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Distribution and biology of Alepocephalus rostvatus from the Mediterranean Sea
Author(s) -
MoralesNin B.,
Massutí E.,
Stefanescu C.
Publication year - 1996
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.1095-8649.1996.tb01807.x
Subject(s) - biology , mediterranean climate , biomass (ecology) , abundance (ecology) , population , maturity (psychological) , mediterranean sea , fish <actinopterygii> , adaptation (eye) , ecology , zoology , fishery , demography , psychology , developmental psychology , neuroscience , sociology
In the Catalan Sea (NW Mediterranean) A. rostratus was found on the bottom below 500 m and reached its maximum abundance and biomass at 1100–1300 m depth, being captured down to 2209 m. Mean fish size increased progressively with depth. Larger fish were predominantly females, and 50% of maturity was reached at 23–6 and 27–7 cm in males and females, respectively. Although a high percentage of the population was mature all year round, a peak was attained in autumn, coinciding with the slowest growth of the species. Size‐at‐age indicated a slow growth rate. The greatest observed age was 23 years, although most of individuals were 7–12 years old. Overall, A. rostratus can be considered as a typical K‐strategist, showing a good adaptation to the oligotropic deepsea environment.