Ichthyological Research

, Volume 59, Issue 4, pp 314–322 | Cite as

Reproductive biology of Japanese gizzard shad (Nematalosa japonica) in coastal waters around Okinawa Island, Ryukyu Archipelago, southwestern Japan

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Abstract

The reproductive cycle and spawning characteristics of the Japanese gizzard shad (Nematalosa japonica) were examined histologically using specimens collected around Okinawa Island in southwestern Japan. The observed lengths at 50 % maturity were approximately 170 mm in standard length (SL) for females and 160 mm SL for males, which corresponded approximately to 3-year-old fish. The spawning season was estimated to take place from January to May, peaking from February to April, which closely coincided with the coldest water temperatures of the year. The lipidosomatic index of both sexes decreased from January onward and maintained low values until July, presumably as the fish expended energy to reproduce. Spawning intervals were estimated to occur between 1.3 and 1.8 days from February to April. Fecundity (F) for females tested using 69 ovaries was related to SL: F = 1.313 × 10−4 × SL3.966. Histological observations and a fish market survey suggested that the species spawned in sandy muddy areas (<20 m) based on the presence of mature individuals. The implications of our results toward conservation and management of N. japonica are discussed.

Keywords

Nematalosa japonica Clupeidae Reproductive cycle Sexual maturity Okinawa Island 
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Notes

Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to Emeritus Prof. S. Shokita, Associate Prof. T. Yoshino, and Associate Prof. H. Imai (University of the Ryukyus) for their kind support and helpful advice. The authors also thank Dr. A. Ebisawa (Okinawa Prefectural Fisheries and Ocean Research Center) for providing critical technical comments throughout this research and for reviewing an earlier version of the manuscript; Mr. K. Nakazato (Urasoe-Ginowan Fisheries Cooperative Association), Mr. Z. Touyama, and Mr. S. Touyama (Okinawa City Fisheries Cooperative Association) for collecting fish specimens; Mr. H. Ikeda, Mr. H. Komine, Mr. M. Ishimine, Mr. T. Maehara, and Mr. S. Nakasone (the staff of Okinawa City Fisheries Cooperative Association) for helpful support in obtaining and processing the specimens; and the members of the Laboratory of Fisheries Biology and Coral Reef Studies (University of the Ryukyus) for their helpful support during sampling. This research was supported in part by the research fund of Okinawa Prefecture, the Mikimoto Fund for Marine Ecology, and a Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C) (subject no. 22580206; representative: Katsunori Tachihara) from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Japan.

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Copyright information

© The Ichthyological Society of Japan 2012

Authors and Affiliations

  1. 1.Graduate School of Engineering and ScienceUniversity of the RyukyusNakagami-gunJapan
  2. 2.Okinawa Prefectural Fisheries and Ocean Research CenterItomanJapan
  3. 3.Laboratory of Fisheries Biology and Coral Reef Studies, Faculty of ScienceUniversity of the RyukyusNakagami-gunJapan

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