title: Age, growth, and natural mortality of schoolmaster (Lutjanus apodus) from the southeastern United States.
abstract: Ages of schoolmaster (n= 136) from the southeastern Florida coast from 1981-2015 were determined using sectioned sagittal otoliths. Opaque zones were annular, forming March-July (peaking in May-June). Schoolmaster ranged in age from 1-42 years; the largest fish measured 505 mm total length (TL) and was 19 years old. The oldest fish measured 440 mm TL. Estimated body size relationships for schoolmaster were:W= 9.26 × 10-6TL3.11(n= 256,r2= 0.95);W= 2.13 × 10-5FL2.99(n= 161,r2= 0.95);TL= 1.03FL+ 10.36 (n= 143,r2= 0.99); andFL= 0.96TL- 8.41 (n= 143,r2= 0.99), whereW= whole weight in g,FL= fork length in mm, and TL in mm. The fitted von Bertalanffy growth equation was:Lt= 482 (1 -e-0.12(t+2.79)) (n= 136). Based on published life history relationships, a point estimate of natural mortality for schoolmaster wasM= 0.10, while age-specific estimates ofMranged from 1.57-0.18 for ages 1-42.
authors.affiliation: NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service , Beaufort , NC , United States.
authors.forename: Jennifer C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Potts
authors.affiliation: NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service , Beaufort , NC , United States.
authors.forename: Michael L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Burton
authors.affiliation: NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service , Beaufort , NC , United States.
authors.forename: Amanda R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Myers
keywords: Age and growth; Life history; Lutjanidae; Natural mortality