THE INFLUENCE OF TEMPERATURE ON THE ONSET OF FIRST MATURITY IN SEA BASS
M.G. Pawson, G.D. Pickett, P.R. Witthames-2000
Journal of Fish Biology, 56 (2): 319-327
Abstract:
Oocyte development was aborted and full maturity did not occur in
virgin female sea bass Dicentrarchus labrax unless they remained in water
above 10 C during the main period of gonad development. There was no
difference in the condition factors of females with high or low IG values
in March, which indicates that retarded gonadal development was not
necessarily due to poor body condition or nutritional state. It is
suggested that the extended duration of the adolescent phase of female
bass around southern Britain is a response to their environment, rather
than an intrinsic aspect of the species' biology.
(Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, Pakefield Road, Lowestoft, Suffolk, NR33 0HT, U.K., tel. 01502 524436, fax: 01502 524511, e-mail:m.g.pawson@cefas.co.uk)
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