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Migration ecology in the freshwater eels of the genus Anguilla Schrank, 1798

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Abstract

Science has long attempted to understanding the mysteries of migration in the freshwater eels of the genus Anguilla. Freshwater eels are of tropical marine ancestor and have spread worldwide. As diadromous fish species, freshwater eels are eminent for their incredible migrations between offshore spawning grounds and fresh water habitats from local to global scales. Freshwater eels can be distinguished into three migratory phases throughout their lives: oceanic migration to continental habitats, continental migration and oceanic migration to spawning grounds. Spawning grounds of the freshwater eels are all located in tropical waters (lower latitude), and the larvae drift from the tropical ocean to tropical growth habitats or are further colonized to temperate growth habitats through ocean currents. The spawning period and duration of the planktonic larval period stir global dispersal, biogeography and their subsequent speciation in freshwater eels. Year-round spawning, constant larval growth and shorter larval duration lead to short-scale oceanic migration to tropical growth habitats with annual colonization in tropical freshwater eels. In temperate freshwater eels, the limited spawning season, longer larval duration, and separate larval growth lead to large-scale migration to temperate growth habitats and seasonal recruitment to continental habitats. The year-round maturation in tropical freshwater eels and seasonal maturation in temperate freshwater eels lead to year-round spawning and seasonal spawning, respectively. During their continental lives just before the initiation of oceanic migration for spawning, diverse migration and habitat uses in fresh, brackish and marine waters are commonly found in tropical and temperate freshwater eels. Freshwater eels do not necessarily live in freshwater habitats and thus are believed to display opportunistic catadromous migration. The most enigmatic part of spawning migration in freshwater eels from the continental growth habitats to spawning grounds has gradually been uncovered by means of the empirical research. Research advances and endeavors for centuries have progressively unveiled the mystery of migration ecology in freshwater eels.

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Acknowledgements

This study was financially supported by Universiti Brunei Darussalam under the Competitive Research Grant (No. UBD/OVACRI/CRGWG(003)) and under the Faculty/Institute/Centre Research Grant (No. UBD/RSCH/1.4/FICBF(b)/2019/021, UBD/RSCH/1.4/FICBF(b)/2020/029, UBD/RSCH/1.4/FICBF(b)/2021/037).

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  1. Environmental and Life Sciences Programme, Faculty of Science, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Jalan Tungku Link, Gadong, BE1410, Brunei Darussalam

    Takaomi Arai

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Arai, T. Migration ecology in the freshwater eels of the genus Anguilla Schrank, 1798. Trop Ecol 63, 155–170 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42965-021-00217-7

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