Sexual maturity in western Atlantic bluefin tuna
Heinisch, G.; Rosenfeld, H.; Knapp, J.M.; Gordin, H.; Lutcavage, M. (2014). Sexual maturity in western Atlantic bluefin tuna. NPG Scientific Reports 4(7205): 7 pp. http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/srep07205
In: Scientific Reports (Nature Publishing Group). Nature Publishing Group: London. ISSN 2045-2322; e-ISSN 2045-2322, more
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| Authors | | Top |
- Heinisch, G.
- Rosenfeld, H.
- Knapp, J.M.
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| Abstract |
>We introduce a novel endocrine approach for assessing the unresolved matter of the timing of sexual maturation in western Atlantic bluefin tuna (ABFT), a highly migratory population whose status remains uncertain. Ratios of follicle stimulating hormone to luteinizing hormone, a sexual maturity indicator, in all ABFT ≥134 cm curved fork length (CFL) were <0.4, similar to Mediterranean spawners, indicating that western ABFT mature at considerably smaller sizes and at a much younger age than currently assumed (≥185 cm CFL). |
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