Oocyte development and fecundity type of the Brazilian Snapper Lutjanus alexandrei Moura & Lindeman, 2007 (Perciformes: Lutjanidae)/Desenvolvimento ovocitário e tipo de fecundidade da baúna de fogo Lutjanus alexandrei Moura & Lindeman, 2007 (Perciformes: Lutjanidae)

• Published in: Brazilian journal of biology 2016-02, Vol.76 (1), p.126
• Main Authors: Fernandes, C A F, Oliveira, P G V, Oliveira, C H B, Hazin, F H V, Travassos, P
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Confidence intervals; Females; Fish; Fishing
• ISSN: 1519-6984; 1678-4375
• DOI: 10.1590/1519-6984.14714

Lutjanid species exhibit multiple spawning behaviour during an extended spawning season in warm months, asynchronous oocyte development and indeterminate fecundity. In the present study, 154 Brazilian snapper Lutjanus alexandrei female gonads obtained from artisanal fisheries in Pernambuco State (Brazil) between October 2010 and March 2011 were analyzed. Oocyte size frequency distribution for maturity phases (developing, spawning capable and actively spawning), and oocyte development stage (unyolked oocytes, cortical alveoli, primary, secondary and tertiary vitellogenic oocytes and hydrated oocytes), and also the oocyte stage frequency during spawning season were measured. The frequency of cortical alveoli oocyte stage was constantly found in the spawning period (>37%), showing slight variation throughout maturity phases. The absence of gap in the oocyte size frequency distribution between primary and secondary oocyte growth stages during spawning season is a strong indicator of continuous oocyte recruitment from reserve stocks. In addition, co-occurrence of tertiary vitellogenic oocytes, hydrated oocytes, post-ovulatory follicles and yellow-brown bodies in the histological sections of ovaries reinforce indeterminate fecundity hypothesis.