The different staining techniques using for age determination and growth of Dasyatis pastinaca (Linnaeus,1758) inhabiting iskenderun bay

This study was carried out to determine success of staining methods on applications for age determination in common stingray (Dasyatis pastinaca) from İskenderun Bay. A total of 384 common stingrays with 16.60 cm-69,30 cm in disc width were obtained with trawling between September 2010 and December 2011. The population consisted of 53.12 % males and 46.88 % females. The appropriate age determination for this species was firstly demonstrated with this study and the age determination was also made with safranin-O staining first time. Age readings were made by two independent readers and index of average percent error (IAPE) was found 6.3% for Safranin O, 6,8 % for Crystal violet,7.9 % for alsian blue,9.3% for silver nitrate. Safranin-O staining and Crystal violet staining methods were determined as the best methods. In addition, it was determined that the growth of age rings were annual according to the edge growth analysis. Disc width-weight relationship was found as DW=0,025*L3,0804. The von-Bertalanffy growth equation was determined as Lt=104,87 [1- e-0,07 (t + 1,44)].