Posted by mike on February 22, 2002 at 14:14:55:
In Reply to: Re: actually, wrasse biology and kelp forest ecology are two different thing posted by msblucow on February 21, 2002 at 19:06:55:
'There could be' does not automatically equal an assumption of such. There could be 300, there could be none. A given male probably wouldn't be replaced by a male of equal stature, because such a male would likely as not, already hold another territory. If the successor were equal to the king, he'd already be king. A 20 lb fish could defer territory and mates to a 21 lb fish.
The larger question arises, what are the demographics of sheepshead? What are the spatial arrangements within each subset of the popl'n? Are the dominant males off in deeper territory? Or are they in the shallows? Is there a reservoir of males, successors to the throne, off in the deeper regions?
regarding the physiological ecology of sheepshead, one could also ask questions about simple growth rates over the lifespan of a fish, but then one could ask what are the growth rates of smaller individuals in the presence of larger domnant males? Once released from social dominance, would growth rates increase such that a large male could be relatively young? Could mathematical models be crafted that would take into account the parameters of growth, replacement and dominance that would accurately predict the effects of a horde of trophy hunters on the local population, thereby enabling the creation of size-limits? Does the biology of sheepshead allow for, or preclude a sustainable practice of trophy hunting?
These are the questions that would need to be asked in order to determine what damage, if any, is done by a spearfisherman taking a large male.
Of course, continued EXCESSIVE hunting pressure on large males would soon ensure that the 'reservoir' should it exist, would soon be exhausted anyhow. Continued trophy hunting will only force selection of smaller, less conspicuous individuals. That's why some of us prefer to do our trophy hunting with a housed SLR.
As Seahunt also wisely points out, the live fish racket will soon render all this moot, there will soon be no sheepshead for myself or Kevin or anyone else for that matter, to shoot.