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Growth patterns of two Red Sea mesopelagic fishes

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Abstract

Growth patterns and hatch-date distributions of two mesopelagic Red Sea fishes, Vinciguerria mabahiss and Maurolicus mucronatus, were inferred from otolith microstructure analysis. Estimated somatic growth rates were lower than other mesopelagic fish at similar tropical and subtropical latitudes. Low zooplankton concentrations and high Red Sea water temperatures may explain the low growth rates observed. Maurolicus mucronatus grew faster (0.15 ± 0.005 mm day−1) than V. mabahiss (0.13 ± 0.003 mm day−1). Growth differences could be attributed to different vertical distributions and migration patterns. Significant differences in somatic growth between locations were also observed for V. mabahiss. Individuals at Kebrit (24°48’ N) grew significantly faster (0.16 ± 0.005 mm day−1) than those at the warmer, more southern (21°27’ N) Atlantis II station (0.12 ± 0.003 mm day−1). For V. mabahiss, otolith increment width at age was similar at hatching times throughout the late spring/summer and autumn. However, for M. mucronatus, growth trajectories were hatch-date dependent, with the earliest cohorts displaying the highest maximum growth rates. This study provides baseline data which will be essential for a better understanding of their population dynamics.

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Availability of data and materials

The datasets and material generated and/or analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Acknowledgements

We are grateful to the reviewers and the associate editor for their constructive comments and suggestions that improved this manuscript. This paper is contribution No. 1142 from AZTI, Marine Research, Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA).

Funding

The research was supported by baseline funding provided by KAUST to Prof. Xabier Irigoien.

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Author notes

  1. Naroa Aldanondo & Xabier Irigoien

    Present address: Marine Research Unit, AZTI, 20110, Pasaia, Basque Country, Spain

  2. Stein Kaartvedt

    Present address: Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, 0316, Oslo, Norway

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Red Sea Research Center, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia

    Naroa Aldanondo, Stein Kaartvedt & Xabier Irigoien

Authors
  1. Naroa Aldanondo
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  2. Stein Kaartvedt
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Contributions

XI and NA conceived and designed the research. SK coordinated the sampling. NA performed the analyses and wrote the first draft of the manuscript, and all the authors discussed the results. All the authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Naroa Aldanondo.

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The authors declare that all applicable guidelines for sampling, care and experimental use of animals in the study have been followed.

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Aldanondo, N., Kaartvedt, S. & Irigoien, X. Growth patterns of two Red Sea mesopelagic fishes. Mar Biol 170, 8 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-022-04144-6

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