The first larval age and growth curve for bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) from the Gulf of Mexico: Comparisons to the Straits of Florida, and the Balearic Sea (Mediterranean)

Distribution, growth, and transport of larval fishes and implications for population dynamics

“…By several metrics, the distribution of bluefin larvae in the Slope Sea is comparable to the observations on the two other recognized major spawning grounds. (Malca et al, 2017). Data from an older study of bluefin tuna larvae collected in the Straits of Florida (Brothers et al, 1983) provides a larval growth estimate of approximately 0.27 mm day-1 (McGowan and ).…”

Early life ecology of the invasive lionfish (Pterois spp.) in the western Atlantic

“…Larvae selected for this subset spanned a representative size range, and the smallest specimens (< 2 mm) were genetically confirmed as Pterois volitans prior to ageing. Sagittal otolith removal and ageing methods follow Malca et al [ 52 ]. Digital images of each sagitta were captured at 400x to 1000x using transmitted light and a compound microscope (Axio A.1, Zeiss) equipped with a digital camera (Micropublisher 3.3 RTV, Qimaging).…”

Pelagic Habitat Partitioning of Late-Larval and Juvenile Tunas in the Oceanic Gulf of Mexico

“…However, it is interesting to note the collection of a 6.4 mm SL T. thynnus specimen in late August. A comparison with estimated growth rates suggests that the specimen was approximately 9 days old (Malca et al, 2017), indicating that this specimen was spawned in mid-August. While this is an observation of only a single specimen, our findings suggest that the spawning period for T. thynnus, which is currently estimated as occurring between April and June in the GoM, may extend through to August in a limited fashion.…”