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Differences in larval growth of Pacific bluefin tuna (Thunnus orientalis) between two spawning areas, and an evaluation of the growth-dependent mortality hypothesis

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Abstract

The larval growth of Pacific bluefin tuna (Thunnus orientalis) was compared between two main spawning areas, the Sea of Japan (SOJ) and the western North Pacific (WNP). Growth trajectories indicate that the larval survival depends on their growth in both areas. Until the flexion stage, larvae of the SOJ showed lower growth than those of the WNP, but after the post-flexion stage, there was no significant differences in larval growth between two areas. The observed growth differences were likely driven by the sea surface temperature (SST): the lower SST in the SOJ negatively affected the larvae until they reached to the flexion stage. Survival over the flexion stage is one of the major ontogenetic milestones during the larval development in the SOJ. Chlorophyll-a concentrations were negatively correlated with SST and tended to be higher in the SOJ than in the WNP. Prey availability was presumed to be higher in the SOJ. As larval swimming and feeding abilities improved with flexion, larvae would have been able to capitalize on the favorable feeding environment in the SOJ, thus eliminating the temperature mediated growth difference in pre-flexion larvae.

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Acknowledgments

We thank the captains and crews of the R/V Shunyo-maru, Syoyo-maru, Tenyo-maru, Tonan-maru, Tottori-maru, Kuroshio-maru, Shimane-maru and Hakusan-maru for PBF larval sampling in the WNP and SOJ, and the scientists of the PBF Biology Group at the National Research Institute of Far Seas Fisheries for cooperation with the sampling. We are also grateful to A. Aoki for help to improve the early draft manuscript.

Funding

This research was supported by a grant from the Japan Fisheries Agency.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Research Institute of Far Seas Fisheries, Japan Fisheries Research and Education Agency, 5-7-1 Orido, Shimizu-ku, Shizuoka, 424-8633, Japan

    Taiki Ishihara, Mikio Watai & Seiji Ohshimo

  2. Japan Fisheries Research and Education Agency, 15F Queen’s Tower B, 2-3-3 Minato Mirai, Nishi-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa, 220-6115, Japan

    Osamu Abe

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  1. Taiki Ishihara
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Correspondence to Taiki Ishihara.

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All applicable international, national, and/or institutional guidelines for the care and use of animals were followed. All procedures performed in studies involving animals were in accordance with the Guidelines for Proper Conduct of Animal Experiments (Science Council of Japan).

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Ishihara, T., Watai, M., Ohshimo, S. et al. Differences in larval growth of Pacific bluefin tuna (Thunnus orientalis) between two spawning areas, and an evaluation of the growth-dependent mortality hypothesis. Environ Biol Fish 102, 581–594 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10641-019-00855-w

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