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<p>The red snow crab <i>Chionoecetes japonicus</i> inhabits physically stable deep waters of the Sea of Japan, providing a well-defined setting to evaluate the influence of ecological trade-offs on ontogenetic distribution and timing. We conducted nearly year-round pot surveys from 2020 to 2023 at depths of approximately 800–1,050&#xa0;m and integrated size classes with high-resolution biological indicators: molt stage for adolescent males, dry matter content of the first walking leg (DML) for adult males as a proxy for time since molt, and embryo developmental staging for ovigerous females. Among 3,375 males and 1,272 females, small adolescents were prevalent at increased depths; after a growth molt, adolescents typically migrated to shallower depths, whereas newly molted adults remained near their molting depth. In adults, DML increased significantly with depth across most size classes. Additionally, high-DML males were relatively more frequent where females concentrated (&gt; 950&#xa0;m), consistent with post-molt recovery followed by movement toward deep reproductive grounds. Periodic models showed winter peaks in premolt adolescents (&lt; 100&#xa0;mm CW) and corresponding winter minima in adult DML of adjacent small size classes, indicating size-dependent molting synchrony. Ovigerous females with fertilized eggs were predominantly concentrated at depth and exhibited seasonal shifts in cohort composition, suggesting short-term redistributions during the reproductive period. These patterns indicate that size- and stage-specific strategies, which balance energy acquisition, cannibalism risk, and mating opportunities, structure the spatiotemporal dynamics of the red snow crab, with direct implications for depth-targeted harvests and stock assessment.</p>

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Ecological trade-offs in the deep sea: ontogenetic migration and synchrony in the red snow crab, Chionoecetes japonicus (Decapoda: Oregoniidae)

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

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  • 发表日期：

    2026年2月11日

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  • Takeo Yamamoto,
  • Akane Yoshikawa,
  • Yuji Ueda,
  • Katsuyuki Hamasaki

摘要

The red snow crab Chionoecetes japonicus inhabits physically stable deep waters of the Sea of Japan, providing a well-defined setting to evaluate the influence of ecological trade-offs on ontogenetic distribution and timing. We conducted nearly year-round pot surveys from 2020 to 2023 at depths of approximately 800–1,050 m and integrated size classes with high-resolution biological indicators: molt stage for adolescent males, dry matter content of the first walking leg (DML) for adult males as a proxy for time since molt, and embryo developmental staging for ovigerous females. Among 3,375 males and 1,272 females, small adolescents were prevalent at increased depths; after a growth molt, adolescents typically migrated to shallower depths, whereas newly molted adults remained near their molting depth. In adults, DML increased significantly with depth across most size classes. Additionally, high-DML males were relatively more frequent where females concentrated (> 950 m), consistent with post-molt recovery followed by movement toward deep reproductive grounds. Periodic models showed winter peaks in premolt adolescents (< 100 mm CW) and corresponding winter minima in adult DML of adjacent small size classes, indicating size-dependent molting synchrony. Ovigerous females with fertilized eggs were predominantly concentrated at depth and exhibited seasonal shifts in cohort composition, suggesting short-term redistributions during the reproductive period. These patterns indicate that size- and stage-specific strategies, which balance energy acquisition, cannibalism risk, and mating opportunities, structure the spatiotemporal dynamics of the red snow crab, with direct implications for depth-targeted harvests and stock assessment.