Biologia reprodutiva da piraúna (Cephalopholis fulva Linnaeus, 1758), capturada no litoral norte de Pernambuco, Brasil

Abstract

The present study aims to provide information about the reproductive biology of the Cephalopholis fulva species for the purpose of conservation and management of the fishing of coves in Itamaracá-PE. The individuals sampled were purchased from 2012 to 2014 and from February 2017 to October 2017, next to the fishing colony of Itamaracá. The fish were conditioned on ice to transport the UFRPE Marine Ecology Laboratory, where their biometric parameters (length and weight) of their breeding apparatus were recorded. After macroscopic analysis, the gonads were fixed and dehydrated microscopic analysis according to classification proposed by Brown-Peterson et al. (2011), adapted for the species. A total of 199 females, 72 males and 10 transitional individuals were analyzed with a ratio of 2.8: 1. The sizes for females and males varied from 15.7 to 27.5 cm and 15.8 to 28.2 cm of total length, respectively. Different microscopic stages were identified for females (developing and capable of spawning) and males (able to reproduce and developing). Higher IGI values for females were recorded between August and October, with a peak in October, and for males between August and October, with a peak in September, indicating that reproduction occurs from August to October. The average fecundity was estimated at 70,753. It was observed the asynchronous development in the gonads analyzed, characterized by the presence of more than one stage of oocyte development in the gonads, as well as individuals with oocyte remnants and early and advanced stages of sexual transition.