Depth Distributions, Growth, and Mortality of Deep Slope Fishes from the Mariana Archipelago

摘要

Detailed summaries are presented for the intermediate computational steps of a tropical multispecies yield assessment conducted in the Marianas from April 1982 to May 1984, including depth distribution data for 22 species, growth curves (developed from the numerical integration of daily increment width data) for 11 species, and length-frequency analyses for 7 species. Results show that in the Marianas the size structure of most bottom fishes changes little with depth of capture. This facilitates the analysis of length-frequency data to estimate vital rates. Moreover, the Marianas bottom fish community (composed primarily of lutjanids, serranids, and carangids) is found in the 80 to 150 fathom depth range, with most fishes caught between 100 and 125 fathoms.