Login | Request Account (DAF staff only)

Age structure of the Australian lungfish (Neoceratodus forsteri)

Share this record

Add to FacebookAdd to LinkedinAdd to XAdd to WechatAdd to Microsoft_teamsAdd to WhatsappAdd to Any

Export this record

View Altmetrics

Fallon, S. J., McDougall, A. J., Espinoza, T., Roberts, D. T., Brooks, S. G., Kind, P. K., Kennard, M. J., Bond, N., Marshall, S. M. and Schmidt, D. (2019) Age structure of the Australian lungfish (Neoceratodus forsteri). PLOS ONE, 14 (1). e0210168. ISSN 1932-6203

Full text not currently attached. Access may be available via the Publisher's website or OpenAccess link.

Article Link: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0210168

Abstract

The Australian lungfish has been studied for more than a century without any knowledge of the longevity of the species. Traditional methods for ageing fish, such as analysis of otolith (ear stone) rings is complicated in that lungfish otoliths differ from teleost fish in composition. As otolith sampling is also lethal, this is not appropriate for a protected species listed under Australian legislation. Lungfish scales were removed from 500 fish from the Brisbane, Burnett and Mary rivers. A sub–sample of scales (85) were aged using bomb radiocarbon techniques and validated using scales marked previously with oxytetracycline. Lungfish ages ranged from 2.5–77 years of age. Estimated population age structures derived using an Age Length Key revealed different recruitment patterns between river systems. There were statistically significant von Bertalanffy growth model parameters estimated for each of the three rivers based on limited sample sizes. In addition, length frequency distributions between river systems were also significantly different. Further studies will be conducted to review drivers that may explain these inter-river differences.

Item Type:Article
Business groups:Fisheries Queensland
Keywords:Freshwater fish Lungfish Rivers Radioactive carbon dating Aging Mussels Age distribution Fresh water
Subjects:Science > Biology
Science > Zoology
Science > Zoology > Chordates. Vertebrates > Fishes
Live Archive:06 Mar 2019 23:02
Last Modified:05 Jun 2022 23:45

Repository Staff Only: item control page