwater (Lake Mälaren, Sweden) or brackish (Baltic Sea) habitats. Despite Lake Mälaren eels generally being larger, there was no difference in the fecundity–body size relationship between these salinity zones. Second, we determined if fecundity differed between silver-phase eels sampled from different geographic locations: Lake Mälaren and the Baltic Sea outlet in Sweden, the River Shannon in Ireland (northwest Europe) and Vistonis Lake in Greece (eastern Mediterranean). Our results showed that silver-phase eels from Sweden (Lake Mälaren and Baltic Sea outlet) and Greece were significantly more fecund at a given body size than those from Ireland. Spawner models and conservation policies should therefore take account of eel geographic origin in particular when incorporating this life-history parameter. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
MacNamara, Ruairí McCarthy, T. Kieran Wickström, Håkan Clevestam, Patrik D. |
spellingShingle |
MacNamara, Ruairí McCarthy, T. Kieran Wickström, Håkan Clevestam, Patrik D. Fecundity of silver-phase eels (Anguilla anguilla) from different habitat types and geographic locations |
author_facet |
MacNamara, Ruairí McCarthy, T. Kieran Wickström, Håkan Clevestam, Patrik D. |
author_sort |
MacNamara, Ruairí |
title |
Fecundity of silver-phase eels (Anguilla anguilla) from different habitat types and geographic locations |
title_short |
Fecundity of silver-phase eels (Anguilla anguilla) from different habitat types and geographic locations |
title_full |
Fecundity of silver-phase eels (Anguilla anguilla) from different habitat types and geographic locations |
title_fullStr |
Fecundity of silver-phase eels (Anguilla anguilla) from different habitat types and geographic locations |
title_full_unstemmed |
Fecundity of silver-phase eels (Anguilla anguilla) from different habitat types and geographic locations |
title_sort |
fecundity of silver-phase eels (anguilla anguilla) from different habitat types and geographic locations |
publisher |
Oxford University Press (OUP) |
publishDate |
2015 |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/icesjms/fsv065 http://academic.oup.com/icesjms/article-pdf/73/1/135/31228898/fsv065.pdf |
genre |
Anguilla anguilla European eel |
genre_facet |
Anguilla anguilla European eel |
op_source |
ICES Journal of Marine Science volume 73, issue 1, page 135-141 ISSN 1095-9289 1054-3139 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1093/icesjms/fsv065 |
container_title |
ICES Journal of Marine Science |
container_volume |
73 |
container_issue |
1 |
container_start_page |
135 |
op_container_end_page |
141 |
_version_ |
1810481081269354496 |