Evaluation of Otolith Shape as an Approach for Stock Discrimination of Sardina pilchardus off the Moroccan Atlantic Coast | ||||
| Egyptian Journal of Aquatic Biology and Fisheries | ||||
| Article 14, Volume 27, Issue 3, May and June 2023, Page 211-222 PDF (483.96 K) | ||||
| Document Type: Original Article | ||||
| DOI: 10.21608/ejabf.2023.300856 | ||||
 View on SCiNiTO | ||||
| Author | ||||
| Abdelaziz Mounir et al. | ||||
| Abstract | ||||
| The applicability of the otolith shape analysis of the European sardine, Sardina pilchardus was investigated to help in stock discrimination. Discriminant analysis was achieved by an otolith-based morphometrics assignment of otolith shape; 360 specimens of S. pilchardus were collected from three localities (Larache, Safi and Dakhla). Otolith shapes were described from otolith measurements and elliptic Fourier descriptors. This analysis showed the presence of three different morphotypes in the studied locations. The existence of three morphotypes is probably related to the variation of oceanographic conditions impacting the feeding regime and fish growth. This study proved that otolith shape analysis could become an accurate marker for S. pilchardus population discrimination. | ||||
| Keywords | ||||
| Moroccan Atlantic coast; Sardina pilchardus; Elliptic Fourier descriptors; Stock discrimination; Otolith shape | ||||
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