Divergence of the growth characteristics and longevity of coexisting Platycephalidae (Pisces)
L. M. Barnes A B C , C. A. Gray A and J. E. Williamson B
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Cronulla Fisheries Research Centre, PO Box 21, Cronulla, NSW 2230, Australia.
B Marine Ecology Group, Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, NSW 2109, Australia.
C Corresponding author. Email: lachlan.barnes@industry.nsw.gov.au
Marine and Freshwater Research 62(11) 1308-1317 https://doi.org/10.1071/MF11045
Submitted: 22 February 2011 Accepted: 17 July 2011 Published: 13 October 2011
Abstract
Divergent age and growth characteristics can reduce deleterious competitive interactions between taxonomically related species facilitating coexistence. Five platycephalid fish species, Platycephalus caeruleopunctatus, Platycephalus longispinis, Platycephalus richardsoni, Ambiserrula jugosa and Ratabulus diversidens, inhabit inner continental shelf habitats along the east coast of Australia. We tested the hypothesis that the age and growth characteristics of these five species are unique. The age of each species was estimated by counting the number of opaque zones in sectioned otoliths. The maximum observed age ranged from 4 years for A. jugosa to 16 years for P. longispinis. von Bertalanffy growth functions were fitted to length-at-age data for each combination of species, sex and location and compared using likelihood ratio tests. The age and growth characteristics of each species were unique and each species displayed sexually dimorphic growth, with females growing larger than males. The unique species-specific growth characteristics may assist length-based partitioning of resources, reducing competitive interactions and facilitate coexistence between these platycephalid species.
Additional keywords: ageing, Ambiserrula, flathead, growth characteristics, life history, Platycephalus, Ratabulus, resource partitioning.
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