Length-Weight, Length-Length Relationships, and Condition Factor of Red Mullet (Mullus barbatus Linnaeus, 1758) Inhabiting Mersin Bay

Abstract

This study reports the condition factor, length-weight, and length-length relationships in females, males, and all samples of Mullus barbatus inhabiting Mersin Bay. A total of 152 individuals were sampled. The mean weight (W) was 18.01 ± 0.573 g, and the mean total length (TL), fork length (FL), and standard length (SL) were 12.0 ± 0.094 cm, 11.0 ± 0,086 cm, and 9.9 ± 0.080 cm for all M. barbatus, respectively. The total length-weight relationship was determined as W=0.0033TL3.444 (R2=0.90). The b value was calculated as 3.444 and it showed positive allometric growth for all M. barbatus inhabiting Mersin Bay. The LLRs were calculated as TL=1.0706FL+0.1386 (R2=0.95), TL=1.1634SL+0.371 (R2=0.97), and FL=1.0541SL+0.543 (R2=0.96) for all individuals, respectively. The mean value of the condition factor was calculated as 1.00 ± 0,0093 for all M. barbatus samples. The values of the condition factor in M. barbatus ranged from 0.740 to 1.274. There are few studies about M. barbatus population inhabiting Mersin Bay. In this study, condition factor, length-weight and length-length relationships were determined for M. barbatus inhabiting this region (the northeastern Mediterranean Sea).