Title: Description and growth of larval and pelagic juvenile pygmy rockfish (Sebastes wilsoni) (family Sebastidae)
Abstract:Rockfishes (genus Sebastes) form a diverse group comprising at least 72 species occurring in the northeastern Pacific (Love et al., 2002). Many of these species represent a substantial portion of the ...Rockfishes (genus Sebastes) form a diverse group comprising at least 72 species occurring in the northeastern Pacific (Love et al., 2002). Many of these species represent a substantial portion of the groundfish fishery off the west coast of North America, accounting for 20% of the groundfish landings in California in 2000 (Pacific Fishery Management Council, 2000). A few species are relatively abundant but are not harvested because of their small size. These species play vital roles in the community ecology, including providing prey for the larger, commercially important species. The pygmy rockfish (Sebastes wilsoni) having a maximum size of 23 cm total length, is among these small species (Love et al., 2002). Pygmy rockfish are common over sediment and rocky seafloor habitats at a depth of 30−274 m (Stein et al., 1992; Yoklavich et al., 2000). Stein et al. (1992) observed that pygmy rockfish were by far the most abundant fish species off Heceta Bank, Oregon, and Love et al. (1996) reported “clouds” of pygmy rockfish mixed with two other small species, squarespot rockfish (S. hopkinsi ) and halfbanded rockfish (S. semicinctus) off southern California. In Soquel Canyon in central California, pygmy rockfish dominated fish assemblages Description and growth of larval and pelagic juvenile pygmy rockfish (Sebastes wilsoni) (family Sebastidae)Read More
Publication Year: 2004
Publication Date: 2004-01-01
Language: en
Type: article
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Cited By Count: 7
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