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Health and reproduction of red mullet, Mullus barbatus, in the western Mediterranean Sea

The reproductive and general health of exploited fish stocks is an essential element of sustainable and profitable fisheries. The main purpose of this study was to assess the relationships between reproduction and two important parameters of fish health (parasitism and energy reserves) in female specimens of red mullet, Mullus barbatus, from the western Mediterranean Sea. We present new data for this species on (i) the prevalence and intensity of infection by metazoan parasites; (ii) the total lipid content in muscle and gonads as a measure of condition and (iii) fecundity and egg quality as a measure of their reproductive capacity. The results show that M. barbatus is a batch spawner with an income breeding strategy, an asynchronous development of oocytes and indeterminate fecundity. The results also indicate that the three most abundant and prevalent parasites significantly affect the condition and reproduction of M. barbatus. Specifically, the digenean, Opecoeloides furcatus, causes a reduction in the female"s energy reserves, while the nematodes, Hysterothylacium fabri and H. aduncum, produce a rise in egg production but impair egg quality. These implications of the relationships between parasitism, fish health and fish reproduction should be taken into consideration in the assessment and management of exploited species

© Hydrobiologia, 2015, vol. 753, núm. 1, p. 189-204

Springer Verlag

Author: Ferrer Maza, Dolors
Muñoz Frigola, Marta
Lloret Romañach, Josep
Faliex, Elisabeth
Vila Espuña, Sílvia
Sasal, Pierre
Date: 2015
Abstract: The reproductive and general health of exploited fish stocks is an essential element of sustainable and profitable fisheries. The main purpose of this study was to assess the relationships between reproduction and two important parameters of fish health (parasitism and energy reserves) in female specimens of red mullet, Mullus barbatus, from the western Mediterranean Sea. We present new data for this species on (i) the prevalence and intensity of infection by metazoan parasites; (ii) the total lipid content in muscle and gonads as a measure of condition and (iii) fecundity and egg quality as a measure of their reproductive capacity. The results show that M. barbatus is a batch spawner with an income breeding strategy, an asynchronous development of oocytes and indeterminate fecundity. The results also indicate that the three most abundant and prevalent parasites significantly affect the condition and reproduction of M. barbatus. Specifically, the digenean, Opecoeloides furcatus, causes a reduction in the female"s energy reserves, while the nematodes, Hysterothylacium fabri and H. aduncum, produce a rise in egg production but impair egg quality. These implications of the relationships between parasitism, fish health and fish reproduction should be taken into consideration in the assessment and management of exploited species
Format: application/pdf
ISSN: 0018-8158 (versió paper)
1573-5117 (versió electrònica)
Document access: http://hdl.handle.net/10256/10393
Language: eng
Publisher: Springer Verlag
Collection: Versió postprint del document publicat a: http://dx.doi.org/ 10.1007/s10750-015-2205-5
Articles publicats (D-CCAA)
Is part of: © Hydrobiologia, 2015, vol. 753, núm. 1, p. 189-204
Rights: Tots els drets reservats
Subject: Moll de fang -- Reproducció -- Mediterrània, Mar
Red mullet -- Reproduction -- Mediterranean Sea
Title: Health and reproduction of red mullet, Mullus barbatus, in the western Mediterranean Sea
Type: info:eu-repo/semantics/article
Repository: DUGiDocs

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