Reproductive cycle of female yellow snapperLutjanus argentiventris(Pisces, Actinopterygii, Lutjanidae) in the SW Gulf of California: gonadic stages, spawning seasonality and length at sexual maturity

Abstract

specimens in the size range of 10.8-59 cm were collected from four fishing areas: Huizache-Caimanero, Mazatlan, Marmol and Santa Marı´a la Reforma in the SW Gulf of California. Specimens were collected from fishermen and obtained by sampling with gill nets, hook and line and spear gun fishing. Gonadal stages, spawning season and length-atfirst maturity were estimated for female yellow snapper through histological analyses and relative gonadosomatic (GSI) and hepatosomatic (HSI) indexes. Six gonadal stages were identified and gonadal development was asynchronous. Gonads in advanced stage VI of vitellogenesis occurred during summer and winter together with the highest values of the GSI and HSI, indicating that spawning occurred during these seasons. Mean maturity length was determined to be 32.6 cm total length. The yellow snapper population was being adversely affected considering that the species was exploited throughout the year, including the reproductive seasons, and that organisms as small as 10 cm were found in fishermenÕs catches and at fish markets. Minimum capture sizes of 33 cm and a closed season during the reproductive periods of summer and winter are suggested as measures to reduce the adverse affects of this exploitation.

Biología reproductiva de <i>Anisotremus interruptus</i> (Perciformes: Haemulidae) en el Pacífico central mexicano

“…Este es el primer trabajo que aborda la reproducción de A. interruptus, a pesar de que esta especie tiene amplia distribución en el Pacífico y es de gran importancia en la región de estudio. Varios autores han señalado en diferentes especies de peces que el IGS puede ser un indicador confiable del periodo reproductivo (Arellano-Martínez & Ceballos-Vázquez 2001, González & Oyarzún 2002, Palomera-Sánchez 2004, Lucano-Ramírez et al 2001c, 2005, Sánchez-Cárdenas et al 2007, Piñón et al 2009). En este caso, el IGS es un indicador aceptable del principal periodo de reproducción en A. interruptus, (febrero-mayo).…”

Length-weight relationship and biological information of the yellow snapper Lutjanus argentiventris from a tropical estuary: Río Caté, Gulf of Montijo, Panama

“…This study shows a maximum range (58.0 cm total length), larger than that reported in FishBase (49.0 cm total length) by Froese and Pauly (Table ). The difference between the exponent in juveniles ( b = 2.87) and adults ( b = 3.05) indicates that because of gonad development (Piñón et al., ), the adults gain considerably more weight than is suggested by their increase in length. The difference in slope between juveniles and adults is significant, as can be seen from the non‐overlapping confidence limits (Fig.…”

“…() and Piñón et al. () found a higher size of maturation of approximately 51.5 cm and 33.0 cm, respectively (Table ).…”

Spawning Aggregation of Beardfish, Polymixia lowei, in a Deep-water Sinkhole off the Florida Keys

“…This variation in the reproductive cycle should be taken into account when estimating maturity ogives. In contrast, the amarillo snapper L. argentiventris may complete two reproductive cycles within a 12-month period as females in the regenerating phase were found during spring and autumn and spawning females were found during summer and winter (Piñon et al 2007). Indeed, the amount of time any species spends in a specific phase is dependent on both abiotic (e.g., water temperature, depth, day length, and moon phase) and biotic (e.g., food resources, competition, mate availability, and habitat structure) factors and can vary both among and within species based on the availability of suitable factors.…”