Variation in age, growth and maturity in the Australian arrow squid Nototodarus gouldi over time and space-what is the pattern?

摘要: Age, growth and maturity parameters were examined for the southern Australian ommastrephid squid Nototodarus gouldi. Squid obtained from fishing ports of: Ulladulla, New South Wales; Port Lincoln, Australia; Lakes Entrance, Victoria; Hobart, Tasmania. collected during 2 seasonal periods: summer/autumn-caught (warm-season squid) spring-caught (cool-season over consecutive years (2000, 2001). N. gouldi is a sexually dimorphic species, with females generally reaching larger sizes than males. Initial genetic analysis has found only single species in waters. Statolith ageing revealed that completed their life cycle <1 yr, appear to hatch throughout year. Trends size, varied considerably between sites, seasons years. Squids hatched summer/autumn grew con- sistently faster winter/spring, presumably due influence of temper- ature on growth. 1999/2000 also 2000/2001. Growth female winter correlated sea surface colour (SSC) peak periods, but SSC rela- tionship did not exist Ulladulla smaller, younger, had smaller gonads most other possibly morph species. Tasmania Entrance tended have older individuals gonads, while Lincoln was variable intermediate. However, spring 2001 both much those these more like Ulladulla. age mature showed considerable variability (over 100 d youngest oldest) there appeared be cline across all sites seasons. Arrow reveal marked plasticity age, parameters, currently extent which environment or genetics control unclear.