Aspects of the spawning biology of the Brazilian sardine, Sardinella brasiliensis (Steindachner, 1879), (Clupeidae) |
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Authors: | V J Isaac-Nahum R de D Cardoso† G Servo ‡ C L del B Rossi-Wongtschowski |
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Institution: | Institut fuer Meereskunde, Düsternbrooker Weg 20, 2300 Kiel, Fed. Rep. Germany;Superintêndencia de Desenvolvimento da Pesca (PDF), Florianópolis, SC, Brazil;Institute de Pesca, Div. Pesca Marinha, Santos, SP, Brazil;Instituto Oceanográfico da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil |
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Abstract: | Biological data, size frequency distribution of intraovarian oocytes, maturity indices and histological observations of the gonads were used to assess the spawning cycle of S. brasiliensis , sampled September 1981–August 1982 throughout the main fishing area off the Brazilian coast (22°S to 28°S). Post-ovulatory follicles are described and classified, and the incidence of mature females displaying these structures was calculated. The main findings were (a) spawning occurred during the spring and summer with a maximum in December and January; (b) spawning occurred throughout the area studied; (c) spawning was fractional; (d) average batch fecundity was 26 000 oocytes per female, or 393 eggs g−1; (e) spawning frequency reached values of approximately 50% during the spawning peak, but was sensibly lower during the other months of spawning activity. |
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