Energy acquisition and allocation to the gonadal development of Cynoscion leiachus (Perciformes, Sciaenidae) in a tropical Brazilian bay

ABSTRACT

The process of energy acquisition and allocation to the gonadal development involves the use of reserves obtained from the food intake and/or stored in different parts of the body. Some fish species acquire and store energy prior the spawning season (capital breeders). For others species, the energy acquisition through by feeding activity continues actively throughout the spawning season (income breeders). This process of acquisition/allocation of energy to gonadal development was investigated for Cynoscion leiarchus an important fishery resource in southeastern Brazil. Monthly measurements of the gonadosomatic, hepatosomatic, condition factor and stomach repletion indices were carried out. Size at the first maturation was also assessed. Fish, mainly teleosts, were the main source of energy in the diet suggesting a carnivorous behaviour. We found evidences of use of stored body energy reserves during the spawning period, associated concomitantly with a decrease of feeding activity, suggesting a capital breeder. However, the wide spawning season, together with asynchronic oocyte development and indeterminate fecundity (typical of income breeders) suggest that the mixed-breeder strategy should be more suitable for this species. The high plasticity regarding the capital-income breeder strategy during the reproductive cycle of the genus Cynoscion is discussed.

SUBJECT EDITOR:

• Audrey Geffen

KEYWORDS:

• Mixed breeding
• feeding
• reproduction
• gonadosomatic index

Acknowledgements

We thank Petunia F. de Souza and Anacleto O. Neto for all valuable contributions for this study. This research was partially funded by Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (Proc. 23038.007371/2011) and Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (Proc. 304954/2011-0). The Brazilian Institute for the Biodiversity Conservation provided the license for fish collecting (License 10.707) following the ethical procedures for handling animals.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

ORCID

Francisco Gerson Araújo http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4551-1974

Additional information

Funding

This research was partially funded by Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (grant number 23038.007371/2011) and Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (grant number 304954/2011-0).