The reproductive biology of Micropogonias furnieri (Desmarest, 1823) (Teleostei, Sciaenidae): 1. condition factor as an indicator of spawning period

Abstract

The monthly analysis of maturity stage frequency of adult females caught monthly at the Ubatvíba region, SP, from February 1979 to January 1980, suggests that M. funieri spaws three times ayear: Autumn (April-June) , Winter (August-Sept ember) and Spring-Summer (November-February). Condition factor fluctuations estimated with andwithout gonads K and K') during a reproductive cycle reinforces hypothesis0 K and K' maximum values relate precisely with higher frequency periods of a females at advanced stages of maturity (C). On the other hand, K and K' minimum values are concomitant with higher frequency periods of spent females (D). Although K and K' have a similar evolution, there are some periods in which ΔK (K-K') appears higher: May, August-September and November. These periods are also related to the maximum frequency of females in stage C. As AX estimes the "gonad condition", establishing the periods when the gonad attains the maximum weight in relation to body weight, and so the more advances of maturity stages, it can be used as a maturity and breeding season index.