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The Abundance and Distribution of Eggs and Larvae of Teleost Fishes off Plymouth in 1969 and 1970: Part 3. Eggs of Pilchard (Sardina Pilchardus Walbaum) and Sprat (Sprattus Sprattus (L.))

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 May 2009

Neclâ Demir  and
A. J. Southward
Neclâ Demir
Affiliation:
Department of Zoology (II), University of Istanbul, and The Laboratory, Marine Biological Association, Citadel Hill, Plymouth
A. J. Southward
Affiliation:
Department of Zoology (II), University of Istanbul, and The Laboratory, Marine Biological Association, Citadel Hill, Plymouth
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Extract

Pilchard eggs were collected over a grid of 30 stations visited on 14 cruises from August 1969 to November 1970. The samples were taken with oblique tows of a 1 m terylene net at 4 knots, the average volume of water filtered being 750 m3. The formalin preserved eggs were graded into the series of stages described by Gamulin & Hure. No very early eggs were found, but from the occurrence of stage 2 eggs it is deduced that most spawning takes place in the early hours of darkness, between 20.00 and 24.00 h B.S.T.: some spawning must also occur all round the clock.

There were two main peaks of spawning, June-July and October-November, when large numbers of eggs were found inshore; the average numbers reached 196 per m2 water column in July and 30 per m2 water column in October. Smaller numbers of eggs were taken in the other months of the year, mostly offshore, and with a minimum in December–February. In the spring (March-May) the area sampled was well clear of the main area of spawning of pilchard in the approaches to the Channel, north or northwest of Ushant.

During the peak months no particular part of the sampling area appeared to be especially favoured for spawning.

The significance of the two main peaks of spawning is discussed in relation to the problem of recruitment of fish to the population. As an alternative to the accepted hypothesis that young pilchard move back to the Bay of Biscay for maturation it is suggested that some of them, at least, may survive and mature in the Channel.

Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom , Volume 54 , Issue 2 , May 1974 , pp. 333 - 353
Copyright
Copyright © Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 1974

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