Allometry of the growth of pink shrimp Farfantepenaeus duorarum in a subtropical bay

We developed robust allometric relationships for pink shrimp Farfantepenaeu s (= Penaeus) duorarum by focusing on appropriate mathematical models and s tatistical procedures for parameter estimation. We utilized fishery-indepen dent data on the abundance and size of juvenile and subadult pink shrimp fr om an efficient sampling program in Biscayne Bay, Florida. Total length (TL ), carapace length (CL), and wet weight (W) were obtained from 440 male and 487 female pink shrimp ranging from 3 to 30 mm CL. The TL-CL function was linear. Because we noticed a pronounced shift in the relationship at the on set of sexual maturity, however, we estimated separate models for juveniles (CL < 18 mm: TL = 1.616 + 4.503.CL) and subadults (CL <greater than or equ al to> 18 mm: TL = 11.636 + 3.985.CL). The dependence of W on CL was best d escribed by nonlinear allometric functions of the form W = alpha CLbeta. Mo del parameters were estimated by least-squares regression methods after log transformation of the original nonlinear power function. The allometric fu nction for males (W = 0.000731.CL3.024) was significantly different from th at for females (W = 0.000865.CL2.951). which strongly indicates the existen ce of dimorphic growth for pink shrimp.