Seasonal growth of Mugil liza Valenciennes, 1836 in a tropical estuarine system |
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| Authors: | M. F. Sousa N. N. Fabré V. S. Batista |
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| Affiliation: | Instituto de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Campus A. C. Sim?es, Universidade Federal de Alagoas, Maceió, AL, Brazil |
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| Abstract: | Seasonal changes in the abiotic factors and cyclical events – with the reproduction diagnosed by the gonadosomatic index and the energy status diagnosed by the condition index – were estimators of seasonal growth for juvenile and adult lebranche mullets, Mugil liza, during the rainy and dry seasons in a tropical estuarine system of the western south Atlantic. Fish were collected monthly by gillnets of different mesh sizes. Salinity, water temperature (°C) and dissolved oxygen (%) were measured using a multiparameter. Daily rainfall data (mm) were obtained from the National Institute of Meteorology. Seasonal rings were identified and counted in the sagittae otoliths. Relative Marginal Increment (RMI) was calculated to determine the seasonal growth rate. Gonadosomatic Index (GSI) and Condition Index (CI) were assessed separately for juveniles and adults by anova , with time (month) M. liza growth is controlled by annual cycles of biological and abiotic processes. Using general linear models, the seasonal growth rate of M. liza was well predicted by body condition and rainfall for juveniles, and by salinity for adults. Seasonal variation was observed in the Mundaú Lagoon, with rainfall directly or indirectly being the main seasonal factor influencing the cyclical biological fish processes of M. liza. |
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