Article ID Journal Published Year Pages File Type
4549796 Journal of Sea Research 2014 10 Pages PDF
Abstract

•G. elevata exhibited great longevity.•Spatial and temporal variation in G. elevata growth was observed.•Growth chronologies showed a relationship with the El Niño Southern Oscillation.•Changes in G. elevata growth rates are expected with climate shifts.

Spatial and temporal variation in the growth of a widely distributed temperate marine herbivore, Girella elevata, was examined using length-at-age data and multi-decadal otolith increment growth chronologies. In total 927 G. elevata were collected from three regions of the Australian south-east coast, extending 780 km and covering the majority of the East Australian Current, a poleward-flowing western boundary current of the Southern Pacific Gyre and climate change hotspot. A validated ageing method using sectioned sagittal otoliths was developed to enumerate both daily (juvenile fish) and annual otolith increments. G. elevata exhibited great longevity with a maximum recorded age of 45 + yrs. Spatial variation in growth from length-at-age data was observed with the highest growth rates within the centre of the species distribution. Analysis of otolith growth chronologies of 33 yrs showed a positive relationship with the Southern Oscillation Index. Identifying links between life-history characteristics and variation in oceanographic conditions across latitudinal gradients may shed light on potential impacts of expected climate shifts on fish productivity.

Related Topics
Physical Sciences and Engineering Earth and Planetary Sciences Oceanography
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