Are scale circuli deposited daily in juvenile weakfish,Cynoscion regalis?

Abstract

Scale circuli of juvenile weakfish,Cynoscion regalis, were counted to determine if deposition was daily. Scale circuli counts were precise with little variation between counts (99% of the two counts from an individual scale were identical, N = 3580). Tetracycline marked juveniles (N = 71) had mean scale circuli deposition rates that were daily up to 24 d after marked. Data from several sources suggest that daily deposition of weakfish scale circuli occurred over a relatively narrow size range, approximately 14.3 to 111.9 mm standard length, however it is during this time that juvenile weakfish occupy estuarine nursery areas, where growth, mortality, and survival may alter subsequent year class strength. The estimated upper size limit at which scale circuli were no longer daily occurred over a wide range (82–142 mm standard length), and additional research is required to further clarify the limits of size and age of daily circuli deposition.