Cephalopod paralarvae assemblages in Hawaiian Islands waters

Abstract

The distribution and abundance of cephalopod paralarvae near the Hawaiian Islands are described. Paralarvae were collected during 5 plankton surveys in 1991 to 1993. The 404 tows at 59 stations collected 10375 paralarvae from 21 families and 57 species. The most numerous families were the Ommastrephidae (23% of total catch), Pyroteuthididae (17%), Enoploteuthididae (16%), Onychoteuthididae (14 %), and Chtenopterygidae (8 %). The most numerous species were Ommastrephes bartramii (18%), Pterygioteuthis microlampas (15%), Chtenopteryx sicula (8%), and Onychoteuthis compacta (6%). Analysis of paralarval distribution patterns identified 2 paralarval assemblages: 'island associated' and 'oceanic'. The 15 'island-associated' species showed increased paralarval abundance near the islands, suggesting preferential spawning in this area. Epipelagic nearshore spawners included Onychoteuthis sp. C, Sthenoteuthis oualaniensis, and Nototodarus hawaiiensis. Mesopelagic nearshore spawners included 3 reported members of the Hawaiian Mesopelagic Boundary Community (Abralia trigonura, Liocranchia reinhardti, and Chiroteuthis picteti) and 3 probable new members (Liocranchia valdiviae, Histioteuthis hoylei and Enoploteuthis jonesi).