Heimbrand, Yvette
- Department of Aquatic Resources (SLU Aqua), Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
Abstract
During snorkelling near Fr & oslash;ya, central Norway, on 6 October 2025, a pair of adult lumpsuckers (Cyclopterus lumpus) was observed engaged in apparent prespawning behaviour in shallow kelp habitat. Such activity is surprising, as the species is mainly considered a spring spawner throughout the eastern Atlantic and is the focus of a targeted fishery during this period. Recent genomic work has identified a small, genetically distinct autumn-spawning component in Norway. This observation provides rare behavioural support for that phenomenon, highlights its potential ecological relevance and proposes working hypothesis for future scientific studies.
Keywords
allochrony; lumpfish; phenology; reproduction; seasonality; spawning behaviour
Published in
Journal of Fish Biology
2026
Publisher: WILEY
SLU Authors
UKÄ Subject classification
Fish and Aquacultural Science
Publication identifier
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/jfb.70375
Permanent link to this page (URI)
https://res.slu.se/id/publ/146393