Reproductive and trophic ecology of the soldierfish Myripristis amaena in tropical fisheries

.-Squirrelfish of the genus Myripristis are valued in small-scale fisheries throughout much of the tropics. The life his tory and species biology of most of these soldierfishes is poorly known. For the brick soldierfish, M. amae na, in Hawaii and Johnston Atoll, we found that sexual maturity for both sexes was reached between 145 and 160 mm standard length at about six years ofage - a large fraction ofthe apparent maximum size and lifespan. Fecundity was relatively low and increased as the fifth power ofbody weight. Spawn ing peaked from about early April to early May, and a secondary peak occurred in September. Myripristis amaena is a nocturnal predator, feeding mostly on meroplankton, especially brachyuran crab mega lops, hermit crab larvae, and shrimps, but also taking a variety of benthic prey. In pristine fish communities, holocentrids were abundant, quantitatively impor tant (often dominant) reef preda tors and prey. Myripristis amaena (and probably other common and important soJdierfishJ seems to be relatively long lived (at least 14 years), slow growing, and late ma turing. The populations suffer con siderable natural predation and depend mainly on the largest and oldest fish for reproduction. Heavy, unregulated fishing of these soldierfish, especially at prerepro ductive size, may severely reduce populations.

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