Biology of Sternoptychid Fishes Rockall Trough, Northeastern Atlantic Ocean

AbstractAspects of the biology of sternoptychid fishes in the Rockall Trough off northwestern Ireland were studied in a series of consecutive seasonal samples taken from July 1973 to March 1974 and from March 1975 to February 1976. Of the three species that occurred, the two most dominant, Maurolicus muelleri and Argyropelecus hemigymnus, were concluded to have breeding populations in the Trough. Seasonal abundance of larvae, duration of larval development, vertical distribution pattern of larvae, spawning season, age at maturity, and diet were studied. The possibility of geographical modification of life history strategy in M. muelleri related to its adaptability to the various water masses is considered. The third species, Argyropelecus olfersi, was concluded to be an expatriate from southern or more oceanic areas.