Age and growth of early‐life‐stage Atlantic tarpon (Megalops atlanticus) from the northcentral Gulf of Mexico

Age and growth of early‐life‐stage Atlantic tarpon Megalops atlanticus collected from Mississippi coastal waters in the northcentral Gulf of Mexico (GOM) are described using otolith microstructure analysis. Tarpon leptocephali (n = 95, 16.0—27.8 mm standard length, LS) collected from June throughOct...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of fish biology 2021-10, Vol.99 (4), p.1190-1200
Main Authors: Graham, Patrick M., Franks, James S., Anderson, Evan J., Leaf, Robert T., Tilley, Jason D.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Age
Allometry
Animal morphology
Biometry
Coastal waters
Fish
Fork length
Game fishes
growth
Growth rate
Hatching
Juveniles
leptocephali
Megalopae
Megalops atlanticus
Metamorphosis
Microstructure
Minors
northcentral Gulf of Mexico
Periodicity
Sport fishing
tarpon
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Summary:Age and growth of early‐life‐stage Atlantic tarpon Megalops atlanticus collected from Mississippi coastal waters in the northcentral Gulf of Mexico (GOM) are described using otolith microstructure analysis. Tarpon leptocephali (n = 95, 16.0—27.8 mm standard length, LS) collected from June throughOctober 2013—2018, ranged in age from 22 to 43 days (mean = 30.9 ± 0.5 days). Leptocephalus somatic growth rates ranged 0.46—1.24 mm day−1 (mean = 0.76 ± 0.02 mm day−1), and leptocephalus otolith growth rates ranged 1.78—3.97 μm day−1 (mean = 2.58 ± 0.04 μm day−1). Growth rates were inversely correlated to leptocephalus age, indicating the shrinkage phase associated with leptocephalus metamorphosis. Juvenile tarpon (n = 358, 50—359 mm fork length, LF) were collected from August through December 2007—2018. Juveniles exhibited a positive allometric relationship (adjusted R2 = 0.99, P 
ISSN:0022-1112
1095-8649
DOI:10.1111/jfb.14819