Distribution and settling of Japanese anchovy (Engraulis japonicus eggs at the spawning ground off Changjiang River in the East China Sea

Spatial patterns in the distribution and abundance of Japanese anchovy, Engraulis japonicus, eggs were studied from net surveys in the East China Sea in May 1991. Egg abundance was> 5 × 103 eggs (100 m3)−1 in the area off Changjiang River, where a large spawning ground was developed. The vertical distribution of living eggs showed a maximum concentration at the surface (40700 eggs (100 m3)−1) and rapidly decreased to ∼5000 eggs (100 m3)−1 at 14 m. Newly spawned eggs (stage I) were found throughout the water column but were most abundant near surface. Some eggs were morphologically identified as dead owing to their abnormal development and physical damage. In contrast to living eggs, no dead eggs were found at the surface and the concentrations were low to 21 m depth (40–64 eggs (100 m3)−1). The concentration increased markedly with increasing depth, reaching a maximum of 634 eggs (100 m3)−1 near the bottom (35 m). Dead eggs accounted for less than 0.3% of the total caught within 7 m of the surface and increased exponentially to 12% near the bottom. The settling loss of dead anchovy eggs also was studied by employing sediment traps at the spawning ground. The downward flux of settling eggs was low (304–405 eggs m−2 day−1) at 15 and 20 m depths, but rapidly increased with increasing depth, reaching a maximum of 1622 eggs m−2 day−1 at 35 m (5 m above bottom). By comparing the egg flux at 20 m with the living eggs abundance in the upper 20 m, the settling loss of eggs was calculated as about 0.098 day−1. This probably represents the natural mortality of anchovy eggs caused by genetic abnormalities and incomplete fertilization.