Water density pathways for shelf/slope migrations of squid Illex argentinus in the Southwest Atlantic

Abstract

Argentine shortfin squid Illex argentinus (Ommastrephidae) is one of the most abundant cephalopods in the Southwest Atlantic, with total annual catch exceeding 1 mln t in some years. During its annual life cycle, I. argentinus perform long distance migrations, from their subtropical spawning grounds in Uruguay and southern Brazil to temperate feeding grounds on the Patagonian Shelf and back. Oceanography and squid distribution were studied during a research survey carried out in the south-eastern part of the Patagonian Shelf to reveal environmental cues that determine pathways of shelf to continental slope pre-spawning migrations. It was found that the outflows of less dense Patagonian Shelf Waters (PSW) over the slope may act as proxies determining the locations of I. argentinus migrations from the shelf to the slope. During maturation I. argentinus did not significantly change their buoyancy with females becoming slightly more buoyant with depth. Subsequent movement of mature I. argentinus to denser Sub-Antarctic Superficial waters (SASW) located at deeper depths (600–700m) enable them to approach near-neutral buoyancy and therefore facilitate the distant pre-spawning migrations.