Biomass and production of the euphausiid Euphausia pacifica along the coastal waters off north-eastern Japan

Abstract

Biomass and production of Euphausia pacifica off south-eastern Hokkaido (41–43°N), Sanriku (38–41°N), and Joban (36–38°N) were investigated every two months from March 1997 to February 1998. High biomass was found in summer-autumn off south-eastern Hokkaido, and in the late winter-early summer off Sanriku and Joban. Annual mean biomass was 381, 314 and 258 mg C/m2 off south-eastern Hokkaido, Sanriku, and Joban, respectively. The total production (sum of flesh, moults and eggs) during the survey period off south-eastern Hokkaido (3829 mg C/m2) was comparable with that off Sanriku (3872 mg C/m2); both were much higher than that off Joban (2243 mg C/m2). Somatic production during the survey period contributed the highest proportion (51.5–70.9%) to the total production in each coastal area. The somatic production-biomass ratio in each coastal area (5.2–6.9) was an intermediate value among 25 populations of 16 euphausiid species previously reported. This effect resulted from the negative factor of stagnated growth of adults during summer-winter, coupled with positive factors including continuous occurrence of larvae which show high growth rate throughout the year off Sanriku and Joban, and the numerous larvae occurring in October off south-eastern Hokkaido.