Patterns of distribution and abundance of bonefish larvae Albula spp. (Albulidae) in the western Caribbean and adjacent areas

Overall patterns of distribution and abundance of Albula spp. leptocephali larvae offshore in the western Caribbean Sea (CAS) and Gulf of Mexico (GOM), and in coastal waters of the Mexican Caribbean (MXC) were analyzed from: (a) cruise data available from the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia (CAS, GOM) and (b) coastal plankton surveys (1998–2002 and January 2004) (MXC). We found striking inshore-offshore differences in the larval catch and size structure. Offshore cruises yielded 57 leptocephali, mostly determined as early stage I (18.0 ± 8.2 mm SL, mean ± SD). In contrast, coastal samples yielded 2,466 larvae 51.4 ± 3.6 mm SL, mostly late stage I; of these, 2,345 (95%) were caught over 4 nights in January 2004. The relationship between the larval length (mm, SL) and the distance to the coastline (km) was best represented by the regression model with a distinct variance for each locality. To ascertain whether the coastal inflow of leptocephali follows a regular seasonal pattern or depends on episodic events will require further monitoring; available evidence suggests that the southern coast of the MXC offers favorable conditions for the recruitment of Albula spp. larvae.