Ylmaz Sava
Abstract
Four different bony structures as scales, vertebrae, otoliths and operculums were removed in order to determine most reliable bony structure for ageing of pikeperch inhabiting Altınkaya Dam Lake. Operculums were excluded from age determination because it was not read. Other bony structures were analysed three times by one reader. Percent agreement, avarage percent error and coefficient of variation were used to ageing precision (reproducibility). The highest percent agreement (97.16%) and the lowest avarage percent error (5.66) and coefficient of variation (10.21) were obtained for otoliths. Ages of fish were overestimated from scales and vertebrae. Therefore, it was concluded that otoliths are most reliable ageing structure for pikeperch in Altınkaya Dam Lake.