Determining the age and growth of wild octopus using stylet increment analysis

Abstract

MEPS Marine Ecology Progress Series Contact the journal Facebook Twitter RSS Mailing List Subscribe to our mailing list via Mailchimp HomeLatest VolumeAbout the JournalEditorsTheme Sections MEPS 367:213-222 (2008) - DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/meps07558 Determining the age and growth of wild octopus using stylet increment analysis Stephen C. Leporati*, Jayson M. Semmens, Gretta T. Pecl Tasmanian Aquaculture and Fisheries Institute Marine Research Laboratories, University of Tasmanian, Private Bag 49, Hobart, Tasmania 7001, Australia *Email: stephen.leporati@utas.edu.au ABSTRACT: Stylet increment analysis is a method of octopus age estimation that quantifies growth rings within stylets (reduced internal shells found in the mantle). This method was applied to wild Octopus pallidus to determine gender and seasonal influences on age and growth. A total of 503 individuals (94 males and 409 females) were aged, revealing that O. pallidus can reach a maximum age of approximately 1.6 yr and that spawning occurs throughout the year. Male octopuses on average were significantly larger (550 and 482 g for males and females, respectively) and older (259 and 243 d for males and females, respectively) than female, and overall growth rates were positively correlated with temperature at hatching. However, these differences were secondary to individual growth heterogeneity. Growth of males ranged from 1.32 to 5.33% body weight (bw) d–1 and females from 1.55 to 6.9% bw d–1, with no relationship between age and size evident regardless of sex. Stylet increment analysis is a promising technique that could play a role similar role to statoliths in squid as an ageing tool. KEY WORDS: Octopus · Stylet increment analysis · Age · Growth · Seasonal effects Full text in pdf format PreviousNextCite this article as: Leporati SC, Semmens JM, Pecl GT (2008) Determining the age and growth of wild octopus using stylet increment analysis. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 367:213-222. https://doi.org/10.3354/meps07558 Export citation RSS - Facebook - Tweet - linkedIn Cited by Published in MEPS Vol. 367. Online publication date: September 11, 2008 Print ISSN: 0171-8630; Online ISSN: 1616-1599 Copyright © 2008 Inter-Research.