First record of biological traits of the Australian endemic longfin pike (Dinolestes lewini : Dinolestidae)
Charles A. Gray
A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A WildFish Research, Grays Point, Sydney, NSW 2232, Australia. Email: charles.gray@wildfishresearch.com.au
Australian Journal of Zoology 68(1) 40-44 https://doi.org/10.1071/ZO21001
Submitted: 30 January 2021 Accepted: 10 March 2021 Published: 22 March 2021
Abstract
Dinolestes lewini (longfin pike) is a common, but little studied, fish species endemic to temperate marine-dominated waters below ~31°S on the east, south and west coasts of the Australian mainland and around Tasmania. Samples of longfin pike collected in Lake Macquarie, a large coastal lagoon in south-eastern Australia, were examined for age, growth and reproductive characteristics. Spawning occurred over an extended period between at least October and March (austral spring to autumn), and although spent individuals occurred in samples, spawning location could not be ascertained. Examination of otolith edge condition provided strong support that opaque and translucent zones were deposited annually and that counts of opaque zones on otoliths can be used to estimate ages. Sex-related differences in mean length at age and projected growth based on the von Bertalanffy growth function were evident. Growth trajectories diverged at ~1.5 years of age, after which females grew faster than males for a longer period, eventually attaining greater observed maximum lengths and ages. Observed longevity was 5+ and 9+ years for males and females, respectively. The data provide an initial knowledge-platform for incorporation in species assessments and for further comparative investigations of variation in biological traits across the species’ distribution.
Keywords: age, fish, growth, ichthyology, life history, longevity, reproduction, spawning.
References
Bilton, D. T., Paula, J., and Bishop, J. D. D. (2002). Dispersal, genetic differentiation and speciation in estuarine organisms. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science 55, 937–952.| Dispersal, genetic differentiation and speciation in estuarine organisms.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Coleman, N., and Mobley, M. (1984). Diets of commercially exploited fish from Bass Strait and adjacent Victorian waters, south-eastern Australia. Australian Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research 35, 549–560.
| Diets of commercially exploited fish from Bass Strait and adjacent Victorian waters, south-eastern Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Edgar, G. D. (2008). ‘Australian Marine Life: the Plants and Animals of Temperate Waters.’ (New Holland Publishers: Sydney.)
Elsdon, T. S., Wells, B. K., Campana, S. E., Gillanders, B. M., Jones, C. M., Limburg, K. E., Secor, D. H., Thorrold, S. R., and Walther, B. D. (2008). Otolith chemistry to describe movements and life-history parameters of fishes: hypotheses, assumptions, limitations and inferences. In ‘Oceanography and Marine Biology – An Annual Review’. (Eds R. N. Gibson, R. J. A. Atkinson, and J. D. M. Gordon.) Vol. 46, pp. 297–330. (CRC Press: Boca Raton, FL.)
Fowler, A. M., Smith, S. M., Booth, D. J., and Stewart, J. (2016). Partial migration of grey mullet (Mugil cephalus) on Australia’s east coast revealed by otolith chemistry. Marine Environmental Research 119, 238–244.
| Partial migration of grey mullet (Mugil cephalus) on Australia’s east coast revealed by otolith chemistry.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 27344396PubMed |
Fraser, T. H. (1971). The fish Dinolestes lewini with comments on its osteology and relationships. Japanese Journal of Ichthyology 18, 157–163.
Gomon, M. F., Bray, D. J., and Kuiter, R. H. (2008). ‘Fishes of Australia’s Southern Coast.’ (New Holland Publishers.)
Gray, C. A. (2019). Age determination, growth and mortality of Gerres subfasciatus Cuvier, 1830 in southeast Australia. Journal of Applied Ichthyology 35, 729–737.
| Age determination, growth and mortality of Gerres subfasciatus Cuvier, 1830 in southeast Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Gray, C. A., and Kennelly, S. J. (2018). Diversity and composition of catches and discards in a recreational charter fishery. Fisheries Research 199, 44–52.
| Diversity and composition of catches and discards in a recreational charter fishery.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Gray, C. A., and Miskiewicz, A. G. (2000). Larval fish assemblages in south-east Australian coastal waters: seasonal and spatial structure. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science 50, 549–570.
| Larval fish assemblages in south-east Australian coastal waters: seasonal and spatial structure.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Gray, C. A., Ives, M. C., Macbeth, W. G., and Kendall, B. W. (2010). Variation in growth, mortality, length and age compositions of harvested populations of the herbivorous fish, Girella tricuspidata. Journal of Fish Biology 76, 880–899.
| Variation in growth, mortality, length and age compositions of harvested populations of the herbivorous fish, Girella tricuspidata.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Gray, C. A., Rotherham, D., and Johnson, D. D. (2011). Consistency of temporal and habitat-related differences among assemblages of fish in coastal lagoons. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science 95, 401–414.
| Consistency of temporal and habitat-related differences among assemblages of fish in coastal lagoons.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Gray, C. A., Haddy, J. A., Fearman, J., Barnes, L. M., Macbeth, W. G., and Kendall, B. W. (2012). Reproduction, growth and connectivity among populations of Girella tricuspidata (Pisces: Girellidae). Aquatic Biology 16, 53–68.
| Reproduction, growth and connectivity among populations of Girella tricuspidata (Pisces: Girellidae).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Haddy, J. A., and Pankhurst, N. W. (1998). Annual change in reproductive condition and plasma concentrations of sex steroids in black bream, Acanthopagrus butcheri (Munro) (Sparidae). Marine and Freshwater Research 49, 389–397.
| Annual change in reproductive condition and plasma concentrations of sex steroids in black bream, Acanthopagrus butcheri (Munro) (Sparidae).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Hobday, A. J., Smith, A. D. M., Stobutzki, I. C., Bulman, C., Daley, R., Dambacher, J. M., Deng, R. A., Dowdney, J., Fuller, M., Furlani, D., and Griffiths, S. P. (2011). Ecological risk assessment for the effects of fishing. Fisheries Research 108, 372–384.
| Ecological risk assessment for the effects of fishing.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Hughes, J. M., Stewart, J., Kendall, B. W., and Gray, C. A. (2008). Growth and reproductive biology of tarwhine Rhabdosargus sarba (Sparidae) in eastern Australia. Marine and Freshwater Research 59, 1111–1123.
| Growth and reproductive biology of tarwhine Rhabdosargus sarba (Sparidae) in eastern Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Jenkins, G. P. (1986). Composition, seasonality and distribution of ichthyoplankton in Port Phillip Bay, Victoria. Marine and Freshwater Research 37, 507–520.
| Composition, seasonality and distribution of ichthyoplankton in Port Phillip Bay, Victoria.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Kendall, B. W., and Gray, C. A. (2009). Reproduction, age and growth of Sillago maculata in south-eastern Australia. Journal of Applied Ichthyology 25, 529–536.
| Reproduction, age and growth of Sillago maculata in south-eastern Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Kendall, B. W., Gray, C. A., and Bucher, D. D. (2009). Age validation and variation in growth, mortality and population structure of Liza argentea and Myxus elongatus (Mugilidae) in two temperate Australian estuaries. Journal of Fish Biology 75, 2788–2804.
| Age validation and variation in growth, mortality and population structure of Liza argentea and Myxus elongatus (Mugilidae) in two temperate Australian estuaries.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 20738524PubMed |
Liggins, G. W., and Kennelly, S. J. (1996). By-catch from prawn trawling in the Clarence River estuary, New South Wales, Australia. Fisheries Research 25, 347–367.
| By-catch from prawn trawling in the Clarence River estuary, New South Wales, Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Neira, F. J., Miskiewicz, A. G., and Tait, S. E. (1999). Development and ecology of larvae of the monotypic Australian fish family Dinolestidae. Australian Journal of Zoology 47, 37–45.
| Development and ecology of larvae of the monotypic Australian fish family Dinolestidae.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Parker, G. A. (1992). The evolution of sexual size dimorphism in fish. Journal of Fish Biology 41, 1–20.
| The evolution of sexual size dimorphism in fish.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Roff, D. A. (1984). The evolution of life history parameters in teleosts. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 41, 989–1000.
| The evolution of life history parameters in teleosts.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Roy, P. S., Williams, R. J., Jones, A. R., Yassini, I., Gibbs, P. J., Coates, B., West, R. J., Scanes, P. R., Hudson, J. P., and Nichol, S. (2001). Structure and function of south-east Australian estuaries. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science 53, 351–384.
| Structure and function of south-east Australian estuaries.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Smith, M. L., Bell, J. D., and Hair, C. A. (1991). Spatial variation in abundance of recently settled rocky reef fish in southeastern Australia: implications for detecting change. Marine Ecology Progress Series 77, 95–103.
| Spatial variation in abundance of recently settled rocky reef fish in southeastern Australia: implications for detecting change.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Stocks, J., Gray, C. A., and Taylor, M. D. (2015). Intra-population trends in the maturation and reproduction of a temperate marine herbivore Girella elevata across latitudinal clines. Journal of Fish Biology 86, 463–483.
| Intra-population trends in the maturation and reproduction of a temperate marine herbivore Girella elevata across latitudinal clines.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 25613077PubMed |
Taylor, B. M., Choat, J. H., DeMartini, E. E., Hoey, A. S., Marshell, A., Priest, M. A., Rhodes, K. L., and Meekan, M. G. (2019). Demographic plasticity facilitates ecological and economic resilience in a commercially important reef fish. Journal of Animal Ecology 88, 1888–1900.
| Demographic plasticity facilitates ecological and economic resilience in a commercially important reef fish.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Trip, E. D. L., Clements, K. D., Raubenheimer, D., and Choat, J. H. (2014). Temperature-related variation in growth rate, size, maturation and life span in a marine herbivorous fish over a latitudinal gradient. Journal of Animal Ecology 83, 866–875.
| Temperature-related variation in growth rate, size, maturation and life span in a marine herbivorous fish over a latitudinal gradient.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
van der Meulen, D. E., Walsh, C. T., Taylor, M. D., and Gray, C. A. (2014). Habitat requirements and spawning strategy of an estuarine-dependent fish, Percalates colonorum. Marine and Freshwater Research 65, 218–227.
| Habitat requirements and spawning strategy of an estuarine-dependent fish, Percalates colonorum.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
von Bertalanffy, L. (1938). A quantitative theory of organic growth. Human Biology 10, 181–213.
Walsh, C. T., Gray, C. A., West, R. J., and Williams, L. F. G. (2011). Reproductive biology and spawning strategy of the catadromous percichthyid, Macquaria colonorum (Gunther, 1863). Environmental Biology of Fishes 91, 471–486.
| Reproductive biology and spawning strategy of the catadromous percichthyid, Macquaria colonorum (Gunther, 1863).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
