A rapid increase in tropical species of grouper (Perciformes: Serranidae) in the temperate waters, the Goto Islands, Japan.

ABSTRACT: Global warming has resulted in rapid poleward shifts in the geographical distributions of many tropical fish species. This study conducted daily market surveys from 2008 to 2013 to investigate catch trends of seven commercially important grouper species in the temperate Goto Islands, Japan. Our results revealed that the catch numbers of tropical grouper species increased rapidly by an average of 5.9-fold (12.3-fold at maximum) within six years, whereas the temperate and subtropical species did not exhibit substantial changes. Based on the findings of several previous studies, the rapid increase in the number of tropical groupers in temperate waters was most likely caused by the successful settlement of larvae transported from tropical waters. Large-scale ocean currents may facilitate larva

SUBMITTER: Okuyama J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11410230 | biostudies-literature | 2024

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature