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Asynchrony and regional differences in the reproductive cycle of the greenback stingaree Urolophus viridis from south-eastern Australia

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Abstract

Determining the periodicity of the reproductive cycle in chondrichthyan species when the population is recruiting asynchronously, as found for Urolopus viridis, can be problematic. The reproductive cycle generally requires distinguishable trends in reproductive indices across the population. The present study utilised other similar and sympatric urolophid species with synchronous reproductive cycles. Through data collected in the present study and comparisons of maximum total length (TL), periodicity of egg and embryo in utero, ovarian cycles, largest ovarian follicle diameter, and matrotrophic contribution (percentage increase from egg to embryo after maternal histotroph supplement) from similar studies, an annual reproductive cycle can be hypothesised. Sampling across two separate regions of Lakes Entrance (LE) and Western Bass Strait (WBS), U. viridis also showed regionality in several of the reproductive indices. Maximum TL and mass for females, mean size-at-birth, and female size-at-maturity and size-at-maternity in LE were markedly smaller than in WBS. In both regions litter size (1–2) increased with TL, with an exception of one female in WBS producing a litter of 3 which could be attributed to the larger TL. The implication of U. viridis producing such few young annually is they have the lowest biological productivity of any urolophid species in south-eastern Australia.

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Acknowledgements

Professional fishermen and technical staff, students and volunteers at the Department of Primary Industries (DPI) Queenscliff Centre and the Victorian Marine Science Consortium are acknowledged for collection of specimens and Anne Gason of DPI provided advice on statistical analyses and management of data. This study was carried out under the protocol approved by the Animal Ethic Committee, Fisheries Victoria. This project was funded by the Australian Fisheries Research and Development Corporation grant (FRDC Project 2002/003) and a Deakin University PhD scholarship.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Warrnambool, Vic., 3280, Australia

    Fabian I. Trinnie, Paul L. Jones & Laurie J. Laurenson

  2. Department of Primary Industries, Fisheries Research Branch, PO Box 114, Queenscliff, 3225, Australia

    Fabian I. Trinnie & Terence I. Walker

  3. Department of Zoology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Vic., 3010, Australia

    Terence I. Walker

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  1. Fabian I. Trinnie
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  2. Terence I. Walker
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  3. Paul L. Jones
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  4. Laurie J. Laurenson
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Correspondence to Fabian I. Trinnie.

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Trinnie, F.I., Walker, T.I., Jones, P.L. et al. Asynchrony and regional differences in the reproductive cycle of the greenback stingaree Urolophus viridis from south-eastern Australia. Environ Biol Fish 98, 425–441 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10641-014-0273-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10641-014-0273-4

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