Age estimation and lead-radium dating of golden tilefish, Lopholatilus chamaeleonticeps

Abstract

There is a growing concern over the lack of life history information for many deepwater fisheries species, including golden tilefish, Lopholatilus chamaeleonticeps. Fundamental life history characteristics, like age and growth, are required for effective, agestructured stock assessments and management decisions. A previous effort to validate golden tilefish age estimates using bomb radiocarbon dating was inconclusive, which led to an application of lead-radium dating in the current study. Lead-radium dating uses the radioactive disequilibrium of lead-210 ( 210 Pb) and radium-226 ( 226 Ra) in otoliths as an independent estimate of age. Ages were also estimated using traditional age estimates by counting growth zones in thin otolith sections and lead-radium dating was used to test these estimates. Radiometric ages (corrected for time since capture) were similar to age estimates from growth zone counts for two of the female age groups and the two oldest age groups of unknown sex, which confirmed an annual growth zone deposition. However, radiometric ages did not agree with age estimates from growth zone counts for males. The difference may be attributed to geographical variations in radium levels, growth rates and growth zone formation by gender or gender transition. Male sagittal otoliths revealed inconsistent growth zone patterns in thin sections, which may have contributed to underageing. Golden tilefish longevity was confirmed to 26 years.

A unified framework and terminology for reproductive traits integral to understanding fish population productivity

“…(1998); 18 Erickson et al. (1985); 19 Lombardi‐Carlson (2012); 20 Koenig et al. (2017); 21 Murie et al.…”

“…9 Harris et al (2004); 10 SEDAR (2017b); 11 Arnold et al (2002); 12 Lefebvre and Denson (2012); 13 Brown-Peterson et al (2001); 14 S. K. Lowerre-Barbieri, personal communication; 15 McGovern et al (1998); 16 Lowerre- Barbieri et al (2020b); 17 Collins et al (1998); 18 Erickson et al (1985); 19 Lombardi-Carlson (2012); 20 Koenig et al (2017); 21 Murie et al (2023); 22 Koenig and Coleman (2013); 23 Mann et al (2009); 24 Bullock et al (1992); 25 Allen (1985); 26 SEDAR (2018); 27 Kim (2022); 28 Lang and Fitzhugh (2015); 29 Kelly-Stormer et al (2017); 30 SEDAR (2015); 31 Sarih et al (2019); 32 Harris et al (2007); 33 Murie and Parkyn (2008); 34 Beasley (1993); 35 Barneche et al (2018); 36…”

Eye lens-derived Δ14C signatures validate extreme longevity in the deepwater scorpaenid blackbelly rosefish (Helicolenus dactylopterus)

“…Deepwater marine fishes are often difficult to age and many are long-lived 27 , 74 . There have been attempts to validate age estimates of deepwater fishes via radiometric methods 74 , 75 , as well as application of the bomb 14 C chronometer, using otolith-derived birth year material 39 , 76 , 77 . However, these attempts have often served to increase rather than decrease ageing uncertainty.…”

Associations Between Chronic Exposure to Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons and Health Indices in Gulf of Mexico Tilefish (Lopholatilus chamaeleonticeps) Post Deepwater Horizon

“…Although reproductive state in these fish was not specifically assessed, all fish were sampled in late July to August. The spawning season for tilefish in this region is generally January to June, based on histological determination of spawning‐capable females; therefore, all fish caught in the present study are likely to be in a postspawning state (Lombardi‐Carlson ). Female fish typically exhibit a drop in condition factor immediately postspawning, with condition factor increasing steadily thereafter (Blackwell et al ).…”