Population dynamics of the sparid fish Argyrops spinifer (Teleostei Sparidae) in coastal waters of the Persian Gulf

Iranian Journal of Science and Technology Transaction A-Science, Vol. 41, No. 2.

Abstract:

Some of the population characteristics of Argyrops spinifer collected from the coastal waters of Bushehr province (Persian Gulf) were investigated from June 2010 to May 2011. A total of 622 specimens were taken from Bushehr harbor and transferred to the laboratory on ice for further considerations. Total length, body weight and sex were recorded for each specimen and their sagittal otoliths were removed for age determination. Some of the otoliths were cut and age reading was performed by three investigators to assure the accuracy of the readings and age validation. In males, total length ranged between 15-61.2 (24.04±6.62 SD) cm and total weight between 77.09-3450.00 (325.20±320.45) g. In females, total length ranged between 13.50-64.20 (24.61±7.86) cm and total weight ranged between 52.48-4162.00 (369.66±465.03) g. Sex was determined in 532 mature specimens, among which about 44% were males and 56% were females. The age of males and females ranged from 2⁺ to 25⁺ and 2⁺ to 21⁺ years, respectively, indicating it as a long-lived species. The estimates of asymptotic length (L_?) and the growth coefficient (K) of males were 67.90 cm and 0.082 per year, respectively. Females asymptotic length was 82.10 cm and their growth coefficient was 0.061 per year. Length-weight relationship was described as W= 0.060 TL^2.648 (r²= 0.98) for males and W= 0.054 TL^2.681 (r²= 0.98) for females, indicating a negative allometric growth pattern in both sexes (p < 0.05). The condition factor was 2 ± 0.14 for all the specimens.