Haldorson et al : Spring abundance patterns of marine fish larvae 



39 



7). Two less abundant species — longsnout prickleback 

 Lumpenella longirostris and slender cockscomb 

 Anoplarchus insignis — also appeared early in 1987 and 

 1988, but had maximum density in May of 1989. 



Two of the most abundant species, walleye pollock 

 and flathead sole, consistently appeared in May (Figs. 

 8, 9) and were well synchronized with maximum den- 

 sity of copepods. Less common larvae that also tended 

 to reach maximum density in May were starry 

 flounder Platiehthys stellatus and poachers (agonids) 

 (Figs. 10, 11). 



Discussion 



It has been observed that many fish larvae occur in 

 approximate synchrony with maximum zooplankton 

 densities (Sherman et al. 1981 and 1984, Townsend 

 1984, Jenkins 1986). The strategy of synchronizing pro- 

 duction of larvae to high abundance of prey has obvi- 

 ous adaptive value, and is the prerequisite of high 

 recruitment in Cushing's (1975) match-mismatch 

 hypothsis. Fishes with this strategy were termed 

 "synchronous" by Sherman et al. (1984). An alternate 



