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The biology of a Scottish population of Fries' goby, Lesueurigobius friesii
Author(s) -
Gibson R. N.,
Ezzi I. A.
Publication year - 1978
Publication title -
journal of fish biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.672
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1095-8649
pISSN - 0022-1112
DOI - 10.1111/j.1095-8649.1978.tb04181.x
Subject(s) - biology , spawn (biology) , fecundity , goby , population , zoology , seasonal breeder , morning , fish <actinopterygii> , ecology , fishery , demography , botany , sociology
The biology of a Scottish population of the burrowing goby Lesueurigobius friesii was studied from February 1975 until October 1976. The fish lives at depths of 10–130 m on muddy grounds and attains a length of at least 94 mm and an age of 11 years, females generally living longer than males. Most growth takes place in the first three years of life after which it proceeds very slowly. Marked differences in year‐class strength were found. Both sexes mature in their third year and the breeding season lasts from late May until August. Each female can spawn at least twice during this period and the eggs are laid on the roof and sides of the U‐shaped burrows which the fish dig in the mud. Fecundity is length dependent and varies between approximately 3–11 000. The fish feeds predominantly on polychaetes, although small Crustacea and molluscs also feature commonly in its diet. No marked diurnal variation in the feeding pattern was noticed, although the amount of food in the stomachs was lowest in the early hours of the morning.