Comparative Analysis of the Otolith Dimensions and Fish Size Relationships of Diplodus annularis Sampled from Türkiye Seas

Otolith analysis are useful tools for the identification of population and stock characteristics of fishes. In the present study, the relationship between fish size and otolith dimensions (otolith length, height, perimeter and area) was studied in Diplodus annularis collected from the coast of Aegean Sea, Black Sea and Mediterranean Sea. There are no statistical differences between sex and side of otolith pairs of samples. The slopes of the regressions were compared with the ANCOVA. All relationships between fish size and otolith dimensions were found to be statistically significant (P < 0.001) except TL-OP (P > 0.05). The R2 values ranged from 0.034 to 0.841. When the relationships between TL and OL, OH, OA, OP were examined, the best fit was obtained among TL-OL for D. annularis (R2 > 0.840) in Black Sea. Also, fish size and OA relationships were stronger than the others for the Aegean Sea and Mediterranean Sea.