The possibility of using otolith parameters to determine the age of the dub Limanda limanda (Pleuronectidae) on the example of the Chupa Bay of the Kandalaksha Bay in the White Sea

Abstract

The paper investigates the possibility of determining the age of dub Limanda limanda Linnaeus, 1758, by the length, width, thickness and mass of the otolith. The purpose of the study is to evaluate the possibility of using this method. A total of 247 otoliths (172 females and 75 males) were processed. The age of the dub in the Chupa Bay ranged from 2 to 12 years, while the sample was based on individuals 3–6 years old (81.8%). The average values of the otolith parameters for each age class are given. The dependences between age and otolith parameters are expressed by a logarithmic function. Regression equations describing the relationship between the age of an individual and the parameters of the otolith of the dub were calculated, and a correlation between these indicators was noted. The calculated correlation coefficients of the dependence of the age of the fish on the otolithometry parameters showed that the highest values of the coefficients were revealed by the dependencies "age of the fish – mass of the otolith" and "age of the fish – thickness of the otolith". It was found that the same-aged females have large values of the length and mass of the otolith compared to males. It is recommended to use the otolith mass as an express method for determining the age of the dub. There are no similar works on the dub in the scientific literature.