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Spawning ground selection and larval feeding habits of Arabesque greenling Pleurogrammus azonus around the Matsumae Peninsula, Japan

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Abstract

We investigated the geographical distribution and feeding habits of Arabesque greenling Pleurogrammus azonus larvae along the Tatehama coast of Hokkaido Japan and its eastern waters from November to February. The goal was to gain insights into choice of spawning grounds and early life history. Yolk-sac larvae were predominantly found in the surface water layer near the Tatehama coast during late January to late February, and they were transported to the offshore regions by the Tsushima-Tsugaru Warm Current. During the early developmental stages, the yolk-sac larvae primarily fed on Oithona similis copepodites, which are larger than the copepod nauplii consumed by other marine fish species. Our observations of high feeding activity in the surface layer in offshore deep-water areas led us to hypothesize that the Tatehama coast may serve as a spawning ground for adult P. azonus due to its proximity to offshore areas, allowing larvae to quickly reach suitable feeding grounds after hatching. The larger egg diameter, longer body length, larger eyes with guanine pigmentation, coiled digestive system, and heavy body pigmentation of P. azonus suggest their ability to prey on copepodites and maintain sustained feeding intensity.

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The data that support the findings of this study are available from the first author upon reasonable request.

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Acknowledgements

We acknowledge Y. Sakurai and T. Nakatani for their meaningful comments and Captain H. Takahashi of the fishing boat Yamato-maru of Matsumae-Sakura Fishing Cooperative, crew of the T/S Ushio-maru, and staff of the Laboratory of Marine Bioresource Science of Hokkaido University for their cooperation in collecting samples. We also thank Y. Inagaki, Y. Hashimoto, and T. Okazaki of the Laboratory of Marine Bioresource Science in the sorting of larval fish and plankton samples.

Funding

This study was funded through operating expenses of Hokkaido University.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Graduate School of Fisheries Sciences, Faculty of Fisheries Sciences, Hokkaido University, 3-1-1, Minato, Hakodate, Hokkaido, 041-8611, Japan

    Tetsuya Takatsu, Tomoaki Toyonaga, Shin’ya Hirao, Eri Ooka & Mitsuhiro Nakaya

  2. Training Ship “Ushio-Maru”, Faculty of Fisheries, Hokkaido University, 3-1-1, Minato, Hakodate, Hokkaido, 041-8611, Japan

    Naoto Kobayashi

  3. Home Logistics Co Ltd, 1-2-39, Shinkotoni7joh, Kita-Ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido, 001-0907, Japan

    Tomoaki Toyonaga

  4. Fisheries Research Department, Abashiri Fisheries Research Institute, Hokkaido Research Organization, 1-1-1, Masuura, Abashiri, Hokkaido, 099-3119, Japan

    Shin’ya Hirao

  5. Hakodate City Hall, 4-13, Shinonome, Hakodate, Hokkaido, 040-8666, Japan

    Eri Ooka

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  1. Tetsuya Takatsu
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Takatsu, T., Toyonaga, T., Hirao, S. et al. Spawning ground selection and larval feeding habits of Arabesque greenling Pleurogrammus azonus around the Matsumae Peninsula, Japan. Fish Sci (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12562-024-01780-3

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