Abstract
The leopard grouper Mycteroperca rosacea is an endemic species from the northwestern coast of Mexico and, like other serranid fishes, it has a high commercial value; hence, it is a good candidate for cultivation. This study aimed to describe the reproductive cycle of the leopard grouper in the wild as a step toward evaluating its aquaculture and restocking potential. From March 2008 to February 2009, 197 specimens were collected in the Gulf of California, Mexico. Overall sex ratio was 3.6 females to 1.0 male. Significant differences (P < 0.05) in total length and body weight were found between sexes. Group-synchronous ovarian development was observed with one yearly spawning period from May to June. Males matured two months earlier than females. The reproductive cycle was divided into four periods: (1) maturation, (2) spawning, (3) post-spawning, and (4) resting. Significant variations in the gonadosomatic index, hepatosomatic index, visceral fat index, and condition factor were observed throughout the study period. In addition, nine individuals were classified as immature bisexuals and one grouper presented evidence of sex change.
Highlights
The leopard grouper Mycteroperca rosacea (Streets 1877) is an important fishing resource and, due to its high market value, it has been proposed as a suitable candidate for aquaculture production (Díaz-Uribe et al 2001)
This has ecological implications because it is an endemic species from the northwestern coast of Mexico and it is classified as a vulnerable species (A2ad+4ad) in the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List (Craig and Sadovy 2008)
This study aimed to describe the reproductive cycle and gonadal development of this species in the wild throughout one year and relate them to the temperature and photoperiod conditions, thereby contributing to the knowledge necessary for its eventual reproductive management, for both aquaculture and conservation purposes
Summary
The leopard grouper Mycteroperca rosacea (Streets 1877) is an important fishing resource and, due to its high market value, it has been proposed as a suitable candidate for aquaculture production (Díaz-Uribe et al 2001). This has ecological implications because it is an endemic species from the northwestern coast of Mexico and it is classified as a vulnerable species (A2ad+4ad) in the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List (Craig and Sadovy 2008). La cabrilla sardinera se encuentra desde la costa suroeste de la península de Baja California hasta las costas de Jalisco, México (Thompson et al 2000), y habita áreas rocosas poco profundas, cercanas a las costas y alrededor de las islas a Ciencias Marinas, Vol 37, No 4, 2011 on schools of herrings, anchovies, and other fishes (Heemstra and Randall 1993)
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