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Production and dispersion of freshwater, anadromous, and marine fish larvae in and around a river plume in subarctic Hudson Bay, Canada

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Abstract

From 1988 to 1990, fish larvae were sampled before, during, and after ice breakup within and outside the plume of the Great Whale River off Kuujjuarapik, southeastern Hudson Bay, Canada. Arctic cod (Boreogadus saida) and sand lance (Ammodytes spp.) were the most abundant larvae. Half of the larval fish taxa emerged before the ice broke up in the Bay. The highest densities of Arctic cod, sand lance, slender eelblenny, and gelatinous snailfish larvae were in salinities exceeding 25 practical salinity units (p.s.u.). Arctic shanny, sculpins, and capelin larvae were more abundant at salinities between 1 and 25 p.s.u.. Burbot and coregonid larvae were clearly associated with fresh or brackish waters even when caught in the Bay. The timing and extent of the Great Whale River freshet influenced the distribution of marine fish larvae in southeastern Hudson Bay and determined the moment when the larvae of anadromous and freshwater species entered the Bay.

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  1. D. Ponton

    Present address: ORSTOM, Institut Français de Recherche Scientifique pour le Développement en Coopération, BP 165, 97323, Cayenne Cedex, Guyane Française, France

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Département de biologie, Université Laval, G1K 7P4, Ste-Foy, Québec, Canada

    D. Ponton & L. Fortier

  2. Ministere des Pêches et des Océans, Institut Maurice Lamontagne, C.P. 1000, G5H 3Z4, Mont-Joli, Québec, Canada

    J. A. Gagné

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  1. D. Ponton
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  2. J. A. Gagné
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  3. L. Fortier
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Contribution to the research programs of GIROQ (Groupe inter-universitaire de recherches océanographiques du Québec) and Institut Maurice Lamontagne (Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Canada)

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Ponton, D., Gagné, J.A. & Fortier, L. Production and dispersion of freshwater, anadromous, and marine fish larvae in and around a river plume in subarctic Hudson Bay, Canada. Polar Biol 13, 321–331 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00238359

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00238359

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