Review of the ecology of Sthenoteuthis oualaniensis near the Hawaiian Archipelago
Young, R.E.; Hirota, J. (1998). Review of the ecology of Sthenoteuthis oualaniensis near the Hawaiian Archipelago, in: Okutani, T. Contributed papers to International Symposium on Large Pelagic Squids, July 18-19, 1996, for JAMARC's 25th anniversary of its foundation. pp. 131-143
In: Okutani, T. (1998). Contributed papers to International Symposium on Large Pelagic Squids, July 18-19, 1996, for JAMARC's 25th anniversary of its foundation. Japan Marine Fishery Resources Research Center: Tokyo. 269 pp., more
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| Abstract |
Sthenoteuthis oualaniensis is an abundant mernber of the oceanic nekton throughout the tropical and sub-tropical Indo-Pacific. Within the region around the main (i.e., inhabited) Hawaiian IsIands, where it is the dominant large ommastrephid, its areal distribution exhibits a number of distinctive features. Near the main Hawaiian Islands mature females are mostly caught in waters off the windward (northeast) sides of the Islands, where spawning presumably occurs, and small, immature females are most abundant near the leeward (southwest) sides of the Islands. Further offshore from the leeward sides, females are significantly larger, and weIl north of the Islands, large females are immature. Males are much less abundant in catches than females. The stations where rnales are abundant and comprise a high proportion of the catch are rnostly found on the windward sides of the Islands. The areal distribution of captures relative to bottorn depth suggests that Sthenoteuthis oualaniensis may live at depths of 650 m or more during the day. Off the windward side of Hawaii Island, mature females feed heavily on members of the Mesopelagic Boundary Fauna. Other general aspects of the ecology of this squid in the Hawaiian region are reviewed. |
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