Source - Journal of Northwest Atlantic Fishery Science, Volume 6(2): 141-148
ISSN-0250-6408

Data are presented on the distribution and abundance of Penilia avirostris Dana in continental shelf waters, Cape Hatteras to Nova Scotia, during 1980 and 1981. Penilia occurred in the plankton samples during approximately 6 months of the year (June-July to December). During periods of maximum abundance, Penilia occurred throughout the Middle Atlantic Bight and in isolated patches on Georges Bank, which represents an eastward extension of its previously-reported distribution. This eastward spread corresponds to the previously-documented direction of range expansion, but it is at variance with the westerly direction of residual drift. The absence of Penilia in the Gulf of Maine and seaward of the shelf break (outside 200-m isobath) indicates that some minimum level of bottom water temperature, which is necessary to initiate the development of resting eggs (~10°C), may be a determinant of the observed distributional patterns.

Language - English
Publisher - Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO), Dartmouth, N.S., Canada
Publication Date - December 1985
Publication Type - Journal Article
Descriptors - abundance, distribution, Georges Bank, Mid Atlantic Bight, plankton