Age, growth, reproduction and management of Southwestern Atlantic's largest and endangered herbivorous reef fish, Scarus trispinosus Valenciennes, 1840.

ABSTRACT: The Brazilian-endemic greenbeack parrotfish, Scarus trispinosus Valenciennes, 1840, is the largest herbivorous reef fish in the South Atlantic. Following the sharp decline of large carnivorous reef fishes, parrotfishes (Labridae: Scarinae) were progressively targeted by commercial fisheries in Brazil, resulting in a global population decline of 50% for S. trispinosus. Most of its remnant population is concentrated in the Abrolhos Bank, where the present study was conducted. We present novel information on age, growth and the reproductive cycle of S. trispinosus, based on 814 individuals obtained from commercial fisheries' landings and scientific collections, between 2010 and 2013. Sex ratio was biased toward females (1:8), and spawning occurred year-round with discrete

SUBMITTER: Freitas MO 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6718160 | biostudies-literature | 2019

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature