Integrating methods for determining length-at-age to improve growth estimates for two large scombrids

Fish growth is commonly estimated from length-at-age data obtained from otoliths. There are several techniques for estimating length-at-age from otoliths including 1) direct observed counts of annual increments; 2) age adjustment based on a categorization of otolith margins; 3) age adjustment based on known periods of spawning and annuli formation; 4) back-calculation to all annuli, and 5) back-calculation to the last annulus only. In this study we compared growth estimates (von Bertalanffy growth functions) obtained from the above five methods for estimating length-at-age from otoliths for two large scombrids: narrow-barred Spanish mackerel (Scomberomorus commerson) and broad-barred king mackerel (Scomberomorus semifasciatus). Likelihood ratio tests revealed that the largest differences in growth occurred between the back-calculation methods and the observed and adjusted methods for both species of mackerel. The pattern, however, was more pronounced for S. commerson than for S. semifasciatus, because of the pronounced effect of gear selectivity demonstrated for S. commerson. We propose a method of substituting length-at-age data from observed or adjusted methods with back-calculated length-at-age data to provide more appropriate estimates of population growth than those obtained with the individual methods alone, particularly when faster growing young fish are disproportionately selected for. Substitution of observed or adjusted length-at-age data with back-calculated length-at-age data provided more realistic estimates of length for younger ages than observed or adjusted methods as well as more realistic estimates of mean maximum length than those derived from backcalculation methods alone.

Estimativa do recurso contingente dos folhelhos oleígenos da Formação Tremembé, Bacia de Taubaté, na região de Tremembé-Pindamonhangaba, SP

Esta dissertação tem como objetivo apresentar uma estimativa preliminar do volume de recurso contingente não-convencionais de folhelhos oleígenos (oil shale) na Formação Tremembé através de métodos probabilísticos aplicados à informações compiladas de bibliografias existentes sobre a bacia. Como base para esta estimativa utilizou-se informações obtidas através de sísmica 2D, poços existentes na área e perfis geoquímicos. Através da interpretação dos mesmos foram gerados os valores de inputs para os parâmetros utilizados no cálculo, como: espessura econômica, densidade do minério e valor de Ensaio Fisher (Litros de óleo por tonelada de rocha). Para a análise foi construída uma planilha Excel no qual já descrito cada parâmetro do cálculo. Foi utilizado o software @Risk, da Palisade Inc., que é capaz de atribuir distribuições estatísticas a parâmetros utilizados no cálculo obtendo, a partir do método Monte Carlo, distribuições dos possíveis resultados. A metodologia apresentada se demonstra mais adequada ao caso em estudo que o método determinístico, devido a restrição e ausência da precisão dos dados o que aumentaria as incertezas e as chances de erro no cálculo do volume, podendo impossibilitar uma avaliação, no caso do segundo. A metodologia probabilística ao mesmo tempo em que permite uma avaliação preliminar na ausência de dados precisos, ela gera cenários probabilísticos de resultados, possibilitando a antecipação da tomada de decisões em um projeto, permitindo sua continuação ou abandono.

Age- and length-at-maturity of female arrowtooth flounder (Atheresthes stomias) in the Gulf of Alaska

Arrowtooth flounder (Atheresthes stomias) has had the highest abundance of any groundfish species in the Gulf of Alaska since the 1970s (Matarese et al., 2003; Turnock et al., 2005; Blood et al., 2007); however, commercial catches have been restricted because Pacific halibut (Hippoglossus stenolepis) are caught as bycatch in the fishery. Arrowtooth flounder plays a key role in the ecosystem because it is a dominant organism within the food web, both as an apex predator of fish and invertebrates, as well as an important prey for walleye pollock (Theragra chalcogramma; Aydin et al., 2002). Walleye pollock is the dominant groundfish in the Bering Sea, a principal groundfish in the Gulf of Alaska, and the primary prey for marine mammals. The distribution of arrowtooth flounder extends from Cape Navarin and the eastern Sea of Okhotsk in Russia, across the Bering Sea, Aleutian Islands, Gulf of Alaska, and south to the coast of central California (Shuntov, 1964; Britt and Martin, 2001; Chetvergov, 2001; Weinberg et al., 2002; Zenger, 2004). Because of the importance of arrowtooth flounder in the marine ecosystem of A laska, a maturity study of this species was undertaken to determine age-at-maturity, which is essential for age-based stock management models. Before these results, management has had to rely upon a length-at-maturity-based estimate (Zimmermann, 1997) to manage stocks in the Gulf of Alaska (GOA), Bering Sea, and Aleutian Islands. The central GOA was selected as the location for this maturity study Age- and length-at-maturity of female arrowtooth flounder (Atheresthes stomias) in the Gulf of Alaska because it contains approximately 70% of the total Gulf of Alaska arrowtooth flounder biomass (1.9×106 t, age 3 and older)— the highest percentage in the world (Shuntov, 1964; Britt and Martin, 2001; Weinberg et al., 2002; Wilderbuer and Nichol, 2006).

Caracterização geoquímica e efeito térmico de intrusão de diabásio na matéria orgânica da Formação Irati, poço FP-12-SP, bacia do Paraná

O estudo visou à caracterização geoquímica orgânica detalhada (carbono orgânico total, resíduo insolúvel, enxofre, pirólise Rock-Eval e biomarcadores) da Formação Irati através do furo pioneiro FP-12-SP localizado próximo da região de Anhembi (SP), e à análise das alterações destes parâmetros devido ao efeito térmico de intrusões de diabásio. A partir destes dados definiu-se 8 (oito) unidades quimioestratigráficas, determinou se o potencial gerador de cada unidade, o tipo de querogênio e a assinatura geoquímica através de parâmetros dos biomarcadores saturados e, por último, indicou-se as alterações causadas pelo efeito térmico de intrusivas nos sedimentos. O Membro Taquaral possui baixo teor de carbono orgânico total, querogênio tipo III/IV, com alta proporção de alcanos lineares e cicloalcanos, predominância dos esteranos C27 em relação ao C29, com indicações de ambiente marinho com salinidade normal. O Membro Assistência é caracterizado por apresentar valores de carbono orgânico total relativamente alto com aumento para o topo, intercalação de níveis siliciclásticos com carbonáticos, potencial gerador que chega a excelente e índice de hidrogênio predominante para óleo e condensado, baixa proporção de n-alcanos em relação aos cicloalcanos e alcanos ramificados, aparecimento do gamacerano, indicando ambiente marinho hipersalino com afogamento para o topo. O efeito térmico é visto a partir de 3 metros abaixo e 10 metros acima da soleira com maturação da matéria orgânica nos 9,5m mais próximos da soleira. A propagação de calor acima da soleira foi maior do que abaixo devido à diferença de condutividade térmica entre o carbonato e o folhelho, onde a máxima restrição com o aumento da salinidade na Unidade Quimioestratigráfica E, indicada pela presença de gamacerano, pode ter amplificado a passagem de calor para o topo.

Natural mortality rate, annual fecundity, and maturity at length for Greenland halibut (Reinhardtius hippoglossoides) from the northeastern Pacific Ocean

Mortality, fecundity, and size at maturity are important life history traits, and their interactions determine the evolution of life history strategies (Roff, 1992; Stearns, 1992; Charnov, 2002). These same traits are also important for population dynamics models (Hunter et al., 1992; Clark, 1999). It is increasingly important to accurately determine Greenland halibut (Reinhardtius hippoglossoides) life history traits and to correctly assess the status of its stocks because low recruitment or low biomass estimates have led to catch restrictions in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands (Ianelli et al.1), the Northeastern Arctic (Ådlandsvik et al., 2004), and the Northwest Atlantic (Bowering and Nedreaas, 2000).

Precision estimates and suggested sample sizes for length-frequency data

For most fisheries applications, the shape of a length-frequency distribution is much more important than its mean length or variance. This makes it difficult to evaluate at which point a sample size is adequate. By estimating the coefficient of variation of the counts in each length class and taking a weighted mean of these, a measure of precision was obtained that takes the precision in all length classes into account. The precision estimates were closely associated with the ratio of the sample size to the number of size classes in each sample. As a rule-of-thumb, a minimum sample size of 10 times the number of length classes in the sample is suggested because the precision deteriorates rapidly for smaller sample sizes. In absence of such a rule-of-thumb, samplers have previously under-estimated the required sample size for samples with large fish, while over-sampling small fish of the same species.

Precision and accuracy of fish length measurements obtained with two visual underwater methods

During the VITAL cruise in the Bay of Biscay in summer 2002, two devices for measuring the length of swimming fish were tested: 1) a mechanical crown that emitted a pair of parallel laser beams and that was mounted on the main camera and 2) an underwater auto-focus video camera. The precision and accuracy of these devices were compared and the various sources of measurement errors were estimated by repeatedly measuring fixed and mobile objects and live fish. It was found that fish mobility is the main source of error for these devices because they require that the objects to be measured are perpendicular to the field of vision. The best performance was obtained with the laser method where a video-replay of laser spots (projected on fish bodies) carrying real-time size information was used. The auto-focus system performed poorly because of a delay in obtaining focus and because of some technical problems.

Variation in trawl geometry due to unequal warp length

Survey standardization procedures can reduce the variability in trawl catch efficiency thus producing more precise estimates of biomass. One such procedure, towing with equal amounts of trawl warp on both sides of the net, was experimentally investigated for its importance in determining optimal trawl geometry and for evaluating the effectiveness of the recent National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) national protocol on accurate measurement of trawl warps. This recent standard for measuring warp length requires that the difference between warp lengths can be no more than 4% of the distance between the otter doors measured along the bridles and footrope. Trawl performance data from repetitive towing with warp differentials of 0, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, and 20 m were analyzed for their effect on three determinants of flatfish catch efficiency: footrope distance off-bottom, bridle length in contact with the bottom, and area swept by the net. Our results indicated that the distortion of the trawl caused by asymmetry in trawl warp length could have a negative inf luence on flatfish catch efficiency. At a difference of 7 m in warp length, the NOAA 4% threshold value for the 83112 Eastern survey trawl used in our study, we found no effect on the acous-tic-based measures of door spread, wing spread, and headrope height off-bottom. However, the sensitivity of the trawl to 7 m of warp offset could be seen as footrope distances off-bottom increased slightly (particularly in the center region of the net where flatfish escapement is highest), and as the width of the bridle path responsible for flatfish herding, together with the effective net width, was reduced. For this survey trawl, a NOAA threshold value of 4% should be considered a maximum. A more conservative value (less than 4%) would likely reduce potential bias in estimates of relative abundance caused by large differences in warp length approaching 7 m.

Length-weight relationship of fishes caught by trawl off Alexandria, Egypt

This paper presents the length-weight relationship parameters (a and b) for 29 fish species, belonging to 16 families, taken by otter trawl fishing from Egyptian Mediterranean waters. The b values obtained ranged from 2.50 to 3.44 (with a mean of 2.926).

Length-weight relationships of commercially important marine fishes and shellfishes of the southern coast of Karnataka, India

The parameters of the length-weight relationship of the form W = aLb are presented for 51 species of commercially important marine fishes and shellfishes caught along the southern coast of Karnataka, India. Samples from commercial (trawl, purse seines, gill nets) and artisanal gears were taken during August 1999 to May 2001. The ‘b’ value ranged between 1.942 and 3.616 with a mean of 2.80, standard deviation of 0.32, and mode of 3.

Length-weight relationships of major carps in Kaptai Lake, Bangladesh

Length-weight relationships and condition factors are presented for Indian major carp Catla catla, Labeo rohita, L. calbasu and Cirrhinus mrigala (Cyprinidae) in a reservoir of Bangladesh (Kaptai Lake).

Length-weight relationship of fishes from Yemen waters (Gulf of Aden and Red Sea)

The data for this study were gathered between 1993 and 1996 on board commercial trawlers from Somalia, China and Yemen and also from the research vessel Ibn Magid belonging to the Marine Science and Resources Research Centre, Aden, Republic of Yemen. Fish were identified using the FAO species identification literature. All fish were measured to the nearest mm (total length) and weighed to the nearest g. Sex was determined by dissection after the length and weight had been measured. The length-weight relationships were calculated using least-squares regression on log-transformed data and the parameters of the relationship of the form of W=aL super(b) are summarized. Maximum and minimum size of fish sampled are also given. Common names and recent changes in nomenclature were taken from ICLARM's FishBase.