Data and code from: Loss of persistence of early growth advantages in chub mackerel (Scomber japonicus)
Data files
Sep 30, 2026 version files 38.12 KB
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Fig3_rearingEXP_initial_growth_SL_correlation_revised_forUPLOAD.R
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FigS2_annualRing_bodyLength_correlation_revised_forUPLOAD.R
2.69 KB
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FigS3_mackerel_wild_initialgrowth_firstring_revised_forUPLOAD.R
2.46 KB
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mackerel_wild.csv
5.49 KB
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README.md
6.47 KB
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rearingEXP.csv
2.08 KB
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Table1_Fig1_FigS1_mackerel_wild_gamma_adultsize_growth_uploead.R
10.98 KB
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Table2_Fig2_RearingEXP_LManalysis_uploadcode_revised_forUPLOAD.R
5.94 KB
Abstract
The growth–survival paradigm (GSP) predicts that faster early growth enhances survival to recruitment, yet clear support is found in only about half of published studies. Despite linking early growth to recruitment, empirical studies have focused primarily on the larval stage, implicitly assuming that early growth advantages persist until recruitment. However, this assumption has rarely been tested. Here, we examine the consequences of early growth for later size and growth in chub mackerel (Scomber japonicus) using field-collected and laboratory-reared samples. Daily otolith increment analyses of wild-caught adults revealed consistent negative relationships between larval growth rates and adult body size across year classes and sexes, with adult size most strongly associated with growth up to the 10th daily increment. A rearing experiment under ad libitum feeding and constant conditions showed a clear negative correlation between larval and late-juvenile growth rates and a convergence in body size, such that early growth was no longer associated with body size at approximately 150 mm standard length. Together, these results suggest that the negative association between early growth and adult size in wild chub mackerel can be explained, at least in part, by intrinsic changes in relative growth rates among individuals during the late juvenile stage. Such changes may alter relative size among individuals before recruitment, thereby offsetting the expected advantages of rapid early growth. This perspective suggests a mechanism by which the relationship between early growth and survival to recruitment may be modified, potentially contributing to cases in which the GSP does not hold.
Dataset DOI: 10.5061/dryad.wh70rxx0q
Description of the data and file structure
mackerel_wild.csv
The dataset includes standard length of wild adult chub mackerel (Scomber japonicus) collected in the Ine region of Japan during two sampling periods in February and March 2023. It also contains larval growth rates estimated from otolith increment analysis, age determined from otolith annuli, and the distances between successive annual rings. Measurements related to otolith diameter and inter-annular distances were obtained only from individuals with intact otoliths and clearly distinguishable annuli. Instances where age is known but the inter-annular distances are missing correspond to individuals for which annuli were unclear and could not be reliably measured; therefore, missing entries for these variables indicate unavailable measurements and should not be interpreted as data errors. These data were used to generate Figure 1 and Table 1 in the main text, as well as Figures S1, S2, and S3 in the supplementary materials.
rearingEXP.csv
The dataset includes measurements obtained from a rearing experiment. In addition to basic morphological data such as standard length and body weight, it provides the distances between successive otolith rings marked with alizarin complexone. Specifically, first_um represents the distance from the otolith core to the first ring, second_um the distance from the first to the second ring, third_um the distance from the second to the third ring, and edge_um the distance from the third ring to the otolith edge. All measurements are expressed in micrometers (µm). These data were used to generate Figure 2, Figure 3, and Table 2 in the main text.
Files and variables
File: FigS3_mackerel_wild_initialgrowth_firstring_revised_forUPLOAD.R
Description: R code used for the generalized linear model (GLM) analysis and corresponding visualization in Fig. S3. While the effect was not statistically significant, the results indicate a potential negative influence of initial growth rate on the radius of the first annual ring.
File: FigS2_annualRing_bodyLength_correlation_revised_forUPLOAD.R
Description: R code used for the generalized linear model (GLM) analysis and corresponding visualization presented in Fig. S2.
File: Table1_Fig1_FigS1_mackerel_wild_gamma_adultsize_growth_uploead.R
Description: R code used for the generalized linear model (GLM) analyses that support Table 1, Fig. 1, and Fig. S1, as well as for generating the associated visualizations.
File: Table2_Fig2_RearingEXP_LManalysis_uploadcode_revised_forUPLOAD.R
Description: R code used to perform the linear model (LM) analyses underlying Table 2 and Fig. 2, and to generate the corresponding plots.
File:Fig3_rearingEXP_initial_growth_SL_correlation_revised_forUPLOAD.R
Description: R code used to perform the linear model (LM) analyses underlying Fig. 3, and to generate the corresponding plots.
File: rearingEXP.csv
Description: The dataset includes measurements obtained from a rearing experiment. In addition to basic morphological data such as standard length and body weight, it provides the distances between successive otolith rings marked with alizarin complexone. Specifically, first_um represents the distance from the otolith core to the first ring, second_um the distance from the first to the second ring, third_um the distance from the second to the third ring, and edge_um the distance from the third ring to the otolith edge. All measurements are expressed in micrometers (µm).
Variables
- Body_weight_g: represents the body weight of individuals (g)
- Body_width_mm: represents the body width of individuals (mm)
- standard_length: represents the standard length of individuals (mm)
- first_um: represents the distance from the otolith core to the first ring
- second_um: the distance from the first to the second ring
- third_um :the distance from the second to the third ring
- edge_um: the distance from the third ring to the otolith edge
File: mackerel_wild.csv
Description: The dataset includes morphological measurements such as standard length and body weight of wild adult chub mackerel (Scomber japonicus) collected in the Ine region of Japan during two sampling periods in February and March 2023. It also contains larval growth rates estimated from otolith increment analysis, age determined from otolith annuli, and the distances between successive annual rings. Instances where age is known but the inter-annular distances are missing correspond to individuals for which annuli were unclear and could not be reliably measured. These data were used to generate Figure 1 and Table 1 in the main text, as well as Figures S1, S2, and S3 in the supplementary materials.
Variables
- Standard_length_mm: represents the body width of individuals (mm)
- body_weight: represents the body weight of individuals (g)
- sex: represents the sex of individuals (male or female)
- gonad_weight: represents the gonad weight of individuals (g)
- condition_factor: represents the condition factor of individuals
- GSI: Gonadosomatic Index
- one_five: growth rate of otolith (core to fifth increment)
- one_ten: growth rate of otolith (core to tenth increment)
- one_fifteen: growth rate of otolith (core to 15th increment)
- one_twenty: growth rate of otolith (core to 20th increment)
- otolith_length_mm: otolith length in mm
- otolith_width_mm: otolith width in mm
- LorR: Left or Right otolith
- date_binary: date in binary form
- age: Age of individuals estimated from the number of otolith annuli
- otolith_diameter_mm: diameter of whole otolith in mm
- OD_age0_mm: Otolith radius to the first annulus
- OD_age1_mm: length between 1st and the 2nd annulus
- OD_age2_mm: length between 2nd and the 3rd annulus
- OD_age3_mm: length between 3rd and the 4th annulus
- OD_age4_mm: length between 4th and the 5th annulus
- OD_age5_mm: length between 5th and the 6th annulus
- OD_age6_mm: length between 6th and the 7th annulus
- OD_age7_mm: length between 7th and the 8th annulus
- OD_age8_mm: length between 8th and the 9th annulus
- OD_age9_mm: length between 9th and the 10th annulus
- OD_edge_mm: length between the last annulus and the edge