Storm-Induced Atlantic Herring (Clupea harengus) Egg Mortality in Baltic Sea Inshore Spawning Areas

Moll, Dorothee; Kotterba, Paul; Nordheim, Lena von; Polte, Patrick

doi:10.1007/s12237-017-0259-5

Cited by 15 publications

(25 citation statements)

References 47 publications

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“…A strong example is the retreat of aquatic plants, a major herring-spawning substratum, to a vertical depth limit of 3.5 m (Munkes, 2005;Kanstinger et al, 2018). As a result, herring eggs are extremely exposed to storm-induced wave action, and increasing storm frequencies greatly affect egg mortality (Moll et al, 2018). Furthermore, some filamentous, epiphytic brown algae, such as Pilayella littoralis, can cause drastic egg mortality on herring-spawning beds (Aneer, 1987;von Nordheim et al, 2020).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Reduced Reproductive Success of Western Baltic Herring (Clupea harengus) as a Response to Warming Winters

Polte¹,

Gröhsler²,

Kotterba

et al. 2021

Front. Mar. Sci.

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Shallow estuaries, bays, and lagoons are generally considered hot spots of ocean productivity that often adjust rapidly to seasonal variations in atmospheric temperatures. During spring when biological reproductive processes begin in the temperate zones, regional climate variability can be immense and uncovering a non-linear biological response, such as fish recruitment to changing temperature regimes might be challenging. Using herring as a paradigm for a response of coastal spring productivity to regional climate drivers, we demonstrated how the annual timing of spawning periods can significantly affect the reproductive success of spring-spawning herring (Clupea harengus) in the western Baltic Sea. An investigation of spawning phenology in consecutive years indicated a temperature threshold range of 3.5–4.5°C triggering initial spawning in the coastal zone. Based on this finding, we analyzed the timing of larval hatching peaks, larval survival and recruitment to the adult population relative to multi-decadal time-series of seasonal sea-surface temperatures. The results revealed that the late seasonal onset of cold periods the corresponding elongation of the period where larvae hatch from the eggs and early larval hatching peaks significantly reduced larval production in a coastal nursery area and finally lead to a reduced abundance of juveniles in the entire distribution area. Using a combination of field research and time series analysis, we presented precedence for shifting regional winter regimes providing a present-day stressor to reproductive capacity of a central component of the coastal food web.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Due to harsh weather conditions no sampling could be conducted before March 18th in 2015. Herring eggs were counted from the grab samples and raised to mean egg concentration per square meter (Moll et al, 2018).…”

Section: Investigating the Temperature Range For Initial Spawningmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reduced Reproductive Success of Western Baltic Herring (Clupea harengus) as a Response to Warming Winters

Polte¹,

Gröhsler²,

Kotterba

et al. 2021

Front. Mar. Sci.

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“…The littoral zone in this area is characterized by a depth-stratified succession of different submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) communities, which represents a common structure of local soft bottom shore zones in the bay. Based on earlier studies (Moll et al 2018) and footage recorded by an underwater camera, sampling areas were selected and habitats characterized according to the general phytal zonation in the bay described by Geisel and Meßner (1989) following the natural depth gradient. The "Potamogeton-zone" (PZ, pondweed zone) in our study ranged from 1 to 2 m water depth, where the seafloor is densely covered with different macrophyte species including Stuckenia pectinata and Z. marina (Kanstinger et al 2018).…”

Section: Study Site and Selected Habitatsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Habitat utilization and feeding ecology of small round goby in a shallow brackish lagoon

Henseler

Kotterba²,

Bonsdorff

et al. 2020

Mar. Biodivers.

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We examined small-scale distribution and feeding ecology of a non-native fish species, round goby (Neogobius melanostomus (Pallas, 1814)), in different habitats of a coastal lagoon situated in the south-western Baltic Sea. First observations of round goby in this lagoon were reported in 2011, 3 years before the current study was conducted, and information on this species’ basic ecology in different habitats is limited. We found that mainly juvenile round gobies are non-randomly distributed between habitats and that abundances potentially correlate positively with vegetation density and thus structural complexity of the environment. Abundances were highest in shallower, more densely vegetated habitats indicating that these areas might act as a refuge for small round gobies by possibly offering decreased predation risk and better feeding resources. Round goby diet composition was distinct for several length classes suggesting an ontogenetic diet shift concerning crustacean prey taxa between small (≤ 50 mm total length, feeding mainly on zooplankton) and medium individuals (51–100 mm, feeding mainly on benthic crustaceans) and another diet shift of increasing molluscivory with increasing body size across all length classes. Differences in round goby diet between habitats within the smallest length class might potentially be related to prey availability in the environment, which would point to an opportunistic feeding strategy. Here, we offer new insights into the basic ecology of round goby in littoral habitats, providing a better understanding of the ecological role of this invasive species in its non-native range, which might help to assess potential consequences for native fauna and ecosystems.

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“…Herring spawn in multiple waves, with older fish spawning before recruits and subsequently migrating to feeding grounds (Jones 1968;Lambert 1987;Skaret et al 2003). Suitable spawning grounds for egg deposition are vital for resilient herring stocks, yet such habitat is often adversely impacted by environmental and anthropogenic pressures (Thurstan and Roberts 2010; Moll et al 2018;Moffat et al 2020). Eggs layers create dense carpets within highly localized areas (Fig.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Essential spawning grounds of Scottish herring: current knowledge and future challenges

Frost

Diele

2022

Rev Fish Biol Fisheries

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Scotland once had the largest herring fishery globally, generating local income, identity, and societal change. Following historic stock collapse, in spring 2018/2019 large herring shoals were observed on the west coast for the first time in decades, at a formerly important spawning ground. This highlights the urgency of maintaining historic (and contemporary) benthic spawning habitat, which these fish rely upon, in good condition. However, information on exact location, characteristics, and status of historic and contemporary spawning grounds, if existing, is not easily accessible. We searched over 1190 literature sources, dating back to 1884, using scientific databases and web-based searches, and ran a query for automated search of comprehensive historic reports. We present current knowledge on Scottish herring spawning grounds, retrieved through these searches and fisher interviews, maps showing historic and contemporary spawning grounds, and discuss challenges arising from the methods used to recognize these grounds. Knowledge gaps regarding location and environmental status of past and current spawning grounds, particularly relevant for Scotland’s west coast, are identified. Based on the importance of specific environmental and physical variables for herring reproductive success, we advocate the inclusion of essential spawning grounds into herring management plans. This will require additional data on spawning grounds, including historic local ecological knowledge rarely considered. An inclusive ecosystem-based approach to herring management would allow more targeted actions to conserve (and potentially restore) essential spawning habitat. More effective management strategies will also call for reversing the (global) issue of the disconnect between different stakeholder groups. Graphical abstract

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Storm-Induced Atlantic Herring (Clupea harengus) Egg Mortality in Baltic Sea Inshore Spawning Areas

Cited by 15 publications

References 47 publications

Reduced Reproductive Success of Western Baltic Herring (Clupea harengus) as a Response to Warming Winters

Reduced Reproductive Success of Western Baltic Herring (Clupea harengus) as a Response to Warming Winters

Habitat utilization and feeding ecology of small round goby in a shallow brackish lagoon

Essential spawning grounds of Scottish herring: current knowledge and future challenges

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