><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> If you reply to this message, it will go to all FISH-SCI members. ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><>
Hello everyone,
I would like to drop my 2 cents in the pan, and see if there is any merit to these definitions:
With my fish ecology and fish repro students I have used "immature" to describe any fish prior to its recruitment to the sexually mature stock.
I have emphasized to the students that quite often we see a change in the ecology of many fish species as their change diet or habitat. I have used "juvenile" to describe the post-larval fishes exhibiting a nursery ecology (typically YOYs), and I use "sub-adult" to describe those fishes which have moved to the adult congregation habitats and/or feeding niches but may have one or more years to recruitment.
Too much hair-splitting?
Bill Snyder Aquaculture & Aquatic Science State University of New York - Morrisville
-----Original Message----- From: Scientific forum on fish and fisheries [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Chris McDonough Sent: Tuesday, March 01, 2005 2:41 PM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: definition of juvenile
><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> If you reply to this message, it will go to all FISH-SCI members. ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><>
Fernando,
In terms of strict definitions, a juvenile or immature fish is one that has not reached sexual maturity, regardless of size or age. One usually thinks of a Y-O-Y when you hear the term "juvenile" and immature certainly falls within this stage as well. But many fish species (billfish for example) don't reach sexual maturity until they reach a fairly large size. While you are correct that taking the terms by themselves "juvenile" (usually used to refer to a life stage) and "immature" (used to refer to reproductive state) may mean something slightly different, in terms of the life history of a fish, any fish that has not reached sexual maturity is both a juvenile and immature. Ergo, an adult fish is one that is sexually mature (in it's most basic definition). Due to the large variety of reproductive strategies used by fish, there are probably some valid arguments that could bend the edges (somewhat) of the both the terms "juvenile" and "immature". What about protandry or protogyny? Is a small male Grouper a juvenile female that's still immature?
I think the basic definition still holds that a juvenile or immature fish is one that has not reached sexual maturity. Even when you separate the terms relative to either life stage or reproductive state this basic definition should still hold true.
Well, that's my 2-cents.
Cheers,
Chris McDonough
Fisheries Biologist Marine Resources Research Institute South Carolina Dept. of Natural Resources 217 Fort Johnson Rd. Charleston, S.C. 29412 (843)953-9231 (843)953-9820 fax [log in to unmask] ><)))))> ><)))))> ><)))))> ><)))))>
-----Original Message----- From: Scientific forum on fish and fisheries [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of FZB - MCN - Fritz Sent: Tuesday, March 01, 2005 1:12 PM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: definition of juvenile
><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> If you reply to this message, it will go to all FISH-SCI members. ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><>
Dear colleagues,
I was recently confronted with the problem of determining what is a "juvenile" fish and whether "immature" would have the same meaning. As it is probably a tricky question, I would like to hear your comments.
I did a quick research on definitions, and juvenile is often defined as being an immature fish or YOY. However, it seems to me that "juvenile" refers to a development stage in the life-cycle of the individual, while "immature" refers specifically to a stage of gonadal development. A juvenile fish would necessarily be an immature one, however there are situations in which an "adult" fish can be immature (i.e., it has the length of an adult fish, but its gonads are still immature). I would say that these terms refer to different contexts: the gonadal development stages (e.g., immature-maturing-mature-spent) and the individual ontogenetic development phases (egg, larvae, post-larvae, juvenile, and so on - I´m not particularly familiar with these). I realized that a biological, technical definition of "adult" is not easy find too.
Is there a precise definition for "juvenile"? Or is it just a term with a losely defined meaning?
Any comments are welcome. Thanks
Fernando.
Fernando Gertum Becker Ichthylogy Lab Museu de Ciências Naturais Fundação Zoobotânica do RS av. Salvador França, 1427, Jardim Botânico Porto Alegre, RS 90690-000 Brazil tel. 51 - 3320-2053 [log in to unmask]
><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> To leave the Fish-Sci list, Send blank message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] For information send INFO FISH-SCI to [log in to unmask] ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><>
><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> To leave the Fish-Sci list, Send blank message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] For information send INFO FISH-SCI to [log in to unmask] ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><>
><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> To leave the Fish-Sci list, Send blank message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] For information send INFO FISH-SCI to [log in to unmask] ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><> ><>
|