Early Life History and Recruitment Processes of a Tropical Anguillid Eel Anguilla marmorata to the Pacific Coast, as Revealed by Otolith Sr:Ca Ratios and Microstructure

Abstract

Recent progress in otolith microchemistry especially in strontium:calcium (Sr:Ca) ratios has revealed significant features of life histories in fishes. A catadromous eel, Anguilla marmorata, has the widest distribution among anguillid eels throughout the Indo-Pacific region. However, its dispersal and recruitment mechanisms in the ocean are still unknown. The temporal and spatial variations of early life history characteristics in a tropical anguillid eel A. marmorata were examined by means of otolith Sr:Ca ratios and microstructure to understand the larval transport and recruitment processes to the coasts in the Pacific region. Durations of the larval stage and age at recruitment to the southern part of Japan ranged from 79 to 157 d and 113 to 192, respectively. No significant differences were found between recruitment months in those parameters. The early life characteristics such as larval duration and age at recruitment were constant throughout the recruitment period in the southern part of Japan. The early life history characteristics in combination with the oceanic current regime possibly determine the larval transportation and dispersion processes and further recruitment dynamics to the Pacific coast of A. marmorata. The present study also provides useful information on its biogeographic distribution in the species as determined by otolith Sr:Ca ratios and microstructure.