Biological parameters and growth peculiarities of the common dab Limanda limanda (L., 1758) White Sea Chupa bay
This study presents data on the biology and growth of the common dab (Limanda limanda, L. 1758) of Chupa Bay, Kandalaksha gulf of the White Sea using data collected between 2013 and 2019 from net and trawl catches. Information is given on the size-weight and sex composition, age, nutrition, fecundity. The incidence of left-handed and pigmented specimens is revealed. In the White Sea the common dab reaches a length of 31.4 cm and body weight of353 g. In Chupa Bay the age structure is represented by specimens 2-10 years old, with females the age groups of 4-5 years prevail, with males it is the age group of 3-4 years, the size ranges are 7-27 cm, modal group of females is 19 cm, males 15-16 cm. The female common dabs are larger than the males. According to our data, ophiurids and bivalve mollusks dominate in the diet of common dabs in the studied area, and cumacean crustaceans were noted in the diet for the first time. Specimens of both genders with mature reproductive products were noted to be 9 cm in length and 3 years of age. Absolute fecundity increases with age and reaches 960 thousand eggs Left-handed individuals are extremely rare. Pigmentation on the blind side of the body was observed among 9.4 % of specimens. Females grow faster than males; when comparing the growth of White Sea common dabs, the highest growth rate was recorded in Chupa Bay. The connection between the otolith length and the common dab body length is explained by the equation of a linear function. The relationship between the mass and the length of the common dab is most accurately explained by the equation of the power function. The Bertalanffy equation has been proven to study growth. There are no scientific publications on the biology and growth of the common dab in the study area.