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Interannual Variation of Planktonic Species and Fish Populations

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A special issue of Journal of Marine Science and Engineering (ISSN 2077-1312). This special issue belongs to the section "Marine Biology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (10 July 2022) | Viewed by 28022

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Ming-An Lee

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Guest Editor

Department of Environmental Biology and Fisheries Science, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung 202, Taiwan
Interests: satellite oceanography, fisheries and sea conditions; fisheries; climate change; marine ecology; marine environment; marine biodiversity; aquatic ecosystems; ecology and evolution; environmental impact assessment; natural resource management

Dr. Meng-Hsien Chen

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Guest Editor

Department of Oceanography, National Sun Yat-sen University, Kaohsiung 80424, Taiwan
Interests: marine ecology; fish ecology; exotoxicology

Dr. Yu-San Han

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Guest Editor

Institute of Fisheries Science, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan
Interests: eel population structure and biogeography; eel resource dynamics and conservation; eel sex and maturation; eel artificial propagation; anti-WSSV protein drug

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Year-to-year variability in planktonic species, fish populations or species composition has been observed in marine ecosystem, which could be attributed to inter-annual variation in oceanographic conditions. In the quest for marine conservation and secure food resources, the planktonic species and fish populations play an essential role in maintaining the ecosystem and developing the coastal and offshore fisheries in the world. However, due to the threat of overfishing, pollution, habitat destruction, and global warming, there is an urgent need to understand the variation of planktonic and fish population abundance and their interactions with the ecosystem for developing suitable management measures and achieving sustainable use of fishery resources.

This Special Issue on “Interannual Variation of Planktonic Species and Fish Populations” will consider a number of areas that are important for understanding the ecosystem and developing conservation plans, including, though not restricted to: marine environment and ecosystem; planktonic species and fish populations; fishery resource and dynamics; interannual variations of the ecosystem and fish abundance. This issue provides a compilation of the current state of the art and future perspectives related to annual variations of planktonic fish population and ecosystems in the field of marine environment conservation.

Dr. Ming-An Lee
Dr. Meng-Hsien Chen
Dr. Yu-San Han
Guest Editors

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Journal of Marine Science and Engineering is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

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Keywords

marine ecosystem
planktonic species
fish populations
fisheries resource
environmental variation
global change and related impacts

Published Papers (12 papers)

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Research

16 pages, 4764 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Relationship between Engraulis japonicus Resources and Environmental Factors Based on Multi-Model Comparison in Offshore Waters of Southern Zhejiang, China

by Wen Ma, Chunxia Gao, Wei Tang, Song Qin, Jin Ma and Jing Zhao

J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2022, 10(5), 657; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse10050657 - 12 May 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1525

Abstract

In order to accurately explore the relationship between the density of Engraulis japonicus and environmental factors, five types of models, including Tweedie-Generalized Additive Model (GAM), two-stage GAM, Ad hoc-GAM, and Generalized Additive Mixing Model (GAMM), were compared based on the survey data in offshore waters of southern Zhejiang, China from 2015 to 2021 in this study. The results showed the best goodness of fit for two-stage GAM when processing the data of E. japonicus resource density. The deviance explained of GAM1 and GAM2 were 19.9 and 53.8%, respectively. According to this study, water temperature and salinity are important environmental factors affecting the distribution of E. japonicus, which are also closely related to latitude. In general, the resource density of E. japonicus decreases gradually with the increase in water temperature. When the salinity was between 26 ppt and 34 ppt, the resource density was higher. Also, there were some differences in the spatial distribution of E. japonicus in different seasons. The relationship between the resource density of E. japonicus and environmental factors was analyzed through various models to provide a scientific basis for the conservation management of E. japonicus in offshore waters of southern Zhejiang, China. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Interannual Variation of Planktonic Species and Fish Populations)

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11 pages, 2147 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Age and Growth of the Spot-Tail Shark, Carcharhinus sorrah, in the Taiwan Strait

by Shoou-Jeng Joung, Zhi-Yu Hsu, Kuan-Yu Su and Kwang-Ming Liu

J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2022, 10(3), 413; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse10030413 - 12 Mar 2022

Viewed by 1946

Abstract

The age and growth of the spot-tail shark, Carcharhinus sorrah, were estimated based on 327 specimens (171 females and 156 males) captured by the coastal/offshore longline or drift net fishery in the waters of the Taiwan Strait from October 2010 to December 2011 and July 2019 to August 2021. Sex-specific whole weight (W)—curved total length (TL) relationships were estimated as follows: W = 7.0 × 10⁻⁶ TL^2.9313 (n = 171, and p < 0.05) for females, and W = 4.0 × 10⁻⁶ TL^3.0516 (n = 156, and p < 0.05) for males. The periodicity of growth band pair (including translucent and opaque bands) deposition in precaudal vertebrae was assumed to be 1 year based on centrum edge analysis and verified by a statistical analysis. The band pairs after the birth mark were counted as 0–5 and 0–8 for females and males, respectively. The Gompertz and von Bertalanffy growth function best described the observed length-at-age data for females and males, respectively. The parameters for sex-specific growth equations were estimated as: L_∞ = 158.6 ± 9.09 cm TL, k_G = 0.2347 ± 0.0245 year⁻¹, and c = −0.3233 ± 0.2043 (n = 171, and p < 0.01) for females, and L_∞ = 170.2 ± 9.51 cm TL, k = 0.1461 ± 0.0182 year⁻¹, and t₀ = −3.1586 ± 0.2065 (n = 156, and p < 0.01) for males. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Interannual Variation of Planktonic Species and Fish Populations)

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12 pages, 1249 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Current Dependent Dispersal Characteristics of Japanese Glass Eel around Taiwan

by Kuan-Mei Hsiung, Yen-Ting Lin and Yu-San Han

J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2022, 10(1), 98; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse10010098 - 12 Jan 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1819

Abstract

Japanese eel larvae are passively transported to the East Asian Continental Shelf by the North Equatorial Current, Kuroshio and Kuroshio intrusion currents, and coastal currents. Previous studies have investigated the dispersal characteristics and pathways of Japanese glass eels. However, there are still limitations in these studies. According to long-term (2010–2020) catch data from the Fisheries Agency in Taiwan, the distribution and time series of glass eels recruitment to Taiwan are closely related to the surrounding ocean currents. Recruitment begins in eastern Taiwan via the mainstream Kuroshio and in southern Taiwan via the Taiwan Strait Warm Current. In central Taiwan, recruitment occurs from southern Taiwan, as well as from mainland China via the southern branch of the China Coast Current (CCC). The latest recruitment occurred in northern Taiwan and mainly comprised glass eels from mainland China via the northern branch of the CCC. A stronger monsoon during the La Niña phase could affect the recruitment time series in northern and eastern Taiwan. This study suggests that the recruitment directionality of glass eels is an indicator of the flow field of ocean/coastal currents and elucidates the dispersal characteristics of glass eels in the waters around Taiwan. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Interannual Variation of Planktonic Species and Fish Populations)

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16 pages, 8124 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Potential Effect of the Intrusion of the Kuroshio Current into the South China Sea on Catches of Japanese Eel (Anguilla Japonica) in the South China Sea and Taiwan Strait

by Ching-Hsien Ho, Long-Jing Wu, Zhen Lu, Bo-Yi Lu and Yang-Chi Lan

J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2021, 9(12), 1465; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse9121465 - 20 Dec 2021

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 3079

Abstract

This study examined the effect of the intrusion of the Kuroshio Current (KC) into the South China Sea (SCS) and the Taiwan Strait (TS) (SCS–TS region) on changes in catches of larval A. japonica in the traditional fishing ground waters of Gaoping near southwestern Taiwan in the SCS–TS region. First, the oceanic environment and recruitment trends from 1967 to 2019 were investigated based on secondary data. Then, field surveys were conducted to obtain primary data regarding the intrusion of the KC into the SCS, as well as the changes in the fishing sites and catches of A. japonica in the fall and winter of 2014–2015. Hence, the association between oceanic conditions and the number of A. japonica migrating into the SCS–TS region was explored. From 1967 to 2019, the recruitment proportion in the fishing grounds that formed due to the Kuroshio Branch Current (PKSBC) fluctuated significantly. Overall, positive values were observed for the Oceanic Niño Index for each year with a PKSBC > 50%, corresponding to El Niño conditions. In each year with a PKSBC > 70%, a looping path and a warm–core eddy appeared. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Interannual Variation of Planktonic Species and Fish Populations)

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17 pages, 4478 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Modeling the Habitat Distribution of Acanthopagrus schlegelii in the Coastal Waters of the Eastern Taiwan Strait Using MAXENT with Fishery and Remote Sensing Data

by Sheng-Yuan Teng, Nan-Jay Su, Ming-An Lee, Kuo-Wei Lan, Yi Chang, Jinn-Shing Weng, Yi-Chen Wang, Riah Irawati Sihombing and Ali Haghi Vayghan

J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2021, 9(12), 1442; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse9121442 - 16 Dec 2021

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 3431

Abstract

Black sea bream, Acanthopagrus schlegelii, is among the most commercially valuable species in the coastal fishery industry and marine ecosystems. Catch data comprising capture locations for the gillnet fisheries, remotely sensed environmental data (i.e., sea surface temperature, chlorophyll-a concentration, and current velocity), and topography (bathymetry) from 2015 to 2018 were used to construct a spatial habitat distribution of black sea bream. This species is concentrated in coastal waters (<3 nm) from December to April (spawning season). The maximum entropy (MaxEnt) method and corresponding habitat suitability index among seasons were used to clarify the species’ spatial distribution and identify the seasonal variations in habitat selection. The patterns corresponded closely to the changes in oceanographic conditions, and the species exhibited synchronous trends with the marine environment’s seasonal dynamics. Chlorophyll-a concentration and bathymetry substantially influenced (80.1–92.9%) black sea bream’s habitat selection. By applying the MaxEnt model, the optimal habitats were identified with four variables including depth and satellite-derived temperature, current velocity and chlorophyll-a concentration, which provides a foundation for the scientific assessment and management of black sea bream in coastal waters of the Eastern Taiwan Strait. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Interannual Variation of Planktonic Species and Fish Populations)

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24 pages, 2252 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Evaluating Fishing Capacity Based on DEA and Regression Analysis of China’s Offshore Fishery

by Shuang Liu, Jia-Xin Sun, Chao Lyu, Ta-Jen Chu and He-Xu Zhang

J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2021, 9(12), 1402; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse9121402 - 08 Dec 2021

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3055

Abstract

The analysis of offshore fishing capacity is of great significance and practical value to the sustainable utilization and conservation of marine fishery resources. Based on the 2004–2020 China Fishery Statistical Yearbook, data envelopment analysis (DEA) was applied for measuring fishing capacity using a number of fishing vessels, total power, total tonnage, and the number of professional fishermen as the input measures and the annual catch as the output measure. Capacity utilization had a calculated range from 80.7 to 100%, and its average is 93.5%. In the first four years of 2003–2007, the excess investment rate of fishing vessels, total tonnage, total power, and fishermen was low (<5%). There was a consistent sharp upward trend in 2007, a gradual downward trend from 2007 to 2015, and an upward trend after reaching a low point in 2015, with the highest gross tonnage of fishing vessels reaching 25.5%. Four regression models that incorporate machine learning algorithms are used, including Lasso, Ridge, KNN, and Polynomial Features. The goodness of fit for the four models was used as the evaluation index, and the offshore annual catch based on the evaluation index was proposed. The forecasting annual catch of the polynomial model can reach 0.98. Furthermore, a comparative simulation of the DEA incorporating the polynomial model was carried out. The results show that DEA can evaluate input factors under the conditions of a given range, and the polynomial model has more advantages in forecasting annual catches. Furthermore, the combined application of DEA and polynomial model was used to analyze and discuss the management policies of China’s offshore fishery, which can provide help and reference for future management. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Interannual Variation of Planktonic Species and Fish Populations)

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16 pages, 2942 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Demographics of Scomberomorus commerson in the Central Taiwan Strait

by Jinn-Shing Weng, Li-Chi Cheng, Yun-Sin Lo, Jen-Chieh Shiao, Jia-Sin He, Ming-An Lee and Kwang-Ming Liu

J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2021, 9(12), 1346; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse9121346 - 30 Nov 2021

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1862

Abstract

The narrow-barred Spanish mackerel Scomberomorus commerson is an economically essential species; however, few studies have investigated its demographic structure in the northwestern Pacific, which includes Taiwan’s waters. This study examined the growth parameters, age composition, mortality, and sex ratio of S. commerson catches by examining sagittal otoliths and other biological data collected in a 3-year project from June 2018 to June 2021. The transverse sections of sagittal otoliths exhibited alternating translucent and opaque zones, in annual cycles, and this observation was validated by otolith edge analysis. Opaque zones began to form in October; the growth peaked in December and lasted until March. Growth parameters were estimated for female (L_∞ = 144.1 cm fork length [FL], k = 0.39 y⁻¹, t_o = −0.85 y) and male (L_∞ = 136.0 cm FL, k = 0.32 y⁻¹, t_o = −1.49 y) specimens. The maximum recorded FL, body weight, and age were 159.0 cm, 27 kg, and 9.2 y for female and 135.0 cm, 17.8 kg, and 7.2 y for male specimens. Rapid growth was observed for both sexes, with FL reaching 66.8 ± 14.2 cm in female specimens and 70.1 ± 11.0 cm in male specimens during the first year of life. An age–length key based on the direct otolith aging and FL dataset (N = 646) was used to estimate the age composition of 3-year catches measured at landing (N = 16,133). The results verified that the S. commerson currently caught in the central Taiwan Strait are mainly young fish aged 1⁺ to 2⁺ y. The estimated fishing mortality (0.27 y⁻¹) and exploitation rate (0.30) suggested that overfishing was not occurring in this stock. The findings of this study have helped clarify the population dynamics of the S. commerson in the Taiwan Strait, and the biological parameters reported herein can aid the management and conservation to ensure the sustainability of this species in this region. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Interannual Variation of Planktonic Species and Fish Populations)

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13 pages, 2562 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Mackerel (Scomber australasicus) Reproduction in Northeastern Taiwan

by Sunarti Sinaga, Hsueh-Jung Lu and Jia-Rong Lin

J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2021, 9(12), 1341; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse9121341 - 29 Nov 2021

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2338

Abstract

Blue mackerel (Scomber australasicus) is a crucial target species for coastal fisheries in Taiwan, and additionally it has maintained its status as the highest-produced species. The timely measurement of spawning status is crucial for determining the correct management strategy for this species. The objective of this study was to determine size at maturity, fecundity, batch fecundity, and spawning frequency on the basis of samples collected from Nan-Fang-Ao fishing port in Yilan, during the spawning season from 2017 to 2019. Histological sections indicated that the blue mackerel were multiple spawners; a higher percentage of female fish spawned at the peak of the gonadosomatic index. The 50% sizes at maturity were 32.02, 32.13, and 29.64 cm. Mean total fecundity (batch fecundity) was 165 (103), 229 (96), and 210 (68) oocytes per ovary-free weight (g) for 2017, 2018, and 2019, respectively; fecundity was determined through observation of postovulatory follicles (POFs). The spawning frequencies (spawning fraction) in 2017, 2018, and 2019 were 3–10 days (0.13), 4–14 days (0.08), and 4–12 days (0.09), respectively. The spawning frequencies determined through the three estimated methods, namely the sums of (a) hydrated and Day 0 POFs; (b) Day 1+ POFs, and (c) all data combined, were 1 spawning event per 8, 10, and 9 days, respectively. The reproduction of the blue mackerel was greater in 2017 than it was in 2018 or 2019, as indicated by the higher batch fecundity and shorter spawning seasons. Environmental factors should also be considered as a major factor influencing successful reproduction and spawning season Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Interannual Variation of Planktonic Species and Fish Populations)

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8 pages, 35386 KiB

Open AccessCommunication

Morphological Significance and Relation of Ecosystems of Submarine Canyons off SW Taiwan

by Cheng-Shing Chiang and Ho-Shing Yu

J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2021, 9(11), 1296; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse9111296 - 19 Nov 2021

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1823

Abstract

There are four shelf-incising submarine canyons off SW Taiwan. They are distributed along the active continental margin, which is periodically flushed by gravity flows. Shelf-incising canyons, such as Kaoping Canyon, may not only be affected by oceanographic conditions but also by extreme climate change due to the direct input of river sediment. In the canyons along the SW margin of Taiwan, strong sedimentary flows are reflected in highly abundant nutrient input and physical disturbances. The Kaoping Canyon possesses habitats that promote biodiversity but that are sensitive to environmental change. The aims of this study are to review the canyons along the SW margin of Taiwan and to present their geomorphological features and associated ecosystems. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Interannual Variation of Planktonic Species and Fish Populations)

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15 pages, 2081 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Evaluating the Effects Related to Restocking and Stock Replenishment of Penaeus penicillatus in the Xiamen Bay, China

by Jia-Qiao Wang, Yi-Jia Shih, Liang-Ming Huang, Jun Li, Wei-Wen Li, Chun-Han Shih and Ta-Jen Chu

J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2021, 9(10), 1122; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse9101122 - 14 Oct 2021

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1747

Abstract

The quantitative evaluation of restocking and stock replenishment is essential for providing operational feedback and implementing adaptive management for future restoration projects. Since 2010, approximately 700 million juvenile shrimp (Penaeus penicillatus) have been released into Xiamen Bay, Fujian Province, China, each year, through stock replenishment programs. The recruited shrimp were sampled through three-year bottom trawl surveys from 2014 to 2017. The biological characteristics and catch equation were used to evaluate the effect of restocking and stock replenishment. The analysis uses the FAO-ICLARM Stock Assessment Tool (FISAT II) program. In general, there are two sources of recruitments—one from spawning brood stock and the other from released juvenile shrimp. We constructed an evaluation model for an effect evaluation based on Baranov’s catch equation to separate the initial recruitment volume using survey data. The relationship between body weight and total length was W = 1.638 TL^2.9307. There is no statistically significant difference between males and females. The von Bertalanffy growth parameters derived for prawns, using FiSAT II, were L_∞ = 209.6 mm and K = 0.51 per year. In spring 2014, the initial resource amount was 49,200, while the ratio of effective recruitment and parent amount was 3.92. The survival rate of the released shrimp larvae, 1.88‱, seems to be very unsatisfactory. The resource amount in summer and autumn is higher than in winter and spring. Obviously, the restocking effect is lower and the programs need to be improved. To improve the restocking effect, the replenishment performance should be adjusted to reduce the mortality rate and increase its release effectiveness. Therefore, corresponding implementations are recommended, including standard extensive culture, reduction in stress during transportation, and temporary culture. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Interannual Variation of Planktonic Species and Fish Populations)

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19 pages, 2923 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Shifts in the Assemblage of Summer Mesopelagic Fish Larvae in the Gaoping Waters of Southwestern Taiwan: A Comparison between El Niño Events and Regular Years

by Hung-Yen Hsieh, Wen-Tseng Lo, Chien-Chun Liao and Pei-Jie Meng

J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2021, 9(10), 1065; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse9101065 - 28 Sep 2021

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1767

Abstract

We investigated changes in the assemblages of summer mesopelagic fish larvae between El Niño events and regular years in 2014–2018 and evaluated their relationships with the hydrographic conditions of the Gaoping waters off southwestern Taiwan. Seventy-five taxa or morphotypes were identified, with five types of Benthosema pterotum (31.2%), Diaphus slender type (19.9%), Cyclothone alba (7.2%), Diaphus stubby type (5.9%), and Vinciguerria nimbaria (4.4%) being most common during the study period. The hydrographic conditions of the Gaoping waters were likely influenced by large-scale climate change via oceanic physical processes. Apparently higher seawater temperature, mixed layer depth, and lower salinity in the upper 100 m were observed at the end of the strong El Niño events (summer 2016). In addition, the certain dominant taxa exhibited contrasting patterns between El Niño events and regular years. In this study, although the abundance and composition of mesopelagic fish larvae assemblage were not influenced directly by changes in large-scale climatic conditions, the occurrence of mesopelagic fish larvae was related to seawater temperature, salinity, and chlorophyll a concentration. We speculated that despite the abundant food availability and the more mesopelagic fish larvae onto the Gaoping waters transported by the increased inflow of the South China Sea Surface Current during El Niño events, the higher temperature and lower salinity at the inshore upper waters might be unsuitable for mesopelagic fish larvae, possibly resulting in low egg and larval survival. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Interannual Variation of Planktonic Species and Fish Populations)

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16 pages, 3966 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Incorporating Species-Conditional Co-Occurrence When Selecting Indicator Species to Monitor Restoration after Mangrove Removal from the Siangshan Wetland, Taiwan

by Ta-Jen Chu, Chun-Han Shih, Yu-Ming Lu, Yi-Jia Shih, Jia-Qiao Wang and Liang-Ming Huang

J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2021, 9(10), 1044; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse9101044 - 23 Sep 2021

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1862

Abstract

This paper presents an approach for incorporating species-conditional co-occurrence into models used for the selection of marine indicator species. Mangrove invasion within the Siangshan Wetland in Hsinchu, Taiwan, has changed the original structures and functions of habitats for benthic organisms. The Hsinchu City Government ran a large-scale mangrove removal project from October 2015 to March 2016 to restore the wetland. From October 2015 to September 2016, we investigated the biological effects of mangrove removal on benthic crabs and their adjacent habitats. Density, number of species, Shannon–Weaver index (H′) and Palou’s evenness index (J′) were calculated and compared between mangrove and non-mangrove regions. The results showed that values for these attributes in the non-mangrove regions were higher than those of the mangrove regions. After mangrove removal, species returned to their original habitats and the related density increased significantly. Using conditional co-occurrence algorithms, we identified five indicator species (Mictyris brevidactylus, Macrophthalmus banzai, Uca arcuata, Uca lacteal and Uca borealis) with high co-occurrence probabilities, whose population responses provided direct evidence of the benefits of mangrove removal for wetland restoration. The results indicate that mangrove removal is an appropriate habitat rehabilitation strategy for benthic organisms, and that the chosen indicator species may provide valuable ecological information for coastal managers seeking to control the spread of mangroves. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Interannual Variation of Planktonic Species and Fish Populations)

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