Determination of the Reproductive Characteristics of the Lessepsian Species Nemipterus randalli Russell, 1986 Distributed in the Northeastern Mediterranean, Iskenderun Bay
Project no. 23325 · Status: Kapanmış (Yayın bekleniyor) · 2022
Summary
<p>In the study conducted to determine the reproductive characteristics of <em>Nemipterus randalli</em>, a species distributed in Iskenderun Bay, a total of 1200 <em>N. randalli</em> individuals were collected over 12 months, with 100 specimens obtained monthly from 10 predetermined stations in the bay. The specimens were brought to the Fisheries Laboratory of Ege University, Faculty of Fisheries, where their lengths and weights were measured, followed by dissection for sex identification. Ovaries from mature females were fixed in formalin solution to determine fecundity. Additionally, to identify the gonadal development stages, samples from each development phase were prepared for histological analysis. The total length of the specimens ranged from 13.2 to 30 cm (mean: 20.77±3.71 cm), and the weight ranged from 23 to 147 g (mean: 63.47 ± 31.34 g). The length-weight relationship for the species was determined as W=0.0241TL2.57 (R²=0.93). Among the collected specimens, 346 were male (29%) and 854 were female (71%), resulting in a female-to-male ratio of 1:0.40. The study determined the length at first sexual maturity as 13.11 cm for females and 15.55 cm for males. The spawning season was identified as between April and August. The fecundity of the species ranged between 47785 and 65200 eggs, and a linear relationship between length and fecundity was found as F=4532TL-25533 (R²=0.72). While determining the fecundity, oocyte diameter was also measured. The diameter of mature oocytes ranged from 0.50 to 0.63 mm.</p>