Able et al , Parahchthys dentatus early life history 



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Figure 3 



Distribution and abundance (cumulative mean no. /10m- of sea surface) of Punflichthnx lU-xtatii^ larvae by length 

 during 1977-84. 



Small larvae (<6 mm) were clumped in three regions 

 (Fig. 3): Subarea II to northern subarea III, northern 

 subarea IV, and subarea V. The northern and southern- 

 most of these groupings are also apparent for larvae 

 of 7-10 mm, but there is no well defined pattern for 

 larger larvae. 



Larvae were collected September-May. depending 

 on location, but in most subareas the peak abundance 

 occurred in November (Table 3). Larvae were captured 

 as early as September in subareas II and III. The latest 

 captures were during May in subareas IV and V. Lar- 

 vae occurred over 5-7 months within the study area 

 (Table 3). The shortest duration of occurrence was in 

 subarea I (October-February), and the longest was in 

 subareas IV and V (October-May). For most subareas, 

 larval catches were low or zero in January followed by 

 a slight increase in February. The most southerly 

 subarea (V) showed a smaller peak in April. Individual 



years (see Morse et al. 1987) revealed similar patterns 

 in timing and location of eggs and larvae as found in 

 the composite data (Table 3). 



As expected from the timing of peak egg abundance, 

 the smallest larvae (<6 mm) were most abundant 

 October-December (Table 4). Small larvae (4-8 mm) 

 occurred in April, although we collected no eggs 

 February-April which could have accounted for these 

 larvae. The largest larvae (>11 mm) were abundant 

 November-May with peaks in November-December 

 and March-May. 



Inshore occurrence of larvae and juveniles 



Transforming F. (h')it(itNs have been collected from 

 most of the major inlets adjacent to subarea III along 

 the New Jersey coast. Reexamination of data collected 

 in New Jersey estuaries (Table 1) and our own collect- 

 ing efforts indicate transfoi'ming larvae have occurred 



