habitat_narrative
Marine
Diplodus cervinus is a demersal species, found in schools. It inhabits areas of rocky substrate to depths of 300 m, although it is most abundant to depths of 80 m. The maximum length for this species is 55 cm (Bauchot et al. 1981) and can live to at least 17 years of age (Pajuelo et al. 2003a, 2003b).Reproduction
Diplodus cervinus is a protogynous hermaphrodite (Pajuelo and Lorenzo 2001, Pajuelo et al. 2003a, 2003b). Males generally attain maturity at about 32.7 cm TL and five years of age while females reach maturity around 27.3 cm TL and four years of age (Pajuelo et al. 2003a). The spawning season for this species extends from spring to summer, peaking from May to June (Pajuelo et al. 2003a, 2003b) with recruitment occurring from October to January, at depths of 0.5 m to 8 m depth (M. Kara pers. comm. 2008). Recruits occur over rocky substrates with an important algae vegetation cover, forming schools; and during the spawning season, adults will form schools of three to eight individuals. This species exhibits polygamy, where small groups are formed consisting of one dominant male and several females (Pajuelo et al. 2003a).
The von Bertalanffy growth parameters for the whole population are: L∞ = 603 mm, k = 0.149 year−1, and t0 = −0.22 year. The mean rates of total, natural and fishing mortality are 0.551, 0.215 and 0.336 year−1, respectively. The length at first capture is 18.3 cm (Pajuelo et al. 2003a). Growth parameters estimated from the back calculated sizes at age were L∞=612 mm; k=0.152 year−1; t0=−0.32 year (Pajuelo et al. 2003b).
