Some Resemblances and Differences Between Raja erinacea and Raja ocellata, Including a Method of Separating Mature and Large-Immature Individuals of These Two Species

1965 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 899-912 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wilfred Templeman

Raja erinacea Mitchill and Raja ocellata Mitchill are now distinguished by differences in tooth count and, in larger specimens, by size, size at sexual maturity, and eye spots when present in R. ocellata. The presence of distinct eye spots in the typical R. ocellata position in some R. erinacea was recorded. Separation of mature and large-immature male and female individuals of these two species was achieved by means of ventral pelvic denticles located in different positions in the two species, closer to the cloaca in female R. erinacea and more laterally on the pelvic fins in female R. ocellata. These pelvic denticles occur also in mature and maturing male R. ocellata but not in male R. erinacea. The denticles are much smaller and more numerous in R. erinacea and have relatively smaller sharp-angled bases with usually 4 and occasionally 5–6 rays. In R. ocellata the bases of the denticles are usually much larger, have 4–11 or more rays, usually with rounded tips.

2016 ◽  
pp. 5211-5221
Author(s):  
Hernando Ramírez-Gil

ABSTRACT Objetive. To determine the effect of fishing on capture size of both male and female Zungaro zungaro catfish, historical records of size and spatial distribution of the species were analyzed from the Orinoco Basin in Colombian. Materials and methods. Information was collected by sampling fishing port landings in the region between 1979 and 2011. Each specimen was measured, weighed and sexed. With 5411 records, the average size at capture were compared in time and among the different ports. Size at 50% maturity was estimated by quinquennium. Results. The average commercial capture sizes of Z. zungaro ranged from 35 to 161 cm standard length, with differences between males and females. From 1979 to 2011, in Puerto Lopez, the size at sexual maturity decreased from 123.8 to 83.4 cm in females and from 93.3 to 61 in males. In the annual cycle the greater average capture size in females was from April to July and for males from May to June. Average annual length is higher in the higher parts of the Meta and Guaviare river drainages. In the last quinquennium the size at 50% maturity had fallen 10 cm in females and 5 cm in males and it is higher than the average capture size. Conclusions. Populations of Z. zungaro in the Colombian Orinoco River Basin have been affected by overfishing and selective fishing of females. RESUMEN Objetivo. Determinar el grado de afección en la población de Zungaro zungaro a partir del análisis del comportamiento histórico y espacial de las tallas de captura de hembras y machos de la especie en la Orinoquia colombiana. Materiales y métodos. La información fue colectada mediante muestreos a los desembarcos en puertos pesqueros de la región entre 1979 y 2011. Cada ejemplar fue medido, pesado y sexado. Con 5411 registros, se estableció la distribución de las tallas medias de captura, que se compararon en el tiempo y entre los diferentes puertos. Se estimó la talla de madurez gonadal (TMG) por quinquenios. Resultados. El rango de las tallas de captura comercial Z. zungaro fue de 35 a 161 cm longitud estándar (LS), con diferencia entre machos y hembras. Entre los años 1979 a 2011, en Puerto López, la talla promedio de captura anual (LS) disminuyó de 123.8 a 83.4 cm en hembras y de 93.3 a 61 cm en machos. En el ciclo anual la mayor talla promedio de captura de hembras se presenta en abril a julio y de machos en mayo y junio. La talla promedio de captura anual (TPCA) es superior en las partes altas de los ríos Meta y Guaviare. En el último quinquenio la TMG ha disminuido 10 cm en las hembras y cinco cm en los machos y es superior a la TPCA. Conclusiones. Hay afectación sobre la población explotada de Z. zungaro por sobrepesca por crecimiento y pesca selectiva de hembras en la Orinoquia colombiana.


2000 ◽  
Vol 43 (4) ◽  
pp. 437-440 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carlos Sérgio Agostinho

The viability of an alternative method for estimating the size at sexual maturity of females of Plagioscion squamosissimus (Perciformes, Sciaenidae) was analyzed. This methodology was used to evaluate the size at sexual maturity in crabs, but has not yet been used for this purpose in fishes. Separation of young and adult fishes by this method is accomplished by iterative adjustment of straight-line segments to the data for length of the otolith and length of the fish. The agreement with the estimate previously obtained by another technique and the possibility of calculating the variance indicates that in some cases, the method analyzed can be used successfully to estimate size at sexual maturity in fish. However, additional studies are necessary to detect possible biases in the method.


Author(s):  
Rosana Carina Flores Cardoso ◽  
Maria Lucia Negreiros-Fransozo

The allometric growth of Uca leptodactyla from two distinct subtropical estuaries on the Brazilian coast was evaluated concerning its growth pattern and size at onset of sexual maturity. Females attained maturity at similar sizes in both sites (4·1 mm of carapace length in Indaiá and 4·2 mm in Ubatumirim), while males differed slightly. They reached the size at sexual maturity of 5·3 mm of carapace length in Indaiá and 4·6 mm in Ubatumirim. Growth pattern is usually similar among crabs from distinct sites while size at sexual maturity is frequently different. However, in the case of U. leptodactyla it did not occur, probably due to the strong habitat similarity and intrinsic features of this species.


2019 ◽  
pp. 113-119
Author(s):  
Ahamed Ahamed ◽  
Faruque Ahmed Zoarder ◽  
Jun Ohtomi

Some biological parameters of Salmostoma bacaila – including sex ratio, length-frequency distributions (LFDs), size at sexual maturity, spawning season, length-weight relationships (LWRs) and condition factor – were studied. Samples were collected seasonally during June 2017 to May 2018 from a tributary of the Payra River. The overall sex ratio was significantly different from the expected value of 1:1 (p < 0.001), in favour of male specimens. Females were significantly larger than males. Size at sexual maturity was estimated at 7.6~7.7 cm total length. Seasonal variations in the gonadosomatic index (GSI) indicate that the main spawning season is from spring to summer. The LWRs showed negative allometric growth in both sexes, but with clear seasonal variation. Fulton’s condition factor varied in both sexes and was attributed to variations in GSI with maturity. The fin¬dings of this study will be helpful for management and conservation of S. bacaila populations.


BMC Zoology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Giada Bargione ◽  
Fortunata Donato ◽  
Giulio Barone ◽  
Massimo Virgili ◽  
Pierluigi Penna ◽  
...  

Abstract Background The striped venus clam Chamelea gallina is an economically important species in Adriatic Sea fisheries. The use of hydraulic dredging for its catch has a long history in Italy and its management faced several stages of development in the last 40 years. A great effort has been made in the past two decades to move from poorly or weakly managed fisheries to a well-structured co-management system to improve the sustainability of this fishery. However, a prerequisite for appropriate resource management is a sound knowledge of the biology and reproductive strategy of the species. Results We investigated three major biological features– the gametogenic cycle, size at sexual maturity and partial fecundity – by microscopic, histological and video analysis techniques. We demonstrated that its breeding season is driven by rises in seawater temperature and chlorophyll-a concentration and that its spawning period lasted from March to September. Size at sexual maturity was reached very early in the life cycle. As regards partial fecundity – the number of mature oocytes potentially released by females with ripe gonads in a single release event – varied in relation to size. Nevertheless, the reduction on the Minimum Conservation Reference Size (MCRS) from 25 to 22 mm (Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/2237) lead to a 40% reduction in the number of emitted eggs. Conclusions We suggest that the ability of Adriatic clam stocks to withstand the strong fishing pressure of the past 40 years and the present one is due to their high reproductive potential and multiple spawning events combined with the effect of management measures (closed areas/seasons, quota, MCRS) and technical constraints on the gear and the sieve on board. Moreover, since the reduced MCRS for Venus shells is still larger than the size at maturity, it will probably not be detrimental to the reproductive capacity of the stock.


2001 ◽  
Vol 70 (2) ◽  
pp. 85-98 ◽  
Author(s):  
Krista Swen ◽  
René H.B. Fraaije ◽  
Gijsbert J. van der Zwaan

A biometric study of chelae of the burrowing shrimp Protocallianassa faujasi ( Desmarest, 1822), from the late Maastrichtian of the Maastrichtian type area, The Netherlands, has revealed three morphotypes. These types are interpreted as sexual dimorphs (male and female) and earliest ecdysis stages (immature male). Among the studied material are fifteen specimens of a new Cretaceous callianassid, Corallianassa acucurvata new species, one specimen provisionally assigned to the genus Calliax and a callianassid from the Danian. Burrows preserving callianassid chelae in situ are discussed. Based on burrow morphology a suspension feeding mode of life for P.faujasi is inferred, whereas C. acucurvata n. sp. probably was an active omnivorous analogue of its closest Recent relatives. The extinction of P. faujasi in the Meerssen Member appears to correspond to the increase in seagrass vegetation. The Protocallianassa-Corallianassa faunal changeover took place about 100,000 yrs before the K/T boundary in this region.


1984 ◽  
Vol 103 (3) ◽  
pp. 317-325
Author(s):  
A. K. Brar ◽  
G. Fink

ABSTRACT The effects of catechol oestradiol and catechol oestrone on the release of LH and prolactin were investigated in immature male and female Wistar rats. In male rats both catechol oestradiol and catechol oestrone significantly increased the plasma concentration of LH, and catechol oestradiol but not catechol oestrone significantly increased the plasma concentration of prolactin and decreased the pituitary concentration of LH. The parent oestrogens, oestradiol-17β and oestrone, had no effect on plasma LH concentrations, but both increased significantly the plasma concentration of prolactin, and oestrone but not oestradiol-17β increased the pituitary concentration of LH. In immature female rats, catechol oestradiol inhibited the surge of LH and the increase in uterine weight induced by injecting pregnant mare serum gonadotrophin (PMSG). The injection of oestrone induced an increase in the plasma concentration of LH which was about nine times greater than that produced by oestradiol-17β. There were no significant differences in the effects of these steroids on plasma prolactin concentration. These results (i) confirm that in the immature male rat catechol oestrogens can stimulate LH release and show that catechol oestradiol can increase prolactin release, (ii) show that catechol oestradiol can inhibit the stimulatory effects of PMSG on LH release and uterine weight in the immature female rat, and (iii) demonstrate that oestrone can stimulate LH release in the immature female rat. J. Endocr. (1984) 103, 317-325


2001 ◽  
Vol 52 (8) ◽  
pp. 1283 ◽  
Author(s):  
Donald F. Landers Jr ◽  
Milan Keser ◽  
Saul B. Saila

Population theory predicts that, under conditions of high age/size-specific mortality rates, individuals in highly exploited populations increase their fitness by decreasing size at sexual maturity, relative to less exploited populations. The benefit of early reproductive maturation is that individuals have a higher probability of surviving to maturity and contributing progeny to maintain the population. Empirical evidence, based on morphometric data from nearly 60 000 female lobsters collected since 1981, suggests that size at sexual maturity of female lobsters in Long Island Sound (USA) has recently decreased. Our findings were supported by decreases in average size and increases in abundance of egg-bearing females over the past two decades. Changes in female size at maturity and subsequent higher egg production may also help to explain the recent increase in lobster recruitment and landings. It is unclear whether these changes were caused by density-dependent factors related to the high exploitation of the species, by natural environmental factors (e.g. higher seawater temperatures), or a combination of the two.


2013 ◽  
Vol 25 (4) ◽  
pp. 398-405 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cristina da Silva Gonçalves ◽  
Ursulla Pereira Souza ◽  
Fabio Cop Ferreira ◽  
Alexandre Peressin ◽  
Francisco Manoel de Souza Braga

AIM: Life-history strategies in fish include essential parameters related to offspring survivorship, fecundity and time of reproduction, which represent adaptive traits that enable a species to deal with spatial and temporal variability of abiotic conditions. This study aimed to compare reproductive traits associated to life-history theory for three Hyphessobrycon species from two lentic environments (four natural oxbow lakes and a man-made reservoir) of Mogi Guaçu River, upper Paraná River basin. METHODS: Specimens were collected with four minnow traps between August 2005 and July 2006 to cover dry and wet seasons (three samples in each season, and three samples in each environment). RESULTS: Reproductive strategy of H. bifasciatus and H. eques, which predominated in the oxbow lakes, differed from H. anisitsi in the reservoir. Hyphessobrycon bifasciatus and H. eques were single spawners with lower fecundity and size at sexual maturity, but invested more in number of eggs per body gram, while H. anisitsi was a multiple spawner species with higher fecundity, larger size at sexual maturity and body size. CONCLUSIONS: In seasonal environments, single spawners are synchronized with the floods to maximize juvenile survivorship, while reservoirs harbors multiple spawners’ fish due to the reduced fluctuation between high and low floods resulting from dam operation. Therefore, the seasonal condition in the oxbow lakes due to the flood pulse favored single spawners’ tactic, as showed by H. bifasciatus and H. eques. In contrast, the multiple spawning of H. anisitsi seems to be related to the more stable environmental condition throughout the year provided by the dam. Life-histories reported herein to Hyphessobrycon species must be common to other characid fishes inhabiting similar environments.


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