Early developmental aspects and validation of daily growth increments in otoliths of Micropogonias furnieri (Pisces, Sciaenidae) larvae reared in laboratory

• Autor(a) principal: Albuquerque, Cristiano Queiroz de
• Data de Publicação: 2009
• Outros Autores: Muelbert, José Henrique, Sampaio, Luís André Nassr de
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: eng
• Título da fonte: Repositório Institucional da FURG (RI FURG)
• Texto Completo: http://repositorio.furg.br/handle/1/2017
• topic: Daily growth increments; Ear stones; Whitemouth croaker; Fish larvae; Anéis de crescimento; Otólitos; Corvina; Larva de peixe

The rate of growth increment deposition in otoliths and the early development of Micropogonias furnieri larvae were studied in laboratory under salinity and temperature of 30-35 and 23-25 oC respectively. Hatching occurred between 20 to 22 h after the in vitro fecundation. Larvae presented closed mouth, unpigmented eyes and average standard length at hatch about 1.85 mm. Larvae started to feed around the 2nd day after hatch, when the eyes became fully pigmented. Laird-Gompertz growth model was applied and average, maximum and minimum instantaneous growth rate were estimated as 0.36, 0.78 and 0.14 mm.d-1, respectively. First growth increment in the otoliths was observed at the 3rd day after hatch and the increment formation rate was 1.044 per day. Average percent error in increment reading was 13.75, and lower values were observed after age 5 d. Present results support the assumption of daily growth increments in otoliths of M. furnieri larvae.