Morphometric data and allometric relationships of the gorgonian Eunicella singularis (Esper, 1791) (Anthozoa Gorgoniidae) of Paloma Island, Algeria

Résumé fourni par la source

The gorgonian Eunicella singularis (Esper, 1791) (Anthozoa Gorgoniidae) is abundant on rocky bottoms at Paloma Island (Algeria) in the south-western of the Mediterranean basin.In this study area, 150 gorgonian colonies of E. singularis were collected randomly using SCUBA diving and the following morphometric macro-features were measured (maximum height, maximum width, total branch length, rectangular surface area, height to width ratio and dry weight).Allometric growth was examined using the relationships between the dry weight and the five morphometric macro-features.The power equation of the simple allometry applied was y=ax b and the parameters of the linear regression a and b were estimated after the logarithmic transformation log (y)=log( a)+ b*log(x).The allometric relationships between the dry weight and the morphometric macro-features studied show that the growth of the gorgonian E. singularis in the study area is correlated positively and significantly with the five macro-features and that both the macro-features total branch length and the maximum width are the most appropriate parameter applied to the gorgonian E. singularis growth study.

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