@article{fdi:010066034,
  title = {{L}inking temporal changes in the demographic structure and individual growth to the decline in the population of a tropical fish},
  author = {{S}irot, {C}. and {D}arnaude, {A}. {M}. and {G}uilhaumon, {F}ran{\c{c}}ois and {R}amos-{M}iranda, {J}. and {F}lores-{H}ernandez, {D}. and {P}anfili, {J}acques},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{T}he exceptional biodiversity and productivity of tropical coastal lagoons can only be preserved by identifying the causes for the decline in the populations living in these vulnerable ecosystems. {T}he {T}erminos lagoon in {M}exico provided an opportunity for studying this issue as some of its fish populations, in particular the {S}ilver {P}erch ({B}airdiella chrysoura), have declined significantly since the 1980s. {F}ish sampling campaigns carried out over the whole lagoon area in 1979-81 and again in 2006-2011 revealed the mechanisms which may have been responsible for this decline. {B}ased on biometrical data for 295 juveniles and adults from the two periods and on somatic growth derived from 173 otoliths, a study of the temporal changes in the demographic structure and life history traits (individual growth and body condition) made it possible to distinguish the causes of the decline in the {B}. chrysoura population. {G}rowth models for the lagoon in 1980-1981 and 2006-2011 showed no significant change in the growth parameters of the population over the last 30 years with a logistic model giving an accurate estimate ({R}-2 = 0.66) of the size-at-age for both periods. {T}he decline in the {B}. chrysoura population could not be explained by an overall decrease in individual size and condition in the lagoon, the average standard length ({SL}) and {F}ulton index ({H}) having increased slightly since 1980-1981 (4.6 mm and 0.02 for juveniles and 5.42 mm and 0.07 for adults). {H}owever, the size structure of the population in the lagoon has changed, with a significant shift in the size distribution of juveniles with a marked reduction in the proportion of juveniles <= 60 mm in the captures (90.9% fewer than in 1980-1981). {A}s the otolith growth rate of fish during the first 4 months also decreased significantly between the two sampling periods (-15%), it is suggested that the main reason for the decline in the abundance and biomass of {B}. chrysoura within this system may be that its habitats are less suitable for fish growth and survival in the initial months after settlement. {E}nvironmental conditions in the lagoon appear to allow compensatory growth of the individuals that survive this early demographic bottleneck. {T}he key for the conservation of {B}. chrysoura probably lies in the identification and restoration of the habitats required by its larvae and juveniles.},
  keywords = {{A}merican {S}ilver {P}erch ; tropical lagoon ; somatic growth ; size ; distribution ; model comparison ; nursery ; {ATLANTIQUE} ; {MEXIQUE} {GOLFE} ; {TERMINOS} {LAGUNE} ; {ZONE} {TROPICALE}},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{E}stuarine {C}oastal and {S}helf {S}cience},
  volume = {165},
  numero = {},
  pages = {166--175},
  ISSN = {0272-7714},
  year = {2015},
  DOI = {10.1016/j.ecss.2015.05.012},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010066034},
}