Annual reproductive cycle, spawning periodicity and sexual maturity of blue runnerCaranx crysos(Pisces, Carangidae) from the Gulf of Gabes (Tunisia, Eastern Mediterranean)

Abstract

Summary From June 2004 to May 2006, the reproductive biology of the blue runner Caranx crysos was studied in the Gulf of Gabes (Southern Tunisia). Of 1668 individuals examined, 777 were females (46.6%) and 891 were males (53.4%). The sex ratio significantly deviated in favour of males (♀:♂ = 0.87 : 1). The difference in the numbers of females and males was significant among size-classes. However, there was no significant difference between sexes over months and seasons. Monthly changes in the Gonado-Somatic Index (GSI) showed a rapid increase during summer to very high levels in July (3.51% for males and 2.55% for females) and August (3.47% for males and 2.59% for females) before declining sharply in September (0.58% for females and 0.38% for males). The gametogenesis activity began with a pre-maturation phase, from 20 May to the first 10 days of July, followed by a pre-spawning phase, from 20 July to 20 August. From the last 10 days of August to 20 September the gonads were in the ripe and spawning stages. From the end of September to early May, gonads were in the post-spawning and resting stages. The size at which 50% of the population reached sexual maturity was significantly different in males and females: males attained sexual maturity at fork length FL50 = 210.20, whereas females attained maturity at FL50 = 222.3 mm. Age at maturity was 2.4 years for males and 2.8 years for females.