Comparative growth, age at maturity and sex change, and longevity of Hawaiian parrotfishes with bomb radiocarbon validation<i></i>

TitleComparative growth, age at maturity and sex change, and longevity of Hawaiian parrotfishes with bomb radiocarbon validation
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2017
AuthorsDeMartini, EE, Andrews, AH, Howard, KG, Taylor, BM, Lou, D, Donovan, MK
JournalCanadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
Date PublishedJul-06-2017
ISSN0706-652X
Abstract

Growth rates and longevities were estimated for five major fishery species of parrotfishes (“uhu”) at Oahu, Hawai'i. All species grew rapidly with von Bertalanffy Growth Formula (VBGF) k values ≥ 0.4 yr-1. Longevities were found to range broadly among the three SMALL species—4 yr in Calotomus carolinus and 6 and 11 yr in Scarus psittacus and Chlorurus spilurus—and to 15-20 yr in S. rubroviolaceus and Chlorurus perspicillatus for the two LARGE species. Age-reading and growth curves for the latter two LARGE species were validated using bomb radiocarbon dating. Median ages at sexual maturity as females (AM50) and at sex change (from female to terminal phase male, A∆50) were estimated using logistic models. Sexual maturation occurred at 1–2 yr for the SMALL species and at 3–3½ yr in the LARGE species. A∆50 estimates ranged from 2–4 yr in the SMALL species and were about 5 and 7 yr in S. rubroviolaceus and C. perspicillatus, respectively. Estimated milestones poorly corresponded to the current minimum legal size for uhu in Hawai'i (12" or 30.5 cm fork length). Pooling these parrotfishes for management seems generally inappropriate, especially for the two LARGE species. Age-based metrics are more informative than size-based metrics for these fishes

URLhttp://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/10.1139/cjfas-2016-0523
DOI10.1139/cjfas-2016-0523