Early Growth of Three Kingfish (Menticirrhus) Species Found in Coastal Waters of the Northern Gulf of Mexico

Abstract

Southern kingfish (Menticirrhus americanus), gulf kingfish (M. littoralis), and northern kingfish (M. saxatilis) are members of the drum family (Sciaenidae) that are widespread in coastal habitats of the western Atlantic, including in the Gulf of Mexico (GOM). Despite their economic and ecological importance, little is known about growth of young kingfish. Young kingfish were collected from four different Mississippi shoreline habitats in 2005 and 2006; two associated with barrier islands and two along the mainland. Barrier island habitats included surf zones on the south shore and grass beds on the north shore. Mainland habitats were located along marsh-edges and sandy shorelines. Kingfish growth comparisons were made using analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) on 194 aged fish (127 M. americanus, 54 M. littoralis, and 13 M. saxatilis). Growth rates for all three species were generally similar ranging from about 0.7mm/day at 4-6 mm standard length (SL) to 1.9mm/day at 55-60mm SL. In 2005, M. americanus from marsh-edges grew significantly faster than those from sandy shorelines. Size-at-age of M. americanus and M. littoralis was significantly smaller in the spring than in the summer and fall, while both growth rate and size-at-age were similar in the summer and fall.

Age, growth, and reproduction of Southern Kingfish (Menticirrhus americanus): a multivariate comparison with life history patterns in other sciaenids

“…Additionally, there were fi sh in the spawning-capable phase in both March and October, although no females were in the actively spawning subphase during these months. Our estimate of the Southern Kingfi sh spawning period is supported by Anderson et al (2012), who studied daily growth rings in otoliths from juveniles in the northcentral GOM and estimated birth dates with back calculation. Although there were fi sh in that study with (2013) did not directly report RBF data for Southern Kingfi sh from Georgia, but we calculated RBF to be 308.6 eggs g −1 total weight (SE 27.6) on the basis of information in their manuscript.…”

Distribution, Abundance, and Feeding Habits of Juvenile Kingfish (Menticirrhus) Species Found in the North-Central Gulf of Mexico

“…Also, the MSF was higher for specimens collected from marsh edges than sandy shorelines during both years, especially during 2005. Anderson et al (2012) found that M. americanus collected in 2005 from marsh edges grew significantly faster than M. americanus collected along sandy shorelines. Foraging success was likely higher for M. americanus at marsh edges in 2005.…”

“…However, we examined more stomachs from M. americanus (79) than from M. littoralis (49) or M. saxatilis (33). Furthermore, most M. americanus specimens were collected from inshore habitats, where species richness from seine collections was higher than at surf zones (Anderson, 2009). McMichael and Ross (1987) also reported M. americanus had a more diverse diet than the other kingfish species.…”

“…Juvenile M. littoralis and M. saxatilis may venture inshore during drought years when the salinity reaches preferable levels, as in 2006. Menticirrhus species were not collected from grass beds during the study period, although other sciaenids (Cynoscion nebulosus and Bairdiella chrysoura) were frequently collected from grass beds (Anderson, 2009). Menticirrhus americanus was the only kingfish collected from marsh edges during the study period.…”

“…Although the diet was more diverse for M. americanus from sandy shorelines, the MSF was higher for specimens collected from marsh edges than from sandy shorelines. Otolith analysis (Anderson, 2009;Anderson et al, 2012) revealed M. americanus grew faster at marsh edges than at sandy shorelines. Although food availability and growth may have been higher at marsh edges, M. americanus was most abundant at sandy shorelines.…”