Age, growth and reproduction in creole perch (Percichthys trucha) in the Negro River, Argentinean Patagonia

Abstract

Age, growth and reproductive characteristics of creole perch, Percichthys trucha, were investigated in the Negro River, southern Argentina from samples collected seasonally, December 1994-December 1995 Age was estimated via scale and whole otolith reading methods. Total length (n = 413) ranged from 103 to 432 mm, and weight from 12 to 1042 g. Significant differences between the length-weight relationships of males and females were detected (P < 0.05). Isometric growth was observed in juveniles and males, whereas total population and females exhibited positive allometric growth. The marking pattern in scales and otoliths followed an annual rhythm, with the formation of only one annulus in scales and only one hyaline band in otoliths during autumn-winter. The oldest males were 5 years old whereas maximum age in females was 12 years from scales and 15 years from otoliths. Because scales were found to underestimate age in individuals older than 4 years, otoliths were considered to be the best structures for creole perch age determination. Gompertz growth parameters based on otolith data were L¥: 428.0 mm, k = 0.46 and t 0 = 0.43 for total population (r = 0.90), L¥: 410.7 mm, k = 0.42 and t 0 = 0.46 for males (r = 0.91), and L¥: 434.1 mm, and k = 0.49 and t 0 = 0.43 for females (r = 0.91). Lengths at first maturity (TL 50 ) were 260 and 241 mm in males and females, respectively, both of which corresponded to ages between 1 and 2 years. Macroscopic gonad inspection and the high percentage of juveniles captured during summer indicated that spawning begins at the end of spring.

Age, growth and mortality of invasive sharpbelly, Hemiculter leucisculus (Basilewski, 1855) in Erhai Lake, China

“…Growth parameter estimates (Ø) were similar in all studies (Table ), except for that of Patimar () and the length frequency analyses of the males in the present study, the former as result of using total length for estimation, the latter resulting in the particularly large value of the growth coefficient ( K ). The overall growth performance has minimum variance within the same species because it is independent of growth rates (Lopez Cazorla and Sidorkewic, ). The similar values confirm the accuracy of our growth estimation from otoliths.…”

Trophic scaling of Percichthys trucha (Percichthyidae) in monospecific and multispecific lakes in western Patagonia

“…This cut-off length is also an intermediate value between prior reported size of maturity for P. trucha (10 and 25 cm TL; Ruiz, 1993 andLópez Cazorla andSidorkewicj, 2011, respectively). The condition of fish (K) was compared between lakes using Kruskal-Wallis (K-W) test.…”

Otolith morphometry provides length and weight predictions and insights about capture sites of Prochilodus lineatus (Characiformes: Prochilodontidae)

“…Dei Tos et al (2010) performed a review of age and growth of freshwater fish in South America and concluded that most studies used scales to make the reading of growth rings. Currently the use of otoliths in freshwater studies have increased (Silva, Stewart 2006;Lopez Cazorla, Sidorkewicj, 2011;Lozano et al, 2014). For example, one otolith atlas of Brazilian freshwater fish with relevant information was recently published (Breem, Schulz, 2014).…”