TY - JOUR
T1 - Spatial variation in life history characteristics of waved whelk (Buccinum undatum L.) on the U.S. Mid-Atlantic continental shelf
AU - Borsetti, S.
AU - Munroe, D.
AU - Rudders, D. B.
AU - Dobson, C.
AU - Bochenek, E. A.
N1 - Funding Information:
This work would not have been possible without the generous help from the Northeast Fisheries Science Center, specifically Dvora Hart, Burton Shank, and Victor Nordahl. Additionally, we would like to thank all captains and crew members from the vessels who assisted in sample collection, without whom this project would not have been successful: R/V Sharp , F/V Carolina Capes II , F/V Celtic , and F/V Kate II . We are also grateful to the researchers who assisted with sample collection and laboratory work: Joe Caracappa, Sally Roman, Sean Martin, Mike Acquafredda, and Courtney Cochran. We are grateful for the thoughtful review and commentary provided by two anonymous reviewers on an earlier draft. This work was funded by NOAA Saltonstall-Kennedy Grant Program [grant number NA14NMF4270050 ]. Appendix A
Publisher Copyright:
© 2017 Elsevier B.V.
PY - 2018/2
Y1 - 2018/2
N2 - Recent expansion of the unmanaged waved whelk (Buccinum undatum) fishery within the United States Mid-Atlantic continental shelf region has prompted investigation into local life history parameters. Limited adult dispersal and lack of a planktonic larval stage has the potential to create spatially distinct populations with respect to size of sexual maturity and size frequency. During the summer of 2015, a comprehensive survey was undertaken to evaluate population structure, sex ratio, relative abundance, and size of sexual maturity for whelk in the Mid-Atlantic. Samples (n = 228) were collected from Georges Bank through the DelMarVa region using a modified scallop dredge at depths ranging from 27.4 to 112 m, with most whelk caught between 40–75 m, and peak abundances at 51–60 m. All whelk collected (n = 3877) were sexed, weighed, measured, and assessed for maturity. Sex ratios were skewed in favor of females in the south and balanced through the rest of the regions. Size of maturity ranged from approximately 56–73 mm and varied among regions and sex. Estimates of size of sexual maturity for B. undatum from other regions of the world were compiled, demonstrating that the size of maturity for this species is highly variable, and current minimum landing size regulations tend to fall below the estimated size of sexual maturity, potentially increasing the risk of recruitment overfishing. Overall, spatial variation in whelk phenotype suggests local adaptation in this species, indicating that regional management would be most appropriate.
AB - Recent expansion of the unmanaged waved whelk (Buccinum undatum) fishery within the United States Mid-Atlantic continental shelf region has prompted investigation into local life history parameters. Limited adult dispersal and lack of a planktonic larval stage has the potential to create spatially distinct populations with respect to size of sexual maturity and size frequency. During the summer of 2015, a comprehensive survey was undertaken to evaluate population structure, sex ratio, relative abundance, and size of sexual maturity for whelk in the Mid-Atlantic. Samples (n = 228) were collected from Georges Bank through the DelMarVa region using a modified scallop dredge at depths ranging from 27.4 to 112 m, with most whelk caught between 40–75 m, and peak abundances at 51–60 m. All whelk collected (n = 3877) were sexed, weighed, measured, and assessed for maturity. Sex ratios were skewed in favor of females in the south and balanced through the rest of the regions. Size of maturity ranged from approximately 56–73 mm and varied among regions and sex. Estimates of size of sexual maturity for B. undatum from other regions of the world were compiled, demonstrating that the size of maturity for this species is highly variable, and current minimum landing size regulations tend to fall below the estimated size of sexual maturity, potentially increasing the risk of recruitment overfishing. Overall, spatial variation in whelk phenotype suggests local adaptation in this species, indicating that regional management would be most appropriate.
KW - Buccinum undatum
KW - Fishery management
KW - Minimum landing size
KW - Size of maturity
KW - Whelk
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85031937990&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85031937990&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.fishres.2017.10.006
DO - 10.1016/j.fishres.2017.10.006
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85031937990
SN - 0165-7836
VL - 198
SP - 129
EP - 137
JO - Fisheries Research
JF - Fisheries Research
ER -