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Seasonal variation in fecundity, egg case viability, gestation, and neonate size for little skates, Leucoraja erinacea, in the Gulf of Maine

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Abstract

Landings of the little skate, Leucoraja erinacea, within the territorial waters of the United States are currently regulated by a federal fishery management plan (FMP). For a FMP to be effective, thorough knowledge of a species’ reproductive biology is essential. Currently, little information exists on annual fecundity, egg case viability, gestation length, and neonate total length, for the little skate in the Gulf of Maine. To study these reproductive parameters, mature skates and egg cases were housed in fiberglass tanks with an open seawater system that provided natural, seasonal fluctuations in water temperature. Egg case deposition was highest during summer months with a seasonal peak in June. Of the 324 egg cases laid by seven females (c. 46 eggs per year, per female), 74.1% were viable. Gestation lengths ranged from 22 to 54 weeks throughout the four seasons. Egg cases laid in the fall had the longest gestation times (44.9 weeks, ± 0.13 weeks) and those laid in the spring had the shortest gestation times (24.5 weeks, ± 0.21 weeks). Total lengths of neonates from spring oviposition were statistically the longest (10.74 ± 0.05 cm) when compared to neonates from other seasons; however, egg viability was statistically the lowest for spring when compared seasonally.

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Acknowledgments

We thank the University of New England’s Marine Science Center for the use of the wet lab facilities and Marie Quinlan and Jade Heidt for aiding in the maintenance and care of the specimens. MSC contribution number 33.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Marine Science Center, University of New England, Biddeford, ME, 04005, USA

    Brittany D. Palm & James A. Sulikowski

  2. Department of Anatomy, College of Osteopathic Medicine, University of New England, Biddeford, ME, 04005, USA

    David M. Koester

  3. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Marine Fisheries Service, Southeast Fisheries Science Center, Mississippi Laboratories, P.O. Drawer 1207, Pascagoula, MS, 39568, USA

    William B. Driggers III

Authors
  1. Brittany D. Palm
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  2. David M. Koester
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  3. William B. Driggers III
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  4. James A. Sulikowski
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Correspondence to Brittany D. Palm.

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Palm, B.D., Koester, D.M., Driggers, W.B. et al. Seasonal variation in fecundity, egg case viability, gestation, and neonate size for little skates, Leucoraja erinacea, in the Gulf of Maine. Environ Biol Fish 92, 585–589 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10641-011-9854-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10641-011-9854-7

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