Sexual difference in maturation of Northeast Arctic cod
Maturity-at-age and length of Northeast Arctic cod was investigated based on survey data from the Barents Sea and Lofoten in 1989–97, applying the maximum likelihood method. The growth rate of immature fish is approximately the same for both sexes, but males mature at a younger age and smaller size,...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Other Authors: | |
| Format: | Text |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
1999
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.501.1478 http://journal.nafo.int/J25/ajiad.pdf |
| Summary: | Maturity-at-age and length of Northeast Arctic cod was investigated based on survey data from the Barents Sea and Lofoten in 1989–97, applying the maximum likelihood method. The growth rate of immature fish is approximately the same for both sexes, but males mature at a younger age and smaller size, and age and length at 50 % maturity are less in males than in females. The maturity analysis indicates considerable interannual variations both in 50 % maturity-at-age and length, percentage mature by age and in the mean length of first time spawners in both sexes. Mean length of the first time spawners increases substantially with age for both sexes, but early maturation coincides with increased length-at-age indicating that the maturity is influenced by both age and length. The possible link between observed variation in maturation and the ratio of capelin consumption to cod biomass is discussed. |
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