Life history patterns
Session 30
Lmax = 150 cm A model to describe fish growth
k = 1.0 In fisheries research, data relating to the growth of fish are
k = 0.25 frequently described using the von Bertalanffy growth model:
Lt = Lmax[1 – exp-k(t - t')]
k = 0.1 where Lt is fish length at time t, Lmax is the asymptotic length, or
the theoretical maximum length the fish can reach, and k can be
considered as a growth rate function, i.e. the rate at which the fish
grows to approach Lmax .
Fish length (cm)
Many fish species become sexually mature at a length of
approximately 0.7Lmax, so k can also be considered to give an
indication of the rapidity of the onset of sexual maturation.
Lmax = 150 cm t' is a constant that adjusts the growth model in relation to the
origin: in species with internal development t' can give an
estimate of the period of gestation.
Lmax = 100 cm
In ovoviviparous and viviparous species, in which there is
internal development of the eggs and embryos, the growth curve
will not pass through the origin, but will cross the y-axis above
Lmax = 50 cm the origin and will have a negative intercept on the x-axis.
k = 0.25 The point of intersection on the y-axis will indicate the length-at-
birth, and the intercept on the x-axis indicates the length of the
gestation period (N.B. We assume that the age of the fish is being
Time (Fish age in years) measured from the time of birth).
2
Growth rate function ( k )
Skates & rays
When the von Bertalanffy parameters Lmax and k are
1,5 examined for fish species within a given family, or closely
Herrings & anchovies
related taxonomic group, it is usually found that the two
Marine flatfish
parameters are inversely related.
Codfishes
1
In other words, fish that reach a large body size usually
develop quite slowly, and because k provides an index of
0,5
the onset of sexual maturation, such fish also tend to have
quite a high age at maturity.
0
0 100 200 300
Maximum length (L max )(cm)
50
Another parameter used in the investigation of fish
GSI (% body mass)
populations is annual reproductive investment, i.e. the 40
proportion of available resources directed towards egg
production.
30
Reproductive investment is often assessed by measuring
the gonadosomatic index (GSI) of female fish that are 20
close to spawning:
GSI = (WO/W) x 100 10
where WO is the weight of the ovary and W is the weight
of the fish.
0
0 50 100 150
Fish species that invest heavily in reproduction (i.e. have
a large GSI) tend to be smaller (i.e. have a lower Lmax) Maximum length (L max )(cm)
than those in which reproductive investment is low.
A high investment in reproduction tends to increase the risk of mortality, with the fish being unable to recover after
spawning.
Fish species that invest most heavily in reproduction often breed only once during their lifetime and then die, i.e. they are
semelparous.
Rates of mortality of eggs, larvae and juveniles tend to be higher in the most fecund species than in those which produce
fewer offspring.
Fish species that invest most heavily in reproduction also tend to produce large numbers of eggs, so rates of natural
mortality (M) of these species are higher than in species that invest less heavily in reproduction and produce fewer eggs
Generalisations about growth and life history parameters of fish species:
Large fish tend to ’develop’ relatively slowly (i.e. Lmax and k are negatively correlated)
Large species tend to mature at high age (i.e. Age at maturity and Lmax are positively
correlated)
Large, late-maturing fish are ’long-lived’ and have low rates of mortality (i.e. M is
negatively correlated with Lmax)
Large, long-lived species tend to have a low annual reproductive investment (i.e. GSI
tends to be negatively correlated with Lmax)
Species that invest heavily in reproduction tend to have high rates of natural mortality
([Link] [an indicator of reproductive investment and fecundity] is positively correlated
with M)
In other words, the larger fish species within a taxonomic group tend to be those that mature
latest, have the lowest annual investment in reproduction, and have the lowest rates of mortality.
Growth and life-history characteristics of large, long-lived fish species:
characteristics typically shown by many species of elasmobranchs (sharks, skates and rays)
High Lmax and low k in the von Be rtalanffy growth mode l
High age-at-maturity
Low annual reproductive investment and low fecundity (i.e. few offspring; often ovovivipar ous or viviparous
with long gestation time s)
Low r ate of natural mortality (low M)
Survive to breed ove r seve ral ye ars – spawn several time s during the ir lifetime, i.e. are ite ropar ous
Pop ulation characterist ics:
Fish are long-lived, so the population comprises ma ny year-c lasses
High age-at-maturity and low annual re productive investme nt me ans that there is little potential for rapid
incr eases in population size
Any variations in year-c lass ‘stre ngth’ will have limited impact on population size be cause the population
comprises several generations, and this will tend to ‘dam pen’ a ny ef fects of short-term (annual) fluctuations in
recr uitm ent of young fish
Population size is re latively stable, oscillations in numbers tend to be limited, and changes occur relatively
slowly
Sen sitivity to over exp loitation :
Fish have a high age-at maturity and low annual re produc tive investme nt, so reproductive potential is low.
This mea ns tha t populations are extremely sensitive to overfishing, and population sizes increase only slowly
onc e fishing pressure is re laxed.
Growth and life-history characteristics of small, short-lived fish species:
characteristics typical of pelagic, schooling species of the anchovy and herring family
Low L max and high k in the von Be rtalanffy growth mode l
Ma ture a t young age ( 1-2 years)
High annual re productive investme nt and high fecundity ( i.e . produce lar ge numbers of eggs)
High rate of natural mortality (high M)
Ma y be semelparous – spawn only once during their lifetime, and then die
Population characterist ics:
Fish are short-lived, so the population comprises a limited number of year- classes (perhaps only 2-4)
Low age-at-maturity and high annual reproductive investme nt me ans that there exists a potential for rapid
incr eases in population size
The ‘strength’ of a given year-class may have a major im pa ct on population size beca use the population
comprises very few yea r-cla sses. A ‘strong’ year- class can lead to a marked increa se in numbers, whereas a
‘weak’ year-c lass can re sult in a ‘crash’ in fish numbers in the population
The size of the population may vary, oscillations in numbers may be large, a nd changes may occur re latively
rapidly
Sen sitivity to over exp loitation :
Fish have a low age-a t m aturity and high annual re produc tive investme nt, so reproductive potential is high.
This mea ns tha t populations display some tolerance of exploita tion, and population sizes may incre ase quite
rapidly once fishing pressure is relaxed.
