Validation of growth zone deposition rate in otoliths and scales of flathead mullet Mugil cephalus and freshwater mullet Myxus capensis from fish of known age

Flathead mullet Mugil cephalus and freshwater mullet Myxus capensis are important components in South African estuarine fish communities and fisheries, but there is little information on their age and growth or age validation. This study validated the periodicity of growth zone formation in sectioned sagittal otoliths and scales of fish of known age that had been at liberty for 10 years. For both M. cephalus and M. capensis, the number of growth zones counted on otolith sections did not differ significantly from the known age of the fish. There were significantly fewer growth zones on scales than the known age of both M. cephalus and M. capensis. Growth zone deposition rate could therefore be validated as annual for otoliths but not for scales of the two species. It is recommended that future ageing studies focus on otoliths rather than scales.     

Diel effects on bottom-trawl survey catch rates of shallow- and deep-water Cape hakes Merluccius capensis and M. paradoxus off Namibia,using solar zenith angle

Diel patterns in survey trawl catches for the Cape hakes Merluccius capensis and M. paradoxus off Namibia were studied in order to examine the effect of diel bias on catchability, and its implication for survey abundance estimation and the consistency of the survey time-series. Catch rates (numbers per haul) by species and length from summer demersal biomass surveys conducted during the period 2002–2013 were used, together with a computation of the corresponding light-level data from which the solar zenith angles were obtained. Generalised additive models were fitted to assess the relationship between the catches and a number of explanatory variables. Significant covariates were zenith angle, depth and geographical position. The final models explained 78% and 59% of the variability in catch rates of M. capensis and M. paradoxus, respectively. For M. capensis, the response to zenith angle increased sharply for values above 100°, which represents the time between sunset and sunrise. For M. paradoxus there was a moderate increase in the response to zenith angle during the night. In cases where some fishing took place at night in shallow water, the survey results for M. capensis were more greatly affected than was the case for M. paradoxus, which is related to the different depth preference of the two species. Fishing in depths shallower than 400?m outside daylight hours should therefore be avoided in order to reduce bias and ensure consistency in abundance estimates from surveys.     

Spawning strategies and transport of early stages of the two Cape hake species,Merluccius paradoxus and M. capensis,in the southern Benguela upwelling system

Seasonal and short-term variability of environmental parameters influence the spawning strategies of fish species. In this study, the spawning strategies and the transport of early stages of the two Cape hake species off South Africa were investigated. Distribution of eggs and larvae of Merluccius paradoxus and M. capensis was analysed in order to derive more detailed and species-specific information on spawning season, spawning location, and transport of early stages. Samples were collected during three pilot surveys between January and October 2007 and during an extensive survey in September/October 2008 in the southern Benguela upwelling system off South Africa. Eggs and larvae of M. paradoxus were found in greater numbers than those of M. capensis during all surveys. Highest abundances were found from September to October, indicating one spawning peak for M. paradoxus during late austral winter to spring. The western Agulhas Bank was identified as the primary spawning ground, and smaller spawning events occurred on the West Coast. Larvae of both species were mainly distributed in subsurface waters between 25 and 100 m. More than 50% of all larvae caught had a total length between 3 and 4 mm and size increased significantly with decreasing latitude. Merluccius capensis were found closer inshore than M. paradoxus, indicating that early stages of the two species followed separate drift routes. We assume that this distribution pattern most likely evolved from differences in spawning location and phenology. The spawning strategies of M. paradoxus and M. capensis are well adapted to a time-frame of optimal transport conditions favourable for larval survival in the highly variable environment of the southern Benguela upwelling system, but the peak spawning of the two species is separated in time and space.     

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.     

基于矢耳石重量与年龄关系对北部湾二长棘犁齿鲷年龄鉴定的研究

利用2006年7月至2008年10月北部湾商业捕捞底拖网和流刺网渔获物中采集的1 276尾北部湾二长棘犁齿鲷（Evynnis cardinalis）中1 045尾耳石完整样本,对二长棘犁齿鲷矢耳石重量与年龄关系进行了初步研究.结果显示,北部湾二长棘犁齿鲷左右矢耳石间的重量无显著差异,选用左矢耳石为研究对象;用直线、幂函数和多项式等拟合二长棘犁齿鲷各类参数间的关系,样本体长（L）与矢耳石重量（OW）呈幂函数相关：OW=2.000 0×10-6L2.143 0（R2=0.952 9,n=1 045）;北部湾二长棘犁齿鲷耳石重量与年龄（T）呈二项式关系：OW=0.002 7T2＋0.008 1T＋0.023 5（R2=0.992 5,n=1 045）,矢耳石重量与年龄呈显著的线性相关性.以此估算年龄,与从矢耳石上直接读取的年龄并无显著差异,并且,通过矢耳石重量估算年龄比体长频率法较为准确.因此,在经过适当校正后,矢耳石重量可以作为二长棘犁齿鲷年龄鉴定的有效辅助手段.     

基于耳石微结构的黄、渤海蓝点马鲛幼鱼日龄与生长

鱼类的生长是影响群体资源量的要素,研究鱼类的生长规律是开展资源评估工作的基础。本研究依据2016年9–1 0月和2017年8–1 0月在黄渤海采集的当年生蓝点马鲛(Scomberomorus niphonius)幼鱼,通过耳石微结构分析,确定了蓝点马鲛孵化期,建立了生长模型并估算了生长率。结果显示,幼鱼日龄范围为64～151 d,孵化日期为5月3日至6月15日,高峰期集中在5月20日至6月3日。叉长和体质量的生长符合Logistic生长模型。叉长平均绝对生长率和特定生长率分别为2.45 mm/d和0.85%/d,生长率随着日龄增大而小幅度减小。体质量平均绝对生长率和特定生长率分别为5.33 g/d和2.68%/d,最大绝对生长率和最大特定生长率分别出现在111～120 d和91～100 d。本研究表明,蓝点马鲛幼鱼生长随日龄发生变化,早期生长较以往进一步加快。     

基于耳石微结构的南海鸢乌贼日龄和生长研究

年龄和生长速度等参数是渔业资源评估和管理的基础。鸢乌贼生命周期短、生长速度快。为研究鸢乌贼的日龄和生长, 利用2016年10月—2017年9月灯光罩网作业方式采集的南海鸢乌贼样本, 通过耳石微结构研究南海鸢乌贼不同种群、性别间的日龄组成和生长的差异, 结果表明: 1) 鸢乌贼中型群日龄范围48~125d, 优势日龄61~80d, 雌雄个体日龄组成差异显著; 微型群日龄范围44~95d, 优势日龄51~70d, 雌雄个体日龄组成差异极显著。2) 鸢乌贼中型群孵化时间为2016年7月—2017年7月, 1月和7—8月为孵化高峰期; 微型群孵化时间为2016年6—10月和12月至翌年2月, 1月和8月为孵化高峰期。3) 中型群雌雄胴长、体质量与日龄分别符合对数和线性关系; 微型群雌雄胴长与日龄分别符合对数和Logistic关系, 而体质量与日龄符合Logistic关系。4) 南海鸢乌贼微型群生长速度大于中型群, 微型群雄性个体生长速度大于雌性, 而中型群雄性个体生长速度小于雌性。通过对耳石生长纹的分析, 了解鸢乌贼的日龄组成、推算孵化时间、选出合适的生长方程及估算生长速度, 为渔业生物学提供基础资料。