Jed I. Macdonald

Secretariat of the Pacific Community

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David A. Crook

La Trobe University

Simon Nicol

Secretariat of the Pacific Community

Daniel J. Schmidt

Griffith University

Jessica Farley

CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere

Campbell R. Davies

CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere

John R. Morrongiello

University of Melbourne

Jane Hughes

Griffith University

Guðrún Marteinsdóttir

University of Iceland

Dale McNeil

South Australian Research and Development Institute

Bronwyn M. Gillanders

University of Adelaide

Cooperative Institutions

Secretariat of the Pacific Community

Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research

Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation

CSIRO Oceans and Atmosphere

University of Melbourne

University of Oslo

Griffith University

University of Iceland

University of Bergen

Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique

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Insights into mixing and movement of albacore Thunnus alalunga derived from trace elements in otoliths

Jed I. Macdonald Jessica Farley Naomi Clear Ashley J. Williams Thor I. Carter

Summary Information on the movements and stock structure of commercially important tunas underpins the effective management of exploited populations. For South Pacific albacore (Thunnus alalunga), longstanding questions remain regarding the degree of connectivity among larval pools, the migration routes of juveniles and adults and the biophysical factors influencing these processes. Using laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICPMS), we measured trace elements (Li, Mg, Mn, Cu, Sr, Ba, Pb, Ca) in albacore otoliths collected across a broad geographical range to address these knowledge gaps. Capture locations in French Polynesia, New Caledonia and New Zealand were discriminated with high accuracy (overall 85% of individuals correctly classified), with some evidence of larval mixing for fish sampled from New Caledonia and New Zealand, but not French Polynesia. Seasonal cycles in Sr:Ca and Ba:Ca were observed along transects encompassing the full life history of individuals. These patterns may reflect migrations across ocean fronts; however, the vertical behaviours of albacore and the lack of opportunities for controlled experiments on elemental uptake complicate environmental reconstructions. Expanding the present analysis and integrating multiple data sources (e.g. commercial catches, tag returns, otolith δ 13 C and δ 18 O, ocean circulation models) could help clarify how environmental forces shape albacore behaviour and distribution.

Albacore

Thunnus

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Does localized control of invasive eastern gambusia (Poeciliidae:Gambusia holbrooki) increase population growth of generalist wetland fishes?

Austral Ecology (2013)

Zeb Tonkin David S. L. Ramsey Jed I. Macdonald David A. Crook Alison J. King

While invasive fish management is heavily focussed on containment measures when introductions occur, examples from invasive species management in terrestrial systems suggest that there may also be considerable conservation benefits in implementing localized control programmes. We conducted a field-based experiment to assess the effectiveness of removing a globally significant invasive fish, eastern gambusia Gambusia holbrooki, from natural wetland habitats of south-eastern Australia. With recent work suggesting the impacts of eastern gambusia may be minimal for species with generalist life-history strategies, we hypothesized that the removal of eastern gambusia will reduce localized population growth of the invasive species, but will have little influence on the population growth of more generalist sympatric wetland fish species. We used a predictive modelling approach to investigate changes in eastern gambusia populations following removal activities, and how sympatric fish species responded to such changes. Although eastern gambusia rapidly populated habitats, we demonstrated that control actions substantially reduced the rate of population increase over the four-month study period. This suggests that control may be an effective localized strategy to suppress eastern gambusia densities. There was however, no evidence of any response to the removal actions by any of the three sympatric fish species investigated – carp gudgeon (Hypseleotris spp.), Australian smelt (Retropinna semoni) and the invasive common carp (Cyprinus carpio). These results support previous work which suggests that the flexible life-history strategies and behavioural traits of all three species allow co-existence with eastern gambusia. The study highlights the importance of understanding the potential outcomes of control options which is particularly pertinent for established aquatic invasive species where information on control effectiveness, population dynamics and/or ecosystem response is currently lacking.

Poeciliidae

Cyprinodontiformes

Mosquitofish

10.1111/aec.12088

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Citations (9)

What are the major global threats and impacts in marine environments? Investigating the contours of a shared perception among marine scientists from the bottom-up.

Marine Policy (2015)

Wiebren J. Boonstra K.M. Ottosen Ana Sofia Ferreira Andries Richter Lauren A. Rogers

Marine protected area

10.1016/j.marpol.2015.06.007

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Citations (36)

Use of otolith chemistry to examine patterns of diadromy in the threatened Australian grayling Prototroctes maraena

Journal of Fish Biology (2006)

David A. Crook Jed I. Macdonald J. P. O’Connor B. Barry

Otolith chemical analyses (proton‐induced X‐ray emission and laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry) were used to examine patterns of diadromy in Australian grayling Prototroctes maraena collected from three rivers in south‐eastern Australia. Concentrations of Sr:Ca and Ba:Ca were measured in the sagittal otoliths of 25 fish and in water samples collected on two occasions from multiple sites within freshwater, estuarine and marine reaches of the rivers. The results provide evidence of marine residency during the juvenile phase, with high Sr:Ca and low Ba:Ca in the inner region of the otoliths that were consistent across all three rivers. This general pattern was apparent for all individuals examined, suggesting that diadromous migration may be an obligate aspect of the life history. The chemical signatures of the outer regions of the otoliths were distinct between the three rivers, whilst there was no difference in the inner regions of the otoliths. This suggests that juveniles from different rivers may reside in a relatively homogenous chemical environment, such as the sea, and populations in coastal Victorian rivers may share a common marine recruitment source.

Grayling

10.1111/j.1095-8649.2006.01191.x

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Citations (66)

Contemporary and historical patterns of connectivity among populations of an inland river fish species inferred from genetics and otolith chemistry

Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences (2010)

Ryan Woods Jed I. Macdonald David A. Crook Daniel J. Schmidt Jane Hughes

Patterns of dispersal in riverine populations of Australian smelt ( Retropinna semoni ) were examined using otolith chemistry (Mg:Ca, Mn:Ca, Sr:Ca, Ba:Ca) and genetic markers (allozymes, mtDNA, microsatellite DNA). During a period of prolonged low flows, young-of-year smelt were collected from 13 streams within three catchments of the southern Murray–Darling Basin, Australia. Spatial differences in otolith core and edge chemical signatures and high levels of genetic assignment to sampling locations were observed, suggesting that most recruits were retained in natal areas after spawning. Following a subsequent period of hydrological connection, the same cohort was sampled as 1-year-olds. Maximum likelihood estimation using otolith core chemistry data from these fish suggested that retention in natal areas was highly variable between years and a similar, though less pronounced, pattern was evident in genetic assignments. Partitioning of genetic variation among catchments was not significant (F CT < 0.004) and probably reflects disequilibrium between migration and genetic drift due to an historical population expansion (~270 000 years ago). Taken together, otolith chemistry and genetic analyses suggest that contemporary dispersal of smelt within these catchments is relatively restricted and may be mediated by changes in hydrological connectivity.

Smelt

Population Genetics

10.1139/f10-043

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Citations (49)

Combining multiple data sets to unravel the spatiotemporal dynamics of a data-limited fish stock

Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences (2018)

Cecilia Pinto Morgane Travers‐Trolet Jed I. Macdonald Étienne Rivot Youen Vermard

The biological status of many commercially exploited fishes remains unknown, mostly due to a lack of data necessary for their assessment. Investigating the spatiotemporal dynamics of such species can lead to new insights into population processes and foster a path towards improved spatial management decisions. Here, we focused on striped red mullet (Mullus surmuletus), a widespread yet data-limited species of high commercial importance. Aiming to quantify range dynamics in this data-poor scenario, we combined fishery-dependent and -independent data sets through a series of Bayesian mixed-effects models designed to capture monthly and seasonal occurrence patterns near the species’ northern range limit across 20 years. Combining multiple data sets allowed us to cover the entire distribution of the northern population of M. surmuletus, exploring dynamics at different spatiotemporal scales and identifying key environmental drivers (i.e., sea surface temperature, salinity) that shape occurrence patterns. Our results demonstrate that even when process and (or) observation uncertainty is high, or when data are sparse, if we combine multiple data sets within a hierarchical modelling framework, accurate and useful spatial predictions can still be made.

Stock assessment

10.1139/cjfas-2018-0149

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Citations (23)

Evidence of diadromous movements in a coastal population of southern smelts (Retropinninae: Retropinna) from Victoria, Australia

Marine and Freshwater Research (2008)

David A. Crook Jed I. Macdonald Tarmo A. Raadik

Understanding the migratory behaviour of fishes is critical to the conservation and management of fish assemblages in coastal rivers. We analysed the otolith chemical signatures of smelt, Retropinna sp., from inland and coastal populations in mainland south-eastern Australia to determine whether individuals within coastal populations of the species were diadromous. Assessments of otolith chemical composition combined with water chemistry data were used to make inferences about the migration histories of individual fish. A proportion of the smelt collected from the freshwater reaches of a coastal river exhibited diadromous movements, with the majority of fish analysed showing evidence of estuarine or marine occupation as larvae/juveniles and a minority inhabiting freshwater throughout their life histories. A broad range in the daily ages of upstream migration into freshwater (15–106 days) and the timing of these migrations suggest that spawning and migration occur over several months during the summer/autumn period. The results of this study suggest that southern smelts are an ecologically variable taxonomic group and that conservation and management actions should take into account the range of migratory behaviours exhibited both within populations and across regions.

Smelt

Barramundi

10.1071/mf07238

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Citations (35)

A review of adaptation options in fisheries management to support resilience and transition under socio-ecological change

ICES Journal of Marine Science (2021)

Pamela J. Woods Jed I. Macdonald Hlynur Bárðarson Sara Bonanomi Wiebren J. Boonstra

Abstract Social-ecological systems dependent on fisheries must be resilient or adapt to remain viable in the face of change. Here, we identified possible interventions (termed “adaptation options”) from published literature, aimed at supporting social or ecological resilience and/or aiding adaptation to changes induced by environmental or social stressors. Our searches centered on nations/regions across North America, Europe, and the South Pacific, encompassing fisheries literature with and without a climate change focus, to compare how, when, and by whom interventions are currently or potentially implemented. We expected that adaptation options within a climate change context would have a greater focus on enhancing social resilience due to a connection with climate change adaptation assessment methodology. Instead, we found a greater focus on ecological resilience, likely indicating a focus on management adaptation. This pattern, along with the more extensive use of social adaptation options responsively and outside the context of climate change, along with an importance in bottom-up influences in implementing them, suggests a general lack of centralized planning and organization with regards to adaptation of stakeholders. Determining how adaptation options are created, chosen, and implemented is a crucial step within or external to ecosystem-based management, especially if planned stakeholder adaption is the goal.

Stressor

Resilience

Ecological forecasting

Ecological systems theory

Ecological resilience

10.1093/icesjms/fsab146

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Citations (38)

Improving the upstream passage of two galaxiid fish species through a pipe culvert

Fisheries Management and Ecology (2007)

Jed I. Macdonald PE Davies

Abstract Movement between habitats in river fish assemblages is often restricted by instream structures such as culverts. The ability of diadromous common jollytail, Galaxias maculatus (Jenyns), and spotted galaxias, Galaxias truttaceus (Val.), to pass upstream through an in situ pipe culvert modified through the installation of baffles was assessed. Spoiler baffles (100 × 70 × 28 or 56 mm) were installed in three spatial arrangements along a 5.5‐m section of the pipe, and individual fish passage assessed at three flow velocities (0.35, 0.70 and 1.0 m s −1 ). Common jollytails (43–169 mm fork length, FL) were 10 times more successful in passing when baffles were present than under control conditions (baffles absent). Baffle size did not influence success, which increased with the spatial complexity of the baffle arrangement. Across all velocities, common jollytails (46–132 mm FL) and spotted galaxias (55–190 mm FL) were, respectively, 86 and 73 times more successful with the most complex baffle arrangement (overall 80% success) compared with control conditions (overall 13.5% success). Success for both species decreased at higher velocities under control conditions; however, when baffles were present, this trend persisted only for common jollytails. Installing small spoiler baffles may provide a simple, cost‐effective solution to passage problems at culverts.

Baffle

Culvert

Fish measurement

10.1111/j.1365-2400.2007.00546.x

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Citations (56)

Otolith growth chronologies reveal distinct environmental sensitivities between and within shallow- and deep-water snappers

Reviews in Fish Biology and Fisheries (2024)

Joseph B. Widdrington Patrick Reis‐Santos John R. Morrongiello Jed I. Macdonald Corey B. Wakefield

Abstract Fish growth underpins individual fitness and population-level metrics, with fluctuations linked to environmental variability. Growth chronologies derived from otolith increment analysis are a powerful proxy to understand population responses to environmental change and productivity. Yet, long-term patterns of growth and their environmental drivers are better understood for shallow-water species compared to deep-water inhabitants. Additionally, focus is largely on adults, disregarding the potential influence of juvenile growth which is critical to size- and age-at-maturity. Here, we investigate the long-term growth patterns of two commercially important snapper species separated by depth in northwestern Australia’s coastal shelf waters, the shallow-water Lutjanus sebae (70 year chronology, 1950–2020) and the deep-water Etelis boweni (41 year chronology, 1973–2013). Annually-resolved otolith growth chronologies revealed distinct environmental sensitivities within (juveniles vs adults) and among (shallow- vs deep-water habitats) species. Within species, juveniles and adults responded differently to shared environmental stimuli, highlighting the importance of understanding the impacts of environmental effects and sensitivities for different life-history stages. Across species, L. sebae exhibited highly variable growth tied to local climate signals such as sea surface temperature and rainfall, while E. boweni displayed more stable growth patterns that only responded to interannual and decadal shifts in the environment (e.g. Pacific Decadal Oscillation). Our results highlight potential vulnerabilities of shallow-water species to future environmental perturbations compared to species residing at depth, as they are likely to encounter more extreme climate variability under future oceanic conditions. This study contributes valuable insights into understanding and managing the impacts of future environmental variability on fisheries sustainability, emphasising the need for continued research across species and habitats.

10.1007/s11160-024-09898-4

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Citations (3)