Gray Triggerfish Reproductive Biology, Age, and Growth off the Atlantic Coast of the Southeastern USA

Ensuring the accuracy of age estimation in fisheries science through validation is an essential step in managing species for long-term sustainable harvest. The current study used Δ14 C in direct validation of age estimation for queen triggerfish Balistes vetula and conclusively documented that triggerfish sagittal otoliths provide more accurate and precise age estimates relative to dorsal spines. Caribbean fish samples (n = 2045) ranged in size from 67–473 mm fork length (FL); 23 fish from waters of the southeastern U.S. (SEUS) Atlantic coast ranged in size from 355–525 mm FL. Otolith-based age estimates from Caribbean fish range from 0–23 y, dorsal spine-based age estimates ranged from 1–14 y. Otolith-based age estimates for fish from the SEUS ranged from 8–40 y. Growth function estimates from otoliths in the current study (L∞ = 444, K = 0.13, t0 = -1.12) differed from spined-derived estimates in the literature. Our work indicates that previously reported maximum ages for Balistes species based on spine-derived age estimates may underestimate longevity of these species since queen triggerfish otolith-based ageing extended maximum known age for the species by nearly three-fold (14 y from spines versus 40 y from otoliths). Future research seeking to document age and growth population parameters of Balistes species should strongly consider incorporating otolith-based ageing in the research design.

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Age and growth of some delphinids in south-eastern Brazil

Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom ◽

10.1017/s0025315407053398 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 87 (1) ◽

pp. 293-303 ◽

Cited By ~ 18

Author(s):

Salvatore Siciliano ◽

Renata Maria A. Ramos ◽

Ana Paula M. Di Beneditto ◽

Marcos César O. Santos ◽

Ana Bernadete Fragoso ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Growth Curve ◽

Atlantic Coast ◽

Age And Growth ◽

Common Dolphin ◽

Pilot Whale ◽

Stenella Frontalis ◽

Stenella Coeruleoalba ◽

South Eastern ◽

Spotted Dolphin ◽

Eastern Brazil

This study provides the first compilation on age and growth of some delphinids in south-eastern Brazil (18°25′S–25°45′S). A total of 154 delphinids were reported: 44 Atlantic spotted dolphin Stenella frontalis; 36 bottlenose dolphin Tursiops truncatus; 26 ‘Brazilian’ common dolphin Delphinus sp.; 20 rough-toothed dolphin Steno bredanensis; 16 Fraser's dolphin Lagenodelphis hosei; 3 false killer whale Pseudorca crassidens; 3 unidentified Stenella sp.; 2 pantropical spotted dolphin Stenella attenuata; 2 short-finned pilot whale Globicephala macrorhynchus; 1 spinner dolphin Stenella longirostris; and 1 striped dolphin Stenella coeruleoalba. Age was estimated by counting the number of growth layer groups present in the dentine in 74.5% of the sample. The growth of 92 individuals of the first five species was determined by the Gompertz model to length-at-age data. Stenella frontalis—the oldest specimen was 23 y and the asymptotic length of 224.4 cm predicted by growth curve occurred at about 20 y; T. truncatus—the oldest specimen was 26 y and the asymptotic length of 301.3 cm predicted by growth curve occurred at about 20 y; Delphinus sp.—the oldest dolphin was 18 y and the asymptotic length of 215.9 cm predicted by growth curve occurred at about 5–6 y; S. bredanensis—the oldest specimen was 24 y and the asymptotic length of 258.1 cm predicted by growth curve occurred at about 10 y; L. hosei—the oldest specimen was 19 y and the asymptotic length of 231.2 cm predicted by growth curve occurred at about 7–8 y. Only age was estimated for the other species. The age-at-length data for S. frontalis, Delphinus sp., S. bredanensis and L. hosei were consistent, suggesting a good agreement with previous work on these species. For T. truncatus, the age at asymptotic length obtained in this study might be confirmed by increasing the sample size. The information currently presented will contribute to further life history research of delphinids on the western south Atlantic coast.

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Age and growth of gray triggerfish (Balistes capriscus) from a north-central Gulf of Mexico artificial reef zone

Bulletin of Marine Science ◽

10.5343/bms.2018.0025 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 95 (2) ◽

pp. 177-195

Author(s):

Amanda E Jefferson ◽

Robert J Allman ◽

Ashley E Pacicco ◽

James S Franks ◽

Frank J Hernandez ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Gulf Of Mexico ◽

Artificial Reef ◽

Age And Growth ◽

North Central ◽

Balistes Capriscus ◽

Gray Triggerfish ◽

Reef Zone

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Age and growth, reproductive biology, and histology in Atlantic needlefish (Strongylura marina) in a coastal freshwater lake

Marine and Freshwater Research ◽

10.1071/mf16211 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 68 (7) ◽

pp. 1325 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Mary E. Egbert ◽

Roger A. Rulifson

Keyword(s):

Gonadosomatic Index ◽

Atlantic Coast ◽

Length Distribution ◽

Growth Dynamics ◽

Age And Growth ◽

Fish Length ◽

Water Control ◽

Coastal Lake ◽

Western Atlantic ◽

Coastal Watershed

The Atlantic needlefish (Strongylura marina) is a coastal epipelagic species inhabiting shallow coastal waters along the western Atlantic coast from Maine to Brazil. Little has been published about the species due to lack of commercial or sport value. A population exists in Lake Mattamuskeet, a coastal lake connected to Pamlico Sound (NC, USA) via four man-made canals, and fish access is controlled by water-control structures. Herein we describe the life history and age and growth dynamics of the species in the lake. Based on anecdotal and state reports, we believe this species may exhibit anadromy. Sampling was from March to May 1997 and 1998, and from March to October 2001. We also collected from another coastal watershed to complete the length distribution. Spring adults had a high gonadosomatic index compared with autumn (fall) adults, which had atresia. No eggs or age-0 fish were captured in the lake during summer. The four length cohorts matched growth and back-calculated length at age. Otoliths were linearly related to fish length and were used for ageing and growth calculations. Although we found no direct evidence of spawning, data compilation suggests that Atlantic needlefish could be using this lake for reproduction.

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