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Variation in larval growth can predict the recruitment of a temperate, seagrass-associated fish

  • Population Ecology
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Abstract

Understanding the factors leading to inter-annual variation in recruitment of animals with complex life cycles is a key goal for ecology and the sustainable management of animal resources, such as fisheries. We used otolith microstructure to determine larval growth rates of post-larval King George whiting, Sillaginodes punctata, in seagrass beds of Port Phillip Bay, Australia. Inter-annual variation in growth determined early in the pelagic, offshore larval-stage was highly correlated with post-larval abundance (a predictor of fishery recruitment). Sea surface temperature measured near the presumed spawning area off Western Victoria was significantly correlated with larval growth, and was also significantly correlated with post-larval abundance in Port Phillip Bay. Increased water temperature would have had the direct effect of increasing larval growth and therefore contributing to larval survival, but may also have been indicative of enhanced physical transport and/or plankton productivity. Overall, larval growth rate of King George whiting is a very strong predictor of post-larval abundance, which in turn will influence fishery recruitment in 3–5 years' time.

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Acknowledgements

We wish to thank David Hatton and a number of other helpers and volunteers for assistance with the collection of post-larval whiting. The SST data were obtained from the CSIRO Marine Laboratories with the assistance of Glenelg Smith. Thanks to Steve Swearer for giving us access to his microscope/video-digitising equipment. Finally, thanks to Paul Hamer and Jeremy Hindell for their helpful comments on the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Primary Industries Research Victoria, Marine and Freshwater Systems, Department of Zoology, University of Melbourne, P. O. Box 114, Queenscliff, 3225, Australia

    Gregory P. Jenkins

  2. Department of Zoology, University of Melbourne, 3052, Parkville, Australia

    Gregory P. Jenkins & Daniel King

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  1. Gregory P. Jenkins
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  2. Daniel King
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Correspondence to Gregory P. Jenkins.

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Communicated by Roland Brandl

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Jenkins, G.P., King, D. Variation in larval growth can predict the recruitment of a temperate, seagrass-associated fish. Oecologia 147, 641–649 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00442-005-0336-5

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