Australian Ichthyoplankton Newsletter, No. 10, August 1996

Regional larval fish archives now in operation: an important fisheries resource

If you can't seem to find that delicately worded scientific phase you've been looking for, try some of these.

Scholarship Advertisement - 1997-1999

Australian Postgraduate Award (Industry) with Environmental Protection Authority "The biology of Noctiluca scintillans - a eutrophication indicator?"

(Incorporating Australian Ichthyoplankton Newsletter, No. 10, August 1996,
AND incorporating submissions for 'STAGES' -
Newsletter of the American Fisheries Society, Early Life History Section)

Pacific Rim - Australasian/Japan/New Zealand (this distribution by e-mail only)

Edited by Iain Suthers (University of New South Wales) and Barry Bruce (CSIRO, AFSB Larval Biology sub-committee).
Please send submissions to: Iain Suthers, School of Biological Science, University of New South Wales, Sydney. 2052 Australia
Ph: (61-2) 9385 2065, Fax (61-2) 9385 1558 - nb new fax #
E-mail: I.Suthers@unsw.edu.au

List of contents:

  1. Introduction, news
  2. List of current e-mail addresses
  3. Credit card facility to join AFS/ELHS?
  4. Previous news from (a) Japan (Yoshiro Watanabe) and (b) Victoria (Pancho Neira).
  5. News from Queensland (James Cook Univ., by Mark McCormick; Queensland Univ. by Tri Pham
  6. News from New South Wales (Sydney University, by Mike Kingsford; Univ. of NSW, by Iain Suthers)
  7. News from Tasmania (CSIRO, by Barry Bruce)

1) Editorial, by Suthers & Bruce

Welcome to another attempt at larval fish communication. The last issue of AIN seems to be No. 9, June 1993 and since then circumstances, needs, and geographic distribution, let alone technology have changed considerably. Suggestions, addresses and contributions would be gratefully received. Last "edition" in May 1996 was not mailed in this format but sent directly to Tom Miller, editor of STAGES - I have included it here as "Previous news...".

The following are the submissions received for STAGES. It seems to serve as an informal newsletter for all of us, and a forum to keep up with local news. Thanks to all those who responded to my plea. Many of us are fresh from some major conferences: AFS/ELHS in New Orleans (June), AMSA (Australian Marine Science Association) in Hobart Tasmania (June), and the 2nd World Fisheries Congress in Brisbane Queensland (July, hosted by Aust. Soc. Fish Biology).

At the AFSB, the Larval Biology sub-committee considered a name change to the Ichthyo-Plankton subcommittee to encompass the many plankton workers in Australia. According to Jock Young there is no Australasian forum for them, and surely it would be a great idea to broaden our communication with the biological oceanography people. Jock suggested the Plankton sub-committee.

What do you think?

Stop press - the Larval Fish proceedings is out!

2) Current recipients of Ichthyoplankton Newsletter

jeffl@amsg.Austmus.oz.au
ywatanab@ori.u-tokyo.ac.jp
oozeki@nrifs.affrc.go.jp
Brigid.Kerrigan@jcu.edu.au
mark.mccormick@jcu.edu.au
P_DOHERTY@aims.gov.au
geoffrey.jones@jcu.edu.au
ilona.stobutzki@jcu.edu.au
mhowland@scu.edu.au
amiskie@ibm.net
g.jenkins@msl.oz.au
mikek@bio.usyd.edu.au
mickf@bio.usyd.edu.au
d.booth@uts.edu.au
john.kalish@anu.edu.au
gmn@mailpc.brs.gov.au
zltpham@dingo.cc.uq.oz.au
tomt@amsg.austmus.oz.au
ajordan@dpi.tas.gov.au
bruce@ml.csiro.au
f.neira@msl.oz.au
c.sutton@ml.csiro.au
d.rissik@unsw.edu.au
p8941912@unsw.edu.au
steffea@fisheries.nsw.gov.au
fletcherr@fisheries.nsw.gov.au
grayc@fisheries.nsw.gov.au
gehrkep@fisheries.nsw.gov.au
peter.rothlisberg@qld.ml.csiro.au
r.thresher@ml.csiro.au
d.cyrus@pan.uzulu.ac.za
sharris@pan.uzulu.ac.za
ori4@superbowl.und.ac.za
iclarm@ffa.gov.sb
soms@mailbox.uq.oz.au
k.hall@msl.oz.au

plus:
Daniel Gaughan, WA Marine Research Labs, PO Box 20, North Beach, WA 6020
Steward Fielder, NSW Fisheries, Port Stephens Research Centre, Taylor's Beach, 2301
Stephen Swales, Ok Tedi, New Guinea

Feel free to mail this on to whomever, and notify i.suthers@unsw.edu.au about other addresses (esp. NZ)

3) Credit card facility to join AFS/ELHS

Still to hear from Tom Miller about credit card facility when joining AFS (Larval Section)

4) Previous news

4a) Japan by Y. Watanabe.

National Research Institute of Fisheries Science of Japan have published an atlas "Distribution of Eggs and Larvae of Pelagic Fish Species around Japan" in March 1995. More than 700 maps of monthly and annual distribution of eggs, yolksac larvae, and feeding larvae of sardine Sardinops melanostictus, anchovy Engraulis japonicus, mackerels Scomber spp, round herring Etrumeus teres, horse mackerel Trachurus japonicus, and rhynchoteuthion of squid Todarodes pacificus during 1991-1993 were constructed and compiled in a bulky atlas by H. Zenitani of the Institute and his colleagues. The atlas includes tables of monthly egg production estimates during the years for the sardine, anchovy, and mackerels. Sardine egg production decreased by half during 1991 and 1993. Anchovy egg production turned into decreasing from a peak production in 1991. Mackerel egg production stayed minimum level since the second half of the 1980s.

The 3rd International Symposium on Fish Endocrinology (chairperson K. Yamauchi) was held during 27-31 May 1996 in Hakodate, Hokkaido. About 70 oral presentations in nine sessions on reproduction, behavior, growth, osmoregulation, and immunology were given. Some of the presentations were on development and metamorphosis of larval fish. Oral presentations are planned to be published in an issue of Fish Physiology and Biochemistry.

4b) Victoria by P. Neira.

The Victorian Fisheries Research Institute and the Victorian Institute of Marine Sciences are currently conducting a series of ichthyoplankton studies in Port Phillip Bay and adjacent coastal marine waters. These projects are:

1. "Ichthyoplankton assemblage in Port Phillip Bay 1995 - 1996"

Project team: Dr Francisco J. Neira (leader), David MacKeown, Sharon Tait and Pamela Oliveiro.
Institution: Marine and Freshwater Resources Institute, PO Box 114, Queenscliff, Victoria 3225, Australia (e-mail: f.neira@msl.oz.au).

Description: This survey is aimed to describe the composition, abundance, and the seasonal and spatial distribution of the ichthyoplankton assemblage within Port Phillip Bay (PPB). The overall aim of the study is to determine to which extent commercially important fish species utilise PPB both as spawning and nursery areas, particularly species such as pilchard, anchovy, flathead and snapper. Sampling of fish eggs and larvae is being conducted since September 1995 every fortnight at 12 sites within Port Phillip Bay. Sampling dates are selected according to moon phase. Samples are obtained at night using a 3.0 m long bongo sampler fitted with 0.6 m diameter, 500 - 300m mesh nets, each fitted with a digital flowmeter. At each site, a five minute oblique tow from the bottom to the surface, or a stepwise double oblique tow at depths

2. "The roles of active and passive processes in larval transport and recruitment of marine populations"

Project team: Dr Greg Jenkins (leader), Michael Keough, Kerry Black and Paul Hamer Institution: Marine and Freshwater Resources Institute and Zoology Department, University of Melbourne, C/- PO Box 138, Queenscliff, Victoria 3225, Australia (e-mail: g.jenkins@msl.oz.au).
Description: This program aims to sample late-stage larvae of King George whiting that have entered a large temperate embayment prior to settlement in seagrass beds. Spawning occurs outside the bay and larvae enter through a narrow entrance. The distribution of larvae will be compared with the predictions of a numerical hydrodynamic model of larval dispersal to test whether the distribution matches the 'passive' case. We are also investigating larval behaviours such as vertical migration. Behavioural attributes will be incorporated into the model and the improvement (or otherwise) to model predictions will be assessed. This project is its final year. Preliminary results suggest that variability in temporal and spatial distribution can largely be explained by passive processes; however, behaviours such as diurnal and tidal vertical migration will influence patterns.

3. "Distribution and abundance of the early life stages of commercially-important species in waters off Victoria, and their relationship to oceanographic parameters"

Project team: Dr Francisco. J. Neira (Principal Investigator), Dr Patrick Coutin, Mr Andy Longmore, Dr Greg P. Jenkins, Dr Richard Gormon and Mr John Turnbull.
Institutions: Marine and Freshwater Resources Institute, PO Box 114, Queenscliff, Victoria 3225, Australia (e-mail: f.neira@msl.oz.au or g.jenkins@msl.oz.au).
Description: The aim of this project is to collect ichthyoplankton, physical and chemical oceanographic data along waters off Victoria during the summer of 1997 and the winter of 1988. Data obtained on the composition, concentration and spatial distribution of eggs and fish larvae in the two periods will be used to estimate spawning areas and season of commercially important fish species. Ichthyoplankton concentrations will be correlated with environmental variables in an attempt to identify possible retention areas and the evidence of passive/active transport of these early stages. Samples collected during both periods will also be used to determine the spatial and seasonal distribution of rock lobster phyllosomes and giant crab megalopa. Sampling will be conducted on board of the CSIRO RV Franklin. Funding for this survey has been provided by the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation (FRDC) and the Victorian Fisheries Department.
Summer surveys will be conducted in January and December of 1997, each lasting 10 days. Samples will be obtained along 8 transects, each containing 5 stations (total = 40 stations), covering an area of approximately 17,200 nm2. Each transect will be separated by about 40 nm and will extend offshore 50 nm. Stations within each transect will be distanced 10 nm and will cover the whole water column from a maximum depth of 60 m. Horizontally-stratified ichthyoplankton samples will be obtained at different depths using the EZ sampler on board of the RV Franklin. The sampler will be equipped with four 500m plankton nets, each with an open-closing mechanism, and fitted with an electronic flowmeter and soft cod ends. Samples using the EZ net at each station will be obtained from a depth just above the bottom to the surface. Neuston samples will be obtained simultaneously using a standard bongo sampler equipped with 500m mesh nets and flowmeters. The CTD probe on board of the RV Franklin will be used to obtain salinity and temperature profiles on each station sampled. Concentrations of nutrients NH4, NO2, NO3, PO4 and SiO4 will be determined continuously whilst underway and from Niskin samples in depth profiles at each sampling site. In addition, chlorophyll concentrations will be measured using an in-line fluorometer whilst underwaty, together with salinity and temperature.

4. Update: The book "The Larvae of Temperate Australian Fishes".

Edited by Francisco J. Neira, Anthony G. Miskiewicz and Thomas Trnski, is in its latest stages and will be with the publishers in September 1996.
The book describes and illustrates the larval stages of 125 species belonging to 57 families of fishes found in temperate Australia, including eight freshwater species. The book, with contribution from some 20 scientists from Australia and overseas, will be published by the University of Western Australia Press.

5. Recent publication:

Neira, F.J., Miskiewicz, A. G., & Bruce, B. (1996). Larvae of five fish families with pattern 10 of the ramus lateralis accessorius nerve (Arripididae, Girellidae, Kyphosidae, Microcanthidae and Scorpididae): relevance to relationships. Bull. Mar. Sci.

5. News from Queensland

5a) Department of Marine Biology, James Cook University of North Queensland

by Mark McCormick
Mark McCormick (mark.mccormick@jcu.edu.au) has embarked on a detailed study of metamorphosis in reef fishes which will examine morphological, growth and energetic changes over the dynamic life stage and its physiological control.. Part of this work is being conducted in French Polynesia in conjunction with Vincent Dufour (Université de Perpignan). Mark continues to persue his interests in the intricacies of settlement transitions and the importance and determinants of fish condition at settlement. Brigid A. Kerrigan (brigid.kerrigan@jcu.edu.au) is continuing her examination of the role of maternal effect in influencing larval quality in a damselfish. Using field experiments she has been assessing the relative importance of female size and food availability to larval output and quality. In association with Mark McCormick she has assessed the importance of social interactions and determined the hormonal mechanism underlying the maternal influence on larval morphology. Maria Milicich (CESAL@cenvsci.com) and Geoff Jones (Geoffrey.Jones@jcu.edu.au) continue to explore the extent to which reef fish populations are self recruiting. Targeting a demersal nesting damselfish, 10 million embryos were marked with tetracycline in the field during one reproductive season. Using light traps, Maria and Geoff captured approximately 4,000 settling juveniles, of which 15 were marked. Their preliminary calculations suggest that up to 20% of recruitment at Lizard Is., may be "self-recruitment". Ilona C. Stobutzki (ilona.stobutzki@jcu.edu.au) is in the process of finishing a dissertation on how pre-settlement reef fish can actively control their dispersal. She is primarily looking at sustained swimming abilities, its metabolic cost, and the fishes' ability to navigate to reefs at the time of settlement. Kathryn Kavanagh (kathryn.kavanagh@jcu.edu.au) has just finished a dissertation on the relationships between developmental rates, growth rates and life-stage transitions in early life of pomacentrids, focusing on the brooding damselfish Acanthochromis polyacanthus. She is also, with Julian Caley (julian.caley@jcu.edu.au), examining regional variation in the early life history characteristics of a number of coral reef damselfishes. Suresh Job (suresh.job@jcu.edu.au) is studying the visual ecology of coral reef fish larvae (principally pomacentrids and apogonids). Using behavioural and anatomical techniques Suresh is obtaining information on the visual capabilities of larvae with respect to feeding and how this correlates with anatomical changes in the eye during development. Michael Arvedlund (michael.arvedlund@jcu.edu.au) has just started a PhD project involving the rearing of four species of amenonefish examining the olfactory imprinting to their specific host anemones.

Recent and upcoming publications:

Job, S. D., Bellwood, D. R. (1996). Visual acuity and feeding in larval Premans biaculeatus. J. Fish. Biol. 48: 952-963.

Kerrigan, B. A. (1996). Patterns in the size and nutritional condition at settlement in two tropical reef fishes (Pomacentridae: Pomacentrus amboinensis and P. nagasakiensis). Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser. 135: 27-41

Kerrigan, B. A. (1996). Variability in larval development of a tropical reef fish (Pomacentridae: Pomacentrus amboinensis): the parental legacy. Marine Biology: In press

Kerrigan, B. A. (In review). The effects of density and food availability on spawning output in tropical reef fish. Ecology.

Kerrigan, B. A., McCormick, M. I. (in review). Spatial patterns in spawning output and quality of larvae in a coral reef fish. Bull. Mar. Sci.

Kerrigan, B. A. (in review). The role of maternal condition in determining larval survival in tropical reef fishes. Aust. J. Ecol.

McCormick, M. I., Kerrigan, B. A. (1996). Predation and its influence on the condition of a newly settled tropical demersal fish. Mar. Freshwater Res. 47: In press

McCormick, M. I., Makey, L. J. (in review). Settlement in coral reef fishes: overlooked complexity in niche shifts. Ecology

McCormick, M. I. (in review). Condition and growth of reef fish at settlement: is it important? Aust. J. Ecology

McCormick, M. I. (submitted). Density-dependent maternal stress in a fish influences progeny morphology and potential viability by a hormonal mechanism. Ecology

Stobutzki IC & DR Bellwood (submitted) The role of sustained swimming in the replenishment of coral reef fish populations. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

Stobutzki IC & DR Bellwood (submitted). Reefal orientation by pelagic juvenile coral reef fishes. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

Wilson, D., McCormick, M. I. (In press). Spatial and temporal validation of settlement marks in the otoliths of some tropical reef fishes. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

Wilson, D., McCormick, M. I. (In review). Microstructure of settlement marks in the otoliths of tropical reef fish. Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

5b) University of Queensland by Tri Pham

There is a big gap between Townsville and Sydney in terms of people who are studying fish larvae in SE Queensland. In Brisbane, apart from myself, there is another PhD student at the Queensland University of Technology (QUT) who is studying the distributions of larval fish in Moreton Bay.

By the end of this year, I hope to complete my thesis which describes the distributions, compositions, seasonality and recruitment of fish larvae in an estuarine system in southeast Queensland. However, my thesis only draws half of the picture as I only sampled half of the estuary. I hope to get funding to do the other half after submitting my work to the University so we can have the whole picture. The estuary where I did my sampling is very unique having both ends open to the sea. So far I can see larval fish got into one end and travel out through the other end. It is a very interesting and important factor compared to other estuarine system which connect to the sea by single end.

6. News from New South Wales

6a) University of Sydney, by Mike Kingsford.

Mike Kingsford is continuing his research at One Tree Island where he is working on presettlement reef fish and how they are influenced by thermal plumes that move up to 5 kilometres from the reef on ebb tides. This work will continue in to 1997. Betty Pentury is working doing a PhD in Mike's laboratory. She is studying the fish larvae of estuarine waters in New South Wales. The objective of the study is to understand the importance of oceanography and planktonic food on patterns of abundance and growth.

See the WWW site on the Internet Art Auction, to raise money for One Tree Island: http://www.artauction.aust.com

The proceedings of the International Larval Fish Conference (Sydney, 1995) have gone to press in Marine & Freshwater Research (Publishers: CSIRO, Australia). The issue has over 35 papers in it and is now available via the editor Ann Grant a.grant@publish.csiro.au

6b) University of New South Wales by Iain Suthers

Iain is starting a project with the NSW Environmental Protection Authority, to investigate the nutrient budgets off the Sydney coast, from outfalls, upwelling, and estuarine plumes, using a small undulating towed package (miniBAT). It will support a CTD, fluorometer and an optical plankton counter. In relation to this, Dave Rissik has upgraded to the PhD program now, investigating the particle size spectra in upwelling areas/times (Coral Sea and NSW coast), in eutrophic and oligotrophic waters, and in pelagic juvenile myctophid guts! Kim Smith (PhD program) has completed most of the analysis of depth stratified ichthyoplankton samples off Sydney from January and April 1994. She has found significant night-to-night variability that has an oceanographic basis (wind stress). She is now sampling sea grass beds in two Sydney estuaries for recently settled juveniles, to examine age and settlement checks in relation to events indicated by local temperature fluctuations and at the Ocean Reference Station. Kylie Peterson (Honours) is examining recent growth increments in Engraulis australis off Sydney versus control sites off Jervis Bay (>100 km south) and Port Stephens (>100 km north), using towed nets and light traps. She has also reared larvae (Australian bass), to examine the fidelity of the otolith to feeding/starvation events. Iain is following this up with larval snapper (Pagrus auratus) in collaboration with Stewart Fielder at the NSW Fisheries Port Stephens Aquaculture facility.

7) News from Tasmania

Jock Young's group has been working on the relationship between biomass of zooplankton and the southern bluefin and yellowfin fisheries off south eastern Australia. This work has generated a large number of samples and therefore some broad-brush techniques for quantifying areas of high biomass (=potential feed) which could translate to areas suitable for large aggregations of tuna. Probably the most interesting result is that the shelf waters immediately inshore of these fisheries have significantly higher biomasses of potential feed, not the offshore fronts that was first assumed. It appears that the tuna (particularly the juveniles) use the warmer East Australia Current waters as a thermal refuge from which they make forrays into the shelf to feed.

The samples collected have also provided a wealth of data on the offshore distribution of larval fish. The samples, now being worked up by Barry Bruce, have provided details of the distribution, advection and water mass affinities of morwong larvae. Most larvae collected were jackass morwong (Nemadactylus macropterus) however recent PCR analyses of an unidentified Cheilodactylus species from the samples (by Chris Burrige, Uni Tas) has confirmed these to be the banded morwong Cheilodactylus spectabilis.

Zooplankton studies continue to leap into the larval fish fraternity here with Barry Bruce and Caroline Sutton continuing work on the seasonal abundance, distribution and advection of seastar larvae in the Derwent River. A study has also just been completed on temperature and salinity tolerances of Asterias amurensis larvae. Barry, Jock and David Griffin (CSIRO Oceanography) will shortly be commencing a two year (FRDC funded) analysis of larval rock lobster distribution and advection pathways in southern Australia based primarily on material within existing samples. If anyone happens to collect phyllosoma or puerulus as part of their plankton sampling we would appreciate seeing the material.

Next issue: an update on rearing studies being conducted by Tas Sea Fisheries, Inland Fisheries and Tas Uni.

Recent publications (excluding contributions to the "Atlas")

1. Bruce, B. D.; Young, J. W. Evans, K.; Sutton, C. A. and Furlani, D. M. (submitted). The influence of mesoscale physical oceaonographic processes on larval distribution and stock structure in jackass morwong (Nemadactylus macropterus). Marine Biology.

2. Bruce, B.D.; C.A. Sutton, D. Mills and A.E. Phillips (submitted) Distribution and dispersal of larvae of Asterias amurensis (Asteroidea: Asteriidae) in southern Tasmania: an invading species introduced in ballast water. Marine Biology.

3. Bruce, B. D. and Sutton, C. A. (submitted). The distribution of blue grenadier (Macruronus novaezelandiae) larvae off south eastern Australia: evidence for a second spawning area. Marine and Freshwater Research

4. Miskiewicz, A. G., Bruce, B. D. and Dixon, P. (in press) The distribution of tailor larvae along the coast of New South Wales, Asutralia. Marine and Freshwater Research. Young, J. W., R. W. Bradford, T. D. Lamb and V. D. Lyne (in press) Biomass of zooplankton and micronekton in the southern bluefin tuna fishing grounds off eastern Tasmania, Australia (Marine Ecology Progress Series)

5. Young, J. W., T. D. Lamb, R. W. Bradford (in press) Distribution and community structure of midwater fishes in relation to the sub-tropical convergence off eastern Tasmania, Australia.(Marine Biology)

6. Young, J. W., Lamb, T. D., Le, D., Bradford, R. (in review) Feeding ecology of southern bluefin tuna (Thunnus maccoyii) in relation to the biological oceanography of the southwest Tasman Sea (Environmental Biology of Fishes)