Data from: Relationships Between Oceanic Primary Production, Human Habitation and Variation in the Life-History Traits of Coral Reef Fishes Across the Northern Line Islands
Year: 2026
Type: dataset
Abstract: These data were collected to characterize variation in life-history traits and growth among coral reef fishes across the Northern Line Islands (NLI), a geographically remote archipelago in the central Pacific. The dataset contains specimen-level length, weight, collection year, estimated age, and biological information for eight coral reef fish species representing three major trophic groups: piscivore-invertivores, planktivores, and grazer-detritivores. Fishes were collected during land- and ship-based research expeditions from 2006–2011, with most specimens collected during a five-week research cruise across the six NLI in 2010. Specimens were collected primarily along seaward-facing forereef habitats at depths of 5–20 m using hand nets, three-prong spears, spearguns, handlines, fishing poles, and fish anesthetic. Upon collection, each fish was assigned a unique identification number and processed for morphometric measurements, including total length, fork length, standard length, and body weight. Most specimens were subsequently frozen and transported to the Scripps Institution of Oceanography for additional processing and dissection. Sagittal otoliths were removed, prepared, sectioned, and examined to estimate age from annual growth increments. The resulting size-at-age data were used to estimate species- and island-specific von Bertalanffy growth parameters and examine variation in fish growth across the NLI. The deposited dataset represents the cleaned specimen-level data underlying the life-history and growth analyses presented in the associated publication.
Source: UC San Diego
DOI: 10.6075/j0np25df
Language: English
Subfield: Ecology
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
SDG: Life below water
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7212598041