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Age-based demography and sexual pattern of the white-streaked grouper, Epinephelus ongus in Okinawa

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Abstract

The demography and sexual pattern of the white-streaked grouper, Epinephelus ongus (Serranidae), in the Yaeyama Islands, Okinawa, were examined based on age assessment using otoliths and gonadal histology. The von Bertalanffy growth parameters were estimated as follows: L∞ = 34.35 cm total length (TL); K = 0.187 yr. −1; and t0 = − 0.975 yr. The maximum age was 20 yrs. The smallest mature female was 18.9 cm TL, and the age of females at 50 % maturity was estimated to be 3.3 yrs. There were significant differences between sexes in size and age, with males (mean ± SD: 29.2 ± 3.3 cm TL, 9.0 ± 2.7 yr) being larger- and older than females (23.5 ± 3.4 cm TL, 5.9 ± 1.8 yr) Inactive bisexuals appeared in intermediate size and age between both sexes, suggesting that bisexuals were essentially recognized as being in a transitional phase from functional female to male. These facts indicated a monandric protogynous hermaphrodite of the species. Furthermore, transitionals were found only in the non-reproductive period that precedes the spawning aggregation period, indicating that the timing of the sex change has seasonality.

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Acknowledgments

We sincerely thank T. Yogi, M. Sunagawa, K. Kinjyo, M. Higa, Y. Shibata, M. Asano, and all the fishermen of Yeayama Fisheries Cooperation who assisted in this study. We also thank I. Yamamoto, Y. Fukuda, and A. Yano for their assistance. We would also like to thank anoymous reviewers for constructive comments on the manuscrpts. This study was supported by the Okinawa prefectural government and the government subsidy related Okinawa Promotion.

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  1. Akihiko Ebisawa

    Present address: Okinawa Prefectural Fisheries Research and Extension Center, Ishigaki Branch, Kabira 828-2, Ishigaki, Okinawa, 907-0453, Japan

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  1. Okinawa Prefectural Fisheries Research and Extension Center, Kyan 1528, Itoman, Okinawa, 901-0354, Japan

    Itaru Ohta & Akihiko Ebisawa

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  1. Itaru Ohta
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Correspondence to Itaru Ohta.

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Ohta, I., Ebisawa, A. Age-based demography and sexual pattern of the white-streaked grouper, Epinephelus ongus in Okinawa. Environ Biol Fish 99, 741–751 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10641-016-0517-6

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