Species composition of fish eggs and larvae in spring and autumn around Dokdo in the East Sea of Korea

Abstract

A study on the ichthyoplankton assemblage was conducted around Dokdo in the East Sea in September 1999 and May 2000. Sixteen species of fish larvae including eggs were collected during the surveys. Anchovy (Engraulis japonicus) eggs and larvae were comprised of 2.0% and 94.5% of total samples in number, respectively. Muller's pearlside (Maurolicus muelleri) eggs and larvae were comprised of 95.0% and 3.2%, respectively. The other species mostly composed of warm water species were less than 2% of total samples in number. The number of species and abundance of the fish larvae and eggs were higher in September than in May. Although there were limited data on the ichthyoplankton around Dokdo in summer and winter, this study area seems to be used for the spawning or nursery ground of fishes.