Validation of aging techniques and growth of the river redhorse, Moxostoma carinatum, in the James River, Missouri
Abstract
We compared otoliths, opercles, and scales for precision and reliability for estimating age of the river redhorse Moxostoma carinatum in the James River, Missouri. Opercles and otoliths showed the greatest agreement, lowest variability, and most precision in comparisons of ages obtained from counts of annuli of scales. Scales tended to underestimate age relative to other structures. Analyses of edges of opercles and otoliths sampled monthly indicated formation of a single annulus concurrently in each structure in MayJune. Opercles and otoliths, but not scales, were validated as reliable estimators of age in the river redhorse. Trajectories of growth from length-at-age data indicated a declining rate of growth with age, but continuous growth to a maximum age of 15 years. Fish of ages 3 and 4 years were 47 of the population.
Department(s)
Biology
Document Type
Article
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1894/0038-4909-57.3.240
Publication Date
9-1-2012
Recommended Citation
Beckman, Daniel W., and Christian A. Hutson. "Validation of aging techniques and growth of the river redhorse, Moxostoma carinatum, in the James River, Missouri." The Southwestern Naturalist 57, no. 3 (2012): 240-247.
Journal Title
Southwestern Naturalist
