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Reproductive traits and seasonal variability of Merluccius merluccius from the Tunisian coast

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 May 2014

Widien Khoufi ,
Rosalia Ferreri ,
Héla Jaziri ,
Safouène El Fehri ,
Antonella Gargano ,
Salvatore Mangano ,
Sadok Ben Meriem ,
Mohamed Salah Romdhane ,
Angelo Bonanno  and
Salvatore Aronica
...Show all authors
Widien Khoufi
Affiliation:
INSTM (National Institute of Sciences and Marine Technologies), Port La Goulette, 2060 Tunis, Tunisia
Rosalia Ferreri
Affiliation:
IAMC-CNR (Institute for Coastal Marine Environment of the National Research Council), Capo Granitola Via del Mare, 3, 91021 Torretta Granitola, Campobello di Mazara, Sicily, Italy
Héla Jaziri
Affiliation:
INSTM (National Institute of Sciences and Marine Technologies), Port La Goulette, 2060 Tunis, Tunisia
Safouène El Fehri
Affiliation:
INSTM (National Institute of Sciences and Marine Technologies), Port La Goulette, 2060 Tunis, Tunisia
Antonella Gargano
Affiliation:
IAMC-CNR (Institute for Coastal Marine Environment of the National Research Council), Capo Granitola Via del Mare, 3, 91021 Torretta Granitola, Campobello di Mazara, Sicily, Italy
Salvatore Mangano
Affiliation:
IAMC-CNR (Institute for Coastal Marine Environment of the National Research Council), Capo Granitola Via del Mare, 3, 91021 Torretta Granitola, Campobello di Mazara, Sicily, Italy
Sadok Ben Meriem
Affiliation:
INSTM (National Institute of Sciences and Marine Technologies), Port La Goulette, 2060 Tunis, Tunisia
Mohamed Salah Romdhane
Affiliation:
INAT (National Institute of Agronomies of Tunisia), 43, Avenue Charles Nicolle 1082, Tunis-Mahrajène, Tunisia
Angelo Bonanno
Affiliation:
IAMC-CNR (Institute for Coastal Marine Environment of the National Research Council), Capo Granitola Via del Mare, 3, 91021 Torretta Granitola, Campobello di Mazara, Sicily, Italy
Salvatore Aronica
Affiliation:
IAMC-CNR (Institute for Coastal Marine Environment of the National Research Council), Capo Granitola Via del Mare, 3, 91021 Torretta Granitola, Campobello di Mazara, Sicily, Italy
Simona Genovese
Affiliation:
IAMC-CNR (Institute for Coastal Marine Environment of the National Research Council), Capo Granitola Via del Mare, 3, 91021 Torretta Granitola, Campobello di Mazara, Sicily, Italy
Salvatore Mazzola
Affiliation:
IAMC-CNR (Institute for Coastal Marine Environment of the National Research Council), Capo Granitola Via del Mare, 3, 91021 Torretta Granitola, Campobello di Mazara, Sicily, Italy
Gualtiero Basilone*
Affiliation:
IAMC-CNR (Institute for Coastal Marine Environment of the National Research Council), Capo Granitola Via del Mare, 3, 91021 Torretta Granitola, Campobello di Mazara, Sicily, Italy
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: G. Basilone, IAMC-CNR (Institute for Coastal Marine Environment of the National Research Council), Capo Granitola Via del Mare, 3, 91021 Torretta Granitola, Campobello di Mazara, Sicily, Italy email: [email protected]
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Abstract

Merluccius merluccius is an economically and ecologically important demersal species inhabiting the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea; however, reproductive knowledge about this species, along the North African coast is still missing. Monthly samples were collected from November 2010 to October 2011 along the North Tunisian coast. Morphometric parameters were measured, and histological preparations of gonadic tissues provided detailed information on the reproductive biology. Ovary maturity data showed a protracted spawning season throughout the year, with peaks in January, April and August. In females of M. merluccius, seasonal variability in weight and length were noticed, with higher values in the first part of the study period (November–April) than from May to October. Analysing separately these two periods, significant relationships were observed between gonadic maturation indices and the somatic and gonadic indices, suggesting a seasonal differential use of energy intake. From November to May the fish alternate the use of their energy for body growth and reserves for later uses (i.e fat, muscle and liver mass) or for gonadic growth. From June to October the energy is converted mainly into gonad weight and less to somatic growth. The maturity ogives obtained by macroscopic and histological maturity staging methods showed significant differences; however, in both cases the length at first maturity estimates were around 29 cm. Nonetheless, when selecting the main spawning period, the L50 estimation was heavily reduced to 24 cm, suggesting careful attention in the selection of the samples to be used specially for fishery management purposes.

Keywords

Merluccius merlucciusreproductive potentialspawning seasonlength at first maturitybreeding strategy
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom , Volume 94 , Issue 7 , November 2014 , pp. 1545 - 1556
Copyright
Copyright © Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 2014 

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