Determination of batch fecundity of garfish, Belone belone, in the northern Aegean Sea

Year 2013, Volume: 19 Issue: 3, 385 - 392, 01.12.2013

Tülin Çoker Okan Akyol Gökçen Bilge

Abstract

Abstract This study reports the batch fecundity (BF) and oocyte diameters of Belone belone from the Aegean Sea (Izmir and Candarli Bays). A total of 51 female specimens of garfish were collected from January to December 2003. Oocyte diameters (n = 12140) of B. belone ranged from 0.063 to 3.5 mm, concentrating between 0.063 and 1.5 mm. The fish weight – BF relationships according to both hydrated oocyte and oocyte size frequency methods were BF = - 0.3794 W 192.22 (R2 = 0.037) and BF = 5.165 W - 55.21 (R2 = 0.218), respectively. Mean oocyte numbers in the ovaries were 4144 ± 604 with varied from 662 to 15962. Maximum BF was 2130 (mean: 670 ± 97) in hydrated oocytes, and 8189 (mean: 1667 ± 559) in large oocytes. There was no linear relationship between BF and fish weight according to determination coefficients.

Keywords

Key words: Garfish, Belone belone, oocyte diameter, batch fecundity, Aegean Sea.

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