Temperature-dependent otolith growth in Norwegian spring-spawning herring (Clupea harengus L.) larvae

Abstract

Folkvord A, Johannessen A, Moksness E. 2004. Temperature-dependent otolith growth in Norwegian spring-spawning herring (Clupea harengus L.) larvae. Sarsia 89:297-310. SARSIANorwegian spring-spawning herring larvae (Clupea harengus L.) were reared at different temperature combinations in the laboratory, and marked twice with a fluorescent dye, alizarin complexone, to estimate otolith growth and increment deposition rate. A daily increment deposition rate was confirmed in the sagittae of larvae reared at 12°C from day 16 (first marking age), while the apparent rate of increment formation of larvae reared at 4°C was clearly less than one per day. A reduction in rearing temperature from 12 to 8°C between days 16 and 30 (second marking age), significantly affected sagitta growth during the inter-mark period compared with those reared at 12°C throughout. Similar somatic growth rates were observed in both groups temporarily reared at 8°C between markings (about 6% day À1 ), but the otolith growth rate was more than four times higher in the group originating from 12°C compared with the one originating from 4°C. The body size versus otolith size relationship was temperature dependent, and larvae originating from different temperature regimes could be distinguished based on the differences in otolith growth pattern, but not based on differences in body size alone. The temperature-dependent otolith growth in herring larvae is expected to be of major importance for the observed differences in otolith microstructure patterns of herring stocks from different environments and regions in the field. However, this may be difficult to document in situations when larvae have low otolith growth and clear increment patterns are not present.

Growth and survival of Icelandic capelin Mallotus villosus larvae

“…Absolute age of larvae in this study was unknown as capelin larvae are known to delay first check formation (Ivarjord et al 2008) but the variables controlling the delay process remain to be discovered. Research into first check formation in herring larvae (Folkvord et al 2004) and cod larvae (Otterlei et al 2002) indicate a strong influence of temperature, with increment formation starting at a later age in larvae experiencing lower temperatures. To our knowledge, no temperature validation study has been conducted for capelin larvae.…”

Recruitment decline in North Sea herring is accompanied by reduced larval growth rates

“…However, the analysis of otolith microstructure in archival collections of larvae is a powerful tool for determining life history trajectories such as somatic growth. The otolith microstructure is strongly influenced by the environmental conditions experienced during the larval phase, such as temperature (Folkvord et al 2004) and food availability . Where feeding conditions are sufficient for growth, herring larvae can deposit daily increments on their otoliths and thus the individual larval otolith microstructure can be used as a proxy for the general growth conditions (Geffen 1982, McGurk 1984, Fox et al 2003.…”

Date of otolith first increment formation in Baltic sprat Sprattus sprattus and its relation to onset of maturity

“…Somatic growth rates < 0.2 mm d -1 are expected at the cold temperatures of 4 to 5°C that characterise the stable intermediate layers where Baltic sprat Sprattus sprattus eggs and early larvae develop (Nissling 2004). These low somatic growth rates would induce the low otolith growth rates found for small larvae, which are in the range of those reported for other clupeids (Folkvord et al 2004). In this approach, the increase of somatic growth rates (to levels > 0.4 mm d -1 ) with increasing sprat size would explain the deposition of the first clear increment and subsequent regular increments at lengths >16 mm.…”

“…In our study, distance to the first clear increment formation was independent of temperature. Only after the first increment formation did subsequent regular increments increase with temperature at rates similar to those found in other species (Neilson & Geen 1982, Mosegaard & Titus 1987, Hoff & Fuiman 1993, Folkvord et al 2004). These results are in accordance with a predominance of 16 mm long larvae found above the thermocline, whereas smaller larvae develop in stable cold water layers (Wieland & Zuzarte 1991, Makarchouk & Hinrichsen 1998.…”