AGE, GROWTH & MORTALITY
After hatching both Larvae and juveniles are pelagic using the brown algae Sargassum as a transient habitat (Kacem, H., 2015). Sargassum is used by dozens of juvenile species as a relatively safe home for development (Wells & Rooker, 2004). Its presence is constant and reliable throughout their habitats and its size makes it a highly heterogenous environment that allows for the dispersal of each type of juvenile into its own niche (Wells & Rooker, 2004). Once the temperature begins to drop B. capriscus leaves the Sargassum and becomes benthic like its older counterparts (Kacem, H., 2015). It takes between a year or two for an individual to reach sexual maturity (Kacem, H., 2015).
B. capriscus are aged by “counting translucent
After hatching both Larvae and juveniles are pelagic using the brown algae Sargassum as a transient habitat (Kacem, H., 2015). Sargassum is used by dozens of juvenile species as a relatively safe home for development (Wells & Rooker, 2004). Its presence is constant and reliable throughout their habitats and its size makes it a highly heterogenous environment that allows for the dispersal of each type of juvenile into its own niche (Wells & Rooker, 2004). Once the temperature begins to drop B. capriscus leaves the Sargassum and becomes benthic like its older counterparts (Kacem, H., 2015). It takes between a year or two for an individual to reach sexual maturity (Kacem, H., 2015).
B. capriscus are aged by “counting translucent