Role of Oceanic Fronts in the Distribution and Reproductive Strategy of American Eels (Anguilla Rostrata)

美洲大蠊的产卵区和海洋洄游线索 欧洲鳗鱼一直是个谜 因为年轻 鳗鱼幼虫集中在南方， 在马尾藻海的北大西洋副热带辐合， 据推测，成熟的鳗鱼停止迁移和产卵， 在这条战线附近，使用物理或生物特征， 前面的方向。 这项研究将直接测试 (1)成熟的成年美国鳗鱼是否集中在， 或直接到南方，锋区，（2）如何 成虫的细尺度垂直和水平分布 与额叶的特征有关 区和邻近沃茨。 将使用定量水声采样来识别 适当强度的回声是鳗鱼，并绘制其 分布格局和致密岩。 瞄准中层 拖网捕鱼，遥控潜水器的视频，陷阱 用成熟的圈养鳗鱼作诱饵， 卵和新孵化的幼虫将被用来验证是否 目标其实是鳗鱼 水声数据，中层水 拖网捕捞，以及温度和盐度的分布， 用于表征生物和物理特征 前面。 这项研究将一种生理上的海洋产卵 一种独特的长距离洄游鱼类 海洋学特征

The spawning area and oceanic migratory cues for American and European eels have long remained enigmatic. Because young eel larvae are concentrated immediately to the south of the North Atlantic Subtropical Convergence in the Sargasso Sea, it is hypothesized that mature eels cease migration and spawn near this front and use physical or biological features of the front for orientation. This research will directly test (1) whether maturing adult American eels are concentrated in, or immediately to the south of, the frontal zone, and (2) how the fine-scale vertical and horizontal distributions of adults are related specifically to characteristics of the frontal zone and adjacent waters. Quantitative hydroacoustic sampling will be used to identify echoes of appropriate strength to be eels and to map their distributional patterns and densitites. Aimed midwater trawling, video from a remotely operated vehicle, traps baited with mature captive eels, and fine-scale sampling of eggs and newly hatched larvae will be used to verify whether targets are actually eels. Hydroacoustic data, midwater trawling, and profiles of temperature and salinity will be used to characterize the biological and physical features of the front. This research links open-ocean spawing of a physiologically unique, long-distance migrating fish to a specific oceanographic feature.