Study of the Age and Growth by Scalimetry of Pagellus erythrinus (Sparidae, Linnaeus, 1758) along the El-Kala Coast (North East Algeria)

Et Al., Rachedi

doi:10.21608/ejabf.2024.384350

Study of the Age and Growth by Scalimetry of Pagellus erythrinus (Sparidae, Linnaeus, 1758) along the El-Kala Coast (North East Algeria)

Document Type : Original Article

Author

Rachedi et al.

10.21608/ejabf.2024.384350

Abstract

The age and growth of the common pandora (Pagellus erythrinus) were investigated along the El-Kala coastline (northeastern Algeria), marking the first study of its kind in this area. From March 2023 to February 2024, a total of 492 specimens were sampled, with total lengths (TL) ranging from 10.5 to 23.5 cm, total weights (TW) from 7.03 to 164.3g, and eviscerated weights (EW) from 6.1 to 157.3g. The ages of the specimens ranged from 0 to 6 years, determined using the direct method of scalimetry. The growth parameters based on the von Bertalanffy growth model, derived from the average age-length pairs, were as follows: L∞ = 23.72cm, K = 0.2 year⁻¹, t₀ = -0.901, and W∞ = 166.25g, with a performance index (φʹ) of 2.05 for both sexes combined. The relative growth equations for males, females, and all specimens were TW = 0.043TL².⁵⁹, TW = 0.067TL².⁴³, and TW = 0.052TL².⁵², respectively, indicating negative allometry for all three categories.

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