Estimating growth and mortality rates from size data

Summary A method is presented for estimating rates of individual growth and population mortality utilizing average individual size at two times during a year. The model assumes a constant rate of mortality, Brody-Bertalanffy growth, a stationary age distribution, and recruitment confined to one month each year. A hypothetical example is presented to show the interrelationships of the growth and mortality constants, size at recruitment, asymptotic size and average individual size. Three examples are presented using data from the literature: Flathead sole (Hippoglossoides elassodon), a sea urchin(Echinus esculentus), and the crown-of-thorns starfish(Acanthaster planci). The method appears to be a means of obtaining reasonable approximations of growth and mortality rates for a variety of organisms.     

普达措国家公园2个针叶树种径向生长对温度和降水的响应

基于树轮年代学方法,利用普达措国家公园海拔上、下限丽江云杉(Picea likiangensis)和长苞冷杉(Abies georgei)树轮宽度资料,构建差值年表并分析其与温度和降水的关系,阐明影响该区域2个主要针叶树种径向生长的主要气候要素。结果表明:(1)海拔下限丽江云杉径向生长同时受到温度和降水的影响:与上年11月平均温、当年生长季后期(9—10月)平均温和上年7月降水呈显著正相关;(2)海拔上限丽江云杉径向生长只受温度影响,与上年生长季后期平均温呈显著负相关,与当年生长季盛期(6—8月)平均温呈显著正相关;(3)长苞冷杉径向生长只与温度表现出显著相关性,海拔下限的生长与上年11月平均温呈显著正相关,海拔上限的生长与当年生长季盛期平均温呈显著正相关。结果可为气候变化对滇西北高原树木生长影响研究提供参考,为滇西北高原森林生态系统管理与保护提供理论依据。     

Size-independent growth in fishes: patterns, models and metrics

A combination of a dynamic energy budget (DEB) model, field data on Atlantic salmon Salmo salar and brown trout Salmo trutta and laboratory data on Atlantic salmon was used to assess the underlying assumptions of three different metrics of growth including specific growth rate (G), standardized mass‐specific growth rate (G_S) and absolute growth rate in length (G_L) in salmonids. Close agreement was found between predictions of the DEB model and the assumptions of linear growth in length and parabolic growth in mass. Field data comparing spring growth rates of age 1+ year and 2+ year Atlantic salmon demonstrated that in all years the larger age 2+ year fish exhibited a significantly lower G, but differences in growth in terms of G_S and G_L depended on the year examined. For brown trout, larger age 2+ year fish also consistently exhibited slower growth rates in terms of G but grew at similar rates as age 1+ year fish in terms of G_S and G_L. Laboratory results revealed that during the age 0+ year (autumn) the divergence in growth between future Atlantic salmon smolts and non‐smolts was similar in terms of all three metrics with smolts displaying higher growth than non‐smolts, however, both G_S and G_L indicated that smolts maintain relatively fast growth into the late autumn where G suggested that both smolts and non‐smolts exhibit a sharp decrease in growth from October to November. During the spring, patterns of growth in length were significantly decoupled from patterns in growth in mass. Smolts maintained relatively fast growth though April in length but not in mass. These results suggest G_S can be a useful alternative to G as a size‐independent measure of growth rate in immature salmonids. In addition, during certain growth stanzas, G_S may be highly correlated with G_L. The decoupling of growth in mass from growth in length over ontogeny, however, may necessitate a combination of metrics to adequately describe variation in growth depending on ontogenetic stage particularly if life histories differ.     

Seasonal variation in growth and carrageenan content ofCalliblepharis jubata (Rhodophyceae,Gigartinales) from the Normandy coast,France

Study of the seasonal variation in the quality and content of iota carrageenan inCalliblepharis jubata from the Normandy coast of France shows that seasonal fluctuation of the environment affects the growth and chemical composition of this red alga. Growth increases during winter, when there is little synthesis of carrageenan and floridean starch is accumulated. When inorganic nitrogen content decreases, growth also decreases and stops (May to August); with high light intensity, the metabolism is oriented towards a synthesis of parietal carrageenans to the detriment of the reserve products such as floridean starch.Author for correspondence     

丽江老君山海拔上限长苞冷杉(Abies georgei)和云南铁杉(Tsuga dumosa)径向生长对气候变化的响应

基于树木年轮学方法,利用丽江老君山海拔上限长苞冷杉（Abies georgei）和云南铁杉（Tsuga dumosa）树轮宽度资料,构建差值年表,运用响应函数和滑动响应分析研究树木径向生长与气温和降水的相关关系及其稳定性,进而阐明影响该区域2个针叶树种径向生长的主要气候要素。结果表明：2个树种对降水累积效应的响应较为一致,对逐月气候因子的响应存在差异,相关关系较为稳定,具体表现为（1）上年11月平均温升高和当年生长季盛期（7-8月）降水增加有利于老君山海拔上限长苞冷杉生长;（2）云南铁杉径向生长与当年3月、树木休眠期（1-3月）、生长季盛期（7-8月）的降水表现为显著正相关关系,与上年7月与当年5月的气温及当年生长季末期（9-10月）降水呈显著负相关;（3）上述相关关系的稳定性较强,在全部或大部分分析时段（1951-2017）内达到显著相关,云南铁杉的稳定性更强。研究结果可为气候变化背景下滇西北高原树木生长的管理及森林生态系统的保护提供理论依据。     

昌岭山两个优势树种径向生长对气候变化的响应

在气候变暖背景下,树木径向生长对气候变化的响应存在不稳定性。利用采自祁连山东部余脉昌岭山两个优势树种油松和青海云杉的树轮样芯,建立树轮宽度标准年表,通过分析树轮宽度年表与气候要素的相关关系,探讨两个树种径向生长对气候变化的响应。结果表明：（1）油松年表比青海云杉年表包含更多的气候信息,其平均敏感度、标准差、信噪比和样本对总体的代表性等统计量均高于青海云杉标准年表。（2）气候要素对不同树种径向生长限制程度不同,油松径向生长主要与降水（前一年9月和当年3-8月）和气温（前一年9月）有关,但对降水的响应更为敏感,而青海云杉径向生长则受到气温（当年9月）和降水（前一年9月、当年3月和7月）的共同作用。（3）气温突变后,油松和青海云杉年表与各气温要素的相关性显著增强,而青海云杉年表与气温要素的相关性变化更明显,指示了青海云杉径向生长对气温的响应更不稳定。（4）生长季平均最低气温的升高诱导的干旱胁迫是油松和青海云杉树木径向生长-气温响应变化的主要原因。     

西昆仑山两种针叶树种径向生长及其对气候变化的响应

利用西昆仑山的雪岭云杉和昆仑圆柏树芯样本,建立其树轮宽度年表。通过分析两种针叶树种树木径向生长特征与气候要素的相关关系,探讨了树种间的树木生长气候响应异同及响应关系的稳定性。结果表明：研究区域内的雪岭云杉和昆仑圆柏年表间存在显著正相关。两种针叶树种在1994年气温突变前树轮宽度年表指数和基部断面生长增量（BAI）呈上升趋势,在气温突变后年表和BAI则呈下降趋势,并且昆仑圆柏的树木径向生长速率高于雪岭云杉。与气候要素的相关性分析结果表明,雪岭云杉径向生长与上年生长季（5—6月和8—10月）和当年生长季（3—6月和10月）气温呈显著负相关,而昆仑圆柏径向生长与上年10月和当年生长季前期（4—6月）气温呈显著负相关;两者均与当年春季降水呈显著正相关。滑动相关分析结果显示,上年和当年生长季气温对两个树种树木径向生长的负响应在增强,特别是在当年生长季前期更为显著。此外,当年生长季前期降水对树木径向生长的促进作用也在增强。在有可能的气候突变年份（1994年）之后,两种针叶树种对气温和降水的响应敏感性均有所增强,并且雪岭云杉对气温的响应敏感性强于昆仑圆柏,而对降水响应敏感性要弱于昆仑圆柏。     

Radial growth of Fraxinus nigra in a Canadian boreal floodplain in response to climatic and hydrological fluctuations

Abstract. Stands of Fraxinus nigra (black ash) near Lake Duparquet (Abitibi region, NW Québec) are affected each year by spring or early summer flooding. The relationship between environmental factors and radial growth was studied in 50 100-m² quadrats laid out in five Fraxinus-dominated stands. Response function coefficients showed that the weather in the year before growth, i.e. in the time of bud formation, had a strong influence on radial increment. Temperatures in April of the year before (year i-1) and May (i- 1) were positively correlated with growth, while precipitation in April (i-1), May (i-1) and June (i-1) were negatively correlated. Climatic factors positively associated with growth during the year of bud expansion were April (i) temperature and June (i) precipitation. Redundancy analysis showed that radial growth in Fraxinus nigra responded to variation in elevation and geomorphological landform. These differences in stand location and elevation were also related to different responses to climate. The sites most exposed to flooding responded much more to the negative impact of spring precipitation, while the more elevated sites were more responsive to summer precipitation. This study showed that black ash could be used for long term reconstruction of climatic and hydrological fluctuations.     

Longitudinal somatometrical study on the growth patterns of newborn Japanese monkeys

Growth of Japanese macaques during their first year was analyzed longitudinally, using body measurements. Measurements of 44 somatometrical characters were taken on seven animals. Work with the newborn data produced a formula which fits well. The formula is: y=a (x+b) ⁿ (y=size, x=age). At first, growth was analyzed, character by character, using birth sizes and incremental increases. The results show a major growth pattern for many characters: increments vary inversely with birth size. Application of the growth formula produced two further insights: (1) growth pattern is not so simple as imagined from the birth size-increment pattern; and (2) the characters which deviate from the birth size-increment pattern have large growth only at the earliest period (in few months), in spite of their small size. Sex differences were clear within the first year, especially for characters which differ greatly between adults.     

Coral growth in subtropical eastern Australia

 Extension rates of corals at two sites in subtropical eastern Australia (Solitary Islands and Lord Howe Island) were measured to determine whether growth was low relative to tropical locations. Growth was measured using alizarin staining of skeletons and X-radiographic analysis, and was compared between colonies, species, and sites. Linear extension of individual Pocillopora damicornis colonies averaged 12.4 to 16.1 mm per year at Solitary Islands and Lord Howe Island respectively, which is 50% to 80% of published values for this species at tropical sites. Similarly, average extension of most massive faviid species examined at these sites was between 2.6 mm and 4.6 mm per year, considerably lower than most values reported from lower latitudes (generally 6 mm to 10 mm per year). However, growth rates of Acropora yongei, Turbinaria frondens, and Porites heronensis were close to those of closely-related taxa from the tropics. Causal links between latitude, growth rates of coral colonies, and the potential for reef accretion remain unclear. Accepted: 22 April 1999     

Patterns of growth in the early life history of the round herring Etrumeus teres

Early life history traits of young‐of‐the‐year (YOY) round herring Etrumeus teres, caught in Tosa Bay (south‐western Japan), were studied using otolith microstructure analysis for the 2000–2003 year classes. Hatch dates ranged from October to March, and were restricted to either autumn or winter within each year class. YOY ranged from 50 to 123 mm total length (L_T) and from 57 to 192 days in age. The relationship of L_T to otolith radius was linear. Individual growth rates (G_I) were backcalculated between the 70th and 150th days (the size range of most YOY caught) using the biological intercept method. G_I ranged from 0·3 to 1·4 mm day^?1 and decreased in most cases as season progressed irrespective of year class, although G_I in winter cohorts were significantly higher than in autumn cohorts. Otolith growth rates (G_O) ranged from 2·13 to 12·25 μm day^?1 for autumn spawned YOY and from 3·12 to 12·41 μm day^?1 for YOY spawned in winter. The G_O trajectories followed three consistent patterns: (1) an increase in increment widths after first feeding through the second week of larval life, then (2) a plateau in increment spacing before increment widths increased again until reaching the maximum growth rate, followed by (3) a gradual decrease in increment widths until the end of the fifth month. The three stages occurred irrespective of spawning season, although YOY spawned in October and December had higher G_O during stages (1) and (2) than YOY spawned in February and March, whereas higher G_O was observed for late‐winter cohorts in stage (3). Otolith growth from YOY spawned in December and January showed an intermediate pattern between YOY hatched in the early autumn (October to December) and late winter (February to March). The G_O trajectories were cross‐matched to the calendar date to estimate time series of otolith growth rates (G_OTS) for each year. A parabolic trend was found with maximum G_OTS in autumn and spring and minimum values in winter. This trend was significantly correlated to daily sea surface temperature variations. The differences in otolith growth trajectories suggest that the otolith microstructure of E. teres may be used as a natural tag for identifying autumn and winter spawned cohorts.     

阿尔泰山萨彦岭4种优势树种径向生长对气候因子的响应

气候变化深刻地影响森林树木的生长,而树种对气候变化敏感度的差异可能影响了气候变化下的森林生态系统响应。因此,研究优势树种间生长对气候变化的敏感度差异,对正确认识气候变化下林分生长动态及分布格局十分重要。基于树木年代学的方法,研究了阿尔泰山萨彦岭西伯利亚落叶松（Larix sibirica）、西伯利亚红松（Pinus sibirica）、西伯利亚冷杉（Abies sibirica）以及西伯利亚云杉（Picea obovata）4种优势树种的径向生长-气候关系。结果显示：（1）西伯利亚冷杉径向生长与上一年10-11月、当年1-9月的干旱指数、2-4月的降水显著正相关,与1月的平均温和最高温呈显著负相关关系,与当年4、6月份的水汽压正相关;（2）西伯利亚落叶松径向生长与上一年8月和当年8月的平均温、最高温以及当年8月的最低温显著负相关,而与当年6月的最低温则正相关,与8月份的水汽压显著负相关;（3）西伯利亚红松径向生长与3月降水、7月最低温、上一年10月的水汽压显著正相关;（4）西伯利亚云杉径向生长与6月平均温、最高温、水汽压正相关,与上一年10-11月、当年2-4月和9月的干旱指数正相关,同时与3、4月的降水量显著正相关。西伯利亚冷杉和西伯利亚云杉、西伯利亚云杉和西伯利亚落叶松、西伯利亚云杉和西伯利亚红松对于特定气候因子表现出相似的响应结果,与年表间相关性的结果一致。但差异也是明显的,西伯利亚冷杉和西伯利亚云杉对区域水分变化敏感,而西伯利亚落叶松和西伯利亚红松主要对区域温度变化敏感。综上所述,气候变化下,该区域优势树种对气候变化响应的差异可能导致区域林分动态和格局的改变,因此,多树种径向生长-气候关系研究有助于正确反映森林动态。研究结果可以为区域森林管理与生态保护工作提供理论依据。     

祁连山东部青海云杉死亡和存活个体径向生长对气候变化的响应差异

研究建立了祁连山东部青海云杉(Picea crassifolia)存活个体与死亡个体的树轮宽度年表和断面生长增量(BAI)序列,对青海云杉存活个体与死亡个体的径向生长特征及其对气候要素的响应关系进行了比较,尝试厘清青海云杉径向生长与气候要素之间的响应机制。结果表明:青海云杉死亡个体的径向生长速率明显低于存活个体(P ＜ 0.001),尤其是在20世纪80年代快速升温后,这一差距进一步加大,青海云杉死亡率也大幅增加。在1951-1986年期间,青海云杉径向生长主要受生长季前(上一年9月到当年2月)干湿状况的影响;而在1987-2020年期间,青海云杉径向生长则更多受生长季(当年6-8月)干湿状况的影响。并且与活树相比,死树对区域干湿状况表现出更高的敏感性,对气温的负响应也更强。随着气候变暖加剧,高温及其带来的干旱胁迫已成为区域内限制青海云杉径向生长的主要气候因素,青海云杉的死亡率可能会继续升高。     

Correlative inhibition of lateral bud growth in Phaseolus vulgaris L. timing of bud growth following decapitation

Summary On intact, 3-week-old plants of Phaseolus the larger bud in the axils of the primary leaves shows slow, continuous elongation growth. Release from correlative inhibition can be detected within 30 min following decapitation. When 0.1% indoleacetic acid in lanolin is applied to the decapitated stem stump, the lateral bud shows slow growth during the first 7 h, then stops completely for a further 15 h but after 2 days a further gradual increase in length is observed.The movement of ¹⁴C-labelled assimilates from the subtending primary leaf into the lateral bud increases following removal of the shoot apex. When indole acetic acid is applied to decapitated plants the ability of the buds to import ¹⁴C increases for 5–7 h and then declines to a negligible amount. Little or no radioactivity from tritiated indoleacetic acid is transported into the lateral buds of decapitated plants during the first 48 h following removal of the apex and it appears that rapid metabolism of the compound occurs in the stem tissues.     

Mangrove growth rings: fact or fiction?

The analysis of tree rings in the tropics is less straightforward than in temperate areas with a demarcated unfavourable winter season. But especially in mangroves, the highly dynamic intertidal environment and the overriding ecological drivers therein have been a reason for questioning the existence of growth rings. This study aimed at casting light on growth rings in mangroves. In six mangrove species growing in Gazi Bay, Kenya (Sonneratia alba, Heritiera littoralis, Ceriops tagal, Bruguiera gymnorrhiza, Xylocarpus granatum and Lumnitzera racemosa), the occurrence of growth rings was examined. Growth rate of each species was determined based on a 1-year period using the cambial marking technique. The effect of climate was furthermore considered by comparing the results with a number of wood samples originating from contrasting climatic regions. We can conclude that for growth rings to appear in mangroves more than one condition has to be fulfilled, making general statements impossible and explaining the prevalent uncertainty. Climatic conditions that result in a range of soil water salinity experienced over the year are a prerequisite for the formation of growth rings. For species with an anatomy characterized by indistinct ring boundaries, this should be combined with a growth rate of at least 0.3 mm/year. The use of growth rings for age or growth rate determinations should thus be evaluated on a case by case basis.     

河北坝上樟子松人工林径向生长及其对气候因素的响应

利用树木年轮学方法测定了河北坝上地区樟子松逐年树轮宽度和胸高断面积增量,建立了樟子松树轮宽度差值年表并分析其对气候因素的响应以及生态弹性,为河北坝上地区利用樟子松开展退化杨树防护林更新建设的适宜性提供理论参考。研究结果表明,河北坝上地区樟子松树龄在28 a左右,其生长阶段可划分为快速生长期(0—10 a),生长下降期(11—20 a)和生长平稳期(21—28 a);樟子松树轮宽度在1992—2000年期间为快速增长期((4.49±1.15)mm/a),在2001—2010年期间呈现下降趋势((3.62±1.39)mm/a),而在2011—2019年期间樟子松生长呈平稳特征((2.21±0.68)mm/a),约为快速增长期增长速度的一半;樟子松BAI在1992—2000年间一直呈上升趋势((5.09±2.26)cm~2/a),2001—2019年期间呈平稳特征((10.46±0.67)cm~2/a),表现出稳定且持续的生长能力。樟子松差值年表与气候因素的相关性显示：樟子松径向生长主要与上一年生长季末期(9、10月)、休眠期(12月)及当年生长季(7月)平均温度和最高温度呈显著负相关,其中...     

Uncoupling of growth and cytological development in egg follicles ofHeteropeza pygmaea (Dipt., Cecidomyiidae)

Summary Oogenesis of egg follicles in paedogenetic reproduction of the gall midgeHeteropeza pygmaea is accompanied by a relatively slight growth of the oocyte. Egg growth takes place mainly during embryonic development. The nurse chamber in the egg follicle degenerates only at the beginning of embryogenesis. When ovaries of the female larvae are cultured in vitro under male-determining conditions, the ovaries produce mostly male-determined egg follicles. These follicles show nurse chamber degeneration and they grow to about the size of an egg in late cleavage division or blastoderm stage developing in situ, but cytological development invariably stops at the first or second meiotic division. Thus, growth and cytological development in such follicles are uncoupled. The presence of a meiotic block in paedogenetically developing follicles ofH. pygmaea gives a clue to the mode of evolution of paedogenetic reproduction.Dedicated to Professor Dr. Hans Bauer on the occasion of his 75th birthday     

Mathematical inference of the underground clonal growth of Epipactis helleborine (L.) Crantz (Orchidaceae, Neottieae)

Epipactis helleborine (L.) Crantz (Orchidaceae, Neottieae) can spread by sexual or vegetative propagation. The choice of strategy likely depends on the environmental conditions. The rhizome is the organ of vegetative reproduction; hence, it is crucial to understand its development. Unfortunately, it is hardly possible to investigate rhizome morphology directly, since E. helleborine is a protected species in most European countries. The goal of our investigation was to infer the growth patterns of underground parts of an orchid population from long-term annual observations of its aboveground shoots. We implemented the Minimum Spanning Tree method to determine a likely set of underground connections between shoots and to simulate the annual growth of new rhizomes. Furthermore, we modelled the spatial distribution of shoots with a density kernel estimator to compare the density gradients with the direction of growth of the rhizomes. Observed shoot numbers fluctuated between 72 and 183 from year to year. Our results suggest that (1) vegetative reproduction prevails in the studied population, (2) the population consists of about a dozen clones with a diameter of up to 6 m, (3) rhizomes produce up to five new shoots at one branch end per year, (4) rhizomes develop in the direction of decreasing population density, and (5) nodes of rhizomes may produce new offshoots after up to 7 years of dormancy.     

Adolescent growth and development in Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata): Punctuated adolescent growth spurt by season

Adolescent growth of Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata) was studied. Their growth is composed both of a seasonal cycle of acceleration and deceleration and of linear increases. There is a major growth spurt in linear dimension and body weight at the beginning of the breeding season of the third and fourth year of life in females and males respectively, when they mature reproductively. They show additional accelerated growth in the following year(s). These growth spurts, in total, are considered to correspond with the adolescent growth spurt in humans. Adolescent growth of Japanese macaques is characterized by a punctuation by slower growth and a later start, which is considered to be the product of adaptation to a strongly seasonal environment.     

The growth and age structure of Chilean jack mackerel (Trachurus murphyi) following its influx to New Zealand waters

The Chilean jack mackerel (Trachurus murphyi) is a predominantly Southeast Pacific Ocean species. It is relatively difficult to determine its age, and multiple studies of its growth off South America have produced markedly different sets of von Bertalanffy parameters. T. murphyi was first identified from New Zealand waters in the mid-1980s and has comprised part of the commercial landings of Trachurus species (along with Trachurus declivis and Trachurus novaezelandiae) since then. Results from 13 years of age determination of New Zealand samples using sectioned otoliths indicate that a partially validated age determination method has been developed, with a precision level (average percentage error) of 4.6%. The best available von Bertalanffy growth parameters for the New Zealand population (sexes combined) are as follows: L_∞, 51.9 cm fork length; K, 0.223 per year; t₀, −0.5 year. Analyses by sex showed that males have a significantly larger L_∞ than females. Estimated annual catch-at-length and catch-at-age distributions from the fishery are presented for 2007–2019. There have been at least two episodes of immigration of T. murphyi from international waters, but little evidence of spawning success to maintain the New Zealand population.