Spatial patterns in the demography of a large estuarine teleost: king threadfin, Polydactylus macrochir
B. R. Moore A C , D. J. Welch A B and C. A. Simpfendorfer AA Fishing and Fisheries Research Centre, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, Qld 4811, Australia.
B Queensland Primary Industries and Fisheries, Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation, PO Box 1085, Oonoonba, Qld 4810, Australia.
C Corresponding author. Email: bradley.moore1@my.jcu.edu.au
Marine and Freshwater Research 62(8) 937-951 https://doi.org/10.1071/MF11034
Submitted: 11 February 2011 Accepted: 23 April 2011 Published: 22 August 2011
Abstract
Understanding spatial patterns in demographic parameters of exploited fish species is of critical importance to effective fisheries management. In the present study, patterns in demography of a large, protandrous, estuarine teleost, king threadfin, Polydactylus macrochir, were compared among three estuaries on the eastern coast of Queensland, Australia. Significant variation in age and growth was observed between fish from the Fitzroy River and those from the Mary and Brisbane Rivers, with Fitzroy River fish living longer (22 years v. 10 and 14 years, respectively), reaching a greater asymptotic length (1222-mm fork length (FL) v. 975- and 1047-mm FL, respectively), and attaining greater length-at-ages of 6 years and beyond. No difference in growth was detected between Mary and Brisbane River fish, or in total mortality among any of the sites. Fitzroy River fish were generally found to mature and change sex at greater lengths and ages than those from the Mary and Brisbane Rivers. The observed variability suggests that spatially segregated populations of P. macrochir may respond differently to fishing pressure and highlights the importance of understanding the spatial patterns in demography of exploited estuarine fish populations.
Additional keywords: Australia, fisheries management, growth, maturity, population biology, sex change.
References
Allman, R. J. (2007). Small-scale spatial variation in the population structure of vermilion snapper (Rhomboplites aurorubens) from the northeast Gulf of Mexico. Fisheries Research 88, 88–99.| Small-scale spatial variation in the population structure of vermilion snapper (Rhomboplites aurorubens) from the northeast Gulf of Mexico.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Begg, G. A., and Sellin, M. J. (1998). Age and growth of school mackerel (Scomberomorus queenslandicus) and spotted mackerel (S. munroi) in Queensland east-coast waters with implications for stock structure. Marine and Freshwater Research 49, 109–120.
| Age and growth of school mackerel (Scomberomorus queenslandicus) and spotted mackerel (S. munroi) in Queensland east-coast waters with implications for stock structure.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Begg, G. A., Mapstone, B. D., Williams, A. J., Adams, S., Davies, C. R., and Lou, D. C. (2005). Multivariate life-history indices of exploited coral reef fish populations used to measure the performance of no-take zones in a marine protected area. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 62, 679–692.
| Multivariate life-history indices of exploited coral reef fish populations used to measure the performance of no-take zones in a marine protected area.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Beverton, R. J. H., and Holt, S. J. (1957). On the dynamics of exploited fish populations. Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Fishery Investigation Series II 19 (HMSO: London.)
Bibby, J. M., and McPherson, G. R. (1997). Age and growth of five target fish species in the Gulf of Carpentaria inshore gillnet fishery. In ‘Biology and Harvest of Tropical Fishes in the Queensland Gulf of Carpentaria Gillnet Fishery’. (Ed. R. N. Garrett.) pp. 61–85. (Queensland Department of Primary Industries: Brisbane.)
Blaber, S. J. M., Milton, D. A., Pang, J., Wong, P., BoonTeck, O., Nyigo, L., and Lubim, D. (1996). The life history of the tropical shad Tenualosa toli from Sarawak: first evidence of protandry in the Clupeiformes? Environmental Biology of Fishes 46, 225–242.
| The life history of the tropical shad Tenualosa toli from Sarawak: first evidence of protandry in the Clupeiformes?Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Blaber, S. J. M., Brewer, D. T., Milton, D. A., Merta, G. S., Efizon, D., Fry, G., and van der Velde, T. (1999). The life history of the protandrous tropical shad Tenualosa macrura (Alosinae: Clupeidae): fishery implications. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science 49, 689–701.
| The life history of the protandrous tropical shad Tenualosa macrura (Alosinae: Clupeidae): fishery implications.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Brunel, T., and Dickey-Collas, M. (2010). Effects of temperature and population density on von Bertalanffy growth parameters in Atlantic herring: a macro-ecological analysis. Marine Ecology Progress Series 405, 15–28.
| Effects of temperature and population density on von Bertalanffy growth parameters in Atlantic herring: a macro-ecological analysis.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Campana, S. E., Annand, N. C., and MacMillan, J. I. (1995). Graphical and statistical methods for determining the consistency of age determinations. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 124, 131–138.
| Graphical and statistical methods for determining the consistency of age determinations.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Chang, W. Y. B. (1982). A statistical method for evaluating the reproducibility of age determination. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 39, 1208–1210.
| A statistical method for evaluating the reproducibility of age determination.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Conover, D. O. (1992). Seasonality and the scheduling of life history at different latitudes. Journal of Fish Biology 41, (Suppl. B), 161–178.
| Seasonality and the scheduling of life history at different latitudes.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Dobson, J. (1990). Physical/engineering aspects of the estuary. In ‘The Brisbane River: A Source Book for the Future’. (Eds P. Davie, E. Stock and D. L. Choy.) pp. 203–212. (Australian Littoral Society Inc.: Brisbane.)
Doherty, P. J. (1983). Tropical territorial damselfishes: is density limited by aggregation or recruitment? Ecology 64, 176–190.
| Tropical territorial damselfishes: is density limited by aggregation or recruitment?Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Doherty, P., and Fowler, A. (1994). Demographic consequences of variable recruitment to coral-reef fish populations – a congeneric comparison of two damelfishes. Bulletin of Marine Science 54, 297–313.
Queensland Department of Industries and Fisheries (2007). ‘Coastal Habitat Resource Information System (CHRISWeb).’ Available at http://chrisweb.dpi.qld.gov.au/CHRIS/ [accessed 10 November 2010].
Durieux, E. D. H., Meekan, M. G., Ponton, D., and Vigliola, L. (2009). Temperature, selective mortality and early growth in the short-lived clupeid Spratelloides gracilis. Journal of Fish Biology 74, 921–938.
| Temperature, selective mortality and early growth in the short-lived clupeid Spratelloides gracilis.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DC%2BC3cjnt1yhsw%3D%3D&md5=b77c9104367c76bd79219b25b66b111fCAS |
Ferreira, B. P., and Russ, G. R. (1994). Age validation and estimation of growth-rate of the coral trout, Plectropomus leopardus, (Lacepede 1802) from Lizard Island, northern Great Barrier Reef. Fishery Bulletin 92, 46–57.
Friedlander, A. M., and Ziemann, D. A. (2003). Impact of hatchery releases on the recreational fishery for Pacific threadfin (Polydactylus sexfilis) in Hawaii. Fishery Bulletin 101, 32–43.
Ghiselin, M. T. (1969). The evolution of hermaphroditism among animals. The Quarterly Review of Biology 44, 189–208.
| The evolution of hermaphroditism among animals.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DyaE3c%2Fkt1Cjtg%3D%3D&md5=1da975af7e7685021aca71ac577cc0abCAS |
Gillson, J., Scandol, J., and Suthers, I. (2009). Estuarine gillnet fishery catch rates decline during drought in eastern Australia. Fisheries Research 99, 26–37.
| Estuarine gillnet fishery catch rates decline during drought in eastern Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Haddon, M. (2001). ‘Modelling and Quantitative Methods in Fisheries.’ (Chapman and Hall: London.)
Halliday, I. A., Robins, J. B., Mayer, D. G., Staunton-Smith, J., and Sellin, M. J. (2008). Effects of freshwater flow on the year-class strength of a non-diadromous estuarine finfish, king threadfin (Polydactylus macrochir), in a dry-tropical estuary. Marine and Freshwater Research 59, 157–164.
| Effects of freshwater flow on the year-class strength of a non-diadromous estuarine finfish, king threadfin (Polydactylus macrochir), in a dry-tropical estuary.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Hart, A. M., and Russ, G. R. (1996). Response of herbivorous fishes to crown-of-thorns starfish Acanthaster planci outbreaks. III. Age, growth, mortality and maturity indices of Acanthurus nigrofuscus. Marine Ecology Progress Series 136, 25–35.
| Response of herbivorous fishes to crown-of-thorns starfish Acanthaster planci outbreaks. III. Age, growth, mortality and maturity indices of Acanthurus nigrofuscus.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Hilborn, R., and Minte-Vera, C. V. (2008). Fisheries-induced changes in growth rates in marine fisheries: are they significant? Bulletin of Marine Science 83, 95–105.
Hilborn, R., and Walters, C. J. (1992). ‘Quantitative Fisheries Stock Assessment: Choice, Dynamics and Uncertainty.’ (Chapman and Hall: New York.)
Horne, J. B., Momigliano, P., Welch, D. J., Newman, S. J., and van Herwerden, L. (2010). Stock structure of Polydactylus macrochir across northern Australia based on mtDNA. In ‘Defining the Stock Structure of Northern Australia’s Threadfin Salmon Species’. (Eds D. J. Welch, A. Ballagh, S. J. Newman, R. J. Lester, B. Moore, B., L. van Herwerden, J. Horne, Q. Allsop, T. Saunders, J. Stapley and N. A. Gribble.) pp. 95–101. Final Report to the Fisheries Research & Development Corporation, Project 2007/032. Fishing & Fisheries Research Centre, James Cook University, Townsville, Qld.
Jackson, J. B. C., Kirby, M. X., Berger, W. H., Bjorndal, K. A., Botsford, L. W., Bourque, B. J., Bradbury, R. H., Cooke, R., Erlandson, J., Estes, J. A., Hughes, T. P., Kidwell, S., Lange, C. B., Lenihan, H. S., Pandolfi, J. M., Peterson, C. H., Steneck, R. S., Tegner, M. J., and Warner, R. R. (2001). Historical overfishing and the recent collapse of coastal ecosystems. Science 293, 629–637.
| Historical overfishing and the recent collapse of coastal ecosystems.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3MXls1Khu7o%3D&md5=f44c167fa2cc9b6564255af8f98a5d44CAS |
Jones, G. P. (1987). Competitive interactions among adults and juveniles in a coral reef fish. Ecology 68, 1534–1547.
| Competitive interactions among adults and juveniles in a coral reef fish.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Kritzer, J. P. (2002). Variation in the population biology of stripey bass Lutjanus carponotatus within and between two island groups on the Great Barrier Reef. Marine Ecology Progress Series 243, 191–207.
| Variation in the population biology of stripey bass Lutjanus carponotatus within and between two island groups on the Great Barrier Reef.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Kritzer, J. P., and Sale, P. F. (2006). The metapopulation ecology of coral reef fishes. In ‘Marine Metapopulations’. (Eds J. P. Kritzer and P. F. Sale.) pp. 31–67. (Elsevier Academic Press: Burlington, MA.)
Law, R. (2000). Fishing, selection, and phenotypic evolution. ICES Journal of Marine Science 57, 659–668.
| Fishing, selection, and phenotypic evolution.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Long, P. E., and McKinnon, S. G. (2002). Habitats and fisheries resources of the Fitzroy River estuary (central Queensland). Queensland Department of Primary Industries, Information Series QI02104, Brisbane.
Lucena, F. M., and O’Brien, C. M. (2001). Effects of gear selectivity and different calculation methods on estimating growth parameters of bluefish, Pomatomus saltatrix (Pisces: Pomatomidae), from southern Brazil. Fishery Bulletin 99, 432–442.
Mapstone, B. D., Little, L. R., Punt, A. E., Davies, C. R., Smith, A. D. M., Pantuse, F., McDonald, A. D., Williams, A. J., and Jones, A. (2008). Management strategy evaluation for line fishing in the Great Barrier Reef: balancing conservation and multi-sector fishery objectives. Fisheries Research 94, 315–329.
| Management strategy evaluation for line fishing in the Great Barrier Reef: balancing conservation and multi-sector fishery objectives.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
McCormick, M. I., Ryen, C. A., Munday, P. L., and Walker, S. P. W. (2010). Differing mechanisms underlie sexual size-dimorphism in two populations of a sex-changing fish. PLoS ONE 5, e10616.
| Differing mechanisms underlie sexual size-dimorphism in two populations of a sex-changing fish.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
McPherson, G. R. (1997). Reproductive biology of five target fish species in the Gulf of Carpentaria inshore gillnet fishery. In ‘Biology and Harvest of Tropical Fishes in the Queensland Gulf of Carpentaria Gillnet Fishery’. (Ed. R. N. Garrett.) pp. 87–104. (Queensland Department of Primary Industries: Brisbane.)
Milton, D. A., Die, D., Tenakanai, C., and Swales, S. (1998). Selectivity for barramundi (Lates calcarifer) in the Fly River, Papua New Guinea: implications for managing gill-net fisheries on protandrous fishes. Marine and Freshwater Research 49, 499–506.
| Selectivity for barramundi (Lates calcarifer) in the Fly River, Papua New Guinea: implications for managing gill-net fisheries on protandrous fishes.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Milton, D., Yarrao, M., Fry, G., and Tenakanai, C. (2005). Response of barramundi, Lates calcarifer, populations in the Fly River, Papua New Guinea to mining, fishing and climate-related perturbation. Marine and Freshwater Research 56, 969–981.
| Response of barramundi, Lates calcarifer, populations in the Fly River, Papua New Guinea to mining, fishing and climate-related perturbation.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Moore, B. R., Stapley, J. M., Allsop, Q., Newman, S. J., and Welch, D. J. (2010). Stock structure of king threadfin, Polydactylus macrochir, as indicated by life history parameters. In ‘Defining the Stock Structure of Northern Australia’s Threadfin Salmon Species’. (Eds D. J. Welch, A. Ballagh, S. J. Newman, R. J. Lester, B. Moore, L. van Herwerden, J. Horne, Q. Allsop, T. Saunders, J. Stapley and N. A. Gribble.) pp. 119–135. Final Report to the Fisheries Research & Development Corporation, Project 2007/032. Fishing & Fisheries Research Centre, James Cook University, Townsville, Qld.
Motomura, H., Iwatsuki, Y., Kimura, S., and Yoshino, T. (2000). Redescription of Polydactylus macrochir (Gunther, 1867), a senior synonym of P. sheridani (Macleay, 1884) (Perciformes: Polynemidae). Ichthylogcal Research 47, 327–333.
| Redescription of Polydactylus macrochir (Gunther, 1867), a senior synonym of P. sheridani (Macleay, 1884) (Perciformes: Polynemidae).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Munday, P. L., Buston, P. M., and Warner, R. R. (2006). Diversity and flexibility of sex-change strategies in animals. Trends in Ecology & Evolution 21, 89–95.
| Diversity and flexibility of sex-change strategies in animals.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Paddack, M. J., Sponaugle, S., and Cowan, R. K. (2009). Small-scale demographic variation in the spotlight parrotfish Sparisoma viride. Journal of Fish Biology 75, 2509–2526.
| Small-scale demographic variation in the spotlight parrotfish Sparisoma viride.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DC%2BC3cjnsVyjsQ%3D%3D&md5=3ab383974ab7acf5fc0b1aa1bce660bdCAS |
Pauly, D., Christensen, V., Dalsgaard, J., Froese, R., and Torres, F. (1998). Fishing down marine food webs. Science 279, 860–863.
| Fishing down marine food webs.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaK1cXhtVOjtro%3D&md5=528da168f0380acc734e6329507761d0CAS |
Pember, M. B. (2006). Characteristics of fish communities in coastal waters of north-western Australia, including the biology of the threadfin species Eleutheronema tetradactylum and Polydactylus macrochir. Ph.D. Thesis, Murdoch University, Perth.
Pember, M. B., Newman, S. J., Hesp, S. A., Young, G. C., Skepper, C. L., Hall, N. G., and Potter, I. C. (2005). Biological parameters for managing the fisheries for blue and king threadfin salmons, estuary rockcod, Malabar grouper and mangrove jack in north-western Australia. Final Report to the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation, Project No 2002/003, Canberra.
Platten, J. R., Tibbetts, I. R., and Sheaves, M. J. (2002). The influence of increased line-fishing mortality on the sex ratio and age of sex reversal of the venus tusk fish. Journal of Fish Biology 60, 301–318.
| The influence of increased line-fishing mortality on the sex ratio and age of sex reversal of the venus tusk fish.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Ricker, W. E. (1975). Computation and interpretation of biological statistics of fish populations. Bulletin of the Fishery Research Board of Canada 191, 1–382.
Ricker, W. E. (1981). Changes in the average size and average age of pacific salmon. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 38, 1636–1656.
| Changes in the average size and average age of pacific salmon.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Robertson, D. R. (1972). Social control of sex reversal in a coral-reef fish. Science 177, 1007–1009.
| Social control of sex reversal in a coral-reef fish.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DC%2BC3cvgvFeltw%3D%3D&md5=247fd6cb00feb967cdebba163e06951cCAS |
Robins, J., Mayer, D., Staunton-Smith, J., Halliday, I., Sawynok, B., and Sellin, M. (2006). Variable growth rates of the tropical estuarine fish barramundi Lates calcarifer (Bloch) under different freshwater flow conditions. Journal of Fish Biology 69, 379–391.
| Variable growth rates of the tropical estuarine fish barramundi Lates calcarifer (Bloch) under different freshwater flow conditions.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Rodgers, E. W., Earley, R. L., and Grober, M. S. (2007). Social status determines sexual phenotype in the bi-directional sex changing bluebanded goby Lythrypnus dalli. Journal of Fish Biology 70, 1660–1668.
| Social status determines sexual phenotype in the bi-directional sex changing bluebanded goby Lythrypnus dalli.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Russell, D. J. (1988). An assessment of the east Queensland inshore gill net fishery. Queensland Department of Primary Industries, Information Series QI88024, Brisbane.
Sale, P. F., Hanski, I., and Kritzer, J. P. (2006). The merging of metapopulation theory and marine ecology: establishing the historical context. In ‘Marine Metapopulations’. (Eds J. P. Kritzer and P. F. Sale.) pp. 3–28. (Elsevier Academic Press: Burlington, MA.)
Sinclair, A. F., Swain, D. P., and Hanson, J. M. (2002). Disentangling the effects of size-selective mortality, density, and temperature on length-at-age. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 59, 372–382.
| Disentangling the effects of size-selective mortality, density, and temperature on length-at-age.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Sokal, R. R., and Rohlf, F. J. (1995). ‘Biometry. The Principles and Practice of Statistics in Biological Research.’ 3rd edn. (W. H. Freeman: San Francisco, CA.)
Staunton-Smith, J., Robins, J. B., Mayer, D. G., Sellin, M. J., and Halliday, I. A. (2004). Does the quantity and timing of fresh water flowing into a dry tropical estuary affect year-class strength of barramundi (Lates calcarifer)? Marine and Freshwater Research 55, 787–797.
| Does the quantity and timing of fresh water flowing into a dry tropical estuary affect year-class strength of barramundi (Lates calcarifer)?Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Taylor, N. G., Walters, C. J., and Martell, S. J. D. (2005). A new likelihood for simultaneously estimating von Bertalanffy growth parameters, gear selectivity, and natural and fishing mortality. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 62, 215–223.
| A new likelihood for simultaneously estimating von Bertalanffy growth parameters, gear selectivity, and natural and fishing mortality.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Tolan, J. M., and Fisher, M. (2009). Biological response to changes in climate patterns: population increases of gray snapper (Lutjanus griseus) in Texas bays and estuaries. Fishery Bulletin 107, 36–44.
Warner, R. R. (1975). The adaptive significance of sequential hermaphroditism in animals. American Naturalist 109, 61–82.
| The adaptive significance of sequential hermaphroditism in animals.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Warner, R. R. (1988). Sex change and the size-advantage model. Trends in Ecology & Evolution 3, 133–136.
| Sex change and the size-advantage model.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DC%2BC3M7gvFaksw%3D%3D&md5=c1405a3bfdb9d10bc545061eef7a4e1aCAS |
Weatherley, A. H., and Gill, H. S. (1987). ‘Biology of Fish Growth.’ (Academic Press: New York.)
Williams, A. J., Davies, C. R., and Mapstone, B. D. (2006). Regional patterns in reproductive biology of Lethrinus miniatus on the Great Barrier Reef. Marine and Freshwater Research 57, 403–414.
| Regional patterns in reproductive biology of Lethrinus miniatus on the Great Barrier Reef.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Williams, A. J., Mapstone, B. D., and Davies, C. R. (2007). Spatial and interannual patterns in growth of an exploited coral-reef fish. Journal of Fish Biology 71, 970–992.
| Spatial and interannual patterns in growth of an exploited coral-reef fish.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |