Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

First record of gray rockcod Lepidonotothen squamifrons larvae in the Amundsen Sea, Antarctic: implication for a new spawning ground and early life characteristics

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Polar Biology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The gray rockcod Lepidonotothen squamifrons is widespread throughout the Antarctic region; however, little is known about its early life information. Highly abundant gray rockcod larvae were collected in the Amundsen Sea polynyas during a zooplankton survey conducted in March 2022. This is the first record of gray rockcod larvae in high abundance found at high latitudes in the Southern Ocean. The otolith microstructure analysis provided more insight into the early life characteristics of gray rockcod. A total of 41 individuals with a standard length of 9.6–15.3 mm were estimated to be 6–11 days. Multiple primordia were recorded in the otolith for the first time. The Gompertz model was well fitted to the age–length data, indicating a mean daily growth rate of 0.66 mm day−1 (SE = 0.35). Larval hatching occurred at a size of 4.08 mm (SE = 3.85) and was concentrated over a short period in early March. Compared to the populations observed at lower latitudes, the gray rockcod in the Amundsen Sea polynyas showed later hatch times, smaller hatch sizes, and faster growth rates. Therefore, we speculate that Amundsen Sea polynyas are potential spawning grounds for gray rockcod. The spatial differences in early life characteristics revealed herein could contribute to our understanding of the life history strategy and adaptation of the gray rockcod.

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

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Ainley DG, Blight LK (2009) Ecological repercussions of historical fish extraction from the Southern Ocean. Fish Fish 10(1):13–38. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-2979.2008.00293.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Alderkamp A-C, van Dijken GL, Lowry KE, Connelly TL, Lagerström M, Sherrell RM, Haskins C, Rogalsky E, Schofield O, Stammerjohn SE, Yager PL, Arrigo KR, Deming JW, Tremblay J-É (2015) Fe availability drives phytoplankton photosynthesis rates during spring bloom in the Amundsen Sea Polynya, Antarctica. Elementa. https://doi.org/10.12952/journal.elementa.000043

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Arrigo KR (2003) Phytoplankton dynamics within 37 Antarctic coastal polynya systems. J Geophys Res. https://doi.org/10.1029/2002jc001739

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Arrigo KR, Alderkamp A-C (2012) Shedding dynamic light on Fe limitation (DynaLiFe). Deep sea research part II topical studies in oceanography. Elsevier, Amsterdam. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dsr2.2012.03.004

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • CCAMLR (1989) Schedule of Conservation Measures in Force CCAMLR

  • CCAMLR (2004) Report of the Thirteen Meeting of the Scientific Committee CCAMLR, Australia

  • Damerau M, Matschiner M, Salzburger W, Hanel R (2012) Comparative population genetics of seven notothenioid fish species reveals high levels of gene flow along ocean currents in the southern Scotia Arc Antarctica. Polar Biol 35(7):1073–1086. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-012-1155-x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Duan M, Zhang C, Liu Y, Ye Z, Liu C, Tian Y, He J (2022a) Early-life history traits of two icefishes, spiny icefish Chaenodraco wilsoni and ocellated icefish Chionodraco rastrospinosus, in the Ross Sea revealed by otolith microstructure. Polar Biol 45(3):427–436. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-021-03002-3

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Duan M, Zhang C, Liu Y, Ye Z, Yang J, Liu C, Tian Y (2022b) Growth and early life stage of Antarctic silverfish (Pleuragramma antarctica) in the Amundsen Sea of the Southern Ocean: evidence for a potential new spawning/nursery ground. Polar Biol 45(2):359–368. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-021-02994-2

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Duhamel G (1981) Caractéristiques biologiques des principales espèces de poissons du plateau continental des Îles Kerguelen. Cybium 5(1):19–32

    Google Scholar 

  • Duhamel G, Ozouf-costaz C (1985) Age, growth and reproductive biology of Notothenia squamifrons Gunther, 1880 from the Indian sector of the Southern Ocean. Polar Biol 4(3):143–153. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00263877

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Duhamel G, Pruvost P, Bertignac M, Gasco N, Hautecoeur M (2011) Major fishery events in Kerguelen Islands: Notothenia rossii, Champsocephalus gunnari, Dissostichus eleginoides—Current distribution and status of stocks. In: Duhamel G, Welsford D (eds) The Kerguelen plateau: marine ecosystem and fisheries. Société Française d’Ichtyologie, Paris, pp 271–282

    Google Scholar 

  • Duhamel G, Hulley PA, Causse R, Koubbi P, Vacchi M, Pruvost P, Vigetta S, IrissonJ O, Mormède S, Belchier M, Abellan LJL, VDPA P (2014) Biogeographic Patterns of Fish. In: De Broyer C et al (eds) Biogeographic Atlas of the Southern Ocean. Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research, Cambridge, pp 328–362

    Google Scholar 

  • Fragoso GM, Smith WO (2012) Influence of hydrography on phytoplankton distribution in the Amundsen and Ross Seas, Antarctica. J Mar Syst 89(1):19–29. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmarsys.2011.07.008

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Granata A, Cubeta A, Guglielmo L, Sidoti O, Greco S, Vacchi M, La Mesa M (2002) Ichthyoplankton abundance and distribution in the Ross Sea during 1987–1996. Polar Biol 25(3):187–202. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-001-0326-y

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gregory S, Brown J, Belchier M (2013) Ecology and distribution of the grey notothen, Lepidonotothen squamifrons, around South Georgia and Shag Rocks, Southern Ocean. Antarct Sci 26(3):239–249. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0954102013000667

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jiang Y, Liu Q, Yang EJ, Wang M, Kim Tae W, Cho K-H, Lee S (2016) Pelagic ciliate communities within the Amundsen Sea polynya and adjacent sea ice zone, Antarctica. Deep Sea Research Part II Topical Studies in Oceanography, vol 123. Elsevier, Amsterdam, pp 69–77. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dsr2.2015.04.015

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Jones CD, Eric Anderson M, Balushkin AV, Duhamel G, Eakin RR, Eastman JT, Kuhn KL, Lecointre G, Near TJ, North AW, Stein DL, Vacchi M, William Detrich H (2008) Diversity, relative abundance, new locality records and population structure of Antarctic demersal fishes from the northern Scotia Arc islands and Bouvetøya. Polar Biol 31(12):1481–1497. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-008-0489-x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kellermann AK (1990) Identification key and catalogue of larval Antarctic fishes. Berichte zur Polarforschung (Reports on Polar Research), vol 67. Alfred-Wegener-Institut, Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung, Bremerhaven

    Google Scholar 

  • Kellermann AK, Gauldie R, Ruzicka JJ (2002) Otolith microincrements in the Antarctic fishes Notothenia coriiceps and Pseudochaenichthys georgianus. Polar Biol 25(11):799–807. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-002-0432-5

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kock KH (1992) Antarctic Fish and Fisheries. Cambridge University Press

    Google Scholar 

  • Koubbi P, Duhamel G, Camus P (1990) Early life stages of Notothenioidei from the Kerguelen Islands. Cybium 14:225–250

    Google Scholar 

  • Koubbi P, Duhamel G, Hebert C (2000) Role of bay, fjord and seamount on the early life history of Lepidonotothen squamifrons from the Kerguelen Islands. Polar Biol 23(7):459–465. https://doi.org/10.1007/s003009900106

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • La Mesa M, Riginella E, Catalano B, Jones CD, Mazzoldi C (2017) Maternal contribution to spawning and early life-history strategies of the genus Lepidonotothen (Nototheniidae, Perciformes) along the southern Scotia Arc. Polar Biol 40(7):1441–1450. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-016-2068-x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • La Mesa M, Llompart F, Riginella E, Eastman JT (2020) Parental care and reproductive strategies in notothenioid fishes. Fish Fish 22(2):356–376. https://doi.org/10.1111/faf.12523

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Massom RA, Stammerjohn SE (2010) Antarctic sea ice change and variability—Physical and ecological implications. Polar Sci 4(2):149–186. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.polar.2010.05.001

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Matallanas J, Olaso I (2006) Fishes of the Bellingshausen sea and Peter I Island. Polar Biol 30(3):333–341. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-006-0189-3

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Miya T, Gon O, Mwale M, Poulin E (2016) Molecular systematics and taxonomic status of three latitudinally widespread nototheniid (Perciformes: Notothenioidei) fishes from the Southern Ocean. Zootaxa 4061(4):381–396. https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4061.4.4

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Radtke RL, Hubold G, Folsom SD, Lenz PH (1993) Otolith structural and chemical analyses: the key to resolving age and growth of the Antarctic silverfish Pleuragramma Antarcticum. Antarct Sci 5(1):51–62. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0954102093000082

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yager P, Sherrell R, Stammerjohn S, Alderkamp A-C, Schofield O, Abrahamsen P, Arrigo K, Bertilsson S, Garay L, Guerrero R, Lowry K, Moksnes P-O, Ndungo K, Post A, Randall-Goodwin E, Riemann L, Severmann S, Thatje S, van Dijken G, Wilson S (2012) ASPIRE: The Amundsen Sea Polynya International Research Expedition. Oceanography 25(3):40–53. https://doi.org/10.5670/oceanog.2012.73

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

We are grateful to the scientific staff and the crew aboard the 37th Chinese National Antarctica Research Expeditions for their support in sampling processing and data collection. This study was financially supported by the research project “Impact and Response of Antarctic Seas to Climate Change, IRASCC2020-2022” (Grant No. IRASCC 01-02-05C) from the Chinese Arctic and Antarctic Administration (CAA), Ministry of Natural Resources of the People’s Republic of China.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Frontiers Science Center for Deep Ocean Multispheres and Earth System (FDOMES) and Key Laboratory of Mariculture, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003, China

    Huilin Guo, Chi Zhang, Mi Duan, Jianchao Li, Wenchao Zhang & Yongjun Tian

  2. Laboratory for Marine Fisheries Science and Food Production Processes, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, 266071, China

    Yongjun Tian

Authors
  1. Huilin Guo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Chi Zhang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Mi Duan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Jianchao Li
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Wenchao Zhang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Yongjun Tian
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

HG conducted the experiments, analyzed the data and wrote the manuscript. CZ conducted the experiments and edited the manuscript. MD assisted sample processing. JL and WZ collected the fish samples. YT designed and reviewed the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Yongjun Tian.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest and that all applicable institutional, national, or international guidelines for the use and care of animals were strictly followed in the present study.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Supplementary Information

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

Supplementary file1 (XLSX 11 kb)

Rights and permissions

Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Guo, H., Zhang, C., Duan, M. et al. First record of gray rockcod Lepidonotothen squamifrons larvae in the Amundsen Sea, Antarctic: implication for a new spawning ground and early life characteristics. Polar Biol 46, 133–138 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-022-03111-7

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-022-03111-7

Keywords

Search

Navigation