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<p>Capelin (<i>Mallotus villosus)</i> is a key forage fish that transfers energy between lower and upper trophic levels. On the Newfoundland and Labrador shelf, capelin is managed as a single stock that collapsed in the early 1990s and has yet to recover. This review synthesizes our research addressing two key knowledge gaps: whether capelin can shift between intertidal and subtidal spawning habitats under varying oceanographic conditions and the relative productivity of these spawning habitats. We highlight how novel insights resulted from combining findings from various methodological approaches (e.g., sampling/monitoring, acoustic tagging, molecular markers, otolith microchemistry). Using this integrated methodological approach, we found that capelin flexibly (or facultatively) select between intertidal and subtidal spawning habitats, which is likely a key adaptation to maximize fitness in an unpredictable environment. A combination of spawning site monitoring and field-based sampling revealed that intertidal and subtidal habitats have similar egg densities, temperature-dependent egg development and produce similar densities of larvae in good condition, suggesting similar habitat-specific offspring production. To determine if this similar productivity results in comparable relative contributions to recruitment, we began developing the use of otolith chemistry to determine natal origins of spawning fish. Despite maternally-derived trace element concentrations in the pre-hatch (embryonic) otolith region, representing natal origin, trace elements were incorporated onto embryonic otoliths during incubation and field-reared eggs have habitat-specific chemical signatures. The next step is to locate this 20&#xa0;μm pre-hatch region in adult otoliths, to quantify percentages of spawning adults produced from each habitat, or habitat-specific contributions to recruitment.</p> Graphical abstract <p></p>

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Spawning habitat selection and habitat-specific productivity of capelin in coastal Newfoundland, Canada

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2025年5月19日

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  • Ashley Tripp,
  • Gail K. Davoren

摘要

Capelin (Mallotus villosus) is a key forage fish that transfers energy between lower and upper trophic levels. On the Newfoundland and Labrador shelf, capelin is managed as a single stock that collapsed in the early 1990s and has yet to recover. This review synthesizes our research addressing two key knowledge gaps: whether capelin can shift between intertidal and subtidal spawning habitats under varying oceanographic conditions and the relative productivity of these spawning habitats. We highlight how novel insights resulted from combining findings from various methodological approaches (e.g., sampling/monitoring, acoustic tagging, molecular markers, otolith microchemistry). Using this integrated methodological approach, we found that capelin flexibly (or facultatively) select between intertidal and subtidal spawning habitats, which is likely a key adaptation to maximize fitness in an unpredictable environment. A combination of spawning site monitoring and field-based sampling revealed that intertidal and subtidal habitats have similar egg densities, temperature-dependent egg development and produce similar densities of larvae in good condition, suggesting similar habitat-specific offspring production. To determine if this similar productivity results in comparable relative contributions to recruitment, we began developing the use of otolith chemistry to determine natal origins of spawning fish. Despite maternally-derived trace element concentrations in the pre-hatch (embryonic) otolith region, representing natal origin, trace elements were incorporated onto embryonic otoliths during incubation and field-reared eggs have habitat-specific chemical signatures. The next step is to locate this 20 μm pre-hatch region in adult otoliths, to quantify percentages of spawning adults produced from each habitat, or habitat-specific contributions to recruitment.

Graphical abstract