Length-weight relationships of the ichthyofauna associated with the Brazilian sardine, Sardinella brasiliensis, on the Southeastern Brazilian Bight (22°S-29°S) between 2008 and 2010

Abstract

In this study, estimates of length-weight relationships are presented for twenty-four species caught in association with the Brazilian sardine, Sardinella brasiliensis, during four acoustics surveys carried out under the Program ECOSAR (Prospecting and evaluation of biomass of the stock of Brazilian sardine on the southeast coast by acoustic methods), which was to evaluate the biomass of species that were caught. The model parameters were estimated with the nonlinear iterative method of least squares. The value of the coefficient of determination (r2) and residual analysis were employed to verify the appropriateness of fit. The coefficient b values were tested with respect to isometry (β=3) using a tα1,0.05 test. The values of coefficient b ranged from 2.377 to 3.538. There is a tendency for positive allometry (b) in the sampled ichythyocenose.