Observed Pattern of Diel Variation in Specific Gravity of Pacific Mackerel Eggs and Larvae

Although Pacific mackerel (Scomber japonicus) is an important commercial species in Korea, its recruitment mechanism remains largely unknown. Diel vertical positioning of larvae in the water column, which is affected by their specific gravity and the surrounding water density, may help to provide an understanding on recruitment success through predator avoidance and prey availability. The specific gravity measurement on Pacific mackerel eggs and larvae would seem to be essential information necessary to learn about the transport process from spawning to nursery grounds, and consequently the recruitment success. Eggs were artificially fertilized, and larvae were fed with rotifer when their mouths opened 3-4 days after hatching. We conducted the experiment using a density gradient water column to measure the ontogenetic changes in specific gravity from fertilization to 10 days after hatching. Egg specific gravity was stable during most of the embryonic period, but a sudden increase to $1.0249g\;cm^{-3}$ happened just before hatching. However, the specific gravity of newly hatched larvae was much lighter ($1.0195g\;cm^{-3}$), and specific gravity tended to increase continuously after hatching. Comparison of specific gravity with seawater density reveals that eggs and newly hatched larvae can float in the surface layer of the ocean. For the later period of the experiment, the specific gravity showed a cyclic diel pattern: the highest in the evening while the lowest at dawn. The fullness of larval stomach may be responsible for the observed differences in specific gravity, because stomach fullness was lower (40-60%) at midnight, and higher (80-85%) in evening. The diel pattern of specific gravity might provide clues regarding how larvae match the diel vertical migration of prey organisms.