|
|
Validation of a method for estimating realized annual fecundity in a multiple spawner, the long-snouted seahorse (Hippocampus guttulatus), using underwater visual census.
- Article from:
-
Fishery Bulletin
- Article date:
-
July 1, 2007
- Author:
- Curtis, Janelle M. R.
|
Copyright informationCOPYRIGHT 2007 National Marine Fisheries Service. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
|
Abstract--The long-snouted seahorse (Hippocampus guttulatus) (Cuvier, 1829), was used to validate the predictive accuracy of three progressively realistic models for estimating the realized annual fecundity of asynchronous, indeterminate, multiple spawners. Underwater surveys and catch data were used to estimate the duration of the reproductive season, female spawning frequency, male brooding frequency, and batch fecundity. The most realistic model, a generalization of the spawning fraction method, produced unbiased estimates of male brooding frequency (mean [+ or -] standard deviation [SD] = 4.2 [+ or -] 1.6 broods/year). Mean batch fecundity and realized annual fecundity were ...