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Smith KA, Coulson PG, Hesp SA. Exceptional longevity in a lightly exploited, semi-anadromous clupeid (Perth herring Nematalosa vlaminghi) within a degraded estuarine environment. JOURNAL OF FISH BIOLOGY 2022; 100:390-405. [PMID: 34796914 DOI: 10.1111/jfb.14950] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2021] [Revised: 10/21/2021] [Accepted: 11/12/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Many anadromous (and semi-anadromous) fish species, which migrate from marine to freshwater ecosystems to spawn and to complete their life cycle, are currently threatened by habitat degradation in the upper parts of estuaries and rivers, where spawning and juvenile nursery areas occur. This situation pertains to Nematalosa vlaminghi, a semi-anadromous gizzard shad (Clupeidae: Dorosomatinae) endemic to south-western Australia. More information on the biology of N. vlaminghi is required for its effective management and conservation. This study estimated growth, longevity and natural mortality of N. vlaminghi. Ages were determined by counting validated annual growth increments in thin sections of sagittal otoliths. Fish were sampled in the Swan-Canning Estuary, which historically hosted the main commercial fishery for N. vlaminghi. Since the late 1990s, however, only very minor catches of this species have been taken from this estuary and none since 2007. Given the essentially unexploited state of the current population, the estimate of total mortality (Z, y-1 ) from the catch curve analysis in this study provides a direct estimate of natural mortality (M, y-1 ) for N. vlaminghi. Somatic growth during this study was substantially slower than that historically reported for N. vlaminghi. Various processes operating in this estuary since the 1970s may have contributed to slower growth, including increased hypoxia, higher primary productivity due to eutrophication and cessation of fishing for N. vlaminghi. The maximum observed age of 19.8 years for N. vlaminghi is the highest reported for any gizzard shad globally and one of the highest reported for any clupeid species. This exceptional longevity is likely part of a life-history strategy that allows N. vlaminghi, which exhibits substantial variation in annual recruitment success, to persist in the intermittently closed estuaries of south-western Australia where environmental factors, including low flow and hypoxia, can create unfavourable conditions for reproduction for extended periods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kimberley A Smith
- Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Western Australian Fisheries and Marine Research Laboratories, Hillarys, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Peter G Coulson
- Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Western Australian Fisheries and Marine Research Laboratories, Hillarys, Western Australia, Australia
| | - S Alex Hesp
- Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Western Australian Fisheries and Marine Research Laboratories, Hillarys, Western Australia, Australia
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Coulson PG. The life history characteristics of Neosebastes pandus and the relationship between sexually dimorphic growth and reproductive strategy among Scorpaeniformes. JOURNAL OF FISH BIOLOGY 2021; 98:50-63. [PMID: 32978809 DOI: 10.1111/jfb.14557] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2020] [Revised: 09/18/2020] [Accepted: 09/21/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Scorpaeniformes are an important component of commercial and recreational fisheries world-wide. The Neosebastes species, found in the western Pacific and south-east Indian Ocean, have received little attention from a research perspective. Samples of the bighead gurnard perch, Neosebastes pandus, collected from the lower west and south coasts of Western Australia, were used to undertake the first comprehensive investigation of the biological characteristics of a Neosebastes species. Opaque zones in sectioned sagittal otoliths were validated as forming annually. Female N. pandus grow to a significantly larger size, on average, than males and dominate the largest size classes, while males, growing to a smaller size, accumulate in the intermediate size classes. Although males were far less numerous than females in those age classes in which both sexes were found, males and females attain similar maximum ages >25 years. Neosebastes pandus spawns over a brief period between May (austral late autumn) and July (austral mid-autumn) when water temperature and day length are declining. The mean monthly gonadosomatic indices (GSI, IGS ) values of females during the spawning period are 37-50 times higher than those of males, which mature at an earlier age and smaller length compared to females. Histological examination of the ovaries of females indicate that their structure is consistent with "general" teleost ovarian anatomy and thus differs from Scorpaena, Helicolenus and Sebastes species whose ovaries are adapted for specialized reproductive modes. The reproductive strategy of N. pandus of maximizing the reproductive output of females, by this sex attaining a larger size than males and pair spawning (i.e., large disparity in IGS values) demonstrates the close lineage between the Neosebastes and other Scorpaeniformes, such as the Scorpaena, Helicolenus and Sebastes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter G Coulson
- School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Western Australia, Australia
- Centre for Sustainable Aquatic Ecosystems, School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Western Australia, Australia
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Coulson PG. The life-history of Cheilodactylus rubrolabiatus from south-western Australia and comparison of biological characteristics of the Cheilodactylidae and Latridae: support for an amalgamation of families. JOURNAL OF FISH BIOLOGY 2019; 94:374-390. [PMID: 30667055 DOI: 10.1111/jfb.13901] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2018] [Accepted: 01/21/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Cheilodactylus rubrolabiatus collected from the south and lower west coasts of Western Australia were used to investigate the influence of habitat and environmental conditions on the biology of this species. A lack of difference in the growth C. rubrolabiatus from cool south coast and warmer lower west coast waters in Western Australia and the greater maximum ages attained by fish on the latter coast, both run contrary to premises of the metabolic theory of ecology (MTE). Although the greater size (L50 ) and age (A50 ) at maturity of C. rubrolabiatus on the south coast is consistent with MTE, this may reflect higher densities of fish on discontinuous shoreline rocky reefs on this coast and thus the need for fish, particularly males, to attain a larger size to successfully defend habitat and mates during spawning. Members of the closely related Cheiodactylidae and Latridae vary in maximum fork length (LFmax 280-950 mm) and age (19-97 years) and display a range of growth patterns. While the L50 of cheilodactylid and latrid species increased with increasing asymptotic lengths (L∞ ), their maximum ages did not necessary reflect the A50 (i.e., mature early, but live long). The M (natural mortality): k (von Bertalanffy growth parameter) ratios indicate that Cheilodactylus and Nemadactylus species exhibit a type II life-history strategy, typified by initial rapid growth, L50 close to their L∞ and little or no growth during an extended adult phase. A lack of distinct difference in the biological characteristics of the Cheilodactylidae and latrids may assist in resolving uncertainty regarding the taxonomy of these families.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter G Coulson
- School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Australia
- Centre for Sustainable Aquatic Ecosystems, Harry Butler Institute, School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Australia
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French B, Platell ME, Clarke KR, Potter IC. Optimization of foraging and diet by the piscivorous Othos dentex (Serranidae). JOURNAL OF FISH BIOLOGY 2017; 90:1823-1841. [PMID: 28220488 DOI: 10.1111/jfb.13269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2016] [Accepted: 01/04/2017] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to determine the dietary characteristics and mouth morphology of Othos dentex and to use these data, together with in situ observations of feeding behaviour, to elucidate how foraging and diet are optimized by this piscivorous serranid. Seasonal spear and line fishing over reefs in south-western Australia yielded 426 O. dentex (total length, LT , 183-605 mm), among which the stomachs of 95 contained food. The food in the stomachs of 76 fish was sufficiently undigested to be seen to contain, almost invariably, a single fish prey, which was typically identifiable to family and often to species. The prey of O. dentex, which were measured (LT ), represented 10 families, of which the Labridae and Pempheridae constituted nearly two-thirds of the prey volume. Two-way crossed analysis of similarities of volumetric data for stomach contents showed that the dietary compositions of the different length classes of O. dentex in the various seasons were significantly related to length class of prey, but not to prey family, length class within the various prey families or season. Furthermore, an inverse (Q-mode) analysis, including one-way analysis of similarities, showed that the patterns in the prey consumed by the different length classes of O. dentex in the various seasons were related more strongly to length class than prey family. The former trend is exemplified in a shade plot, by a marked diagonality of the length classes of prey with increasing predator size. The ingestion of typically a single teleost prey, whose body size increases as that of O. dentex increases, reduces the frequency required for seeking prey, thus saving energy and reducing the potential for intraspecific competition for food. The ability of O. dentex to ingest large prey is facilitated by its possession of a very large gape, prominent recurved teeth, dorsal and independently-moveable eyes, cryptic colouration and effective ambush behaviour. Othos dentex has thus evolved very cost-effective mechanisms for optimizing its foraging and diet.
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Affiliation(s)
- B French
- Centre for Fish and Fisheries Research, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA, 6150, Australia
| | - M E Platell
- School of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Newcastle, P. O. Box 127, Ourimbah, NSW, 2258, Australia
| | - K R Clarke
- Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Prospect Place, West Hoe, Plymouth, PL1 3DH, U.K
| | - I C Potter
- Centre for Fish and Fisheries Research, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA, 6150, Australia
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Coulson PG, Hall NG, Potter IC. Biological characteristics of three co-occurring species of armorhead from different genera vary markedly from previous results for the Pentacerotidae. JOURNAL OF FISH BIOLOGY 2016; 89:1393-1418. [PMID: 27346411 DOI: 10.1111/jfb.13049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2015] [Accepted: 04/28/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Biological characteristics of Pentaceropsis recurvirostris, Paristiopterus gallipavo and Parazanclistius hutchinsi were determined from commercial gillnet samples from temperate south-western Australian coastal waters. Growth zones in otoliths, with more than a few such zones, were readily detectable only after the otoliths had been sectioned. Visual analyses and modelling of the trends in marginal increments on sectioned otoliths demonstrate that these opaque zones are formed annually. Maximum ages of 55, 36 and 49 years, derived for P. recurvirostris, P. gallipavo and P. hutchinsi, respectively, reflect relatively low mortalities. These longevities greatly exceed those estimated, using otoliths, for Pentaceros wheeleri and Pentaceros richardsoni, which belong to the other pentacerotid subfamily. These differences may be due to the counts of 'daily' growth zones in sectioned otoliths of P. wheeleri not representing the complete age range of that species and the zones detected in whole otoliths of P. richardsoni not constituting the complete range of annually-formed zones. Pentaceropsis recurvirostris, P. gallipavo and P. hutchinsi recruited into the fishery in the sampling area as 2-3 year-old fishes. Pentaceropsis recurvirostris and P. hutchinsi exhibited little or no subsequent growth throughout the remainder of their protracted life, whereas, P. gallipavo continued to grow for c. 5 years and then underwent little further growth. Spawning of P. recurvirostris and P. hutchinsi peaked in the austral winter and autumn, respectively, but in the austral spring and summer with P. gallipavo, which is more typical of temperate species. Although the females of P. gallipavo and P. hutchinsi were mature, this did not apply to a few P. recurvirostris, some of which were >20 years old, implying that any given female of this species does not always spawn every year. Ovarian mass greatly exceeded testis mass, indicative of pair spawning, which is consistent with field observations. In contrast to P. recurvirostris and P. hutchinsi, the sex ratio was heavily biased towards males and the spawning period longer in P. gallipavo, suggesting that selection pressures for spawning success were greater for this latter species.
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Affiliation(s)
- P G Coulson
- Centre for Fish and Fisheries Research, School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, 90 South Street, Murdoch, WA 6150, Australia
| | - N G Hall
- Centre for Fish and Fisheries Research, School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, 90 South Street, Murdoch, WA 6150, Australia
| | - I C Potter
- Centre for Fish and Fisheries Research, School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, 90 South Street, Murdoch, WA 6150, Australia
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Book Reviews. COPEIA 2015. [DOI: 10.1643/ot-14-160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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