Synopsis
We investigated aspects of the reproductive biology of the cyprinid fish, Labeo victorianus, locally known as ningu, in the Kagera and Sio Rivers, Uganda. These rivers represent the last remaining refuges for this species within Uganda. L. victorianus is a highly fecund, potamodrometic fish that migrates upstream to spawn. Spawning is generally synchronised with the bimodal water level maxima observed within the rivers. There were, however, some deviations from this pattern. We caught sexually mature fish throughout the year in the Sio River, and noticed that spawing started before the second rainfall peak. Fish from the Kagera matured at significantly larger sizes than fish from the Sio River. Male and female fish, from both rivers, fed intensively during the non-breeding months accumulating significant fat reserves; a probable energy storage mechanism prior to their spawning migrations. The differences between the populations is probably a phenotypic response to differing abiotic factors such as river size, flow velocity and food availability.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
E.K. Balon (1975) ArticleTitleReproductive guilds of fishes: A proposal and definition J. Fish. Res.Board Canada 32 821–826
G.P. Barbini J.D. McCleave (1997) ArticleTitleFecundity of the American eel Anguilla rostrata at 45°N in Maine U.S.A J. Fish Biol. 51 840–847
N. Bromage (1995) Broodstock management and seed quality: General considerations N.R. Bromage R.J. Roberts (Eds) Broodstock Management and Egg and Larval Quality Blackwell Sciences London 1–2
D.A. Cadwalladr (1965) ArticleTitleNotes on the breeding biology and ecology of Labeo victorianus Boulenger (Pisces: Cyprinidae) of Lake Victoria Revue de Zoologie et de Botanique Africains 72 109–134
J.A. Cambray (1982) The Life-History Strategy of A Minnow, Barbus anoplus in a Man-made Lake in South Africa M.Sc. thesis Rhodes University South Africa 78
J.A. Cambray (1985) ArticleTitleObservations on spawning of Labeo capensis and Clarias gariepinus in the regulated lower Orange River South African J. Sci. 81 318–321
S.J. Clearwater N.W. Pankhurst (1994) ArticleTitleReproductive biology and endocrinology of female red gurnard, Chelidonichthys kumu (Lesson and Garnot) (Family Trigilidae), from the Hauraki gulf, New Zealand Aust. J. Marine Freshwater Res. 45 131–139
A.S. Dawson A.S. Grimm (1980) ArticleTitleQuantitative seasonal changes in the protein, lipid and energy content of the carcass, ovaries and liver of adult female plaice, Pleuronectes platessa L J. Fish Biol. 16 493–504
A.I. el Moghraby A.A. el Rahman (1984) ArticleTitleFood and feeding habits of Labeo niloticus (Pisces: Cyprinidae) in Jabel Aulia Reservoir, Sudan Hydrobiologia 110 327–332
R.P. Foucher R.J. Beamish (1980) ArticleTitleProduction of non-viable oocytes by pacific hake, Merluccius productus Canad. J. Fish. Aquatic Sci. 37 41–48
M.M. Fouda M.Y. Hanna F.M. Fouda (1993) ArticleTitleReproductive biology of a red sea goby, Silhouettea aegyptia, and a Mediterranean goby, Pomatoschistus marmoratus, in Lake Timsah, Suez Canal J. Fish Biol. 43 139–151
G. Fryer P.J.P. Whitehead (1959) ArticleTitleThe breeding habits, embryology and larval development of Labeo victorianus Boulenger. (Pisces: Cyprinidae) Revue de Zoologie et de Botanique Africain 59 33–49
E.J. Gonçalves V.C. Almada (1997) ArticleTitleSex differences in resource utilisation by the peacock blenny J. Fish Biol. 51 624–633
D.R. Gunderson (1980) ArticleTitleUsing the r-K selection theory to predict natural mortality Canad. J. Fish. Aquatic Sci. 37 2266–2271
D.R. Idler I. Bitners (1959) ArticleTitleBiochemical studies on sockeye salmon during spawning migration. V. Cholesterol, fat, protein and water in the body of standard fish J. Fish. Res. Board Canada 16 235–241
P.B.N. Jackson P.W. Coetzee (1982) ArticleTitleSpawning behaviour of Labeo umbratus, (Smith) (Pisces Cyrinidae) South African J. Sci. 78 293–295
N. Jonsson B. Jonsson (1999) ArticleTitleTrade-off between egg mass and egg number in brown trout J. Fish Biol. 55 767–783
R.B. MacFarlane E.C. Norton M.J. Bowers (1993) ArticleTitleLipid dynamics in relation to the annual reproductive cycle in yellow tail rockfish, Sebastes flavidus Canad. J. Fisheries Aquatic Sci. 50 391–401
J.C. Mackinnon (1972) ArticleTitleSummer storage of energy and its use for winter metabolism and gonadal maturation in the American plaice, Hippoglossoides platessoides J. Fish. Res. Board Canada 29 1749–1759
J.C. Mason (1985) ArticleTitleThe fecundity of the walleye Pollock, Theragra chalcogramma(Pallas), spawning in Canadian waters J. Fish Biol 27 335–346
B.A. Medford W.C. Mackay (1978) ArticleTitleProtein and lipid content of gonads, liver and muscle of northern pike, Esox lucius in relation to gonadal growth J. Fis. Res. Board Canada 35 213–219
P.J. Miller (1984) The tokology of gobioid fishes G.W. Potts R.J. Wootton (Eds) Fish Reproduction Strategies and Tactics Academic Press London 119–153
C.A. Mills (1991) Reproduction and life history I.J. Winfield J.S. Nelson (Eds) Cyprinids Fishes: Systematics, Biology and Exploration Chapman & Hall London 483–488
S.A. Mitchell (1984) ArticleTitleFurther observations on the breeding behaviour of Labeo umbratus (Smith) (Pisces: Cyprinidae) J. Limnol. Soc. South. Africa 10 28–34
A.D. Munro (1990) General introduction A.D. Munro A.R. Scott T.J. Lam (Eds) Reproductive Seasonality in Teleosts: Environmental Influences CRC Press Boca Raton, Florida 1–11
I. Nassour C.L. Léger (1989) ArticleTitleDeposition and mobilisation of body fat during sexual maturation in female trout Salmo gairdneri Aqua Living Resour 2 153–159
N. Okuda (2001) ArticleTitleThe costs of reproduction to males and females of a paternal mouth brooding cardinalfish. Apogon notatus J. Fish Biol. 58 776–787
R. Patino (1997) ArticleTitleManipulation of the reproductive systems of fishes by means of exogenous chemicals Progres. Fish Cultural 55 18–128
J. Rutaisire R.T. Muwazi A.J. Booth (2003) ArticleTitleStructure and cytology of the testes of Labeo victorianus African Zool 38 119–126
P.H. Skeleton D. Tweddle P.B.N. Jackson (1991) Cyprinids of Africa I.J. Winfield J.S. Nelson (Eds) Cyprinids Fishes: Systematics, Biology and Exploration Chapman & Hall London
J.F. Talling (1966) ArticleTitleThe annual cycle of stratification and phytoplankton growth in Lake Victoria (East Africa) Intern. Rev. Hydrobiol. 51 545–621
F. Witte T. Goldschmidt K. Goudswaard M.J.P. Ligtvoet M. Oijen Particlevan J. Wanink (1992) ArticleTitleSpecies extinction and concomitant ecological changes in Lake Victoria Netherlands J. Zool. 42 214–232
M.D. Weigand (1996) ArticleTitleComposition, accumulation and utilisation of yolk lipids in teleost fish Rev. Fish Biol. Fish. 6 259–286
O.L.F. Weyl A.J. Booth (1999) ArticleTitleOn the life history of a cyprinid fish,Labeo cylindricus Environ. Biol. of Fishes 55 215–225
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Rutaisire, J., Booth, A.J. Reproductive biology of ningu, Labeo victorianus (Pisces : Cyprinidae), in the Kagera and Sio Rivers, Uganda. Environ Biol Fish 73, 153–162 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10641-004-5564-8
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10641-004-5564-8