SEASONAL DISTRIBUTION, ABUNDANCE, AND LIFE-HISTORY TRAITS OF GREENLAND COD, GADUS-OGAC, AT WEMINDJI, EASTERN JAMES BAY

Citation
B. Morin et al., SEASONAL DISTRIBUTION, ABUNDANCE, AND LIFE-HISTORY TRAITS OF GREENLAND COD, GADUS-OGAC, AT WEMINDJI, EASTERN JAMES BAY, Canadian journal of zoology, 69(12), 1991, pp. 3061-3070
Citations number
43
Language
INGLESE
art.tipo
Article
Categorie Soggetti
Zoology
Journal title
ISSN journal
0008-4301
Volume
69
Issue
12
Year of publication
1991
Pages
3061 - 3070
Database
ISI
SICI code
0008-4301(1991)69:12<3061:SDAALT>2.0.ZU;2-2
Abstract
Greenland cod populations near Wemindji, eastern James Bay, were studi ed in 1987 and 1988 to describe the species' general ecology and life- history characteristics. During the summer, they principally occupied shallow (2-5 m) coastal waters. This habitat was characterized by a be lt of eelgrass (Zostera marina) at depths of 1-3 m, salinities between 20 and 23 parts per thousand, and temperatures of 3-20-degrees-C. Dai ly trap catches were highly variable, and more fish were caught at nig ht than during the day. In winter, more cod were found inshore, in the estuary, than in coastal waters. This movement corresponds to the com pletion of sexual maturity; spawning occurs in April to June. Growth r ate was linear for males and females. The age at maturity was 3 years and no trade-off was observed between growth and reproduction. Greenla nd cod spawned every year, and the maximum age was 9 years. Life-histo ry variables for Greenland cod differ from those of most arctic benthi c fishes; this species shows rapid growth, high fecundity, low age at maturity, and high mortality. These characteristics may represent impo rtant adaptations allowing cod to sustain life in James Bay coastal wa ters, where environmental conditions are different from those in arcti c waters.