Extended Breeding Season in the Marbled Goby, Pomatoschistus Marmoratus (Teleostei: Gobiidae), in the Venetian Lagoon

Life cycle and reproductive biology of the marbled goby Pomatoschistus marmoratus was studied in the Venetian Lagoon. Lifespan was determined by reading otoliths. The maximum age recorded was 17 months juveniles occurred in samples from July to November. Nests were found in two different periods: from the middle of April to the middle of July and from the middle of August to the end of September. While individuals in a wide range of body size (35–62mm total length) mated during the first spawning peak during the second one only small individuals (28–32mm total length) developed during the first peak were in reproductive activity. Histological analyses showed that most of the juveniles developed during the first spawning peak delayed sexual maturation to the following year. Ripe females appeared to be multiple spawner showing an asynchronous ovary with oocytes at different stages of development. From nesting male body sizes gonadosomatic indices and histological analyses no indication of the presence of alternative male mating tactics emerged.