Environmental factors affecting larval growth of Pacific saury, Cololabis saira, in the northwestern Pacific Ocean

Abstract

AbstractEnvironmental factors affecting larval growth of the Pacific saury, Cololabis saira, were analyzed from specimens sampled in the northwestern Pacific Ocean in winter, spring and autumn, 1992–94. Body length at 5 days before sampling was individually estimated by back‐calculation from otolith increment widths and recent growth rate was determined. Recent growth rates of saury larvae were significantly different among seasons and years. Results of multiple regression analysis between the recent growth rate and environmental factors indicated that sea surface temperature, chlorophyll a concentration and copepodite stage Copepoda concentration were positively correlated with the growth rate of saury larvae. Annual and seasonal variations of larval growth were largely explained by these environmental factors.