Size-weight Relationships Research Articles

PHONETIC UNDERPINNINGS OF SOUND SYMBOLISM ACROSS MULTIPLE DOMAINS OF MEANING.

Sound symbolism occurs when the sound of a word alone can convey its meaning, e.g. 'balloon' and 'spike' sound rounded and pointed, respectively. Sound-symbolic correspondences are widespread in natural languages, but it is unclear how they are instantiated across different domains of meaning. Here, participants rated auditory pseudowords on opposing scales of seven different sound-symbolic domains: shape (rounded-pointed), texture (hard-soft), weight (light-heavy), size (small-big), brightness (bright-dark), arousal (calming-exciting), and valence (good-bad). Ratings showed cross-domain relationships, some mirroring those between corresponding physical domains, e.g. size and weight ratings were associated, reflecting a physical size-weight relationship, while others involved metaphorical mappings, e.g., bright/dark mapped onto good/bad, respectively. The phonetic features of the pseudowords formed unique sets with characteristic feature weightings for each domain and tended to follow the cross-domain ratings relationships. These results suggest that sound-symbolic correspondences rely on domain-specific patterns of phonetic features, with cross-domain correspondences reflecting physical or metaphorical relationships.

Spatial and Seasonal Variations in the Size-Weight Relationship and Condition Index of the Mangrove Oyster Crassostrea tulipa (Lamarck, 1819) in the Saloum Delta, Senegal

In the Saloum delta in Senegal, the mangrove oyster Crassostrea tulipa is under increasing human pressure, leading to a decline in wild stocks, a decrease in the quality of the marketed oysters and the degradation of mangrove tree roots. Previous studies have pinpointed some of these disturbances and yet, there is little information available on the structure of the population and the condition index of the species. The aim of this study was to document these aspects in order to support a sustainable management of the resource. From January 2021 to December 2022, monthly sampling was carried out at five stations to study the size-weight relationship and the condition index (CI) of oysters. A total of 26,790 individuals ranging in size from 0.23 to 93.19 mm with an average of 33.86±16.38 mm shell height were collected. The species was found to have a minority allometry (b = 2.54 <3), with a strong correlation between individual weight and oyster shell height (r = 0.88). CI showed seasonal and inter-site variations over the two years, with an overall mean value of 11.17±2.72%. The highest CI values were observed during the hot season and the lowest during the hot-cold transition period.

Size structure, size-weight relationship and condition factor of Coptodon dageti and Sarotherodon galilaeus, two Cichlids from Lake Selingue, Mali

Size structure, size-weight relationship and condition factor of Coptodon dageti and Sarotherodon galilaeus, two Cichlids from Lake Selingue, Mali

Growth and reproduction of the shrimp population in a lagoon system in southern Benin (West Africa)

Abstract The aim of this work was to characterize the growth and reproduction dynamics of shrimp in the Lac Nokoué-Chenal de Cotonou complex. The results of one year’s sampling from five stations (North, South, East, Central and West) of the lagoon complex revealed that linear growth in size in Lake Nokoué is decreasing over time in Macrobrachium macrobrachion (the most representative species of the genus Macrobrachium), but positive in Penaeus notialis (the most representative species of the genus Penaeus). Size-weight relationships indicate that the lowest growth coefficient () is obtained in immature males of Macrobrachium felicinum, while the highest growth coefficient () is obtained in mature females of Macrobrachium vollenhovenii, with an average of 2.84 for all shrimp species over both sexes considered. The test indicated that only the species Macrobrachium vollenhovenii has a significant sexual imbalance in favour of females in Lake Nokoué. Fisher’s Least Significant Difference test indicated that the estimated first sexual maturity sizes in Macrobrachium vollenhovenii and M. macrobrachion are significantly different from those estimated in M. felicinum at the threshold. However, the same test indicates that there is not enough evidence to differentiate the sizes of first sexual maturation in M. vollenhovenii and M. macrobrachion. This work revealed that Penaeus monodon was the only species to show better positive growth within all its groups in Lake Nokoué while exposed to anthropogenic effects. A gradual average increase in the size of Penaeus notialis in Lake Nokoué is found between the beginning and end of the saline intrusion (which confirms the life cycle of the species presented). Species of the genus Macrobrachium showed good reproductive capacity, with the absence of sexually mature Penaeus in this lagoon.

Identification, location and characterisation of spawning grounds and nurseries in the littoral zone of Lake Kivu (eastern DR Congo)

AbstractWorldwide biodiversity is on the brink of extinction following the complete disappearance of many forest and freshwater vertebrates. This disappearance is closely linked to the reduction and disturbance of habitats, which should instead benefit from special conservation. In the case of lake ecosystems, fish spawning grounds remain the most vulnerable. This study aims to identify, characterise and locate fish spawning and nursery sites in Lake Kivu for better conservation. Sixteen sampling sites were selected along the shoreline of the Bukavu sub‐basin. Physico‐chemical parameters were measured in situ, and fish were captured using multi‐mesh nets, identified and dissected, gonads observed and sexual maturity stages determined. Twenty‐five fish species were identified, but 17 of these use the selected sampling sites as spawning and/or nursery. Eleven spawning and nine nursery sites were identified and located. Physico‐chemical analyses showed that temperature (F = 2.124, p = 0.011), dissolved oxygen (F = 2.792, p < 0.001), depth (F = 5.915, p < 0.001) and transparency (F = 3.421, p = 0.004) were significantly different, which characterise each site and may be key factors in species distribution between spawning sites. Fish size–weight relationships indicate allometric growths. The results of this research contribute to empirical knowledge of fish spawning grounds.

Biometric Characteristics and Condition Index of the Mangrove Oyster Crassostrea tulipa Lamarck, 1819 in the Interface Ecosystems of the Saloum Delta in Senegal: Case of the Commune of Dionewar

The mangrove oyster Crassostrea tulipa (syn. Crassostrea gasar) has been subjected to strong anthropic pressure. As in several West African countries, Senegal in particular in the Saloum delta, the oyster resource was severely strained. This situation had led to disturbances in the renewal of stocks and their productivity. The objective of this study was to determine the size frequency distribution, the size-weight relationship and the condition index in order to provide scientific arguments for sustainable management of C. tulipa. Monthly sampling from January 2021 to January 2022 at the Akat, Baobab Rasta, Falia 1, Falia 2 and Fandiongue stations revealed that the individual sizes of the oysters collected ranged from 0.63 mm to 93.19 mm, with an average height of 34.63 ± 16.12 mm. The size frequency distribution is unimodal with a modal class of 30 - 40 mm and the allometry coefficient is minorizing (2.57). The correlation coefficient is 0.86. However, from one site to another the differences are not significant. The monthly monitoring of the oyster condition index showed several variations in values throughout the year, with an overall average of 11.47±2.89% for the 5 stations. The maximum value (12.97±2.60) was observed in March while the minimum value (9.85±2.22) was recorded in November. This study suggests that C. tulipa is overexploited in the commune of Dionewar and that the best time to collect the oyster is around March.

Estudio comparativo de indicadores biológicos y metabólicos en machos y hembras de Pseudocurimata boulengeri de ecosistemas lóticos

With the objective of evaluating different biological and metabolic indicators in males and females Pseudocurimata boulengeri in three ecosystems of Los Ríos, Ecuador, specimens were captured in the areas of Ventana, Quevedo and Buena Fe (60 per area, 180 total), and proceeded to perform the sexing. The following were determined: size, weight, thickness of the head, trunk and tail, as well as the size-weight relationship. Stomasomatic, gonadal, hepatosomatic, vicerosomatic indices and condition factor. Glucose, total protein, cholesterol and triglyceride were also evaluated. A 3×2 factorial arrangement was used. Regression analysis to establish the functional relationship between length and weight. For the morphometric indicators, differences between interactions were shown, although higher values were observed in females regardless of the locality, with a weight of 185 g, a length of 23.43 cm and head thickness that exceeded 6 cm. The biological indices reflected differences between the interactions, thus the hepatosomatic, gonadal, and vicerosomatic indexes were higher for females in the locality of Ventanas with 0.97, 12.76, and 20.04, respectively. For the metabolic indicators, differences were shown between the interactions with greater variability for sex. It was shown that for the morphometric indicators, sex did not prevail. The biological indices were influenced by sex, with superiority for females except the stomasomatic. While metabolic indicators showed variability with respect to areas and sex.

Using size-weight relationships to estimate biomass of heavily targeted aquarium corals by Australia’s coral harvest fisheries

Coral reefs are highly threatened environs subject to ongoing unprecedented degradation as a result of anthropogenic activities. Given the existential threat to coral reef ecosystems, extractive industries that make use of coral reef resources, are facing significant public and political pressure to quantify and justify their environmental impact. In Australia, hundreds of thousands of live scleractinian (hard) corals are harvested annually directly from the wild to supply the growing international marine aquarium trade. Many of the most popular and high value aquarium corals are believed to be slow growing, which would make them particularly vulnerable to over-fishing. Corals present a number of unique challenges for fisheries management, not least of which, is the marked variation in the size of corals, which may be harvested in whole or in part. This issue is further compounded because harvest limits are typically weight-based, but there is very limited information on the standing biomass of corals in targeted stocks. Herein, we describe size-weight relationships for some of Australia’s most heavily targeted coral species (Catalaphyllia jardinei, Duncanopsammia axifuga, Euphyllia glabrescens, Homophyllia cf. australis, Micromussa lordhowensis, Trachyphyllia geoffroyi), which allows estimation of standing biomass from transect surveys. This work represents an important first step in the development of ecologically sound management strategies by bridging the gap between catch reporting and stock assessments.

Endemic Muar, Malaysia Oyster Crassostrea (Magallana) saidii Wong & Sigwart, 2021 Approaches Optimal Harvest Despite Year-Round Multiple Recruitments

Population dynamics provides insight into how the population changes in structure over time. The insight is especially paramount for species with limited distribution and of conservation concern, such as Crassostrea (Magallana) saidii Wong & Sigwart, 2021 (Sigwart et al., 2021). The species is a recently described oyster endemic to the Muar estuary, Malaysia. The species’ size-weight relationship and population structure were assessed in 2019 to determine its population dynamic. Results indicated that the oyster showed a negative allometric growth with a coefficient of 2.5422 (b < 3). The observed asymptotic height (SH∞) was 15.23 cm, with a growth coefficient (K) of 0.69 per year. The low coefficient value was indicative of a slow growth rate, where it sets within the range of typically long-lived species. The oyster’s growth performance index (φ/) was estimated at 2.204. The level of exploitation (E) index of the oyster (0.42) was lower than annual fishing mortality (1.27), indicating the C. (M.) saidii population was utilized close to the optimum yield. The oyster’s recruitment pattern was continuous, peaking from April to June (18.46% to 13.82% oyster recruits) and September to November (10.68% to 12.37% recruits). The information of the current study is useful for sustainable management and proper utilization of the C. (M.) saidii oyster.

Size-weight relationships for estimating harvestable biomass of Acropora corals on Australia's Great Barrier Reef

Although hard corals (order Scleractinia) are listed in Appendix II of the Convention for the International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), there is significant ongoing wild harvest and international trade, mostly for the aquarium industry. Acropora corals account for the majority of aquarium corals harvested and traded, but are also extremely vulnerable to fisheries-independent threats, especially climate-induced coral bleaching. Reconciling effects of coral harvesting is complicated as harvest limits are based on weight, while there is limited data on standing biomass of Acropora from different reef environments. Here, a management-friendly methodology that allows for quantification of Acropora spp. biomass is described and demonstrated, thus providing means for the development and implementation of a rigorous sustainable harvest strategy. We establish size-weight relationships for four growth forms of Acropora spp. harvested from Australia's Great Barrier Reef, to facilitate estimates of harvestable biomass and better understand the ecological context of current weight-based harvest levels and limits. Using these relationships, and field-based sampling at 12 sites across seven distinct reefs, the estimated biomass of Acropora spp. ranges from 0.12 kg ⋅ m−2 to 4.7 kg ⋅ m−2. These estimates necessitate further consideration of catch composition and the specific abundance of individual species that are heavily harvested, and how impacts of current harvest practices interact with species-specific vulnerability to climate change and other escalating human pressures contributing to the degradation of coral reef ecosystems. This study is a crucial first step towards quantifying the ecological impacts of the fishery to develop management strategies that are underpinned by research.

Relationships between length-weight, length-length, and fish length to otolith morphometry in Rita rita (Hamilton, 1822)

The present study deals with fish length-weight, length-length, length-otolith size and length-otolith weight relationships in Rita rita. Specimens (N = 117) were collected monthly from September 2018 to August 2019 from Narora site of the River Ganga, India. The slope (b) in length-weight relationship equation was 2.40, suggesting a negative allometric growth pattern. The Student’s t-test showed no significant differences in the size of right and left otoliths in Rita rita, therefore, a single linear regression based on left otoliths was used. Fish length was plotted against otolith length, otolith height and otolith weight. The linear regression model was found to fit the data well for fish length to otolith size. Fish length was positively correlated with otolith height (R2 = 0.97), otolith length (R2 = 0.94) and otolith weight (R2 = 0.91). The mean value of condition factor was 1.13, which suggested a good condition of the target fish species in the River Ganga. Findings of this study could be used to study the population characteristics of Rita rita, and to explore the food and feeding biology of piscivores based on correlating the otolith morphometry of the prey items to the fish length at age.

A field-release device and protocol for dispensing cocoons of Cotesia flavipes against sugarcane borers

A field-liberation technique for cocoons of the parasitoid Cotesia flavipes Cameron (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) against sugarcane borers was developed in two stages: (i) laboratory standardization of a gravimetric method to enumerate cocoons for field release and (ii) design and evaluation of a field-release device to dispense cocoons of the parasitoid. Field-collected and laboratory-reared cocoon masses of C. flavipes from two larval hosts were characterized for cocoon mass weight, cocoon number per mass (cocoon mass size), percent of adult emergence and percent of females. Non-parametric ANOVA of cocoon characteristics showed no significant differences among field-collected and laboratory-reared larvae of the two species. Cocoon mass size vs. cocoon mass weight correlation was significant for field-collected and laboratory-reared larvae of both species. Coincidence analysis of the four regression lines indicated adequacy of a single line to describe cocoon mass size vs. cocoon mass weight relationship and predict the former from the latter. Laboratory and field tests with a prototype field-release device established egress of the parasitoid from the device with minimum risk of predation. The protocol developed for dispensing C. flavipes cocoons in the field includes three steps: (i) determination of gross dosage from net dosage using proportions of females and adult emergence as correction factors; (ii) estimation of cocoon number in individual cocoon masses from cocoon mass weight using the regression equation and (iii) dispensation of gross dosage of cocoon masses using the field-release device.

Morphometric, quantitative and population characteristics oF Rapana venosa (Valenciennes, 1846) in front of Pasha Dere

A total of 468 individuals of the rapa whelk (Rapana venosa) were studied in terms of size, weight and sex in the sea area in front of Pasha dere (south of Varna Bay, Black Sea) in the summer of 2016. Sampling was performed by bottom trawling on three transects at different depths (from 9.0 m to 24.5 m) and different type of substrate (sand, sandy silt and silt). In the present study the average length was 6.36 cm and the absolute shell length ranged from a minimum of 3.24 cm to a maximum of 9.68 cm. The established average total weight was 47.31 g, its absolute value ranging from 9.98 g to 135.02 g. The average values of the shell length and total weight of the rapa whelk were the lowest on shallow sandy bottom (6.01 cm and 41.94 g, respectively) and the highest at 21 m depth on silty sediments (6.84 cm and 55.13 g, respectively). The size-weight relationship between all individuals was described by the formula W = 0.248L 2.797 (R 2 = 0.937), with the allometric coefficient (b) ranging from 2.817 to 3.066. On the sandy sediment, the male: female ratio was 2:1; in sandy silt, the percentages of male and female specimens were 55% and 45% respectively, and in silty sediment the sex ratio was 1:1. The male specimens were characterized by higher values of all morphometric parameters compared to the females. In the size distribution of sexes, the highest was the frequency of the males in size class of 6-7 cm, and the females with 5-6 cm shell length. In the weight distribution of the males, the individuals with total weight in the range 30-40 g dominated, while the prevailing female individuals weighed between 20 g and 30 g.

Variations Saisonnières Des Paramètres De Reproduction Et Relation Taille-Poids De Auxis thazard (Lacepède, 1800) Capturé Dans Le Golfe De Guinée Par La Flottille Artisanale Ivoirienne

In this study, the seasonal variation in sex ratio, macroscopic stages of sexual maturity, gonado-somatic ratio, hepatostatic ratio, condition factor, and size-weight relationship in Auxis thazard from Gulf of Guinea were studied from January to December 2016. Sex ratio observed was in favor of males (1: 0,78; X² observed = 20,16 ˃ theoretical X² = 3,84 ; p ˂ 0,05). The variation of maturity stages associated with GSI, HSI, and K during different seasons of the year showed that this specie spawns throughout the year. Length-weight relationship was W = 0,0039 L 3, 4108 (R2 = 0,93 ; N = 291) for males, W = 0,0036 L 3, 4376 (R2 = 0,91 ; N = 227) for females, and W = 0,004 L 3, 4118 (R2 = 0,92 ; N = 519) for the combined sexes. The b value was significantly higher than the theoretical value of 3 for males (t-test, t = 233,218, p ˂ 0,05), for females (t-test, t = 227,776, p ˂ 0,05), and for all individuals (t-test, t = 315,821, p ˂ 0,05). This situation however indicates a faster increase of the fish in weight rather than in length.

Size-weight relationships of batoids captured by artisanal fishery in the southern Gulf of California, Mexico

This study reports the size–weight relationships (SWR) for nine batoid species that are frequently fished by the artisanal fisheries in the southern Gulf of California. Analysis included a total of 2,012 specimens, caught from October 2013 to July 2016. The slope values (b) oscillated from 2.80 to 3.56. Growth was isometric for five species and positively allometric for four. There were differences in SWR between sexes for three species being in all cases the female greater and heavier than males. This is the first analysis of SWR for the batoid species studied in the Gulf of California.

Relative growth and size at onset of sexual maturity of the brown crab, Cancer pagurus in the Isle of Man, Irish Sea

ABSTRACTIn this study, the relative growth, size–weight relationships and size at onset of maturity of the brown crab Cancer pagurus were investigated in the Isle of Man. For the analyses of relative growth and size at onset of maturity, the samples were collected seasonally between autumn 2012 and spring 2013 using several methods: pot surveys, dredge and trawl surveys, market surveys and shore surveys. Results showed that allometric growth occurred in the chelipeds of males (n = 87) and in the abdomen of females (n = 222). Four different measures of maturity (behavioural, functional, morphometric and physiological) were examined. With respect to the behavioural maturity, the smallest female crab found with a sperm plug measured 110 mm CW, whereas in terms of functional maturity the smallest ovigerous female had a CW of 134 mm. Based on direct observations of gonad maturity, 50% of females were mature at 108 mm CW, whereas 50% of males were mature at 89 mm CW. The size at the onset of maturity measurements of female and male C. pagurus based on gonad development is smaller than the current minimum landing size (130 mm), and therefore this suggests that the current minimum landing size is an adequate management measure.

ESTIMACION DEL CRECIMIENTO Y MORTALIDAD DEL CHIVO CABEZON Anopsis bonillai (MILES, 1945) (PISCES: SILURIFORES. ARIIDAE), EN LA CIENAGA GRANDE DE SANTA MARTA, COLOMBIA

From September 1981 and during 14 months of continued sampling in the Ciénaga Grande de Santa Marta, 3477 specimens of the New Granada sea catfish Ariopsis bonillai (Miles, 1945) were captured. These catches served as a basis for estimation of the size-weight relationships calculated for both males and females separately and in combined fashion. Growth curves for length and weight after von Bertalanffy,s model were obtained, as well as preliminary values for natural (M), total (Z) and fishing mortality (F). The variation of these results is analyzed for both sexes as a cause-effect function resulting from the mouth breeding behavior characteristic of this species.

Condition factor and carapace width versus wet weight relationship in the blue swimming crab Portunus segnis

The size-weight relationship of a species allows for estimating the expected weight based on size. The present contribution aims at evaluating the body weight vs. carapace width relationship and the condition factor of the blue swimming crab Portunus segnis. These characteristics were analyzed for each sex using specimens collected monthly from April 2012 through to March 2013, at the Persian Gulf (Hormozgan Province, Iran). The size of each specimen was measured (carapace width) and weighed (total body wet weight). A total of 302 individuals of P. segnis were analyzed. The body weight-carapace width relationship indicated positive allometric growth in males and isometric growth in females. Body weight was higher in males than females of equivalent carapace width, and the means for condition factors were always higher in females than in males, due to the heavier gonads in the former, an expected pattern for many crabs. In both sexes, the lowest condition factor was detected in winter with an ascending trend in the next seasons. The oscillation in condition factor throughout the sampling year was more prominent in females and related to the reproductive cycle. The information reinforces data to define fishing closed seasons for this portunid that is used in many places in the world.

Intrinsic variability in shell and soft tissue growth of the freshwater mussel Lampsilis siliquoidea.

Freshwater mussels are ecologically and economically important members of many aquatic ecosystems, but are globally among the most imperiled taxa. Propagation techniques for mussels have been developed and used to boost declining and restore extirpated populations. Here we use a cohort of propagated mussels to estimate the intrinsic variability in size and growth rate of Lampsilis siliquoidea (a commonly propagated species). Understanding the magnitude and pattern of variation in data is critical to determining whether effects observed in nature or experimental treatments are likely to be important. The coefficient of variation (CV) of L. siliquoidea soft tissues (6.0%) was less than the CV of linear shell dimensions (25.1–66.9%). Size-weight relationships were best when mussel width (the maximum left-right dimension with both valves appressed) was used as a predictor, but 95% credible intervals on these predictions for soft tissues were ∼145 mg wide (about 50% of the mean soft tissue mass). Mussels in this study were treated identically, raised from a single cohort and yet variation in soft tissue mass at a particular size class (as determined by shell dimensions) was still high. High variability in mussel size is often acknowledged, but seldom discussed in the context of mussel conservation. High variability will influence the survival of stocked juvenile cohorts, may affect the ability to experimentally detect sublethal stressors and may lead to incongruities between the effects that mussels have on structure (via hard shells) and biogeochemical cycles (via soft tissue metabolism). Given their imperiled status and longevity, there is often reluctance to destructively sample unionid mussel soft tissues even in metabolic studies (e.g., studies of nutrient cycling). High intrinsic variability suggests that using shell dimensions (particularly shell length) as a response variable in studies of sublethal stressors or metabolic processes will make confident identifications of smaller effect sizes difficult.

Urohyal size versus body-length and weight relationships for thirteen mojarras species (Perciformes: Gerreidae) in Mexican waters

Given that it has been shown that urohyal bones can be used to identify gerreid fish to the species level, predictive regression equations between urohyal size and fish standard length and weight of thirteen species of Gerreidae living along the coasts of Mexico, were calculated. All regressions were statistically significant with coefficients of variation and coefficient of determination values around 0.90 in most of cases. These regression equations could provide a reliable tool in trophic ecology and other studies by estimating the original body size and weight of fish from measuring urohyal bone lengths. Information provide from the urohyal bone-fish length and weight relationships also facilitates the assessment of the potential role of gerreid fish found in the diet of piscivorous species from Mexican waters.