451
12 Species Case Studies
per year. Further, around 50% of females (based on presence of hydrated oocytes)
are believed to spawn during the fi rst quarter lunar phase when aggregations are
not known to occur.
The mating patterns, fast growth and early maturation of the leopard coralgrouper suggest a relatively complex and fl exible reproductive strategy compared with
Table 12.2 Biological parameters for leopard coralgrouper, Plectropomus leopardus , from the
GBR, unless otherwise noted
Parameter
Value
Source
Maximum size (females)
63.0 cm FL
Ferreira ( 1995 )
Maximum size (males)
66.0 cm FL
Williams et al. ( 2008 )
a
Longevity – maximum age
14 years
Ferreira and Russ ( 1994 )
17 years
Williams et al. ( 2008 )
a
19 years
Loubens ( 1980 )
b
Asymptotic Length, L ¥ (von
Bertalanffy model)
52.2 cm SL
Ferreira and Russ ( 1994 )
74.6 cm FL
Williams et al. ( 2008 )
a
Growth coeffi cient, K (von
Bertalanffy model)
0.35
Ferreira and Russ ( 1994 )
0.07
Williams et al. ( 2008 )
a
Total mortality, Z
0.44
Williams et al. ( 2008 )
a
Natural mortality rate, M
0.147
Russ et al. ( 1998 )
Age at fi rst maturation (50%) 2–3 years
Ferreira ( 1995 )
Size at fi rst maturation (50%) 21–25 cm FL (1992–1993);
Ferreira ( 1995 )
32–36 cm FL (1990–1992)
Samoilys ( 2000 )
Mean age at sex change, A 50
7.2 years
Williams et al. ( 2008 )
a
Sex change range
3–12 years
Ferreira ( 1995 )
Mean size at sex change, L 50
46–50 cm FL
Samoilys ( 2000 )
Mean size at sex change, L 50
50.2 cm FL
Williams et al. ( 2008 )
a
Sex change size range
30–55 cm TL
Ferreira ( 1995 )
Operational sex ratio (F:M)
Large variation with location and
exposure to fi shing – ranging
from 0.9 to 5.5
Ferreira ( 1995 )
Adams et al. ( 2000 )
Samoilys ( 2000 )
Mean annual fecundity:
4.4 million eggs (hydrated) per
female
Samoilys ( 2000 )
Mean batch fecundity:
157,702 eggs per batch spawn
Samoilys ( 2000 )
Annual spawning frequency:
28 batch spawns per year
Samoilys ( 2000 )
Average population densities
4.8/1,000 m
2 (GBR average)
Ayling et al. ( 2000 )
5.3/1,000 m
2 (max = 23/1,000 m
2 )
Zeller and Russ ( 2000 )
9.3/ 1,000 m
2 (protected, inshore)
Evans and Russ ( 2004 )
Evans and Russ ( 2004 )
6.3/1000 m
2 (un-protected, inshore) Nardi et al. ( 2004 )
c
28–60/1,000 m
2 (protected)
Nardi et al. ( 2004 )
c
8/1,000 m
2 (un-protected)
Pelagic larval duration:
25.2 days
Doherty et al. ( 1994 )
FL fork length, SL standard length
a
Torres Straits, Australia, which lies between Queensland and Papua New Guinea
b
New Caledonia
c
Houtman Albrolhos Islands, Western Australia
12 Species Case Studies
per year. Further, around 50% of females (based on presence of hydrated oocytes)
are believed to spawn during the fi rst quarter lunar phase when aggregations are
not known to occur.
The mating patterns, fast growth and early maturation of the leopard coralgrouper suggest a relatively complex and fl exible reproductive strategy compared with
Table 12.2 Biological parameters for leopard coralgrouper, Plectropomus leopardus , from the
GBR, unless otherwise noted
Parameter
Value
Source
Maximum size (females)
63.0 cm FL
Ferreira ( 1995 )
Maximum size (males)
66.0 cm FL
Williams et al. ( 2008 )
a
Longevity – maximum age
14 years
Ferreira and Russ ( 1994 )
17 years
Williams et al. ( 2008 )
a
19 years
Loubens ( 1980 )
b
Asymptotic Length, L ¥ (von
Bertalanffy model)
52.2 cm SL
Ferreira and Russ ( 1994 )
74.6 cm FL
Williams et al. ( 2008 )
a
Growth coeffi cient, K (von
Bertalanffy model)
0.35
Ferreira and Russ ( 1994 )
0.07
Williams et al. ( 2008 )
a
Total mortality, Z
0.44
Williams et al. ( 2008 )
a
Natural mortality rate, M
0.147
Russ et al. ( 1998 )
Age at fi rst maturation (50%) 2–3 years
Ferreira ( 1995 )
Size at fi rst maturation (50%) 21–25 cm FL (1992–1993);
Ferreira ( 1995 )
32–36 cm FL (1990–1992)
Samoilys ( 2000 )
Mean age at sex change, A 50
7.2 years
Williams et al. ( 2008 )
a
Sex change range
3–12 years
Ferreira ( 1995 )
Mean size at sex change, L 50
46–50 cm FL
Samoilys ( 2000 )
Mean size at sex change, L 50
50.2 cm FL
Williams et al. ( 2008 )
a
Sex change size range
30–55 cm TL
Ferreira ( 1995 )
Operational sex ratio (F:M)
Large variation with location and
exposure to fi shing – ranging
from 0.9 to 5.5
Ferreira ( 1995 )
Adams et al. ( 2000 )
Samoilys ( 2000 )
Mean annual fecundity:
4.4 million eggs (hydrated) per
female
Samoilys ( 2000 )
Mean batch fecundity:
157,702 eggs per batch spawn
Samoilys ( 2000 )
Annual spawning frequency:
28 batch spawns per year
Samoilys ( 2000 )
Average population densities
4.8/1,000 m
2 (GBR average)
Ayling et al. ( 2000 )
5.3/1,000 m
2 (max = 23/1,000 m
2 )
Zeller and Russ ( 2000 )
9.3/ 1,000 m
2 (protected, inshore)
Evans and Russ ( 2004 )
Evans and Russ ( 2004 )
6.3/1000 m
2 (un-protected, inshore) Nardi et al. ( 2004 )
c
28–60/1,000 m
2 (protected)
Nardi et al. ( 2004 )
c
8/1,000 m
2 (un-protected)
Pelagic larval duration:
25.2 days
Doherty et al. ( 1994 )
FL fork length, SL standard length
a
Torres Straits, Australia, which lies between Queensland and Papua New Guinea
b
New Caledonia
c
Houtman Albrolhos Islands, Western Australia