FECUNDITY INDICES OF GIANT FRESHWATER PRAWN, MACROBRACHIUM ROSENBERGII (DE MAN)
S. Sureshkumar, B. Madhusoodana Kurup-1998
Journal of Aquaculture in the Tropics 13 (3): 181-188
Abstract:
Fecundity of Macrobrachium rosenbergii is enumerated and the same is regressed to twenty-five different morphometric characters in order to evolve suitable indices which can easily be used for the indirect estimation of eggs of berried prawns, especially for hatchery operations. Based on 80 prawns studied with an average weight of 109.89 g, average fecundity was computed at 95,687 eggs. Absolute fecundity varied from 30,666 to 227,161 for the specimen ranging in weight from 33.7 to 208.0 g. Among the twenty-five morphometric parameters studied, fecundity of M. rosenbergii showed a very strong positive correlation with total weight, total length and carapace length and therefore, the indices arrived at based on these parameters can reliably be used for the indirect estimation of fecundity. Average number of eggs per gram body weight was calculated as 870.75 and the same in respect of millimetre length of body and carapace were worked out to be 452.13 and 1624.56 respectively.
(School of Industrial Fisheries, Cochin University of Science and Technology, Fine Arts Avenue, Cochin 682016, India)