Metabolic rate and growth in the temperate bivalve Mercenaria mercenaria at a biogeographical limit, from the English Channel

Metabolism and growth rate of the hard clam, Mercenaria mercenaria, were investigated in a population invasive to Southampton Water, southern England. An individual metabolic model expressed as a function of soft tissue dry mass was fitted to data of 18 individuals (log (VO2) = −1.952 + 0.543 • log (DM); F1,16 = 201.18, P < 0.001, r2 = 0.926). A von Bertalanffy growth function was fitted to 227 size-at-age data pairs of 18 individuals (Ht = 80.13 • (1 − e−0.149 • (t−0.542)); r2 = 0.927). Individual age-specific somatic production was calculated, demonstrating increase with age to a maximum of 3.88 kJ y−1 at ten years old followed by decrease, and individual age-specific annual respiration was calculated, demonstrating asymptotic increase with age to 231.37 kJ y−1 at 30 years old. Results found here lie within the physiological tolerances reported across the biogeographical range, suggesting that the species' biogeographical limitation in the UK to Southampton Water results from ecological rather than physiological factors.

Download Full-text

Some aspects of pollution in Southampton Water

Proceedings of the Royal Society of London Series B Biological Sciences ◽

10.1098/rspb.1972.0031 ◽

1972 ◽

Vol 180 (1061) ◽

pp. 451-468 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Keyword(s):

Organic Matter ◽

Total Mercury ◽

Mercenaria Mercenaria ◽

Dry Mass ◽

High Rate ◽

Organic Substrates ◽

Southampton Water ◽

Thermal Changes ◽

Particulate Iron ◽

Phosphate Nitrate

The levels of some trace metals have been studied in Southampton Water. Particulate iron, though variable, is generally high and the concentration appears to be correlated with the amount of particulate matter. Zinc is approximately doubled in concentration inside Southampton Water, but much higher levels are occasionally encountered. Copper and nickel are only somewhat higher and total mercury is lower inside Southampton Water than in Solent waters. Zinc and copper are concentrated approximately 30000 times on a dry mass basis by Mercenaria mercenaria . Mercury is concentrated by Mercenaria and other bivalves; the mud which is especially rich in total mercury may represent an important source of mercury for these animals. Primary nutrients, phosphate, nitrate and ammonium, increase in concentration from seaward on proceeding up the estuεry. Surface waters appear to be especially rich in nitrate and ammonium. Gross pollution seems unlikely in view of low nitrite concentration and high oxygen values virtually throughout the estuary. The high rate of turnover of organic substrates by heterotrophic organisms may be associated with relatively large amounts of organic matter in Southampton Water. This has to some extent been confirmed by direct surveys of particulate and dissolved organic carbon which also suggest that regional differences exist. Higher levels of organic matter occur near the head of the estuary, near Marchwood, the Docks, and the mouth of the River Itchen. Although thermal changes in Southampton Water appear to have been slight, some increase in winter minimal temperatures and in summer maxima have occurred, especially in the Marchwood area. No evidence exists of deleterious effects on marine organisms. Phytoplankton can apparently endure rises of at least 10°C for short periods without injurious effects. The density of zooplankton has not decreased; possibly certain species (e. g. Elminius modestus ) have been favoured by thermal changes. A marked increase in Mercenaria mercenaria population may be associated with the small thermal rise and remarkably high population densities are encountered. Spawning appears to be correlated with summer temperatures exceeding 18 to 19°C.

Download Full-text

Population Dynamics Of Magellania Fragilis, a Brachiopod Dominating a Mixed-Bottom Macrobenthic Assemblage on the Antarctic Shelf

Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom ◽

10.1017/s0025315400038200 ◽

1995 ◽

Vol 75 (4) ◽

pp. 857-869 ◽

Cited By ~ 34

Author(s):

T. Brey ◽

L.S. Peck ◽

J. Gutt ◽

S. Hain ◽

W.E. Arntz

Keyword(s):

Growth Function ◽

Von Bertalanffy ◽

Underwater Photography ◽

Annual Productivity ◽

Von Bertalanffy Growth Function ◽

Antarctic Shelf ◽

Size At Age ◽

The Antarctic ◽

Slow Growing ◽

Strong Seasonality

A dense assemblage of the brachiopod Magellania fragilis was sampled by trawl and underwater photography during the expedition ANT IX/3 (1991) of RV ‘Polarstern’ on the shelf of the Lazarev Sea, Antarctica. Mean abundance and biomass estimates for M. fragilis were 26.15 individuals m2 and 1.13 g AFDM m2, respectively. Growth bands visible on the shell were interpreted as annual growth marks caused by the strong seasonality of food input to the benthos and were treated as size-at-age data. The von Bertalanffy growth function Lt (mm) = 51.67 (1 - e0020 (t +1.326))3.828 described these data best. The annual somatic P/B ratio was very low, 0.046 y1, and annual production amounted to 0.052 g AFDM m2 y1 at this particular site. These results indicate that M. fragilis is a comparatively slow-growing species with very low annual productivity.

Download Full-text

The von Bertalanffy growth function, bioenergetics, and the consumption rates of fish

Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences ◽

10.1139/f01-151 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 58 (11) ◽

pp. 2129-2138 ◽

Cited By ~ 95

Author(s):

Timothy E Essington ◽

James F Kitchell ◽

Carl J Walters

Keyword(s):

Fish Consumption ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Growth Function ◽

Fish Growth ◽

Good Precision ◽

Von Bertalanffy ◽

Von Bertalanffy Growth Function ◽

Highly Sensitive ◽

Consumption Rates ◽

Size At Age

The von Bertalanffy growth function (VBGF) is based on a bioenergetic expression of fish growth; therefore, size-at-age data can theoretically be used to estimate fish consumption rates. We evaluated the accuracy of VBGF-derived consumption rates by performing a meta-analysis and sensitivity analysis of VBGF assumptions, and we used Bayesian parameter estimation to quantify uncertainty in these estimates. The VBGF was robust to its assumption regarding the allometry of catabolism but was highly sensitive to the assumed allometry of consumption. Consequently, the commonly used form ("specialized" VBGF), which makes a strong assumption regarding the allometric slope of consumption, often grossly underestimates (>50%) consumption. The precision of the VBGF depended on characteristics of the size-at-age data used to parameterize the model. When data indicate decelerating growth, consumption rates were estimated with good precision; we estimated a 70% probability that bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) consumption rates were between 1 and 2% body mass per day. Otherwise, consumption estimates were poorly defined; yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares) consumption rates between 2 and 7% per day were all equally likely. We conclude that VBGF can be a useful tool for estimating fish consumption rates, but potential biases and precision of these estimates should be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

Download Full-text

An Antarctic shelf population of the deep-sea, Pacific brachiopod Neorhynchia strebeli

Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom ◽

10.1017/s0025315400071757 ◽

1997 ◽

Vol 77 (2) ◽

pp. 399-407 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

David K.A. Barnes ◽

Lloyd S. Peck

Keyword(s):

Deep Sea ◽

Growth Function ◽

Weddell Sea ◽

Von Bertalanffy ◽

Growth Rings ◽

Von Bertalanffy Growth Function ◽

Annual Periodicity ◽

A Site ◽

The Antarctic ◽

Order Rhynchonellida

Thirty-five specimens of the articulate brachiopod Neorhynchia strebeli were collected from a site at 814 m in the Weddell Sea. This was only the second species of the order Rhynchonellida to be found in Antarctica. Formerly N. strebeli was known solely from abyssal Pacific Ocean localities. A circumantarctic distribution is suggested in addition to the known deep-sea Pacific range. The specimens of this collection showed considerable commissure variation, suggesting that the previously proposed erection of two subspecies on the basis of this character is erroneous, and emphasises the phenotypic plasticity of some articulate brachiopods. The valve lengths and the number of alpha growth rings in the sample showed a normal distribution and a von Bertalanffy growth function was fitted to the data: Lt = 23 (1-exp[-0·228t]). If the alpha growth rings were of annual periodicity, the ages attained by the Antarctic N. strebeli of 11 y would be substantially lower than those reported for other Weddell Sea brachiopods. The epibiotic communities occurring on the valves of N. strebeli were impoverished, which is characteristic of deep water Antarctic brachiopods. The few specimens collected with their substratum were attached to small pebbles, but the typical attachment substrata may be different.

Download Full-text

Age, Growth and Sex Ratio of the Azorean Rock-Pool Blenny, Parablennius Sanguinolentus Parvicornis

Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom ◽

10.1017/s0025315400039175 ◽

1995 ◽

Vol 75 (3) ◽

pp. 751-754 ◽

Cited By ~ 18

Author(s):

Ricardo Serrão Santos ◽

Richard D. M. Nash ◽

Stephen J. Hawkins

Keyword(s):

Sex Ratio ◽

Growth Function ◽

Early Growth ◽

Reproductive Season ◽

First Year ◽

Von Bertalanffy ◽

Rock Pool ◽

Total Length ◽

Von Bertalanffy Growth Function ◽

One Year

The age and population structure of Parablennius sanguinolentus parvicornis (Valenciennes) (Pisces: Blenniidae) from the Azores have been studied. Total length and weight relationships are given for each sex. Age study was based on otoliths readings. The von Bertalanffy growth function was applied to describe the growth in total length with age. At the end of the first year mean (±SD) total length was significantly different in males (7.1 ±1.5 cm) and females (6.1 ±1.2 cm). One-year-old males participate in reproduction as satellites, whereas females do not. The implications of this in early growth rate of the males is discussed. During the two most important months of the reproductive season (i.e. June and July), the sex ratio was significantly biased towards males, particularly in the larger size classes.

Download Full-text

Age, growth and mortality of the anchovy Stolephorus commersonnii (Lacepède,1803) (Clupeiformes) caught off the coast of Tanga, Tanzania

Western Indian Ocean Journal of Marine Science ◽

10.4314/wiojms.si2020.1.9 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 95-104

Author(s):

Albogast T. Kamukuru ◽

Shigalla B. Mahongo ◽

Baraka C. Sekadende ◽

Joseph S. Sululu

Keyword(s):

Software Tool ◽

Growth Function ◽

Fishing Effort ◽

Northern Coast ◽

Management Intervention ◽

Von Bertalanffy Growth Function ◽

Relationship Model ◽

June July ◽

Spawning Periods ◽

Length Frequency Data

The population dynamics of Stolephorus commersonnii (Lacepède, 1803) from a ringnet fishery operating off the northern coast of Tanga Region were evaluated based on monthly length-frequency data collected from August 2016 to August 2017. The total length (TL) and total weight (TW) of 14,410 individuals ranged from 22 to 130 mm and from 0.39 to 14.64 g respectively. S. commersonnii exhibited a negative allometric growth pattern with the length-weight relationship model: W = 0.00001 x L2.886. The von Bertalanffy growth function was Lt = 86.03 x (1 – e–1.19(t – (–0.01))) using ELEFAN I from the FiSAT II software tool package. Growth performance index and longevity were estimated at (ɸ) = 3.9 and Tmax = 2.5 yrs, respectively. The total (Z), fishing (F) and natural (M) mortalities were determined at 1.39, 0.53 and 0.86 yr-1, respectively. The current exploitation rate (Ecur) was estimated at 0.38. S. commersonnii exhibited a year-round breeding pattern, with two recruitment peaks in March and June/July. Length-at-first-capture (Lc50) and length-at-first-sexual maturity (Lm50) were 40.51 and 57.35 mm TL, respectively, suggesting growth overfishing. The stock of anchovy indicates an overfishing scenario requiring management intervention such as reducing fishing effort levels, increasing mesh sizes and introducing seasonal closures during peak spawning periods.

Download Full-text

Age, growth and mortality of Sciaena umbra (Sciaenidae) in the Gulf of Tunis

Scientia Marina ◽

10.3989/scimar.04679.21a ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 82 (1) ◽

pp. 17 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Inès Chater ◽

Ahlem Romdhani-Dhahri ◽

Jean Louis Dufour ◽

Kélig Mahé ◽

Nadia Chakroun-Marzouk

Keyword(s):

Cross Sections ◽

Growth Function ◽

Growth Increment ◽

Total Weight ◽

Marginal Analysis ◽

Positive Allometry ◽

Total Length ◽

Gulf Of Tunis ◽

Von Bertalanffy Growth Function ◽

Log Linear

The growth and mortality of the brown meagre, Sciaena umbra from the Gulf of Tunis, were investigated using a sample of 276 specimens, ranging from 15.3 to 49.2 cm total length and from 43 to 1565 g total weight. Specimens were collected from artisanal fisheries between October 2008 and September 2011. Otoliths were extracted, thin cross-sections were realized and radii were measured. The log-linear morphometric relationships between total length-total weight and total length-otolith radius were significant (p < 0.05), showed positive allometry (b=3.15) and isometry (b=0.90), respectively. The marginal analysis suggested that only one growth increment was deposited per year. The maximum age of the brown meagre was 22 years for males and 31 years for females. The fit of the von Bertalanffy growth function was significantly different between sexes (p

Download Full-text