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Egg weight, fecundity and reproductive energetics of herring Clupea harengus L. in the northern North Sea and west of Scotland

Egg weight and fecundity of Clyde spring-spawning and autumn-spawning herrings, Clupea harengus L., in the nothern North Sea and North Minch in different years were analysed. For Clyde spring-spawning herring high variation in egg weight was found and it was attributed to more than one spawning group spawning in the area. Annual variation in fecundity between 1963-1984 was found. Fecundity in 1984 was found to be about 10% higher than previous years. For autumn-spawning herring, fish spawn in the North Minch produce about 1.18 times heavier eggs than those spawning in the northern North Sea. Regional annual variation in fecundity between 1971-1984 was found. In 1984 fecundity of samples collected from Shetland was 1.12 higher than those of North Minch. Fecundity indices for Shetland samples were found to be 1.23 to 1.77 higher in 1984 than 1971-1973. Annual variation between 1971-1973 was also found. It was concluded that fecundity is a potential contributor to population regulation not necessarily related to population density. Monthly analysis of energy content of soma and gonad was carried out for Clyde spring-spawning herring. Differences in the magnitude and timing of energy allocated to the gonad was found between sexes. Energy budget was prepared for each sex at ages 2 and 3. No deficient of energy during winter was apparent due to gonad maturation and metabolic activity. Routine metabolic rate was measured in a group of herring in a respirometer. Oxygen consumption was estimated to be 31.3, 93.3 and 278.6 mgO2 kg-1 h-1 at 5, 10 and 15oC respectively. Standard oxygen consumption was derived from oxygen consumption and theoretical swimming speed to be 20.4, 59.5 and 164.8 mgO2 kg-1h-1 at 5, 10 and 15oC.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:bl.uk/oai:ethos.bl.uk:238656
Date January 1987
CreatorsAlmatar, Sulaiman M.
PublisherUniversity of Aberdeen
Source SetsEthos UK
Detected LanguageEnglish
TypeElectronic Thesis or Dissertation
Sourcehttp://digitool.abdn.ac.uk/R?func=search-advanced-go&find_code1=WSN&request1=AAIU004513

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