Contrasting sizes at sexual maturity of southern rock lobsters (Jasus edwardsii) in the two Victorian fishing zones: implications for total egg production and management

1997 ◽  
Vol 48 (8) ◽  
pp. 1009 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. K. Hobday ◽  
T. J. Ryan

Fecundity (F) of Jasus edwardsii Hutton (Decapoda:Palinuridae) in the two Victorian fishing zones (Eastern and Western) was estimated from egg masses collected from 98 mature females (97–164 mm carapace length, CL) and was found to be related to carapace length (CL) by the equation F = 0·0316L3.359 (r2 = 0·8539; n = 571). Size at onset of sexual maturity (SOM), estimated from samples of the commercial catch (n = 3891) and analysed to determine the smallest size class in which 50% of females were carrying eggs or possessed ovigerous setae, was lower in the Western Zone (90 mm CL) than in the Eastern Zone (112 mm CL). Fecundity and SOM estimates and length frequencies in the commercial catch were used to estimate the relative reproductive potential (RRP) of each 5-mm-CL size class. The maximum RRP in the Western Zone was attributed to the size classes of 105 (38%) and 110 mm CL (25%), whereas the maximum RRP in the Eastern Zone was attributed to the size classes between 130 (40%) and 135 mm CL (16%). This study indicates that the current minimum legal size limits need to be reassessed and that separate management strategies for the two zones need to be considered.

Author(s):  
A.J. Linnane ◽  
S.S. Penny ◽  
T.M. Ward

The annual commercial catch from the Southern Zone of the South Australian rock lobster (Jasus edwardsii) fishery is ~1900 tonnes, representing ~50% of total landings from south-east Australia. A single minimum legal size (MLS) of 98.5 mm carapace length (CL) exists across the entire zone. Fecundity (F), size at onset of maturity (SOM) and relative reproductive potential (RRP) of female rock lobsters were investigated in two major fishing regions, i.e. the North Southern Zone (NSZ) and South Southern Zone (SSZ) with a view to providing a basis for future fine-scale spatial management of the resource. F ranged from 45,292 to 466,800 eggs per female and increased proportionally with CL according to the relationship: F = 0.0584 × CL3.1642. F was significantly higher in the NSZ compared to the SSZ but was attributed to differences in lobster size between regions. There was no significant difference in the number of eggs · g−1 of egg mass between areas. SOM, estimated as the size at which 50% of females reached sexual maturity (L50) was higher in the NSZ (104.1 mm CL) compared to SSZ (92.3 mm CL). Approximately 20% of lobsters above the MLS in the commercial catch in the NSZ were under the L50 estimate. RRP, as a measure of egg production, was calculated for each size-class from the product of F, SOM and population length–frequency. The modal RRP size-classes in the NSZ were 117.5–122.5 mm CL, while in the SSZ it was 97.5–102.5 mm CL. Only 6% of RRP was contributed by female rock lobsters below the MLS in the NSZ, compared to 34% in the SSZ. Regional differences in SOM and RRP in the Southern Zone of South Australia suggest that different MLSs may be beneficial, particularly if the fishery is to be effectively managed at finer spatial scales.


Author(s):  
O. Tully ◽  
V. Roantree ◽  
M. Robinson

Fecundity and size at maturity of the European lobster Homarus gammarus (Crustacea: Decapoda) was estimated in four coastal regions of Ireland. Egg size increased with carapace length (CL) (egg size=0·9939×ln (CL)−3·0809). The size–fecundity relationship for all coasts combined was (fecundity=0·0044×CL3·1554).  Physiological maturity was assessed using ovary colour, ovary factor, ova size, abdomen width/CL ratio, cement gland activity and moult status as criteria. Size at 50% maturity varied from 92·5 to 96  mm depending on region. The size–maturity relationship for all coasts combined was (Maturity= 1/(1+exp(14·595−0·15598×CL))). Over 60% of lobsters in the commercial landings were under the size at 50% maturity.  Relative reproductive potential (RRP) of different size-classes was calculated from the size–fecundity and size–maturity models and the numbers by length in the landings. The modal RRP size-class was 98–100 mm. The commercial landings were dominated by the 86–92  mm size-classes.


1997 ◽  
Vol 48 (8) ◽  
pp. 1085 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Mohan

This paper reports variations in size structure, size at sexual maturity, and reproductive potential in the Panulirus homarus population sampled from commercial catches at three sites: Shuwamiyah, Sudh and Mugsyl along the Dhofar coast in the Sultanate of Oman. The size structure of the lobster population showed significant variation (P < 0.001) among the three sites. Size at sexual maturity, based on the presence of spermatophores or an ovigerous condition, indicated variation within the population. Females mature at a smaller size at Shuwamiyah than they do at Sudh and Mugsyl. The relationship between the number of eggs (E) and carapace length (L, in mm) of female lobsters is expressed by E = –249322 + 8942L (r2 = 0.95; n = 11) over the size range 65–95 mm carapace length. Length frequency, size at sexual maturity, and fecundity were used to estimate the index of reproductive potential (IRP) of each 5-mm size class. The size class with the highest IRP varied among the three sites. The variation in size structure and size at sexual maturity was explained by fishery exploitation and by different oceanographic and ecological conditions caused by seasonal upwelling in the study region.


2015 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 281 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jianan Liu ◽  
Kimberly M. Cheng ◽  
Frederick G. Silversides

Fertility of cryopreserved ovarian tissue from immature chickens and Japanese quail has been recovered by transplantation. This is of special importance for non-mammalian vertebrates in which cryopreservation and in vitro maturation of oocytes are challenging because their oogenesis is characterised by vitellogenesis. This study tested whether fertility of adult quail ovarian tissue could be recovered by transplantation. Ovaries were isolated from mature Japanese quail hens, trimmed, cut into 3- to 4-mm2 pieces and transplanted into ovariectomised, week-old chicks. Recipients were administered an immunosuppressant for two weeks. Ten of 12 recipients survived until sexual maturity and seven laid eggs, but all stopped laying by 17 weeks of age. The age at first egg of recipients laying eggs (75.7 ± 4.2 days) was greater than that of untreated hens (51.8 ± 1.7 days) and egg production of recipients during the laying period (21.7 ± 5.7) was less than that of untreated hens (60.8 ± 3.5). Recipients were paired with males from the WB line for test mating. Only two hens laid eggs during the test period but both produced 100% donor-derived offspring. This research demonstrated that the reproductive potential of ovarian tissue from adult quail hens can be restored by transplantation.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katya G. Bonilla ◽  
James R. Guest ◽  
Dexter W. dela Cruz ◽  
Maria Vanessa Baria-Rodriguez

Scleractinian corals are modular colonial organisms and are the main framework builders of coral reefs. Most corals reproduce by broadcast spawning with external fertilization and these processes are essential to replenish reef coral populations. Despite decades of research, many aspects of coral reproductive biology remain poorly studied. For example, two important reproductive life history traits, colony size and age at the onset of sexual maturity, are mostly unknown for many reef-building corals. In this study, wild colonies of different size classes and colonies of a known age (i.e. colonies sexually cultured and reared from larvae to adults) of the massive scleractinian Favitesabdita were examined for the presence or absence of mature oocytes to determine size and age at the onset of sexual reproduction. Fecundity at the onset of reproductive maturity across size classes of wild colonies was also determined. Surveyed and sampled colonies were grouped into three size classes based on maximum colony diameter (A = 0.1-4.0 cm, B = 4.1-8.0 cm, and C = >8.1 cm). For both wild and sexually propagated colonies, the smallest colonies containing gametes were 1.8 cm in diameter, suggesting that this is the minimum colony size at onset of sexual maturity. Colonies of size class A had lower mean oocyte counts per polyp (44 ± 6.08; mean ± SE) compared to colonies of classes B and C (469 ± 62.41, 278 ± 57.15, respectively). However, mean oocyte geometric mean diameter of size class A colonies was greater (340.38 ± 7.68 µm) than classes B and C (283.96 ± 6.94 µm, 317.57 ± 9.18 µm, respectively). Results of this study bring in to question the widely applied operational definition of coral juveniles being colonies ≤4.0 cm diameter and suggest that even quite small colonies may play a role in contributing to the natural larval pool on reefs than previously thought.


2017 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 5256
Author(s):  
Daryoush Shafiei ◽  
Prof. Basavaiah*

In mulberry (Morus spp.), the process of selection of promising hybrids from F1 population requires the screening of a large number of progenies and a long period. To develop a simple and faster approach for screening, studies were conducted using F1 seeds of two crosses. The details of screening studies conducted in relation to seed-size and seedling-size are reported separately in two parts. In this part, the F1 seeds were size-graded as small, medium and large seeds; their progenies were raised separately and screened in nursery. There was a considerable degree of variation in size of seeds and medium-size class seeds were in high percentage in both the crosses. The length, width and weight of seeds were also varied between the seed size classes significantly in both the crosses. The seed size classes differ with high significance in shoot length and Root collar diameter and also differ significantly in root length and weight of seedlings. The positive correlation between the seed size and growth of seedlings, seed size and germination, seed size and seedling survival in nursery indicated that size-grading of seeds and rejection of small seeds in the beginning of screening process may help to increase the efficiency of screening by increasing the chances of getting superior hybrids from limited progenies. However, confirmation on the performance of large seedlings from small seed size class may help to draw conclusion. Hence, the studies are continued with size- grading of seedlings in the next part of screening study.


2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 749 ◽  
Author(s):  
Majid Nazeer ◽  
Muhammad Waqas ◽  
Muhammad Imran Shahzad ◽  
Ibrahim Zia ◽  
Weicheng Wu

According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), global mean sea levels may rise from 0.43 m to 0.84 m by the end of the 21st century. This poses a significant threat to coastal cities around the world. The shoreline of Karachi (a coastal mega city located in Southern Pakistan) is vulnerable mainly due to anthropogenic activities near the coast. Therefore, the present study investigates rates and susceptibility to shoreline change using a 76-year multi-temporal dataset (1942 to 2018) through the Digital Shoreline Analysis System (DSAS). Historical shoreline positions were extracted from the topographic sheets (1:250,000) of 1942 and 1966, the medium spatial resolution (30 m) multi-sensor Landsat images of 1976, 1990, 2002, 2011, and a high spatial resolution (3 m) Planet Scope image from 2018, along the 100 km coast of Karachi. The shoreline was divided into two zones, namely eastern (25 km) and western (29 km) zones, to track changes in development, movement, and dynamics of the shoreline position. The analysis revealed that 95% of transects drawn for the eastern zone underwent accretion (i.e., land reclamation) with a mean rate of 14 m/year indicating that the eastern zone faced rapid shoreline progression, with the highest rates due to the development of coastal areas for urban settlement. Similarly, 74% of transects drawn for the western zone experienced erosion (i.e., land loss) with a mean rate of −1.15 m/year indicating the weathering and erosion of rocky and sandy beaches by marine erosion. Among the 25 km length of the eastern zone, 94% (23.5 km) of the shoreline was found to be highly vulnerable, while the western zone showed much more stable conditions due to anthropogenic inactivity. Seasonal hydrodynamic analysis revealed approximately a 3% increase in the average wave height during the summer monsoon season and a 1% increase for the winter monsoon season during the post-land reclamation era. Coastal protection and management along the Sindh coastal zone should be adopted to defend against natural wave erosion and the government must take measures to stop illegal sea encroachments.


2003 ◽  
Vol 69 (2) ◽  
pp. 787-795 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rainer Kurmayer ◽  
Guntram Christiansen ◽  
Ingrid Chorus

ABSTRACT The working hypotheses tested on a natural population of Microcystis sp. in Lake Wannsee (Berlin, Germany) were that (i) the varying abundance of microcystin-producing genotypes versus non-microcystin-producing genotypes is a key factor for microcystin net production and (ii) the occurrence of a gene for microcystin net production is related to colony morphology, particularly colony size. To test these hypotheses, samples were fractionated by colony size with a sieving procedure during the summer of 2000. Each colony size class was analyzed for cell numbers, the proportion of microcystin-producing genotypes, and microcystin concentrations. The smallest size class of Microcystis colonies (<50 μm) showed the lowest proportion of microcystin-producing genotypes, the highest proportion of non-microcystin-producing cells, and the lowest microcystin cell quotas (sum of microcystins RR, YR, LR, and WR). In contrast, the larger size classes of Microcystis colonies (>100 μm) showed the highest proportion of microcystin-producing genotypes, the lowest proportion of non-microcystin-producing cells, and the highest microcystin cell quotas. The microcystin net production rate was nearly one to one positively related to the population growth rate for the larger colony size classes (>100 μm); however, no relationship could be found for the smaller size classes. It was concluded that the variations found in microcystin net production between colony size classes are chiefly due to differences in genotype composition and that the microcystin net production in the lake is mainly influenced by the abundance of the larger (>100-μm) microcystin-producing colonies.


1988 ◽  
Vol 39 (6) ◽  
pp. 729 ◽  
Author(s):  
AJ Courtney ◽  
MCL Dredge

In the coastal region of central Queensland female red-spot king prawns, P. longistylus, and the western or blue-leg king prawns, P. latisulcatus, had high mean ovary weights and high proportions of advanced ovary development during the winter months of July and August of 1985 and 1986. On the basis of insemination, both species began copulating at the size of 26-27 mm CL, but P. longistylus matured and spawned at a smaller size than P. latisulcatus. Abundance of P. longistylus was generally three to four times greater than that of P. latisulcatus but the latter was subject to greater variation in abundance. Low mean ovary weight and low proportions of females with advanced ovaries were associated with the maximum mean bottom sea-water temperature (28.5�C) for both species. Population fecundity indices indicated that peaks in yolk or egg production (a) displayed a similar pattern for both species, (b) varied in timing from year to year for both species and (c) were strongly influenced by abundance. Generally, sample estimates of abundance and commercial catch rates (CPUE) showed similar trends. Differences between the two may have been due to changes in targeted commercial effort in this multi-species fishery.


2013 ◽  
Vol 71 (2) ◽  
pp. 365-373 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ann Merete Hjelset

Abstract Hjelset, A. M. 2014. Fishery-induced changes in Norwegian red king crab (Paralithodes camtschaticus) reproductive potential. – ICES Journal of Marine Science, 71: 365–373. The introduced red king crab (Paralithodes camtschaticus) in the Barents Sea supports a valuable fishery in northern Norway. In this paper, I examine the effect of the increased harvest rate and the recently added female quota on the potential egg production of the stock. The size ranges of males and females in the period 1995–2011 were recorded, and estimated stock abundance of ovigerous females and established individual fecundity parameters from 2000–2007 were used to assess the reproductive potential of the stock from 1995–2011. The upper size ranges of males and females decreased throughout the period studied, presumably mainly due to fishing. The change in size composition among ovigerous females and functional mature males, and the reduced mean individual fecundity in the stock seem to have had a negative effect on the potential egg production of the stock.


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