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JOURNAL OF PLANKTON RESEARCH | VOLUME 14 | NUMBER 12 | PAGES 1767-1779 | 1992
© Oxford University Press

research-article

Growth and life history of the mesopelagic mysid Meterythrops microphthalma in the southern Japan Sea

T. Ikeda

Japan Sea National Fisheries Research Institute 1 Suido-cho, Niigata 951, Japan

Received on July 5, 1992; accepted on September 16, 1992 Samplings with MTD nets were made in June, September and December 1986 in Toyama Bay, and with Norpac nets in April 1987 in waters around Yamato Rise, and population structure of the mesopelagic mysid Meteryhrops microphthalma was investigated. Cohort analyses indicated three to four age groups in each sample. Growth of this species was expressed well by von Bertalanffy function, BL=29.22 (1–e0.2975(t–0.3619); where BL is body length (mm) and t is time (years). Reproduction was seasonal with juvenile release from the female's marsupium in mid-February. Females reach maturity and breed in winter of the second year, and possibly breed again in the following year. The brood size was 9–23. Males take more time to mature (age: 2+year) and live longer than females. Estimated longevity based on the largest specimens is 3 years for females and 4 years for males. Estimated life-time mortality is 1.040 year–1. From the determination of wet weight, dry weight and ash content, younger larvae in the marsupium are heavier and have greater organic content than do older larvae or small juveniles. This suggests that the energy required for larval development is deposited initially in the embryos. General features seen in the life history of M.microphthalma are consistent with those reported for other non-migrating mesopelagic crustaceans, excepting for the very slow growth rate of this species. Food abundance and temperature in the mesopelagic zone of the southern Japan Sea are unlikely major causes for this slow growth of M.microphthalma. Instead, its slow growth may be related to the lack of micronektonic predators and extremely reduced niche competition, a unique feature of the mesopelagic community of the Japan Sea.


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