Annual reproductive cycle and fecundity of <i>Scorpaena notata</i> (Teleostei, Scorpaenidae)

Abstract

SUMMARY: Scorpaena notata (Teleostei: Scorpaenidae) is an oviparous species with external fertilisation that shows some unusual features in its gonadal morphology and gametogenesis. In this work we analyse the annual reproductive cycle and the fecundity of this species by studying the monthly histological changes in the gonads and of various indices related to reproduction. Sexual dimorphism does not occur in the population we studied, which is clearly dominated by males. Multiple spawning takes place between July and October, consisting of between 6,000 and 33,000 eggs per female, each of about 500 µm in diameter. The fecundity of the species is determined by the size and weight of the individuals.Keywords: scorpionfish, reproduction, annual cycle, fecundity.RESUMEN: CICLO REPRODUCTIVO ANUAL Y FECUNDIDAD DE SCORPAENA NOTATA (TELEOSTEI: SCORPAENIDAE). -Scorpaena notata (Teleostei: Scorpaenidae) es una especie ovípara de fertilización externa que presenta algunas características peculiares en su morfología gonadal y gametogénesis. En este trabajo se analiza el ciclo reproductivo anual y la fecundidad de dicha especie, mediante el estudio de los cambios histológicos mensuales que muestran las gónadas a lo largo del ciclo anual así como de diversos índices relacionados con la reproducción. La población analizada no presenta dimorfismo sexual, aunque el número de machos es muy superior al de hembras. La puesta múltiple ocurre entre los meses de Julio y Octubre y consiste de entre 6000 y 33000 huevos por hembra, de unos 500 µm de diámetro. La fecundidad de la especie viene determinada por el tamaño y el peso de los especimenes.Palabras clave: escórpora, reproducción, ciclo anual, fecundidad.

Biology, Feeding, and Habitat Preferences of Cadenat's Rockfish, <I>Scorpaena Loppei</I> (Actinopterygii: Scorpaeniformes: Scorpaenidae), in the Balearic Islands (Western Mediterranean)

“…All females sampled in the present work were in a developing-or spawning-capable maturity stages. The mean GSI value of S. loppei females (6.0 ± 0.3) was similar to that reported for other Scorpaena species during their reproduction period (GSI≈5 for both S. notata and S. porcus; see: Bradai and Bouain 1991, Muñoz et al 2005). Taking into account the values of the GSI and the estimated date of birth of the validated age 0 individual (during September), the reproduction period of S. loppei should occur during late spring-summer , similarly to other Scorpaena species in the area (Bradai and Bouain 1991, Muñoz et al 2005).…”

“…The mean GSI value of S. loppei females (6.0 ± 0.3) was similar to that reported for other Scorpaena species during their reproduction period (GSI≈5 for both S. notata and S. porcus; see: Bradai and Bouain 1991, Muñoz et al 2005). Taking into account the values of the GSI and the estimated date of birth of the validated age 0 individual (during September), the reproduction period of S. loppei should occur during late spring-summer , similarly to other Scorpaena species in the area (Bradai and Bouain 1991, Muñoz et al 2005). Both, the maturity stage and the lack of relation between GSI and individual total length indicated that all females, including the smallest ones and even the age 0 recruits, such as that sampled in the present work (GSI = 6.1), were probably ready for reproduction in their first year of life.…”

Age and growth of small red scorpionfish, Scorpaena notata (Actinopterygii: Scorpaeniformes: Scorpaenidae), a common discard species from the Portuguese fishery

“…Despite this length class bias, the majority of the published works showed no deviation from an overall sex ratio of 1 : 1 (Massutí et al 2000, Ordines et al 2009, 2012, Sequeira et al 2009. Curiously, for the small red scorpionfish, Scarcella et al (2011) and Muñoz et al (2005) reported a sex ratio biased in favour of males but no significant differences in length classes by sex. However only 6 females larger than 17 cm were caught in the Adriatic Sea and the larger specimen used by Muñoz et al (2005) had 16.7 cm, suggesting that males are probably larger than females.…”

Life-history traits of the southern hemisphere eastern red scorpionfish, Scorpaena cardinalis (Scorpaenidae: Scorpaeninae)

“…In contrast, the mean GSI value for male S. cardinalis during the spawning season in the present study was 1/40 of the weight of the female values. A similar disparity ow, ovarian wall; vo, vitellogenic oocyte; po, previtellogenic oocyte; os, ovarian stroma; bv, blood vessel; ol, ovarian lumen; p, peduncle; m, mesothelium; ml, muscle layer; el, epithelial layer; sp, secretory processes; ho, hydrated oocyte; of, ovarian fluid. in GSI values between the sexes has been reported for S. notata (Muñoz et al 2005;Ordines et al 2009), where males attained greater sizes and ages than did females in the Mediterranean (Ordines et al 2009). The disparity in the ripe gonad size between the sexes suggests that the males of S. cardinalis use their sperm more efficiently than do those of the congeneric species S. porcus and S. guttata, and so do not require the same level of sperm production.…”

“…It is not known whether this pattern is an artefact of our sampling protocol or whether it reflects a short period when spawning actually occurs. Published monthly GSI values in other Scorpaena congenerics (S. notata, S. guttata and S. porcus) indicate spawning periods of approximately 4 months during which mean GSI values range between ,3 and 5% (Love et al 1987;Muñoz et al 2005;Bilgin and Ç elik 2009). The peak mean GSI values for female S. cardinalis of 2.8% during March 2005 and 4.0% during March 2009 were similar to those reported for other spawning female Scorpaena congenerics; however, the relatively low mean GSI values ( 1%) that occurred for all other months do suggest that spawning may be restricted to a shorter period in S. cardinalis.…”