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Science 2 March 1988:
Vol. 239. no. 4845, pp. 1291 - 1293
DOI: 10.1126/science.239.4845.1291
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Articles

Aquatic Productivity and the Evolution of Diadromous Fish Migration

Mart R. Gross 1, Ronald M. Coleman 1, and Robert M. McDowall 2

1 Department of Zoology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 1A1 Canada
2 Fisheries Research Division, Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Riccarton, Christchurch, New Zealand

Diadromous migration, in which some fish species migrate from freshwater and feed in the ocean (anadromous species) and others migrate from the ocean and feed in freshwater (catadromous), has long been perplexing. However, when the distribution of diadromous species is examined with respect to global patterns in aquatic productivity, this apparent paradox is resolved. The contrasting directions of migration can largely be explained by the relative availability of food resources in ocean and freshwater habitats. Oceans are more productive than freshwaters in temperate latitudes, and anadromous species predominate. In contrast, catadromous species generally occur in tropical latitudes where freshwater productivity exceeds that of the ocean.

Submitted on September 16, 1987
Accepted on January 21, 1988


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