Evaluating the effectiveness of teeth and dorsal fin spines for non-lethal age estimation of a tropical reef fish, coral trout Plectropomus leopardus

This study investigated whether teeth and dorsal fin spines could be used as non-lethal methods ofage estimation for a vulnerable and highly valued tropical fisheries species, coral trout Plectropomus leopardus. Age estimation of individuals from 2 to 9 years old revealed that dorsal spines represen...

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Main Authors: Hobbs, Jean-Paul, Frisch, A., Mutz, S., Ford, B.
Format: Journal Article
Published: Blackwell Publishing 2014
Subjects:
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/27114
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author Hobbs, Jean-Paul
Frisch, A.
Mutz, S.
Ford, B.
author_facet Hobbs, Jean-Paul
Frisch, A.
Mutz, S.
Ford, B.
author_sort Hobbs, Jean-Paul
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description This study investigated whether teeth and dorsal fin spines could be used as non-lethal methods ofage estimation for a vulnerable and highly valued tropical fisheries species, coral trout Plectropomus leopardus. Age estimation of individuals from 2 to 9 years old revealed that dorsal spines represent an accurate ageing method (90% agreement with otoliths) that was more precise [average per cent error (APE)=4·1, coefficient of variation (c.v.)=5·8%] than otoliths (APE = 6·2, c.v. = 8·7%). Of the three methods for age estimation (otoliths, dorsal spines and teeth), spines were the most time and cost efficient. An aquarium-based study also found that removing a dorsal spine or tooth did not affect survivorship or growth of P. leopardus. No annuli were visible in teeth despite taking transverse and longitudinal sections throughout the tooth and trialling several different laboratory methods. Although teeth may not be suitable for estimating age of P. leopardus, dorsal spines appear to be an acceptably accurate, precise and efficient method for non-lethal ageing of individuals from 2 to 9 years old in this tropical species.
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institution Curtin University Malaysia
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publishDate 2014
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spelling curtin-20.500.11937-271142019-02-19T05:36:13Z Evaluating the effectiveness of teeth and dorsal fin spines for non-lethal age estimation of a tropical reef fish, coral trout Plectropomus leopardus Hobbs, Jean-Paul Frisch, A. Mutz, S. Ford, B. Serranidae age determination fisheries management ageing non-destructive vulnerable species This study investigated whether teeth and dorsal fin spines could be used as non-lethal methods ofage estimation for a vulnerable and highly valued tropical fisheries species, coral trout Plectropomus leopardus. Age estimation of individuals from 2 to 9 years old revealed that dorsal spines represent an accurate ageing method (90% agreement with otoliths) that was more precise [average per cent error (APE)=4·1, coefficient of variation (c.v.)=5·8%] than otoliths (APE = 6·2, c.v. = 8·7%). Of the three methods for age estimation (otoliths, dorsal spines and teeth), spines were the most time and cost efficient. An aquarium-based study also found that removing a dorsal spine or tooth did not affect survivorship or growth of P. leopardus. No annuli were visible in teeth despite taking transverse and longitudinal sections throughout the tooth and trialling several different laboratory methods. Although teeth may not be suitable for estimating age of P. leopardus, dorsal spines appear to be an acceptably accurate, precise and efficient method for non-lethal ageing of individuals from 2 to 9 years old in this tropical species. 2014 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/27114 10.1111/jfb.12287 Blackwell Publishing fulltext
spellingShingle Serranidae
age determination
fisheries management
ageing
non-destructive
vulnerable species
Hobbs, Jean-Paul
Frisch, A.
Mutz, S.
Ford, B.
Evaluating the effectiveness of teeth and dorsal fin spines for non-lethal age estimation of a tropical reef fish, coral trout Plectropomus leopardus
title Evaluating the effectiveness of teeth and dorsal fin spines for non-lethal age estimation of a tropical reef fish, coral trout Plectropomus leopardus
title_full Evaluating the effectiveness of teeth and dorsal fin spines for non-lethal age estimation of a tropical reef fish, coral trout Plectropomus leopardus
title_fullStr Evaluating the effectiveness of teeth and dorsal fin spines for non-lethal age estimation of a tropical reef fish, coral trout Plectropomus leopardus
title_full_unstemmed Evaluating the effectiveness of teeth and dorsal fin spines for non-lethal age estimation of a tropical reef fish, coral trout Plectropomus leopardus
title_short Evaluating the effectiveness of teeth and dorsal fin spines for non-lethal age estimation of a tropical reef fish, coral trout Plectropomus leopardus
title_sort evaluating the effectiveness of teeth and dorsal fin spines for non-lethal age estimation of a tropical reef fish, coral trout plectropomus leopardus
topic Serranidae
age determination
fisheries management
ageing
non-destructive
vulnerable species
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/27114