scholarly journals Age and Growth of Southern Bluefin Tuna, Thunnus maccoyii, Based on Otolith Microstructure

Author(s):  
Jeong Eun Ku ◽  
Sung Il Lee ◽  
Doo Nam Kim

AbstractAge and growth of southern bluefin tuna (SBT, Thunnus maccoyii) were estimated based on otoliths collected by Korean tuna longline vessels in the Atlantic and Indian Oceans from 2015 to 2019. A total of 739 specimens were used to estimate age and growth of SBT, with sizes ranging from 66 to 181 cm in fork length. It was confirmed that the otolith is a suitable aging characteristic for determining SBT age, and otolith annuli can be used as an annual ring. The relationship between fork length (FL) and total weight (W) was W = 7.7e − 05FL2.722 (R2 = 0.874). The von Bertalanffy’s growth parameters estimated from the non-linear method using length-at-age data were L∞ = 170.0 cm, K = 0.200/year, t0 = − 1.615 years, with 95% confidence intervals between 166 and 175 cm for L∞, 0.17–0.23/year for K, and − 2.27 to − 1.09 years for t0 from bootstrapping. The Kimura’s likelihood ratio test results of the models under assumptions of common and different parameters between female and male concluded that the growth of SBT has no difference between genders.

2018 ◽  
Vol 59 (1) ◽  
pp. 97-110 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mado Kotsiri ◽  
Ioannis E. Batjakas

The otoliths of the Atlantic bonito, Sarda sarda (Bloch, 1793), were examined with the aim to estimate the age and growth of the species in the eastern Mediterranean Sea and to reveal possible relationships between otolith shape or size and age. All specimens used in this study, ranging from 7.2 to 70.4 cm in fork length and from 20 to 4889 g in total weight, were caught in the Aegean and Ionian Seas during the period 1997-2010. Otolith morphometry was studied using image analysis techniques for all intact sagittae ranging in weight from 0.6 to 11.3 mg and four shape indices were calculated. No statistical significant differences between left and right otolith morphometric variables were found. The age of fish was estimated by counting the pairs of opaque and translucent bands in transversal thin sections of otoliths. The estimated ages ranged from 0+ to 7 years and the von Bertalanffy growth parameters were determined \((L∞=79.9 cm, k=0.261 and to=-1.230 years)\). The examination of the type of growth bands at the outside margin of each otolith per month showed that one translucent band is formed annually during the cold season. The results revealed statistically significant relationships between otolith morphometric variables and fish length or age. Among the variables, otolith weight was the one that showed the highest correlation with age (R=0.77). Therefore, otolith weight could represent a valuable criterion for age estimation in Atlantic bonito that is objective, economic and easy to perform compared to annuli counting method in hard parts.


2008 ◽  
Vol 92 (2-3) ◽  
pp. 207-220 ◽  
Author(s):  
John S. Gunn ◽  
Naomi P. Clear ◽  
Thor I. Carter ◽  
Anthony J. Rees ◽  
Clive A. Stanley ◽  
...  

2011 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 393-401 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marília Previero ◽  
Carolina V. Minte-Vera ◽  
Matheus Oliveira Freitas ◽  
Rodrigo Leão de Moura ◽  
Claudenice Dei Tos

We determined the age and growth of the dog snapper (Lutjanus jocu), caught in the region of Abrolhos Bank, Bahia State, by the fishermen from coastal communities of Prado, Alcobaça, Caravelas, and Nova Viçosa. We examined 205 sectioned otoliths of fish caught by harpoon, longline, hand line, and gill nets (14.5 to 79.5 cm fork length). The formation of each ring was considered annual. The sectioned otoliths showed between 0 and 29 rings. Nearly half of the analyzed specimens had between 0 and 7 rings (88 of 205). Fish caught with nets in the estuarine region were the juvenile, while fish caught with lines and harpoons were the oldest. Two von Bertalanffy growth models were fitted to length-at-age data: one assuming constant variance of length-at-age (SVB) and another assuming constant coefficient of variation, i.e. variance increasing as a function of average size (CVVB). The SVB estimates were Loo = 87.82 cm, K = 0.10, and t0 = -1.486 and the CVVB estimates were Loo = 117.60 cm, K = 0.06, and t0 = -2.470. The largest Loo values estimated by the CVVB model are supported by reports from the literature of larger animals occurring in the deeper outer shelf of Abrolhos Bank. Growth parameters were also estimated for males and females separately (SVB model) (Loo = 92.80 cm, K = 0.099, and t0 = -1.680 for males, and Loo = 82.10 cm, K = 0.105, and t0 = -1.570 for females).


1990 ◽  
Vol 47 (2) ◽  
pp. 301-317 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. A. Fournier ◽  
John R. Sibert ◽  
Jacek Majkowski ◽  
John Hampton

We present a method for simultaneously analyzing multiple length frequency data sets. The method utilizes a robust likelihood-based estimation procedure that provides an objective criterion for hypothesis testing. The method is applied to length frequency data from southern bluefin tuna (Thunnus maccoyii) for which independent estimates of growth parameters based on tag return data are available. The estimates of the growth parameters from the new method were found to be in substantial agreement with the values previously obtained for these parameters. The strength of the likelihood approach is demonstrated by discriminating between alternative structural hypotheses for describing the data. The ability to simultaneously analyze multiple samples permits the method to exploit the extra information not available when analyzing samples one by one. The computer program maintains a database of fits to the data which enable the user to organize the results of the analysis. Graphical displays permit the user to view any of the fits, and an interactive graphics routine aids the user to find good initial parameter estimates.


1983 ◽  
Vol 34 (3) ◽  
pp. 451 ◽  
Author(s):  
TM Berra ◽  
PL Cadwallader

The age and growth of Australian grayling were studied in 1203 individuals collected from the Tambo River, Victoria, between January and November 1979. Scales from 667 grayling were examined. The scale method of age determination was validated by the analysis of seasonal changes in the pattern of scale growth and by correspondence between ages inferred from length-frequency distributions and ages determined by scale readings. One annulus is formed on the scale by October. Most (88%) grayling belonged to the 1+ and 2+ age-classes; fish aged 3+ and 4+ made up 11% of the collection, and fish aged 5+ less than 1%. Size increased from January until May; growth ceased during winter and resumed in September. There was no difference in growth between the sexes. The largest grayling collected was a female of 253 mm fork length (Lf). The overall length-weight relationship was W = 2 715 × 10-6Lf3 2764. The relationship between total length (Lt) and Lf was Lt = 0.93 16 + 1.0742 Lf, and between standard length (Ls) and Lf was Ls = 0.8007 + 0.9095 Lf The overall ratio of males to females was 56 : 44.


2007 ◽  
Vol 57 (3) ◽  
pp. 281-291 ◽  
Author(s):  
Murat Arslan ◽  
Ayhan Yildirim

AbstractAge and growth were analyzed for brown trout from the Stream Kan, upper Çoruh River, from January 2001 to December 2001. Age varied between 0-7 years and the ratio of male to female was 1:1.05. Fork length and total weight for brown trout varied by 6.9-22.1 cm and 4.9-158.5 g for males, by 6.8-26.1 cm and 4.3-211.9 g for females, respectively. Fork length and total weight at the same age classes were not statistically significant between males and females. The highest specific growth rate occurred between age 1 and age 2 for both sexes. The von Bertalanffy equations were used to determine growth in length for both sexes and overall population separately. The growth parameters for males, females and overall population were estimated as L∞ = 32.5 cm, K = 0.169, t0 = −0.978, L∞ = 36.7 cm, K = 0.139, t0 = −1.065 and L∞ = 35.9 cm, K = 0.147, t0 = −1.002, respectively. Overall growth performance (ø) suggested that difference between the growth of brown trout from Kan stream and those from some other populations was found not statistically significant.


Author(s):  
Xiuting Qiao ◽  
Zhenyan Cheng ◽  
Dongqing Ba ◽  
Jinghui Li ◽  
Lin Ma ◽  
...  

An 8-week trial in ranching cages was conducted to determine lysozyme concentration changes, and to examine the relationship between fish condition index, fish sizes, and fish lysozyme concentrations in southern bluefin tuna (SBT). Frozen pilchard were prepared for SBT each day during the ranching trial period. The results showed that lysozyme concentrations significantly increased in southern bluefin tuna over time in the culture. The lysozyme concentrations increased continuously from week 0 to week 8, from 26.09±13.46 to 215.91±62.11 µg/ml, representing an almost 800% increase. During the 8 weeks, the number of Cardicola forsteri and Caligus spp increased from 0 to 9.2±5.45 and 1.1±1.6, respectively. As C. forsteri or Caligus spp increased, lysozyme concentrations increased. In addition, the lysozyme concentration increased with increases in weight, length, and condition index. This study aimed to provide a theoretical basis for artificial SBT health cultures.


1955 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 35-60 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. M. Partlo

Seasonal and regional variations in the abundance of albacore during the 1949, 1950 and 1951 British Columbia fishing seasons suggest that exploitable stocks occurred in increasingly northerly areas during July and August and in more southerly areas during late August, September and early October. Catches were composed of four length-groups with average lengths of 54.3, 62.9, 71.7 and 81.9 centimetres. These groups were sometimes fairly discrete, but usually overlapped broadly, so that it was necessary to plot frequency distributions on probability paper in order to choose the best points of separation.Concentric marks on the centra of vertebrae were used as indicators of the age of the fish. The relationship of body length to vertebral radius is rectilinear. There is good agreement between the estimated average length and standard deviation in length of the fish when grouped by length and when grouped by vertebral ring number. The ages indicated for the four groups are III, IV, V and VI; however the first vertebral ring is somewhat less clear than the others and if it were discounted these ages would be reduced by one year. The fish whose vertebrae were examined had almost completed a year's growth.The length-weight relationship is expressed by the formula, log W = −4.912 + 3.13 log L, where W is the weight in kilograms and L is the fork length in centimetres.


2007 ◽  
Vol 58 (1) ◽  
pp. 34 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew N. Piercy ◽  
John K. Carlson ◽  
James A. Sulikowski ◽  
George H. Burgess

The scalloped hammerhead, Sphryna lewini (Griffith & Smith, 1834), is a globally exploited species of shark. In order to gain insight into the life history of this species in the USA waters, age and growth was examined from specimens (n = 307) captured from the north-west Atlantic Ocean and from the Gulf of Mexico. The von Bertalanffy growth model resulted in growth parameters of L∞ = 214.8 cm fork length (FL), k = 0.13 year–1, t0 = –1.62 year for males and L∞ = 233.1 cm FL, k = 0.09 year–1, t0 = –2.22 year for females. The oldest age estimates obtained for this population were 30.5 years for both males and females, which corresponded to FL of 234 cm and 241 cm respectively. Bowker’s test of symmetry and Index of Average Per Cent Error suggests that our ageing method represents a non-biased and precise approach to the age assessment. Marginal increments were significantly different between months (Kruskal–Wallis P = 0.017) with a distinct trend of increasing monthly increment growth beginning in January. When compared to previously published studies, our growth estimates suggest slower growth than populations in the Pacific Ocean but faster growth than previously reported in the Gulf of Mexico.


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