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Growth of the brittle star Ophiura sarsii sarsii in Funka Bay, Hokkaido, Japan

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Abstract

The brittle star Ophiura sarsii with a disc diameter (DD) of less than 9 mm is an important prey item for flathead flounder Hippoglossoides dubius in Funka Bay. To establish an age-determination technique and estimate the growth equation for Ophiura sarsii sarsii (a dominant sub-species of O. sarsii in Funka Bay), we observed ridges on the surface of the arm ossicles. Specimens were collected using a sledge net, their DD measured, and the first arm ossicles examined from scanning electron microscopy images. Because the outermost ridges were formed from November to March, ridges were identified as yearly rings (annuli). The maximum age was 16.83 years (16.46-mm DD), and the largest sized individual was 22.19-mm DD (13.75 years). The best growth equation between DD and age (t) was given by Richard’s model using a minimum Akaike’s information criterion and growth rate comparison: DDt= 24.02 × {1 − 1.70 × exp[− 0.067 × (t + 8.25)]}−1/(−1.70). Small-sized (< 9-mm DD) and large-sized (ca. 15-mm DD) cohorts were composed of multi-year classes, and estimated growth rates from cohort progressions were 2.25 mm/year and 0.98 mm/year, respectively. We presumed that the large-sized cohort could be explained by a high survival rate and slow growth rate after the age of 5 or 6 years.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank Associate Professor T. Nakatani for his insightful comments and Associate Professor H. Kudo for supporting our SEM work. We also thank Captain K. Kamei and the crew of the training ship Ushio-maru and students of the Graduate School of Fisheries Sciences and Faculty of Fisheries, Hokkaido University. We thank two anonymous reviewers and an editor for their insightful suggestions. This study was supported by the Hokusui Society Foundation, Sapporo, and the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (KAKENHI grant nos 25450269, 16K07834).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Graduate School of Fisheries Science, Hokkaido University, 3-1-1 Minato, Hakodate, Hokkaido, 041-0861, Japan

    Kazuki Orino, Kosuke Ishigane, Kota Suzuki & Hiroki Izumiura

  2. Faculty of Fisheries Sciences, Hokkaido University, 3-1-1 Minato, Hakodate, Hokkaido, 041-0861, Japan

    Mitsuhiro Nakaya & Tetsuya Takatsu

  3. Aomori Prefecture Government Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Fisheries Bureau, Fisheries Promotion Division, 1-1-1 Nagashima, Aomori, Aomori, 030–8570, Japan

    Kazuki Orino

  4. CGC Japan, 2-1-14 Okubo, Shinjuku, Tokyo, 169-8531, Japan

    Kosuke Ishigane

  5. Chiba Prefectural Fisheries Research Center, 2492 Hiraiso, Chikura, Minamiboso, Chiba, 295-0024, Japan

    Kota Suzuki

  6. Daiichi Kishimoto Rinsho Kensa Center, Tomakomai Head Office, 2-3-9 Hiyoshi, Tomakomai, Hokkaido, 053-0816, Japan

    Hiroki Izumiura

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  1. Kazuki Orino
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  2. Kosuke Ishigane
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Correspondence to Tetsuya Takatsu.

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Orino, K., Ishigane, K., Suzuki, K. et al. Growth of the brittle star Ophiura sarsii sarsii in Funka Bay, Hokkaido, Japan. Fish Sci 85, 705–716 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12562-019-01323-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12562-019-01323-1

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