Species composition and abundance of larval fishes in the coastal waters off Gori in the southeastern Korea were investigated from January to December in 2006. During the study period, 32 larvae species belonging to 20 families were collected. The dominant species were Engraulis japonicius, Hexagrammos agrammus, Sillago japonicus, Acropoma japonicum, Apogon lineatus, and Konosirus punctatus. These six species accounted for 87.0% of the total number of individuals collected. The number of species, number of individuals, and species diversity indices fluctuated by season. The peak numbers of species and individuals occurred in July and May, respectively. Correlation analysis showed that monthly variations in water temperature and salinity could act as an indicators of seasonal variations in the larval fish community structure and abundance of the dominant species; in particular, the abundance of S. japonicus, A. japonicum, and A. lineatus were significantly corrected with the water temperature.

The reproductive ecology of the glowbelly, Acropoma japonicum was examined using 637 specimens collected monthly from January to December 2006 in the coastal waters off Gori, Korea. The specimens ranged in standard length (cm, SL) from 2.9 to 11.4cm for female, 2.7 to 10.5cm for male. The gonadosomatic index (GSI) of female was highest in September and decreased until December, and the spawning season lasted from August to November. The monthly sex was not different significantly (2-test, p〉0.05). The size at 50% maturity was estimated at 6.0cm SL. A. japonicum was multiple spawner that spawn on more than one occasion in a single spawning season, and the maximum egg diameter was 0.75mm. Fecundity (F) ranged from 12,052 to 104,246 eggs, with the mean of 38,321 eggs. The relationships between fecundity and standard length (cm, SL), body weight (g, BW) were estimated as F=86.278SL2.9652 (R2=0.7970) and F=3036BW1.0081 (R2=0.7992), respectively.