Reproductive biology of female Parapenaeus longirostris (Lucas, 1846) (Decapoda, Caridea) in Babadïllimanï Bight in the northeastern Mediterranean

Aspects of the productive biology and size at first sexual maturity of female Parapenaeus longirostris were analysed from monthly samples collected by deep trawling in Babadillimani Bight in the northeastern Mediterranean, from June 1999 to April 2000. Ripe females were found to be present between November and June. The spawning season ranged from the end of autumn through the winter (December-March) to the begining of summer (April-June). The minimum female size at maturity (carapace length) was 13.4 mm, and 50% of the female population was mature at about 18.2 mm (CL50). Fecundity ranged from 12 300 to 125 600 eggs for individuals, with a mean fecundity of 49 127 ± 12 524. © 2008 Brill Academic Publishers

Age, growth and feeding of the common stingray (Dasyatis pastinaca, L., 1758) in the Cilician coastal basin, northeastern Mediterranean Sea

Growth and feeding of stingray (Dasyatis pastinaca) were studied using 346 specimens from the Cilician Basin coastal area (northeastern Mediterranean). Age classes between 0 to XII were found. The total length of all specimens ranged from 14.6 to 100.9 cm, and total weight was between 22.5 and 6800 g. Total length (TL)-weight (W) and disc width (DW)-weight (W) relationships were W = 0.0033*L3.1429 and W = 0.0039*DW3.4914, respectively. The age data, derived from central readings, were used to estimate the von Bertalanffy length and weight growth parameters. The results were L? = 294.9 cm, W? = 198690.1 g, K = 0.029 year-1; t0 -2.2 year. The D. pastinaca diet was composed mainly of crustaceans. © 2008 Blackwell Verlag, Berlin

Growth, mortality rate and exploitations rate of the deep-water rose shrimp (Parapenaeus longirostris) in the Babadıllimanı bight(Silifke-Mersin) [Babadıllimanı koyu'ndaki (Silifke-Mersin) derinsupembe karidesi (Parapenaeus longirostris)'nin büyüme,ölüm oranları ve stokdan yararlanma düzeylerininbelirlenmesi]

This study was carried out through monthly deep trawls applications in the waters of 0-50m, 50-100m and >100m of depths in Babadillimani Bight between June 1999-April 2000. There was a linear relationship between carapace length and total length in males and females CL= -0.2257+0.2243*TL (R2= 0.9216, n= 923) for males, CL= -0.2148+0.222*TL (R2= 0.9649, n=2859) for females, and CL= 0.0952+0.2223*TL (R2= 0.9652, n= 3886) for total individuals. As to equation of relationship between carapace length and weight, it was W= 0.0015*CL2.6252 for males, W= 0.0009*CL2.8190 for females, and W= 0.001*CL2.7954 for total individuals. The von Bertalanffy growth constants in length was CL? = 31.20mm, K= 0.76/year, t0= -0.386 year, C= 0.65, WP=0.65 for males; CL? = 32.30mm, K= 0.77 year-1, t0= -0.387 year, C= 0.80, WP= 0.57 for females; and CL = 32.10mm, K= 0.76 year-1, t0= -0.394 year, C= 0.60 and WP= 0.65 for total individuals including juveniles as well as sexually maturated ones. In the study, for all the individuals of the species, the total (Z), natural (M) and fishing (F) mortality coefficient and exploitation rates (E) were determined as 4.00, 1.29, 2.71 and E= 0.67 year-1, respectively

Heavy metal concentrations in fish (Mullus barbatus, Pagellus erythrinus and Saurida undosquamis) from Iskenderun Bay, Turkey

Heavy metal levels in fish species (Mullus barbatus, Pagellus erythrinus and Saurida undosquamis) in Iskenderun Bay were studied in 2004 and 2005. The mean heavy metal concentrations (µgg-1 wet weight) were measured as follows: Fe: 63.82±46.63 µgg-1, Zn: 24.10±20.73 µgg-1 and Cu: 2.46±2.50 µgg-1 in 2004 and Fe: 39.27±53.79 µgg-1, Zn: 7.43±4.55 µgg -1 and Cu: Not detected (ND) in 2005 for Pagellus erythrinus, Fe: 64.74±41.71 µgg-1, Zn: 32.36± 21.04 µgg -1 and Cu: 3.05±2.47 µgg-1 in 2004 and Fe: 32.77±39.86 µgg-1, Zn: 10.28±10.99 µgg -1 and Cu: ND in 2005 for Mullus barbatus and Fe: 37.45±19.21 µgg-1, Zn: 20.50±15.62 µgg-1 and Cu: 1.78±2.37 µgg-1 in 2004 and Fe: 63.26±62.29 µgg-1, Zn: 11.14±13.82 µgg-1 and Cu: ND 2005 for Saurida undosquamis. The levels of Pb, Cd and Cr were below the detectable limit of Atomic Absorption (0.125, 0.008 and 0.05 µgg-1 wet weight respectively) both for species and for the years 2004 and 2005. There were not any differences between mean metal concentrations of three fish species and seasons of 2004 and 2005. There was also no relationship between fish length and heavy metal accumulation (p>0.05). In addition, no differences were detected among three fish species in terms of heavy metal concentrations. The metal levels in examined fish species were below the legal limit for human consumption