Assemblage Distribution of the Larval and Juvenile Myctophid Fish in the Kuroshio Extension Region: Winter 2020

Myctophids are an ecologically important mesopelagic species in the eastern Pacific Ocean. Due to wide distribution, great diversity and variable biological characteristics of species, there is a lack reliable information regarding their spawning nursery grounds Kuroshio extension region. In this study, we identified total 110 myctophid individuals using DNA barcoding morphological techniques, among which, dominant genus was Ceratoscopelus, comprising 37.27% entire catch. The abundance each sampling station calculated, its relationship with environmental variables analyzed. Tweedie-Generalized Additive Model (GAM) analysis showed that copepod density, oceanic dynamic processes, sea surface temperature were primary factors influencing distribution pattern larvae juvenile fish. results further indicate plays role processes these fish These findings provide crucial for scientific conservation exploitation myctophids, which could have significant implications management populations.