..................................................................................................................................... ii Acknowledgements .................................................................................................................. iii Table of contents ........................................................................................................................ v List of figures ............................................................................................................................ ix List of tables ............................................................................................................................. xii Chapter 1. General Introduction ..................................................................................... 1 Study species ................................................................................................................... 6 Chapter 2. Age estimation of Odax pullus (Labridae): otolith microstructure, validation of increment periodicity, and position of the first annual band ........................ 8 2.