Reproduction

• Reproduction is the process by which fish species are perpetuated and by which, in
combination with genetic change, characteristics for new species first appears.
• The process by which cells and organisms produce other cells and organisms of the same kind.
• Reproduction is the biological process by which new individual offspring are produced from
their parents.
• The act or process of reproducing, specially the process by which plants and animals gave rise
to offspring and which fundamentally consist of the segregation of a portion of the parental
body by a sexual or an asexual process and its subsequent growth and differentiation into a
new individual.
• The sexual or asexual process by which organisms generate new individuals of the same kind.
such as
• The reproduction of organisms by the union of male and female) reproductive cells (gamete)
is called sexual reproduction. e.g- many unicellular and multicellular organism reproduce
sexually.
• The reproduction in which offspring are produced by a single parent, without the union of
reproductive cells is called asexual reproduction.

Different Types or Mode of Reproduction

There are three different types /mode of reproduction in fishes. Such as-

1. Heterosexual/Bisexual
2. Hermaphroditic and
3. Parthenogenetic

[Link] / Bisexual

Heterosexual reproduction is a process by which the organism sexually attracted to animal of opposite
sex. In the most common form, heterosexual reproduction, there are separate male and female
parents, but even here there is considerable variation.

e.g. most of the fish species. As like Carp fish, Tengra, Boal, Magur etc.

2. Hermaphroditic

Hermaphroditic reproduction is a process by which an organism that has complete or partial

reproductive organs and produces gametes normally associated with both male and female sexes. In
hermaphroditic reproduction, a single fish is both male and female, produces both eggs and sperm
(either at the same time ore at different times), and mates with other similar hermaphroditic fishes.
External-self fertilization occurs in one hermaphroditic fish, which sheds eggs and sperm
simultaneously. In another, internal self-fertilization may occur. Eg-Etheostoma, Perches, Hagfishes
etc.

[Link]

Parthenogenetic reproduction is a natural form of asexual reproduction in which growth and

development of embryos occurs without fertilization.

Development of young is without fertilization and females produce only female offspring. eg- Poecilia
formosa
There are two ways this is done.

In gynogenesis, the sperm of a closely related species is used to triggers development of the egg
nucleus but does not fuse with it. And

In hybridogenesis, fusion occurs but only the haploid female genome is transmitted to the developing
ovum.

In parthenogenetic reproduction, unfertilized eggs develop into embryos. This is known to exist in at
least one fish species, Poecilia formosa of the Amazon River. However even though development
proceeds without fertilization in some of these females mating with a male is still required to stimulate
egg development.

ESTIMATION OF ANNUAL REPRODUCTIVE CYCLE OF FISHES

Reproductive Cycle

Reproduction is one of the major events in the life history of a species.

Reproductive cycle is the cycle of physiological changes in the reproductive organs from the time of
fertilization of the ovum through gestation and parturition.

In fisheries studies the particle event of interest in the reproductive cycle of a species is the time of
spawning, when fully developed gametes are released. The spawning event may extend over either a
short period or a long period and be at either regular or irregular intervals. But in many species, occurs
once every year.

Estimation of annual reproductive cycle

Annual reproductive cycle can vary significantly among different species of fish. Spawning may be
triggered by stimuli which are quite different from those which induce gonads to develop.

Reproduction cycles and the timing of spawning of fishes can be studied by several different methods,
including:

1. The direct observation of spawning, which may be possible during underwater surveys.
2. The relative abundance of larvae over time.
3. The brooding of eggs (eg- the proportion of female crustaceans carrying eggs, or in berry) Over
time
4. The appearance of gonads, according to predefined stages of maturation, over time.
5. The relative size or weight of gonads over time.

Of the above methods, the last two are often used in fisheries studies and are discussed below –

Gonad/Ovarian Maturation Stage

In fisheries work, only the female ovaries are studied, because these are large in size than the male
testis. To study the gonad maturation stages, we need to collect monthly samples of fish randomly
over a period of one year and preserve in ice. Whole gonads should be removed from the each female
specimen to examine the ovary appearance and colour. The maturity stage would be deducted from
appearance, coloration and histological analysis of ovaries.

• According to King(1995),ovaries may be examined microscopically and classified into various

development stages-
[Link].→st. Name→ Ovary→Eggs (table)

I)Immature stage/Resting phase

Ovary undeveloped, small, translucent and Eggs are none visible to naked eye.

II) Developing/Mature phase

Ovary opaque, orange colour, fills body cavity and Eggs are visible and opaque.

III) Ripe

Ovary fills body cavity and Eggs are translucent, large and round.

IV) Spawning

Ovary release eggs when pressed and Eggs large, translucent, some free in ovary.

V)Spent

Ovary shrinking /slack and Eggs- some residual eggs.

Gronado Somatic Index (GSI)

A gonad or gonadosomatic index is of used to follow the reproductive cycle of a species ever the year
at monthly or less intervals.

The preserved individual body weight (BW) of each specimen should be measured using an electronic
balance to 0.01g accuracy. In addition, whole gonad should be removed from each female specimen
& also weighted to the nearest 0.01g to calculate the female GSI. This index which assumed that an
ovary increasing development compares to the weight of the gonad (GW) with the body weight of the
fish (BW)

GSI = ( GW/BW ) × 100

In this same process Gonadal Length Index (GLI) of fishes are also calculated compares to the length
of gonad with the total length of the body.

GLI= (GL/TL)×100

Size at Sexual Maturity

Gonad development and subsequent Spawning may depend on various environmental stimuli.
Individuals must reach a certain age or size before they are capable of reproduction.

★The mean length at sexual maturity (Lm), may be defined as the length at which 50 percent of all
individuals are sexually mature. eg-as the length at which 50 percent of all females in a stock of
crustaceans are ovigerous, or the length at which 50 percent of all female fish have ovaries in an
advanced stage of development

P=1/(1+ exp[-π (L-Lm)])

Estimation The Size at Sexual Maturity of Macrobrachium rosenbergii

Size at sexual maturity of [Link] is estimated based on the study of -

 • Relative growth
• Maximum size of individuals
• By direct observation of ovigerous female
• Position of eggs
• By histological study.
• Brooding of eggs overt time.

-Brooding of eggs over time is the most suitable method for the estimation of the size at sexual
maturity of [Link].

-Samples should be collected randomly over a year, with the use of net.

-In each individual, the following structures are measured:

• carapace length (CL,mm),

• Width of and pleuron (PlL,mm),
• Length of CARPUS (CaL, mm), and
• length of prepodus (PrL, mm).

-Relative growth is analysed by observing the change in growth patterns of certain parts of the body
in relation to the independent Variable CL.

-The morphometric variables: Length of the carpus (CL×CaL) for males and width of the second pleuron
(CL×PlL) for females give the best estimates for the size at maturation.

-At the time of maturation, the nucleus of the eggs become conspicuous. Eye spot is appeared in the
egg at the time of maturation.

Importance of the estimation of size sexual maturity for [Link].

Size at sexual maturity for any commercial species is very important. M. rosenbergii is one of the most
popular prawn species in our country. It has its great export value.

Now the importance for the estimatin of size at sexual maturity of [Link] are given below-

• For sustainable reproduction.

• For their proper growth.
• To know about their life cycle.
• Time of their reproduction.
• Factors that effect their size at sexual maturity.
• To concern the people when they should be caught.

Importance Of Reproduction Of Fish

• The reproductive process allows species to Perpetuate (propagate) among themselves.

• It is important for the continuation of the generation of fish species.
• Almost all permitting mixing fishes reproduce sexually, thus permitting mixing of the genes
of the two sexes. Exchanging genes continue through generation to generation.
• Reproduction is essential to prevent extinction of species.
• Asexual reproduction helps to study the genetic structure.
• It increase the number of population of a species.
 • The reproductive process of fishes form the basis for early life- history studies. The great
variety of these processes among fishes make their study worthwhile, but also determine how
early life history studies of various fishes can be to conducted.
• It indirectly provides nutrition to human.

Fecundity

Fecundity is the total number of eggs present in the ovary) and that should be laid in a single spawning
season.

There are various types of fecundity such as

1. Absolute fecundity

Absolute fecundity is the number of ripe eggs produced by a female in a single spawning season.

2. Relative fecundity

Relative fecundity is the number of eggs produced by a single female in a single spawning season per
unit body weight or size.

[Link] fecundity

It is the number of eggs produced by multispawner female and that is released several times in a single
spawning season.

Methods for Estimation of Fecundity

• Actual method
• Volumetric method
• Gravimetric method
• Electronic method

( description on previous semester sheet)

Fecundity normally vary with-

• Among the species and within the species

• Size
• Weight
• Length
• Age
• Population

GAMETOGENESIS

[Link] and 2. Oogenesis

[Link] process-

I. Formation of spermatids(3 phases)

II. Transfer of spermatids into sperm/spermiogenesis

[Link]
The metamorphosis or differentiation of the spermatids into the sperm is known as spermiogenesis.
In this process, no division occur but spermatids changes into spermatozoon.

The following important changes take place:

• Shrinking of the nucleus in size and the formation of a head.

• Golgi body concentrate at the anterior end, so as to form acrosome.
• Mitochondria, which lie at the junction of the head and the tail, form a middle piece, which
provides energy for beating of the tail.

[Link] (3 phases)

(Whole gametogenesis description in previous semester sheet)

SPERMATOGENESIS OOGENESIS
[Link] place in testis of male. [Link] place in ovary of female.
[Link] smaller than [Link] larger than oocyte.
Spermatocyte.
[Link] division of cytoplas. [Link] division of cell.
[Link] metamorphosi stage, 4. No metamorphosis stage.
spermiogenesis.
[Link] gamets produce meiotic 5. one gamet produced from each
from each meiotic division. division.
[Link] from Puberty to 6. Starts at the puberty to death &
death. stop at menopause.
[Link] 70days to produce sperm. [Link] basis Process

[Link] increase the activity primary 8. FSH responsible for the choice of
oocyte of the sertoli cells that are & helps to secreting oestrogen.
involved in spermiogenesis.