Changes in Growth and Reproduction of Harbour Porpoises, Phocoena phocoena, from the Bay of Fundy

1990 ◽  
Vol 47 (11) ◽  
pp. 2158-2163 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew j. Read ◽  
David E. Gaskin
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Maturity ◽  
Prey Availability ◽  
Simultaneous Increase ◽  
Bay Of Fundy ◽  
Commercial Fisheries ◽  
Phocoena Phocoena ◽  
Pronounced Change ◽  
Younger Age ◽  
Incidental Mortality ◽  
Growth And Reproduction

Changes in the growth and reproduction of harbour porpoises from the Bay of Fundy are described by comparing samples collected in 1969–73 and 1985–88. The most pronounced change was an increase in the length of calves, from 92.1 cm (SE 1.6) in 1969–73 to 108 cm (SE 1.3) in 1985–88. Females in 1985–88 attained sexual maturity at a significantly younger age (3.44 yr) and shorter length (143 cm) than females from the older sample (3.97 yr and 147 cm). These changes may be attributable to an increase in prey availability to individual porpoises. This presumed increase in prey availability may have resulted from a decrease in porpoise density caused by incidental mortality in commercial fisheries, a simultaneous increase in prey abundance, or a combination of these factors.

Incidental mortality of harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) by the gill-net fishery in the lower Bay of Fundy

1996 ◽  
Vol 53 (6) ◽  
pp. 1294-1300 ◽  
Author(s):  
E A Trippel ◽  
J Y Wang ◽  
M B Strong ◽  
L S Carter ◽  
J D Conway
Keyword(s):  
Harbour Porpoise ◽  
Bay Of Fundy ◽  
Phocoena Phocoena ◽  
Gill Net ◽  
Incidental Mortality

Postnatal growth and allometry of harbour porpoises from the Bay of Fundy

1997 ◽  
Vol 75 (1) ◽  
pp. 122-130 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew J. Read ◽  
Krystal A. Tolley
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rates ◽  
Growth Curves ◽  
Postnatal Growth ◽  
The Body ◽  
Harbour Porpoise ◽  
Body Region ◽  
Bay Of Fundy ◽  
Commercial Fisheries ◽  
Phocoena Phocoena ◽  
Thoracic Region

We described patterns of growth and allometry from observations of 203 female and 198 male harbour porpoises, Phocoena phocoena, killed in commercial fisheries in the Bay of Fundy between 1985 and 1993. Gompertz growth curves were used to predict length, mass, and girth at physical maturity. Asymptotic sizes and growth rates were greater in females for all three characters. The pattern of allometry was consistent between sexes, but varied according to body region. The characters in the head and thoracic regions exhibited negative allometry, but those in the posterior of the body were isometric. Most characters showed the same growth rates for the two sexes, except those in the thoracic region, for which females exhibited faster growth than males. These results are consistent with those of several other studies of the harbour porpoise in which faster growth and larger sizes are attained by females.

Age at Sexual Maturity and Pregnancy Rates of Harbour Porpoises Phocoena phocoena from the Bay of Fundy

1990 ◽  
Vol 47 (3) ◽  
pp. 561-565 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew J. Read
Keyword(s):  
Pregnancy Rate ◽  
Sexual Maturity ◽  
Pregnancy Rates ◽  
First Year ◽  
Bay Of Fundy ◽  
Phocoena Phocoena ◽  
Entire Sample ◽  
Young Females ◽  
Gill Net ◽  
The Mean

Age at sexual maturity and pregnancy rate were estimated from a sample of 108 female harbour porpoises Phocoena phocoena killed incidentally in a commercial gill net fishery in the Bay of Fundy during July–September, 1985–88. Estimates of sexual maturity ranged from 3.15 to 3.44 yr, depending on the method used; few individuals older than 7 yr of age were present in the sample. The mean age at first pregnancy was 3.76 yr. Pregnancy rate was estimated using two methods: (1) considering the entire sample and using the presence of a corpus luteum as indicative of pregnancy, and (2) by considering the sample collected after implantation and using the presence of a foetus as the criterion of pregnancy. Estimated pregnancy rates using these two methods were 0.86 and 0.74, respectively. Many young females failed to conceive in their first year or two of sexual maturity, but most older females in the sample were pregnant. These high pregnancy rates are indicative of annual reproduction in this population.

scholarly journals Growth and reproduction in harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) in Icelandic waters

2003 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
pp. 195 ◽  
Author(s):  
Droplaug Ólafsdóttir ◽  
Gísli A Víkingsson ◽  
Sverrir Daníel Halldórsson ◽  
Jóhann Sigurjónsson
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
Sex Ratio ◽  
Coastal Waters ◽  
Sexual Maturity ◽  
Phocoena Phocoena ◽  
Age Classes ◽  
Present Collection ◽  
Growth And Reproduction ◽  
Exact Timing ◽  
Icelandic Waters

A total of 1,268 harbour porpoises were obtained from fishing nets in Icelandic coastal waters from September to June in the years 1991 to 1997. Foetal sex ratio was 1.2:1 (male:female). The bias towards males increased further among older animals in the present collection. The modal year classes were 0 and 1 years but the oldest porpoise was a female estimated at 20 years of age. Length at birth was estimated as approximately 75 cm, and females grew faster and attained larger sizes than males. Asymptotic length was 149.6 cm for males and 160.1 cm for females. Estimated age and length at sexual maturity was 1.9 to 2.9 years and 135 cm for males and 2.1 to 4.4 years and 138 to 147 cm for females. Immature individuals were significantly shorter than pubertal and mature animals in both sexes in age classes 1 to 3. Testes weight increased only slightly with body size in immature males but increased rapidly around maturity. Pronounced seasonality was alsoobserved in testes weight, indicating a peak in testes activity in summer. Lack of data from the summer makes the exact timing of parturition and mating unknown. Births do, however, most likely peak in June and July and lactation lasts at least 7 to 8 months. Ovulation and pregnancy rates were 0.98.

Sex ratio and life history traits at reaching sexual maturity in the dioecious shrub Fuchsia parviflora: field and common garden experiments

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Jessica S. Ambriz ◽  
Clementina González ◽  
Eduardo Cuevas
Keyword(s):  
Natural Population ◽  
Sexual Maturity ◽  
Sex Ratios ◽  
Natural Populations ◽  
Common Garden ◽  
Common Garden Experiment ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
Reproductive Biomass ◽  
Common Garden Experiments ◽  
Growth And Reproduction

Abstract Fuchsia parviflora is a dioecious shrub that depends on biotic pollination for reproduction. Previous studies suggest that the male plants produce more flowers, and male-biased sex ratios have been found in some natural populations. To assess whether the biased sex ratios found between genders in natural populations are present at the point at which plants reach sexual maturity, and to identify possible trade-offs between growth and reproduction, we performed a common garden experiment. Finally, to complement the information of the common garden experiment, we estimated the reproductive biomass allocation between genders in one natural population. Sex ratios at reaching sexual maturity in F. parviflora did not differ from 0.5, except in one population, which was the smallest seedling population. We found no differences between genders in terms of the probability of germination or flowering. When flowering began, female plants were taller than males and the tallest plants of both genders required more time to reach sexual maturity. Males produced significantly more flowers than females, and the number of flowers increased with plant height in both genders. Finally, in the natural population studied, the investment in reproductive biomass was seven-fold greater in female plants than in male plants. Our results showed no evidence of possible trade-offs between growth and reproduction. Despite the fact that female plants invest more in reproductive biomass, they were taller than the males after flowering, possibly at the expense of herbivory defence.

scholarly journals Growth and reproduction properties of endemic Capoeta kosswigi and Barbus ercisianus in the Deliçay Stream (Van, Turkey)

2021 ◽  
Vol 38 (3) ◽  
pp. 293-302
Author(s):  
Ataman Altuğ Atıcı ◽  
Ahmet Sepil ◽  
Fazıl Şen ◽  
Asude Çavuş
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Maturity ◽  
Condition Factor ◽  
Fork Length ◽  
Lake Van ◽  
Reproductive Characteristics ◽  
Lake Van Basin ◽  
Growth And Reproduction

In this study, the growth and reproductive characteristics of Capoeta kosswigi Karaman, 1969 and Barbus ercisianus Karaman, 1971, which are endemic to the Lake Van Basin, in Deliçay (Van) were investigated. A total of 309 C. kosswigi and 288 B. ercisianus specimens were caught by electrofishing between April and August 2018. The fork length of C. kosswigi and B. ercisianus ranged from 3.7-26.1 cm and from 4.3-22.7 cm, and the total weights ranged from 0.6-227.4 g and from 1.2-140.0 g, respectively. The most intensive catching was in C. kosswigi population of 5.0-6.9 (27.5%) cm and 0-19.9 (67.0%) g in the groups, and 12.0-13.9 (24.7%) cm and 0-9.9 (23.3%) g groups in B. ercisianus. Condition factor was determined as 1.305±0.008 (0.798-1.886) in C. kosswigi and 1.158±0.006 (0.864-1.559) in B. ercisianus. The length-weight relationships were calculated as W = 0.01435 × L2.952 (r2 = 0.996) for C. kosswigi and W = 0.01276 × L2.959 (r2 = 0.994) for B. ercisianus. The M:F ratio was calculated as 1:0.15 in C. kosswigi and 1:0.64 in B. ercisianus. It was established that C. kosswigi attained sexual maturity when they reached to 11 cm fork length for males, 18 cm fork length for females. Maturation of B.ercisianus individuals occurred at 9 cm fork length in males and 12 cm fork length in females. The spawning in C. kosswigi was observed from 1st week of May to 2nd week of July, and in B. ercisianus from 1st week of May to 1st week of August. It may be suggested that minimum catching size must be 20 cm fork length for C. kosswigi and 15 cm fork length for B. ercisianus.

Potential Rates of Increase of a Harbour Porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) Population Subjected to Incidental Mortality in Commercial Fisheries

1991 ◽  
Vol 48 (12) ◽  
pp. 2429-2435 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas H. Woodley ◽  
Andrew J. Read
Keyword(s):  
Gulf Of Maine ◽  
Intrinsic Rate ◽  
Frequency Equation ◽  
Harbour Porpoise ◽  
Population Increase ◽  
Intrinsic Rate Of Increase ◽  
Natural Mortality ◽  
Phocoena Phocoena ◽  
Rate Of Increase ◽  
Incidental Mortality

We estimated the potential intrinsic rate of increase (r) of the harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) population in the Bay of Fundy and Gulf of Maine using empirical data on reproductive rates (mx) and several hypothetical survival (Ix) schedules. Schedules of Ix, to maximum ages of 12 and 15 yr, were calculated from two potential natural mortality (nx) schedules combined with several schedules of incidental mortality (hx) estimates. The most realistic results were obtained when nx of non-calves were calculated from Caugley's (1966. Ecology 47: 906–918) smoothed age-frequency equation for Himalayan thar (Hemitragus jemlahicus) and applied in conjunction with a range of calf natural mortality estimates, this model indicates that harbour porpoises have a limited capacity for population increase, and populations are unlikely to sustain even moderate levels of incidental mortality (4% of the population per year). Extending the maximum age used in the models from 12 to 15 yr does little to increase estimates of r for the harbour porpoise population, and hence their susceptibility to incidental mortality.

Mitigation of harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) by-catch in the gillnet fishery in the lower Bay of Fundy

1999 ◽  
Vol 56 (1) ◽  
pp. 113-123 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edward A Trippel ◽  
Michael B Strong ◽  
John M Terhune ◽  
Jeremy D Conway
Keyword(s):  
Gadus Morhua ◽  
Atlantic Cod ◽  
Field Testing ◽  
Harbour Porpoise ◽  
Clupea Harengus ◽  
Bay Of Fundy ◽  
Phocoena Phocoena ◽  
By Catch ◽  
Catch Rates ◽  
Wind Sea

Demersal gill nets equipped with acoustic alarms reduced harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) by-catch rates by 77% over those without alarms in the Swallowtail area of the lower Bay of Fundy during field testing in August 1996 (68% reduction) and 1997 (85% reduction) (both years combined, three harbour porpoises in 249 alarmed nets versus 14 harbour porpoises in 267 nonalarmed nets). The alarms spaced 100 m apart along the net floatline produced a 0.3-s pulse at 10-12 kHz every 4 s at a level of 133-145 dB re 1 µPa at 1 m. In conditions of no rain and low wind (Sea State 0-2) the alarms were presumed to be clearly audible to harbour porpoises at ranges of 0.1-0.6 km. Catch rates of Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus), Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua), and pollock (Pollachius virens) were not significantly different in alarmed and nonalarmed nets (except in one season when pollock were caught in lower numbers in alarmed nets). Harbour porpoise by-catch and herring movements may be linked. During years of low herring abundance, we also observed low harbour porpoise entanglement rates.

Age, Growth, and Sexual Maturity of the Shorthorn Sculpin, Myoxocephalus scorpius, in Newfoundland Waters

1970 ◽  
Vol 27 (12) ◽  
pp. 2155-2158 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. P. Ennis
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rates ◽  
Sexual Maturity ◽  
Average Length ◽  
Maximum Size ◽  
Age Group ◽  
Younger Age ◽  
Shorthorn Sculpin ◽  
Males And Females ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Myoxocephalus Scorpius

In Newfoundland waters, shorthorn sculpins, Myoxocephalus scorpius (L.), live to age 15 and attain a maximum size of just over 50 cm. The growth rates of males and females are little different below age 4, but above age 4 the females grow faster than the males, and the difference between average length-at-age for males and females gets progressively larger with age. Males mature at a younger age and at a smaller size than females. In any age-group where there are mature and immature individuals the mature ones are larger.

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