Ja. Tomasini et al., FEMALE REPRODUCTIVE-BIOLOGY OF THE SAND SMELT IN BRACKISH LAGOONS OF SOUTHERN FRANCE, Journal of Fish Biology, 49(4), 1996, pp. 594-612
The breeding season of Atherina boyeri living in the brackish lagoons
of Mauguio, Perols and Mejean (Herault, southern France) was very prot
racted (February-September). The peak of the reproductive effort occur
red in April, May and June. Larger fishes started spawning earlier, an
d stopped later, than smaller ones. Batch fecundity varied from 4 to 4
47 oocytes and was positively related to female length and weight. Mon
thly mean fecundity increased at the beginning of the breeding season
and decreased between June and July. Individual mean oocyte diameter r
anged from 1.34 to 1.94 mm and was not related to fish length. Monthly
mean oocyte size declined throughout the breeding season as water tem
perature rose. There was no trade-off between number and egg size. The
strategy of these sand smelts seemed well adapted to ensure spawning
success without endangering their survival. The highest reproductive e
ffort period occurred in such a way that environmental conditions were
suitable to the best survival and growth of hatched larvae. When bree
ding ceased, fishes, particularly the youngest ones, had enough time t
o improve their condition before overwintering. (C) 1986 The Fisheries
Society of the British Isles