Abundance and Distribution of the Larvae of Family Carangidae in the Philippine Waters

Abstract

A spatio-temporal study on the abundance of the Carangidae larvae in Philippine waters was conducted to minimize the lack of information on their spawning grounds. The study analyzed fish larvae data from M/V DA-BFAR cruises between 2006 and 2018, covering various areas in the Philippines. A total of 589 sampling stations were examined and grouped into seven zones: Batanes-Polillo, Catanduanes-Eastern Samar, Inland waters (Bohol Sea, Davao Gulf, Lagonoy Gulf, Leyte Gulf, Ragay Gulf, Sibuyan Sea, Samar Sea, Tayabas Bay, and the Visayan Sea), Mindanao-Sulawesi Sea, Sulu Sea, West Philippine Sea, and Davao Oriental-Surigao. The results indicated a patchy distribution of carangid larvae, with the highest concentration found in northern Palawan (Sulu Sea and West Philippine Sea areas). The total density of composite samples ranged from 1 to 865 larvae/1000m³. The abundance showed fluctuation over the years, with higher densities in 2016 and 2017 compared to other sampling years. The highest mean density was observed in September 2017 in the West Philippine Sea, while the lowest was recorded in May 2015 in Batanes-Polillo waters. The variations in carangid larvae abundance in Philippine waters are likely related to the species' spawning habits, as the timing of reproduction may vary by region based on ecological factors. Other factors influencing the results include sampling incidence and the sampling period of M/V DA-BFAR.