Population Biology of the Redlip Blenny, Ophioblennius Atlanticus Macclurei (Sylvester) in Barbados

Information on the demographic traits of the redlip blenny was collected to characterize its life history cycle, and identify the major determinants of its abundance on shallow reefs. Adult Ophioblennius atlanticus collected in Barbados during the 1978–1986 period ranged in size from 56 to 126 mm. Females and males are approximately the same length, but females achieve a greater weight. Growth is described by the von Bertalanffy model, with parameters L_∞, K and T₀ respectively estimated to be 110.039, 0.061 and −6.24. Less than 10% of the population lives beyond the third year. Monthly fecundity ranges from 794 to 4,390 eggs per female. GSI is highest in spring (April–May). Males spawn polygamously and sequentially; nests were found to contain between 1,638 and 11,490 eggs (mean = 5,799), in as many as four cohorts. There was a positive correlation between nest size and number of eggs. In general, mates were of the same size. Larvae are believed to have a pelagic life of 6 to 8 weeks, mostly spent over deep barrier reefs near shore. Settlement is at night, near the time of the new-moon period. Local hydrological conditions probably affect recruitment. There is marked annual variation in abundance. It could not be demonstrated that Hurricane Allen had a marked long term effect on the population of O. atlanticus.