Identification of benthic egg masses and spawning grounds in commercial squid in the English Channel and Celtic Sea: Loligo vulgaris vs L. forbesii.

Laptikhovsky, Vladimir; Cooke, Gavan; Barrett, Christopher; Lozach, Sophie; MacLeod, Eleanor; Oesterwind, Daniel; Sheerin, Edel; Petroni, Michael; Barnwall, Leigh; Robin, Jean-Paul; Allcock, Louise; Power, Anne Marie

Abstract

Common squid, Loligo vulgaris and veined squid, Loligo forbesi have nearly coinciding distribution in the northeast Atlantic, a similar reproductive seasonality, and largely overlapping depth ranges of spawning grounds. There are no unambiguous criteria to distinguish between egg masses of both species. This pioneer study was focused on Celtic Sea and western part of the English Channel and combined both research survey data and observations by recreational divers ("citizen science"). L,vulgaris was found to reproduce there in late winter – spring; distribution of egg masses coincided with bottom temperature range of 8.5-10°C and bottom salinities of 35-35.5 psu. No L.forbesii egg masses was found across the studied area though they are known from literature from deeper areas further west. Based on the original materials and literature data we provide a guideline to distinguish between egg masses of both squids based on egg size and embryonic stage as a tool to map species specific spawning grounds for improvement of understanding of population structure, migrations and development of fisheries management measures.

Citation

LAPTIKHOVSKY, V., COOKE, G., BARRETT, C., LOZACH, S., MACLEOD, E., OESTERWIND, D., SHEERIN, E., PETRONI, M., BARNWALL, L., ROBIN, J.-P., ALLCOCK, L. and POWER, A.M. 2021. Identification of benthic egg masses and spawning grounds in commercial squid in the English Channel and Celtic Sea: Loligo vulgaris vs L. forbesii. Fisheries research [online], 241, article number 106004. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fishres.2021.106004

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: May 5, 2021
• Online Publication Date: May 19, 2021
• Publication Date: Sep 30, 2021
• Deposit Date: Jun 11, 2024
• Publicly Available Date: Jun 11, 2024
• Journal: Fisheries research
• Print ISSN: 0165-7836
• Electronic ISSN: 1872-6763
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 241
• Article Number: 106004
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fishres.2021.106004
• Keywords: Aquatic science; Loligo vulgaris; Loligo forbesii; Reproduction; Egg masses; Spawning grounds
• Public URL: https://rgu-repository.worktribe.com/output/2121419