AB 4:1-6 (2008)  -  DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/ab00086

ABSTRACT: The relative importance of maternal influences and time of reproduction on early life-history traits in the temperate five-spotted wrasse Symphodus roissali was examined. On 5 occasions during the reproductive period, groups of 4 small and 4 large females were collected and their eggs were fertilized with milt from 1 male. This multiple female fertilization experiment allowed the evaluation and comparison of potential contribution of maternal size on the following early life traits of progeny: egg properties (diameter and dry weight) and larval properties (larval length and dry weight). Large females (>9 cm) produced larger eggs and larvae than did small females (<9 cm). The differences in progeny properties between both size groups of females were maintained throughout the reproductive period, with increasing variations in larval length at the end. As juvenile survival of S. roissali is affected by larval size at hatching and this is, in turn, affected by maternal size and time of spawning, it can be concluded that the size of females plays a major role in reproductive success, with larger females maximizing the survival of the young.

KEY WORDS: Female size · Egg size · Early life history traits · Symphodus roissali

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Cite this article as: Raventos N, Planes S (2008) Maternal size effects on early life traits of the temperate fish Symphodus roissali. Aquat Biol 4:1-6. https://doi.org/10.3354/ab00086 Export citation Share:    Facebook - - linkedIn