The biology of Roule's goby in the Kvarner area, northern Adriatic sea

Roule's goby Gobius roulei in the Kvarner area of the northern Adriatic Sea attained greater than or equal to 87.5 mm L-T and an age of 7 years. In bo th sexes gonad development began in their second year. All males were matur e by 3 years, and females by 4 years. Fecundity was related to L-T and vari ed between 1200 and 8000 eggs. The breeding season lasted from April to Aug ust. Nests were built under empty shells of Pitaria chione or stones. Roule 's goby was a predator and picker, feeding mostly on mobile benthic fauna, including bivalves, gastropods, polychaets, pagurids, mysids, gammarids and fishes. Larger specimens ate mainly macrofauna, while smaller specimens at e both meiofauna and macrofauna. (C) 2001 The Fisheries Society of the Brit ish Isles.