Reproductive cycle in the male and female grey mullet, Liza klunzingeri in the Kuwaiti waters of the Arabian Gulf

Abou-Seedo F.S., Dadzie S.

Date de parution: avril 2004
Volume: 28
Number: 2
Pagination: 097-104
Editeur: Société Française d’Ichtyologie
doi: https://doi.org/10.26028/cybium/2004-282-002
Résumé

The reproductive activities of the grey mullet, Liza klunzingeri (Day, 1888) in Kuwaiti waters were investigated from March 1998 to February 1999. Contrary to existing view that grey mullet in Kuwaiti waters spawn from December to February, evidence is presented that indicates a prolonged spawning period, beginning from November and ending in March. The maturation pattern is divided into seven stages in both male and female. Variations in GSI relative to fish length indicate that males reach maximum reproductive capacity at between 13.1-17.0 cm, and females at 14.1- 18.0 cm. During the fishing campaign, females outnumbered males in the samples in a ratio of 2:1. The oocyte diameterfrequency distribution suggests a synchronous oocyte development with a single, total spawning. Fecundity ranged from 88,896-185,929 eggs. The species inhabits unstable habitats (estuaries and coastal areas) which, in the Kuwait Bay, are threatened. This, coupled with the fact that they generally grow to relatively small size, attain the most fecund status also at a small size, and have high fecundity, suggest that the species is r-selected, as opposed to the so-called K-selected species which inhabit stable environments, grow to relatively large sizes, with delayed reproduction, and low fecundity.

Mots-clés: Arabian Gulf - Fecundity - Kuwait - Liza klunzingeri - Maturation patterns - Maturity stages - Mugilidae - Spawning rhythms
PDF visible pour tous