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Onshore-offshore distribution and abundance of tuna larvae (Pisces: Scombridae: Thunnini) in near-reef waters of the Coral Sea
Citation
Fowler, AM and Leis, JM and Suthers, IM, Onshore-offshore distribution and abundance of tuna larvae (Pisces: Scombridae: Thunnini) in near-reef waters of the Coral Sea, Fishery Bulletin, 106, (4) pp. 405-416. ISSN 0090-0656 (2008) [Refereed Article]
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Official URL: http://fishbull.noaa.gov/1064/fowler.pdf
Abstract
The on-offshore distributions
of tuna larvae in near-reef
waters of the Coral Sea, near Lizard
Island (14°30ʹS, 145°27ʹE), Australia,
were investigated during four cruises
from November 1984 to February 1985
to test the hypothesis that larvae of
these oceanic fishes are found in
highest abundance near coral reefs.
Oblique bongo net tows were made in
five on-offshore blocks in the Coral
Sea, ranging from 0–18.5 km offshore
of the outer reefs of the Great Barrier
Reef, as well as inside the Great
Barrier Reef Lagoon. The smallest
individuals (<3.2 mm SL) of the genus
Thunnus could not be identified to species,
and are referred to as Thunnus
spp. We found species-specific distributional
patterns. Thunnus spp. and T.
alalunga (albacore) larvae were most
abundant (up to 68 larvae/100 m2) in
near-reef (0–5.5 km offshore) waters,
whereas Katsuwonus pelamis (skipjack
tuna) larvae increased in abundance
in the offshore direction (up to 228
larvae/100 m2, 11.1–18.5 km offshore).
Larvae of T. albacares (yellowfin tuna)
and Euthynnus affinis (kawakawa)
were relatively rare throughout the
study region, and the patterns of their
distributions were inconclusive. Few
larvae of any tuna species were found
in the lagoon. Size-frequency distributions
revealed a greater proportion of
small larvae inshore compared to offshore
for K. pelamis and T. albacares.
The absence of significant differences
in size-frequency distributions for
other species and during the other
cruises was most likely due to the
low numbers of larvae. Larval distributions
probably resulted from a
combination of patterns of spawning
and vertical distribution, combined
with wind-driven onshore advection
and downwelling on the seaward side
of the outer reefs.
Item Details
| Item Type: | Refereed Article |
|---|---|
| Research Division: | Biological Sciences |
| Research Group: | Ecology |
| Research Field: | Marine and Estuarine Ecology (incl. Marine Ichthyology) |
| Objective Division: | Environment |
| Objective Group: | Flora, Fauna and Biodiversity |
| Objective Field: | Marine Flora, Fauna and Biodiversity |
| UTAS Author: | Leis, JM (Dr Jeff Leis) |
| ID Code: | 94182 |
| Year Published: | 2008 |
| Web of Science® Times Cited: | 4 |
| Deposited By: | IMAS Research and Education Centre |
| Deposited On: | 2014-09-02 |
| Last Modified: | 2014-09-05 |
| Downloads: | 365 View Download Statistics |
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