Age at maturity of some fish species distributed in Turkish marine waters (Actinopterygii and Elasmobranchii)

Abstract

We collected data on the age at maturity (t_m) and maximum reported age (t_max) for 153 stocks of marine fishes in Turkey, belonging to 59 species, 24 families and 2 classes (Actinopterygii and Elasmobranchii). Among Actinopterygii t_m had an average of 1.8 years (1 to 4 years) while among Elasmobranchii it had an average of 11.9 years (2 to 11.9 years). Overall, t_max ranged between two years (for Sarda sarda) and 34 years (for Squalus acanthias). Mean t_max was found to be 6.24 years for Actinopterygii and 10.11 years for Elasmobranchii. t_m showed a positive linear correlation with t_max for both Actinopterygii and Elasmobranchii. Mean t_m⁄t_max did not differ significantly with sex within the Actinopterygii and Elasmobranchii. The ratio t_m⁄t_max was found to be significantly lower for Actinopterygii than for Elasmobranchii.

Keywords:

• Marine fishes
• first maturity
• age at maturity
• maximum age
• Mediterranean Sea

Acknowledgement

We are grateful to Dr David Selim Sayers (Justus-Liebig-Universität, Giessen, Germany) for editing the English of the manuscript.

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.