Reproductive and larval biology of northern shrimp, Pandalus borealis Kroyer, in relation to temperature

Abstract

The northern shrimp, Pandalus borealis Kr^yer, is an important fishery resource in Alaska. However, a drastic decline in the commercial catch since 1978 poses a serious problem for the fishery. This study examined the effects of temperature on reproduction and larval survival of P. borealis. These are factors though to be vital to the determination of year class strength. P. borealis was found to have narrow thermal requirements for egg production with moderate (6°C) to low (3°C) temperatures generally more favorable than high (9°C) temperatures. In contrast with egg production, larval survival was enhanced by higher (6 and 9°C) temperatures. This study provides useful information for management of the fishery by demonstrating that temperature can trigger flucuations in the commercial catch from 5-50% through its effects on rates or reproduction and larval survival, and thereby population size. In warm water areas averaging >6°C, temperature exerts its main influence on reproduction, causing fecundity to vary by as much as 50%. While in colder areas average <3°C, fecundity and larval survival can vary with temperature by as much as 20 and 40%, respectively. Use of the information derived here requires monitoring temperature in the major fishery areas to detect changes in abundance of ovigerous females, egg number and larval mortality. Changes in these parameters are valuable indicators of stock condition when combined with abundance surveys and fishing intensity estimates.