Spawning strategies of fishes in relation to circulation, phytoplankton production, and pulses in zooplankton off the north-eastern United States

Abstract

Spatial and temporal distribution patterns of larval fishes are analyzed in relation to circulation, phytoplankton production and pulses in abundance of zooplankton in continental shelf waters between Cape Hatteras and Cape Sable. Analyses are based on 4 yr (1977-1980) of joint international ichthyoplankton surveys covering 260,000 km2 of the northeast shelf. Spawning strategies are related to topographic features and circulation which in turn play a key role in maintenance of the stocks. Peak spawning for several important species is shown to be in synchrony with increasing abundance levels of their seasonally-dominant copepod prey. Other species have developed a ubiquitous spawning strategy producing larvae over a protracted time period in the entire northeastern shelf area, allowing these populations to increase rapidly in response to favorable conditions.