Ampelisca eschrichtii Krøyer, 1842 ( Ampeliscidae ) of the Sakhalin Shelf in the Okhotsk Sea starve in summer and feast in winter

PeerJ

article

Valentina B. Durkina¹  John W. Chapman²  Natalia L. Demchenko³ 

[1] Laboratory of Physiology, National Scientific Center of Marine Biology FEB RAS;Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Oregon State University;Laboratory of Marine Ecosystem Dynamics, National Scientific Center of Marine Biology FEB RAS

关键词: Gray whale;    Ampelisca;    Trophic dynamics;    Adaptation;    Sakhalin Island;    Reproduction;    Production;    Histology;    Ecology;    Starvation;   

DOI  :  10.7717/peerj.4841

学科分类：社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

来源: Inra

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundAmpelisca eschrichtii Krøyer, 1842 of the Sakhalin Shelf of the Okhotsk Sea, Far Eastern Russia, comprise the highest known biomass concentration of any amphipod population in the world and are a critically important prey source for western gray whales. Growth and reproduction in this population has not been apparent in summer. However, they are not accessible for sampling in winter to test a previous default conclusion that they grow and reproduce in winter.MethodsWe tested the default winter growth and reproduction hypothesis by detailed comparisons of the brood and gonad development among 40 females and 14 males and brood sizes among females observed since 2002. Our test included six predictions of reproductive synchrony that would be apparent from gonad and brood morphology if active reproduction occurs in summer.ResultsWe found high prevalences of undersized and damaged oocytes, undersized broods, a lack of females brooding fully formed juveniles, atrophied ovaries, and males with mature sperm but lacking fully developed secondary sex morphologies required for pelagic mating. All of these conditions are consistent with trophic stress and starvation.DiscussionThese A. eschrichtii populations therefore appear to starve in summer and to grow and reproduce in winter. The Offshore A. eschrichtii populations occur in summer below water strata bearing high phytoplankton biomasses. These populations are more likely to feed successfully in winter when storms mix phytoplankton to their depths.

【 授权许可】

CC BY