The contrasting hatching patterns and larval growth of two sympatric clingfishes inferred by otolith microstructure analysis

Abstract

Larval abundance, age, growth and hatching patterns of two sympatric clingfishes, Gobiesox marmoratus and Sicyases sanguineus (Pisces, Gobiesocidae), were estimated by using otolith microstructure analysis and compared on the basis of collections performed during the austral spring in 2010 off the coast of central Chile. G. marmoratus larvae were more abundant than S. sanguineus larvae during the study period. For both species, the sagittae deposited micro-increments during embryonic development (before hatching) and a hatch mark was observable in all examined otoliths. The sagittae otoliths of G. marmoratus grew in radius, perimeter and area faster than did the otoliths of S. sanguineus. Both species showed significant (P < 0.05) differences in larval growth and lunar periodicity of the hatching events. G. marmoratus hatched at smaller sizes (2.6 mm) mainly during the first-quarter moon and the larvae grew at rates of 0.24 ± 0.01 mm day–1. S. sanguineus hatched as larger larvae (>3 mm) during the first-quarter and full moons and grew at slower rates (0.14 ± 0.01 mm day–1) during the initial 25 days. The high abundance of larval clingfish in near-shore waters, temporal decoupling among the hatching events, and the different growth rates may be tactics to increase self-recruitment in coastal waters.

Interannual variations in the hatching pattern, larval growth and otolith size of a sand-dwelling fish from central Chile

“…The estimated larval growth rates (0.09-0.21 mm day -1 ) were similar to those estimated for other nearshore benthic fishes from central Chile such as clingfishes Gobiesox marmoratus (0.24 mm day -1 ) and Sicyases sanguineus (0.14 mm day -1 , Contreras et al 2013) and triplefin blennies (0.14-0.16 mm day -1 , Palacios-Fuentes et al 2014). Hence, it has been accumulating evidences that slow larval growth seems to be a generalized process for littoral fishes in the south-eastern Pacific Ocean, an ecosystem that is characterized by low temperatures associated with the cold-water Humbold Current System (HCS) but also characterized by a high productivity due the occurrence of upwelling events.…”

“…Semi-lunar and lunar hatching patterns have been recently described for other criptobenthic marine fishes from central Chile, such as clingfishes (Gobiesox marmoratus, Sicyases sanguineus, Contreras et al 2013) and Chilean triplefin blennies (Helcogrammoides chilensis, Palacios-Fuentes et al 2014). A hatching pattern related to first and/or last quarter moon (estimated for 2010 and 2011 for S. australis) is associated with neap tides, which implicate the reduced effects of tidal export from coastal waters to offshore (Robertson et al 1990).…”

“…Seawater filtered by the net ranged from 13.3 to 437.4 m 3 (mean ± one standard deviation: 141.2 ± 102.5 m 3 ). Subsequently, the nets were washed on board, and all zooplankton samples (n = 352) were initially fixed with 5 % formalin buffered with sodium borate and preserved in 96 % ethanol after 12 h. This procedure has no effect on the microstructure of the otolith (Palacios-Fuentes et al 2012Contreras et al 2013).…”

“…In these species, hatching may be negatively correlated with the onshore wind-induced wave action which disturbed the beach (Frank and Leggett 1981;Griem and Martin 2000). On the other hand, several species that laid eggs in subtidal sand or rocky bottom show lunar or semi-lunar spawning cycles (Hay 1990;Contreras et al 2013;Palacios-Fuentes et al 2014). This tendency is assumed to be related to the timing of larval hatching: benthic eggs have considerably narrow diel hatching windows, and those windows coincide with tides (i.e.…”

Comparing early life traits of hakes from Chilean Patagonian fjords inferred by otolith microstructure analysis

“…Early life traits (ELT), like larval growth rates and spawning/hatching dates, have been proven to be crucial features in improving our understanding of processes potentially affecting recruitment and subsequent life stages (Contreras et al, 2013;Di Franco et al, 2013). Otolith microstructure analysis represents a powerful tool for estimating individual age, growth rate, and hatch dates in larvae and juveniles (Campana, 2005;Grote et al, 2012a;Palacios-Fuentes et al, 2014).…”