A long-lived life history for a tropical, deepwater snapper (Pristipomoides filamentosus): bomb radiocarbon and lead–radium dating as extensions of daily increment analyses in otoliths

2012 ◽  
Vol 69 (11) ◽  
pp. 1850-1869 ◽  
Author(s):  
Allen H. Andrews ◽  
Edward E. DeMartini ◽  
Jon Brodziak ◽  
Ryan S. Nichols ◽  
Robert L. Humphreys

Growth characteristics of Pristipomoides filamentosus, a deepwater eteline snapper of major economic importance, are incomplete and inconsistent across its geographical range. Early growth rates have been validated using daily increment and length–frequency analyses, but historical estimates of adult growth rates are variable and longevity is unknown. Studies of P. filamentosus in the Hawaiian Islands have cautioned against unjustified estimates of longevity, but 18 years has at times been uncritically assumed as the maximum age. The present study addresses these age, growth, and longevity issues using lead–radium and bomb radiocarbon dating by providing valid age estimates for adult P. filamentosus. Valid length-at-age estimates ranged from approximately 10 years to more than 40 years. These data, together with robust daily increment data, were used to model a fully validated, long-lived life history for P. filamentosus. This study adds to the few existing studies supporting a view that many tropical fishes, particularly deepwater species, can be longer lived than previously surmised.


2013 ◽  
Vol 70 (8) ◽  
pp. 1131-1140 ◽  
Author(s):  
Allen H. Andrews ◽  
Beverly K. Barnett ◽  
Robert J. Allman ◽  
Ryan P. Moyer ◽  
Hannah D. Trowbridge

Growth characteristics are poorly understood for speckled hind (Epinephelus drummondhayi), a tropical deep-water grouper of economic importance that is considered overfished. Age has been validated for early growth, but the validity of adult age estimates is unknown. A few studies of growth zones in otoliths have revealed maximum age estimates of 15–35 years, which have been uncritically assumed as longevity. To answer questions about adult age, bomb radiocarbon dating was used to provide validated age estimates. A novel aspect of this study was use of the postbomb radiocarbon decline period (ca. 1980–2004) to age younger fish, an approach that was validated with known-age otoliths. Bomb radiocarbon dating provided valid length-at-age estimates ranging from ∼5 years to more than 45 years. Age was unexpectedly greater than previous estimates for more than half the fish used in this study, and longevity may approach 60–80 years. This study extends the utility of bomb radiocarbon dating by more than 20 years and adds to the growing perspective that deep-water tropical fishes can be long-lived.



1997 ◽  
Vol 54 (1) ◽  
pp. 126-136 ◽  
Author(s):  
H A Williams ◽  
M K Lowe

Two methods were used to estimate the age and growth of four Hawaiian deep slope fishes. Otolith daily increment width estimates from radial sections of sagittal otoliths were integrated over the otolith radius to approximate age by (i) dividing interval length (micrometres) by mean increment width (micrometres per day) and summing this quotient for consecutive 500- µm radial intervals (S. Ralston and H.A. Williams. 1989. Fish. Bull. 87: 1-16) and (ii) fitting increment width (y) versus otolith radius (x) to a Gompertz rate curve and calculating the inverse integral of this curve (M.K. Smith and E. Kostlan. 1991. Fish. Bull. 89: 461-472). The methods also differ in the way the age-length key is generated. Ralston and Williams' method uses integrated age versus a regression-based estimate of fish length at 500- µm otolith radial intervals; Smith and Kostlan's method uses estimated age versus actual fish length. Neither method of integration produced significantly different age estimates; however, the use of regression-based fish length estimates instead of sampled fish lengths resulted in significant differences between estimated growth curves. The minimum number of daily increment width estimates required as a function of otolith radius was calculated, on the basis of observed microincrement width variation.



2007 ◽  
Vol 58 (1) ◽  
pp. 54 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wade D. Smith ◽  
Gregor M. Cailliet ◽  
Everardo Mariano Melendez

Maturity and growth characteristics were estimated for Dasyatis dipterura from western Mexico, where it is a common component of artisanal elasmobranch fisheries. Median disc width at maturity was estimated as 57.3 cm for females (n = 126) and 46.5 cm for males (n = 55) respectively. Age estimates were obtained from 304 fishery-derived specimens (169 female, 135 male). An annual pattern of band-pair deposition was validated through modified centrum edge and marginal increment analyses. Gompertz, polynomial and von Bertalanffy growth models were fit to disc width and weight-at-age data. Resulting models were evaluated based on biological rationale, standard error of model estimates, and Akaike’s information criteria. Growth characteristics differed significantly between females and males. Maximum age estimates were 28 years for females and 19 years for males. Three-parameter von Bertalanffy growth models of disc width-at-age data generated the most appropriate fits and produced relatively low estimates of instantaneous growth rates for females (DW∞ = 92.4 cm, k = 0.05, t0 = –7.61, DW0 = 31.4 cm) and males (DW∞ = 62.2 cm, k = 0.10, t0 = –6.80, DW0 = 31.3 cm). These values are the lowest reported for myliobatiform stingrays and indicate slow growth rates in comparison with elasmobranchs in general.



1971 ◽  
Vol 28 (8) ◽  
pp. 1153-1165 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. S. Kennedy ◽  
D. H. Steele

Monthly samples of winter flounder taken in Long Pond from November 1962 to October 1963 indicated that the flounder moved into deeper water (7–10 m) during the summer and returned to shallow water (1–2 m) from September to June. These movements corresponded to the end of the spawning season and the ripening of the gonads respectively. Spawning occurred from March until early June, most of it in May and early June. Most males were mature at age 6 and most females at age 7. Fifty percent of the males and females were mature at 21 and 25 cm respectively. The growth rates of the males and females were similar until the age of 8, after which the females apparently outgrew the males. Early growth and fecundity were similar to those reported for other areas. No feeding took place in December or January but the flounder fed in March and continued to feed throughout the summer; food intake decreased in the fall. They were omnivorous and the type of food eaten varied with the locality. Polychaetes, plant material, and molluscs were the most common food items throughout the year. Capelin eggs and fish remains were found only during a few months of the year but were eaten in great quantities.



2005 ◽  
Vol 62 (4) ◽  
pp. 886-902 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kenneth A Rose

Relationships between fish population responses to changes in their vital rates and commonly available life history traits would be a powerful screening tool to guide management about species vulnerability, to focus future data collection on species and life stages of concern, and to aid in designing effective habitat enhancements. As an extension of previous analyses by others, I analyzed the responses to changes in fecundity and yearling survival of age-structured matrix and individual-based population models of 17 populations comprising 10 species. Simulations of the matrix models showed that the magnitude of population responses, but not the relative order of species sensitivity, depended on the state (sustainable or undergoing excessive removals) of the population. Matrix and individual-based models predicted population responses that appeared to be unrelated to their species-level life history traits when responses were plotted on a three-end-point life history surface. Density-dependent adult growth was added to the lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) matrix model, and simulations demonstrated the potential importance to predicted responses of density-dependent processes outside the usual spawner–recruit relationship. Four reasons for the lack of relationship between population responses and life history traits related to inadequate population models, incorrect analysis, inappropriate life history model, and important site-specific factors are discussed.



1977 ◽  
Vol 55 (6) ◽  
pp. 630-638 ◽  
Author(s):  
John M. Bernard ◽  
Betsy A. Solsky

Seasonal changes in aboveground and belowground life history of Carex lacustris were determined and used to study primary production and nutrient cycling in the ecosystem. Seasonal aboveground production was estimated to be about 965 g/m2 per year, with a peak rate of 20.9 g/m2 per day reached in late July. Belowground production was estimated to be 208 g/m2 per year for a total production estimate of 1173 g/m2 per year.Nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium begin the season with high percentage concentrations in green overwintering shoots but the percentages decline to only about one-third of the original at death in December. Early growth in spring is characterized by a redistribution of these nutrients in the shoots, some translocation from belowground tissues, and uptake from the soil. Calciumand magnesium do not show any important translocation patterns during the year.The yearly budget of uptake and loss of nutrients during a year is estimated to be 15.9 g/m2 nitrogen, 1.9 g/m2 phosphorus, 16.6 g/m2 potassium, 2.9 g/m2 calcium, and 1.5 g/m2 magnesium.



1981 ◽  
Vol 32 (4) ◽  
pp. 605 ◽  
Author(s):  
CF Chubb ◽  
IC Potter ◽  
CJ Grant ◽  
RCJ Lenanton ◽  
J Wallace

The age structure, growth rates and movements of M. cephalus and A forsteri in the Swan-Avon river system have been investigated using data obtained from beach seining and gill netting carried out between February 1977 and June 1980. Length-frequency data and scale readings show that the populations of both species consist predominantly of 0+ and 1 + fish. From the times when the smallest fry (20-30 mm) were present in the lower part of the river system, and from the condition of the gonads of older fish, the breeding seasons of the sea and yellow-eye mullets have been estimated as extending from March to September and from March to August respectively. The bimodality or polymodality exhibited by the length-frequency distributions for the 0 + year classes suggest that in both species groups of individuals spawn at slightly different times. The range of mean total lengths and weights of animals caught in May near the end of the first year of life was 178-222 mm and 64-119 gin M. cephalus and 136-154 mm and 19-30 g in A. forsteri, which shows that the growth of each of these two species of mullet is relatively very rapid in the Swan-Avon river system. 1 + and 2 + fish tend to leave the estuary for varying periods. Although 0+ fish of both species utilized the shallow banks of the estuary throughout the year. the sea mullet moved further upstream and were not as consistently abundant in the lower estuary. Since 0+ yellow-eye mullet 40-100 mm long were also abundant in marine coastal waters between January and May. and sea mullet of comparable age were rarely observed in these regions, it would appear that M. cephalus is the more estuarine-dependent of the two species. Commercial catches of M. cephalus were greater than those of A. forsteri. This feature can be related in part to the much faster growth rate of M. cephalus, which results in a larger proportion of its youngest year classes reaching the minimum legal size for capture prior to the time when they leave the estuary in large numbers.



PeerJ ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
pp. e1392
Author(s):  
Juan C. Levesque

Ladyfish (Elopssp) are a common and economically valuable coastal nearshore species found along coastal beaches, bays, and estuaries of the southeastern United States, and subtropical and tropical regions worldwide. Previously, ladyfish were a substantial bycatch in Florida’s commercial fisheries, but changes in regulations significantly reduced commercial landings. Today, ladyfish are still taken in commercial fisheries in Florida, but many are also taken by recreational anglers. Life-history information and research interest in ladyfish is almost non-existent, especially information on age and growth. Thus, the overarching purpose of this study was to expand our understanding of ladyfish age and growth characteristics. The specific objectives were to describe, for the first time, age, growth, and recruitment patterns of juvenile ladyfish from the east coast of Florida (USA). In the Indian River Lagoon (IRL), annual monthly length-frequency distributions were confounded because a few small individuals recruited throughout the year; monthly length-frequency data generally demonstrated a cyclical pattern. The smallest were collected in September and the largest in May. Post-hoc analysis showed no significant difference in length between August and May, or among the other months. In Volusia County (VC), annual monthly length-frequency distribution demonstrated growth generally occurred from late-winter and spring to summer. The smallest ladyfish were collected in February and the largest in August. On average, the absolute growth rate in the IRL was 36.3 mm in 60 days or 0.605 mm day−1. Cohort-specific daily growth rates, elevations, and coincidentals were similar among sampling years. Cohort-specific growth rates ranged from 1.807 in 1993 to 1.811 mm day−1in 1994. Overall, growth was best (i.e., goodness of fit) described by exponential regression. On average, the absolute growth rate in VC was 28 mm in 150 days or 0.1866 mm day−1. Cohort-specific daily growth rates were significantly different among sampling years; however, the elevations and coincidentals were similar. Cohort-specific growth rates ranged from 1.741 in 1994 to 1.933 mm day−1in 1993. Mean ladyfish growth was best described by linear regression; however, natural growth was explained better by exponential regression. In the IRL, the corrected exponential growth equation yielded a size-at-age 1 of 156.0 mm SL, which corresponded to an estimated growth rate of 0.4356 mm day−1. In VC, the corrected exponential growth equation yielded a size-at-age 1 of 80 mm SL corresponding to an estimated growth rate of 0.2361 mm day−1.



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