The reproductive activity of Fundulus heteroclitus females from Woods Hole, Massachusetts, as compared with more southern locations

Journal Article · Thu Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1981 · Copeia; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2307/1444058· OSTI ID:6000673

Wallace, R A ^[1]; Selman, K

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1. Oak Ridge National Lab., TN

During 1976 to 1979, inclusive, female F. heteroclitus (>4 g) were collected three to four times per week every week during May and early June, in localities around Woods Hole, Massachusetts. When these populations were immediately examined (at least ten fish per sample) it was found that >90% of the females carried oocytes in the final stages of maturation as well as ovulated eggs once offshore water temperatures rose above 11C. These observations contrast with those of other authors who found that most of the females collected from a Delaware marsh immediately before the full moon had follicles with a diameter of 1.9 mm or greater, and that a significant number also had such follicles immediately before the new moon. Between these times (particularly five to six days after full or new moon) the largest follicles in the ovary averaged only 1.3 to 1.4 mm in diameter. A second variance among observations concerns the temporal pattern for the annual cessation of egg production. This pattern has not been precisely defined for Woods Hole as well as other populations of F. heteroclitus, but it appears that in general breeding terminates around early summer at Woods Hole, whereas it continues throughout the summer at more southern locations. (JMT)

• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-26
• OSTI ID: 6000673
• Journal Information: Copeia; (United States), Journal Name: Copeia; (United States) Vol. 1; ISSN COPAA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

520100* -- Environment
Aquatic-- Basic Studies-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ANIMALS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
FEDERAL REGION I
FISHES
GEOGRAPHICAL VARIATIONS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
MASSACHUSETTS
MONTHLY VARIATIONS
NORTH AMERICA
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
REPRODUCTION
SEAWATER
TEMPERATURE EFFECTS
USA
VARIATIONS
VERTEBRATES
WATER