Inter-annual and inter-specific differences in the drift of fish eggs and yolksac larvae in the North Sea: A biophysical modeling approach

• Published in: Scientia Marina
• Main Authors: Peck, M.A., Kühn, W., Hinrichsen, Hans-Harald, Pohlmann, T.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Instituto de Ciencias del Mar - CSIC 2009
• Subjects: atlantic cod; Gadus morhua; North Atlantic; North Atlantic oscillation
• Online Access: https://oceanrep.geomar.de/id/eprint/3039/; https://oceanrep.geomar.de/id/eprint/3039/1/831_Peck_2009_InterannualAndInterspecificDifferencesIn_Artzeit_pubid12533.pdf; https://doi.org/10.3989/scimar.2009.73s1023

We employed 3-D biophysical modeling and dispersion kernel analysis to explore inter-annual and inter-specific differences in the drift trajectories of eggs and yolksac larvae of plaice (Pleuronectes platessa), Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua), sprat (Sprattus sprattus) and horse mackerel (Trachurus trachurus) in the North Sea. In this region, these four species exhibit peak spawning during the boreal winter, late winter/early spring, late spring/early summer, and mid-summer respectively, but utilize the same spawning locations (our simulations included Dogger Bank, Southern Bight and the German Bight). Inter-annual differences in the temperature history, and an increase in the area of dispersion and final distribution at the end of the yolksac phase were more pronounced (and related to the North Atlantic Oscillation) for winter- and early spring-spawners compared to late spring/summer spawners. The progeny of the latter experienced the largest (up to 10-fold) inter-annual differences in drift distances, although absolute drift distances were modest (~2 to 30 km) when compared to those of the former (~ 20 to 130 km). Our results highlight the complex interplay that exists between the specific life history strategies of the different species and the impacts of the variability in (climate-driven) physical factors during the earliest life stages of marine fish. Resumen: Diferencias interanuales e interespecíficas en la deriva de huevos y larvas lecitotróficas en el mar Norte: Aproximación a través un modelo biofísico. – En este trabajo utilizamos un modelo 3-D físico-biológico y un análisis de dispersión del núcleo para investigar las diferencias interespecíficas e interanuales en las trayectorias de la deriva de huevos y larvas lecitotróficas de la solla (Pleuronectes platessa), el bacalao Atlántico (Gadus morhua), el espadín (Sprattus sprattus) y el jurel (Trachurus trachurus) en el Mar del Norte. En esta región, las especies estudiadas muestran distintos picos de distintos desoves en el tiempo: invierno boreal, ...