P-87 A histology-based appraisal of gonad maturation in female dolphinfish collected offshore of Florida, USA

Monday, September 13, 2010
Hall B (Convention Center)
Richard S. McBride, Ph.D. , Northeast Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, Woods Hole, MA
Derke J. G. Snodgrass , Southeast Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, Miami, FL
Douglas H. Adams , Florida Fish & Wildlife Institute, Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission, Melbourne, FL
Steven J. Rider , Alabama Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries, Auburn University, AL
James A. Colvocoresses , Florida Fish & Wildlife Institute, Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission, St. Petersburg, FL
Maturation of female dolphinfish (Coryphaena hippurus, n = 621) is described with respect to month, fish size, and geographic region of collection.  Gonad samples were collected from three areas:  the Florida Keys (south Florida, Atlantic Ocean), the Cape Canaveral region (east coast, Atlantic Ocean), and Florida’s panhandle (west coast, Gulf of Mexico). Histological criteria, such as most advanced oocyte stage, appearance of the post-ovulatory follicles, and presence of atresia or other cellular degradation, were used to classify the samples into two immature classes (immature, maturing) and three mature classes (spawning capable, spawning active, post-spawning). Spawning frequency was highest in winter and spring, but the presence of oocytes in final maturation and post-ovulatory follicles demonstrated that spawning can occur nearly year-round. Females matured at smaller sizes in the Gulf of Mexico than elsewhere in Florida. This poster evaluates how these region-specific maturation patterns may reflect ecophenotypic or genetic differences.
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