Jm. Green et Js. Wroblewski, Movement patterns of Atlantic cod in Gilbert Bay, Labrador: evidence for bay residency and spawning site fidelity, J MARINE BI, 80(6), 2000, pp. 1077-1085
Citations number
16
Categorie Soggetti
Aquatic Sciences
Journal title
JOURNAL OF THE MARINE BIOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED KINGDOM
During three consecutive years of observation 23 Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua
) were tagged with ultrasonic transmitters as part of two experiments to de
termine the movement patterns of adult cod in the genetically distinctive p
opulation inhabiting Gilbert Bay, Labrador. Individual cod were relocated f
or periods up to 15 months, indicating year-round residency within the bay
despite unimpeded access to the open ocean. The tracking data show that ind
ividual cod have a strong homing tendency. In experiment 1 displaced cod re
turned (homed) to their place of capture in a small arm separated from the
rest of the bay by a shallow sill while non-displaced fish remained at thei
r capture site. In experiment 2 some cod remained within 2 km of their capt
ure/release site, a spawning area, while others ranged widely in Gilbert Ba
y before returning to this site. Whether an individual ranged widely or had
more restricted movements was not related to size. Cod exhibited wider ran
ging movements in the spring and early summer, following spawning, than in
the late summer and early autumn. The return of Gilbert Bay cod to specific
locations in the inner part of the have to overwinter and spawn is evidenc
e of one mechanism that could have led to their genetic distinctiveness.