Hostname: page-component-76fb5796d-qxdb6 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-26T05:52:51.965Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Reproductive biology of the black goby, Gobius niger (Teleostei: Gobiidae), in the Gulf of Gabès (Tunisia, Central Mediterranean)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 March 2013

Ferid Hajji ,
Amira Ouannes-Ghorbel ,
Mohamed Ghorbel  and
Othman Jarboui
Ferid Hajji*
Affiliation:
Institut National des Sciences et Technologies de la Mer (Centre de Sfax), BP 1035, 3018 Sfax, Tunisie
Amira Ouannes-Ghorbel
Affiliation:
Institut National des Sciences et Technologies de la Mer (Centre de Sfax), BP 1035, 3018 Sfax, Tunisie
Mohamed Ghorbel
Affiliation:
Institut National des Sciences et Technologies de la Mer (Centre de Sfax), BP 1035, 3018 Sfax, Tunisie
Othman Jarboui
Affiliation:
Institut National des Sciences et Technologies de la Mer (Centre de Sfax), BP 1035, 3018 Sfax, Tunisie
*
Correspondence should be addressed to: F. Hajji, Institut National des Sciences et Technologies de la Mer (Centre de Sfax), BP 1035, 3018 Sfax, Tunisie email: ferid.hajji@yahoo.fr
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

The black goby Gobius niger (Linnaeus, 1758) (Gobiidae) is one of the most common gobies in southern Tunisian waters. This study provides the first detailed information on the reproductive biology of the G. niger in these areas. Samples of G. niger were collected by trawl from the Gulf of Gabès (Tunisia) between February 2009 and January 2010. A total of 1055 specimens were examined, ranging from 6.4 to 15.7 cm total length. The sex-ratio was in favour of males, especially in larger size-classes. The macroscopic analysis of the gonads and the progression of the monthly values of the gonadosomatic index (GSI) indicated that the reproductive season extended from March to June, with GSI peaking in May, and that spawning occurred from April to June. The utilization of lipid reserves, stored predominantly in the liver as well as in muscles, was important during the reproduction season. Monthly changes of the seminal vesicle somatic index showed that during the pre-spawning period they had a proliferation phase, followed by a regressive phase during the post-spawning period. Total fecundity of mature females ranged from 4280 to 14000 eggs per fish, showing a significant increase with size, with an average of 8522 ± 689 eggs per fish. The total length at 50% maturity was 10.13 ± 0.3 cm and 9.69 ± 0.18 cm for males and females, respectively.

Keywords

reproductiongonadosomatic indexsize at maturityfecundity
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom , Volume 93 , Issue 6 , September 2013 , pp. 1685 - 1693
Copyright
Copyright © Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 2013 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Arruda, L., Azevedo, M.J.N. and Neto, A.I. (1993) Abundance, age-structure and growth and reproduction of gobies (Pisces; Gobiidae) in the Ria de Averio Lagoon (Portugal). Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science 37, 509–523.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ballard, W.W. (1969) Normal embryonic stages of Gobius niger jozo. Pubblicazioni della Stazioni Zoologica di Napoli 37, 1–17.Google Scholar
Bilecenoglu, M. (2003) Modelling trophic relationships among fishes inhabiting Izmir Bay. PhD thesis. University Graduate School of Natural and Applied Sciences, Izmir, Turkey. [In Turkish.]Google Scholar
Bouchereau, J.L. and Guelorget, O. (1998) Comparision of three Gobiidae (Teleostei) life history strategies over their geographical range. Oceanologia Acta 21, 503–517.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bouchereau, J.L., Joyeux, J.C. and Tomasini, J.A. (1989) Structure de la population de Pomatoschistus microps (Kroyer, 1838), poisson, Gobiidés, dans la lagune de Mauguio (France). Vie et Milieu 39, 19–28.Google Scholar
Bradai, M.N., Quignard, J.P., Bouain, A., Jarboui, O., Ouannes-Ghorbel, A., Ben Abdallah, L., Zaouali, J. and Ben Salem, S. (2004) Ichtyofaune autochtone et exotique des côtes tunisiennes: recensement et biogéographie. Cybium 28, 315–328.Google Scholar
Chaouachi, B. and Ben Hassine, O.K. (1998) The status of fish biodiversity in Ichkeul lagoon, Tunisia. Italian Journal of Zoology 65, 303–304.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
El Hasni, K. (2012) Biologie, abondance et cartographie des stocks de deux espèces de gastéropodes: Murex Tuberculé Hexaplex trunculus et Murex Droite épine Bolinus brandaris dans la région du golfe de Gabès. PhD thesis. University of Sfax, Faculty of Sciences, Sfax, Tunisia.Google Scholar
Fabi, G. and Froglia, C. (1984) A note on the biology and fishery of the black goby (Gobius niger) in the Adriatic Sea. FAO Fisheries Report 290, 167–170.Google Scholar
Fabi, G. and Giannetti, G. (1985) Growth parameters of the balck goby (Gobius niger L.) in the Adriatic Sea, based on otolith readings. Rapports Commission Internationale pour l'Exploration Scientifique de la Mer Méditerranée 29, 87–90.Google Scholar
Filiz, H. and Togula, M. (2009) Age and growth, reproduction and diet of the black goby, (Gobius niger) from Aegean Sea, Turkey. Journal of Fisheries Sciences 3, 243–265.Google Scholar
Fiorin, R., Malavasi, S., Franco, A. and Franzoi, P. (2007) Comparative energy allocation in two sympatric, closely related gobies: the black goby Gobius niger and the grass goby Zosterisessor ophiocephalus. Journal of Fish Biology 70, 483–496.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Fouda, M.M., Hanna, M.Y. and Fouda, F.M. (1993) Reproductive biology of the Red Sea goby, Silhouettea aegyptia and a Mediterranean goby, Pomatoschistus marmoratus, in Lake Timsah, Suez Canal. Journal of Fish Biology 43, 139–151.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hajji, F., Ouannes-Ghorbel, A., Ghorbel, M. and Jarboui, O. (2010) Feeding habits of the grass goby, Zosterisessor ophiocephalus (Gobiidae), from the Gulf of Gabes (Tunisia) Cahiers de Biologie Marine 51, 29–35.Google Scholar
Joyeux, J.C., Bouchereau, J.L. and Tomasini, J.A. (1991) La reproduction de Gobius niger (Pisces, Gobiidae) dans lagune de Mauguio- France: rapports gonosomatiques, fecondites, ponte, oeufs et larves. Vie et Milieu 41, 97–106.Google Scholar
Joyeux, J.C., Tomasini, J.A. and Bouchereau, J.L. (1992) Modalités de la reproduction de Gobius niger (Teleostei, Gobiidae) dans une lagune méditerranéenne. Vie et Milieu 42, 1–13.Google Scholar
Katalay, S. and Parlak, H. (2002) The effects of water pollution on blood parameters of black goby (Gobius niger Linn, 1758) (in Turkish). E.U. Journal of Fisheries & Aquatic Sciences 19, 115–121.Google Scholar
Kartas, F. and Quignard, JP. (1984) La fécondité des poissons téléostéens. Collection de Biologie des milieux marins. Paris: Éditions Masson.Google Scholar
Mazzoldi, C. (1999) Studio comparativo della dinamica di accoppiamento e fecondazione in Teleostei ad uova demerse [A comparative study on mating behaviour and fertilization dynamics in demersal spawner Teleosts]. PhD thesis. Facoltà di Scienze MM.FF.NN., Università di Padova, Italy.Google Scholar
Menif, D. (2000) Les Gobiidae des côtes tunisiennes: Morphologie et Biologie de Zosterisessor ophiocephalus (Pallas, 1811) et Gobius niger (Linnaeus, 1758). PhD thesis. University of Tunis, Faculty of Sciences, Tunis, Tunisia.Google Scholar
Miller, P.J. (1961) Age, growth, and reproduction of the rock goby Gobius paganellus L., in the Isle of Man. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 41, 737–769.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Miller, P.J. (1984) The tokology of gobioid fishes. In Potts, G.W. and Wootton, R.J. (eds) Fish reproduction. Strategies and tactics. London: Academic Press, pp. 119–153.Google Scholar
Nash, R.D.M. (1984) Aspects of biology of the black goby, Gobius niger L., in Oslofjorden, Norway. Sarsia 69, 55–61.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Pampoulie, C., Priour, F., Bouchereau, J.L., Rosecchi, E. and Crivelli, A.J. (1999) Reproductive traits of Gobius niger (Teleostei: Pisces) following a salinity stress: is it really a sedentary lagoon species? Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 79, 961–962.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Patzner, R.A., Seiwald, M., Angerer, S., Ferrero, E.A. and Giulianini, P.G. (1991) Genital system and reproductive cycle of the male grass goby, Zosterisessor ophiocephalus (Teleostei, Gobiidae) in the Northern Adriatic Sea. Zoologischer Anzeiger 226, 205–219.Google Scholar
Rasotto, M.B. and Mazzoldi, C. (2002) Male traits associated with alternative reproductive tactics in Gobius niger. Journal of Fish Biology 61, 173–184.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rigal, F., Chevalier, T., Lorin-nebei, C., Charmantier, G., Tomasini, J.A., Aujoulat, F. and Berrebi, P. (2008) Osmoregulation as a potential factor for the differential distribution of two cryptic gobiid species, Pomatoshistus microps and P. marmoratus in French Mediterranean lagoons. Scientia Marina 72, 469–476.Google Scholar
Romdhane, M.S. (1985) Lagune de Ghar EL Melh. Milieu, peuplement, exploitation. PhD thesis. University of Tunis, Faculty of Sciences, Tunis, Tunisia.Google Scholar
Scherrer, B. (1984) Biostatistique. In Gaëten, M. (eds) Montréal. Paris: Casablanca.Google Scholar
Silva, M.N. and Gordo, L.S. (1997) Age, growth and reproduction of the black goby, Gobius niger, from Obidos Lagoon, Portugal. Cahiers de Biologie Marine 38, 175–180.Google Scholar
Sokal, R.R. and Rohlf, F.J. (1981) Biometry. 2nd edition. San Francisco, CA: W.H. Freeman.Google Scholar
Vaas, K.F., Vlasbom, A.G. and De Koeijer, P. (1975) Studies on the black goby (Gobies niger, Gobiidae, Pisces) in the Verse Meer, SW Netherlands. Netherlands Journal of Sea Research 9, 56–68.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Vesey, G. and Langford, T.E. (1985) The biology of the black goby, Gobius niger L. in an English south-coast bay. Journal of Fish Biology 27, 417–429.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Whitehead, P.J.P., Bauchot, M.L., Hureau, J.C., Nielsen, J. and Tortonese, E. (1986) Fishes of the north-eastern Atlantic and the Mediterranean. Paris: UNESCO.Google Scholar
Zar, J.H. (1996) Biostatistical analysis. 3rd edition. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall.Google Scholar