OCCURRENCE AND ABUNDANCE OF LEIOGNATHUS-RIVULATUS (TEMMINCK AND SCHLEGEL) LARVAE IN KAGOSHIMA BAY, SOUTHERN JAPAN, IN 1991

Temporal and spatial occurrence and abundance of Leiognathus rivulatus larvae were studied with regular monthly collections at 14 fixed stat ions in Kagoshima Bay in 1991. A total of 1036 larvae (1.1-5.6 mm SL) were collected from June to September. They were poorly represented in the northern part of the bay, but were abundant at most of the coasta l stations in the southern part. Larval abundance followed a normal di stribution curve during the season, the peak abundance period, analyze d statistically on a daily basis, being from 30 June to 3 August. Area s of larval abundance were determined cruise by cruise using-a method for calculating geographic centers of larval abundance from stations h aving a higher-than-average larval density and the two adjacent statio ns with the highest larval densities. Abundant areas of L. rivulatus l arvae were found at three coastal locations in the southern part of Ka goshima Bay.