1. Age and growth of larval Pacific flagfin mojarra (Eucinostomus currani) in coastal Ecuador based on otolith analysis.
- Author
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Schuiteman, Michelle, Dos Santos, Andre R., Domínguez-Granda, Luis E., Kinziger, Andrew, and Marin Jarrin, Jose R.
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HISTORY of biology , *FISHERY resources , *LIFE history theory , *GENETIC barcoding , *REPRODUCTIVE history , *OTOLITHS - Abstract
The flagfin mojarra (Eucinostomus currani) is an important subsistence fishery resource in local Ecuadorian markets; however, very little is known about the early life history and reproductive biology of this species. In 2016 and 2017, E. currani larvae were collected at 3 sandy beaches in the Gulf of Guayaquil, Ecuador, and identified using DNA barcoding. Standard lengths ranged from 4.00--15.78 mm. We also collected otoliths to better understand the early life history of E. currani. Otoliths were used to estimate the age, population growth rate (±SE), hatch dates, and reproductive period. On average, the fish were 16.5 ± 4.5 days old, while the average growth rate was 0.70 ± 0.05 and 0.22 ± 0.16 mm per day in March and May, respectively. In the Gulf of Guayaquil, most hatch dates and the presumed reproductive activity of E. currani occurred during the wet season (December--April) when warmer water prevailed. To our knowledge, this is the first study to estimate the hatch dates and larval growth rate for a species of the family Gerreidae in the Pacific Ocean. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2024
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