engleski

Growth patterns of the lobster Homarus gammarus in the North Adriatic

Background and purpose: The growth of the lobster Homarus gammarus was studied only in lobsters of approximately 200 g off the coasts of England and Wales. The aim of this study was to estimate the growth patterns of the male H. gammarus from juvenile to large adult. Material and methods: Male lobsters H. gammarus of about 200 to 2400 g were collected by diving in the vicinity of Rovinj (Istria, North Adriatic) from 1996 to 1998. The growth patterns were estimated from observation in situ and in captivity. Results: The lobster moults over the whole year, however the maximum moulting frequency occurs during the winter period. The lobsters' live fresh weight (W, in grams) was related to the body total length (L in centimetres) by the following polynomial equation: W = 1306.01 - 128.573 x L + 3. 619 x L2. The increment of body length at moult (ΔL, in centimetres) was related to the premoult body length by the polynomial equation: ΔL = -8.363 + 0.753 x L - 0.012 x L2. The duration of the moulting cycle (T, in month) was related to the body length of lobsters by the polynomial equation: T = 4.574 - 0.002 x L + 0.001 x L2. Conclusions: It was estimated that lobsters of 200 g grow to 2400 g in about 8 years performing 8 moults. In the adult lobsters (body weight approximately 500 g; body total length = 27 cm) the maximum weight increase per moult of about 53% of the premoult weight was found.

age ; carapace length ; ecdysis ; growth ; Homarus gammarus ; legal size class ; lobster ; moult ; total body length ; weight

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