Von Bertalanffy growth functions for smalltooth sawfish.

<p>A) Size at fractional age for smalltooth sawfish samples collected in south Florida and aged via analysis of vertebrae centra thin sections. Plotted line is a von Bertalanffy growth function (VBGF) fit to the data with the method of least squares. Parameter estimates for the function are 4.48 m for L_∞, 0.219 y⁻¹ for k, and −0.81 years for t₀. B) Comparison of VBGF function estimated in this study with those estimated by Simpfendorfer et al. <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0047850#pone.0047850-Simpfendorfer2" target="_blank">[11]</a> with length frequency data (ELEFAN seasonal; PROJMAT non-seasonal).</p

Trends in calcium versus phosphorus count data.

<p>Trends in Ca and P count data (cps  =  counts per second) from laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry transects across vertebral sections of three smalltooth sawfish. Data were smoothed by computing 5-spot moving averages prior to plotting lines. Red circles indicate location of opaque bands. Panel labels correspond to fish sample numbers in <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0047850#pone-0047850-t001" target="_blank">Table 1</a>.</p

Association between Sr:Ca and estuarine nursery bottom salinity.

<p>Correspondence between Sr:Ca versus estimated date and bottom salinity versus date A) a 1.96 m female smalltooth sawfish (fish 10 in <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0047850#pone-0047850-t001" target="_blank">Table 1</a>) whose carcass was collected in the Caloosahatchee River. B) Continuous bottom salinity data in the Caloosahatchee River during the time period depicted in A. C) a 2.22 m female (fish 7) whose carcass was collected near the mouth of the Turner River in Chokoloskee Bay. D) Continuous bottom salinity data in the Turner River during the time period depicted in C. Sr:Ca data are presented from the natal mark to the edge of the vertebra section. Gray circles in each panel indicate individual measurements, red circles indicate opaque bands, and black lines indicate loess regression fits to the data.</p

Thin sections of vertebrae from three sawfish.

<p>Digital images of thin sections of smalltooth sawfish vertebrae centra from carcasses opportunistically sampled in south Florida from 2003 through 2012. Vertebrae were from A) a 1.50 m TL male (fish 8 in <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0047850#pone-0047850-t001" target="_blank">Table 1</a>), B) a 2.22 m TL female (fish 7), and C) a 4.35 m TL female (fish 13). Black circles indicate opaque zones, with the first opaque zone in each section being the natal mark following birth.</p

Collection and biological information for 15 sawfish carcasses opportunistically sampled in south Florida from 2003 to 2012.

<p>Maturity: M =  mature, I =  immature. Exact locations of collection are provided on <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0047850#pone-0047850-g001" target="_blank">Figure 1</a>.</p

Trends in Sr:Ca across vertebrae sections.

<p>Trends in Sr:Ca across smalltooth sawfish vertebrae sections analyzed with laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. Gray circles in each panel indicate individual measurements, while black lines indicate loess regression fits to the data. Red circles indicate location of subsequent opaque bands. Panel labels correspond to fish sample numbers in <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0047850#pone-0047850-t001" target="_blank">Table 1</a>.</p