Made available in DSpace on 2014-12-17T14:10:20Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 MonicaRO_01_40.pdf: 3996248 bytes, checksum: 971458d8393c9eb3edc1f0eaba559683 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010-06-08 / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cient?fico e Tecnol?gico / The marine fish white mullet, Mugil curema Valenciennes, 1836 (Osteichthyes: Mugilidae) exhibits a wide geographical distribution, being common in the Brazilian coast and is an important component of the artisanal fisheries. The objective of this study was to investigate the reproductive biology of M. curema in the coastal waters of Rio Grande do Norte. Fish samples were captured on a monthly basis during August, 2008 to July, 2009. The fish specimens were numbered, weighed, measured, dissected and their gonads were removed, weighed, their sex and gonadal development were identified. The length-weight relationship was determined for males and females. The sex ratio, the size at first gonadal maturation and gonadosomatic index (GSI) were calculated and ovarian development was investigated using macroscopic and histological techniques. The fecundity, spawning type and the reproductive period of the species were determined. A total of 366 specimens (186 males and 180 females) were captured. The sex ratio was 1:1 and the females were heavier than males. The estimated values of the angular coefficient for both sexes suggest that the species has isometric growth. The size at which 50% of the population began the process of maturation was 25.9 cm of total length for grouped sex. The macroscopic characteristics of the ovaries showed four stages of development: immature, maturing, mature and spent. However, the microscopic characteristics of the ovaries showed five stages of development: immature, early maturing, late maturing, mature and spent. The development of oocytes indicated five phases: Chromatin-nucleolus (phase I), initial perinucleolar (phase II), final perinuclear (phase II), formation of vitelline vesicle or yolk (phase III), vitellogenic (phase IV) and complete vitellogenesis (phase V). The species has a prolonged spawning period, with two peaks coinciding with the rainy season. / O peixe marinho tainha, Mugil curema Valenciennes, 1836 (Osteichthyes:Mugilidae) apresenta ampla distribui??o geogr?fica, sendo comum na costa brasileira e de grande import?ncia para a pesca artesanal. Este trabalho teve como objetivo determinar a biologia reprodutiva de M. curema nas ?guas costeiras do Estado de Rio Grande do Norte. Foram capturados mensalmente exemplares de peixes durante o per?odo de agosto de 2008 a julho de 2009. Os exemplares foram numerados, pesados, medidos, dissecados e suas g?nadas foram retiradas, pesadas e identificadas quanto ao sexo e quanto o desenvolvimento gonadal. A rela??o peso-comprimento foi determinada para machos e f?meas. A propor??o sexual, o tamanho da primeira matura??o gonadal e o ?ndice gonadossom?tico (IGS) foram calculados e o desenvolvimento ovariano foi investigado usando t?cnicas macrosc?picas e histol?gicas. Foram determinados a fecundidade, o tipo de desova e o per?odo reprodutivo da esp?cie. Foi capturado um totalde 366 exemplares (186 machos e 180 f?meas). A propor??o sexual foi de 1:1 e as f?meas foram mais pesadas que os machos. O valor estimado para o coeficiente angular para ambos os sexos sugere que ? a esp?cie apresenta crescimento isom?trico. O tamanho em que 50% da popula??o iniciaram o processo de matura??o gonadal foi de 26 cm de comprimento total para sexo agrupado. As caracter?sticas macrosc?picas dos ov?rios revelaram quatro est?dios de desenvolvimento: imaturo, em matura??o, maduro e esvaziado, enquanto que as caracter?sticas microsc?picas revelaram cinco est?dios de desenvolvimento: imaturo, em matura??o inicial, em matura??o final, maduro e esvaziado. O desenvolvimento dos ov?citos indicou cinco fases: Cromatina-nucl?olo (fase I), perinucleolar inicial (fase II), perinuclear final (Fase II), forma??o ves?cula vitel?nica (fase III), vitelog?nico (fase IV) e vitelog?nese completa (fase V). A esp?cie apresenta um per?odo reprodutivo prolongado, com dois picos coincidindo com o per?ododa chuva