Early overcounting in otoliths: a case study of age and growth for gindai (Pristipomoides zonatus) using bomb 14C dating

Gindai (Pristipomoides zonatus) is one of six snappers in a management complex called the Deep 7 of the Hawaiian Islands. Little is known about its life history and a preliminary analysis of otolith thin sections indicated the species may exhibit moderate growth with a lifespan approaching 40 years. Preliminary age estimates from the previous study were reinvestigated using the same otolith sections in an attempt to validate those ages with bomb radiocarbon (C) dating. From the misalignment of birth years for the otolith C measurements with regional references — the post-peak bomb C decline period — it was concluded that previous ages were inflated from overcounting of the earliest growth zone structure in otolith sections. The oldest gindai was re-aged to 26 years once the age reading was adjusted for early overcounting, 13 years younger than the original estimate of 39 years for this fish. In general, the earliest otolith growth of gindai was massive and complicated by numerous subannual checks. The approach of lumping the early growth structures was supported by the alignment of C measurements from otolith core material (first year of growth). The result was greater consistency of calculated birthdates with the C decline reference, along with minor offsets that may indicate age estimation was imprecise by a few years for some individuals. The revised von Bertalanffy growth function applied to the validated age-at-length estimates revealed more rapid growth (k = 0.378 cf. 0.113) and a lifespan of approximately 30 years. The findings presented here are a case study of how the bomb C decline period can be used as a tool in the refinement of age reading protocols.