Collections of ichthyoplankton samples have become increasingly important in studies of fisheries recruitment, aquatic ecosystems, and systematics of fishes. In these studies, it is of primary importance that researchers have knowledge of taxonomic characters necessary to correctly identify species of interest at all stages of development. In this review, we provide a historical account of ichthyoplankton research programs and studies, processing techniques, and advancements in knowledge of ichthyoplankton taxonomy in the Northeast Pacific Ocean and Bering Sea. Most of this research has been conducted by scientists during the past 35 years (1965-1999) at NOAA's Alaska Fisheries Science Center (AFSC). In 1980, the Plankton Sorting and Identification Center in Szczecin, Poland (PSIC), began processing ichthyoplankton samples collected by the AFSC. At that time, it was possible to identify larvae of only 8.3% (52 of 627) of fish species known in the area. The PSIC has since assisted in identifying larvae of an additional 239 species. Presently, larvae of 291 of 636 species (45.8%) can be identified from ichthyo-plankton samples. Taxonomic studies on gadid larvae in the early 1980s were of particular importance in development of fishery oceanography research on commercially important fish stocks in Alaskan waters. Later studies on scorpaeniform families, particularly the Hexagrammidae and Agonidae, contributed significantly to understanding their systematics. Studies are currently underway on larvae of several families including Scorpaenidae, Cottidae, Hemitripteridae, Liparidae, Stichaeidae, and Pleuronectidae. |
