Publication Abstract

Extreme swimming: the oceanic migrations of anguillid eels

Righton, D., Aarestrup, K., Jellyman, D., Sebert, P., van den Thillart, G., and Tsukamoto, K.

Temperate eel species undertake prodigious migrations of between 2000 and 10000km between their spawning grounds and their growth habitat. Pressure, light, temperature and exercise have effects on development (in the larval or leptocephalus phase) and on sexual maturity in the adult phase. This chapter reviews the state of the art in our knowledge of anguillid migrations, drawing on examples from species in the southern and northern hemisphere, and from methods ranging from laboratory experiments to direct observations made in field studies.