The study deals with aspects of the population dynamics in the thornback ray (Raja clavata L., 1758), one of the most abundant cartilaginous fish caught in the North Aegean Sea. Females accounted for 73.08% and males 26.92% of all individuals. Total length of females and males ranged between 50.2 and 89.9 cm (disc width: 33.4–62.0 cm), and between 43.1 cm and 82.7 cm (disc width: 30.7–64.2 cm), respectively. Relationships between total length (TL) and total weight (TW), and between disc width (DW) and total weight (TW) were described by the equations: TW = 0.0041 TL3.10 and TW = 0.0178 DW3.03, respectively. Age data derived from vertebrae readings were used to estimate growth parameters using the von Bertalanffy function: L∞ = 101.71 cm, K = 0.18 y−1, t0 = −0.07 y for males and L∞ = 106.54 cm, K = 0.16 y−1, t0 = −0.28 y for females. The maximum age was 8 years for males and females. Total length at first maturity of males and females was 70.9 cm and 81.2 cm, respectively. Based on the gonadosomatic index and gonadal macroscopic observations, it was determined that the spawning period lasted throughout the year. Stomach content analysis showed that crustaceans (53.03% IRI) and teleosts (14.70% IRI) were the most preferred prey.
For the last few decades there have been reports not only of the occurrence of new invasive species of European watercourses, but also their increasing expansion. One of such species is the Amur sleeper (Perccottus glenii). The present work contains assessment of age and length distribution, condition as well as growth rate and analysis of the parasite fauna of the Amur sleeper from the waters of the Vistula River tributary in its middle course (the Habdziński Canal). During the catch performed in 2017 and 2019, the total of 177 Amur sleepers were recorded in the studied watercourse and a statistically significant sex structure disproportion was observed. Among the specimens caught in 2017 dominant were fishes with lengths of 50.1–60.1 mm whereas in 2019 the majority of the Amur sleeper specimens measured 30.1–50.0 mm. Six age groups were recorded among the caught fish with a clear prevalence of specimens aged 1+ (70.06%). The most frequently recorded parasite of P. glenii was non-quantifiable Trichodina rostrata ciliate for which the Amur sleeper from the Polish waters appeared to be a new host. Moreover, the presence of an acanthocephalan Acanthocephalus lucii, not recorded in Poland in this host before, was observed in the chyme. Also, accidental presence of larvae of the Opisthioglyphe ranae tremadote, which is a parasite typical of amphibians, was also recorded. Despite unfavourable habitat conditions and increased volumes of biogenic substances in the waters of the Habdziński Canal, the Amur sleeper found convenient conditions to reside in this small watercourse.
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