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Abstract

The present study investigated changes in the winter abundance and composition of anchovy larvae associated with hydrological conditions in the coastal waters of Tanshui, Taiwan. A survey during the period of 2008-2014 revealed that the abundance of larvae caught using fyke nets varied from 123.9 to 28,314 ind/1000 m3 , whereas the surface water temperature and salinity ranged from approximately 17C to 18C and 32.84 psu to 33.72 psu, respectively. Engraulis japonicus (Japanese anchovy), Encrasicholina punctifer (buccaneer anchovy), and E. heteroloba (shorthead anchovy) were the dominant species of anchovy larvae, accounting for 0.17%-93.56%. In the La Niña years 2008 and 2011, Japanese anchovy was dominant, with a relatively high abundance of approximately 128-25,432 ind/1000 m3 when the current at 10-m depth moved southwestward. In the El Niño years 2010 and 2014, buccaneer anchovy and shorthead anchovy were the dominant species, with a relatively low abundance of approximately 0.21-8,334.38 ind/1000 m3 when the current at 10 m depth moved northeastward. The change in the pattern of currents induced by El Niño-Southern Oscillation events may be crucial in determining the winter abundance and species composition of anchovy larvae in the coastal waters of Tanshui. Additionally, an elevated sea surface water temperature

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