Impact of environmental factors on survival of larval and juvenile Cape anchovy Engraulis encrasicolus (G.) in the southern Benguela upwelling region, determined from hatchdate distributions: implications for recruitment
M. R. Wilhelm A F , S. J. Painting B , J. G. Field C , M. Kerstan D E and M. D. Durholtz D
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Department of Zoology, University of Cape Town, South Africa; now National Marine Information and Research Centre, Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources, PO Box 912, Swakopmund, Namibia.
B Marine and Coastal Management, Cape Town, South Africa; now CEFAS, Lowesoft, Suffolk, UK.
C Marine Biology Research Institute, Department of Zoology, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch 7701, South Africa.
D Marine and Coastal Management, Private Bag X2, Rogge Bay 8012, Cape Town, South Africa.
E Deceased.
F Corresponding author. Email: mwilhelm@mfmr.gov.na
Marine and Freshwater Research 56(5) 561-572 https://doi.org/10.1071/MF04145
Submitted: 12 July 2004 Accepted: 2 March 2005 Published: 22 July 2005
Abstract
March larval and May juvenile Cape anchovy of the unusually strong 1999/2000 year-class were collected off South Africa. Age estimates were obtained from daily increment counts on otoliths using light microscopy for March larvae (14–70 mm standard length, SL, n = 193, 92% success rate), and scanning electron microscopy for May juveniles (52–110 mm SL, n = 80, 22% success rate). Differences between March and May hatchdate distributions were related to the prevailing temperatures. March larval hatchdate distributions showed slight modes in October/November 1999 and January/February 2000, each a month later than May juvenile hatchdate distributions (September/October and November/December). Thus, mortality rates of larvae hatched after mid-December seem to have been higher. Large areas of warm water (19–26°C sea surface temperature) on the Agulhas Bank, mid-November 1999 to March 2000, indicated conditions conducive to spawning and reduced offshore advection of spawning products. A period of strong upwelling, March to May 2000, is likely to have increased availability of planktonic food for older larvae; also causing offshore dispersal of younger larvae and food patches required by these, possibly leading to starvation mortality of younger larvae during strong upwelling. The critical period thus seemed to be later than at first-feeding.
Extra keywords: age distribution, critical period, match/mismatch, otolith.
Acknowledgments
Funding for the present project was provided by the Benguela Environment Training and Interaction (BENEFIT) Programme, the Norwegian Organisation for Research and Development (NORAD), Marine and Coastal Management (MCM), South Africa, the Benguela Ecology Programme (BEP), and the University of Cape Town (UCT). Our gratitude goes to the staff at the Electron Microscope Unit, UCT, especially to Miranda Waldron for much time spent taking scanning electron micrographs. We also wish to thank the scientific and technical staff of MCM, for assisting with sampling and otolith extractions as well as Ingrid Peters and other (UCT) assistants spending many hours extracting and preparing otoliths.
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