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Age and Growth of the Bull Shark in the Western North Atlantic Ocean
Author(s) -
Natanson Lisa J.,
Adams Douglas H.,
Winton Megan V.,
Maurer Jasmine R.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
transactions of the american fisheries society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.696
H-Index - 86
eISSN - 1548-8659
pISSN - 0002-8487
DOI - 10.1080/00028487.2014.892537
Subject(s) - carcharhinus , chondrichthyes , gompertz function , biology , fishery , maturity (psychological) , geography , mathematics , statistics , psychology , developmental psychology
Age and growth estimates for the Bull Shark Carcharhinus leucas were derived from 121 vertebral centra collected from Bull Sharks (59.1–223.5cm FL) between 1966 and 2010 in the western North Atlantic Ocean. Size at birth was confirmed with an additional 20 embryos (44.2–54.4cm FL). The maximum age based on vertebral band pair counts was 25 (184cm FL) and 27 (196cm FL) years for males and females, respectively. The logistic and Gompertz growth models fitted the size‐at‐age data best for males and females, respectively. Based on previously published estimates of length at maturity, males mature at 15–17years (176–185cm FL) and females at 15years (189cm FL). Bull Sharks in the western North Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico have similar growth rates and reach similar sizes at age.