Reproduction and spawning habitat of white trevally, Pseudocaranx dentex, in the Azores, central north Atlantic

Authors

  • Pedro Afonso IMAR / Department of Oceanography and Fisheries, University of the Azores
  • Jorge Fontes IMAR / Department of Oceanography and Fisheries, University of the Azores
  • Telmo Morato IMAR / Department of Oceanography and Fisheries, University of the Azores
  • Kim N. Holland Deparment of Zoology, Hawai’i Institute of Marine Biology, University of Hawai’i at Manoa
  • Ricardo S. Santos IMAR / Department of Oceanography and Fisheries, University of the Azores

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3989/scimar.2008.72n2373

Keywords:

trevally, reproduction, spawning, habitat, offshore reefs, marine reserves

Abstract


Reproductive biology and habitat preferences of the white trevally, Pseudocaranx dentex (Carangidae), were studied in the Azores islands, central north Atlantic, to determine the spatial and seasonal dynamics of habitat use of immature and mature fish. The sex ratio was close to 1:1 and fish matured at about 30 cm fork length. There were no differences in the maturation or length-weight relationships between sexes. The spawning season lasts from June to September. Underwater visual censuses showed that schools of mature individuals preferentially aggregate around the summits of offshore reefs during the spawning season. In contrast, schools of smaller, immature fish use inshore habitats all year round. Our data support the hypothesis that offshore reefs are a preferential spawning habitat of larger white trevally, and most possibly for a number of visitor pelagic predators as well. Inverse relationships between exploitation levels, abundance and size composition at the two different islands suggest that the summer fishery targeting trevally schools around offshore reefs has negatively impacted the population. These findings bring additional ecological and management relevance to offshore reefs.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Author Biography

Pedro Afonso, IMAR / Department of Oceanography and Fisheries, University of the Azores

Deparment of Zoology, Hawai’i Institute of Marine Biology, University of Hawai’i at Manoa, USA

References

Afonso, P. – 2002. Spatial patterns in the littoral fish community of the Azores. MSc. thesis, University of Coimbra.

Barreiros, J.P., R.S Santos and A.E. Borba. – 2002. Food habits, schooling and predatory behaviour of the yellowmouth barracuda, Sphyraena viridensis (Perciformes: Sphyraenidae) in the Azores. Cybium 26(2): 83-88.

Castro, J.J., J.A. Santiago and V. Hernández-García. – 1999. Fish associated with fish aggregation devices off the Canary Islands (Central-East Atlantic). Sci. Mar. 63(3-4): 191-198.

Colin, P.L., Y.J. Sadovy and M.L. Domeier. – 2003. Manual for the Study and Conservation of Reef Fish Spawning Aggregations. Society for the Conservation of Reef Fish Aggregations, Special Publication 1 (Version 1.0), pp. 1-98+iii.

Dalzell, P. – 1996. Catch rates, selectivity and yields of reef fishing. In: N.C. Polunin and C.M. Roberts (eds.), Reef Fisheries, pp. 161-192. Chapman and Hall, London.

Debelius, H. – 1997. Mediterranean and Atlantic fish guide. Ikan, Frankfurt.

Falcón, J.M., S.A. Bortone, A. Brito and C.M. Bundrick. – 1996. Structure and relationships within and between the littoral rock-substrate fish communities off four islands in the Canarian Archipelago. Mar. Biol., 125: 215-231. doi:10.1007/BF00346302

Farmer, B.M., D.J.W. French, I.C. Potter, S.A. Hesp and N.G. Hall. – 2005. Determination of biological parameters for managing the fisheries for Mulloway and Silver Trevally in Western Australia. Fisheries Research and Development Corporation Report. Murdoch Univ., Murdoch.

Fogarty, M.J. – 1999. Essential habitat, marine reserves and fishery management. Trends Eco. Evol., 14(4): 133-134. doi:10.1016/S0169-5347(98)01579-1

Jennings, S. and J.M. Lock. – 1996. Population and ecosystem effects of reef fishing. In: N.C. Polunin and C.M. Roberts (eds.), Reef Fisheries, pp. 193-218. Chapman and Hall, London.

Johannes, R.E. – 1981. Words of the Lagoon: Fishing and Marine Lore in the Palau District of Micronesia. University of California Press, Berkeley.

Meyer, C.G., K.N. Holland, B.M. Wetherbee and C.G. Lowe. – 2001. Diet, resource partitioning and gear vulnerability of Hawaiian jacks captured in fishing tournaments. Fish. Res., 53: 105-113. doi:10.1016/S0165-7836(00)00285-X

Morato, T., D.A. Varkey, C. Damaso, M. Machete, M. Santos, R. Prieto, R.S. Santos and T.J. Pitcher. – 2008. Testing a seamount effect on aggregating visitors. Mar. Ecol. Prog, Ser., 357: 23-32. doi:10.3354/meps07269

Randall, J.E. – 1996. Shore fishes of Hawai‘i. University of Hawai‘I Press, Honolulu.

Rowling, K.R. and L.P. Raines. – 2000. Description of the biology and an assessment of the fishery for Silver Trevally Pseudocaranx dentex off New South Wales. Sydney: NSW Fisheries, Report to Fisheries Research and Development Corporation.

Sadovy, Y. – 1996. Reproduction of reef fishery species. In: N.C. Polunin and C.M. Roberts (eds.), Reef Fisheries, pp. 15-60. Chapman and Hall, London.

Sala, E., O. Aburto-Oropeza, G. Paredes and G. Thompson. – 2003. Spawning aggregations and reproductive behaviour of reef fishes in the Gulf of California. Bull. Mar. Sci., 72(1): 103-121.

Santos, R.S., S. Hawkins, L.R. Monteiro, M. Alves and E.J. Isidro. – 1995. Marine research, resources and conservation in the Azores. Aq. Cons. Mar. Fresh. Ecos., 5(4): 311-354. doi:10.1002/aqc.3270050406

Sazima, I. – 1998. Field evidence for suspension feeding in Pseudocaranx dentex with comments on ram filtering in other jacks (Carangidae). Env. Biol. Fishes, 53(2): 225-229. doi:10.1023/A:1007492803796

Smith, G.C. and J.D. Parrish. – 2002. Estuaries as nurseries for the Jacks Caranx ignobilis and Caranx melampygus (Carangidae) in Hawaii. Est. Coast. Shelf Sci., 55: 347-359. doi:10.1006/ecss.2001.0909

Smith-Vaniz, W.F. – 1999. Carangidae. Jacks and scads (also trevallies, queenfishes, runners, amberjacks, pilotfishes, pampanos, etc.). In: K.E. Carpenter and V.H. Niem (eds), FAO species identification guide for fishery purposes. The living marine resources of the Western Central Pacific. Vol. 4. Bony fishes part 2 (Mugilidae to Carangidae), pp. 2659-2756. FAO, Rome.

Van Der Kraak, G. and N.V. Pankhurst. – 1996. Temperature effects on the reproductive performance of fish. In: G. McDonald and C.M. Wood (eds.), Global Warming: Implications for Freshwater and Marine Fish, pp. 159-176. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.

Zar, J.H. – 1999. Biostatistical analysis (4rd edition). Prentice Hall, New Jersey.

Downloads

Published

2008-06-30

How to Cite

1.
Afonso P, Fontes J, Morato T, Holland KN, Santos RS. Reproduction and spawning habitat of white trevally, Pseudocaranx dentex, in the Azores, central north Atlantic. Sci. mar. [Internet]. 2008Jun.30 [cited 2024Mar.29];72(2):373-81. Available from: https://scientiamarina.revistas.csic.es/index.php/scientiamarina/article/view/854

Issue

Section

Articles