Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Age, Growth and Maturity of Red Porgy Pagrus pagrus (Sparidae) from Southeastern Brazil

  • Published:
Journal of Ichthyology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Age, growth and length-at-maturity of the red porgy Pagrus pagrus were studied off the southeastern coast of Brazil. A total of 798 otoliths from specimens sampled from the hook-and-line commercial landings between January and December 2017 were used. Age and growth were estimated by counting and measuring increments in sectioned sagitta otoliths, and length-at-maturity was estimated based on macroscopic gonadal analysis. The annual periodicity of opaque zones was validated by marginal increment analysis. Growth curves were estimated by fitting von Bertalanffy growth model to the observed length-at-age data. A single annulus was laid down in summer, from November to February, associated with coastal upwelling of the subtropical South Atlantic Central Water (14.9–18.0°C) and with the onset of reproductive activity. The maximum age observed was 11 years in females and 12 years in males. The parameters of the von Bertalanffy model were: males (L∞ = 419.9 mm, k = 0.347 year−1, t0 = – 0.199), females (L∞ = 503.8 mm, k = 0.253 year−1, t0 = – 0.154) and sexes combined (L∞ = 461.0 mm, k = 0.290 year−1, t0 = – 0.260). The mean length and age at first maturity was estimated at 258 mm (2.5 years) for males and 274 mm (3.0 years) for females. For both sexes, maturity precedes size and age at which specimens are fully recruited to hook-and-line fisheries at age 4 (327 mm).

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1.
Fig. 2.
Fig. 3.
Fig. 4.
Fig. 5.
Fig. 6.
Fig. 7.
Fig. 8.
Fig. 9.
Fig. 10.
Fig. 11.

Similar content being viewed by others

REFERENCES

  1. Afonso, P., Tempera, F., and Menezes, G., Population structure and habitat preferences of red porgy (Pagrus pagrus) in the Azores, central north Atlantic, Fish. Res., 2008, vol. 93, no. 3, pp. 338–345. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fishres.2008.06.009

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Afonso, P., Fontes, J., Guedes, R., Tempera, F., Holland, K.N., and Santos, R.S., A multi-scale study of red porgy movements and habitat use, and its application to the design of marine reserve networks, in Tagging and Tracking of Marine Animals with Electronic Devices, Nielsen, J.L., , Eds., Dordrecht: Springer-Verlag, 2009, pp. 423–443.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Aristizabal, E.O., Energy investment in the annual reproduction cycle of female red porgy, Pagrus pagrus (L.), Mar. Biol., 2007, vol. 152, pp. 713–724. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00227-007-0729-6

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Ávila-da-Silva, A.O., Idade, crescimento, mortalidade e aspectos reprodutivos do pargo, Pagrus pagrus (Teleostei: Sparidae), na costa do Estado de São Paulo e adjacências, MSc Thesis, São Paulo: Inst. Oceanogr., Univ. de São Paulo, 1996.

  5. Ávila-da-Silva, A.O. and Haimovici, M., Diagnóstico do estoque e orientações para o ordenamento da pesca de Pagrus pagrus (Linnaeus 1758), in Análise das Principais Pescarias Comerciais da Região Sudeste-Sul do Brasil: Dinâmica Populacional das Espécies em Explotação–II, Rossi-Wongtschowski, C.L.D.B., , Eds., São Paulo: Univ. de São Paulo, 2006, pp. 49–58.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Brown-Peterson, N.J., Wyanski, D.M., Saborido-Rey, F., Macewicz, B.J., and Lowerre-Barbieri, S.K., A standardized terminology for describing reproductive development in fishes, Mar. Coastal Fish., 2011, vol. 3, no. 1, pp. 52–70. https://doi.org/10.1080/19425120.2011.555724

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Campana, S.E., Accuracy, precision and quality control in age determination, including a review of the use and abuse of age validation methods, J. Fish. Biol., 2001, vol. 59, no. 2, pp. 197–242. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1095-8649.2001.tb00127.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Chang, W.Y.B., A statistical method for evaluating the reproducibility of age determination, Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci., 1982, vol. 39, no. 8, pp. 1208–1210. https://doi.org/10.1139/f82-158

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Ciechomski, J.D. and Weiss, G., Desove y desarrollo embrionario y larval del besugo, Pagrus pagrus (Linne) en el Mar Argentino (Pisces, Sparidae), Physis (Buenos Aires), 1973, vol. 32, no. 85, pp. 481–487.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Costa, P.A.S., Fagundes-Netto, E.B., Gaelzer, L.R., Lacerda, P.S., and Monteiro-Ribas, W.M., Crescimento e ciclo reprodutivo do pargo-rosa (Pagrus pagrus Linnaeus, 1758) na região do Cabo Frio, Rio de Janeiro, Nerítica, 1997, vol. 11, pp. 139–154.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Costa, P.A.S., Mincarone, M.M., Braga, A.C., Martins, A.S., Lavrado, H.P., Haimovici, M., and Falcão, A.P.C., Megafaunal communities along a depth gradient on the tropical Brazilian continental margin, Mar. Biol. Res., 2015, vol. 11, pp. 1053–1064. https://doi.org/10.1080/17451000.2015.1062521

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Cotrina, C.P., Interpretación de las escamas del besugo del Mar Argentino Pagrus pagrus (L.) en la determinación de edades, Physis (Buenos Aires), 1977, vol. 36, no. 92, pp. 31–40.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Cotrina, C.P. and Christiansen, H.E., El comportamiento reproductivo del besugo (Pagrus pagrus) en el ecosistema costero bonaerense, Rev. Invest. Des. Pesqui., 1994, vol. 9, pp. 25–28.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Cotrina, C.P. and Raimondo, M.C., Estudio de edad y crecimiento del besugo Pagrus pagrus del sector costero bonaerense, Rev. Invest. Des. Pesqui., 1997, vol. 11, pp. 95–118.

    Google Scholar 

  15. David, G.S., Coutinho, R., Quagio-Grassiott, I., and Verani, J.R., The reproductive biology of Diplodus argenteus (Sparidae) in the coastal upwelling system of Cabo Frio, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Afr. J. Mar. Sci., 2005, vol. 27, no. 2, pp. 439–447. https://doi.org/10.2989/18142320509504102

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. DeVries, D.A., Life history, reproductive ecology, and demography of the red porgy, Pagrus pagrus, in the northeastern Gulf of Mexico, PhD Thesis, Tallahassee, FL: Florida State Univ., 2006.

  17. DeVries, D.A., No evidence of bias from fish behavior in the selectivity of size and sex of the protogynous red porgy (Pagrus pagrus, Sparidae) by hook-and-line gear, Fish. Bull., 2007, vol. 105, no. 4, pp. 582–587.

    Google Scholar 

  18. Farmer, N.A., Heyman, W.D., Karnauskas, M., Kobara, S., Smart, T.I, Ballenger, J.C., Reichert, M.J.M., Wyanski, D.M., Tishler, M.S., Lindeman, K.C., Lowerre-Barbieri, S.K., Switzer, T.S., Solomon, J.J., McCain, K., Marhefka, M., and Sedberry, G.R., Timing and locations of reef fish spawning off the southeastern United States, PLoS One, 2017, vol. 12, no. 3, art. ID e0172968. https://do.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0172968

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Francis, R.I.C.C.I., Back-calculation of fish length: a critical review, J. Fish Biol., 1990, vol. 36, no. 6, pp. 883–902. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1095-8649.1990.tb05636.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Froese, R., Keep it simple: three indicators to deal with overfishing, Fish Fish., 2004, vol. 5, no. 1, pp. 86–91. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-2979.2004.00144.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. García, S. and Despós, J., Crecimiento y mortalidad natural del besugo (Pagrus pagrus) en aguas del Atlantico Sudoccidental (34º a 42º S), Inf. Invest. INIDEP 96/15, 2015, pp. 1–20.

    Google Scholar 

  22. García, S. and Molinari, G.N., Distribución estacional y densidades de besugo (Pagrus pagrus) em el Mar Argentino y la Zona Común de Pesca Argentina-Uruguaya, Rev. Invest. Des. Pesqui., 2015, vol. 26, pp. 5–21.

    Google Scholar 

  23. García, S., Zumpano, F., Castelletta, M., and Déspos, J., Parámetros de crecimiento de besugo (Pagrus pagrus) en la Zona Común de Pesca Argentino-Uruguaya, Frente Marítimo, 2018, vol. 25, pp. 193–205.

    Google Scholar 

  24. Grol, M.G.G., Rypel, A.L., and Nagelkerken, I., Growth potential and predation risk drive ontogenetic shifts among nursery habitats in a coral reef fish, Mar. Ecol:. Prog. Ser., 2014, vol. 502, pp. 229–244. https://doi.org/10.3354/meps10682

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Haddon, M., Modeling and Quantitative Methods in Fisheries, Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, 2011.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  26. Haimovici, M., Edad y crecimiento del besugo Pagrus pagrus del sur de Brasil, Resumenes VIII Simposio Cientifico de la Comisión Mixta del Frente Maritimo, Montevideo, 1991, p. 49.

    Google Scholar 

  27. Haimovici, M., Present state and perspectives for the southern Brazil shelf demersal fisheries, Fish. Manage. Ecol., 1998, vol. 5, no. 4, pp. 277–289. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2400.1998.540277.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Haimovici, M. and Cardoso, L.G., Colapso do estoque de Umbrina canosai do sul do Brasil devido à introdução do arrasto-de-meia-água, Bol. Inst. Pesca, 2016, vol. 42, no. 1, pp. 258–267. https://doi.org/10.5007/1678-2305.2016v42n1p258

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Harris, P.J. and McGovern, J.C., Changes in the life history of red porgy, Pagrus pagrus, from the southeastern United States, 1972–1994, Fish. Bull., 1997, vol. 95, no. 4, pp. 732–747.

    Google Scholar 

  30. Hood, P.B. and Johnson, A.K., Age, growth, mortality, and reproduction of red porgy, Pagrus pagrus, from the eastern Gulf of Mexico, Fish. Bull., 2000, vol. 98, no. 4, pp. 723–735.

    Google Scholar 

  31. Huntsman, G.R. and Schaaf, W.E., Simulation of the impact of fishing on reproduction of a protogynous grouper, the graysby, North Am. J. Fish. Manage., 1994, vol. 14, no. 1, pp. 41–52. https://doi.org/10.1577/1548-8675(1994)014<0041:SoTIoF>2.3.Co;2

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. Kikuchi, E., Discriminação de estoques do pargo-rosa (Pagrus pagrus L.) do Atlântico Sudoeste através da análise da forma dos otólitos e avaliação das mudanças do crescimento no Sul do Brasil, MSc Thesis, Rio Grande: Inst. Oceanogr., Univ. Fed. Rio Grande, 2019.

  33. Kimura, D.K., Likelihood methods for the von Bertallanfy growth curve, Fish. Bull., 1980, vol. 77, pp. 765–776.

    Google Scholar 

  34. Klibansky, N. and Scharf, F.S., Size-dependent and temporal variabilitty in batch number and fecundity of red porgy, a protogynous, indeterminate spawner, in the U.S. South Atlantic, Mar. Coastal Fish., 2013, vol. 5, no. 1, pp. 39–52. https://doi.org/10.1080/19425120.2013.769923

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. Klibansky, N. and Scharf, F.S., Success and failure assessing gonad maturity in sequentially hermaphroditic fishes: comparisons between macroscopic and microscopic method, J. Fish Biol., 2015, vol. 87, no. 4, pp. 930–957. https://doi.org/10.1111/jfb.12765

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. Koenig, C.C., Coleman, F.C., Collins, L.A., Sadovy, Y., and Colin, P.L., Reproduction in gag, Mycteroperca microlepis (Pisces, Serranidae), in the eastern Gulf of Mexico and the consequences of fishing spawning aggregations, Proc. ICLARM Conf. “Biology, Fisheries, and Culture of Tropical Groupers and Snappers,” Arreguín-Sánchez, F., et al., Eds., Manila: Int. Center Living Aquat. Resour. Manage., 1996.

  37. Labropoulou, M., Machias, A., and Tsimenides, N., Habitat selection and diet of juvenile red porgy, Pagrus pagrus (Linnaeus, 1758), Fish. Bull., 1999, vol. 97, pp. 495–507.

    Google Scholar 

  38. Lagos, N., Pesquería de besugo (Pagrus pagrus) en Argentina, Frente Marítimo, 2010, vol. 21, pp. 89–96.

    Google Scholar 

  39. Manooch, C.S. III, Reproductive cycle, fecundity, and sex ratios of the red porgy, Pagrus pagrus (Pisces: Sparidae) in North Carolina, Fish. Bull., 1976, vol. 74, no. 4, pp. 775–781.

    Google Scholar 

  40. Manooch, C.S. III and Hassler, W.W., Synopsis of Biological Data on the Red Porgy, Pagrus pagrus (Linnaeus), NOAA Tech. Rep. NMFS Circ. vol. 412, Washington, DC: US Gov. Print. Off., 1978.

  41. Manooch, C.S. III and Huntsman, G.R., Age, growth, and mortality of the red porgy, Pagrus pagrus, Trans. Am. Fish. Soc., 1977, vol. 106, pp. 26–33.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  42. Militelli, M.I., López, S., Rodrigues, K.A., García, S., and Macchi, G.S., Reproductive potential of Pagrus pagrus (Perciformes: Sparidae) in coastal waters of Buenos Aires province (Argentina) and Uruguay (34°–39° S), Neotrop. Ichthyol., 2017, vol. 15, no. 2, art. ID e160127. https://doi.org/10.1590/1982-0224-20160127

    Article  Google Scholar 

  43. Mio, S., Age and growth of red sea bream, Evynnis japonica Tanaka, Rec. Oceanogr. Works Jpn., 1961, vol. 5, pp. 95–101.

    Google Scholar 

  44. Morales-Nin, B. and Panfili, J., Seasonality in the deep sea and tropics revisited: what can otoliths tell us? Mar. Freshwater Res., 2005, vol. 56, no. 5, pp. 585–598. https://doi.org/10.1071/MF04150

    Article  Google Scholar 

  45. Nagelkerken, I., Sheaves, M., Baker, R., and Conolly, R.M., The seascape nursery: a novel spatial approach to identify and manage nurseries for coastal marine fauna, Fish Fish., 2015, vol. 16, no. 2, pp. 362–371. https://doi.org/10.1111/faf.12057

    Article  Google Scholar 

  46. Olavo, G., Costa, P.A.S., Martins, A.S., and Ferreira, B.P., Shelf-edge reefs as priority areas for conservation of reef fish diversity in the tropical Atlantic, Aquat. Conserv. Mar. Freshwater Ecosyst., 2011, vol. 21, no. 2, pp. 199–209. https://doi.org/10.1002/aqc.1174

    Article  Google Scholar 

  47. Pajuelo, J.G. and Lorenzo, J.M., Life history of the red porgy Pagrus pagrus (Teleostei: Sparidae) off the Canary Islands, central east Atlantic, Fish. Res., 1996, vol. 28, no. 2, pp. 163–177. https://doi.org/10.1016/0165-7836(96)00496-1

    Article  Google Scholar 

  48. Panfili, J. and Morales-Nin, B., Semi-direct validation, in Manual of Fish Sclerochronology, Panfili, J., Eds., Brest: IFREMER-IRD, 2002, pp. 129–134.

    Google Scholar 

  49. Porrini, L.P., Iriarte, P.J., Iudica, C.M., and Abud, E.A., Population genetic structure and body shape assessment of Pagrus pagrus (Linnaeus, 1758) (Perciformes: Sparidae) from the Buenos Aires coast of the Argentine Sea, Neotrop. Ichthyol., 2015, vol. 13, no. 2, pp. 431–438. https://doi.org/10.1590/1982-0224-20140149

    Article  Google Scholar 

  50. Potts, J.C. and Manooch, C.S. III, Estimated ages of red porgy (Pagrus pagrus) from fishery-dependent and fishery-independent data and a comparison of growth parameters, Fish. Bull., 2002, vol. 100, no. 1, pp. 81–89.

    Google Scholar 

  51. Russell, B., Pollard, D., Carpenter, K.E., and Vega-Cendejas, M., Pagrus pagrus, in The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, Glanz, 2014. https://doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-3.RLTS.T15873-A788483.en>.Version 04/2020.

  52. Scott, S.G. and Pankhurst, N.W., Interannual variation in the reproductive cycle of the New Zealand snapper Pagrus auratus (Bloch et Schneider) (Sparidae), J. Fish Biol., 1992, vol. 41, no. 5, pp. 685–696. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1095-8649.1992.tb02698.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  53. SEDAR 60 South Atlantic Red Porgy, 2020. http://sedarweb.org/sedar-60.

  54. Sedberry, G.R., Pashuk, O. Wyanski, D.M., Stephen, J.A., and Weinbach, P., Spawning locations for Atlantic reef fishes off the southeastern U.S., Proc. Annu. Gulf Caribb. Fish. Inst., 2006, vol. 57, pp. 463–514.

    Google Scholar 

  55. Serafim, M.P.P. and Krug, H.M., Age and growth of the red porgy, Pagrus pagrus (Linnaeus, 1758) (Pisces: Sparidae) in Azorean waters, Arquipélago Life Mar. Sci., 1995, vol. 13, pp. 11–20.

    Google Scholar 

  56. Soares, I.A., Lanfranqui, A.L., Luque, J.L., Haimovici, M., and Timi, J.T., Are different parasite guilds of Pagrus pagrus equally suitable sources of information on host zoogeography? Parasitol. Res., 2018, vol. 117, no. 6, pp. 1865–1875. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-018-5878-7

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  57. Summerer, M., Hanel, R., and Sturmbauer, C., Mitochondrial phylogeny and biogeographic affinities of sea breams of the genus Diplodus (Sparidae), J. Fish Biol., 2001, vol. 59, no. 6, pp. 1638–1652. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1095-8649.2001.tb00227.x

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  58. Valentin, J.L., The Cabo Frio upwelling system, Brazil, in Coastal Marine Ecosystems of Latin America, Seeliger, U. and Kjerfve, B., Eds., Berlin: Springer-Verlag, 2001, vol. 144, pp. 97–105.

    Google Scholar 

  59. Vaughan, D.S. and Prager, M.H., Severe decline in abundance of red porgy (Pagrus pagrus) population off the southeastern United States, Fish. Bull., 2002, vol. 100, no. 2, pp. 351–375.

    Google Scholar 

  60. Welch, D.J., Mapstone, B.D., Davies, C.R., and Russ, G.R., Spatial and fishing effects on sampling gear biases in a tropical reef line fishery, Mar. Freshwater Res., 2010, vol. 61, no. 10, pp. 1134–1146. https://doi.org/10.1071/MF09278

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  61. Wright, P.J., Panfili, J., Morales-Nin, B., and Geffen, A.J., Otoliths, in Manual of Sclerochronology, Panfili, J., Eds., Brest: IFREMER-IRD, 2002, pp. 31–57.

    Google Scholar 

  62. Zar, J.H., Biostatistical Analysis, Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, 2010.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

We are grateful to Mr. Vincenzo Scuotto from Brasfish— Indústria e Comércio Ltda. and Mr. Edivaldo dos Santos Ribeiro (Perrota) for providing support during sampling at Cabo Frio fish market. We would like to thank the referees for their critical reviews and suggested changes to the manuscript.

Funding

This work was supported by the Fundo Brasileiro para a Biodiversidade (FUNBIO) under Grant Marine Research 104/2016.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Universidade Federal do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (UNIRIO), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

    P. A. S. Costa, A. C. Braga & R. R. B. São-Clemente

  2. Universidade Federal Fluminense (UFF), Niterói, Brazil

    J. M. S. Vieira, C. E. L. Ferreira & M. C. Barbosa

Authors
  1. P. A. S. Costa
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. A. C. Braga
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. J. M. S. Vieira
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. C. E. L. Ferreira
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. M. C. Barbosa
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. R. R. B. São-Clemente
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to P. A. S. Costa.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interests. The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

Statement on the welfare of humans or animals. This article does not contain any studies involving animals performed by any of the authors.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Costa, P.A., Braga, A.C., Vieira, J.M. et al. Age, Growth and Maturity of Red Porgy Pagrus pagrus (Sparidae) from Southeastern Brazil. J. Ichthyol. 61, 230–242 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1134/S003294522102003X

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1134/S003294522102003X

Keywords:

Search

Navigation