Seasonal distribution and some features of the biology of spiny lumpfish Eumicrotremus asperrimus (Cyclopteridae, Scorpaeniformes) in the northwestern part of the Sea of Japan

• Published in: Journal of ichthyology Vol. 49; no. 8; pp. 674 - 681
• Main Authors: Antonenko, D. V., Pushchina, O. I., Solomatov, S. F.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht SP MAIK Nauka/Interperiodica 2009
• Subjects: Biomedical and Life Sciences; Cyclopteridae; Eumicrotremus; Eumicrotremus asperrimus; Life Sciences; Marine; Scorpaeniformes; Themisto; Zoology; INW, Japan Sea; spiny lumpfish; distribution; size composition; feeding
• ISSN: 0032-9452; 1555-6425
• DOI: 10.1134/S0032945209080128

According to data of 1981–2007, it was shown that the migration of spiny lumpfish Eumicrotremus asperrimus from wintering grounds to the coast begins in spring, with the onset of water warming. During summer and autumn, E. asperrinus feeds, concentrating in the bathymetric range of 100–300 m. With the start of winter water cooling, it migrates for wintering to depths larger than 500 m. Main aggregations of E. asperrimus were found off the coasts of Northern Primorye. Catches included specimens with a length of 3–16 cm; however, the overwhelming majority (95%) had a length of 5–10 cm, with the domination of two size groups: 6–7 and 9 cm. The spawning of E. asperrimus is apparently highly extended in time and occurs in the spring-summer period in shallow waters. Similarly to other representatives of the genus Eumicrotremus , E. asperrimus is a planktonphage with a narrow food specialization. Off the coasts of Primorye, in the summer period it feeds almost on one species—hyperiid Themisto japonica —with a value of diurnal diet averaging 6.7% of the body weight. According to an expert estimate, the biomass of E. asperrimus in the northwestern part of the Sea of Japan may comprise no less than 5000 t.