Species composition and seasonal variations of ichthyoplankton of the coastal zone of Vostok Bay (Peter the great bay, sea of Japan) collected at light stations

Abstract

We summarize the results of a study of the taxonomic composition and seasonal variations of ichthyoplankton in Vostok Bay. Samples were collected during 2003–2008 at a stationary light station located on the mooring module of the experimental biological station Vostok (Institute of Marine Biology). Within the observation period, larval and juvenile fish of 67 species belonging to 11 orders and 30 families were found in 412 samples. The seasonal dynamics of species composition of ichthyoplankton were examined over the period from March to November. The number of species in the samples changed from 40–36 in April–May, respectively, to 6 species in October. The contribution of resident species and southern migrants to the ichthyoplankton samples was estimated. The light station sampling has proven to be most effective in studying the species diversity of the ichthyofauna in Vostok Bay. Using light station sampling, 18 fish species were found that were not recorded using other sampling techniques.