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Effects of Ration on Growth and Reproductive Investment from Larva to Sexual Maturity in the Female Cyprinid Minnow, Tanichthys albonubes
Author(s) -
Zeng Xiangling,
Lin Xiaoto,
Xu Zhongneng,
Xia Xinjian,
Sun Jun
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
international review of hydrobiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.524
H-Index - 52
eISSN - 1522-2632
pISSN - 1434-2944
DOI - 10.1002/iroh.201111424
Subject(s) - vitellogenesis , biology , sexual maturity , zoology , minnow , cyprinidae , larva , ovary , maturity (psychological) , secondary sex characteristic , reproduction , fishery , ecology , fish <actinopterygii> , oocyte , endocrinology , hormone , embryo , developmental psychology , psychology
Somatic growth and reproductive investment in female Tanichthys albonubes (Cyprinidae) individually cultured at the laboratory from larva to sexual maturity were examined under low, medium, and satiation food rations. All the 72‐day post‐hatch fish reached sexual maturity under all rations. The standard length, wet body mass, dry ovarian mass, dry liver mass, condition factor, energy content, and number of vitellogenic oocytes were all increased with ration levels. However, food conversion efficiency decreased with ration. There were no significant differences in total number of oocytes per female between rations. The species is a continuous batch‐spawner. The size‐frequency distributions of oocyte diameters showed a continuous pattern, ranging from 0.03 to 0.70 mm, at different rations. The proportion of energy intake allocated to growth decreased with ration levels. Only 3.29–4.60% of energy intake was stored in the ovary. These biological and energetic characteristics allow this fish to reach first maturity with low food intake, although it produced fewer vitellogenic oocytes at lower rations. This property enables T. albonubes survive in its native habitats where food is not only scarce, but also variable temporally and spatially. (© 2011 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)