Distribution of Squid Paralarvae, Loligo opalescens (Cephalopoda: Myopsida), in 1 Southern California Bight in the Four Years Following the 1997 El Nino

摘要

Large numbers of paralarvae of the California market squid, Loligo opalescens (10,979 paralarvae from 456 plankton samples) were collected in the Southern California bight in 1999, 2000, 2001, and 2002 during the spawning season. Paralarvae abundance increased dramatically (p<0.0041) from 1.5 squid/1000m~3 in 1999 to 77.9 squid/1000m~3 in 2000 and 73.6 squid/1000m~3 in 2001 following the El Nino of 1998. Paralarvae abundance dropped off in 2002 to 15.4 squid/1000m~3. The effects on the squid fishery of the 1997-1998 El Nino thus were extended for two years, with larval abundance reduced until the 1999-2000 spawning season. Paralarvae at sea were disproportionately abundant adjacent to fronts associated with upwelling events.