Dataset Overview | National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI)

Coral reef fish reproduction, species, fish length and weight, and others within New Ireland Province, Papua New Guinea from 2015-03-12 to 2015-03-23 (NCEI Accession 0144344)

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Natural-resource professionals performed novel research on the reproductive biology of exploited reef fishes. Each participant produced reproductive data for a single target species, yielding new information for four species. These data can be used to describe: length-weight relationships (including sex-based differences), size-at-maturity for each sex (minimum size-at-maturity, and size-at-50%-maturity), reproductive mode (total vs batch spawning, gonochorism vs hermaphroditism), sex ratios (overall and size-specific), length-fecundity relationships, and reproductive periodicity (lunar, seasonal).

The fish were taken in the coral reef ecosystem for the area west and south of Kavieng, New Ireland Province, Papua New Guinea in March 2015. Specific site location of each catch was not given. About 90% of the catch was near Mait Island.

Dataset Citation

Cite as: Longenecker, Ken; Crane, Matthew; Donaldson, Terry; Franklin, Erik; Kelokelo, Mildred; Langston, Ross (2016). Coral reef fish reproduction, species, fish length and weight, and others within New Ireland Province, Papua New Guinea from 2015-03-12 to 2015-03-23 (NCEI Accession 0144344). [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0144344. Accessed [date].

Dataset Identifiers

ISO 19115-2 Metadata

gov.noaa.nodc:0144344

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Download Data	HTTPS (download) Navigate directly to the URL for data access and direct download. FTP (download) These data are available through the File Transfer Protocol (FTP). FTP is no longer supported by most internet browsers. You may copy and paste the FTP link to the data into an FTP client (e.g., FileZilla or WinSCP).
Distribution Formats	Originator data format
Ordering Instructions	Contact NCEI for other distribution options and instructions.
Distributor	NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information +1-301-713-3277 NCEI.Info@noaa.gov
Dataset Point of Contact	NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information ncei.info@noaa.gov

Time Period	2015-03-12 to 2015-03-23
Spatial Bounding Box Coordinates	West: 150.62447 East: 150.85491 South: -3.05864 North: -2.56233
Spatial Coverage Map

General Documentation

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Descriptive Information
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Publication Dates	publication: 2016-04-19
Data Presentation Form	Digital table - digital representation of facts or figures systematically displayed, especially in columns
Dataset Progress Status	Complete - production of the data has been completed Historical archive - data has been stored in an offline storage facility
Data Update Frequency	As needed
Supplemental Information	Submission Package ID: TREX6U
Purpose	The overall objective of the project was to train a cadre of natural-resource professionals from US-associated Pacific Islands (Hawaii, Guam, American Samoa, Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Republic of the Marshall Islands, and Palau) to use newly developed methods for rapid, low-cost, reproductive analysis of coral-reef fishes. These methods require minimal research infrastructure and are suitable for use on participants' home and neighboring islands. Basic reproductive information (e.g., size at maturity) is lacking for most fishes (Froese & Binohlan 2000). This problem is especially acute for coral-reef fishes. The sheer diversity of coral-reef fishes, the supposed cost associated with the reproductive analysis of each species, and the lack of expertise and research infrastructure in developing Pacific Island nations (where most coral reefs are located) are often cited as barriers to obtaining this important base-line information (Roberts & Polunin 1993, Johannes 1998, Froese & Binohlan 2000). These problems hinder current abilities to effectively manage coral-reef fisheries in the Pacific. To address these issues, Longenecker et al. (2013) developed a method for rapid, low-cost, on-site, histology-based reproductive analysis that requires minimal research infrastructure. With this method, reproductive information can be generated quickly, and its low cost eliminates one of the arguments against broad-scale reproductive analysis surveys. Training a new crop of fish reproductive biologists who can independently use this method will increase the rate at which new reproductive information is generated, thus increasing the potential to effectively manage and conserve Pacific coral-reef fishes. The data presented here can be used to generate and disseminate novel reproductive information for commonly exploited Pacific reef fishes, including: 1) Length-weight relationships, 2) Size-at-maturity, 3) Reproductive mode, 4) Size-specific sex ratios, 5) Size-fecundity relationships, and 6) Reproductive periodicity.
Use Limitations	accessLevel: Public Distribution liability: NOAA and NCEI make no warranty, expressed or implied, regarding these data, nor does the fact of distribution constitute such a warranty. NOAA and NCEI cannot assume liability for any damages caused by any errors or omissions in these data. If appropriate, NCEI can only certify that the data it distributes are an authentic copy of the records that were accepted for inclusion in the NCEI archives.

Dataset Citation	Cite as: Longenecker, Ken; Crane, Matthew; Donaldson, Terry; Franklin, Erik; Kelokelo, Mildred; Langston, Ross (2016). Coral reef fish reproduction, species, fish length and weight, and others within New Ireland Province, Papua New Guinea from 2015-03-12 to 2015-03-23 (NCEI Accession 0144344). [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0144344. Accessed [date].
Cited Authors	Longenecker, Ken Bishop Museum Crane, Matthew Northern Marianas College Donaldson, Terry University of Guam Franklin, Erik Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology Kelokelo, Mildred Wildlife Conservation Society Langston, Ross Windward Community College
Principal Investigators	Ken Longenecker Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum
Contributors	Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum
Resource Providers	Ken Longenecker Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum
Publishers	NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information

Theme keywords	NODC DATA TYPES THESAURUS FISH SPECIES INDIVIDUAL FISH EXAMINATION INDIVIDUAL FISH EXAMINATION - LENGTH INDIVIDUAL FISH EXAMINATION - SEX INDIVIDUAL FISH EXAMINATION - SEXUAL MATURITY INDIVIDUAL FISH EXAMINATION - WEIGHT INDIVIDUAL IDENTITY SPECIES IDENTIFICATION SPECIES IDENTIFICATION - ORGANISM LENGTH SPECIES IDENTIFICATION - SEX SPECIES IDENTIFICATION - SEXUAL MATURITY SPECIES IDENTIFICATION - TOTAL WEIGHT NODC OBSERVATION TYPES THESAURUS biological fish examination laboratory analyses manual sample collection WMO_CategoryCode oceanography CoRIS Discovery Thesaurus Numeric Data Sets > Biology CoRIS Theme Thesaurus EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Marine Biology > Fish EARTH SCIENCE > Oceans > Marine Biology > Fish > Fecundity Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Science Keywords EARTH SCIENCE > BIOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION > ANIMALS/VERTEBRATES > FISH Originator Keywords dilution estimate batch fecundity fish egg stage gonad weight
Data Center keywords	NODC COLLECTING INSTITUTION NAMES THESAURUS Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum NODC SUBMITTING INSTITUTION NAMES THESAURUS Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum
Instrument keywords	NODC INSTRUMENT TYPES THESAURUS laboratory analysis scale Originator Keywords Battery-operated jeweler's scales Compound microscope Dissecting microscope Hanging spring scales MT1 Porter-Blum microtome Stempel pipette
Place keywords	NODC SEA AREA NAMES THESAURUS Bismarck Sea South Pacific Ocean Southwest Pacific Ocean (limit-147 E to 140 W) CoRIS Place Thesaurus COUNTRY/TERRITORY > Papua New Guinea > New Ireland > New Ireland (02S150E0008) COUNTRY/TERRITORY > Papua New Guinea > Papua New Guinea (06S146E0000) OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > South Pacific Ocean OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > South Pacific Ocean > New Guinea > Papua New Guinea (06S146E0000) OCEAN BASIN > Pacific Ocean > South Pacific Ocean > New Ireland > New Ireland (02S150E0008) Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Location Keywords OCEAN > PACIFIC OCEAN > SOUTH PACIFIC OCEAN Originator Place Names Balgai Bay Kavieng Maite Island Melanesia
Keywords	NCEI ACCESSION NUMBER 0144344

Use Constraints	Cite as: Longenecker, Ken; Crane, Matthew; Donaldson, Terry; Franklin, Erik; Kelokelo, Mildred; Langston, Ross (2016). Coral reef fish reproduction, species, fish length and weight, and others within New Ireland Province, Papua New Guinea from 2015-03-12 to 2015-03-23 (NCEI Accession 0144344). [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0144344. Accessed [date].
Access Constraints	Use liability: NOAA and NCEI cannot provide any warranty as to the accuracy, reliability, or completeness of furnished data. Users assume responsibility to determine the usability of these data. The user is responsible for the results of any application of this data for other than its intended purpose.
Fees	In most cases, electronic downloads of the data are free. However, fees may apply for custom orders, data certifications, copies of analog materials, and data distribution on physical media.

Lineage information for: dataset
Processing Steps	2016-04-19T11:55:07Z - NCEI Accession 0144344 v1.1 was published.
Output Datasets	NCEI Accession 0144344 v1.1 NCEI Accession 0144344 v1.1 (download) published 2016-04-19T11:55:07Z

Lineage information for: dataset
Processing Steps	Data Type: FISH SPECIES (measured); Units: genus species; Observation Type: laboratory analysis; Sampling Instrument: trapped; Sampling and Analyzing Method: Identified by natural-resource professionals; Data Quality Information: fish identity is high quality. Data Type: fish length (measured); Units: cm, from front of head with mouth closed to end of middle caudal ray; Observation Type: laboratory analysis; Sampling Instrument: measuring device; Sampling and Analyzing Method: Length, from the front of the head with mouth closed to the end of the middle caudal ray, was measured to 0.1 cm.; Data Quality Information: precision to 0.1 cm. Data Type: fish weight (measured); Units: gram; Observation Type: laboratory analysis; Sampling Instrument: hanging spring scales; Sampling and Analyzing Method: Whole body weight was measured with the smallest-possible of two hanging spring-scales (100 or 1000 g capacity, with 1 or 10 g increments, respectively), with the exception of seven juvenile Balistapus undulatus that were weighed on a battery-powered jeweler's scale to 0.0001 g.; Data Quality Information: high precision. Data Type: Egg Stage (measured); Units: based on the criteria of Wallace & Sellman 1981; Observation Type: laboratory analysis; Sampling Instrument: MT1 Porter-Blum microtome; Stempel pipette;Dissecting microscope;Compound microscope; Sampling and Analyzing Method: Size-at-Maturity and Reproductive Mode: The Dietrich's-fixed gonad subsamples were dehydrated ethanol (30 min in each of 50%, and two changes of 95% ethanol). Using plastic embedding medium (JB4, Electron Microscopy Sciences) and following kit instructions, gonad sections were infiltrated in two changes of infiltration solution, transferred into embedding capsules (BEEM (copyright), size 00), and embedded. Because high humidity in tropical locations often prevents tissue blocks from hardening completely, tissue blocks were dehydrated for 12 hours in a "desiccating chamber" (a diver's dry box containing silica gel packets and placed in full sunlight). From each embedded gonad subsample 10 tissue sections (approximately 7 um thick), distributed evenly throughout each tissue block, were obtained by serial sectioning on an MT1 Porter-Blum microtome outfitted with a glass knife. The tissue sections were floated on water droplets distributed on microscope slides, and slides were dried on a "warmer" (a flat piece of thick metal placed in full sunlight). Tissue sections (now affixed to the slides) were stained in a 0.5% solution of Toluidine Blue in water for 15 s. Excess stain was removed with a gentle stream of water, and the slides were once again dried on the "warmer". Ovary sections were examined at 40X and testis sections at 100X for evidence of reproductive maturity. Ovaries were classified according to Wallace and Selman (1981) and testes according to Nagahama (1983). Females were considered mature with the onset of vitellogenesis or when post-ovulatory follicles were present, and males mature when the testes contained visible spermatozoa (sperm cells with tails). Data Type: whole gonad weight (measured); Units: gram (g), weight of whole gonad [Ws] upon excision from specimen and prior to fixation; Observation Type: laboratory analysis; Sampling Instrument: jeweler's scale; Sampling and Analyzing Method: Specimen Acquisition and Whole Specimen Processing: Specimens were purchased from local fishers. Length, from the front of the head with mouth closed to the end of the middle caudal ray, was measured to 0.1 cm. Whole body weight was measured with the smallest-possible of two hanging spring-scales (100 or 1000 g capacity, with 1 or 10 g increments, respectively), with the exception of seven juvenile Balistapus undulatus that were weighed on a battery-powered jeweler's scale to 0.0001 g. A mid-ventral incision was made from the vent through the pelvic girdle, sex and reproductive (based on gross examination) status were recorded, then gonads were excised and weighed to 0.001 g on a battery-powered jeweler's scale. For each ovary that appeared to be at or nearing maturity, an approximately 1-cm thick transverse section was removed from one lobe, weighed to 0.001 g, and transferred to approximately 15 ml Gilson's fluid in a skirted 50-ml centrifuge tube for later batch fecundity analysis (below). For all gonads (regardless of sex or reproductive status) an approximately 3 mm x 3 mm x 3 mm subsample was excised, placed in one well of a tissue culture plate, and fixed in Dietrich's solution for at least 24 h.

Lineage information for: dataset

Processing Steps

Data Type: FISH SPECIES (measured); Units: genus species; Observation Type: laboratory analysis; Sampling Instrument: trapped; Sampling and Analyzing Method: Identified by natural-resource professionals; Data Quality Information: fish identity is high quality.
Data Type: fish length (measured); Units: cm, from front of head with mouth closed to end of middle caudal ray; Observation Type: laboratory analysis; Sampling Instrument: measuring device; Sampling and Analyzing Method: Length, from the front of the head with mouth closed to the end of the middle caudal ray, was measured to 0.1 cm.; Data Quality Information: precision to 0.1 cm.
Data Type: fish weight (measured); Units: gram; Observation Type: laboratory analysis; Sampling Instrument: hanging spring scales; Sampling and Analyzing Method: Whole body weight was measured with the smallest-possible of two hanging spring-scales (100 or 1000 g capacity, with 1 or 10 g increments, respectively), with the exception of seven juvenile Balistapus undulatus that were weighed on a battery-powered jeweler's scale to 0.0001 g.; Data Quality Information: high precision.
Data Type: Egg Stage (measured); Units: based on the criteria of Wallace & Sellman 1981; Observation Type: laboratory analysis; Sampling Instrument: MT1 Porter-Blum microtome; Stempel pipette;Dissecting microscope;Compound microscope; Sampling and Analyzing Method: Size-at-Maturity and Reproductive Mode: The Dietrich's-fixed gonad subsamples were dehydrated ethanol (30 min in each of 50%, and two changes of 95% ethanol). Using plastic embedding medium (JB4, Electron Microscopy Sciences) and following kit instructions, gonad sections were infiltrated in two changes of infiltration solution, transferred into embedding capsules (BEEM (copyright), size 00), and embedded. Because high humidity in tropical locations often prevents tissue blocks from hardening completely, tissue blocks were dehydrated for 12 hours in a "desiccating chamber" (a diver's dry box containing silica gel packets and placed in full sunlight). From each embedded gonad subsample 10 tissue sections (approximately 7 um thick), distributed evenly throughout each tissue block, were obtained by serial sectioning on an MT1 Porter-Blum microtome outfitted with a glass knife. The tissue sections were floated on water droplets distributed on microscope slides, and slides were dried on a "warmer" (a flat piece of thick metal placed in full sunlight). Tissue sections (now affixed to the slides) were stained in a 0.5% solution of Toluidine Blue in water for 15 s. Excess stain was removed with a gentle stream of water, and the slides were once again dried on the "warmer". Ovary sections were examined at 40X and testis sections at 100X for evidence of reproductive maturity. Ovaries were classified according to Wallace and Selman (1981) and testes according to Nagahama (1983). Females were considered mature with the onset of vitellogenesis or when post-ovulatory follicles were present, and males mature when the testes contained visible spermatozoa (sperm cells with tails).
Data Type: whole gonad weight (measured); Units: gram (g), weight of whole gonad [Ws] upon excision from specimen and prior to fixation; Observation Type: laboratory analysis; Sampling Instrument: jeweler's scale; Sampling and Analyzing Method: Specimen Acquisition and Whole Specimen Processing: Specimens were purchased from local fishers. Length, from the front of the head with mouth closed to the end of the middle caudal ray, was measured to 0.1 cm. Whole body weight was measured with the smallest-possible of two hanging spring-scales (100 or 1000 g capacity, with 1 or 10 g increments, respectively), with the exception of seven juvenile Balistapus undulatus that were weighed on a battery-powered jeweler's scale to 0.0001 g. A mid-ventral incision was made from the vent through the pelvic girdle, sex and reproductive (based on gross examination) status were recorded, then gonads were excised and weighed to 0.001 g on a battery-powered jeweler's scale. For each ovary that appeared to be at or nearing maturity, an approximately 1-cm thick transverse section was removed from one lobe, weighed to 0.001 g, and transferred to approximately 15 ml Gilson's fluid in a skirted 50-ml centrifuge tube for later batch fecundity analysis (below). For all gonads (regardless of sex or reproductive status) an approximately 3 mm x 3 mm x 3 mm subsample was excised, placed in one well of a tissue culture plate, and fixed in Dietrich's solution for at least 24 h.

Acquisition Information (collection)
Instrument	laboratory analysis scale

Last Modified: 2023-01-26T14:53:46Z
For questions about the information on this page, please email: ncei.info@noaa.gov

Coral reef fish reproduction, species, fish length and weight, and others within New Ireland Province, Papua New Guinea from 2015-03-12 to 2015-03-23 (NCEI Accession 0144344)

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