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Allocation of resources in an European cyprinid during maturation period as measured by nucleic acids

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Abstract

Changes in the nucleic acid levels of different tissues during a regular gonadal maturation were used to investigate the sex-related size differences in Iberian barbel, Barbus sclateri. Gonadal DNA concentration was associated with gonadal development in both sexes. There was a decline in DNA when ovaries were ripe. In contrast, the maximum size of the testes was related with highest gonadal DNA concentrations. Gonadal growth was not related with liver RNA : DNA ratios of male, while it was with female ratios. White muscle DNA concentrations indicate that somatic cell volume decreased during gonadal growth in both sexes. This suggests the translocation of several elements toward the gonad. Moreover, during gonadal maturation period adult barbel showed no change in their somatic growth. However, males apparently were in poorer metabolic condition (lower muscle RNA : DNA ratio) than females. Females may have allocated additional energy to self-maintenance rather than to breeding effort and it might influenced the cumulative annual growth. One might reasonably assume that there is a trade-off between investment in current versus future reproductive success in female. This result was not seen in males.

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  1. Department of Plant Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Biology, University of Seville, Apdo. 1095, 41080, Seville, Spain

    Carmelo Escot & Carlos Granado-Lorencio

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  1. Carmelo Escot
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  2. Carlos Granado-Lorencio
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Escot, C., Granado-Lorencio, C. Allocation of resources in an European cyprinid during maturation period as measured by nucleic acids. Environmental Biology of Fishes 49, 351–359 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1007321703646

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