Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Formation and maintenance of aggregations in walleye pollock,Theragra chalcogramma, larvae under laboratory conditions: role of visual and chemical stimuli

  • Published:
Environmental Biology of Fishes Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Synopsis

Although planktonic marine fish larvae are often distributed in aggregations, the role of behavioral responses to environmental factors in these aggregations is not well understood. This work examines, under laboratory conditions, the influence of visual and chemical stimuli in the formation and maintenance of aggregations in walleye pollock,Theragra chalcogramma, larvae. Larvae were exposed to a horizontal gradient of light (visual stimulus), prey scent (chemical stimuli: squid/copepod and rotifer) or prey density (visual & chemical stimuli: rotifers). While larvae did not respond to prey scent, they did respond to a gradient of light or prey, which resulted in the formation and maintenance of aggregations. Larvae moved into and remained in a zone of higher light intensity (0.56 versus 0.01 μmol photons m-2 s-1). Once encountering a patch of prey, larvae remained aggregated within the patch to feed. In nature, movement of walleye pollock larvae in response to selected environmental factors (e.g., gravity, light, temperature, turbulence) may serendipitously bring them into contact with prey patches, where they then could remain to feed as long as light intensity remained at or above levels necessary for feeding.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References cited

  • Batty, R.S. 1987. Effect of light intensity on activity and food searching of larval herring,Clupea harengus: a laboratory study. Mar. Biol. 94: 323–327.

    Google Scholar 

  • Blaxter, J.H.S. 1986. Development of sense organs and behaviour of teleost larvae with special reference to feeding and predator avoidance. Trans. Amer. Fish. Soc. 115: 98–114.

    Google Scholar 

  • Davis, C.S., G.R. Flierl, P.H. Wiebe & P.J.S. Franks. 1991. Micropatchiness, turbulence and recruitment in plankton. J. Mar. Res. 49: 109–151.

    Google Scholar 

  • Davis, M.W. & B.L. Olla. 1992. Comparison of growth, behavior and lipid concentrations of walleys pollockTheragra chalcogramma larvae fed lipid-enriched, lipid deficient and field-collected prey. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser. 90: 23–30.

    Google Scholar 

  • Davis, M.W. & B.L. Olla. 1994. Ontogenetic shift in geotaxis for walleye pollock,Theragra chalcogramma free embryos and larvae: potential role in controlling vertical distribution. Env. Biol. Fish. 39: 313–318.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dempsey, C.H. 1978. Chemical stimuli as a factor in feeding and intraspecific behaviour of herring larvae. J. Mar. Biol. Ass. U.K. 58: 739–747.

    Google Scholar 

  • Døving, K.B., M. Marstøl & J.R. Andersen. 1994. Experimental evidence of chemokinesis in newly hatched cod larvae (Gadus morhua L.). Mar. Biol. 120: 351–358.

    Google Scholar 

  • Frank, K.T., J.E. Carscadden & W.C. Leggett. 1993. Causes of spacio-temporal variation in the patchiness of larval fish distributions: differential mortality or behaviour? Fish. Oceanogr. 2: 114–123.

    Google Scholar 

  • Franks, P.J.S. 1992. Sink or swim: accumulation of biomass at fronts. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser. 82: 1–12.

    Google Scholar 

  • Genin, A., C. Greene, L. Haury, P. Wiebe, G. Gal, S. Kaartvedt, E. Meir, C. Fey & J. Dawson. 1994. Zooplankton patch dynamics: daily gap formation over abrupt topography. Deep Sea Res. 41: 941–951.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hamner, W.M. 1988. Behavior of plankton and patch formation in pelagic ecosystems. Bull. Mar. Sci. 43: 752–757.

    Google Scholar 

  • Haury, L.R. & P.H. Wiebe. 1982. Fine-scale multi-species aggregations of oceanic zooplankton. Deep-Sea Res. 29: 915–921.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hunter, J.R. 1981. Feeding ecology and predation of marine fish larvae. pp. 33–77.In: R. Lasker (ed.) Marine Fish Larvae: Morphology, Ecology, and Relation to Fisheries, Washington Sea Grant Program, University of Washington, Seattle.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hunter, J.R. & G.L. Thomas. 1974. Effect of prey distribution and density on the searching and feeding behaviour of larval anchovy,Engraulis mordax Girard. pp. 559–574.In: J.H.S. Blaxter (ed.) The Early Life History of Fish, Springer-Verlag, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Huse, I. 1993. First feeding larval sensory perception and behavioural programming: implications for systems and procedures in culture. pp. 146–152.In: B.T. Walther & H.J. Fyhn (ed.) Physiological and Biochemical Aspects of Fish Development, University of Bergen, Bergen.

    Google Scholar 

  • Incze, L.S., A.W. Kendall, Jr., J.D. Schumacher & R.K. Reed. 1989. Interactions of a mesoscale patch of larval fish (Theragra chalcogramma) with the Alaska Coastal Current. Continental Shelf Res. 9: 269–284.

    Google Scholar 

  • Incze, L.S., P.B. Ortner & J.D. Schumacher. 1990. Microzooplankton, vertical mixing and advection in a larval fish patch. J. Plank. Res. 12: 365–379.

    Google Scholar 

  • Iwai, T. 1980. Sensory anatomy and feeding of fish larvae. pp. 124–145.In: J.E. Bardach, J.J. Magnuson, R.C. May & J.M. Reinhart (ed.) Fish Behavior and Its Use in the Capture and Culture of Fishes, ICLARM Conference Proceedings 5, Manila.

  • Kendall, A.W. Jr., M.E. Clarke, M.M. Yoklavich & G.W. Boehlert. 1987. Distribution, feeding, and growth of larval walleye pollock,Theragra chalcogramma, from Shelikof Strait, Gulf of Alaska, U.S. Fish. Bull. 85: 499–521.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kendall, A.W. Jr., L.S. Incze, P.B. Ortner, S.R. Cummings & P.K. Brown. 1994. The vertical distribution of eggs and larvae of walleye pollock,Theragra chalcogramma, in Shelikof Strait, Gulf of Alaska. U.S. Fish. Bull. 92: 540–554.

    Google Scholar 

  • Knutsen, J.A. 1992. Feeding behaviour of North Sea turbot (Scophthalmus maximum) and Dover sole (Solea solea) larvae elicited by chemical stimuli. Mar. Biol. 113: 543–548.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mackas, D.L., K.L. Denman & M.R. Abbott. 1985. Plankton patchiness: biology in the physical vernacular. Bull. Mar. Sci. 37: 652–674.

    Google Scholar 

  • McGurk, M.D. 1987. The spatial patchiness of Pacific herring larvae. Env. Biol. Fish. 20: 81–89.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mikheev, V.N., D.S. Pavlov & D. Pakulska. 1992. Swimming response of goldfish,Carassius auratus, and the tetra,Hemigrammus caudovittatus, larvae to individual food items and patches. Env. Biol. Fish. 35: 351–360.

    Google Scholar 

  • Munk, P., T. Kiørboe & V. Christensen. 1989. Vertical migration of herringClupea harengus, larvae in relation to light and prey distribution. Env. Biol. Fish. 26: 87–96.

    Google Scholar 

  • Munk, P. & T. Kiørboe. 1985. Feeding behaviour and swimming activity of larval herring (Clupea harengus) in relation to density of copepod nauplii. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser. 24: 15–21.

    Google Scholar 

  • Olla, B.L. & M.W. Davis. 1990. Effects of physical factors on the vertical distribution of larval walleye pollock,Theragra chalcogramma under controlled laboratory conditions. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser. 63: 105–112.

    Google Scholar 

  • Olla, B.L. & M.W. Davis. 1992. Phototactic responses of unfed walleye pollock,Theragra chalcogramma larvae: comparisons with other measures of condition. Env. Biol. Fish. 35: 105–108.

    Google Scholar 

  • Olla, B.L., M.W. Davis, C.H. Ryer & S.M. Sogard. 1995. Behavioural responses of larval and juvenile walleye pollock,Theragra chalcogramma: possible mechanisms controlling distribution and recruitment. ICES Science Symposium (in press).

  • Owen, R.W. 1989. Microscale and finescale variations of small plankton in costal and pelagic environments. J. Mar. Res. 47: 197–240.

    Google Scholar 

  • Paul, A.J. 1983. Light, temperature, nauplii concentrations, and prey capture by first feeding pollock larvaeTheragra chalcogramma. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser. 13: 175–179.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pawson, M.G. 1977a. Analysis of a natural chemical attractant for whitingMerlangius merlangus L. and codGadus morhua L. using a behavioural bioassay. Comp. Biochem. Physiol. 56A: 129–135.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pawson, M.G. 1977b. The responses of codGadus morhua (L.) to chemical attractants in moving water. J. Conseil Int. Explor. Mer. 37: 316–318.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sclafani, M., C.T. Taggart & K.R. Thompson. 1993. Condition buoyancy and the distribution of larval fish: implications for vertical migration and retention. J. Plank. Res. 15: 413–435.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shaw, E. 1960. The development of schooling behavior in fishes I. Phys. Zool. 23: 79–86.

    Google Scholar 

  • Steele, J.H. (ed.) 1978. Spatial pattern in plankton communities. Plenum Press, New York. 470 pp.

  • Tanaka, Y., Y. Mukai, K. Takii & H. Kumai. 1991. Chemoreception and vertical movement in planktonic yolk-sac larvae of red sea bream,Pagrus major. J. Appl. Ichthyol. 7: 129–135.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vlymen, W.J. 1977. A mathematical model of the relationship between larval anchovy (Engraulis mordax) growth, prey microdistribution, and larval behavior. Env. Biol. Fish. 2: 211–233.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wyatt, T. 1972. Some effects of food density on the growth and behaviour of plaice larvae. Mar. Biol. 14: 210–216.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Alaska Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, Hatfield Marine Science Center, Newport, OR, 97365, USA

    Michael W. Davis & Bori L. Olla

Authors
  1. Michael W. Davis
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Bori L. Olla
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Davis, M.W., Olla, B.L. Formation and maintenance of aggregations in walleye pollock,Theragra chalcogramma, larvae under laboratory conditions: role of visual and chemical stimuli. Environ Biol Fish 44, 385–392 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00008253

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00008253

Key words

Search

Navigation