Life-history traits of the southern hemisphere eastern red scorpionfish, Scorpaena cardinalis (Scorpaenidae: Scorpaeninae)

Abstract

Abstract. Fishes of the family Scorpaenidae (scorpionfish/rockfish) are important to benthic rocky-reef communities and fisheries globally. The present study is the first to provide biological information for any species of the genus Scorpaena (Scorpaena cardinalis) in southern hemisphere waters, namely south-eastern Australia. Growth of S. cardinalis was estimated using size-at-age data from sectioned otoliths. Growth was slow, with fish attaining ,22 cm after 5 years and 26 cm after 10 years. The oldest fish sampled was estimated to be 33 years old. In contrast to similar-sized congeneric species, males increased in length significantly faster and attained larger sizes than females. Variable recruitment patterns were evident from the age composition of the sampled population. Males of S. cardinalis had mean gonadosomatic index levels (0.09%) an order of magnitude smaller than did the females (2.8-4%) during the March spawning peak. S. cardinalis possesses a cystovarian Type II-3 ovary, a highly specialised form associated with external fertilisation and the production of eggs in a floating gelatinous mass. Traits such as slow growth, substantial longevity, variable recruitment patterns and a highly specialised reproductive strategy may make this species vulnerable to over-exploitation as has occurred with other members of the family Scorpaenidae elsewhere.

Length- and age-based demographics of exploited populations of stout whiting,Sillago robustaStead, 1908

“…counted) on some individuals until late summer (February). This spring-summer timing of completion of opaque zone formation concurs with that observed for western populations of S. robusta and a range of other east Australian coastal and estuarine teleosts, including platycephalids (Barnes, Gray, & Williamson, 2011;Gray, Gale, Stringfellow, & Raines, 2002), scorpaenids (Stewart & Hughes, 2010), girellids (Gray, Ives, Macbeth, & Kendall, 2010;Stocks et al, 2014) and sparids (Gray, 2015;Hughes, Stewart, Kendall, & Gray, 2008).…”

Validity of Scorpaena jacksoniensis and a redescription of S. cardinalis, a senior synonym of S. cookii (Scorpaeniformes: Scorpaenidae)

“…Biological information on S. jacksoniensis (as S. cardinalis) was reported by Stewart and Hughes (2010), who estimated the oldest individual to be 33 years old. They also found that the spawning peak in New South Wales waters was March, and the species had a highly specialized ovary adapted for the production of a floating gelatinous egg mass.…”

Effects of artisanal fisheries on the scorpaenids (Scorpaena spp.) reproduction in the marine protected area of Cap de Creus (NW Mediterranean)

“…However, little is known about the impact of artisanal fishing on rockfish populations. Stewart and Hughes (2010) and Mason (1998) revealed the long history of depletion that many species of the family Scorpaenidae have suffered, with population resilience declining due to the removal of larger and older fish (Leaman and Beamish, 1984). Moreover, the negative anthropogenic impact on the reproductive potential of scorpaenids caused by pollution has been demonstrated for S. porcus (Oven et al, 2000).…”