Biometrics Characters, Length-Weight Relationships and Genetic Properties of Damselfish, Chromis chromis (Linnaeus, 1758) (Osteichthyes: Pomacentridae) from the Black Sea

Abstract

The damselfish Chromis chromis is typically the most common fish species in the rocky shores of the Mediterranean Sea and the Black Sea. Despite having no commercial value, C. chromis was considered as a key species for the rocky littoral environment. In this study, the biometric properties and length-weight relationships were examined in 112 specimens of C. chromis sampled from the Black Sea in 2018. Fifteen morphometric and six meristic characteristics were measured. We also used a molecular approach employing mitochondrial genes (16S rRNA and COI) for the first time to further characterize C. chromis specimens collected from the Black Sea. Morphometric and meristic characters of male and female specimens were similar and there were no differences between sexes. The average length and weight were calculated as 99.54 + 11.49 mm (72.0-115.1) and 18.35 + 5.95 g (5.96-26.56), respectively. The length-weight relationship was calculated as W = 0.0127TL3.117 (R2 = 0.834) and the growth indicates a positive allometric growth (b>3). 16S rRNA and COI partial sequences analysis indicated a close genetic relationship with C. chromis specimens from the Aegean Sea and the Mediterranean Sea.