Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Spawning Areas of the Atlantic Eels

  • Chapter
Eel Biology

Abstract

In 1904, when the Danish biologist, Johannes Schmidt, aboard the steam research vessel Thor captured a 7-cm-long leptocephalus of the European eel west of the Faroe Islands in the northeastern North Atlantic Ocean (Schmidt 1906),the chase was on! In fact, it was only in 1893 that the Italian zoologists B. Grassi and S. Calandruccio determined that the species known as Leptocephalus brevirostris was the larval form of the European eel (Grassi 1896), known then as Anguilla vulgaris and now as Anguilla anguilla. The Thor specimen and one other collected west of Ireland in the same year were the first specimens to be captured outside the Mediterranean Sea, where Grassi and Calandruccio believed the eels spawned. In 1905, Schmidt captured further specimens, all large (60-88 mm), along the continental slope between the Faroes and Ireland, convincing himself that northern European eels spawned in the Atlantic far from the coasts (Schmidt 1906).

Altogether, the whole story of the eel and its spawning has come to read almost like a romance, wherein reality has far exceeded the dreams of phantasy.

(Johannes Schmidt, 1912a)

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
$34.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Aoyama J, Tsukamoto K (1997) Evolution of the freshwater eels. Naturwissenschaften 84:17–21

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Aoyama J, Watanabe S, Nishida M, Tsukamoto K (2000) Discrimination of catadromous eels of genus Anguilla using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis of the mitochondria) 16S ribosomal RNA domain. Trans Am Fish Soc 129:873–878

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Avise JC, Helfman GS, Saunders NC, Hales LS (1986) Mitochondrial DNA differentiation in North Atlantic eels: population genetic consequences of an unusual life history pattern. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 83:4350–4354

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Avise JC, Nelson WS, Arnold J, Koehn RK, Williams GC, Thorsteinsson V (1990) The evolutionary genetic status of Icelandic eels. Evolution 44:1254–1262

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bastrop R, Strehlow B, J#x00FC;rss K, Sturmbauer C (2000) A new molecular phylogenetic hypothesis for the evolution of freshwater eels. Mol Phylogenet Evol 14:250–258

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bo#x00EB;tius J, Harding EF (1985a) A re-examination of Johannes Schmidt’s Atlantic eel investigations. Dana 4:129–162

    Google Scholar 

  • Bo#x00EB;tius J, Harding EF (1985b) List of Atlantic and Mediterranean Anguilla leptocephali: Danish material up to 1966. Dana 4:163–249

    Google Scholar 

  • Bruun AF (1963) The breeding of the North Atlantic freshwater-eels. Adv Mar Biol 1:137–169

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chan IKK, Chan DKO, Lee SC, Tsukamoto K. (1997) Genetic variability of the Japanese eel Anguilla japonica (Temminck Schlegel) related to latitude. Ecol Freshw Fish 6:45–49

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Comparini A, Rizzotti M, Rodino E (1977) Genetic control and variability of phosphoglucose isomerase (PGI) in eels from the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. Mar Biol 43:109–116

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • D’Ancona U (1959) Old and new solutions to the eel problem. Nature (Lond) 183:1405

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Deelder CL (1960) The Atlantic eel problem. Nature (Lond) 185:589–591

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • de Ligny W, Pantelouris EM (1973) Origin of the European eel. Nature (Lond) 246:518–519

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Eigenmann CH, Kennedy CH (1902) The leptocephalus of the American eel and other American leptocephali. Bull US Fish Comm 21:81–92

    Google Scholar 

  • Fricke H, Kaese R (1995) Tracking of artificially matured eels (Anguilla anguilla) in the Sargasso Sea and the problem of the eel’s spawning site. Naturwissenschaften 82:32–36

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fricke H, Tsukamoto K (1998) Seamounts and the mystery of eel spawning. Naturwissenschaften 85:290–291

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Grassi B (1896) The reproduction and metamorphosis of the common eel (Anguilla vulgaris). Proc R Soc Lond 50:260–271

    Google Scholar 

  • Halliwell GR, Cornillon P (1990) Large-scale SST variability in the western North Atlantic subtropical convergence zone during FASINEX. Part I: Description of SST and wind stress fields. J Phys Oceanogr 20:209–222

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Harden Jones FR (1961) The migration of fish. Biol Hum Affairs 26(3):31–39

    Google Scholar 

  • Harden Jones FR (1984) A view from the ocean. In: McCleave JD, Arnold GP, Dodson JJ, Neill WH (eds) Mechanisms of migration in fishes. Plenum, New York, pp 1–26

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Hjort J (1910) Eel-larvae (Leptocephalus brevirostris) from the central North Atlantic. Nature (Lond) 85:104–106

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jellyman DJ, Tsukamoto K (2002) First use of archival transmitters to track migrating freshwater eels Anguilla dieffenbachii at sea. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 233:207–215

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jones JW (1959) Eel migration. Nature (Lond) 184:1281

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kleckner RC, McCleave JD (1988) The northern limit of spawning by Atlantic eels (Anguilla spp.) in the Sargasso Sea in relation to thermal fronts and surface water masses. J Mar Res 46:647–667

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kleckner RC, McCleave JD, Wippelhauser GS (1983) Spawning of American eel, Anguilla rostrata, relative to thermal fronts in the Sargasso Sea. Environ Biol Fish 9:289–293

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kleckner RC, Wippelhauser GS, McCleave JD (1985) List of Atlantic Anguilla leptocephali: American material. Dana 4:99–128

    Google Scholar 

  • Koehn RK, Williams GC (1978) genetic differentiation without isolation in the American eel, Anguilla rostrata. II. Temporal stability of geographic patterns. Evolution 32:624–637

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lintas C, Hirano J, Archer S (1998) Genetic variation of the European eel (Anguilla anguilla). Mol Mar Biol Biotechnol 7:263–269

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • McCleave JD (1993) Physical and behavioural controls on the oceanic distribution and migration of leptocephali. J Fish Biol 43(suppl A):243–273

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McCleave JD, Kleckner RC, Castonguay M (1987) Reproductive sympatry of American and European eels and implications for migration and taxonomy. Am Fish Soc Symp 1:286–297

    Google Scholar 

  • McCleave, JD, Brickley PJ, O’Brien KM, Kistner DA, Wong MW, Gallagher M, Watson SM (1998) Do leptocephali of the European eel swim to reach continental waters? Status of the question. J Mar Biol Assoc UK 78:285–306

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nieddu M, Pichiri G, Coni P, Salvadori S, Deiana AM, Mezzanotte R (1998) A comparative analysis of European and American eel (Anguilla anguilla and Anguilla rostrata) genomic DNA: 55 rDNA polymorphism permits the distinction between the two populations. Genome 41:728–732

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pantelouris EM, Arnason A, Tesch F-W (1970) Genetic variation in the eel. II. Transferrins, haemoglobins and esterases in the eastern North Atlantic. Possible interpretations of phenotypic frequency differences. Genet Res 16:277–284

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schmidt J (1906) Contributions to the life-history of the eel (Anguilla vulgaris, Flem.). Rapp P-V R éun Cons Perm Int Explor Mer 5:137–274

    Google Scholar 

  • Schmidt J (1912a) The reproduction and spawning-places of the fresh-water eel (Anguilla vulgaris). Nature (Lond) 89:633–636

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schmidt J (1912b) Danish researches in the Atlantic and Mediterranean on the life-history of the freshwater-eel (Anguilla vulgaris, Turt.). Int Rev Gesamten Hydrobiol Hydrogr 5:317–342

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schmidt J (1913) First report on eel investigations. Rapp P-V R èun Cons Perm Int Explor Mer 18:1–29

    Google Scholar 

  • Schmidt J (1919) Stations in the Atlantic, etc. 1911–15 with two charts and introductory remarks. Medd Komm Havunders Ser Fiskeri 5(7):3–27

    Google Scholar 

  • Schmidt J (1922) The breeding places of the eel. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B 211:179–208

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schmidt J (1925) The breeding places of the eel. Annu Rep Smithson Inst 1924:279–316

    Google Scholar 

  • Schmidt J (1929) Introduction to the oceanographical reports. The Danish “Dana”-Expeditions 1920–22. Oceanographical reports edited by the ‘Dana’ Committee 1:1–87

    Google Scholar 

  • Schmidt J (1935) Danish eel investigations during 25 years (1905–1930). The Carlsberg Foundation’s Oceanographical Expedition around the World 1928–30 and Previous Danish Oceanographical Expeditions, etc. Carlsberg Foundation, Copenhagen, pp 1–16

    Google Scholar 

  • Schoth M, Tesch F-W (1982) Spatial distribution of 0-group eel larvae (Anguilla sp.) in the Sargasso Sea. Helgol Meeresunters 35:309–320

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tagliavini J, Gandolfi G, Cau A, Salvadori S, Deiana, AM (1995) Mitochondrial DNA variability in Anguilla anguilla and phylogenetical relationships with congeneric species. Boll Zool 62:147–151

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tesch F-W (1982) The Sargasso Sea eel expedition. Helgol Meeresunters 35:263–277

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tesch F-W, Wegner G (1990) The distribution of small larvae of Anguilla sp. Related to hydrographic conditions 1981 between Bermuda and Puerto Rico. Int Rev Gesamten Hydrobiol 75:845–858

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tsukamoto K (1992) Discovery of the spawning area for Japanese eel. Nature (Lond) 356:789–791

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tucker DW (1959a) A new solution to the Atlantic eel problem. Nature (Lond) 183:495–501

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tucker DW (1959b) Old and new solutions to the eel problem. Nature (Lond) 183:1406

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tucker DW (1959c) Eel migration. Nature (Lond) 184:1281–1283

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tucker DW (1960) The Atlantic eel problem. Nature (Lond) 185:591–592

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wegner G (1982) Main hydrographic features of the Sargasso Sea in spring 1979. Helgol Meeresunters 35:385–400

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Williams GC, Koehn RK, Mitton JB (1973) Genetic differentiation without isolation in the American eel, Anguilla rostrata. Evolution 27:194–204

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wippelhauser GS, McCleave JD, Kleckner RC (1985) Anguilla rostrata leptocephali in the Sargasso Sea during February and March 1981. Dana 4:93–98

    Google Scholar 

  • Wirth T, Bernatchez L (2001) Genetic evidence against panmixia in the European eel. Nature (Lond) 409:1037–1040

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Marine Sciences, University of Maine, 5741 Libby Hall, Orono, ME, 04469-5741, USA

    James D. McCleave

Authors
  1. James D. McCleave
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Aquatic Bioscience, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, 1-1-1 Yayoi, 113-8657, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan

    Katsumi Aida Ph.D. (Professor) (Professor)

  2. Ocean Research Institute, The University of Tokyo, 1-15-1 Minamidai, 164-8639, Nakano-ku, Tokyo, Japan

    Katsumi Tsukamoto Ph.D. (Professor) (Professor)

  3. Division of Marine Biosciences, Graduate School of Fisheries Sciences, Hokkaido University, 3-1-1 Minatomachi, 041-8611, Hakodate, Japan

    Kohei Yamauchi Ph.D. (Professor) (Professor)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2003 Springer-Verlag Tokyo

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

McCleave, J.D. (2003). Spawning Areas of the Atlantic Eels. In: Aida, K., Tsukamoto, K., Yamauchi, K. (eds) Eel Biology. Springer, Tokyo. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-4-431-65907-5_10

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-4-431-65907-5_10

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Tokyo

  • Print ISBN: 978-4-431-65909-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-4-431-65907-5

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation