Larval Fish Vital Rates from Coastal Newfoundland Surveys

Field work from 1985-1986 and other years provides data on larval fish prey counts, otolith growth increments, and mortality rates. The dataset includes stomach content analysis for eleven fish taxa, with observations ranging from 92 to 272 larvae per species. It was compiled for a 2024 study on the probability distribution of larval fish vital rates.

Use Cases

• Model larval fish mortality rates based on prey counts from stomach content analysis.
• Analyze daily growth increment widths from sagittal otoliths for cohorts of species like U. subbifurcata.
• Study foraging period dynamics using stomach content data considered representative of a 3-8 hour window.
• Investigate species-specific ecology using data for eleven taxa including Clupea harengus and Gadus morhua.

Strengths

• Data collection spans multiple years, including specific seasonal surveys from 1985 and 1986.
• Includes detailed biological measurements for eleven distinct larval fish taxa.
• Field work was conducted across three specific deep bays in coastal Newfoundland with precise coordinates.

Limitations

• Sample sizes per species are moderate, ranging from 92 to 272 larvae, which may limit statistical power for rare events.
• Stomach content data is temporally constrained, with most larvae collected within a 30-day period per species.
• The dataset combines published and unpublished data sources, which may introduce inconsistencies in collection protocols.

Provenance

Source

Fisheries and Oceans Canada

Collection Method

Larval fish collected using ring nets, bongo nets, and Tucker trawls; stomach contents and otoliths analyzed in lab.

Time Range

Surveys conducted primarily from April to September, with key data from 1985-1986.

Freshness

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Geography

Three deep bays on the east coast of Newfoundland, Canada: Bonavista Bay, Trinity Bay, Conception Bay.