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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 61(1)

Life cycle characteristics of the Blue Morwong Nemadactylus valenciennesi, compared with those of other species of Cheilodactylidae

P. G. Coulson A B , S. A. Hesp A , I. C. Potter A and N. G. Hall A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Centre for Fish and Fisheries Research, School of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Murdoch University, WA 6150, Australia.

B Corresponding author. Email: p.coulson@murdoch.edu.au

Marine and Freshwater Research 61(1) 104-118 https://doi.org/10.1071/MF08341
Submitted: 15 December 2008  Accepted: 12 June 2009   Published: 29 January 2010

Abstract

The demonstration by this study that the life cycle characteristics of the reef fish Nemadactylus valenciennesi differed markedly from those of other cheilodactylids led us to compare these differences and hypothesise on their evolutionary implications. The distribution, length and age compositions, growth and the length and age at maturity of N. valenciennesi in south-western Australian waters have been determined. The maximum age (21 years) of N. valenciennesi (maximum total length = 984 mm) is far less than those of the much smaller Cheilodactylus fuscus, Nemadactylus macropterus (both ~40 years) and Cheilodactylus spectabilis (97 years). Yet N. valenciennesi, N. macropterus and C. spectabilis mature at a similar young age (3–7 years). While, on the basis of data for other species, all three species mature at lengths consistent with their asymptotic lengths, the last two species mature at a far earlier age than would be predicted from their long life spans. The early attainment of maturity by N. macropterus and C. spectabilis may reflect a response to high juvenile mortality or constrained adult growth, whereas their long life spans could reflect a response to variable recruitment in the past or compensation for limited annual reproductive output due to very constrained adult growth.

Additional keywords: confamilial comparisons, growth, longevity, maturity, regional differences, spawning.


Acknowledgements

Gratitude is expressed to Steve Cossington and many other colleagues at the Centre for Fish and Fisheries Research at Murdoch University and to recreational fisher Jon Stuart and commercial fisher Carlo Gulloti for their generous assistance with sampling. Many thanks also to Kim Smith and Josh Brown for providing water temperature data, to Graeme Ewing for providing data on Cheilodactylus spectabilis and to two anonymous referees for their helpful comments and criticism. Financial support was provided by the Australian Fisheries and Research Development Corporation and Murdoch University. The project was carried out under Murdoch University animal ethics project number R1066/04.


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