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Oceanic spawning ecology of freshwater eels in the western North Pacific

Author

Listed:
  • Katsumi Tsukamoto

    (Atmosphere and Ocean Research Institute, The University of Tokyo, 5-1-5 Kashiwanoha, Kashiwa, Chiba 277-8564, Japan.)

  • Seinen Chow

    (National Research Institute of Fisheries Science, Fisheries Research Agency)

  • Tsuguo Otake

    (International Coastal Research Center, Atmosphere and Ocean Research Institute, The University of Tokyo)

  • Hiroaki Kurogi

    (National Research Institute of Fisheries Science, Fisheries Research Agency)

  • Noritaka Mochioka

    (Bioresource Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Kyushu University)

  • Michael J. Miller

    (Atmosphere and Ocean Research Institute, The University of Tokyo, 5-1-5 Kashiwanoha, Kashiwa, Chiba 277-8564, Japan.)

  • Jun Aoyama

    (Atmosphere and Ocean Research Institute, The University of Tokyo, 5-1-5 Kashiwanoha, Kashiwa, Chiba 277-8564, Japan.)

  • Shingo Kimura

    (Graduate School of Frontier Sciences/Atmosphere and Ocean Research Institute, The University of Tokyo)

  • Shun Watanabe

    (Atmosphere and Ocean Research Institute, The University of Tokyo, 5-1-5 Kashiwanoha, Kashiwa, Chiba 277-8564, Japan.)

  • Tatsuki Yoshinaga

    (School of Marine Biosciences, Kitasato University)

  • Akira Shinoda

    (Atmosphere and Ocean Research Institute, The University of Tokyo, 5-1-5 Kashiwanoha, Kashiwa, Chiba 277-8564, Japan.
    Tokyo Medical University)

  • Mari Kuroki

    (Atmosphere and Ocean Research Institute, The University of Tokyo, 5-1-5 Kashiwanoha, Kashiwa, Chiba 277-8564, Japan.
    The University Museum, The University of Tokyo, Hongo, Bunkyo)

  • Machiko Oya

    (Atmosphere and Ocean Research Institute, The University of Tokyo, 5-1-5 Kashiwanoha, Kashiwa, Chiba 277-8564, Japan.)

  • Tomowo Watanabe

    (Marine Environmental Data Integrated Analysis Center, National Research Institute of Fisheries Science, Fisheries Research Agency)

  • Kazuhiro Hata

    (Training and Education Center, National Fisheries University)

  • Shigeho Ijiri

    (Graduate School of Fisheries Sciences, Hokkaido University)

  • Yukinori Kazeto

    (Tamaki Station, National Research Institute of Aquaculture, Fisheries Research Agency)

  • Kazuharu Nomura

    (National Research Institute of Aquaculture, Fisheries Research Agency)

  • Hideki Tanaka

    (National Research Institute of Aquaculture, Fisheries Research Agency)

Abstract

The natural reproductive ecology of freshwater eels remained a mystery even after some of their offshore spawning areas were discovered approximately 100 years ago. In this study, we investigate the spawning ecology of freshwater eels for the first time using collections of eggs, larvae and spawning-condition adults of two species in their shared spawning area in the Pacific. Ovaries of female Japanese eel and giant mottled eel adults were polycyclic, suggesting that freshwater eels can spawn more than once during a spawning season. The first collection of Japanese eel eggs near the West Mariana Ridge where adults and newly hatched larvae were also caught shows that spawning occurs during new moon periods throughout the spawning season. The depths where adults and newly hatched larvae were captured indicate that spawning occurs in shallower layers of 150–200 m and not at great depths. This type of spawning may reduce predation and facilitate reproductive success.

Suggested Citation

  • Katsumi Tsukamoto & Seinen Chow & Tsuguo Otake & Hiroaki Kurogi & Noritaka Mochioka & Michael J. Miller & Jun Aoyama & Shingo Kimura & Shun Watanabe & Tatsuki Yoshinaga & Akira Shinoda & Mari Kuroki &, 2011. "Oceanic spawning ecology of freshwater eels in the western North Pacific," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 2(1), pages 1-9, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:2:y:2011:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms1174
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms1174
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    Cited by:

    1. Yu-San Han & Kuan-Mei Hsiung & Heng Zhang & Lai-Yin Chow & Wann-Nian Tzeng & Akira Shinoda & Tatsuki Yoshinaga & Sung-Pyo Hur & Sun-Do Hwang & Yoshiyuki Iizuka & Shingo Kimura, 2019. "Dispersal Characteristics and Pathways of Japanese Glass Eel in the East Asian Continental Shelf," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(9), pages 1-18, May.

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