Susceptibility to starvation by piscivorous Japanese Spanish mackerel Scomberomorus niphonius (Scombridae) larvae at first feeding

Abstract

The ability of newly hatched larvae of Japanese Spanish mackerel Scomberomorus niphonius to resist starvation was studied in rearing experiments. Because Japanese Spanish mackerel larvae exhibit almost complete piscivory from the first feeding stage and begin to cannibalize under lack of piscine prey, they were isolated from one another during the experiments. Newly hatched larvae commenced feeding on fish prey (red sea bream Pagrus major larvae) on day 6 (after hatching) and completed yolk sac absorption by day 9 at 18.5°C. All the starved larvae had died by day 10. More than 90% of fish fed red sea bream larvae survived until day 10, whereas all fish fed rotifer (Brachionus plicatilis) had died by the same day, indicating that rotifer is useless as a prey for the survival of Japanese Spanish mackerel larvae at the first feeding stage. A clear point‐of‐no‐return (PNR), 0–1 day of recoverable starvation, was found at the post‐first feeding stage. Delayed feeding experiments demonstrated that the percentage survival on day 10 was 100% for larvae fed from day 5, 91.6% from day 6, 16.7% from day 7, 8.3% from day 8, and 0% for those fed from day 9. Fish first fed from day 7 or 8 showed significantly retarded growth during the following adequately fed period compared with fish fed from the first feeding (day 6). These results show that Japanese Spanish mackerel larvae are highly vulnerable to fasting and that the larvae’s first feeding success might be critical for growth and survival in the period that follows.

Growth-selective survival in piscivorous larvae of Japanese Spanish mackerel Scomberomorus niphonius: early selection and significance of ichthyoplankton prey supply

“…The following feeding conditions were simulated: (1) high prey levels (larvae could feed) followed by low prey levels (larvae could not feed) for 1 d from Days 5 to 9, then reintroduction of high prey levels; (2) high prey levels, then introduction of low prey levels (for a maximum of 3 d). Under Condition 2, larvae were sampled after 3 d starvation because first-feeding Japanese Spanish mackerel larvae do not survive 4 d under starved conditions (Shoji et al 2002). A total of 10 different feeding regimes (including a control group: fed continuously) were set; 4 to 10 replicates were made for each treat- …”

“…Under laboratory conditions, Japanese Spanish mackerel larvae have been reported to die within 4 d of first feeding under conditions of no-prey supply. The point-of-noreturn of the larvae is 1 d after first feeding (Shoji et al 2002). Therefore, starvation itself and starvationinduced predation would greatly contribute to mortality in the post first-feeding period of Japanese Spanish mackerel larvae, whereas predation is generally the most important factor that controls larval mortality in marine fish (Houde 1987, Bailey & Houde 1989.…”

First feeding and subsequent growth performances in piscivorous larvae of Chinese perch Siniperca chuatsi (Perciforms: Sinipercidae)

“…The larvae of species with* are piscivorous at first feeding stage Shoji et al (2002) the nutritional requirement for larval growth (Shoji and Tanaka 2001). Fish may accelerate growth rate to converge growth trajectories when favorable conditions are restored after a period of growth depression (Zhu et al 2001;Ali et al 2003;Jobling 2010;Hector and Nakagawa 2012).…”

“…The larvae of Chinese perch, similar to spotted mandarin fish Siniperca scherzeri larvae (Zhang et al 2009) and Japanese Spanish mackerel Scomberomorus niphonius larvae (Shoji et al 2002), only feed on live fish larvae at the time of first feeding (Chiang 1959;Liang et al 2008). Piscine prey is more evasive than plankton prey in general and requires higher foraging ability of the predator (Shoji and Tanaka 2006).…”

Long-term variation in catch of Spanish mackerel (Scomberomorus niphonius) related to environmental change in Korean waters

“…장 (Kishida, 1985), 분포와 회유 (Kishida, 1989), 성숙과 산란 (Kishida and Aida, 1989), 초기 자어 기의 먹이습성 Shoji et al, , 2002) 등 다양한 연구결과들이 보고되 어 왔다. 하지만 국내에서는 과거 삼치의 분포와 생태에 관한 연구 (Whang et al, 1977) 개의 관측정선 (남해구-203, 204, 205, 206, 207, 208, 209, 314; 서해구-308, 309, 310, 311, 312; 동해구-102, 103, 104, 105, 106) 1971 1974 1977 1980 1983 1986 1989 1992 1995 1971 1974 1977 1980 1983 1986 1989 1992 1995 …”