title: [Reproduction and growth of the fish Lutjanus guttatus (Pisces: Lutjanidae) in the Gulf of Nicoya, Costa Rica].
abstract: Reproduction and growth of the fish Lutjanus guttatus (Pisces: Lutjanidae) in the Gulf of Nicoya, Costa Rica. The fish Lutjanus guttatus is important in the fisheries of Golfo de Nicoya, Costa Rica where they are captured with varied gear mainly by the artisanal fleet. We measured specimens from the commercial catch of 2002-2006. Gonadal state was determined macroscopically and age with otoliths The total length-total weight relationship was y = 0.0236x(2.8153) and total length-eviscerated weight y = 0.0216x(2.8129). Simplified relationships were y = 0.0173x3 and y = 0.0162x3. There is year-round reproduction with peaks in March (dry season) and September (rainy season). Male-female sexual ratio was 1:1. The age-length key for the gulf shows availability until the 6 years of age. The von Bertalanffy growth curve is L(t) = 65,9 (1-e(-0.13(t+2,66))).
authors.affiliation: Estación de Biología Marina, Escuela de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional, Puntarenas, Costa Rica. rsoto@una.ac.cr
authors.forename: Rosa L Soto
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Rojas
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mejía-Arana
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Palacios
authors.forename: Kazuhito
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hiramatsu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003364:Costa Rica; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D010473:Perciformes / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D012098:Reproduction / Q000502:physiology*; D012621:Seasons; D012744:Sex Ratio; D012741:Sexual Maturation