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Population variables and life-history characteristics of the alligator pipefish Syngnathoides biaculeatus, in Papua New Guinea
Citation
Barrows, APW and Martin-Smith, KM and Baine, MSP, Population variables and life-history characteristics of the alligator pipefish Syngnathoides biaculeatus, in Papua New Guinea, Journal of Fish Biology, 74, (4) pp. 806-819. ISSN 0022-1112 (2009) [Refereed Article]
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Copyright Statement
The definitive published version is available online at: http://interscience.wiley.com
Official URL: http://interscience.wiley.com
DOI: doi:10.1111/j.1095-8649.2008.02158.x
Abstract
Population structure and life-history variables of the widely distributed alligator pipefish
Syngnathoides biaculeatus were characterized in Bootless Bay, Papua New Guinea over the
course of 11 months. There was little evidence of seasonality with four focal populations
showing no significant change in abundance. Similarly, the sex ratio remained 1:1 for all but 1
month. Reproductive males carrying eggs (148–278 mm in total length, LT) were found in all
months. Brood size was significantly, positively related to male LT for newly laid broods only.
Maximum observed brood size was 351 and mean ± S.D. brood size was 238
± 57 for newly laid broods. Juveniles and males showed no change in mean LT over the year while slightly smaller
females were captured in November 2006 and September 2007. Males were significantly longer
than females so von Bertalanffy growth coefficients were estimated separately for each sex:
males L∞ = 285 mm, K = 0.82 year-1 and females L∞ = 261 mm, K = 1.10 year-1. These
estimates suggest that this species grows rapidly and has a short-life span. In the context of
growing concern about overexploitation of syngnathids, a rapid growth rate combined with
year round reproductive activity suggests that the tropical S. biaculeatus may be relatively
resilient with regard to fishing pressure.
Item Details
Item Type: | Refereed Article |
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Keywords: | growth, life-history strategy, reproduction, seagrass, syngnathid |
Research Division: | Biological Sciences |
Research Group: | Ecology |
Research Field: | Population ecology |
Objective Division: | Environmental Management |
Objective Group: | Terrestrial systems and management |
Objective Field: | Assessment and management of terrestrial ecosystems |
UTAS Author: | Martin-Smith, KM (Dr Keith Martin-Smith) |
ID Code: | 62143 |
Year Published: | 2009 |
Web of Science® Times Cited: | 8 |
Deposited By: | Zoology |
Deposited On: | 2010-03-10 |
Last Modified: | 2013-01-17 |
Downloads: | 0 |
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