Population and food of the pufferfish Uranostoma richei (Plectognathi: Lagocephalidae) from Lyttelton Harbour

By relating catches to area trawled, the population of Uranostoma richei (Freminville, 1813) in 1969–70 in Lyttelton Harbour, South Island, New Zealand, was estimated at 120 000–900 000.

Analysis of 1 5S8 stomachs showed that Uranostoma fed on 58 species from 7 phyla. Arthropods constituted three‐quarters of the food, with the crab Macro‐phthalmus hirtipes contributing over 60%. The remaining food items included polychaetes, brachiopods, chordates, coelenterates, echinoderms, molluscs, debris, and digested matter. Analysis of a further 10 465 stomachs showed that feeding intensity was highest in summer.     

Seasonal settlement of shipworms (Bivalvia: Teredinidae) in Tauranga Harbour and Wellington Harbour

The seasons of settlement of shipworms in Tauranga and Wellington harbours in 1970–72 were studied using Pinus radiata test‐blocks. At Wellington the seasonal abundance of late‐stage shipworm larvae was monitored in the plankton. In Tauranga Harbour Bankia australis, Lyrodus medilobatus, Lyrodus pedicellatus, and Nototeredo edaxspawned and settled predominantly in summer, when water temperatures were above 17–18°C. Bankia neztalia had peak periods of settlement in winter and early summer and there was no correlation of settlement with water temperature. In Wellington Harbour B. neztalia spawned and settled mainly during winter when water temperatures were 11–15°C. Total larval abundance at the 2 test sites in Wellington Harbour was an approximate indication of the relative intensity of settlement, but seasonal larval abundance did not correlate well with seasonal settlement. B. neztalia larvae settled on air‐dried Pinus radiata wood within 6 days of the immersion of the wood. Annual variations in patterns of settlement of shipworms in the 2 harbours are related to variations in water temperatures.     

Age and growth of the elephant fish. callorhinchus milii (Elasmobranchii: Callorhynchidae)

A method of aging the elephant fish Callorhinchus milii Bory de St Vincent 1823, is described. Alternating light and dark layers, seen in cross‐sections of the dorsal spine, are assumed to be laid down annually as in other fish. Ages obtained from spine sections are identical with ages obtained from interpretation of modal peaks in the length‐frequency graphs. Males mature at 3 y old, at approximately 50 cm fork length; females at 4.5 y old and 70 cm. The significance of this in relation to the New Zealand fishery for elephant fish is discussed.     

Age and growth in olive ridley seaturtles (Lepidochelys olivacea) from the North-central Pacific: a skeletochronological analysis

The olive ridley is the most abundant seaturtle species in the world but little is known of the demography of this species. We used skeletochronological data on humerus diameter growth changes to estimate the age of North Pacific olive ridley seaturtles caught incidentally by pelagic longline fisheries operating near Hawaii and from dead turtles washed ashore on the main Hawaiian Islands. Two age estimation methods [ranking, correction factor (CF)] were used and yielded age estimates ranging from 5 to 38 and 7 to 24 years, respectively. Rank age‐estimates are highly correlated (r = 0.93) with straight carapace length (SCL), CF age estimates are not (r = 0.62). We consider the CF age‐estimates as biologically more plausible because of the disassociation of age and size. Using the CF age‐estimates, we then estimate the median age at sexual maturity to be around 13 years old (mean carapace size c. 60 cm SCL) and found that somatic growth was negligible by 15 years of age. The expected age‐specific growth rate function derived using numerical differentiation suggests at least one juvenile growth spurt at about 10–12 years of age when maximum age‐specific growth rates, c. 5 cm SCL year⁻¹, are apparent.     

Age,growth and natural mortality of blue jack mackerel Trachurus picturatus (Carangidae) from the Canary Islands,Spain (NW Africa)

Status assessment of exploited fish populations is a general requirement to ensure sustainability of fisheries in both global and local contexts. The blue jack mackerel Trachurus picturatus (Bowdich, 1825) remains unassessed in a data-limited fishery in the eastern central Atlantic, within the waters of the Canary Islands (Spain) off the coast of northwest Africa. This is the most southwestern targeted fishery in the species’ distributional range. To obtain basic life-history information, a total of 2 472 specimens were analysed, ranging from 10.2 to 31.9 cm total length, from samples collected monthly between March 2005 and March 2006. Length–weight relationships (a = 0.0023; b = 3.418; R ² = 0.97) showed no significant difference between sexes. Deposition periodicity and coherence of the ageing criteria were verified by analysis of the monthly evolution of the otolith edge. Ages were estimated by counting annual growth rings on whole otoliths, with these fish ranging from age 0 to 6 years. The von Bertalanffy growth model, which was used to estimate growth parameters from both direct readings and back-calculated length-at-age data, gave good statistical fits. The parameters from the direct readings were: L∞ = 34.9 cm; k = 0.214 y^–1; t ₀ = ?2.545 y (R ² = 0.84), and the natural mortality rates estimated from empirical methods varied between 0.20 and 0.55 y^–1.     

Age and growth of bluenose,Hyperoglyphe antarctica (Pisces: Stromateoidei) from the lower east coast,North Island,New Zealand

Growth of the bluenose, Hyperoglyphe antarctica (Carmichael, 1818) from the lower east coast, North Island, was determined by counting growth check rings in otoliths. One growth check ring appeared to be laid down each year, so this technique is probably valid for aging bluenose. Female fish had a significantly higher growth rate than males. Comparisons of samples from three sites indicated no significant regional differences in growth. The von Bertalanffy parameters L8,K, and t0 fitted to back‐calculated fish lengths were, respectively, 81.1 cm, 0.308, ‐0.627 for males, and 86.1 cm, 0.308, ‐0.384 for females.     

Age and growth of Cape stumpnose Rhabdosargus holubi (Pisces: Sparidae) in the Eastern Cape,South Africa

Rhabdosargus holubi is a small (maximum weight=2.4?kg) yet important fishery species in the estuaries of the south-east coast of South Africa. Little is known of its biology and specifically its growth rate, which is essential for sustainable management of the fishery. We examined and counted the opaque zones in the sectioned otoliths of 134 R. holubi to determine its age and growth parameters. The otoliths from two recaptured fish marked with oxytetracycline confirmed that one opaque zone was deposited annually. The species reached a maximum age of 18 years and growth was adequately described by a von Bertalanffy growth function of the form: L_t = 358.1 (1 – e^{?0.24(t+0.77)}) mm fork length. There were no significant differences between any of the male and female growth parameters (likelihood ratio test: p = 0.3). The growth was slow (omega index: ω = 86.56); however, despite this, the unique life history of R. holubi may provide a degree of resilience to heavy fishing pressure in estuaries.     

Harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) conservation management: A dimensional approach

Harbour porpoises Phocoena phocoena are protected under the Habitats and Species Directive (92/43/EEC) and listed as a priority species in the City and County of Swansea's Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP). Increased coastal pressures demand better governance and this study adopted a dimensional analysis to produce a local management framework for harbour porpoise populations. Having established basic behavioural dynamics and identified critical habitats, a coastal zone use model was developed. This highlighted porpoise and coastal user interaction from a species perspective. Evidence was determined from observations and published research, and an Environmental Risk Assessment (ERA) was undertaken. An estimation of consequence probability was determined and revealed that continued coastal use, without mitigation, is likely to have significant local impacts on porpoise populations. A strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) analysis and legislative appraisal highlighted potential opportunities and deficiencies. Mitigation refers principally to industry, fisheries and recreation and suggestions include flexible zoning; speed and vessel restrictions; engineering solutions to noise intrusion and fisheries monitoring. A mixture of formal and informal regulations is recommended, together with educational projects and industry-funded research opportunities.     

Genetic parameters estimation for growth traits in cultured tiger pufferfish (fugu), Takifugu rubripes

The aim of this study was to evaluate the genetic parameters of the growth performance of Takifugu rubripes. Heritabilities and genetic correlations were estimated for body weight (BW), body length (BL), total length (TL), chest measurement (CM) and trunk length (TKL) of T. rubripes from measurements of progeny at 6 months and 12 months. The results showed that the heritability was 0.37 for BW6, 0.19 for BL6, 0.35 for TL6, 0.29 for CM6, 0.26 for TKL6, 0.36 for BW12, 0.26 for BL12, 0.25 for TL12, 0.31 for CM12 and 0.15 for TKL12. The range of genetic correlations estimated at 6 months was 0.025–0.725 and ?0.002–0.706 at 12 months. The results indicated that genetic improvement for faster growth rate or increased body weight in cultured T. rubripes was effective. Based on selection theory, the selection strategy for traits with medium heritability is flexible. Considering that these growth traits do not reach the high level of heritability, family selection should be expected. Given positive genetic correlations among BW, BL, TL, CM, and TKL at 6 months, the five traits could be improved simultaneously through selective breeding. As there was high genetic correlation only between BW12, BL12 and TL12, and negative correlations between TKL12 and BL12 as well as between CM12 and TL12, and only BW, BL and TL at 12 months could be improved simultaneously.     

Recruitment to the macrobenthos of Macomona liliana (bivalvia: Tellinidae) in Manukau Harbour,New Zealand

The population biology of the wedge shell Macomona liliana (Iredale, 1915) was studied at six sites on intertidal sandflats in Manukau Harbour over 2 years. Differences were found in the densities of bivalves between sites, and at each site large seasonal fluctuations in densities were also observed. Within‐site density fluctuations were mainly the result of changes in the numbers of juveniles (< 5 mm long). Length‐frequency distributions were dominated by a single mode associated with new recruits. The only major inter‐site difference was the scarcity of large bivalves at one site. Recruitment to the macrobenthos occurred over an extended period (summer to late winter or spring), but with markedly different levels of recruitment in the two successive years. Length‐frequency plots indicated that growth in the first year was 2–3 mm. The possible involvement of hydrodynamics, inter‐ and intraspecific interactions, and pollution on recruitment, and the importance of mortality and migration to post‐settlement survival are discussed.     

Barnacle Larvae and their Settlement in Genoa Harbour (North Tyrrhenian Sea)

Abstract. Density of barnacle larvae in plankton and settlement on atoxic plane surfaces have been compared at one station of Genoa harbour over sixteen months.
There were two periods of larval emission, during summer and autumn, with a slight one during winter. Barnacle settlement varied according to sea temperature, the amount of larvae and competition for the substratum.     

厦门港几种水母的刺胞研究

本文以厦门港的几种水母为材料在国内首次研究了它们的刺胞。文中还讨论、总结了各水母类的刺胞、探讨了引起刺胞释放的刺激及刺胞的功能。     

Age,growth and mortality in the giant snail Adelomelon beckii (Broderip 1836) on the Argentinean shelf

The marine subtidal volutid snail Adelomelon beckii was studied in order to obtain their population dynamics, particularly on growth, age, mortality and production. Stable oxygen isotope ratios confirmed semiannual formation of internal growth marks. A von Bertalanffy growth model fitted 308 size-at-age data pairs. A. beckii potential lifespan in Mar del Plata (Argentina) region is 29 years, being rather long lived compared to other large gastropods. Total mortality Z and natural mortality M were calculated to be 0.210 y^?1 and 0.081 y^?1 respectively. Fishing mortality F amounts to 0.129 y^?1 corresponding to an exploitation rate E of 0.614, a value much beyond the optimum rate of 0.427. The current exploitation regime will be unsustainable in the long run unless a proper management approach establishes.