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Reproduction, growth and connectivity among populations of Girella tricuspidata (Pisces: Girellidae)
Citation
Gray, CA and Haddy, JA and Fearman, J and Barnes, LM and Macbeth, WG and Kendall, BW, Reproduction, growth and connectivity among populations of Girella tricuspidata (Pisces: Girellidae), Aquatic Biology, 16, (1) pp. 53 - 68. ISSN 1864-7790 (2012) [Refereed Article]
Copyright Statement
Copyright 2012 Inter-Research
DOI: doi:10.3354/ab00428
Abstract
Girella tricuspidata is widely distributed and harvested by recreational and commercial
fishers along the coastline of eastern Australia. The present study examined variability in the
reproductive biology and growth of individuals within populations of G. tricuspidata across 3 estuaries
(Clarence, Tuggerah and Tuross) and assessed population connectivity via a large-scale tag-recapture
study in which fish were tagged across 9 estuaries. Spawning occurred predominantly
between June and September in the Clarence River and between October and January in the
Tuross River, suggesting that spawning occurs later in the year at higher latitudes. The recruitment
of young to nursery grounds was spatially and temporally variable. G. tricuspidata are
group-synchronous spawners, and the estimated batch fecundity was positively correlated with
fish length. The estimated length and age at which 50% of G. tricuspidata attained reproductive
maturity was similar for both sexes: ~286 mm fork length (FL) and 4.1 yr for males and 295 mm FL
and 4.5 yr for females. G. tricuspidata were aged using otoliths to >26 yr, whereas the reading of
scales consistently underestimated the age of fish older than 5 yr. Growth was flexible but varied
significantly between sexes and among estuaries; females grew faster than males and attained a
larger asymptotic length in the Clarence and Tuross Rivers but not in Tuggerah Lake. Growth was
rapid for both sexes until 4 to 5 yr of age, after which it slowed. Of the 6871 G. tricuspidata tagged,
15% were recaptured, with 96% of these fish recaptured in the estuary in which they were initially
tagged. The recaptured individuals that migrated between estuaries predominantly displayed
a northward movement into the prevailing coastal current, which is probably a life-history
tactic to facilitate wide dispersal of eggs and larvae along eastern Australia.
Item Details
Item Type: | Refereed Article |
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Keywords: | fish, life history, maturity, spawning, otolith, ageing, movement, tag, Australia |
Research Division: | Agricultural, Veterinary and Food Sciences |
Research Group: | Fisheries sciences |
Research Field: | Aquaculture and fisheries stock assessment |
Objective Division: | Animal Production and Animal Primary Products |
Objective Group: | Fisheries - aquaculture |
Objective Field: | Aquaculture crustaceans (excl. rock lobster and prawns) |
UTAS Author: | Haddy, JA (Dr James Haddy) |
UTAS Author: | Fearman, J (Mrs Jo-Anne Fearman) |
ID Code: | 80699 |
Year Published: | 2012 |
Web of Science® Times Cited: | 29 |
Deposited By: | NC Marine Conservation and Resource Sustainability |
Deposited On: | 2012-11-08 |
Last Modified: | 2017-07-20 |
Downloads: | 0 |
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