Biological Aspects of <i>Sphyraena sphyraena</i> (L., 1758) in the Central Mediterranean (E. Ionian Sea)

<i>S. sphyraena</i> is a widely distributed species with low commercial value and no sufficient scientific knowledge of its biology. In the present study, the age, growth, weight–length relationship, otolith morphometry, and reproduction of the species were investigated in the Eastern Io...

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Main Authors: Vasiliki Nikiforidou, Aikaterini Anastasopoulou, Vasileios Xenikakis, Chryssi Mytilineou
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-12-01
Series:Hydrobiology
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2673-9917/3/4/23
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author Vasiliki Nikiforidou
Aikaterini Anastasopoulou
Vasileios Xenikakis
Chryssi Mytilineou
author_facet Vasiliki Nikiforidou
Aikaterini Anastasopoulou
Vasileios Xenikakis
Chryssi Mytilineou
author_sort Vasiliki Nikiforidou
collection DOAJ
description <i>S. sphyraena</i> is a widely distributed species with low commercial value and no sufficient scientific knowledge of its biology. In the present study, the age, growth, weight–length relationship, otolith morphometry, and reproduction of the species were investigated in the Eastern Ionian Sea for the first time. The von Bertalanffy growth function parameters were <i>L</i><sub>∞</sub> = 63.65 cm, <i>k</i> = 0.14 year<sup>−1</sup> and <i>t</i><sub>0</sub> = −2.01 years and <i>Φ</i>′ = 2.75. The negative allometric growth in weight was found. Slope b of the weight–length relationship was 2.634. For the otolith moprhometry, the variables radius, length, width, area, perimeter, roundness, circularity, form factor, rectangularity, and ellipticity were examined, which showed that the otolith shape is elongated with an elliptical and rectangular form. Six otolith variables (radius, length, width, area, perimeter, and ellipticity) showed a significant relationship with size. The sex ratio (females/males) was 1:0.74 (no statistically significant difference from 1:1), and the spawning season extended from April to June with peak values of <i>GSI</i> in May for females and April for males. The results of this work improve our knowledge of the species life cycle and provide basic information for species stock identification and fisheries management.
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spelling doaj-art-77d7bea2ebda417e81ea19d9efe7edca2025-08-20T02:00:46ZengMDPI AGHydrobiology2673-99172024-12-013436437710.3390/hydrobiology3040023Biological Aspects of <i>Sphyraena sphyraena</i> (L., 1758) in the Central Mediterranean (E. Ionian Sea)Vasiliki Nikiforidou0Aikaterini Anastasopoulou1Vasileios Xenikakis2Chryssi Mytilineou3Institute of Marine Biological Resources and Inland Waters, Hellenic Centre for Marine Research, 16452 Athens, GreeceInstitute of Marine Biological Resources and Inland Waters, Hellenic Centre for Marine Research, 16452 Athens, GreeceDepartment of Marine Sciences, School of Environment, University of the Aegean, 81100 Mytilene, GreeceInstitute of Marine Biological Resources and Inland Waters, Hellenic Centre for Marine Research, 16452 Athens, Greece<i>S. sphyraena</i> is a widely distributed species with low commercial value and no sufficient scientific knowledge of its biology. In the present study, the age, growth, weight–length relationship, otolith morphometry, and reproduction of the species were investigated in the Eastern Ionian Sea for the first time. The von Bertalanffy growth function parameters were <i>L</i><sub>∞</sub> = 63.65 cm, <i>k</i> = 0.14 year<sup>−1</sup> and <i>t</i><sub>0</sub> = −2.01 years and <i>Φ</i>′ = 2.75. The negative allometric growth in weight was found. Slope b of the weight–length relationship was 2.634. For the otolith moprhometry, the variables radius, length, width, area, perimeter, roundness, circularity, form factor, rectangularity, and ellipticity were examined, which showed that the otolith shape is elongated with an elliptical and rectangular form. Six otolith variables (radius, length, width, area, perimeter, and ellipticity) showed a significant relationship with size. The sex ratio (females/males) was 1:0.74 (no statistically significant difference from 1:1), and the spawning season extended from April to June with peak values of <i>GSI</i> in May for females and April for males. The results of this work improve our knowledge of the species life cycle and provide basic information for species stock identification and fisheries management.https://www.mdpi.com/2673-9917/3/4/23European barracudaagevon Bertalanffy parametersotolith morphometryotolith shapeweight–length relationship
spellingShingle Vasiliki Nikiforidou
Aikaterini Anastasopoulou
Vasileios Xenikakis
Chryssi Mytilineou
Biological Aspects of <i>Sphyraena sphyraena</i> (L., 1758) in the Central Mediterranean (E. Ionian Sea)
Hydrobiology
European barracuda
age
von Bertalanffy parameters
otolith morphometry
otolith shape
weight–length relationship
title Biological Aspects of <i>Sphyraena sphyraena</i> (L., 1758) in the Central Mediterranean (E. Ionian Sea)
title_full Biological Aspects of <i>Sphyraena sphyraena</i> (L., 1758) in the Central Mediterranean (E. Ionian Sea)
title_fullStr Biological Aspects of <i>Sphyraena sphyraena</i> (L., 1758) in the Central Mediterranean (E. Ionian Sea)
title_full_unstemmed Biological Aspects of <i>Sphyraena sphyraena</i> (L., 1758) in the Central Mediterranean (E. Ionian Sea)
title_short Biological Aspects of <i>Sphyraena sphyraena</i> (L., 1758) in the Central Mediterranean (E. Ionian Sea)
title_sort biological aspects of i sphyraena sphyraena i l 1758 in the central mediterranean e ionian sea
topic European barracuda
age
von Bertalanffy parameters
otolith morphometry
otolith shape
weight–length relationship
url https://www.mdpi.com/2673-9917/3/4/23
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AT vasileiosxenikakis biologicalaspectsofisphyraenasphyraenail1758inthecentralmediterraneaneioniansea
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