Reproductive Biology of the Tiger Grouper in the Southern Gulf of Mexico

Abstract

Despite its commercial importance and high vulnerability to fishing impact, little is known about the reproductive biology of the Tiger Grouper Mycteroperca tigris, an aggregative spawner. We studied the key reproductive parameters of this species in the southern Gulf of Mexico, where the grouper fishery is generally in decline. The smallest mature female measured 31.4 cm FL, and length at which maturity was attained in 50% of females (L50) was 34.2 cm FL. Tiger Grouper are protogynous hermaphrodites, and the estimated length at which 50% of females had changed sex was 51.9 cm FL. Spawning season lasted from February to June, with a spawning peak observed in April. Most of the actively spawning females were collected 7–14 d after the full moon in April and May. Females exhibited continuous, asynchronous oocyte development and batch release of mature oocytes. During April–June, estimated spawning interval varied monthly from 1.8 to 4.3 d (mean = 2 d). Due to the species’ indeterminate fecundity, we estimated batch fecundity, which ranged from 84,119 to 1,032,578 oocytes (mean ± SE = 417,102 ± 34,826 oocytes). Conservation status of the Tiger Grouper in its distribution area is currently unclear. Based on the observed maximum sizes for both sexes and the size of sexual transition, the southern Gulf of Mexico Tiger Grouper population may be healthier than some Caribbean Sea populations. Current and potential measures for regulating this fishery resource in the southern Gulf of Mexico are discussed.

Spawning aggregations of three protogynous groupers in the southern Gulf of Mexico

“…tigris and M . venenosa at Bajos del Norte were observed in both 2008 and 2009 (Tuz‐Sulub & Aguilar‐Perera, ; Caballero‐Arango, ; Caballero‐Arango et al , ).…”

“…tigris and M . venenosa probably also form spawning aggregations (Brulé et al , ; Aguilar‐Perera et al , ; Tuz‐Sulub, ; Aguilar‐Perera & Tuz‐Sulub, ; Caballero‐Arango et al , ). Actively spawning specimens of M .…”

“…Apparently, E. guttatus and M. venenosa form larger spawning aggregations on Campeche Bank than those observed in other regions. The identified spawning aggregations appear to be stable in location over time since actively spawning females of E. guttatus at Arrecife Alacranes and Bajos del Norte, and of M. tigris and M. venenosa at Bajos del Norte were observed in both 2008Caballero-Arango, 2013;Caballero-Arango et al, 2013).…”

“…Campeche Bank appears to be one of the main grouper reproduction areas in the Gulf of Mexico. At Arrecife Alacranes, other grouper species such as E. striatus, E. itajara, M. bonaci, M. tigris and M. venenosa probably also form spawning aggregations (Brulé et al, 2003a;Aguilar-Perera et al, 2008;Tuz-Sulub, 2008;Caballero-Arango et al, 2013). Actively spawning specimens of M. bonaci and yellowmouth grouper Mycteroperca interstitialis (Poey 1860) have also been recorded at Bajos del Norte, and some M. tigris and M. venenosa have been collected at Cayo Arenas (22 ∘ 07 ′ N; 91 ∘ 23 ′ W), another emergent bank reef c. 150 km north-west of the Yucatan Peninsula (Tuz-Sulub et al, 2006b;Tuz-Sulub, 2008).…”

Life history demographic parameter synthesis for exploited Florida and Caribbean coral reef fishes

“…Atlantic Creolefish Posada and Appeldoorn (1996) (1) (0) Graysby Potts and Manooch (1999) (3) Potts and Manooch (1999) (2) Nagelkerken (1979) (1) Red Hind Cushion (2010) (2) a Sadovy, Figuerola, and Roman (1992) (2) Sadovy, Rosario, and Roman (1994) (2) Rock Hind Potts and Manooch (1995) (1) a Burton, Potts, and Carr (2012) (2) (0) Scamp Lombardi, Cook, Lyon, Barnett, and Bullock (2012) (3) Matheson, Huntsman, and Manooch (1986) (2) Lombardi et al (2012) (2) Snowy SEDAR (2013) (3) SEDAR (2013) (2) SEDAR (2013) (2) Speckled Hind Ziskin, Harris, Wyanski, and Reichert (2011) (3) Ziskin (2008) (2) Ziskin et al (2011) (2) Tiger Garcia, Sierra, and Claro (1999) (2) Garcia et al (1999) (2) Caballero, Brule, Noh-Quinones, Colas-Marrufo, and Perez-Diaz (2013) (2) Warsaw Manooch and Mason (1987) (1) Manooch and Mason (1987) (2) Manooch (1984) ( Yellowmouth Burton, Potts, and Carr (2014) (3) Burton et al (2014) (2) Bullock and Murphy (1994) (1) Snappers Black Thompson and Munro (1983) (1) (0) Thompson and Munro (1983) (1) Blackfin Burton, Potts, and Carr (2016) (2) Burton et al (2016) (2) Thompson and Munro (1983) (1) Thompson and Munro (1983) (1) Cubera (3) (2) Baisre and Paez...…”