Sagittal otolith microstructure,early growth and development of Coilia ectenes in the Yangtze Estuary,China

Larvae and juveniles of Coilia ectenes were collected in the Yangtze Estuary during June through September 2009 and in May 2011. Our objectives were to reveal the otolith microstructural pattern, and then to reveal the early growth and development process through otolith analysis for C. ectenes. A total of 368 individuals, ranging 4.4–81.2 mm body length (BL) and spanning a continuum from yolk-sac larvae to early juveniles, were analyzed. There is a single primordium in the core of the sagittal otolith, surrounded by a prominent dark band (PD-band) and a wide light area (WL-area). Regular bipartite increments deposit outside of the WL-area. Similar to other Engraulidae species, the PD-band forms corresponding to hatching, increments form daily, and the first increment forms on the 3rd day post hatching, corresponding to the first feeding. The relationship of otolith radius and BL was significantly fitted to a piecewise regression with the inflection point at 34.0 mm BL. Mid-age and mid-size of transition from yolk-sac to preflexion was calculated as 5 days and 6.1 mm BL, from preflexion to flexion was 18 days and 15.2 mm BL, and from flexion to postflexion 29 days and 21.5 mm BL. Mid-size from postflexion to juvenile was 26.6 mm BL. These results can provide an essential basis for future studies on early-life ecology of this species.     

Distribution,growth and hatch date of juvenile Pacific bluefin tuna <Emphasis Type="Italic">Thunnus orientalis</Emphasis> in the coastal area of the sea of Japan

ABSTRACT:   Mid-water trawl surveys were conducted from late August to late September in 1999 and 2004 in order to investigate the distribution pattern, hatch date, and growth of juvenile Pacific bluefin tuna Thunnus orientalis in the Sea of Japan. Juveniles were collected at the stations where ambient water temperature (mean water temperature from surface to 30 m deep, WT₀₋₃₀) was 23.4–25.9°C, and most of them were found in waters where WT₀₋₃₀ was higher than 24°C. Sampled juveniles ranged 108–280 mm fork length. Based on otolith analysis, they were estimated to grow to approximately 180 and 250 mm at 60 and 90 days old, respectively, and showed similar growth to that of Atlantic bluefin tuna in the Mediterranean Sea. The back-calculated hatch date of the samples was mostly in July and most juveniles spawned in the Sea of Japan.     

大黄鱼仔稚鱼不同发育阶段矢耳石形态发育和微结构特征

对人工培育大黄鱼(Larimichthys crocea)的生长发育与矢耳石形态及微结构特征进行研究,结果表明:(1)大黄鱼矢耳石上的轮纹是每日形成的,第1日轮在孵化后第2天形成,与其初次摄食相对应。(2)大黄鱼卵黄囊期和前弯曲期仔鱼的耳石形态为圆形,进入弯曲期耳石长轴迅速伸长,在后弯曲期耳石形态变为椭圆形。进入稚鱼期,矢耳石开始形成次生核。随后次生核数量逐渐增加,在孵化后47～78 d的个体中,次生核数量稳定在5～7个,耳石近似盾形。(3)根据耳石日轮宽度推算的大黄鱼稚鱼在其仔鱼期生长率(b)与第1个次生核的形成时间(tsp1)之间存在明显的线性关系,表明生长较快的个体形成次生核的时间较早,进入稚鱼期所需的时间更短。以上结论表明,大黄鱼矢耳石可以反演其早期生活史阶段的生长发育特征。     

Somatic growth and otolith microstructure of larval and juvenile pacific cod <Emphasis Type="Italic">Gadus macrocephalus</Emphasis>

ABSTRACT:   Microstructures of sagittae and lapilli were examined in relation to somatic growth for reared larvae and juveniles of Pacific cod. The Laird–Gompertz model was fitted to the daily age and somatic growth relationship. Growth increments were deposited on a daily basis in both kinds of otoliths, with a check formed at hatching. Two subsequent checks and an accessory primordia (AP) occurred in the sagittae. The lapillus was adequate for increment width measurement through the early life stages. Sagittal and frontal plane of sagitta was adequate for measurement in the pre-AP and post-AP formation stages, respectively. The shift of desirable plane was caused by changes in otolith and increment shapes with AP formation. Back-calculated total lengths using the biological intercept method did not significantly differ with certain body lengths ( P  > 0.05), suggesting validity of back-calculation in this species. Using the back-calculated total length, morphological and ecologic changes that seemed to affect checks and AP formations are discussed.     

Growth of Northwest Iberian juvenile hake estimated by combining sagittal and transversal otolith microstructure analyses

Daily growth of Atlantic juvenile hake from Northwest Iberia has been estimated employing a new approach combining analyses of transversal and sagittal sections of the otoliths along the ventral radius. Age of juvenile hake ranging from 3 to 25 cm collected during a spring 2002 survey was estimated. Somatic growth followed a power fit: Fish size (TL) = 3.3254*age^0.7336 (r² = 0.87, p < 0.001, n = 76), yielding an average individual growth rate of 0.66 mm/day (±0.06). The growth model indicates that after a year's life a juvenile can reach 25 cm. Otolith ventral radius ranged from 401 to 1842 μm and daily increments were between 104 and 387. Fish growth and otolith growth were closely related (r² = 0.92 p < 0.001, n = 76). These first results of daily growth rates for the Southern stock corroborate the fast-growth hypothesis of this species. The evolution of increment widths from hatch dates onwards reveals important seasonal growth peaks during July–August and October–November. A comparison with prior data and discussion is also presented in the light of recent work on hake juveniles and tagging-recapture experiences.     

Age determination and growth of juveniles of the European hake,Merluccius merluccius (L., 1758), in the northern Tyrrhenian Sea (NW Mediterranean)

The aim of the present study was to provide an estimation of growth of juvenile European hake, Merluccius merluccius (L., 1758) (OSTEICHTHYES; MERLUCCIIDAE), by means of the analysis of otolith daily increments. Hake specimens were collected during trawl surveys carried out in the northern Tyrrhenian Sea (NW Mediterranean). The sagittae were removed from hakes ≤20 cm total length. Left otoliths were ground and polished to obtain thin frontal sections. Otolith microstructure was analysed under a compound green light-polarising microscope. A power curve with intercept was fitted to the length-age data to describe the growth of M. merluccius. According to the growth curve, a mean length of 18 cm was reached at the end of the first year of life. The validation of the otolith increment periodicity was performed by means of two indirect methods.     

Otolith microstructure of chum salmon <Emphasis Type="Italic">Oncorhynchus keta</Emphasis>: formation of sea entry check and daily deposition of otolith increments in seawater conditions

To apply otolith microstructure to examination of age and growth of juvenile chum salmon Oncorhynchus keta inhabiting coastal waters, formation of otolith increments was investigated for juveniles reared in a seawater aquarium and in net pens. In all otoliths examined, a distinctive check was formed at the time of sea entry of the fish. The deposition of otolith increments after the check was daily for rearing both in the aquarium (57 days) and in the net pens (26 days). Check formation associated with sea entry was also observed in otoliths of juvenile salmon collected 1 km off the coast of Shari, Hokkaido, Japan. Transmitted light observation of otoliths of those fish revealed a transition in otolith increment appearance from dark to light. Otolith Sr: Ca ratio remarkably changed from a low to a high level, coinciding with the transition in otolith appearance. It is suggested that the transition was associated with individual sea entry. This study demonstrated that the check and/or transition associated with sea entry are applicable to a benchmark for otolith increment counts of juvenile chum salmon inhabiting coastal waters.     

Daily growth increment formation and its lunar periodicity in otoliths of the myctophid fish Myctophum asperum (Pisces: Myctophidae)

ABSTRACT: The surface-migratory myctophid fish, Myctophum asperum , of the western North Pacific was found to have daily growth increments of its sagittal otolith, which also exhibited lunar periodicity in the deposition of increments. Daily deposition of the otolith increments was verified because the width of the marginal increment increased during the night and early morning between 20.00 h and 08.00 h and its growth stopped during the day. An autocorrelation analysis of the increment widths, which were measured consecutively in 11 specimens covering 33 synodic months, also showed a lunar periodicity in increment deposition. The mean increment widths during five days around the time of a full moon were significantly narrower than those around a new moon in 18 of the 33 full moon cases ( P < 0.01: Student's t -test) and, on average, tended to be narrow in 29 cases. The cause of this tendency is thought to be slower growth caused by staying in deeper and colder habitat due to the suppression of diel vertical migration and/or lower food availability resulting from the possible dispersion of zooplankton during the full moon period.     

Comparison of the growth of age-1 Pacific saury <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cololabis saira</Emphasis> in the Western and the Central North Pacific

The growth of age-1 Pacific saury Cololabis saira was compared based on an analysis of the body-length frequency distributions, radius of the annual ring (otolith hyaline zones; ROH), and growth patterns in otolith increments. Fish were sampled at various locations between off the Japanese coast (144°E) and in the Central Pacific (160°W) in June and July 2006, and the measurements were compared among the stations ranging over six longitudinal areas, each with a longitudinal area of 10°. The mode of body-length frequency distributions of age-1 fish was larger in fish sampled west of 160°E (size class modes of 32.0–32.5 and 31.5–32.0 cm, respectively, in each 10° longitude area) than in those sampled east of 170°E (28.5–29.0 or 29.0–29.5 cm in 3 areas). The ROH was also larger in the former group (west of 160°E) than in the latter group (east of 170°E), but hatch periods of these two groups and age in days when the hyaline zones form in August or September did not differ based on the analysis of otolith growth increments. The growth difference occurred in the period between when the fish started their northward migration and when the hyaline zone was formed. These results indicate that the habitats of the two groups were separate until at least June or July of their second year of life.     

Early life history of the black anglerfish Lophius budegassa Spinola, 1807 in the Mediterranean Sea using otolith microstructure

The early life history of the black anglerfish, Lophius budegassa was investigated by otolith (lapilli) increment analysis. Samples of demersal juvenile L. budegassa ranging from 54 to 196 mm total length were collected during bottom trawl surveys in the central Adriatic Sea. By counting increments presumed to be deposited daily in the lapillar otoliths, 88 specimens of L. budegassa were successfully aged. Age estimates of juveniles ranged between 79 and 204 days, indicating that probably the pelagic phase of this species is relatively short and settlement occurs at less than 3 months of life. The analysis of check marks in the core area of lapilli enabled us to determine the period of endogenous feeding, which would last between 15 and 24 days after hatching. Back-calculated hatching dates and, consequently, the spawning season of L. budegassa in the Adriatic Sea was spread over a long period, lasting at least from February to June. The length at age relationship gave an estimate of mean growth rate of approximately 0.8–1.02 mm/day, indicating a faster growth rate of 0+ juveniles L. budegassa than previously thought. The implications of these findings on age estimates discrepancies between previous ageing studies on L. budegassa carried out using different calcified structure (sagittae or illicia) are discussed.     

Temperature determines growth rates of larval round herring Etrumeus teres in the Pacific coastal waters off southern Japan

Seasonal variation in daily growth rates in the early and middle larval stages of round herring Etrumeus teres were largely determined by the sea temperatures experienced by hatch-date cohorts in the Pacific coastal waters off southern Japan. Round herring larvae were collected by purse seining in the coastal waters of central Tosa Bay. A total of 451 larvae were aged by reading daily rings in otoliths. Individuals within a range of 2–5 hatch dates were grouped as hatch-date cohorts. We selected 16 cohorts that hatched during September 2000 and March 2002 and calculated mean widths of otolith growth increments for each cohort during the first feeding stage (W _FF, increments 1–5) and the maximum increment width in the middle larval stage (W _MAX). Seasonal variation in mean W _FF and W _MAX among the 16 cohorts was largely (80–90 %) explained by the sea temperature in the bay. These results indicate that temperature was a predominant determinant of larval growth rates; other environmental factors, such as food availability, did not substantially affect growth rates of round herring larvae in coastal waters along the subtropical Kuroshio Current off southern Japan.     

Establishment of shell growth analysis technique of juvenile Manila clam <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ruditapes philippinarum</Emphasis>: semidiurnal shell increment formation

ABSTRACT:   The conventional acetate peel method was modified to analyze the shell growth pattern of juvenile Manila clam Ruditapes philippinarum as small as 2 mm in shell length (SL). In the outer shell layer along the axis of maximum growth, two types of growth increments were observed: distinct increments and indistinct increments, which, respectively, do and do not continue to the middle shell layer. The distinct increments were found to be formed every two days in intertidal and shallow subtidal zones by field enclosure experiments of juveniles with datum points marked with alizarin complexone. Growth patterns of juveniles (12 mm SL) collected from the Seaside Park of Yokohama in Tokyo Bay were analyzed to confirm the modified method. Mean daily shell growth rate from April to July 2005 ranged 120–142 μm/day, which was reasonable as compared with previous studies. It was impossible to backcalculate the growth to the settlement size (i.e. 0.2 mm SL) because of erosion of the outer shell surface, and the smallest backcalculated minimum shell length was 0.8 mm. Fluctuations in daily growth rate were high, ranging 29–315 μm/day, and did not show a clear two-weekly rhythm.     

Responses in growth rate of larval northern anchovy (Engraulis mordax) to anomalous upwelling in the northern California Current

We examined variability in growth rate during the larval stage of northern anchovy (Engraulis mordax) in response to physical and biological environmental factors in 2005 and 2006. The onset of spring upwelling was anomalously delayed by 2–3 months until mid‐July in 2005; in contrast, spring upwelling in 2006 began as a normal year in the northern California Current. Larval and early juvenile E. mordax were collected in August, September, and October off the coast of Oregon and Washington. Hatch dates ranged from May to September, with peaks in June and August in 2005 and a peak in July in 2006, based on the number of otolith daily increments. Back‐calculated body length‐at‐age in the June 2005 hatch cohort was significantly smaller than in the August 2005 cohort, which had comparable growth to the July 2006 cohort. Standardized otolith daily increment widths as a proxy for seasonal variability in somatic growth rates in 2005 were negative until late July and then changed to positive with intensification of upwelling. The standardized increment width was a positive function of biomass of chlorophyll a concentration, and neritic cold‐water and oceanic subarctic copepod species sampled biweekly off Newport, Oregon. Our results suggest that delayed upwelling in 2005 resulted in low food availability and, consequently, reduced E. mordax larval growth rate in early summer, but once upwelling began in July, high food availability enhanced larval growth rate to that typical of a normal upwelling year (e.g., 2006) in the northern California Current.     

Otolith microstructure of brown sole <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pseudopleuronectes herzensteini</Emphasis>: validation of daily ring formation and the occurrence of microstructure denoting metamorphosis

Brown sole Pseudopleuronectes herzensteini larvae and juveniles were reared to validate daily otolith ring formation. At 15°C, a check (a distinct ring) formed on the sagittae and lapilli at 6 days after hatching, and clear increments regularly formed outside the check. For both otoliths, the relationship between the number of days after hatching and number of increments was linear, and the slope of the line was approximately 1; therefore, daily formation was validated. At 12°C, the check formed on the lapillus 8 days after hatching. Accessory primordia (AP) began forming on the sagittae of metamorphosing larvae, and the shape of the sagittae became complicated. AP were not formed on the lapillus; concentric rings were formed throughout larval and juvenile stages. Wide and obscure increments formed on the lapilli during metamorphosis (metamorphosing zone, MZ). Based on MZ, concentric rings that have formed on the lapilli of juveniles can be separated into larval and juvenile rings. The morphs of large juveniles’ lapilli were bilaterally asymmetric, and the blind-side lapilli were most suitable for otolith microstructure analysis. This study provides fundamental information for otolith microstructure analysis in wild brown sole.     

Interannual variability in hatching period and early growth of juvenile walleye pollock, Theragra chalcogramma, in the Pacific coastal area of Hokkaido

Juvenile walleye pollock of the Japanese Pacific population were collected from the Funka Bay [spawning ground; 16–64 mm fork length (FL)] in spring and the Doto area (nursery ground; 70–146 mm FL) in summer. Hatch dates were estimated by subtracting the number of otolith daily increments from sampling dates, and their early growth was back‐calculated using otolith radius–somatic length relationships. Interannual change of the hatching period was observed during 2000–02, and the peaks ranged from mid‐February in 2000 to early‐April in 2002. In 2000, when a strong year class occurred, early life history of the surviving juveniles could be characterized by early hatching and slower growth in the larval stage (<22 mm length). Higher growth rate in 2001 and 2002 did not always lead to good survival and recruitment success. Even though their growth was slow in 2000, the larvae hatched early in the season had larger body size on a given date than faster‐growing larvae hatched in later season in 2001 and 2002. Bigger individuals at a certain moment may have advantage for survival. The delay of hatching period may result in higher size‐selective mortality, and as a necessary consequence, back‐calculated growth in 2001 and 2002 could shift towards higher growth rate, although abundance of such a year class would be at the lower level. Variability in spawning period, early growth and their interaction might have a strong relation to larval survival through cumulative predation pressure or ontogenetic changes in food availability.     

Validation of daily increment formation and the effects of different temperatures and feeding regimes on short-term otolith growth in Australian smelt Retropinna semoni

Abstract –  To aid otolith interpretation of wild fish, we conducted a laboratory study using metalarval Australian smelt ( Retropinna semoni ) collected from the Murray River, to examine daily increment deposition and the effects of different temperatures and feeding regimes on otolith growth. Daily increment deposition was confirmed by comparing the number of increments from an oxytetracycline mark with the known number of days from marking. After holding fish at two temperature levels and three feeding rates, both food density and temperature were found to have a significant effect on otolith growth, with food density having the greatest influence. Overall trends in final lengths and condition of fish were well represented by recent otolith growth. The results of the experiment have implications for estimating growth histories and its relationship to various environmental conditions.     

Interannual differences in growth and hatch‐date distributions of early juvenile European anchovy in the Bay of Biscay: implications for recruitment

In order to understand better the recruitment variability in European anchovy in the Bay of Biscay, it is important to investigate the processes that affect survival during the early life stages. Anchovy juvenile growth trajectories and hatch‐date distributions were inferred over a 3‐year period based on otolith microstructure analysis. Otolith growth trajectories showed a characteristic shape depending on their hatch‐date timing. Earlier‐born juveniles had notably broader maximum increments than later born conspecifics, resulting in higher growth rates. This observation suggests that early hatching would be beneficial for larval and juvenile growth, and, therefore, survival. The estimated juvenile hatch‐date distributions were relatively narrow compared with the extended anchovy spawning season (March–August) in the Bay of Biscay and indicated that only individuals originated mainly from the summer months (June–August) survived until autumn. Hatch‐date distributions were markedly different among years and seemed to influence the interannual recruitment strength of anchovy. We conclude that years characterized by juvenile survivors originating from the peak spawning period (May and June) would lead to considerable recruitment success. Downwelling events during the peak spawning period seem to affect larval survival. Furthermore, size‐dependent overwinter mortality would be an additional process that regulates recruitment strength in the anchovy population in the Bay of Biscay.     

Seasonal changes in otolith and somatic growth in age-0 Pacific saury <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cololabis saira</Emphasis>

We evaluated the seasonal changes in otolith and somatic growth of age-0 Pacific saury Cololabis saira in 223 fish collected between June and November 2002. We calculated the age in days of each individual by measuring otolith growth increments under a scanning electron microscope. The age was correlated with body length and otolith radius. We also observed seasonal changes in the rate of increase in body length and otolith radius and in the pattern of otolith growth. Until August, both body length and otolith radius increased with age. Thereafter, the otolith radius continued to increase, whereas the rate of somatic growth decreased. As a result, the ratio of otolith radius to body length increased. After August, the percentage of otoliths with unreadable increments on their edge increased due to the formation of hyaline zones. Otoliths grew both radially and in thickness until July, but gradually stopped growing in thickness after August. Beginning in October, more than 80% of otoliths only grew radially. After August, the otolith not only continued growing but the morphological growth pattern also changed.     

Importance of various marine coastal habitats during the life cycle of Spratelloides delicatulus in Con Dao,the oldest MPA in Vietnam

• 1. Marine protected areas (MPAs) are set up to conserve biodiversity, but their design is not always based on strictly scientific considerations. Ideally, an MPA should protect all key habitats necessary for a marine species to complete its life cycle. The identification of these key habitats is complex, especially during the early life of marine fishes.
• 2. A widely distributed tropical and important low trophic‐level fish species, Spratelloides delicatulus (Clupeidae), was used to evaluate the significance of various coastal habitats for its larvae and juveniles in the Con Dao Archipelago MPA in Vietnam. Early stages (larvae and juveniles) were sampled monthly over one year (June 2016 to May 2017) using light traps in three main habitats (seagrass beds, coral reefs and harbour). The species was identified using morphometry and DNA barcoding. Age and growth variables were estimated using otolith daily growth increments.
• 3. A total of 3,581 fish were caught. The species was not found in captures between January and February, directly linked to the decrease in seawater temperature and was most abundant from April to June. For a subsample of 248 fish (7–38 mm standard length), ages ranged from 7 to 108 days.
• 4. Captures and back‐calculated birthdates using otolith daily increments showed that S. delicatulus spawns during the period of high seawater temperature, from March to October. The species colonizes all three habitats during the early stages (0–26 days old), with growth rate lowest on the seagrass beds. Nevertheless, the species occupies seagrass beds exclusively during the older stages.
• 5. The conservation of seagrass beds in the Con Dao archipelago is essential for protection of juvenile stages of this species but this habitat is presently not included in the MPA patches. Establishment of a continuum of protected areas linking habitats, rather than the existing patches is needed to conserve the complete life cycle of this species in the Con Dao MPA.

     

Otolith development and daily increment formation in laboratory-reared larval and juvenile black-spot tuskfish <Emphasis Type="Italic">Choerodon schoenleinii</Emphasis>

Microstructures of lapilli were examined for reared larvae and juveniles of black-spot tuskfish Choerodon schoenleinii. Lapilli of larvae at 1 day after hatching have one diffuse and obscure ring with an otolith radius of 4.3 ± 0.50 μm (mean ± SD, N = 8). The slope and intercept of the regression between the number of days after hatching and increment counts did not differ significantly from one and zero, respectively, indicating that lapillus increments were formed on a daily basis after hatching. There was an ontogenetic shift in the relative values of somatic and otolith growth, which corresponded to the transition from pelagic larvae to settlement stage. Simultaneously, the daily increment width reached the maximum value. These findings suggest that age at maximum value of increment width can be used as an indicator of the planktonic larval duration while settlement mark is not found. Since ontogenetic shift in the relationship between otolith radius and body size was observed, back-calculation of somatic growth in black-spot tuskfish using the otolith radius during the early life stages should be analyzed with caution, and the method requires further validation.