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The “Recruitment Problem” for Marine Fish Populations with Emphasis on Georges Bank

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Toward a Theory on Biological-Physical Interactions in the World Ocean

Part of the book series: NATO ASI Series ((ASIC,volume 239))

Abstract

The factors that determine recruitment of marine fish populations have been the focus of research for nearly a century. Much research on Georges Bank and around the world has been guided by hypotheses that relate the size of a year class to (a) the availability of prey during the larval period and (b) the physical transport of eggs and larvae to unfavorable locations. On Georges Bank water column stability enhances feeding conditions for cod and haddock larvae by concentrating their prey at the thermocline. Consequently, larval growth is higher over the stratified portion of the Bank than in the central, well mixed region. Although starvation mortality does not appear to be population limiting over the range of prey densities observed in the thermocline, storm events can disrupt stratification and potentially cause starvation. Eggs and larvae may also be advected off the Bank during storms or as a result of warm core rings. Additionally, abnormally low temperature may threaten survival of haddock eggs and larvae in some years. Pre recruit fish suffer about the same cumulative mortality during the post-larval stage as they do as eggs and larvae. Predation is the most likely cause of post larval mortality and it has the potential to affect recruitment and species composition of fish populations. A more comprehensive investigation of recruitment processes from the gonad development stage of adults to recruitment will be necessary.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration National Marine Fisheries Service Northeast Fisheries Center, United States Department of Commerce, Woods Hole, Massachusetts, 02543, USA

    E. B. Cohen & M. P. Sissenwine

  2. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration National Marine Fisheries Service Northeast Fisheries Center, United States Department of Commerce, RR 7, South Ferry Rd., Narragansett, Rhode Island, 02882, USA

    G. C. Laurence

Authors
  1. E. B. Cohen
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  2. M. P. Sissenwine
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  3. G. C. Laurence
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Environmental and Estuarine Studies, University of Maryland, Solomons, Maryland, 20688, USA

    B. J. Rothschild

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© 1988 Kluwer Academic Publishers

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Cohen, E.B., Sissenwine, M.P., Laurence, G.C. (1988). The “Recruitment Problem” for Marine Fish Populations with Emphasis on Georges Bank. In: Rothschild, B.J. (eds) Toward a Theory on Biological-Physical Interactions in the World Ocean. NATO ASI Series, vol 239. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-3023-0_19

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-3023-0_19

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-94-010-7859-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-009-3023-0

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