Life-History Parameters and Stock Dynamics of Palaemon longirostris in a Temperate European Estuary

Abstract

Life history parameters are indicators of stock structure and the dynamics of populations. In this work, we examine multiple life-history parameters (size distribution, growth, mortality, and longevity) of Palaemon longirostris H. Milne Edwards, 1837 inhabiting the estuarine temperate waters of the Guadalquivir estuary through size-frequency distribution data obtained from June 1997 to May 1999. Sexual dimorphism in size was evident, as females displayed a larger body size with a maximum size of 19.1 mm CL compared to males’ 11.7 mm. The carapace length–weight relationship indicated an allometric growth pattern in both sexes. Additionally, the growth performance index was 2.50 for females compared to 2.33 for males. The recruitment pattern analysis of P. longirostris indicated that females experienced a recruitment rate distributed throughout the warm period between March and August, while males exhibited a higher concentration of recruitment from late spring to early summer. Our study found that natural and fishing mortality rates were similar among male P. longirostris, whereas fishing mortality had a smaller effect on the overall mortality of females. The exploitation rates for both male and female stocks were optimally balanced.