Age and growth of Rhabdosargus sarba (Pisces: Sparidae), from KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

P. V. Radebe, B. Q. Mann*, L. E. Beckley, A. Govender

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

27 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Age and growth of Rhabdosargus sarba, sampled along the KwaZulu-Natal coast was estimated by counting the number of growth rings in sectioned sagittal otoliths read under transmitted light. The reproducibility of otolith readings was described by the average percentage error index, which was equal to 4.7%. Validation of the annual periodicity of growth zone deposition was achieved through marginal zone analysis and oxytetracycline labeling of captive fish. The age-length data from the sample of 216 fish was best described by the special Von Bertalanffy growth function of the form: Lt = 715 mmFL (1 - e-0.16/year(t+0.996 years)) Like most sparids, R. sarba is a slow growing, long-lived species. The study revealed a maximum age of 16+ years and, based on previously published data, the age-at-maturity was estimated to be 1.8 years.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)193-201
Number of pages9
JournalFisheries Research
Volume58
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Nov 2002
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Age and growth
  • Rhabdosargus sarba
  • South Africa
  • Sparidae

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Aquatic Science

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