A contribution to the natural history of the English grey mullets [Pisces, Mugilidae].
01 Aug 1970-Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom (Cambridge University Press)-Vol. 50, Iss: 3, pp 609-633
TL;DR: Three species of grey mullet have been recognized in the English fauna, namely, Thick-lipping, Thin-lipped, and Golden.
Abstract: Three species of grey mullet have been recognized in the English fauna, namely, Thick-lipped, Thin-lipped, and Golden. There have been several revisions of the Mugilidae, and the names preferred here are: Thick-lipped grey mullet, Crenimugil labrosus (Risso); Thin-lipped grey mullet, Liza ramada (Risso); Golden grey mullet, Liza aurata (Risso).
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TL;DR: It is shown that larger mothers reproduce disproportionately more than smaller mothers in not only fecundity but also total reproductive energy, which reset much of the theory on how reproduction scales with size and suggest that largermothers contribute disproportionately to population replenishment.
Abstract: Body size determines total reproductive-energy output. Most theories assume reproductive output is a fixed proportion of size, with respect to mass, but formal macroecological tests are lacking. Management based on that assumption risks underestimating the contribution of larger mothers to replenishment, hindering sustainable harvesting. We test this assumption in marine fishes with a phylogenetically controlled meta-analysis of the intraspecific mass scaling of reproductive-energy output. We show that larger mothers reproduce disproportionately more than smaller mothers in not only fecundity but also total reproductive energy. Our results reset much of the theory on how reproduction scales with size and suggest that larger mothers contribute disproportionately to population replenishment. Global change and overharvesting cause fish sizes to decline; our results provide quantitative estimates of how these declines affect fisheries and ecosystem-level productivity.
344 citations
TL;DR: This study reviews published information on Mugil cephalus from around the world, with recent genetic studies indicating that the flathead mullet may indeed be a species complex, as well as its potential as an indicator or sentinel species for certain ecosystems.
Abstract: This study reviews published information on Mugil cephalus from around the world, with recent genetic studies indicating that the flathead mullet may indeed be a species complex. Disciplines that are covered range from the taxonomy, genetics and systematics, through a variety of biological and ecological attributes, to biomarker and fisheries studies. The eurytopic nature of M. cephalus is emphasized, with the migratory life history covering a succession of very different aquatic environments (e.g. rivers, estuaries, coastal lakes/lagoons, marine littoral, open ocean), each of which is occupied for varying lengths of time, depending on the population characteristics within a region and the life-history stage of the species. Interpretation of these movements over time has been greatly enhanced by the use of otolith micro-chemistry which has enabled scientists to map out the different habitats occupied by individual fish at the different life stages. The range of physico-chemical attributes within these environments necessitates a wide tolerance to differing conditions, especially with regard to salinity, turbidity, dissolved oxygen and temperature, all of which are discussed in this review. The importance of M. cephalus to the ecological functioning of coastal systems is emphasized, as well as the pivotal role that this species fulfills in fisheries in some parts of the world. The parasites range from internal trematode and cestode infestations, to external branchyuran and copepod parasites, which use M. cephalus as either an intermediate or final host. The value of the flathead mullet as a biomarker for the monitoring of the health of coastal habitats is discussed, as well as its potential as an indicator or sentinel species for certain ecosystems.
238 citations
Cites background from "A contribution to the natural histo..."
...from less digestible plant detritus and blue green algae (Hickling 1970)....
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...The relatively long intestine of M. cephalus would deal very effectively with diatoms in its diet (Odum 1970) but is also adapted to extracting nourishment from less digestible plant detritus and blue green algae (Hickling 1970)....
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107 citations
Journal Article•
TL;DR: Au cours de son developpement, la selectivite de son alimentation change avec l'accroissement de l'amplitude de sa repartition verticale and de ses capacites de broutage as mentioned in this paper.
85 citations
TL;DR: It is suggested that the change from being planktonic macrophagous carnivores to benthic microphagous omnivores can only take place in the estuaries of the region and conditions in the inshore waters of the Indian Ocean in south-east Africa are probably too rough for substrate feeding by juvenile mullet.
Abstract: Changes in the feeding ecology of juveniles (10–59 mm standard length) of eleven species of Mugilidae were investigated in south-east African estuaries. Adults of all species spawn in the sea and juveniles enter estuaries at a length of about 10 mm. In estuaries they change their feeding habits in the following sequence: zooplankton to zooplankton in the benthos (10–15 mm), zooplankton in the benthos to meiobenthos (10–20 mm), and meiobenthos to sand particles and associated microbenthos (15–25 mm). All species show a similar pattern of change but interspecific competition is probably prevented by the rapid switch to the adult diet of microbenthos and sand particles and because species enter estuaries at different times according to spawning periods. The juveniles seek shallow quiet water areas of estuaries and it is suggested that the change from being planktonic macrophagous carnivores to benthic microphagous omnivores can only take place in the estuaries of the region. Conditions in the inshore waters of the Indian Ocean in south-east Africa are probably too rough for substrate feeding by juvenile mullet.
84 citations
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102 citations
TL;DR: S of MEMOIRS RECORDing work done at the PLYMOUTH LABORATORY on the CILIARY MECHANISMS and INTERRELATIONSHIPS of LAMELLIBRANCHS PART V.
Abstract: S OF MEMOIRS RECORDING WORK DONE AT THE PLYMOUTH LABORATORY ON THE CILIARY MECHANISMS AND INTERRELATIONSHIPS OF LAMELLIBRANCHS PART V. NOTE ON THE GILLS OF AMUSSIUM PLEURONECTES
63 citations