Unexpected reproductive strategy of Sardinella aurita off the coast of Venezuela |
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Authors: | P Fréon M El Khattabi J Mendoza R Guzmán |
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Institution: | (1) ORSTOM, BP 5045, F-34270, Montpellier, France, FR;(2) Instituto Oceanográfico de Venezuela, UDO, Apartado 245, Sucre, Cumaná, Venezuela, VE;(3) FONAIAP, Estación Experimental Sucre, Avenida Carúpano, Caignire, Sucre, Cumaná, Venezuela, VE |
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Abstract: | Biological sampling of Spanish sardine (Sardinella aurita Valenciennes, 1847) off the coast of Venezuela from 1956 to 1989 was used to study the reproductive strategy and migration
pattern of the population. Whereas in many pelagic fishes the energy re-allocation necessary for reproduction usually occurs
optimally at the end of the upwelling season when planktonic production reaches a maximum, in the present study a 5 mo delay
was observed. This suggests that energy was stored as lipids early in the season and released later via metabolism for gamete
production. Major reproduction did not occur in an area and at a time when offshore transport and turbulence were low, which
is also unusual for a pelagic fish species. These results are discussed in terms of the life cycle of the Spanish sardine
and its possible migratory patterns. The reproductive strategy of this population apparently gives priority to optimising
food availability for the offspring and not to preventing eggs and larvae being transported offshore. The presence of “retention”
areas could explain this unexpected strategy.
Received: 4 November 1996 / Accepted: 20 December 1996 |
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