Reproductive Potential and Ova Diameter in Schizopyge niger (Heckel, 1838) from Dal Lake, Kashmir, India

Abstract

Effective conservation and broodstock management of fish populations rely on the life-history data. Fecundity is a crucial parameter in fisheries, serving as an indicator of the reproductive potential of fish populations. Understanding the fecundity of Schizopyge niger is vital for estimating the number of offspring produced during the spawning season, a key factor in the stock assessment of species. Evaluating fecundity also plays a significant role in determining the commercial viability of the stock, understanding its life history, supporting aquaculture practices, and ensuring effective fishery management. 30 samples were collected once every month from September, 2022 to August, 2023 and yielded a total of 217 females and 143 males. A total of 20 gravid females were collected during the spawning season (February-March) from Dal lake, Kashmir and fecundity was estimated using gravimetric and actual counting methods. The absolute fecundity ranged from 6,318 to 19,375 eggs, while the relative fecundity ranged from 26.74 to 60.34 eggs per gram of body weight, with a mean of 46.96 eggs/g. A strong positive correlation was observed between fecundity and body size parameters, particularly ovary weight (R²= 0.6601). The ova diameter during entire study period ranged from 0.21 mm to 2.66 mm, showing a unimodal distribution, which suggests that S. niger is an annual spawner with a single spawning event each year. These findings serve as a baseline for the conservation and broodstock management of S. niger in the Dal Lake, Kashmir.