Changes in growth of marbled sole Pseudopleuronectes yokohamae between high and low stock-size periods in Tokyo Bay, Japan

摘要

We examined the age and growth of the marbled sole Pseudopleuronectes yokohamae collected from Tokyo Bay, Japan, during two study periods between 2002 and 2008, when the stock size was consistently low. The von Bertalanffy growth equations were found to differ significantly between sexes, and females attained a larger standard length than males of the same age. These results were then compared with those reported for 1974–1983 and 1986–1988, two study periods when the stock size was high. The growth of both sexes of marbled sole in Tokyo Bay during the 2000s was found to be significantly higher than that in the 1970s and 1980s. To explore possible factors causing these changes in the growth, we examined bottom water temperature and population density. We found that the population density decreased and the bottom water temperature increased between the late 1970s and the late 2000s. However, despite evidence of changes in population densities and water temperatures, further study is needed to determine the main factors causing the observed changes in growth.