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Reproductive biology of pink dentex Dentex gibbosus (Rafinesque) from the Adriatic Sea, Croatia
Author(s) -
Grubisic Leon,
Mrcelic Gorana Jelic,
Skakelja Neda,
Katavic Ivan,
Ticina Vijeko,
Sliskovic Merica
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
aquaculture research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.646
H-Index - 89
eISSN - 1365-2109
pISSN - 1355-557X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2109.2007.01774.x
Subject(s) - biology , gonadosomatic index , spawn (biology) , fecundity , reproductive biology , hermaphrodite , population , zoology , fishery , demography , embryo , sociology , embryogenesis
Abstract A 4‐year study (May 1997–December 2000) of the reproductive biology of pink dentex Dentex gibbosus (Rafinesque) from the Adriatic Sea revealed that this species is a rudimentary hermaphrodite. The smallest mature males and females captured were 38.70 cm in total length ( T L ) and 39.80 cm in total length ( T L ) respectively. The von Bertalanffy growth parameters estimated for the entire population were: L ∞ =107.24, K =0.12 and t 0 =−0.90. Fifty per cent of the population were sexually mature at 41.50 cm T L , while 100% of the specimens were sexually mature at 57.00 cm T L . Both monthly gonadosomatic index and macroscopically determined gonad stages strongly indicate that the pink dentex from the Adriatic Sea spawn partially in August, September and October. The mean value of absolute fecundity ( F ) was 1672 × 10 6 eggs. The results of great fertility of the pink dentex, partial spawning and relatively late sexual maturation suggest that the pink dentex has a high potential for commercial culture.