Species Assemblages of Leptocephali in the Southwestern Sargasso Sea

摘要: Catches of leptocephali shelf and slope marine eels the Chlopsidae, Congridae, Moringuidae, Muraenidae, Ophichthidae collected during a survey in southwestern Sargasso Sea late September early October 1984 were analyzed to learn about their reproduc- tive ecology larval transport. Sampling along transect from Florida Current (FC) out across Northwest Providence Channel (NWPC) Northern Bahamas enabled evaluation distributions, abundances size ranges, regional assemblage structure, apparent spawning areas these eels. Distinctly different assemblages observed FC NWPC included congrid genera Heteroconger, Paraconger, Uroconger, many ophichthid species, which rare or absent offshore. Other taxa congrids, chlopsids, muraenids moringuids present all areas, but smallest specimens most only caught at stations. Multivariate analyses reflected higher richness abundance also similar species compositions offshore areas. The patterns distribution differed those anguillid, nettastomatid, mesopelagic eel same survey. These findings support hypothesis that spawn close adult habitats, indicate despite high bio- diversity Bahamas, some appear get transported far by ocean currents.