Some Notes on Morphometry and Population Biology of Shi Drum Umbrina cirrosa Juveniles in the Marmara Sea, Turkiye

Abstract

In this study, we revealed ontogenetic development, length-weight relationship, otolith size relationships, otolith shape analyses, spatial distribution of mean abundance and feeding of Shi drum, Umbrina cirrosa juveniles in the Marmara Sea, Turkiye. The individuals ranged in total length (TL) between 49.44 mm and 128.46 mm, with a mean of 98.43 +/- 5.43 mm; and the specimens were distributed in weight from 1.15 g to 21.51 g, with a mean of 9.63 +/- 1.23 g. The total length-weight relationship was calculated as W = 0.000008xTL(3.0163) and an isometric growth was detected. U. cirrosa had relatively large sagittal otoliths, and the otolith size - fish size relationships were detected as linear. The otolith shape analyses showed that the juvenile sagitta shape indices are relatively the same as the adults. Stomach content of juvenile Shi drum contained mostly Amphipoda. The biological data on the early life stages of Shi drum is scarce, and the outputs of the presented data reveal first detailed results.