Abstract
This paper was aimed at re-examining the validity of the results from Cahuin et al. (Estuar. Coast. Shelf Sci. 84, 2009) and identifying a model to describe the stock-recruitment relationship of the Peruvian anchoveta (Eugraulis ringens). Regression analysis was used to determine if density-dependent effects were present. The analysis did not show the existence of any densitydependent effects. It is important to use environmental factors and take observational and process errors into account when attempting to identify density-dependent effects in fish populations. Sea surface temperature (SST) and Southern Oscillation Index (SOI) were used as independent variables to fit the recruitment dynamics of the anchoveta. Both SST and SOI were found to be significantly important parameters in structuring anchoveta dynamics according to Akaike Information Criterion (AIC) and R2 values. The results of this study do not correlate with the findings of Cahuin et al., (2009), where density-dependent effects and the presence of regimes were detected. In conclusion, the recruitment Rt is essentially determined in proportion to spawning stock biomass St, and then environmental factors in year t further change the recruitments. This mechanism is completely same with that for Japanese sardine proposed by Sakuramoto (The Open Fish. Sci. 5, 2012).
Highlights
Marine ecosystems are complex and are affected by numerous intrinsic and extrinsic environmental factors
Fish populations have a tendency to fluctuate over time and the mechanisms behind these fluctuation patterns can be understood by investigating relationship of the recruitment (R) to the spawning stock biomass (SSB) and environmental factors
Information on the distribution of Anchovy stock was obtained from Instituto del Mar del Peru (IMARPE) database
Summary
Marine ecosystems are complex and are affected by numerous intrinsic and extrinsic environmental factors. Fish populations have a tendency to fluctuate over time and the mechanisms behind these fluctuation patterns can be understood by investigating relationship of the recruitment (R) to the spawning stock biomass (SSB) and environmental factors. SST has been shown to be correlated to anchovy population dynamics previously [2,3,4,5]. The impact of sea surface temperature on the recruitment dynamics of other species of fish has been identified [6,7] Climatic conditions such as wind direction index, North Atlantic oscillation and Southern oscillation index (SOI) have been correlated with the dynamics and regimes of anchovy as well as other fish species [7,8,9,10,11]
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