Peculiarities of Ichthyoplankton in the Lithuanian Part of the Curonian Lagoon

Abstract

Larvae and fry of 12 fish species (smelt, perch, bream, roach, ruffe, pikeperch, silver bream, ide, rudd, golden carp, bleak and three-spined stickleback) were identified in the aquatic part of the Curonian Lagoon during the studies of ichthyoplankton conducted at the end of May or at the beginning of June and at the beginning of July 1996–2002. Among them, perch, smelt and bream larvae dominated in the Curonian Lagoon. The highest densities of smelt, perch and bream larvae were recorded in 1997, whereas the highest density of roach larvae was found in 1999. However, in July, densities of ichthyoplankton were much lower than at the end of May or at the beginning of June. We also recorded a tendency towards decline in the density of smelt larvae and a tendency towards increase in the density of roach larvae. Smelt larvae migrate mainly from their spawning areas to the Baltic Sea through the eastern part of the Curonian Lagoon. The size of larvae depended on the beginning of the spawning period and water te...