Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-p9bg8 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-27T07:28:06.840Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Reproduction, growth and feeding of the dragonet, Callionymus lyra (Teleostei: Callionymidae), in Galway Bay, Ireland

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 May 2009

Pauline A. King
Affiliation:
Department of Zoology, The Martin Ryan Marine Science Institute, University College Galway, Ireland and Department of Life Sciences, Regional Technical College, Galway, Ireland
Julie M. Fives
Affiliation:
Department of Zoology, The Martin Ryan Marine Science Institute, University College Galway, Ireland and
David McGrath
Affiliation:
Department of Zoology, The Martin Ryan Marine Science Institute, University College Galway, Ireland and Department of Life Sciences, Regional Technical College, Galway, Ireland

Abstract

A Galway Bay population of the dragonet Callionymus lyra (L.) was investigated between March 1978 and November 1979. Monthly collections were made on board commercial fishing vessels. A total of 3302 fish was examined. The male to female sex ratio in the catch was 1·14:1 and it departed significantly from a 1:1 ratio. Males grew significantly faster than females, when measured by length and by weight, and attained a greater maximum length, but females had a longer life span. Females were significantly heavier than males for any body length. The spawning season was protracted, lasting from January to August and peaking during February-April. Callionymus lyra is a carnivore, feeding mainly on polychaetes and crustaceans, but molluscs and echinoderms were also eaten in abundance. A yearly cycle in feeding intensity was observed, showing reduced feeding during the colder months. The feeding index expressed as gut weight / body weight was significantly higher for females.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom 1994

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

Abramson, N.J., 1971. Computer programmes for fish stock assessment. FAO Fisheries Technical Papers, no. 101.Google Scholar
Burgeot, T., Bocquené, G., Truquet, P., Le Déan, L., Poulard, J.C., Dorel, D., Souplet, A. & Galgani, F., 1993. The dragonet Callionymus lyra, a target species used for evaluation of biological effects of chemical contaminants on French coasts. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 97, 309316.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Chang, H.-W., 1951. Age and growth of Callionymus lyra L. Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom, 30, 281296.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Collins, S.P., 1981. Littoral and benthic investigations on the west coast of Ireland. XIII. The biology of Gobiusculus flavescens (Fabricius) on the Connemara coast. Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy, B, 81(7), 6387.Google Scholar
Collins, S.P., 1982. Littoral and benthic investigations on the west coast of Ireland. XIV. The biology of the painted goby, Pomatoschistus pictus (Malm) (Teleostei: Gobiidae) on the Connemara coast. Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy, B, 82(2), 2137.Google Scholar
Fives, J.M., 1970. Investigations of the plankton of the west coast of Ireland. VI. Larval and postlarval stages of fishes taken from the plankton of the west coast in surveys during the years 1958–1966. Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy, B, 70, 1593.Google Scholar
Fricke, R., 1986. Callionymidae. In Fishes of the north-eastern Atlantic and the Mediterranean vol. 3 (ed. P.J.P., Whiteheadet al.), pp. 10861093. Paris: Unesco.Google Scholar
Frost, G.A., 1928. A comparative study of the otoliths of the neopterygian fishes. Annals and Magazine of Natural History, series 10, 1, 451456.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Galgani, F., Bocquené, G., Lucon, M., Grzebyk, D., Letrouit, F. & Claisse, D., 1991. EROD measurements in fish from the northwest part of France. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 10, 494500.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gibson, R.N. & Ezzi, I.A., 1978. The biology of a Scottish population of Fries’ goby, Leseuriogobius friesii. Journal of Fish Biology, 12, 371389.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gibson, R.N. & Ezzi, L.A., 1979. Aspects of the biology of the spotted dragonet Callionymus maculatus Rafinesque-Schmaltz from the west coast of Scotland. Journal of Fish Biology, 15, 555569.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hislop, J.R.G. & Hall, W.B., 1974. The fecundity of whiting, Merlangius merlangus (L.) in the North Sea, the Minch and at Iceland. Journal Conseil Permanent International Exploration de la Mer, 36, 4249.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Htun, Han M., 1978. The reproductive biology of the dab Limanda limanda (L.) in the North Sea: gonosomatic index, hepatosomatic index and condition factor. Journal of Fish Biology, 13, 369378.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Jost, A., 1944. Notes preliminaries sur la biologie sexuelle de Callionymus lyra L. Bulletin Biologique de la France et de la Belgique, 78, 7082.Google Scholar
King, P. A., 1982. The biology of some species of fish from the Galway Bay area. PhD thesis, National University of Ireland.Google Scholar
Muus, B.J. & Dahlstram, P., 1974. Collins guide to the sea fishes of Britain and north-western Europe. London: Collins.Google Scholar
Quiniou, L., 1978. Les poissons demersaux de la bate de Douarnenez: alimentation et ecologie. Thesis 3ème cycle, Université de Bretagne Occidentale, Brest.Google Scholar
Russell, F.S., 1976. The eggs and planktonic stages of British marine fishes. London: Academic Press.Google Scholar
Sorbe, J.C., 1972. Ecologie et ethologie alimentaire de l'ichthyofaune chalutable du plateau continental Sud-Gasgone. Thesis 3ème cycle, Université Aix, Marseille.Google Scholar
Tyndall, P.M., 1980. Aspects of the biology of selected demersal fish in Galway Bay and adjacent areas, with particular reference to feeding (2 vols). PhD thesis, University College, Galway.Google Scholar
Van Damme, P.A., Maertens, D., Arrumm, A., Hamerlynck, O. & Ollevier, F., 1993. The role of Callionymus lyra and C. reticulatus in the life cycle of Lernaeocera lusci in Belgian coastal waters (Southern Bight of the North Sea). Journal of Fish Biology, 42, 395401.Google Scholar
Veer, H.W. Van Der, Creutzberg, F.Dapper, R., Duineveld, G.C.A., Fonds, M., Kuipers, B.R., Noort, G.J. van & Witte, J.I.J., 1990. On the ecology of the dragonet Callionymus lyra L. in the southern North Sea. Netherlands Journal of Sea Research, 26, 139150.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wheeler, A., 1969. The fishes of the British Isles and north-west Europe. London: Macmillan.Google Scholar
Williams, T. & Bedford, B.C., 1974. The use of otoliths for age determination. In Ageing offish (ed. T.B., Bagenal), pp. 114123. Surrey: Unwin Brothers.Google Scholar