Early Life History Fish Life Cycle Terminology Larval adaptations Fish Larvae Science

Spawning PELAGIC Environment Settlement Adults Juveniles ADULT Environment Eggs Larvae Fish Life Cycle

Larval Development Stages

(a) lake sturgeon, Acipenser fulvescens; (b) bloater, Coregonus hoyi; (c) chinook salmon, Oncorhynchus tshawytscha; (d) lake trout, Salvelinus namaycush; (e) northern pike, Esox lucius; (f, g) common carp, Cyprinus carpio; (h) brown bullhead, Ameiurus nebulosus; (i) largemouth bass, Micropterus salmoides; (j) yellow perch, Perca flavescens; (k) American eel, Anguilla rostrata; (l) Japanese anchovy, Engraulis japonicus; (m) Atlantic herring, Clupea harengus; (n) haddock, Melanogrammus aeglefinus; (o) walleye pollock, Theragra chalcogramma; (p) Atlantic cod, Gadus morhua; (q) striped bass, Morone saxatilis; (r) Atlantic croaker, Micropogonias undulatus; (s) bluefin tuna, Thunnus thynnus; California halibut, Paralichthys californicus.

Gadidae Gadus morhua

Molidae Mola mola

Pelagic larvae adaptations

Piscivorous larvae

Leptocephali larvae

Bothidae Bothus ocellatus Metamorphosis

Engraulis encrasicolus

Spawning PELAGIC Environment Settlement Adults Juveniles ADULT Environment Eggs Larvae Fish Life Cycle

End of larval phase Settlement Metamorphosis Recruitment Colonization

Epinephelus morio Post-flexion

Larval Transport Mechanisms Passive Transport with currents Behaviorally mediated –Diel Vertical Migrations –Active Directional swimming

Island wake or eddie (Possible larval retention)

Long distance transport

Sampling of larval stages All methods have different size and species selectivity Plankton nets –Bongo nets –Multiple opening nets (MOCNESS) –Seine nets Light traps Reef crest nets

Plankton nets: Mostly catch small larvae

Light traps: Species that are attracted to light Only catch large larvae

Crest nets: source of postsettlement fishes for aquarium and aquaculture