Favour Of Males Research Articles

Relationship between Cognitive Style (Impulsivity / Reflectivity) and Violence of the Tenth Grade Students in the Governorate of Ramallah and Al Bireh in Palestine

The study aimed to explore the relationship between cognitive style (impulsivity/reflectivity) and violence. It also aimed to know the significance of some variables, such as gender, place of residence, and type of school, in the cognitive style (impulsivity/reflectivity) and violence among students of tenth grade in the governorate of Ramallah and Al Bireh. The study sample, was randomly selected (N = 190, 86 males and 104 females). The Familiar Figure Test (Faramawi, 1986) and a specifically designed questionnaire to assess violence were used. The results indicated no relationship between impulsivity/reflectivity and violence. However, there were significant differences in cognitive method (impulsivity/reflectivity) due to gender and place of residence. While, there was no significant difference due to school type. There were differences in verbal violence, physical violence and violence toward property attributable to gender and in favour of males. Private schools were more physically violent than public schools.

Relationship between Cognitive Style (Impulsivity / Reflectivity) and Violence of the Tenth Grade Students in the Governorate of Ramallah and Al Bireh in Palestine

The study aimed to explore the relationship between cognitive style (impulsivity/reflectivity) and violence. It also aimed to know the significance of some variables, such as gender, place of residence, and type of school, in the cognitive style (impulsivity/reflectivity) and violence among students of tenth grade in the governorate of Ramallah and Al Bireh. The study sample, was randomly selected (N = 190, 86 males and 104 females). The Familiar Figure Test (Faramawi, 1986) and a specifically designed questionnaire to assess violence were used. The results indicated no relationship between impulsivity/reflectivity and violence. However, there were significant differences in cognitive method (impulsivity/reflectivity) due to gender and place of residence. While, there was no significant difference due to school type. There were differences in verbal violence, physical violence and violence toward property attributable to gender and in favour of males. Private schools were more physically violent than public schools.

The Relation Between Cognitive Flexibility and Academic, Social and Emotional Self-Efficacy Beliefs Among Adolescents

The aim of this study is to examine the relation between cognitive flexibility and the academic, social, and emotional self-efficacy beliefs of adolescents. For this purpose, data was collected from 270 high school student adolescents (163 female, 107 male, Xage=16.00, ss=1.11). The cognitive flexibility scale and the adolescent self-efficacy expectation scale were used. According to the first finding obtained, while the cognitive flexibility, academic self-efficacy, and social self-efficacy beliefs did not differentiate according to sex, the emotional self-efficacy scores differentiated in favour of males. Second, significant relations in positive terms were obtained between cognitive flexibility and academic, social, and emotional self-efficacy beliefs. Lastly, emotional and social self-efficacy beliefs were found to predict cognitive flexibility scores in a significant way.

Effects of gamma radiation on the Mediterranean flour moth, Ephestia kuehniella Zeller, mature larvae and acceptability of irradiated larvae by Bracon hebetor say females

Mediterranean flour moth, Ephestia kuehniella Zeller, mature 5th instars were exposed to gamma radiation dosages ranging from 50 to 350 Gy at 50 Gy increments and the effects on pupation, adult emergence and sex ratio were investigated. In addition, effects of irradiation on the rate of development to pupae and adults and the acceptance of irradiated larvae by Bracon hebetor Say females were examined. Results showed that the radio-sensitivity of E. kuehniella larvae increased with increasing dose. Pupation was significantly affected at 100 Gy and completely prevented at 350 Gy. Adult emergence was only slightly different from pupation; emergence was significantly affected at 100 Gy and completely prevented at 300 Gy. Irradiation also negatively affected the rate of development of larvae to pupae and adults. In addition, irradiation significantly affected male: female ratio; sex ratio was skewed in favour of males, and at 250 Gy all emerged moths were males. Furthermore, irradiation had no adverse effect on the degree of acceptance of mature larvae to parasitization; irradiated insects were as acceptable to B. hebetor females as nonirradiated ones.

Severe birth defects in children perinatal exposed to HIV from a "real-world" setting: Infectious Diseases National Institute, Bucharest, Romania.

IntroductionThe shift in epidemic trends in recent years in Romania shows new problems in regard of HIV vertical transmission, firstly in intravenous drug user's mothers co-infected with hepatitis viruses and with social problems, and secondly the children of young mothers with an old HIV infection and long antiretroviral therapy history.Materials and MethodsWe studied all HIV perinatal exposed children routinely followed up in the Paediatric Department of the National Institute of Infectious Diseases, since January 1st 2006 till December 31st 2012. The analyses consisted of describing the birth defects and association with certain risk factors: gender, mother's age at birth and exposure to antiretrovirals in the first trimester of pregnancy.ResultsWe analyzed 244 children born to HIV-infected mothers. The incidence of HIV infection was 16.39%. The rate of birth defects was 39.34% (96/244 cases). The most frequent findings were cardiac malformations (47/96), followed by musculoskeletal defects (24/96), neurologic defects (20/96), urogenital malformations (13/96), digestive tract defects (3/93), metabolic disorders (2/96) and genetic disorders (2/96). We found nine cases of severe congenital anomalies: complex heart defect, total congenital aganglionic megacolon, anal imperforation, Dandy-Walker syndrome, gangliosidosis, Niemann-Pick syndrome, Down syndrome, true hermaphroditism and cleft palate. Two children died during first year of life due to severe malformations. 9% of cases had associated malformations. The gender rate was in favour of males in group with birth defects (58/38) and with no birth defects (82/66). The median age at birth in mothers was 22 years, similar in both groups. The highest mean age at birth was in offspring's mothers with neurologic congenital defects 25, 15 years old, but is not statistically significant (p=0.1). In the studied period the highest number of birth defects were found in 2012, 37 children, compared with less than 15 in previous years (not statistically significant, p=0.07). In our studied patients the risk of birth defects was not statistically associated with HIV transmission or with exposure to antiretrovirals before and in first trimester of pregnancy (p=0.88).ConclusionThe rate of birth defects among HIV-exposed children was not significantly associated with antiretroviral exposure, but we identify very rare and severe congenital conditions. We have noticed also a trend to increasing number of birth defects in 2012 among studied patients compared to previous years.

Rozšíření a biologie jestřába lesního (Accipiter gentilis L.) v Chřibech

In 2002–2006, mapping the goshawk (Accipiter gentilis L.) population was carried out at the SE edge of the Chřiby Upland, the Czech Republic. At the same time, the food spectrum of the predator was determined in detail in 2004. The studied area amounted to about 30 km2. In the area, 5 nest localities occurred. Each year five occupied nests were observed. The food spectrum was analysed according to leftovers of food in nests and in the vicinity of the nests. In total, 387 leftovers of food were found. Birds represented 52%, mammals 42% and other animals (insect, reptiles etc.) 6% of prey. The population of goshawk was monitored from the period of a wedding flight to a period when young birds left their nest during the period of five years. The number of eggs was on average 2.9 per one nest. The total number of laid eggs was 73 during five years. The number of brood was on average 2.7 per one nest. Sex ratio was 47/53 per cent in favour of males. The total number of hatched birds was 68 during five years, out of the number 32 females and 36 males. Moreover, dimensions of nests at particular localities were also determined. The diameter of nests was on average 72.2 cm and the mean height of the actual nest was 48 cm. Nests occurred at an average height of 21.3 m.

Gender Differences in Cognitive Ablilities Among the Elderly Poor of Peru

This paper analyses gender differences on cognitive abilities for the elderly poor in Peru. We use a unique and recent survey for the elderly individuals living in poverty in Peru (ESBAM) that includes cognitive tests and a comprehensive set of socio-demographics and subjective and objective health measures. We find significant differences in mental intactness in favour of males, and in episodic memory in favour of females. In contrast, there are not gender differences in an overall measure of cognition, but regional differences appear to matter in favour of urban localities. The sizeable associations of education and childhood nutrition quality with cognition confirm the long-term impacts of early life developments on current outcomes. Therefore, policies aimed at improving early childhood development are expected to have a positive impact in later-life.

Age and growth of Capoeta erhani (Actinopterygii: Cypriniformes: Cyprinidae) from the Menzelet Reservoir, Turkey

Background. Capoeta erhani Turan, Kottelat et Ekmekçi, 2008 has an economic importance in commercial and recreational fisheries in Turkey. Knowledge of the biology of this species is very scarce. Despite the importance of this species, no research on the population dynamics such as age and growth rates has been conducted. The aim of this study was to determine the age, growth rate, and the relations between the fish size and the otolith size for C. erhani from the Menzelet Reservoir, Turkey. Materials and methods. This study was carried out seasonally in the Menzelet Reservoir, between January and December 2012. Samples were collected using gill nets with mesh sizes ranging from 18 to 30 mm. Results. A total of 134 otoliths obtained from Capoeta erhani that ranged from 15 to 33.8 cm TL were used in the analyses. The overall male : female ratio (M : F = 1.25 : 1.00) was biased in favour of males. The Mann–Whitney test revealed significant differences between sexes, regarding TL (P < 0.05). The calculated length–weight relations were TL = 0.0097W3.0015 (r2 = 0.986) for females, TL = 0.0054W3.2011 (r2 = 0.975) for males, and TL = 0.0075W3.0892 (r2 = 0.979) for all specimens combined. The von Bertalanffy growth models were L∞ = 33.83 cm (TL), K = 0.964, t0 = –0.573 for females; L∞ = 32.02 cm (TL), K = 0.843, t0 = –0.562 for males; L∞ = 33.85 cm (TL), K = 0.821, t0 = –0.482 for all specimens. Conclusion. This study provides the first information on age, growth, and otolith morphometric parameters of Capoeta erhani. Determining the parameters of C. erhani age and growth rates will lead to the estimates of relevant parameters of population dynamics and to better understanding of the long-term changes of the stock sizes.

COMPARATIVE ACCOUNT OF SEX RATIO AND SEXUAL DIMORPHISM IN TWO SPECIES OF GOBIIDS FROM THE VASAI CREEK OF MUMBAI

Gobiid fishes Parachaeturichthys ocellatus and Boleophthalmus boddaerti were sampled from Vasai creek from January 2010 to December 2010. A total of 485 P.ocellatus and 721 B.boddaerti of different sizes were collected. The sex ratio was 1:0.73 in favour of males in P.ocellatus while it was 1:1.07 in favour of females in B.boddaerti . Sexual dimorphism was distinct in both the species. In male P.ocellatus the region around the pelvic and anal fins were reddish brown, the second dorsal fin ray was longer and the urinogenital papilla was straight, thin, long and pointed while in female it was short, round and fleshy. In male B.boddaerti second, third and fourth fin rays were long and soft filamentous and urinogenital papillae conical flat and short while in females it was round and bulged.

Immunoreactivity Distribution of Vasotocin and Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide in Brain Nuclei of Two Songbird Species with Different Breeding Systems

Vasopressin influences social behaviour in mammals, in particular social recognition and bonding. However, much less is known about its avian analogue, vasotocin, although vasotocin appears to modulate singing behaviour and agonistic interactions together with vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) in some songbirds. The objectives of our study were to compare the expression of vasotocin and VIP in brain nuclei hypothetised to be part of the social behavioural network, i.e. septal areas, bed nucleus of the stria terminalis and medial preoptic nucleus (POM), in two songbird species in the wild: the blue tit (Cyanistes caeruleus) and European penduline tit (Remiz pendulinus). These two closely related passerine birds differ in their pair bonding and mating systems: blue tits are socially monogamous with extensive pair bond lasting for several months, whereas in the European penduline tit, pair bond is short and it dissolves during or after laying of the eggs. The two species did not differ in the distribution of vasotocin in the observed brain regions; however, VIP was more abundant in all three regions of penduline tits than in blue tits. We found a sex difference in favour of males in the distribution of vasotocin- and VIP-immunoreactive neurones, fibres and terminals in all three regions in penduline tits. In blue tits, such gender differences were only observed in the POM. The limited differences between the two species suggest that the levels of vasotocin and VIP in the socially relevant brain regions are likely influenced by many other social or environmental factors than just by differences in the duration of pair bonding.

Nutritional stress causes male-biased sex ratios in eastern spruce budworm (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae)

AbstractNutritional variability in resources may cause differential mortality between sexes resulting in biased sex ratios. If males and females differ in fitness, then mortality of the more sensitive sex can cause a bias in sex ratios, and can stimulate dispersion of males. We reared three generations of spruce budworm (Choristoneura fumiferana (Clemens); Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) on two artificial diets: a “normal” diet that provided all nutritional requirements for development and a “stress” diet (deficient in sugars and slightly higher in nitrogen), that simulated deterioration of food quality during outbreak conditions and had a detrimental impact on larval survival, development and growth. We tested the effects of continued nutritional stress on the sex ratio of pupae and adults. We found biased sex ratios in favour of males related to diet. Low quality food resulted in fewer females. This distortion was observed from the second generation onward, with a lower percentage of females reaching the pupal and adult stage. These results provide evidence that nutritional variation causes differential mortality between sexes, suggesting that females are more sensitive to nutritional stress. This is the first study that demonstrates sex ratio distortion due to nutritional selection pressure in spruce budworm. Our results indicate the importance of studying sex ratio distortion of spruce budworm in outbreak conditions.

Reproductive biology of the Sompat grunt, Pomadasys jubelini (Cuvier, 1830) in Côte d’Ivoire lagoons complex (West Africa)

Objectives : To study some aspects of reproductive biology of Pomadasys jubelini (Cuvier, 1830) in the three lagoons complex (Grand-Lahou, Ebrie and Aby) of Cote d’Ivoire in relation to sex ratio, size at first maturity, spawning season and fecundity. Methodology and results : Fish were sampled with gill nets from January 2007 to December 2008. The whole sample consisted in 2284 specimens with fork length ranging from 8.50 to 32.70 cm and weight from 8.00 to 780.72 g. The sex ratio was in favour of males with 1:0.82, 1:0.63 and 1:0.56 respectively in Grand- Lahou, Ebrie and Aby lagoons. The length at first maturity was 14.48 cm (males) and 15.92 cm (females) in Grand-Lahou lagoon, 12.13 cm (males) and 14.70 cm (females) in Ebrie lagoon, and 14.03 cm (males) and 15.08 cm (females) in Aby lagoon. Both monthly gonadosomatic index and macroscopically determined gonad stages indicated that P. jubelini spawned from November to April in three lagoons. The absolute fecundity ranged from 46856 to 131208 eggs (Grand-Lahou lagoon), 46184 to 126959 eggs (Ebrie lagoon), and from 17184 to 129459 (Aby lagoon). The frequency distribution of oocytes diameters was unimodal. Conclusion and application : The results suggest that P. jubelini has very good parameters and can be used as farmed fish. Key words: Pomadasys jubelini , Sex ratio, Sexual maturity, Spawning, Fecundity, Lagoons, Cote d’Ivoire.

Gender related differences in the use of the Internet by university academics

This paper reports in part some of the findings of a PhD study regarding visibility of gender issues in the use of the internet in university contexts. The study adopted a cross sectional descriptive survey research design and collected data using a structured questionnaire. Data were obtained from 440 full time university academics that were selected using simple random sampling technique. Data were analysed quantitatively using descriptive and inferential statistics using SPSS version 17. This study revealed a significant relationship between gender and internet usage in favour of males. While both male and female academics were not fully utilizing the internet for university teaching, more male academics used the internet for research more than female academics did. The study concluded that gender is a key factor in the discourse concerning internet and university academic practice. Internet usage differences have serious implications on mainstreaming ICT in higher education curricula as both female and male academics are expected to mentor students and participate in virtual co-construction of knowledge. The study recommended that university management should develop gender sensitive information technology learning environments and targeted training programmes. Female lecturers should be encouraged to be proactive and participate in global developmental initiatives.

Feeding independence in neurological high-risk children

Introduction: Children who are in the antenatal, perinatal, or postnatal period exposed to the effects of risk factors are classified as children with high-risk neurological symptoms. These children often have psychomotor development disorders and they may have feeding difficulties among other problems. The aim of this research was to observe feeding independence in children with high-risk neurological symptoms involved in the rehabilitation process. Methodology: The sample consisted of 55 children with high-risk neurological symptoms during 4 month at the Institute for Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 'Dr. Miroslav Zotović', Banja Luka. Results: The average age of the sample was 3.13years, ranging from 2 to 5.5 years of age. Sex ratio was 65.5:34.5 in favour of males. 7.3% of the sample patients were on a liquid diet, 52.7% on a mashed diet and 40.00% on a normal diet. As regards feeding independence, 29.1% children from this sample were independent in feeding, 36.4% were partly independent and 34.5% were dependent on others. The average age of children who were on a liquid diet was 3.07, on a mashed diet 2.99 and on a normal diet 3.31 years. The sample consisted of 15 immobile children, 10 children who needed the help of another person or aids and 30 independently mobile children. Conclusion: The largest number of children with high-risk neurological symptoms was on liquid and mashed diets, although the average age of the sample was 3.13 years. Over a third of the sample children depended on someone else's help in feeding.

Sexual size dimorphism and sex determination by morphometric measurements in locally adapted muscovy duck (Cairina moschata) in Nigeria

Sexual size dimorphism (SSD) is a common phenomenon in most mammalian and poultry species. This study was undertaken to investigate SSD in nondescript locally adapted Muscovy ducks in Nigeria by applying descriptive analysis, sexual dimorphism index (SDI), sexual size dimorphism index (SSDI) and Principal Component analysis to morphological variables. Besides, attempt was made to identify best morphological predictors of sex using Stepwise Discriminant analysis. Data on ten morphological traits; body weight, body girth, body length, wing length, shank length, shank circumference, thigh length, total leg length, bill length and bill width were taken from 1,020 extensively managed adult Muscovy ducks comprising 287 males and 733 females. These birds were randomly sampled from Rain Forest, Derived Savanna and Guinea Savanna agro-ecological zones of Nigeria. Sex significantly (P < 0.001) affected all morphometric measurements in favour of males. Assessment of relative contribution of morphological traits to SSD through SDI and SSDI revealed that body weight followed by skeletal frame-related variables (body length and wing length) were the most dimorphic traits. Three Principal Components were generated for each sex; accounting for 62.70 % and 54.24 % of the total variance explained of male and female ducks, respectively. In tandem with the SDI and SSDI results, Stepwise Discriminant analysis indicated body weight as the best predictor of sex of adult Muscovy ducks followed by wing length and body length; correctly classifying 98.5 % of ducks and are reliable for sex determination in the field. The established SSD in this study could be employed for description, utilization, selection and planning of improvement programs of male and female Muscovy ducks.

Sex ratios of waders at the northern end of the East Atlantic flyway in winter

Capsule Sex ratios were determined for 11 wader species at the northern end of the East Atlantic flyway in winter. The ratio was even for six species, there were more males for four species, and more females for one species.Aims To describe the sex ratio of adult waders in northern Scotland and examine departures from parity.Methods Molecular sexing and biometrics were used to estimate the sex ratio (percentage male) in adult populations of 11 waders wintering on estuaries and open shores in northern Scotland (Moray Firth and Orkney), at the northern part of the East Atlantic flyway. Departures from parity were examined in relation to three possibilities: (1) that there was local variation in the distribution of the sexes; (2) that the sexes differed in their winter ranges and (3) that there was an uneven sex ratio in the entire population.Results The percentage of males did not differ significantly from 50% for Lapwing, Ringed Plover, Dunlin, Knot, Sanderling and Turnstone. There were significant differences from parity for Oystercatcher, Redshank, Bar-tailed Godwit and Curlew at some sites, suggesting local segregation of the sexes that may be related to habitat. It was difficult to examine possibilities 2 and 3 due to the lack of data from other parts of the flyway. Only some populations of Purple Sandpipers and perhaps Bar-tailed Godwits exhibited an uneven sex ratio in favour of males across the flyway. For these species, the uneven sex ratio in favour of males was already apparent in first-year birds, showing that higher mortality amongst juvenile females, rather than higher mortality amongst breeding females probably causes the imbalance.Conclusion Some waders showed significant deviations from parity in their sex ratio. These may be due to sex-dependent habitat selection and differential mortality rates.

What is the appropriate approach in sex determination of hyoid bones?

The hyoid bone is characterized by sexually dimorphic features, enabling it to occasionally be used in the sex determination aspect of establishing the biological profile in skeletal remains. Based on a sample of 298 fused and non-fused hyoid bones, the present paper compares several methodological approaches to sexing human hyoid bones in order to test the legitimacy of osteometrics-based linear discriminant equations and to explore the potentials of symbolic regression and methods of geometric morphometrics. In addition, two sets of published predictive models, one of which originated in an indigenous population, were validated on the studied sample. The results showed that the hyoid shape itself is a moderate sex predictor and a combination of linear measurements is a better representation of sex-related differences. The symbolic regression was shown to exceed the predictive powers of linear discriminant function analysis when two models based on a logistic and step regression reached 96% of correctly classified cases. There was a positive correlation between discriminant scores and an individual's age as the sex assessment was highly skewed in favour of males. This suggests that the human hyoid undergoes age-related modifications which facilitates determination of male bones and complicates determination of females in older individuals. The validation of discriminant equations by Komenda and Černý (1990) and Kindschud et al. (2010) revealed that there are marked inter-population and inter-sample differences which lessened the power to correctly determine female hyoid bones.

Biological Aspects of Swordfish, Xiphias gladius Linnaeus, 1758, Caught During Tuna Longline Survey in the Indian Seas

Distribution, abundance and biology of swordfish, Xiphias gladius, of the Indian seas were investigated by analyzing the data gathered during tuna longline surveys conducted by the Fishery Survey of India (FSI). Study undertaken during the period from 2004 to 2010 revealed swordfish Catch Per Unit Effort of 0.02 numbers in 100 hooks from the Arabian Sea; 0.01 from Bay of Bengal and 0.02 form the Andaman and Nicobar waters. About 16% of the specimens caught were juveniles and the sex ratio of smaller fishes was in favour of males, whereas, larger specimens were mostly females. Length-weight relationship established indicated slightly positive allometric growth of the species and length based models revealed difference in growth between sexes. The growth parameters estimated for females were: asymptotic length (L∞) = 311.11 cm, growth coefficient (K) = 0.17/yr and age at zero length (t0) = –0.53 yr, whereas, the growth parameters estimated for males were: L∞ = 243.79 cm, K = 0.22/yr and t0 = –0.37 yr. Diet was dominated by finfishes and cephalopods, while crustaceans were recorded rarely. Sthenoteuthis oualaniensis was the dominant prey species, followed by Paralepis sp. Spawning area was identified in the Lakshadweep waters from where mature females with hydrated oocytes were caught during December to April. Size at 50% maturity for females was estimated at 164.03 cm, which is reached at about four years of age. Mean batch fecundity was 4.5 million, while the relative fecundity was 37.5 hydrated oocytes per gram of body weight and the diameters of mature oocytes were in the range of 0.9-1.6 mm. Our results provide preliminary information on the abundance, growth and biology of this species in the Indian seas which should be useful to fishery managers.

Do mothers prefer helpers? Birth sex-ratio adjustment in captive callitrichines

Parental investment theory predicts that natural selection will favour a parental ability to bias the offspring sex ratio in favour of that which will yield the highest benefit–cost payoff. The local resource enhancement hypothesis posits that in cooperative breeders, parents may favour offspring that will mitigate parental effort by helping to raise younger siblings. Conversely, the fragile male hypothesis suggests that parents will adjust the sex ratio in favour of the sex that experiences higher mortality. We examined international studbook data of two cooperatively breeding primate species with differing reproductive strategies: golden lion tamarins, Leontopithecus rosalia , which typically give birth to twins, and callimicos, Callimico goeldii , which almost always give birth to singletons. The tamarins showed a stronger secondary sex-ratio bias in favour of males than did the callimicos, as predicted by the local resource enhancement hypothesis, because tamarins sustain higher per-parturition costs and because sons may invest more effort in caring for their younger siblings than do daughters. However, a generalized linear regression failed to reveal factors that may influence this variation. There was no significant predictor of male bias based on mother's age, mother's number of previous parturitions or group size. Contrary to predictions of the fragile male hypothesis, sons were no less likely to survive the postnatal period of parental investment than were daughters. A greater understanding of this phenomenon is needed because the adult sex-ratio bias in favour of males has become so pronounced, especially in golden lion tamarins, as to cause management difficulties for the conservation of these endangered species.

Reproductive biology of the black goby, Gobius niger (Teleostei: Gobiidae), in the Gulf of Gabès (Tunisia, Central Mediterranean)

The black goby Gobius niger (Linnaeus, 1758) (Gobiidae) is one of the most common gobies in southern Tunisian waters. This study provides the first detailed information on the reproductive biology of the G. niger in these areas. Samples of G. niger were collected by trawl from the Gulf of Gabès (Tunisia) between February 2009 and January 2010. A total of 1055 specimens were examined, ranging from 6.4 to 15.7 cm total length. The sex-ratio was in favour of males, especially in larger size-classes. The macroscopic analysis of the gonads and the progression of the monthly values of the gonadosomatic index (GSI) indicated that the reproductive season extended from March to June, with GSI peaking in May, and that spawning occurred from April to June. The utilization of lipid reserves, stored predominantly in the liver as well as in muscles, was important during the reproduction season. Monthly changes of the seminal vesicle somatic index showed that during the pre-spawning period they had a proliferation phase, followed by a regressive phase during the post-spawning period. Total fecundity of mature females ranged from 4280 to 14000 eggs per fish, showing a significant increase with size, with an average of 8522 ± 689 eggs per fish. The total length at 50% maturity was 10.13 ± 0.3 cm and 9.69 ± 0.18 cm for males and females, respectively.