Volume 52
The Age and Growth of the Southern Flounder, Paralichthys lethostigma, in Louisiana Waters
Authors
Fischer, A.J.; Thompson, B.A. Download PDF Open PDF in BrowserOther Information
Date: November, 1999
Pages: 161-173
Event: Proceedings of the Fifty Second Annual Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute
City: Key West, Florida
Country: USA
Abstract
Morphometric measurements and otoliths were collected from southern flounder Paralichthys lethostigma from a variety of sample sources from Louisiana waters. Transverse sections of otoliths (n = 1286) were examined and opaque zones validated to form once a year in the winter months. Maximum observed age for males was 4 years while that among females was 8 years. Growth was expressed by Vonbertalanffy's growth model as Lt = 325.65{1- e[-1.33(t + 0.01)]} for males and Lt = 520. 14{1 - e[-O.74(t+ O.14)]} for females where t is age in years and Lt is total length at age t. Growth was shown to be significantly different between males and females with males displaying a faster growth rate than females but a much smaller L8.