Temporal patterns of growth in larval cohorts of the Japanese sardine Sardinops melanostictus in a coastal nursery area

Abstract

Growth patterns of larval sardine Sardinops melanostictus were studied in a coastal nursery area, in southern Japan for four monthly hatch cohorts of larvae (November, December, January and February) for the 2003-2004 and 2004-2005 seasons. Laird-Gompertz models were fitted to each cohort using both total length (L T )-at-age at capture and mean L T -at-age data derived from backcalculations. In both approaches, the absolute daily growth rates (G R ) and absolute daily growth rates at the inflection point (G XO ) were estimated. In parallel, individual growth rates (G I ) were derived from backcalculated L T (L B ). Growth showed the following general common patterns irrespective of hatch month, season and methods: (1) significant Laird-Gompertz fits, (2) asymptotic growth, (3) a decrease in G R after the inflexion point, except for February for the [2003][2004] season that showed an apparent constant growth pattern, (4) six in eight cohorts showed G XO ranging from 0Á8 to 1Á2 mm day À1 and (5) a decreasing tendency of G I from 1Á75 to 0Á24 mm day À1 , from first feeding through the first month of larval life. The contrasting pattern between the 2003-2004 and the 2004-2005 seasons were: (1) allometric v. logarithmic (ln) L T and otolith radius relationships, (2) low G XO v. high G XO , (3) high G R v. low G R when growth turned asymptotic, (4) low G XO v. high G XO when monthly hatch cohorts were combined and (5) L B and G I not differing among monthly hatch cohorts. The differences in growth patterns and growth rates between seasons seemed to be linked to the influx of warmer and oligotrophic waters of the Kuroshio Current that triggered an increase of 3°C in the coastal area for the [2003][2004] seasons. In the overall context, however, the high G XO , within cohorts and seasons reported in the current study, suggests that either sea surface temperature (SST) or food availability, or both are in the optimal range of preferences for S. melanostictus larvae. Consequently, nearshore coastal areas seem to be playing an important role as a nursery area for the larval stage of this species.

Otolith micro structure analysis of rainbow trout alevins (Oncorhynchus mykiss) under rearing conditions

“…This result showed that fish size can be estimated using the otolith size and also that individual growth patterns of juveniles backcalculated using the biological intercept method were reliable. Proportional relationships between fish size and otolith size have also been reported in different species of salmon, e.g., Salmo salar (Wright et al, 1990;Carreño, 2010), Oncorhynchus keta (Fukuwaka, 1998), Oncorhynchus tshawytscha (Neilson & Geen, 1982) and other teleost species, i.e., Fundulus heteroclitus (Radtke & Dean, 1982), Engraulis ringens (Hernandez & Castro, 2000); Sebastes inermis (Plaza et al, 2001), Sardinops melanostictus (Plaza et al, 2008). In some cases absence of proportionality have also been observed (decoupling), but mainly in extreme conditions of both feeding and temperature (Mosegaard et al, 1988;Hare & Cowen, 1995;Baumann et al, 2005).…”

Daily growth patterns and age‐at‐recruitment of the anchoveta Engraulis ringens as indicated by a multi‐annual analysis of otolith microstructure across developmental stages

“…For larvae, growth was significantly explained by Laird‐Gompertz models, which is expected for most clupeoids (Plaza et al . , ; Takahashi et al ., ; Watanabe & Saito, ). Similar allometric patterns were also well explained by Laird‐Gompertz models for pre‐recruits and recruits.…”

Natural growth, otolith shape and diet analyses of Odontesthes nigricans Richardson (Atherinopsidae) from southern Patagonia

“…Freitas et al (2009) determined size after hatching around 7.2 mm for larvae of Odontesthes argentinensis (Valenciennes, 1835). The LairdeGompertz model has been successfully used to describe larval and juvenile growth of marine fishes (Dul ci c and Kraljevic, 1996;Plaza et al, 2008;Brown and S anchez, 2010) The LairdeGompertz model explained properly the growth in length for Odontesthes nigricans juveniles because an asymptotic trend was detected for larger specimens. According to the model, SL ∞ was 72.4 mm, resulting lower than 85.4 mm established by Powles and Sandeman (2008) for juveniles of Labidesthes sicculus (Cope, 1865), a north American silverside.…”