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Relation between Winter Temperature and Survival of Larval Atlantic Herring along the Maine Coast
Author(s) -
Graham Joseph J.,
Stevenson David K.,
Sherman Keith M.
Publication year - 1990
Publication title -
transactions of the american fisheries society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.696
H-Index - 86
eISSN - 1548-8659
pISSN - 0002-8487
DOI - 10.1577/1548-8659(1990)119<0730:rbwtas>2.3.co;2
Subject(s) - overwintering , larva , clupea , acclimatization , herring , estuary , biology , predation , fishery , ichthyoplankton , environmental science , ecology , fish <actinopterygii>
Larval Atlantic herring Clupea harengus , hatched mainly in late summer and autumn in Maine coastal waters, experienced relatively small temperature declines (1.8–3.1°C) during their autumn transport along the coast to two inshore overwintering locations in the early 1960s and in 1982. Larvae that reached the Sheepscot River estuary on the central Maine coast experienced rates of temperature decline from 0.04 to 0.23°C/d in the early winter of 13 years during the period 1965–1985. Winter larval survival rates were more variable at lower gradients of minimum temperature and declined to lower values at higher gradients. Age‐frequency data indicated that the 1984 year‐class approached metamorphosis earlier than the 1983 year‐class, possibly due to accelerated growth in early spring. Minimum temperatures of 0°C or less were recorded in Boothbay Harbor during the overwintering period for nine year‐classes; two of these year‐classes were exposed to low temperatures (–1.1°C) that approached the lethal limit for 6–8‐mm Atlantic herring larvae, and one was exposed to a low temperature (–2.3°C) that exceeded the lethal limit. Larval avoidance of the effects of low temperatures may be possible through acclimation and by occupancy of warmer coastal water. Larvae may also be more susceptible to predation as they approach stressful low temperatures. Future research should include determination of the thermal acclimation rates of larvae, their tolerances of low temperatures, and the effects of temperature on larval activity.