Register      Login
Marine and Freshwater Research Marine and Freshwater Research Society
Advances in the aquatic sciences
RESEARCH ARTICLE (Open Access)

Resolving the early life history of King George whiting (Sillaginodes punctatus: Perciformes) using otolith microstructure and trace element chemistry

Troy A. Rogers https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7479-3523 A C , Anthony J. Fowler B , Michael A. Steer B and Bronwyn M. Gillanders https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7680-2240 A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Southern Seas Ecology Laboratories, School of Biological Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia.

B South Australian Research and Development Institute, PO Box 120, Henley Beach, SA 5022, Australia.

C Corresponding author. Email: troy.rogers@adelaide.edu.au

Marine and Freshwater Research 70(12) 1659-1674 https://doi.org/10.1071/MF18280
Submitted: 1 August 2018  Accepted: 4 December 2018   Published: 5 February 2019

Journal Compilation © CSIRO 2019 Open Access CC BY-NC-ND

Abstract

Understanding the early life history processes of fish that lead to recruitment is critical for understanding population dynamics. This study explored the early life history of King George whiting (Sillaginodes punctatus) that recruited to an important nursery area in South Australia in 2016 and 2017. The early life history was reconstructed based on the retrospective analysis of otolith microstructure and chemistry for settlement-stage larvae collected fortnightly from July to November. These fish hatched between March and July, but a 3-week period in May led to 52–71% of recruitment. Recruits from successive sampling occasions differed in age, size and growth rate, potentially related to seasonal changes in water temperature and larval food availability. During both years, there were significant changes in otolith elemental chemistry among the groups of recruits that primarily related to changes in Sr : Ca. There are two hypotheses to account for the differences in otolith chemistry: either (1) a single, primary spawning source and within-season environmental change; or (2) multiple spawning sources. Further investigation with oceanographic models of larval dispersal will help differentiate between these. The retrospective analysis of otoliths has improved the understanding of early life history for this important species, with implications for fishery management.

Additional keywords: LA-ICP-MS, laser ablation–inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry, recruitment, strontium, temporal.


References

Bath, G. E., Thorrold, S. R., Jones, C. M., Campana, S. E., McLaren, J. W., and Lam, J. W. H. (2000). Strontium and barium uptake in aragonitic otoliths of marine fish Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 64, 1705–1714.
Strontium and barium uptake in aragonitic otoliths of marine fishCrossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Beveren, E. V., Klein, M., Serrao, E. A., Goncalves, E. J., and Borges, R. (2016). Early life history of larvae and early juvenile Atlantic horse mackerel Trachurus trachurus off the Portuguese west coast Fisheries Research 183, 111–118.
Early life history of larvae and early juvenile Atlantic horse mackerel Trachurus trachurus off the Portuguese west coastCrossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Brophy, D., Jeffries, T. E., and Danilowicz, B. S. (2004). Elevated manganese concentrations at the cores of clupeid otoliths: possible environmental, physiological, or structural origins Marine Biology 144, 779–786.
Elevated manganese concentrations at the cores of clupeid otoliths: possible environmental, physiological, or structural originsCrossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Brown-Peterson, N. J., Wyanski, D. M., Saborido-Rey, F., Macewicz, B. J., and Lowerre-Barbieri, S. K. (2011). A standardized terminology for describing reproductive development in fishes Marine and Coastal Fisheries 3, 52–70.
A standardized terminology for describing reproductive development in fishesCrossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Bruce, B. (1995). Larval development of King George whiting, Sillaginodes punctata, school whiting, Sillago bassensis, and yellowfin whiting, Sillago schomburgkii (Percoidei: Sillaginidae), from South Australian waters Fishery Bulletin 93, 27–43.

Campana, S. E. (1999). Chemistry and composition of fish otoliths: pathways, mechanisms and applications Marine Ecology Progress Series 188, 263–297.
Chemistry and composition of fish otoliths: pathways, mechanisms and applicationsCrossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Campana, S. E., and Jones, C. M. (1992). Analysis of otolith microstructure data. In ‘Otolith Microstructure Examination and Analysis’. (Eds D. K. Stevenson and S. E. Campana.) Canadian Special Publication of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 117, pp. 73–100. (Canada Communication Group – Publishing: Ottawa, ON, Canada.)

Campana, S. E., and Neilson, J. D. (1985). Microstructure of fish otoliths Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 42, 1014–1032.
Microstructure of fish otolithsCrossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Campana, S. E., and Thorrold, S. R. (2001). Otoliths, increments, and elements: keys to a comprehensive understanding of fish populations? Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 58, 30–38.
Otoliths, increments, and elements: keys to a comprehensive understanding of fish populations?Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Cargnelli, L. M., and Gross, M. R. (1996). The temporal dimension in fish recruitment: birth date, body size, and size-dependent survival in a sunfish (bluegill: Lepomis macrohirus) Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 53, 360–367.
The temporal dimension in fish recruitment: birth date, body size, and size-dependent survival in a sunfish (bluegill: Lepomis macrohirus)Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Chambers, R. C., and Trippel, E. A. (1997). ‘Early Life History and Recruitment in Fish Populations’, 1st edn. (Chapman and Hall: New York, NY, USA.)

Cowen, R. K., and Sponaugle, S. (2009). Larval dispersal and marine population connectivity Annual Review of Marine Science 1, 443–466.
Larval dispersal and marine population connectivityCrossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 21141044PubMed |

Dorval, E., Jones, C. M., Hannigan, R., and van Montfrans, J. (2005). Can otolith chemistry be used for identifying essential seagrass habitats for juvenile spotted seatrout, Cynoscion nebulosus, in Chesapeake Bay? Marine and Freshwater Research 56, 645–653.
Can otolith chemistry be used for identifying essential seagrass habitats for juvenile spotted seatrout, Cynoscion nebulosus, in Chesapeake Bay?Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Doubleday, Z. A., Harris, H. H., Izzo, C., and Gillanders, B. M. (2014). Strontium randomly substituting for calcium in fish otoliths Analytical Chemistry 86, 865–869.
Strontium randomly substituting for calcium in fish otolithsCrossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 24299165PubMed |

Elsdon, T. S., and Gillanders, B. M. (2003). Relationship between water and otolith elemental concentrations in juvenile black bream Acanthopagrus butcheri Marine Ecology Progress Series 260, 263–272.
Relationship between water and otolith elemental concentrations in juvenile black bream Acanthopagrus butcheriCrossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Elsdon, T. S., Wells, B. K., Campana, S. E., Gillanders, B. M., Jones, C. M., Limburg, K. E., Secor, D. H., Thorrold, S. R., and Walther, B. D. (2008). Otolith chemistry to describe movements and life history parameters of fishes: hypotheses, assumptions, limitation and inferences Oceanography and Marine Biology – an Annual Review 46, 297–330.
Otolith chemistry to describe movements and life history parameters of fishes: hypotheses, assumptions, limitation and inferencesCrossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Fowler, A. J., and Jones, G. K. (2008). The population biology of King George whiting (Sillaginodes punctata) in Gulf St Vincent. In ‘Natural History of Gulf St Vincent’. (Eds S. A. Shepherd, S. Bryars, I. Kirkegaard, P. Harbison, and J. T. Jennings.) pp. 399–414. (Royal Society of South Australia: Adelaide, SA, Australia.)

Fowler, A. J., and Short, D. A. (1996). Temporal variation in the early life-history characteristics of the King George whiting (Sillaginodes punctata) from analysis of otolith microstructure Marine and Freshwater Research 47, 809–818.
Temporal variation in the early life-history characteristics of the King George whiting (Sillaginodes punctata) from analysis of otolith microstructureCrossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Fowler, A. J., McLeay, L., and Short, D. A. (1999). Reproductive mode and spawning information based on gonad analysis for the King George whiting (Percoidei: Sillaginidae) from South Australia Marine and Freshwater Research 50, 1–14.
Reproductive mode and spawning information based on gonad analysis for the King George whiting (Percoidei: Sillaginidae) from South AustraliaCrossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Fowler, A. J., Black, K. P., and Jenkins, G. P. (2000a). Determination of spawning areas and larval advection pathways for King George whiting in southeastern Australia using otolith microstructure and hydrodynamic modelling. II. South Australia Marine Ecology Progress Series 199, 243–254.
Determination of spawning areas and larval advection pathways for King George whiting in southeastern Australia using otolith microstructure and hydrodynamic modelling. II. South AustraliaCrossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Fowler, A. J., McLeay, L., and Short, D. A. (2000b). Spatial variation in size and age structures and reproductive characteristics of the King George whiting (Percoidei: Sillaginidae) in South Australian waters Marine and Freshwater Research 51, 11–22.
Spatial variation in size and age structures and reproductive characteristics of the King George whiting (Percoidei: Sillaginidae) in South Australian watersCrossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Gillanders, B. M. (2002). Connectivity between juvenile and adult fish populations: do adults remain near their recruitment estuaries? Marine Ecology Progress Series 240, 215–223.
Connectivity between juvenile and adult fish populations: do adults remain near their recruitment estuaries?Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Green, B. S., and Fisher, R. (2004). Temperature influences swimming speed, growth and larval duration in coral reef fish larvae Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 299, 115–132.
Temperature influences swimming speed, growth and larval duration in coral reef fish larvaeCrossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Hamer, P. A., and Jenkins, G. P. (1997). Larval supply and short-term recruitment of a temperate zone demersal fish, the King George whiting, Sillaginodes punctata Cuvier and Valenciennes, to an embayment in south-eastern Australia Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 208, 197–214.
Larval supply and short-term recruitment of a temperate zone demersal fish, the King George whiting, Sillaginodes punctata Cuvier and Valenciennes, to an embayment in south-eastern AustraliaCrossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Hamer, P. A., Jenkins, G. P., and Gillanders, B. M. (2003). Otolith chemistry of juvenile snapper Pagrus auratus in Victorian waters: natural chemical tags and their temporal variation Marine Ecology Progress Series 263, 261–273.
Otolith chemistry of juvenile snapper Pagrus auratus in Victorian waters: natural chemical tags and their temporal variationCrossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Hogan, J. D., Kozdon, R., Blum, M. J., Gilliam, J. F., Valley, J. W., and McIntyre, P. B. (2017). Reconstructing larval growth and habitat use in an amphidromous goby using otolith increments and microchemistry Journal of Fish Biology 90, 1338–1355.
Reconstructing larval growth and habitat use in an amphidromous goby using otolith increments and microchemistryCrossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 27990639PubMed |

Houde, E. D. (1989). Comparative growth, mortality, and energetics of marine fish larvae: temperature and implied latitudinal effects Fishery Bulletin 87, 471–495.

Hyndes, G. A., Potter, I. C., and Lenanton, R. C. J. (1996). Habitat partitioning by whiting species (Sillaginidae) in coastal waters Environmental Biology of Fishes 45, 21–40.
Habitat partitioning by whiting species (Sillaginidae) in coastal watersCrossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Izzo, C., Reis-Santos, P., and Gillanders, B. M. (2018). Otolith chemistry does not just reflect environmental conditions: a meta-analytic evaluation Fish and Fisheries 19, 441–454.
Otolith chemistry does not just reflect environmental conditions: a meta-analytic evaluationCrossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Jenkins, G. P., and May, H. M. A. (1994). Variation in settlement and larval duration of King George whiting, Sillaginodes punctata (Sillaginidae), in Swan Bay, Victoria, Australia Bulletin of Marine Science 54, 281–296.

Jenkins, G. P., Black, K. P., and Hamer, P. A. (2000). Determination of spawning areas and larval advection pathways for King George whiting in southeastern Australia using otolith microstructure and hydrodynamic modelling. I. Victoria Marine Ecology Progress Series 199, 231–242.
Determination of spawning areas and larval advection pathways for King George whiting in southeastern Australia using otolith microstructure and hydrodynamic modelling. I. VictoriaCrossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Jenkins, G. P., Hamer, P. A., Kent, J. A., Kemp, J., and Fowler, A. J. (2015). Spawning sources, movement patterns, and nursery area replenishment of spawning populations of King George whiting in south-eastern Australia – closing the life history loop. Final Report, Fisheries Research and Development Corporation, Canberra, ACT, Australia.

Jones, G. P., Almany, G. R., Russ, G. R., Sale, P. F., Steneck, R. S., van Oppen, J. H., and Willis, B. L. (2009). Larval retention and connectivity among populations of coral and reef fishes: history, advances and challenges Coral Reefs 28, 307–325.
Larval retention and connectivity among populations of coral and reef fishes: history, advances and challengesCrossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Kailola, P. J., William, M. J., Stewart, P. C., Reichelt, R. E., McNee, A., and Grieve, C. (1993). ‘Australian Fisheries Resources. Bureau of Resource Sciences and the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation Canberra, Australia.’ (Imprint Limited: Brisbane, Qld, Australia.)

Lahaye, Y., Lambert, D., and Walters, S. (1997). Ultraviolet laser sampling and high resolution inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry of NIST and BCR-2G glass reference materials. Geostandards Newsletter 21, 205–214.
Ultraviolet laser sampling and high resolution inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry of NIST and BCR-2G glass reference materials.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Lazartigues, A. V., Sirois, P., and Savard, D. (2014). LA-ICP-MS analysis of small samples: carbonate reference materials and larval fish otoliths Geostandards and Geoanalytical Research 38, 225–240.

Leggett, W. C., and Deblois, E. (1994). Recruitment in marine fishes: is it regulated by starvation and predation in the egg and larval stages? Netherlands Journal of Sea Research 32, 119–134.
Recruitment in marine fishes: is it regulated by starvation and predation in the egg and larval stages?Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Leis, J. M., and Carson-Ewart, B. M. (Eds) (2004). The larvae of Indo-Pacific Coastal Fishes: A Guide to Identification. Fauna Malesiana Handbook 2’, 2nd edn. (Brill: Leiden, Netherlands.)

Leis, J. M., Siebeck, U., and Dixson, D. L. (2011). How Nemo finds home: the neuroecology of dispersal and population connectivity in larvae of marine fishes Integrative and Comparative Biology 51, 826–843.
How Nemo finds home: the neuroecology of dispersal and population connectivity in larvae of marine fishesCrossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 21562025PubMed |

May, R. C. (1974). Larval mortality in marine fishes and the critical period concept. In ‘The Early Life History of Fish’. (Ed. J. H. S. Blaxter.) pp. 3–19. (Springer: Berlin, Germany.)

Meekan, M. G., Carleton, J. H., McKinnon, A. D., Flynn, K., and Furnas, M. (2003). What determines the growth of tropical reef fish larvae in the plankton: food or temperature? Marine Ecology Progress Series 256, 193–204.
What determines the growth of tropical reef fish larvae in the plankton: food or temperature?Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Neira, F. J., Miskiewicz, A. G., and Trnski, T. (Eds) (1998). ‘Larvae of Temperate Australian Fishes: Laboratory Guide for Larval Fish Identification.’ (University of Western Australia Press: Perth, WA, Australia.)

Paton, C., Hellstrom, J., Paul, B., Woodhead, J., and Hergt, J. (2011). Iolite: freeware for the visualisation and processing of mass spectrometric data Journal of Analytical Atomic Spectrometry 26, 2508–2518.
Iolite: freeware for the visualisation and processing of mass spectrometric dataCrossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Pepin, P. (1991). Effect of temperature and size on development, mortality, and survival rates of the pelagic early life history stages of marine fish Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 48, 503–518.
Effect of temperature and size on development, mortality, and survival rates of the pelagic early life history stages of marine fishCrossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Radtke, R. L., Kinzie, R. A., and Shafer, D. J. (2001). Temporal and spatial variation in length of larval life and size at settlement of the Hawaiian amphidromous goby Lentipes concolor Journal of Fish Biology 59, 928–938.

Rankin, T. L., and Sponaugle, S. (2014). Characteristics of settling coral reef fish are related to recruitment timing and success PLoS One 9, e108871.
Characteristics of settling coral reef fish are related to recruitment timing and successCrossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 25250964PubMed |

Ruttenberg, B. I., Hamilton, S. L., Hickford, M. J. H., Paradis, G. L., Sheehy, M. S., Standish, J. D., Ben-Tzvi, O., and Warner, R. R. (2005). Elevated levels of trace elements in the cores of otoliths and their potential for use as natural tags Marine Ecology Progress Series 297, 273–281.
Elevated levels of trace elements in the cores of otoliths and their potential for use as natural tagsCrossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Sponaugle, S., Grorud-Colvert, K., and Pinkard, D. (2006). Temperature-mediated variation in early life history traits and recruitment success of the coral reef fish Thalassoma bifasciatum in the Florida Keys Marine Ecology Progress Series 308, 1–15.
Temperature-mediated variation in early life history traits and recruitment success of the coral reef fish Thalassoma bifasciatum in the Florida KeysCrossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Steer, M. A., Fowler, A. J., McGarvey, R., Feenstra, J., Westlake, E. L., Matthews, D., Drew, M., Rogers, P. J., and Earl, J. (2018). Assessment of the South Australian Marine Scalefish Fishery in 2016. Report to PIRSA Fisheries and Aquaculture, SARDI Publication number F2017/000427-1, SARDI Research Report Series number 974, South Australian Research and Development Institute (Aquatic Sciences), Adelaide, SA, Australia.

Sturrock, A. M., Trueman, C. N., Darnaude, A. M., and Hunter, E. (2012). Can otolith elemental chemistry retrospectively track migrations in fully marine fishes? Journal of Fish Biology 81, 766–795.
Can otolith elemental chemistry retrospectively track migrations in fully marine fishes?Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 22803735PubMed |

Sturrock, A. M., Trueman, C. N., Milton, J. A., Waring, C. P., Cooper, M. J., and Hunter, E. (2014). Physiological influences can outweigh environmental signals in otolith microchemistry research Marine Ecology Progress Series 500, 245–264.
Physiological influences can outweigh environmental signals in otolith microchemistry researchCrossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Swearer, S. E., Caselle, J. E., Lea, D. W., and Warner, R. R. (1999). Larval retention and recruitment in an island population of a coral-reef fish Nature 402, 799–802.
Larval retention and recruitment in an island population of a coral-reef fishCrossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Thorrold, S. R., Latkoczy, C., Swart, P. K., and Jones, C. M. (2001). Natal homing in a marine fish metapopulation Science 291, 297–299.
Natal homing in a marine fish metapopulationCrossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 11209078PubMed |

Walther, B. D., and Thorrold, S. R. (2006). Water, not food, contributes the majority of strontium and barium deposited in the otoliths of a marine fish Marine Ecology Progress Series 311, 125–130.
Water, not food, contributes the majority of strontium and barium deposited in the otoliths of a marine fishCrossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Yoshinaga, J., Atsuko, N., Masatoshi, M., and Edmonds, J. S. (2000). Fish otolith reference material for quality assurance of chemical analysis Marine Chemistry 69, 91–97.
Fish otolith reference material for quality assurance of chemical analysisCrossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |