Localised spawning omission in snapper, Chrysophrys auratus (Sparidae)
Carina J. Sim-Smith A B , Andrew G. Jeffs A and Craig A. Radford A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Leigh Marine Laboratory, University of Auckland, PO Box 349, Warkworth, New Zealand.
B Corresponding author. Email: sim-smith@clear.net.nz
Marine and Freshwater Research 63(2) 150-159 https://doi.org/10.1071/MF11203
Submitted: 7 September 2011 Accepted: 8 November 2011 Published: 13 December 2011
Abstract
Failure to spawn in a significant proportion of adult fish may greatly decrease the reproductive output of a population and lead to overestimates of recruitment to the fish stock. Reproductive output of the commercially important sparid, Chrysophrys auratus, around the Kaipara Harbour, New Zealand, is particularly important as this harbour is the primary source for the C. auratus population along the west coast of the North Island of New Zealand. We tested the hypothesis that C. auratus do not spawn inside the Kaipara Harbour by comparing monthly gonad and otolith samples from fish caught within the harbour with those of fish from surrounding coastal waters. Fish from coastal waters showed normal gonad development with peak spawning in spring. By comparison, almost all adult fish from the harbour had underdeveloped gonads, with mean gonadosomatic indices ≤1. Histological gonad analyses of C. auratus caught in the harbour showed vitellogenic oocytes were reabsorbed before spawning. Therefore, recruitment to the harbour must originate from spawning that occurs outside the harbour. This first record of spawning omission in C. auratus has important implications for fisheries management, as it may lead to overestimation of the spawning stock and increase the risk of broad-scale population depletion, through the targeted fishing of spawning aggregations.
Additional keywords: non-annual spawning, non-reproductive, ovaries, Pagrus auratus, reproductive development, skipped spawning, testes.
References
Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics (2010). Australian Fisheries Statistics 2009. Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Canberra.Bell, J. D., Lyle, J. M., Bulman, C. M., Graham, K. J., Newton, G. M., and Smith, D. C. (1992). Spatial variation in reproduction, and occurrence of non-reproductive adults, in orange roughy, Hoplostethus atlanticus Collett (Trachichthyidae), from south-eastern Australia. Journal of Fish Biology 40, 107–122.
| Spatial variation in reproduction, and occurrence of non-reproductive adults, in orange roughy, Hoplostethus atlanticus Collett (Trachichthyidae), from south-eastern Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Burton, M. P. M., and Idler, D. R. (1987). An experimental investigation of the non-reproductive, post-mature state in winter flounder. Journal of Fish Biology 30, 643–650.
| An experimental investigation of the non-reproductive, post-mature state in winter flounder.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Crossland, J. (1977). Seasonal reproductive cycle of snapper Chrysophrys auratus (Forster) in the Hauraki Gulf. New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research 11, 37–60.
| Seasonal reproductive cycle of snapper Chrysophrys auratus (Forster) in the Hauraki Gulf.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Crossland, J. (1977). Fecundity of the snapper Chrysophrys auratus (Pisces: Sparidae) from the Hauraki Gulf. New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research 11, 767–775.
| Fecundity of the snapper Chrysophrys auratus (Pisces: Sparidae) from the Hauraki Gulf.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Davies, N. M., and Walsh, C. (1995). Length and age composition of commercial snapper landings in the Auckland Fishery Management Area, 1988–94. Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, New Zealand Fisheries Data Report No. 58, Wellington.
Davies, N. M., McKenzie, J. R., and Gilbert, D. J. (2006). Assessment of the SNA 8 stock for the 2003–04 fishing year. Ministry of Fisheries, New Zealand Fisheries Assessment Report No. 2006/9, Wellington.
Fahy, F., Irving, P., and John, S. (1990). ‘Coastal resource inventory first order survey.’ (Department of Conservation: Wellington, New Zealand.)
Ferrell, D. J., Henry, G. W., Bell, J. D., and Quartararo, N. (1992). Validation of annual marks in the otoliths of young snapper, Pagrus auratus (Sparidae). Australian Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research 43, 1051–1055.
| Validation of annual marks in the otoliths of young snapper, Pagrus auratus (Sparidae).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Francis, R. I. C. C., Paul, L., and Mulligan, K. P. (1992). Ageing of adult snapper (Pagrus auratus) from otolith annual ring counts: validation by tagging and oxytetracycline injection. Australian Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research 43, 1069–1089.
| Ageing of adult snapper (Pagrus auratus) from otolith annual ring counts: validation by tagging and oxytetracycline injection.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Gomon, M. F., Bray, D., and Kuiter, R. (2008). ‘Fishes of Australia’s Southern Coast.’ (Reed New Holland: Melbourne.)
Hamer, P. A., Acevedo, S., Jenkins, G. P., and Newman, A. (2011). Connectivity of a large embayment and coastal fishery: spawning aggregations in one bay source local and broad-scale fishery replenishment. Journal of Fish Biology 78, 1090–1109.
| Connectivity of a large embayment and coastal fishery: spawning aggregations in one bay source local and broad-scale fishery replenishment.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DC%2BC3MvgvVyktQ%3D%3D&md5=7939991a14d7f33e4e662d5ed8d199a6CAS |
Heath, R. (1975). Stability of some New Zealand coastal inlets. New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research 9, 449–457.
| Stability of some New Zealand coastal inlets.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Holmgren, K. (2003). Omitted spawning in compensatory-growing perch. Journal of Fish Biology 62, 918–927.
| Omitted spawning in compensatory-growing perch.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Jackson, G., Norriss, J. V., Mackie, M. C., and Hall, N. G. (2010). Spatial variation in life history characteristics of snapper (Pagrus auratus) within Shark Bay, Western Australia. New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research 44, 1–15.
| Spatial variation in life history characteristics of snapper (Pagrus auratus) within Shark Bay, Western Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC3cXltF2qu7k%3D&md5=8f6a34646a9ee0b7a185964ac98beac1CAS |
Jørgensen, C., Ernande, B., Fiksen, Ø., and Dieckmann, U. (2006). The logic of skipped spawning in fish. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 63, 200–211.
| The logic of skipped spawning in fish.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Livingston, M. E., Vignaux, M., and Schofield, K. A. (1997). Estimating the annual proportion of nonspawning adults in New Zealand hoki, Macruronus novaezelandiae. Fishery Bulletin 95, 99–113.
Mackie, M., Jackson, G., Tapp, N., Norriss, J., and Thomson, A. (2009). Macroscopic and microscopic description of snapper (Pagrus auratus) gonads from Shark Bay, Western Australia. Department of Fisheries, Fisheries Research Report No. 184, Western Australia.
McFarlane, G. A., and Franzin, W. Z. (1978). Elevated heavy metals: a stress on a population of white suckers, Catostomus commersoni, in Hamell Lake, Saskatchewan. Journal of the Fisheries Research Board of Canada 35, 963–970.
| Elevated heavy metals: a stress on a population of white suckers, Catostomus commersoni, in Hamell Lake, Saskatchewan.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaE1cXkslWktbg%3D&md5=911fd828efb096ce4e5fc1baa65587a8CAS |
Ministry of Fisheries (2010). ‘National Aquatic Biodiversity Information System (NABIS).’ Available at http://www.nabis.govt.nz/Pages/default.aspx [Accessed March 2010].
Ministry of Fisheries (2011). Report form the Fisheries Assessment Plenary, May 2011: Stock assessments and yield estimates. Ministry of Fisheries, Wellington.
Moore, R., and Reynolds, L. F. (1982). Migration patterns of barramundi, Lates calcarifer (Bloch), in Papua New Guinea. Australian Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research 33, 671–682.
| Migration patterns of barramundi, Lates calcarifer (Bloch), in Papua New Guinea.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Morrison, M. (2007). Comparing seagrass meadows across New Zealand. Water and Atmosphere 15, 16–17.
Morrison, M. (2008). Tracking snapper origins. Water and Atmosphere 16, 4..
Paul, L., and Sullivan, K. J. (1988). Snapper. NZ Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, New Zealand Fisheries Assessment Research Document 88/26, Wellington.
Pawson, M. G., Pickett, G. D., and Witthames, P. R. (2000). The influence of temperature on the onset of first maturity in sea bass. Journal of Fish Biology 56, 319–327.
| The influence of temperature on the onset of first maturity in sea bass.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Pollock, B. R. (1984). Relations between migration, reproduction and nutrition in yellowfin bream Acanthopagrus australis. Marine Ecology Progress Series 19, 17–23.
| Relations between migration, reproduction and nutrition in yellowfin bream Acanthopagrus australis.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaL2cXhtFSrtbw%3D&md5=4ca0ea5f19fad6236d548658fab506d8CAS |
Pörtner, H. O., Berdal, B., Blust, R., Brix, O., Colosimo, A., De Wachter, B., Giuliani, A., Johansen, T., Fischer, T., Knust, R., Lannig, G., Naevdal, G., Nedenes, A., Nyhammer, G., Sartoris, F. J., Serendero, I., Sirabella, P., Thorkildsen, S., and Zakhartsev, M. (2001). Climate induced temperature effects on growth performance, fecundity and recruitment in marine fish: developing a hypothesis for cause and effect relationships in Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) and common eelpout (Zoarces viviparus). Continental Shelf Research 21, 1975–1997.
| Climate induced temperature effects on growth performance, fecundity and recruitment in marine fish: developing a hypothesis for cause and effect relationships in Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) and common eelpout (Zoarces viviparus).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Rideout, R. M., Burton, M. P. M., and Rose, G. A. (2000). Observations on mass atresia and skipped spawning in northern Atlantic cod, from Smith Sound, Newfoundland. Journal of Fish Biology 57, 1429–1440.
| Observations on mass atresia and skipped spawning in northern Atlantic cod, from Smith Sound, Newfoundland.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Rideout, R. M., Rose, G. A., and Burton, M. P. M. (2005). Skipped spawning in female iteroparous fishes. Fish and Fisheries 6, 50–72.
| Skipped spawning in female iteroparous fishes.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Rijnsdorp, A. D. (1990). The mechanism of energy allocation over reproduction and somatic growth in female North Sea plaice, Pleuronectes platessa L. Netherlands Journal of Sea Research 25, 279–289.
| The mechanism of energy allocation over reproduction and somatic growth in female North Sea plaice, Pleuronectes platessa L.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Scott, S. G., and Pankhurst, N. W. (1992). Interannual variation in the reproductive cycle of the New Zealand snapper Pagrus auratus (Bloch & Schneider) (Sparidae). Journal of Fish Biology 41, 685–696.
| Interannual variation in the reproductive cycle of the New Zealand snapper Pagrus auratus (Bloch & Schneider) (Sparidae).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Scott, S. G., Zeldis, J. R., and Pankhurst, N. W. (1993). Evidence of daily spawning in natural populations of the New Zealand snapper Pagrus auratus (Sparidae). Environmental Biology of Fishes 36, 149–156.
| Evidence of daily spawning in natural populations of the New Zealand snapper Pagrus auratus (Sparidae).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Seafood Industry Council (2011). ‘Snapper.’ Available at http://www.seafoodindustry.co.nz/n1128,208.html [Accessed July 2011].
Skjæraasen, J. E., Kennedy, J., Thorsen, A., Fonn, M., Strand, B. N., Mayer, I., and Kjesbu, O. S. (2009). Mechanisms regulating oocyte recruitment and skipped spawning in Northeast Arctic cod (Gadus morhua). Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 66, 1582–1596.
| Mechanisms regulating oocyte recruitment and skipped spawning in Northeast Arctic cod (Gadus morhua).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Smith, P. J., Francis, R. I. C. C., and Paul, L. (1978). Genetic variation and population structure in the New Zealand snapper. New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research 12, 343–350.
| Genetic variation and population structure in the New Zealand snapper.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 & Company: New York.)
Stewart, J., Rowling, K., Hegarty, A.-M., and Nuttall, A. (2010). Size and age at sexual maturity of snapper Pagrus auratus in New South Wales 2008/09. Industry and Investment NSW Fisheries Research Report Series No. 27, Cronulla.
Trippel, E. A., and Harvey, H. H. (1990). Ovarian atresia and sex ratio imbalance in white sucker, Catostomus commersoni. Journal of Fish Biology 36, 231–239.
| Ovarian atresia and sex ratio imbalance in white sucker, Catostomus commersoni.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Wakefield, C. B. (2010). Annual, lunar and diel reproductive periodicity of a spawning aggregation of snapper Pagrus auratus (Sparidae) in a marine embayment on the lower west coast of Australia. Journal of Fish Biology 77, 1359–1378.
| Annual, lunar and diel reproductive periodicity of a spawning aggregation of snapper Pagrus auratus (Sparidae) in a marine embayment on the lower west coast of Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DC%2BC3cbjvV2itg%3D%3D&md5=61126ff36b4de039c912f903e0bcacf5CAS |
West, G. (1990). Methods of assessing ovarian development in fishes: a review. Australian Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research 41, 199–222.
| Methods of assessing ovarian development in fishes: a review.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Yaragina, N. A. (2010). Biological parameters of immature, ripening, and non-reproductive, mature northeast Arctic cod in 19842006. ICES Journal of Marine Science 67, 2033–2041.
| Biological parameters of immature, ripening, and non-reproductive, mature northeast Arctic cod in 19842006.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
