Larval Japanese eel (Anguilla japonica) as sub-surface current bio-tracers on the East Asia continental shelf
Resource
FISHERIES OCEANOGRAPHY, 21(4), 281-290
Journal
Fisheries Oceanography
Journal Volume
21
Journal Issue
4
Pages
281-290
Date Issued
2012
Date
2012
Author(s)
Abstract
Larval Japanese eel (leptocephali) are passively transported from their spawning sites of the North Equatorial Current to the Kuroshio and its branch waters for 4-6 months before reaching the East Asian coasts. The larvae mainly stay within water depths between 50-150 m. The dispersal dynamics of larvae thus should reflect the sub-surface oceanic currents on the East Asia continental shelf. An analysis of Japanese glass eel catch data in East Asian countries during 1985 to 2009, and for Taiwan from 1968 to 2008, indicates that the overall annual catch is generally correlated across countries of East Asia, and between north and west areas of Taiwan. The Kuroshio and its branch waters disperse glass eels throughout East Asian habitats, and the glass eel distribution matches the flow directionality of oceanic currents. Recruitment in western Taiwan occurs with a sequential southwestern to northwestern direction, suggesting that the Taiwan Strait Current penetrates the western coast of Taiwan in the sub-surface layer in winter. The monthly averaged sub-surface 50 m circulation pattern in the vicinity of Taiwan and modeled tracer experiments also support the northward winter sub-surface current in Taiwan Strait. These results suggest that the larval Japanese eel could serve as a valuable bio-tracer of sub-surface currents, and the earlier recruitment dynamics of Japanese glass eels in Taiwan could be a good predictor for the subsequent catch in other East Asia areas. © 2012 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
Subjects
Annual catch; Dispersal; Kuroshio; Leptocephali; Taiwan strait
Other Subjects
bioindicator; catch statistics; continental shelf; dispersal; eel; experimental study; flow pattern; larva; larval transport; oceanic current; recruitment (population dynamics); spawning ground; tracer; water depth; Far East; Kuroshio Current; Pacific Ocean; Taiwan Strait; Anguilla japonica
Type
journal article
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