Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

Genetic Stock Structure Of The Sailfish, Istiophorus Platypterus, Based On Nuclear And Mitochondrial Dna, Jan Renee Mcdowell

Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects

The results of life history studies involving the sailfish, Istiophorus platypterus, from the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian oceans were reviewed. Results of studies agree on several aspects of sailfish biology; sailfish exhibit opportunistic feeding behavior, follow the 28??C isotherm, spawn in summer mature at approximately age 3, and are the least migratory of the billfishes. However, results are in conflict concerning sex ratio and whether sailfish are single or multiple spawners. Although many researchers have reported that sailfish are sexually dimorphic, their fragile otoliths make them difficult to age, aging studies have not been validated, and sexual dimorphism has not …