Age and reproduction in two Antarctic plunderfishes (Artedidraconidae) from the Weddell Sea

Meneghesso, Claudia; Riginella, Emilio; Mesa, Mario La; Donato, Fortunata; Mazzoldi, Carlotta

doi:10.1007/s00300-016-1919-9

Cited by 5 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 30 publications

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“…Compared with Bathydraco, A. nudiceps produced relatively large eggs associated with a strikingly low fecundity, releasing fewer than 250 eggs/female. It was at the lower end of total fecundities estimated in bathydraconids, and comparable to those reported for the small-sized species of Artedidraco from the Weddell Sea (Duhamel et al 1993, Meneghesso et al 2017. As a consequence of the relatively large egg size and low fecundity, some degree of parental care may be suggested in A. nudiceps, as already stated for Artedidraco (e.g.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 87%

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Life history traits of rare Antarctic dragonfishes from the Weddell Sea

Mesa¹,

Riginella²,

Donato³

et al. 2018

Antarctic Science

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The life history traits of bathydraconids, deep-living fishes distributed all around the Antarctic continent, are poorly known. In particular, very few data are available on the relatively rare genera Akarotaxis and Bathydraco. With the aim to fill this gap, sagittal otoliths and gonads were analysed to assess individual age and reproductive features of Akarotaxis nudiceps (Waite, 1916), Bathydraco macrolepis Boulenger 1907 and Bathydraco marri Norman, 1938 collected in the Weddell Sea. Based on the annual growth increment patterns, age estimates ranged between 6–11, 5–11 and 8–11 years for A. nudiceps, B. macrolepis and B. marri, respectively. Most of the gametogenetic processes could be described based on gonad histology for both sexes. Females shared the reproductive features commonly reported in notothenioids, such as group-synchronous ovary development and prolonged gametogenesis. Total fecundity estimates were comparable between the two species of Bathydraco (1500–2500 eggs/female), whereas that of Akarotaxis was one order of magnitude smaller (200–250 eggs/female). Consistently, the mean size of late vitellogenic oocytes showed an opposite trend, being 1.6–1.8 mm in Bathydraco and 2.2 mm in Akarotaxis.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 87%

“…1993, Meneghesso et al . 2017). As a consequence of the relatively large egg size and low fecundity, some degree of parental care may be suggested in A. nudiceps , as already stated for Artedidraco (e.g.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Life history traits of rare Antarctic dragonfishes from the Weddell Sea

Mesa¹,

Riginella²,

Donato³

et al. 2018

Antarctic Science

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“…Pogonophryne barsukovi and P. immaculata attained the same maximum age. These estimates were significantly higher than those reported for other (smaller) artedidraconids, such as Artedidraco skottsbergi and Dolloidraco longedorsalis (Meneghesso et al 2017). Pogonophryne scotti was characterized by an evident sexual dimorphism in body size and longevity, with females being larger and older than males.…”

Section: Age and Growthcontrasting

confidence: 57%

Reproductive traits and age of barbeled plunderfishes from the Weddell Sea

et al. 2020

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The genus Pogonophryne is the most species-rich genus of barbeled plunderfishes (Artedidraconidae) and includes more than 25 poorly known species endemic to the Southern Ocean. In this study, we provide new data on the age and reproductive traits of some species of Pogonophryne from the southern Weddell Sea, inferred through otolith reading and histological analyses of gonads. Individual age estimates ranged between 16 and 18 years for Pogonophryne barsukovi and Pogonophryne immaculata and between 10 and 22 years for Pogonophryne scotti. As is commonly found in notothenioids, P. barsukovi followed a group-synchronous type of ovarian development, with pre-vitellogenic and vitellogenic oocytes forming two well-separated egg-size groups. A single spawning female in the sample produced ~1097 eggs and 7.9 eggs g-1. The sample of P. immaculata consisted exclusively of developing males, with testes composed of cysts of spermatogonia, spermatocytes and spermatids. Pogonophryne scotti was the most abundant species, including relatively small males at immature or developing stages of gonad development. Larger females were regressing, being characterized by ovaries with postovulatory follicles and atretic oocytes. Based on the macroscopic and histological analyses of gonads, the spawning season would take place in autumn for P. barsukovi and P. immaculata and in spring–early summer for P. scotti.

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