Open AccessLife history traits of the Blackspotted smooth-hound Mustelus punctulatus (Carcharhiniformes: Triakidae) in the Adriatic Sea
Author(s) -
Romana Gračan,
Tanja Polak,
Bojan Lazar
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
natura croatica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.409
H-Index - 20
eISSN - 1848-7386
pISSN - 1330-0520
DOI - 10.20302/nc.2021.30.31
Subject(s) - gompertz function , biology , fishing , fishery , life history theory , sexual maturity , life history , fecundity , zoology , growth model , ecology , demography , mathematics , statistics , population , sociology , mathematical economics
We present demographic and reproductive parameters of commercially exploited shark, blackspotted smooth-hound (Mustelus punctulatus), based on samples from 117 males and 108 females from the Adriatic Sea. Calculated size and age at maturity were 83.1 cm in total length (TL) and 6.6 years for males and 100.0 cm TL and 12.5 years for females. The oldest observed male and female were 14 and 19 years old, respectively. The Gompertz growth model provided the best fit and predicted a theoretical maximum size (L∞) of 129.3 cm TL and a growth coefficient (k) of 0.15 year–1 for males, and L∞ = 141.1 cm TL and k = 0.13 year–1 for females. Obtained life history traits classify smooth-hound as slow-growing species, extremely sensitive to fishing, and highlight the need for the development of management strategy for this vulnerable species.