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Age, Growth, Reproduction and Mortality of Tub Gurnard (Chelidonichthys lucernus (Linnaeus, 1758)) Inhabiting in Babadillimani Bight (Northeastern Mediterranean Coast of Turkey)

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This study was carried out between May 1999 and April 2000 in Babadillimani Bight, located in the Western entrance of Mersin Bay. A total of 228 specimens were trawled by monthly sampling and they consisted of 49.56% females, 46.49% males and 3.95% juveniles. Age composition varied from 0 to V. The mean total length and weight for females, males and combined sexes were calculated as 15.12±4.36 cm-39.85±38.55 g, 15.11±4.51 cm to 40.71±38.69 g and 14.82±4.71 cm to 39.24±38.63 g, respectively. The length-weight relationships were W = 0.0114*L2.9179 for females, W = 0.0094*L2.9883 for males and W = 0.0129*L2.8735 for combined sexes. The von Bertalanffy growth parameters were estimated as L8 = 46.42 cm, W8 = 832.13, K = 0.157 year-1 and to = -1.569 year for females, L8 = 56.77 cm, W8 = 1728.32, K = 0.121 year-1 and to = -1.646 year for males and L8 = 42.25 cm, W8 = 605.90, K = 0.196 year-1 and to = -1.351 year for combined sexes. According to monthly changes of mean Gonadosomatic Index values, spawning occurs between February and May. Mean fecundity was calculated as 77010±17622. In additionally, length-fecundity and weight-fecundity relationships were estimated as F = 1898*L1.156 (r2 = 0.4077) and F = 242*W+43072 (r2 = 0.4827), respectively. Total mortality rate (Z) was estimated 1.19, fishing mortality (F) was calculated as 1.09 and exploitation rate (E) was estimated as 0.90 by using mortality rates.

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