Peer Review #2 of "Age, growth, and natural mortality of yellowfin grouper (Mycteroperca venenosa) from the southeastern United States (v0.1)"

Ages of whitebone porgy (Calamus leucosteus) (n = 559) from southeastern U. S. commercial and recreational fisheries from 1975 – 2017 were determined using sectioned otoliths. Opaque zones were annular, forming April – July (peaking in June). Ages ranged from 2 – 19 years, and the largest fish measured 513 mm TL (total length, mm). Body size relationships were: TL = 1.09 FL + 16.07 (n = 469, r2 = 0.97), FL = 0.89 TL – 6.39 (n= 469, r2 = 0.97), W = 2.8 x 10-5 TL2.91 (n = 462), and W = 6.8 x 10-5 FL2.82 (n = 417) where W is total weight (grams, g) and FL is fork length (mm). The von Bertalanffy growth equations were Lt = 365 (1 - e-0.35 (t + 1.37)) (n = 559) for all areas combined, Lt = 365 (1 - e-0.55(t + 0.00)) (n = 185) for fish from North Carolina through Cape Canaveral, Florida, and Lt = 368 (1 - e-0.25 (t + 2.51)) (n = 374) for fish from southeast Florida. Mean size-at-age was significantly different between regions for ages 4 – 9, (92% of total samples). Point estimates of natural mortality were M = 0.22 and M = 0.30 for northern- and southern-region fish, respectively, while age-specific estimates of M were 0.85 – 0.55 y-1 for ages 2– 19 for the northern region and 0.41 – 0.26 (ages 2-14) for southern region fish. This study presents updated life history parameters for whitebone porgy from the Atlantic waters off the southeastern United States.

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Preliminary Estimates of Age, Growth and Natural Mortality of Margate, Haemulon album, and Black Margate, Anisotremus surinamensis, from the Southeastern United States

Fishes ◽

10.3390/fishes4030044 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 4 (3) ◽

pp. 44

Author(s):

Michael L. Burton ◽

Jennifer C. Potts ◽

Andrew D. Ostrowski

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

Life History ◽

Atlantic Coast ◽

Southeastern United States ◽

Geographic Region ◽

Fish Growth ◽

Natural Mortality ◽

Von Bertalanffy ◽

Life History Parameters ◽

Growth Equations

Ages of margate, Haemulon album (n = 415) and black margate, Anisotremus surinamensis (n = 130) were determined using sectioned sagittal otoliths collected from the Southeastern United States Atlantic coast from 1979 to 2017. Opaque zones were annular, forming between January and June for both species, with peaks in occurrence of otoliths with opaque margins in April for margate and March for black margate. The observed ages for margate were 0–22 years, and the largest fish measured 807 mm TL (total length). Black margate ranged in age from 3 to 17 years, and the largest fish was 641 mm TL. Weight–length relationships were: margate, ln(W) = 2.88 ln(TL) − 10.44 (n = 1327, r2 = 0.97, MSE = 0.02), where W is total weight (grams, g); black margate, ln(W) = 3.02 ln(TL) − 11.10 (n = 451, r2 = 0.95, MSE = 0.01). Von Bertalanffy growth equations were Lt = 731 (1 − e−0.23(t+0.38)) for margate, and Lt = 544 (1 − e−0.13(t+2.61)) for black margate. After re-estimating black margate growth using a bias-correction procedure to account for the lack of younger fish, growth was described by the equation Lt = 523 (1 − e−0.18(t+0.0001)). Age-invariant estimates of natural mortality were M = 0.19 y−1 and M = 0.23 y−1 for margate and black margate, respectively, while age-varying estimates of M ranged from 2.93 −0.23 y−1 for fish aged 0–22 for margate and 7.20 − 0.19 y−1 for fish aged 0–18 for black margate. This study presents the first documentation of life-history parameters for margate from the Atlantic waters off the Southeastern United States, and the first published estimate of black margate life history parameters from any geographic region.

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Age, Growth, and Natural Mortality of Graysby, Cephalophilis cruentata, from the Southeastern United States

Fishes ◽

10.3390/fishes4030036 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 4 (3) ◽

pp. 36 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Michael L. Burton ◽

Jennifer C. Potts ◽

Andrew D. Ostrowski ◽

Kyle W. Shertzer

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

North Carolina ◽

Atlantic Coast ◽

Southeastern United States ◽

Florida Keys ◽

Northern Region ◽

Southern Region ◽

Fish Growth ◽

Natural Mortality ◽

Growth Equations

Graysby (Cephalophilis cruentata) (n = 1308) collected from the southeastern United States Atlantic coast from 2001 to 2016 were aged using sectioned sagittal otoliths. Opaque zones formed February to June (peaking in April). Ages ranged from 2 to 21 years, and the largest fish measured 453 mm TL. Growth morph analysis revealed two regionally distinct growth trajectories: von Bertalanffy growth equations were Lt = 388 (1 − e−0.12(t+5.73)) for fish from North Carolina through southeast Florida (northern region), and Lt = 267 (1 − e−0.17(t+6.20)) for fish from the Florida Keys (southern region). When growth was re-estimated using a fixed t0 value of −0.75 to estimate for smaller fish, growth equations were Lt = 349 (1 − e−0.26(t+0.75)) and Lt = 250 (1 − e−0.43(t+0.75)) for fish from the northern and southern regions, respectively. The age-invariant estimate of natural mortality was M = 0.30 for all fish, while age-specific estimates ranged 0.88–0.28 y−1 for fish aged 1–21 from the northern region and 0.89–0.47 y−1 for fish aged 1–15 from the southern region. This study presents the first comprehensive analysis of life-history parameters for graysby from the Atlantic waters off the southeastern United States, including specimens from both recreational and commercial fisheries.

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