Pseudotolithus typus is one of the two commercially important Sciaenids off Benin nearshore waters mainly fished by beach seining. Unfortunately, since 1994, the production of this species has been decreasing, and inc...Pseudotolithus typus is one of the two commercially important Sciaenids off Benin nearshore waters mainly fished by beach seining. Unfortunately, since 1994, the production of this species has been decreasing, and increasingly more small-sized fishes are regularly harvested, while little is known about the species’ population structure and its life history. Therefore, population structure, probability of capture and size at first capture were investigated using length-frequency data of 1144 specimens sampled from beach seine hauls over a period of 18 months. A total of 54.3% of this population was immature, confirming the domination of smallsized fishes in the catches. Gonad maturation stages were also examined. Frequency distribution of oocyte size exhibited two cohorts of mature oocytes suggesting two spawning periods per year. Monthly averages of gonado-somatic index confirmed that P. typus spawned twice a year during the major warm season (March - May) and during the transition minor warm to minor cold season in October - November. Length at first capture (L75 = 22.76 cm) was smaller than the length at first sexual maturation (L50% = 23.6 cm) indicating a heavy pressure of the beach seine on this resource. To give each fish the chance of reproducing at least once in its lifetime to recruit into the stock, necessary measures such as the size-limit regulation by gradually increasing beach seine mesh size should be developed. Community-based management of the nearshore fishery could contribute to reducing fishing effort during the reproductive periods from February to May and from October to December each year.展开更多
This study examined the right and left otoliths of 174 individuals of Pseudotolithus senegalensis from the Porto-Novo lagoon, Lake Nokoué and the Atlantic coast. The results show a significant variation in the po...This study examined the right and left otoliths of 174 individuals of Pseudotolithus senegalensis from the Porto-Novo lagoon, Lake Nokoué and the Atlantic coast. The results show a significant variation in the population according to geographic location. Mixed-effects linear analysis showed no significant variation by site, side or sex (p > 0.05). Analysis of otolith shape using ANOVA showed significant differences for length, width and area (p 0.05). Canonical discriminant analysis revealed significant differences between sites (p < 0.05). Finally, shape analyses showed significant differences between sites (p = 0.0001) and between right and left sides (p = 0.007), but no difference by sex (p = 0.395). The study of otolith morphology is therefore proving to be a valuable tool for differentiating stocks and understanding ecological variations.展开更多
文摘Pseudotolithus typus is one of the two commercially important Sciaenids off Benin nearshore waters mainly fished by beach seining. Unfortunately, since 1994, the production of this species has been decreasing, and increasingly more small-sized fishes are regularly harvested, while little is known about the species’ population structure and its life history. Therefore, population structure, probability of capture and size at first capture were investigated using length-frequency data of 1144 specimens sampled from beach seine hauls over a period of 18 months. A total of 54.3% of this population was immature, confirming the domination of smallsized fishes in the catches. Gonad maturation stages were also examined. Frequency distribution of oocyte size exhibited two cohorts of mature oocytes suggesting two spawning periods per year. Monthly averages of gonado-somatic index confirmed that P. typus spawned twice a year during the major warm season (March - May) and during the transition minor warm to minor cold season in October - November. Length at first capture (L75 = 22.76 cm) was smaller than the length at first sexual maturation (L50% = 23.6 cm) indicating a heavy pressure of the beach seine on this resource. To give each fish the chance of reproducing at least once in its lifetime to recruit into the stock, necessary measures such as the size-limit regulation by gradually increasing beach seine mesh size should be developed. Community-based management of the nearshore fishery could contribute to reducing fishing effort during the reproductive periods from February to May and from October to December each year.
文摘This study examined the right and left otoliths of 174 individuals of Pseudotolithus senegalensis from the Porto-Novo lagoon, Lake Nokoué and the Atlantic coast. The results show a significant variation in the population according to geographic location. Mixed-effects linear analysis showed no significant variation by site, side or sex (p > 0.05). Analysis of otolith shape using ANOVA showed significant differences for length, width and area (p 0.05). Canonical discriminant analysis revealed significant differences between sites (p < 0.05). Finally, shape analyses showed significant differences between sites (p = 0.0001) and between right and left sides (p = 0.007), but no difference by sex (p = 0.395). The study of otolith morphology is therefore proving to be a valuable tool for differentiating stocks and understanding ecological variations.
