Reproductive roles predict sexual dimorphism in internal and external morphology of lake whitefish,Coregonus clupeaformis

Abstract – The different reproductive roles of the sexes can predict the direction and magnitude of sexual dimorphism of external and internal morphology. Males should have enlarged structures that enhance the acquisition of mating opportunities, whereas females are predicted to have enlarged organs that are associated with the production of eggs. We tested these predictions in male and female lake whitefish, a species in which both sexes have similar overall body size and shape. After controlling for body size, male lake whitefish had significantly longer jaws and pectoral and pelvic fins, larger hearts, and more muscle than females. Sexual dimorphism in relative muscle mass may be one of the most fundamental morphological differences between males and females. Females had relatively heavier livers than males. Because the liver is important for the breakdown of fats and vitellogenesis, selection should favour an enlarged liver in females for the processing of energy and the production of large numbers of eggs.     

Should only females of giant freshwater prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii be selected in genetic improvement programmes?

Sexual dimorphism is widely observed in almost all farmed aquatic animal species but giant freshwater pawn (GFP) is unique, with males characterized by three main morphotypes (blue claw, orange claw and small males) and females by different reproduction status (ovary, berried egg and already‐spawned females). There has been reported evidence that the effect of male morphotype may have masked genetic variation in growth‐related traits, as a result the heritability for male body weight was lower than that estimated in female. A pending question has arisen whether selection should be made in female only. To answer this question, we used an 8‐year data set from a long‐term selection programme (2008–2015) for high growth in this species comprising 106,756 individuals that were offspring of 515 sires and 810 dams. The body weight data of female and male GFP or of each morphotype was treated as a separate trait and a multi‐trait approach was used to estimate genetic correlations for homologous traits between sexes and between morphotypes. Our analysis showed that there were little differences in the heritability estimates between female and male. In female, mature ovary individual displayed higher heritability than berried egg and already‐spawned females. For male, the heritability for blue claw, orange claw and small males were 0.11, 0.06 and 0.00 respectively. Between‐sex genetic correlation was moderate (0.55 ± 0.11) for body weight, suggesting that the trait expressions in female and male may be genetically different. In female, the genetic correlations for body weight among three female types were close to one (0.91–0.94). In contrast, the genetic correlations for body weight between male morphotypes especially between blue claw or orange claw and small males were low (0.15–0.25). Furthermore, we estimated genetic gain as the difference in least square means (LSM) or estimated breeding values (EBV) between the selection line and control group. The genetic gain in body weight was smaller in females than in males. It is concluded that there is no need to run separate breeding programme for female and male GFP. A combined selection using both female and male data can achieve selection response for body weight as demonstrated in the present study.     

Comparison between sequential and concurrent matings of two females and one male channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus, in spawning pens

In selective breeding of channel catfish, it is desirable to mate, in the same breeding season, each one of a large number of males to more than one female. This experiment compared sequential and concurrent matings of two females and one male in 36 individual spawning pens. The number of females that spawned in the former group was higher (74%) than in the latter (57%); the numbers of males spawning in each group were similar (135 vs 130%, respectively). These differences are associated with (1) a higher female mortality in concurrent (30%) than sequential matings (3%), and (2) a smaller difference in frequencies of double-spawning males (40 vs 47%, respectively). It was concluded that neither the sequential nor concurrent methods tested could satisfy the needs of selective breeding, even though the former method was closer to this objective.     

Tooth size and skin thickness in mature sockeye salmon: evidence for habitat constraints and variable investment between the sexes

Abstract –  Pacific salmon develop many sexually dimorphic features at maturity, and the extent of development varies among populations. In this study, we compared a suite of traits including body length, body depth, jaw length, tooth size and skin mass in male and female sockeye salmon breeding in beach and creek habitats. Both tooth size and skin mass varied positively with body length. Within each of the breeding habitats, males had longer teeth than females, and within each sex, beach spawners had longer teeth than creek spawners. Males also had heavier skin than females in each habitat but, unlike the case with tooth size, creek spawners showed a much stronger relationship between skin mass and body length than did beach spawners. Tooth length was positively related to jaw length and skin mass among individuals within a given sex and habitat. Taken together, these results suggested that variation in tooth size parallels variation in other sexually dimorphic traits. Males and beach spawners tend to exhibit large trait values relative to females and creek spawners, and 'well-endowed' individuals displayed high values of all traits rather than a trade-off as might occur if investment in one trait compromised investment in others. However, the finding that creek fish tended to have thicker skin for a given body length than did beach fish suggested that factors other than merely defense against conspecifics during battle, such as abrasion and desiccation resistance in small streams, may influence the evolution of skin mass in mature sockeye salmon.     

Is cod lekking or a promiscuous group spawner?

The mating system of cod ( Gadus morhua ) has been described as promiscuous with few options for exercising mate choice. We, on the other hand, argue that cod fulfil the prerequisites of a conventional lekking mating system. A review of papers on cod mating behaviour suggests that mature males aggregate and possibly defend small territories on the spawning grounds, where male–male interactions are common. Females visit males at the aggregations when ready to spawn and males show an extensive courtship display including dance, fin display, and acoustic calls. This may allow females to discriminate between males and both fin size and mass of drumming muscles, the cod's acoustic organ, are related to a male's fertilisation potential. This, together with the presence of sexual dimorphism in drumming muscles, suggests that sexual selection by females is at work. Different courtship display combined with different mate preferences may be important premating mechanisms reducing or preventing interbreeding between groups of cod.     

拟目乌贼繁殖行为学的初步研究

拟目乌贼在繁殖期间的行为较为复杂,包括求偶、雄性争斗、交配、雄性陪护、产卵等行为。拟目乌贼在生殖策略上并非"一夫一妻"制,交配时,雄性用第1、2对腕固定雌性的头部,然后用茎化腕将精荚输送至雌性纳精囊内。雌性受精后不久便产卵,拟目乌贼雌性轮流在产卵区产卵。卵白色,半透明,卵群葡萄状,分枝,刚产出的卵短径约1.2cm,长径约2.4cm,拟目乌贼平均产卵量为354枚。     

Captive Breeding of Threatened African Carp,Labeo victorianus,of Lake Victoria

African carp, Labeo victorianus, is one of the threatened endemic fishes of Lake Victoria which requires conservation and has potential for aquaculture. We conducted a series of experiments on L. victorianus aiming at producing juveniles for both human consumption and stock enhancement. A total of 79 broodstock (mean body weight = 227.06 g) were collected from the wild; packed at 200, 300, and 500 g/L; and transported by road for 7 h. All fish survived during transportation whereas dissolved oxygen decreased and total ammonia nitrogen increased significantly after transport. Females produced 46,702–86,712 eggs (mean = 68,189 ± 2397) and fecundity was highly correlated with the fish body size (R² = 0.96). Only males re‐spawned in captivity while females did not. At 28 C, females spawned 11–12 h after pairing with males. Larvae can either be fed with formulated diet or natural zooplankton. Juveniles (mean length = 36.7 mm; mean body weight = 0.46 g) can be packed as high as 60 fish/L and transported by road for 12 h with low mortality (2.7–10.3%). These results show that captive breeding of L. victorianus can be a good strategy to produce juveniles to boost wild population as well as a source of seeds for culture.     

Growth and spawning of hatchery-reared Chinese white prawn Penaeus (Fenneropenaeus) chinensis released in the Ariake Sea, Japan

SUMMARY: Growth and reproduction of hatchery-reared Chinese white prawn Penaeus chinensis released in the Ariake Sea, Japan, were examined. Chinese white prawn grew rapidly, reaching a body length of 154 mm in males and 198 mm in females by November (219–229 days after hatching). Maximum body length of sampled individuals was 164 mm in males and 223 mm in females. Growth curve of the Chinese white prawn was fitted to the Pitcher and MacDonald's formula, L_t = 155.0{1 − e ^{2.925sin[2π(t − 16.151)/365] − 0.0623( t − 10.712)}} for males and the logistic curve, L_t = 200.3/[1 + e ^{(1.985–0.034 t )}] for females (where L_t is the body length t days after release and t is the number of days after release). Females reached sexual maturity in late February and spawning occurred until April. Minimum size at ripe and spawned stages was 189 mm and 193 mm body length, respectively.     

Shifting the natural spring–summer breeding season of the Australian freshwater crayfish Cherax quadricarinatus into the winter by environmental manipulations

Ninety sexually mature Cherax quadricarinatus females were exposed to various combinations of photoperiod and temperature for 2 months during the summer. Females were randomly assigned to either “winter” “semi-winter” or “summer” simulation treatments. In the “winter” treatment, crayfish were exposed to a simulated winter photoperiod (gradual decrease from 14L:10D to 10L:14D, 4 weeks at short day length followed by gradual increase to 14L:10D) and temperature (gradual decrease from 27 to 15 °C, held for 4 weeks, and then gradual increase to 27 °C). In the “semi-winter” treatment, crayfish were exposed to a simulated winter photoperiod and a summer temperature (27–29 °C). In the “summer” treatment, the crayfish were exposed to summer water temperatures and a photoperiod of 14L:10D. Following the 2 months of conditioning, the females were stocked for 7 months in small groups with males under environmental conditions similar to those of the “summer” treatment. All females were individually tagged and molting and spawning events were monitored. Females exposed to “semi-winter” conditioning in the summer, demonstrated a threefold increase in the rate of first spawning during the winter (December–February) compared with the other females. Crayfish breeders can easily implement these findings since shifting the breeding season into the winter only requires shortening of the photoperiod in the summer. The stocking of ponds in the spring with large nursed juveniles that hatched from eggs spawned in the winter, would allow the attainment of market size at the end of the limited growout season in temperate zones.     

金乌贼雄性规格和社群数量对求偶与交配行为的影响

为探讨不同规格雄性金乌贼(Sepia esculenta)在求偶交配过程中的竞争及优势等级,采用实验生态学方法,在室内可控条件下分别设置1L1S组、1L2S组和1L4S组(L和S分别表示大规格雄性和小规格雄性,数字表示实验中雄性金乌贼数量),连续摄像观察和记录金乌贼的繁殖行为。结果显示:(1)繁殖过程中金乌贼具有明显的领域行为和护卫伴游行为。(2)随着群体中小规格雄性比例的增加,处于优势地位的大规格雄性个体的优势等级发生变化,主要表现为大规格雄性护卫伴游时间、成功交配次数逐渐减少,而小规格雄性护卫伴游时间、成功交配次数逐渐增多。(3)当群体中小规格雄性较少时,大规格雄性常常主动攻击小规格雄性,而当小规格雄性数量远大于大规格雄性时,小规格雄性主动向其他雄性发起攻击,以争取护卫权和交配权。研究表明,雄性金乌贼的规格和数量对于求偶竞争以及交配行为具有显著影响。随着繁殖群体中小规格雄性增多,大规格雄性成功交配次数逐渐降低。1L4S组成功交配次数稍高于1L2S组,显著高于1L1S组(P0.05)。人工苗种繁育过程中选择合适规格的雄性亲体和合理的雌雄比例,对提高金乌贼繁殖效率具有重要意义。     

Spatial patterns in reproductive traits of the temperate parrotfish Sparisoma cretense

Reproductive biology and social behaviour of the parrotfish Sparisoma cretense was studied in the Azores Islands, northeast Atlantic, to characterize its spawning season and general reproductive biology in the region, to clarify the species mating system and associated spawning behaviours, and to evaluate the relationship between its reproductive traits and habitat features. S. cretense exhibits a dual mating system where males hold female harems within year-round territories or live in multi-male groups. Group behaviour predominates in smaller size classes, and territoriality in larger size classes. Males mature and become territorial earlier in life than females, and the best territories are held by larger males. The two behavioural modes are usually spatially segregated, with larger territorial fish preferring exposed and deeper reef ledges, and group fish occupying shallower, protected habitats. However, they frequently interact and overlap in space, especially during reproduction in the summer. Our findings indicate a highly competitive system and suggest that high quality spawning sites are important for the reproductive success of both types of fish. Patchiness of habitat along shorelines determines the relative distribution and equilibrium of territorial versus group fish. The complexity of this relationship between social structure and habitat might impact the populations’ productivity, and could influence the success of marine protected areas for this species.     

The impact of repeat spawning of males on effective number of breeders in hatchery operations

In conservation hatcheries, typically a great emphasis is placed on maximizing the effective number of breeders through spawning an appropriate number of spawners, spawning equal numbers of males and females when possible, and by mating either in a single-pair or factorial fashion. A commonly encountered problem, especially in small operations with anadromous salmonids, is a shortage of males at some point during the season, so that some males need to be spawned multiple times. This has an impact on the genetically effective number of breeders, and the commonly used equations for effective number are not applicable. In this paper I derive a relatively simple equation for effective number of breeders when some males are multiply spawned but reproductive contribution within spawning classes are equal: , where i is the number of times a male is spawned, N_i the number of males spawned i times, and μ_t the mean gametic contribution. I also derive an equation that allows relaxation of the assumption of equal contribution within classes. I then develop a number of simple and accurate approximations for the effective number of breeders. The equations can be applied to any situation in which there are discrete spawning classes in which the average reproductive contribution of any one class can be expressed as a multiple of that of another class.     

Reproductive biology of Cyprinella camura, the bluntface shiner, in Morganfork Creek, southwestern Mississippi

Abstract– I collected bluntface shiners, Cyprinella camura , once or twice monthly from February to November 1991 in Morganfork Creek, southwestern Mississippi. Examinations of mean largest oocyte diameter (LOD), female mean relative gonadal index (RGI), ovarian developmental condition, and male secondary sexual characteristics indicated that C. camura spawned from late March through mid-August. There were significant positive correlations between mean LOD and mean daylength, mean maximum temperature, and mean minimum temperature (environmental variable means were calculated for the 28 day period prior to each sampling date). Mean day length and mean RGI were significantly positively correlated, but there was no significant relationship between mean maximum and minimum temperatures and mean RGI. Clutch size, RGI, and mean mature oocyte diameter (MMOD) of mature females were significantly correlated with length (standard length). Mean length, clutch size, and RGI of mature females in individual collections decreased significantly over the reproductive season. The corresponding decrease in mean MMOD was not significant.     

Yield characteristics of the prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii in temperate zone aquaculture

Yield characteristics of the freshwater prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii are examined in both commercial and experimental ponds during the first pilot growth trial in Israel. Because of the temperate climate, production is restricted to 6 or 7 summer months. Given a minimal commercial size of 30 gm, conditions were found in which the majority of animals can be brought to this size in a single growth season. Total biomass is linearly related to density up to over 1,500 kg/ha. Density is found to be a major factor affecting the size of males and females whose growth characteristics contribute differently to yield. Males of harvestable size are restricted in their growth at higher density, resulting in lowered mean weight. Even in high densities reported in this study nearly all the potentially harvestable males achieve minimum market weight, while the rest of the male population cannot be brought to market size in even the most favorable conditions. The contribution of females to yield is precarious since female sizes are relatively uniform and their average weight may be above, close to or below market size. Conditions are described in which well over 80% of the females achieve market size, but at densities too low to secure profitable yield. The effects of late season selective harvest reveal no dramatic effect on yield. Nevertheless, selective harvest seems to enable continued growth in densely populated ponds. We conclude that combined stocking of larger animals, with early selective harvest, reducing density dependence during final growout, could prove useful in attaining commercial yields.     

Reproduction,growth and diet of Gambusia holbrooki (Girard) in a temperate Australian river

1. The biology of Gambusia holbrooki in the Collie River in southwestern Australia is described using data obtained from seine samples collected at 4–6 weekly intervals over two years. 2. Females which had overwintered in the river bred between October and February (spring-breeding group) and then died. Some of the large representatives of the resultant cohort of males and females bred between January and March (summer-breeding group) and then also died. The offspring of these larger individuals and the smaller fish did not start breeding until the following spring, when they constituted the spring-breeding group of the following breeding season. Breeding occurred when temperatures were above 15–16°C and day length exceeded 750–780 min. The increase in the mean length of the spring group of pregnant females from 33 mm in October to 52 mm in January was accompanied by a rise in mean fecundity from 33 to 131. 3. In the Collie River, G. holbrooki is a generalist carnivore, feeding at the water surface and throughout the water column. Gut contents of a wide size range of G. holbrooki from each season contained neither the eggs, larvae, juveniles nor adults of any of the three indigenous fish species found in the system. Moreover, there was no evidence that G. holbrooki exhibited agonistic behaviour, such as fin clipping, towards these native fish. 4. Coexistence of the three indigenous species with G. holbrooki, and thereby their conservation, is facilitated by the outcome of different spawning times and localities. Thus, the early life-history stages of the indigenous species, which are most susceptible to predation, are typically produced in tributary creeks or flood waters between late winter and late spring, some time before the breeding of G. holbrooki results in a population explosion of this exotic species in the main channel of the river during summer.     

Red operculum spots,body size,maturation and evidence for a satellite male phenotype in non‐native European populations of pumpkinseed Lepomis gibbosus

Carotenoid‐based pigmentation is a striking feature of many taxa, yet the function, if any, of colour traits is often unclear. Pumpkinseed Lepomis gibbosus, a widely introduced freshwater sunfish that exhibits alternative male mating strategies, express a striking, red operculum spot. To investigate the potential function of this red spot as a signal in this species' mating system, we determined the presence and measured the size of red operculum spots in fish collected from 12 populations in five European countries in which pumpkinseed is an established non‐native species. We subsequently related the presence and size of the red spot to body size and mating strategy, based on an analysis of relative gonad size (gonado‐somatic index, GSI), using a mixed modelling approach. The study demonstrated that the presence of a red operculum spot in pumpkinseed is associated with sexual maturation, with GSI frequency distributions suggesting that cuckolders in some non‐native populations comprised both sneaker and satellite males, the latter not having previously been reported for this species. Further, the size of red spot correlated strongly with body size in parental and cuckolder males, although there was no difference in the presence or size of the red operculum spot between male mating strategies. The function of a red operculum spot in females is not clear but may be partly mediated by pleiotropic genetic mechanisms. Red operculum spots appear to function as signals of male maturation and body size in pumpkinseed, irrespective of mating strategy.     

Reproduction of striped bass, Morone saxatilis (Walbaum), broodstock: monitoring maturation and hormonal induction of spawning

Abstract Levels of gonadal steroid hormones were quantified in an adult striped bass, Morone saxatilis (Walbaum), broodstock during their gametogenic cycle. Blood plasma concentrations of Estradiol (E₂) and testosterone in females, or 11-ketotestosterone(11-KT) and testosterone (T) in males, were used as indicators of maturation. In both sexes, hormone levels were low in summer but increased significantly by late October to intermediate levels which were then maintained until late January. They then increased again rapidly to maximum pre-spawning values attained in late February or March, and subsequently decreased during the spawning period (April and May) with an increased incidence of spent fish with low hormone levels. The changes in blood hormone concentrations coincided with annual changes in photoperiod and water temperature that may be useful landmarks for maturation in captive broodstock. Mature females were implanted with pellets containing a dose of approximately 20 μg/kg body weight of [D-Ala⁶-Pro⁹-Net]-LHRH (GnRHa) in a matrix of cholesterol (CH) and cellulose. In April, they had not yet begun final oocyte maturation (FOM) and were too immature for conventional induction of spawning by injection with human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). In early April, females given two 95% CH (slow hormone-release) GnRHa pellets (95/95) or females given one 80% CH (fast hormone-release) GnRHa pellet and one 95% CH GnRHa pellet (80/95) spawned within 13 days treatment (n= 4) with good egg fertility (76 ± 7% of total) and hatch rates (62 ± 15% of fertile). Females given dual fast-release GnRHa pellets (80/80) or control (Sham) pellets did not spawn or show evidence of increased oocyte diameter or development. In late April, four of six females given the 80/95 GnRHa pellet combination spawned within 9 days. Three fish produced fertile eggs (54 ± 18%). one spawned overripe eggs, and the remaining two increased oocyte diameter and maturation. Three corresponding controls did not spawn, and two of these showed clear signs of atresia within 11 days. In early May, some females were undergoing early FOM and were mature enough to be spawned by hCG injection. Three were given a single 80% CH GnRHa pellet and spawned within 6 days of treatment to produce fertile eggs (44 ± 6%). Of two other females given dual 80% CH GnRHa pellets, one spawned infertile eggs and the other failed to spawn within 9 days. GnRHa implants show promise as a technique for inducing spawning of captive striped bass broodstock although the optimum hormone delivery systems, dosages and release rates should be verified for fish at specific maturational stages.     

池塘养殖斑节对虾生长、发育与性成熟

为了解不同养殖条件下斑节对虾的生长、外生殖器发育、性腺发育及性成熟之间的关系,对其养殖进行跟踪调查研究.结果显示:①斑节对虾雌雄外生殖器官发育和头胸甲长呈线性关系;②不同养殖环境条件下,斑节对虾性成熟生物学最小型个体无显著差异.雄性精荚出现的生物学最小型个体为头胸甲长3.1 cm,体长11.1 cm,体质量20.0 g;雄性性成熟个体的头胸甲长3.7 cm,体长13.0 cm,体质量37.0 g.池养雌性斑节对虾的性成熟生物学最小型个体以纳精囊的发育完全(可与雄虾交配)为标志,其最小性成熟个体的头胸甲长4.3 cm、体长15.1 cm、体质量53.0 g,雌性性成熟个体为头胸甲长5.0 cm,体长17.0 cm,体质量75.0 g以上;③池塘养殖斑节对虾性成熟与日龄和养殖环境相关.鱼塭雄虾精荚出现的最早时间为日龄120 d前后,其性成熟日龄约为160 d;池塘养殖雄虾精荚出现的最早时间为日龄150 d前后,其性成熟日龄约为260 d.鱼媪雌虾最早交配发生在日龄165 d前后,性成熟日龄205～236 d,池养雌虾最早交配发生在日龄240～ 280 d,性成熟日龄295～360 d以上.     

Induced Final Maturation and Spawning of the Marbled Grouper Epinephelus microdon Captured from Spawning Aggregations in the Republic of Palau, Micronesia

A high percentage (98.3%, N = 60) of the marbled grouper Epinephelus microdon individuals captured from spawning aggregations during July and August 1993 in the waters surrounding the island of Koror, Republic of Palau, Micronesia, were in the stage of maturity at which final maturation and spawning could be hormonally induced. The sex ratio of the captured fish was highly skewed towards males (4 male:1 female). Sexually immature females comprised the smallest size class, (<0.6 kg body weight (BW) or 33.0 cm total length (TL)), while sexually mature females were restricted to the 0.6–1.5 kg BW (33.0–46.4 cm TL) groups. Males predominated in size classes >0.6 kg BW, and individuals >1.5 kg BW (46.4 cm TL) were exclusively male. All females with oocytes that averaged ( N = 50) >400 μm in diameter were successfully induced to spawn by a two-injection protocol using human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) at total dosages of 2,100–3,200 IU/kg fish. All males used in the spawning trials were administered a single injection of HCG at dosages of 500 or 1,000 IU/kg fish. Fecundity ranged between 7.96 × 10⁵−1.24 × 10⁶kg BW, average spawned egg diameters ranged between 769–832 μm, percent fertilization ranged between 32.6%–99.9%, and hatching percentages were >90.0%. Total fat content of eggs obtained from a pooled spawning event was 14.1 mg/100 mg dry weight. The data indicate that HCG is a suitable treatment for the induction of spawning in marbled grouper females that possess a mean oocyte diameter of 400 μm or greater.     

Size isn't everything: movements,home range,and habitat preferences of eastern blue gropers (Achoerodus viridis) demonstrate the efficacy of a small marine reserve

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