Otolith Characteristics and Some Population Parameters of Eastern Black Sea Horse Mackerel, Trachurus mediterraneus (Steindachner, 1868)

In this research, otolith dimensions-fish length relationships and some population parameters of 439 Mediterranean horse mackerels caught from Trabzon (in Eastern Black Sea) between Ap-ril-December have been examined. Lenght and weight of specimens have been ranged (avarage ±SH) 12.70 ±0.09 cm and 18.05±0.35g, respectively. The lenght, width (height) and weight of otoliths were measured from each specimens and were determined as 4.38 ±0.03 mm, 2.44 ±0.02 mm and 0.0079 ±0.00015g, respectively. The relationship between lenght and weight of fish y=0.0093x2.9565 (r2=0.97; P0.001), between otolith lenght and fish lenght y=2.4729x+1.8744 (r2=0.73; P0.001), between otolith weight and fish weight y=1917.1x+2.973 (r2=0.65; P0.001), between otolith lenght and weight y=0.0001x2.7279 (r2=0.92; P0.001), between otolith lenght and width were determined as y=0.4678x+0.3902 (r2=0.86; P0.001). OL/TL and OH/OL from parameters that using deiniton of otolith morp-hology wereexamined and calculated as OL/TL= 1/ 22.72-39.45 (29.09±0.1061), OH/OL=1/1.46-2.07 (1.79 ±0.004) ve OW/TW= 1/1172.17-4998 (2345.63 ±29.015). Condition factor were determined as 0.3 ±0.003.