Age and growth of the snowy grouper, Epinephelus niveatus, off the Brazilian coast

Author(s):  
Paulo A.S. Costa ◽  
Adriana C. Braga ◽  
Juan P. Rubinich ◽  
Antônio Olinto Ávila-da-Silva ◽  
Cassiano M. Neto

The age and growth of the snowy grouper, Epinephelus niveatus, from central and south-eastern Brazil were studied by otolith analysis from a sample of 341 specimens, ranging from 325 to 1216 mm in total length (TL) caught with bottom longlines between 1996 and 1998. Otolith length grew proportionally with the increasing TL of the fish. Marginal increment analysis indicated that a single opaque band forms each year during autumn–winter. The maximum estimated age was 54 years, which significantly extends the previously estimated life-span of 21–29 years for this species. The von Bertalanffy growth parameters for both sexes were estimated as L∞ = 1098.4 mm TL, K = 0.062 year −1 and t0 = –2.68. The study revealed differences in mean length-at-age and size at recruitment, as well as in growth parameters between the central and the south-eastern Brazilian coast, which can be attributed mainly to different fishing pressures. The snowy grouper was found at depths of 82–492 m, and showed a positive relationship between age and depth, suggesting differential movements of older fish to deeper waters.

2015 ◽  
Vol 96 (5) ◽  
pp. 1157-1166 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rosângela Lessa ◽  
Camila R. Da Silva ◽  
June F. Dias ◽  
Francisco M. Santana

Age and growth of Agassiz's parrotfish Sparisoma frondosum captured off Brazil (Pernambuco) were estimated using sagittal otoliths from 251 specimens. Sex of each specimen was determined and showed that 130 specimens were females (13.1 to 36.8 cm TL) and 121 were males (17.5 to 36.6 cm TL). The otolith marginal increment analysis indicated a single translucent ring formed every year. Parameters of growth curves were derived for the von Bertalanffy (VBGF) and Gompertz models. Based on the Akaike information criterion (AIC), both models were suitable for describing the growth of this species. VBGF parameters were estimated for males L∞ = 39.74 cm TL, K = 0.22, t0 = −1.63 years, females L∞ = 32.38 cm TL, K = 0.44; t0 = −0.23 years; and for the sexes combined L∞ = 33.66 cm TL, K = 0.41, t0 = −0.27 years. The study showed that 55% of individuals were 3 and 4 years of age, with maximal age of 9 years. Mature females (>17.6 cm TL) accounted for 45% of the sample. The age at first maturity for females was 1.6 years. For males the size at first maturity was not determined as immature individuals were not present in the overall sample. Also, primary males (PM) and specimens with gonads undergoing sexual transition were not found. The age structure and growth parameters for S. frondosum are an important contribution to the assessment of the state of exploitation of this species.


2009 ◽  
Vol 57 (4) ◽  
pp. 273-285 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcelo Francisco de Nóbrega ◽  
Rosangela Paula Lessa

Age and growth of the king mackerel (Scomberomorus cavalla) were estimated for northeastern Brazil. A total of 405 sagittal otoliths from 140 males (24.4-112 cm), 73 females (28-114.8 cm) and 193 specimens of unknown sex (11.5-121 cm) were examined. Marginal increment analysis indicated an annual pattern for growth band deposition. The age classes ranged from 1 to 15 years. Length ranged from 11.5 to 121 cm. The Schnute model indicated that the von Bertalanffy growth model demonstrated the best adjustment, with p=1/b, and was therefore used for estimating growth. Back-calculated curves had smaller variances, giving the following estimated growth parameters for males: L∞= 116.8 cm, K = 0.190, t0 = 0.377; and females: L∞= 132.7 cm, K = 0.159 and t0 = 0.387. In order to compare the curves for males and females, the overlapping of 95% confidence intervals was performed for the parameters generated from the von Bertalanffy non-linear least square method. Specimens between 3 and 8 years of age represented 82.2% (n=5,783) of the catch composition, characterizing the species as a catchable stock in the region.


2011 ◽  
Vol 71 (3) ◽  
pp. 755-761 ◽  
Author(s):  
JE. Kotas ◽  
V. Mastrochirico ◽  
M. Petrere Junior

Age and growth studies for the scalloped hammerhead shark, Sphyrna lewini (Griffith and Smith, 1834) caught along the southern Brazilian coast, were based on ring measurements of vertebrae sections of 115 males, 116 females and 14 unknown sexed sharks between 48 and 344 cm total length (TL). The von Bertalanffy growth models were best fit using back-calculated data. The growth parameters obtained for males, were L∞ = 266 cm; K = 0.05/year; L0 = 47 cm. For females, L∞ = 300 cm; K = 0.05/year; L0 = 51 cm. An adult female reached 217 cm TL and was 31.5 years old. On the other hand, an adult male was 29.5 years old and measured 234 cm TL. Longevity estimate for males and females was 55 years. Therefore, S. lewini is a long-lived fish. Ageing precision, based on the IAPE index, was 5.6%. Marginal Increment analysis based on MIR index from hammerheads smaller than 105 cm, compared with the percentual of opaque and hyaline bands found per month ageing whole vertebrae, showed an annual ring formation, i.e., in winter.


Author(s):  
Ana Rita Vieira ◽  
Ana Neves ◽  
Vera Sequeira ◽  
Rafaela Barros Paiva ◽  
Leonel Serrano Gordo

The forkbeard, Phycis phycis, is an important commercial species in Portugal; however, little information is available on its biology. Age and growth of the forkbeard from Portuguese continental waters were studied using 687 otoliths from specimens caught between May 2011 and December 2012. Otoliths were transversally sectioned, and assigned ages were validated by marginal increment analysis and edge analysis, and indices of precision were also calculated to corroborate ageing within and between readers. Validation techniques showed that an annual growth increment is formed every year, corresponding to the succession of an opaque and a translucent growth zone. Specimens ranged from 15.5 to 67.1 cm total length (TL), and their estimated ages ranged between 0 and 18 years. The forkbeard is a relatively slow growing, long lived species, that does not show sexual dimorphism in growth. The von Bertalanffy growth parameters estimated for forkbeard from the Portuguese continental waters were L∞ = 75.14 cm TL, k = 0.10 yr−1 and t0 = −2.09 yr.


2013 ◽  
Vol 93 (8) ◽  
pp. 2123-2128 ◽  
Author(s):  
C.S.C. Sette ◽  
R.A. Shinozaki-Mendes ◽  
T.L. Barros ◽  
J.R.B. Souza

The aim of this work was to study the dynamics of Alitta succinea population growth in a tropical estuary. The organisms were collected in the polyhaline area of Pina Basin, north-eastern Brazil, in lower and shallow subtidal consolidated substrates, from October 2009 to March 2011. Fifteen samples with a size of 0.01 m2 were collected every month. A total of 2064 A. succinea individuals were measured for growth analysis, and the measure used was the length from prostomium to the 25th setiger. Growth parameters were estimated by the frequency–length distribution data from three different functions (i.e. von Bertalanffy, Gompertz and Richards). The differences in the densities of A. succinea were significant between the months of the dry and the rainy season, with the rain pattern being the factor that most affects the A. succinea life cycle. According to Akaike information criteria, the von Bertalanffy and Gompertz models were the ones that presented the best fit with the growth curve of A. succinea for the studied period. Using the Bhattacharya method for the analysis of modal progression, we identified eight cohorts. The lowest recruitment values were found in July and August 2010, respectively, and the remaining months had numbers of recruits that were representative of the total population. The growth performance index (Ø′) found was 2.86. The maximum longevity indicates that specimens of A. succinea live between 586 and 953 d, and the instantaneous mortality rate (Z) is 1.53 yr−1.


2021 ◽  
Vol 51 (4) ◽  
pp. 371-378
Author(s):  
Penprapa Phaeviset ◽  
Pisit Phomikong ◽  
Piyathap Avakul ◽  
Sontaya Koolkalaya ◽  
Wachira Kwangkhang ◽  
...  

The spotted catfish, Arius maculatus (Thunberg, 1792), is a euryhaline fish that is economically important in the Indo-West Pacific. Population dynamics studies and stock assessments of this species have focused on marine stocks, but not those from fresh water. In this study, the age and growth of A. maculatus were, therefore, investigated for the inland stock in Songkhla Lake, Thailand. A total of 213 individuals ranging between 35 and 238 mm TL were used. The length–weight relation indicated positive allometry of this population. Three hard parts (otolith, dorsal- and pectoral-fin spines) were used for aging. The marginal increment ratio confirmed that an annulus was deposited once a year in all three hard parts. All of the samples were aged between 0+ and 6+ years. Verification of age estimates from three readers showed that the otolith was the most suitable part for age estimation. Three growth models (von Bertalanffy, Gompertz, and logistic) were applied in the study. The von Bertalanffy model best described the growth of this fish in Songkhla Lake. The obtained asymptotic length was 290.87 mm TL and the relative growth rate parameter was 0.166 year–1. Our results will be applied as inputs for fish stock assessment models. The obtained growth parameters also can serve as a reference for A. maculatus stocks elsewhere.


2014 ◽  
Vol 104 (4) ◽  
pp. 413-417 ◽  
Author(s):  
Angela M. Ambrosio ◽  
Thiago J. Balbi ◽  
Talitha M. Francisco ◽  
Luiz C. Gomes ◽  
Marina S. Zuliani ◽  
...  

This study has aims to determine the age and to estimate the growth parameters using scales of the species. Individuals of Piaractus mesopotamicus (Holmberg, 1887) used in this study were captured in the commercial fishery conducted in the region, along the year 2006. The model selected to express the growth of the species was the von Bertalanffy Sl= Sl∞*[1-exp-k(t-to)]. To determine if scales are suitable for studying the growth of pacu, we analyzed the relation between standard length (Sl) and the radius of the scales through linear regression. The period of annuli formation was determined analyzing the variations in the marginal increment and evaluating the consistency of the readings through the analysis of the coefficient of variations (CVs) for the average standard lengths of each age (number of rings) observed in the scales. The relationship between Ls of the fish and the radius of the scales showed that scales can be used to study the age and growth of P. mesopotamicus (R= 0.79). CVs were always below 20%, demonstrating the consistency of the readings. Annuli formation occurred in February, probably related to trophic migration that occurs in this month in the region. Equations that represents the growth in length obtained for P. mesopotamicus are Sl=50.00*[1-exp-0.18(t-(-3.00)] for males and Sl=59.23*[1-exp-0.14(t-(-3.36)] for females. The growth parameters obtained in this study were lower compared to other studies previously conducted for the same species and can related to overexploitation that species is submitted by fishing in the region. These values show also that females of pacu attain greater asymptotic length than males that growth faster.


2009 ◽  
Vol 60 (5) ◽  
pp. 394 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francisco Cerna ◽  
Roberto Licandeo

The shortfin mako, Isurus oxyrinchus, is a large pelagic shark with a widespread global distribution. However, very little is known about most aspects of this species for the south-eastern Pacific. In the present paper, the age and growth parameters of the shortfin mako, caught by Chilean swordfish longline fisheries from 2004 to 2005, are reported. Ages were estimated by counting band-pairs from sections of vertebral centra from 547 individuals, ranging from 76 to 330 cm in total length (TL). Trends in the proportion of opaque edges for all ages combined and grouped into ages 0–6 and 7–26 years indicated that they are formed during summer and showed that annually, one band-pair is formed in the vertebrae of shortfin makos. Modal-progression analysis was used to verify the first three age classes (ages 0–2 years). For both sexes, the oldest estimated age was 25+ years. Von Bertalanffy growth parameters were estimated at L∞ = 325.29 cm TL, K = 0.076 year–1 and t0 = –3.18 years for females and L∞ = 296.60 cm TL, K = 0.087 year–1 and t0 = –3.58 years for males. The results indicated that this species is highly vulnerable to exploitation and, thus, urgent conservation measures are required.


1989 ◽  
Vol 40 (2) ◽  
pp. 215 ◽  
Author(s):  
AF Withell ◽  
JWJ Wankowski

Age and growth were estimated from counts of otolith annuli for pink ling (Genypterus blacodes) and gemfish (Rexea solandri). Sections of otoliths were preferable for age determinations of pink ling, whereas whole otoliths were preferable for gemfish. Validation of the assigned age classes was not achieved. Petersen's length-frequency method was unsuccessful and marginal increment methods were unsuitable for the species studied. Growth of males and females did not differ significantly for either pink ling or gemfish. Both species had a relatively slow growth rate, had a moderately long life-span and could reach body lengths in excess of 1 m. Maximum ages of pink ling and gemfish were, respectively, 21 and 13 years. Mean length-at-age and the von Bertalanffy growth functions were estimated. For pink ling (all individuals combined), K = 0.095 and L∞ = 135.5 cm. For gemfish the best estimates were K = 0.153 and L∞ = 112.3 cm. Precision of age determinations made independently by two readers for pink ling and gemfish, respectively, was 65% and 95% within �1 annulus; average per cent error, respectively, was 4.7% and 3.1%. Paired t-tests on ages assigned to each species by the two readers indicated no significant difference between ages assigned to gemfish, but there was a significant, albeit unbiased, difference for ages assigned to pink ling. However, for pink ling, estimates of the growth parameters derived separately from age determinations by the two readers were virtually identical.


1987 ◽  
Vol 38 (5) ◽  
pp. 625 ◽  
Author(s):  
TJ Kenchington ◽  
O Augustine

Blue grenadier, Macruronus novaezelandiae, from south-eastern Australian waters were aged, using their otoliths (whole and in transverse thin sections). The greatest recorded age was 25 years. A double blind test showed that the recorded ages were sufficiently reproducible to use in fitting growth curves (Index of Average Percent Error: 8%), but not sufficiently so to assign individuals to particular year-classes. Von Bertalanffy growth curves were fitted to both length and weight data. For males, Lt = 90.7 (1 - exp[-0.256(t + 1.21)]} and Wt = 2.62 (1 - exp[-0.277(t + 1.39)]}3. For females, Lt = 99.3 {l - exp[-0.203(t + 1.48)]} and Wt = 4.16{1 - exp[-0.157(t + 2.93)]}3. L is the length in centimetres, W is the weight in kilograms and t is the age in years. A comparison with length-frequency modes validated the growth curves for immature fish, but no validation was possible for the adults. The $exes have qignificantly different growth patterns. Their growth parameters are typical of those of commercially exploited, temperate gadoid fishes and show no modification for the deep-water zone inhabited by blue grenadier.


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