Scientia Marina, Vol 63, No 2 (1999)
Age and growth of leaping grey mullet (Liza saliens (Risso, 1810)) in Minorca (Balearic Islands)
https://doi.org/10.3989/scimar.1999.63n293
Luis Cardona
Department of Animal Biology (Vertebrates), Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona, Spain
Abstract
A population of leaping grey mullet (Liza saliens (Risso, 1810) was studied in order to measure seasonal and annual growth rates. The annual growth rates were similar to those reported for other populations from the central Western Mediterranean and intermediate between those living in northern and southern areas. As usual, the growth rate of adult males was slower than that of females. Males reached adulthood in their third summer. Females of the same age showed a moderate gonadal development, but did not ripen until the next summer. Mullets of all ages gained weight only when the water temperature was higher than 20°C. However adults and immature fish showed reduced growth in mid-summer, when that of the juveniles peaked. This difference is not a consequence of the reproductive cost, because the growth rate of immatures was greatly reduced although they did not spawn.
Keywords
Balearic Islands; coastal lagoons; Liza saliens; growth; age
Copyright (c) 1999 Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)

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