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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 57(4)

Regional patterns in reproductive biology of Lethrinus miniatus on the Great Barrier Reef

A. J. Williams A D , C. R. Davies A B and B. D. Mapstone A C
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A CRC Reef Research Centre, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD 4811, Australia.

B Present address: CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research, GPO Box 1538, Hobart, 7001 TAS, Australia.

C Present address: Antarctic Climate and Ecosystems CRC, Private Bag 80, Hobart, 7001 TAS, Australia.

D Corresponding author. Email: ashley.williams@jcu.edu.au

Marine and Freshwater Research 57(4) 403-414 https://doi.org/10.1071/MF05127
Submitted: 27 June 2005  Accepted: 21 March 2006   Published: 14 June 2006

Abstract

Uniformity in fish population biology is a common assumption in many fishery assessments and management arrangements. Although spatial patterns in population biology are often unknown, ignorance of significant variation within a fished stock has profound implications for fishery assessments and management. In the current paper, the reproductive biology of an exploited reef fish, Lethrinus miniatus, was examined for populations in the northern and southern regions of the Great Barrier Reef (GBR). Significant regional variation was observed in some reproductive parameters, but not others. In the northern region, the proportion of spawning females observed during the spawning season was significantly greater and the size at sex change significantly smaller than in the southern region. However, the spawning season, age at sex change and sex ratios did not differ significantly between the northern and southern regions. Size and age at maturity could not be estimated from either of these regions, but an estimate was obtained from the Capricorn–Bunker region at the southern tip of the GBR. The observed regional patterns in reproductive biology of L. miniatus populations have important implications for specific management arrangements such as size limits and seasonal closures, and for fisheries management in general.

Extra keywords: Lethrinidae, protogyny, reproduction, spawning omission.


Acknowledgments

We sincerely thank the skippers and crew of the Fishing Vessels Vana, Hobo, Orpheus, El torito, Sharma, Bundy R, Cat Angler, Peggy Vee, Somerset, Battersea, Dorothy B, Peri and Catchalot who provided samples for this research for no charge, without whom this research would not have materialised. We also thank Rick and Lyn Hack from Coimbra for their assistance in collecting samples from the Capricorn–Bunker Group. Funding for this research was provided by the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation, the Cooperative Research Centre for the Great Barrier Reef Word Heritage Area and the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority. AW was supported by an Australian Postgraduate Award.


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