Citharichthys Sordidus) to a Continental Shelf Nursery
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AN ABSTRACT OF THE THESIS OF Christopher J. Donohoe for the degree of Doctor of PhilosoDhy in Fisheries Science presented on August 2, 2000. Title: Metamorphosis. Growth, and Settlement of Pacific Sanddab (Citharichthys sordidus) to a Continental Shelf Nursery. Inferred from Otolith Microstructure. Redacted for Privacy Abstract approved: Douglas F. Markie Processes of metamorphosis, settlement, and growth were examined in Pacific sanddab using field studies and otolith microstructure. l'his flatfish transforms at large sizes, has a gradual metamorphosis, and settles to a nursery on the middle continental shelf. Eye migration takes 3 months and "metamorphosis proper" which begins after completion of eye migration (CEM) takes an additional 1-2 months. Larvae at CEM ranged from 30-46 mm SL and were 125-224 d old. Coefficients of variation in length and age at CEM were 0.081 and 0.122, similar to flatfishes that transform at smaller sizes. Accessory pnmordia (AP) and an opaque region formed in the sagitta 14-49 d before CEM and 2-3 months before the start of the juvenile period. Depth stratified benthic surveys were conducted on the continental shelf and upper slope off central Oregon bimonthly in 1989 and in March 1990-1994. Peak settlement occurred in late fall and winter. Larvae initially landed on the upper slope but continued inshore to the middle shelf, a process that takes -50-60 d. The nursery is centered at 80-119 m in winter and 50-99 m in summer. Abundance of settling Pacific sanddab on the upper slope in March 1989- 1994 was strongly correlated to onshore Ekman transport during the preceding 30 d (r=0.91, P=0.013, n=6). Electron microprobe analysis revealed strong cross-otolith trends in concentrations of Sr, K, and P in Pacific sanddab and Dover sole, but trends were not related to settlement, thermal experience, or otolith and somatic growth. Margin concentrations of Cl and K differed among stations as little as 5-8 km apart, potentially indicating meso-scale patchiness. Patterns also imply long term cohesion of pelagic larvae, a surprising result given the 9 month to 2 year pelagic period of Dover sole. Time series of daily increment widths revealed ontogenetic, seasonal, and individual variation in otolith growth rate. Otolith growth rates were correlated with SST in 1992 and 1994, but were largely determined by timing of settlement. Otolith growth was synchronous among a small portion of each year class. Distinct growth histories acted as natural tags that allowed study of patch dynamics and settlement. Metamorphosis, Growth, and Settlement of Pacific Sanddab(Cit harichthys sordidus) to a Continental Shelf Nursery, Inferred from Otolith Microstructure by Christopher J. Donohoe A THESIS submitted to Oregon State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Completed August 2, 2000 Commencement June 2001 Doctor of Philosophy thesis of Christopher J. Donohoe presented on August 2. 2000 APPROVED: Redacted for Privacy Redacted for Privacy Redacted for Privacy Dean of I understand that my thesis will become part of the permanent collection of Oregon State University libraries. My signature below authorizes release of my thesis to any reader upon request. Redacted for Privacy Christopher J. Donohoe, Author ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I extend my sincere gratitude to my mentor, Dr. Douglas F. Markle, for his guidance, patience, and encouragement throughout my graduate work. Special thanks to Dr. Roger L. Nielsen for instruction, assistance, and advice on electron microprobe analyses. I would also like to thank the other members of my committee for their advice and participation; Dr. David B. Sampson, Dr. William G. Pearcy, Dr. Philip D. Whanger, and Dr. William A. Zollinger. Thanks also to Keith Sakuma of the NMFS for providing pelagic Pacific sanddabs from midwater surveys off central California. Finally, I wish to thank my fellow graduate students, in particular Phil Harris, Paulo Petry, and Chris Toole, who provided support, advice, and who participated in many valuable discussions of all things ichthyological. TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTER 1 Introduction .1 OVERVIEW TABLE OF CONTENTS (continued) Page ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .138 LITERATURECITED ............................................................................................................. 139 CHAPTER 5 Sources of Variation in Time Series of Otolith Growth of Settling Pacific Sanddab,Citharichthys sordidus(Paralichthyidae)............................144 ABSTRACT .............................................................................................................................. 145 LIST OF FIGURES Figure Page 2.1. Length distribution of benthic Pacific sanddab (Citharichthys sordidus) collected in March 1992, 1993, and 1994 and pelagic fish collected off central California in May 1994 by metamorphic stage..............................................................15 2.2. Age distribution of benthic Pacific sanddab (Citharichthys sordidus) collected in March 1992, 1993, and 1994 and pelagic fish collected off central California in May 1994 by metamorphic stage...............................................................................17 2.3. Relationships between relative body depth and relative eye diameter, and length and number of opaque sagittal increments for Pacific sanddab (Citharichthys sordidus) ........................................................................................................................18 2.4. Development of larval (a-c) and juvenile (d-e) pigmentation in Pacific sanddab (Citharichthys sordidus)................................................................................................19 2.5. Photographs of polished left and right sagittae from a 28.0 mm SL stage 1 Pacific sanddab (Citharichthys sordidus) showing asymmetry in locations of the central primordia, notches in the anterior field, and the first few accessory primordia(AP)............................................................................................................... 21 2.6. Photograph of a polished sagitta from a 37.6 mm SL stage 2 Pacific sanddab (Citharichthys sordidus) using transmitted light which shows the transition from the clear central region to the opaque outer region (white arrow) and accessory primordia (black arrows) ............................................................................... 23 2.7. Relationship between sagitta length, standard length, and number of opaque sagittal increments for Pacific sanddab (Citharichthys sordidus)..................................24 2.8. Photographs of polished sagittae from 42.1 mm SL (top) and 41.7 mm SL (bottom) stage 3 Pacific sanddab (Citharichthys sordidus) under reflected light..........26 2.9. Photographs of polished asterisci from Pacific sanddab (Citharichthys sordidus)........................................................................................................................28 2.10. Relationship between counts of increments in the sagitta and asteriscus. The results of the GM regression and the 1:1 line are shown...............................................29 2.11. Relationship between standard length and sagitta and asteriscus length in Pacific sanddab (Citharichthys sordidus)......................................................................32 3.1. Locations of the trawl transects off the central Oregon coast. Contours are boundaries of depth strata (m).......................................................................................51 3.2. Seasonal changes in depth distribution of age 0 and age l Pacific sanddab (Citharichthys sordidus) in the 3 transects during 1989................................................58 LIST OF FIGURES (continued) Figure 3.3. Depth distribution of age 0 and age I Pacific sanddab (Citharichthys sordidus) in the central transect in March 1989-1994...................................................................60 3.4. Seasonal changes in mean abundance (stratum-weighted) of age 0 and ageI Pacific sanddab (Citharichthys sordidus) in the 3 transects during 1989 and in the central transect in February and March 1993...........................................................61 3.5. Relative abundance of age 0 and age 1 Pacific sanddab (Cit haricht hys sordidus) within middle continental shelf strata (<160 m) and outer shelf and upper slope strata (160 m) in the central transect in March 1989-1994 ...................... 62 3.6. Length frequency distribution of Pacific sanddab (Citharichthys sordidus) caught in January to November 1989 (all 3 transects), September 1991 (central and south transects), and February 1993 (central transect)............................................65 3.7. Length frequency distribution of Pacific sanddab (Citharichthys sordidus) caught in the central transect in March (1989-1994).....................................................66 3.8. Length distribution of age 0 benthic Pacific sanddab (Citharichthys sordidus) in the central transect in March 1992, 1993, and 1994 by depth stratum..........................69 3.9. Age distribution of benthic Pacific sanddab (Citharichthys sordidus) in the central transect in March 1992, 1993, and 1994 by depth stratum................................70 3.10. Number of opaque increments in sagittae of benthic Pacific sanddab (Citharichthys sordidus) in the central transect in March 1992, 1993, and 1994 bydepth stratum............................................................................................................