Age, Growth, and Size Distribution of Larval Atlantic Menhaden off North Carolina

Abstract

Counts of growth increments on sagittal otoliths of larval Atlantic menhaden Brevoortia tyrannus spawned and reared in the laboratory showed that 1 increment/d was formed beginning 5 d after fertilization and that increment counts could be used to estimate larval age, A Gompertz growth equation described the relationship between age and standard length (SL) for 353 larvae collected off North Carolina in fall and winter, 1979–1980. Larvae grew from 3.4 mm SL at hatching to 25.2 mm SL at 100 d. Age of larvae varied inversely with capture distance from shore, Age distribution of larvae on the North Carolina continental shelf suggests that transport of larvae from offshore spawning sites to the estuary was biphasic. Transport was relatively rapid to within about 35 km of shore and relatively slow from there to shore, Mean age at estuarine recruitment increased from 40 to 80 d throughout the recruitment season, which may represent differences in transport rate.