University of Tasmania
Browse
Semmens_&_Moltschaniwskyj_2000.pdf (900.48 kB)

An examination of variable growth rates in the tropical squid Sepioteuthis lessoniana: a whole animal and reductionist approach

Download (900.48 kB)
journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-26, 16:28 authored by Jayson SemmensJayson Semmens, Moltschaniwskyj, NA
Squids typically demonstrate considerable plasticity in individual growth rates. However, it is not known if individuals growing at different rates also differ at lower levels of organisation. We wished to determine if Seploteuthis lessoniana individuals that were larger than predicted for their age dlffered in their digestive gland and mantle muscle tissue proximal composition or mantle muscle structure, compared with individuals that were smaller for their age than predicted. The residual, the difference between the observed size-at-age and that predicted by the growth equation, was used as a measure of the difference in an individual's lifetime growth from the population average. Individual squid varied considerably in their size-at-age, with juveniles showing less variation than adults. Juverules had greater concentrations of lipid in their muscle tissue, perhaps due to an emphasis on storing energy reserves in this critical period of thelr life. Differences in biochemical constituents in both the digestive gland and muscle tissue were not related to the size-at-age of individuals, despite biochemical make-up being the lowest organisational level of growth. This may be due to whole animal growth and changes in biochemical composition occurring on different time scales. There was no relationship between the size-at-age of individuals and average mantle muscle fibre size. A strong relationship, however, existed between the size of mantle muscle blocks and the size-at-age of individuals for both juvenile and adult individuals, suggesting that larger muscle blocks are related to both body size and faster individual growth rates. This study demonstrates a clear relationship between mantle muscle structure and growth and the size-at-age of S. lessoniana individuals.

History

Publication title

Marine Ecology Progress Series

Volume

193

Pagination

135-141

ISSN

Prit 0171-8630 Olie 1616-1599

Publication status

  • Published

Rights statement

Copyright Inter-Research 2000

Repository Status

  • Open

Usage metrics

    University Of Tasmania

    Categories

    No categories selected

    Exports

    RefWorks
    BibTeX
    Ref. manager
    Endnote
    DataCite
    NLM
    DC