Aspects of Growth, Reproduction, and Feeding Habit of Three Pomacentrid Fish From Gulf of Aqaba, Jordan

Some aspects of growth, reproduction, and feeding habit were investigated in three species of Pomacentridae, Dascyllus timaculatus, Chromis pelloura and Teixeirichthys jordani from the Gulf of Aqaba. A total of 647 fish were collected during March 99 until April 2000. Growth was determined by analyzing the Lengthweight relationship (LWr) and Fulton-type condition factor (K). The gonadosomatic index (GSI) was measured to examine the gonadal maturation and spawning season. The frequency of occurrence method was used to describe the different food items in fish gut. The dietary significance of food items to fish was determined using the index of relative importance (RI). For LWr, results suggested an allometric growth, and the correlation between total length and weight was high in the three fish except T. jordani. However, the regression value (b) was less than 3 in males and females of all fish indicating negative allometric growth except in females of D. trimaculatus that exhibited positive allometric growth (b 3). The condition factor was relatively high in both sexes of all fishes. The spawning months differed according to species. In D. trimaculatus and T. jordani, spawning extends mainly from late summer to early winter while it extends to three months only for C. pelloura during the spring. Feed variability might be related to the composition of available food items in fish habitat. RI results showed that crustacean were the major dietary component in the three fish. However, noticeable difference was observed in composition, consumption, and occurrence of food during the reproductive season for each of the three fishes