TY - JOUR
T1 - Seasonal variation in fecundity, egg case viability, gestation, and neonate size for little skates, Leucoraja erinacea, in the Gulf of Maine
AU - Palm, Brittany D.
AU - Koester, David M.
AU - Driggers, William B.
AU - Sulikowski, James A.
PY - 2011/12
Y1 - 2011/12
N2 - Landings of the little skate, Leucoraja erinacea, within the territorial waters of the United States are currently regulated by a federal fishery management plan (FMP). For a FMP to be effective, thorough knowledge of a species' reproductive biology is essential. Currently, little information exists on annual fecundity, egg case viability, gestation length, and neonate total length, for the little skate in the Gulf of Maine. To study these reproductive parameters, mature skates and egg cases were housed in fiberglass tanks with an open seawater system that provided natural, seasonal fluctuations in water temperature. Egg case deposition was highest during summer months with a seasonal peak in June. Of the 324 egg cases laid by seven females (c. 46 eggs per year, per female), 74. 1% were viable. Gestation lengths ranged from 22 to 54 weeks throughout the four seasons. Egg cases laid in the fall had the longest gestation times (44.9 weeks, ± 0.13 weeks) and those laid in the spring had the shortest gestation times (24.5 weeks, ± 0.21 weeks). Total lengths of neonates from spring oviposition were statistically the longest (10.74 ± 0.05 cm) when compared to neonates from other seasons; however, egg viability was statistically the lowest for spring when compared seasonally.
AB - Landings of the little skate, Leucoraja erinacea, within the territorial waters of the United States are currently regulated by a federal fishery management plan (FMP). For a FMP to be effective, thorough knowledge of a species' reproductive biology is essential. Currently, little information exists on annual fecundity, egg case viability, gestation length, and neonate total length, for the little skate in the Gulf of Maine. To study these reproductive parameters, mature skates and egg cases were housed in fiberglass tanks with an open seawater system that provided natural, seasonal fluctuations in water temperature. Egg case deposition was highest during summer months with a seasonal peak in June. Of the 324 egg cases laid by seven females (c. 46 eggs per year, per female), 74. 1% were viable. Gestation lengths ranged from 22 to 54 weeks throughout the four seasons. Egg cases laid in the fall had the longest gestation times (44.9 weeks, ± 0.13 weeks) and those laid in the spring had the shortest gestation times (24.5 weeks, ± 0.21 weeks). Total lengths of neonates from spring oviposition were statistically the longest (10.74 ± 0.05 cm) when compared to neonates from other seasons; however, egg viability was statistically the lowest for spring when compared seasonally.
KW - Fecundity
KW - Oviparous
KW - Rajidae
KW - Reproduction
KW - k-selected
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=80355133397&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=80355133397&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s10641-011-9854-7
DO - 10.1007/s10641-011-9854-7
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:80355133397
SN - 0378-1909
VL - 92
SP - 585
EP - 589
JO - Environmental Biology of Fishes
JF - Environmental Biology of Fishes
IS - 4
ER -