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A preliminary study on the effect of lunar cycles on the spawning behaviour of the gilt-head sea bream, Sparus aurata

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 June 2006

Margarida Saavedra  and
Pedro Pousão-Ferreira
Margarida Saavedra
Affiliation:
Instituto Nacional de Investigação Agrária e das Pescas (INIAP/IPIMAR-CRIPSul), Avenida 5 de Outubro, 8700-305 Olhão, Portugal
Pedro Pousão-Ferreira
Affiliation:
Instituto Nacional de Investigação Agrária e das Pescas (INIAP/IPIMAR-CRIPSul), Avenida 5 de Outubro, 8700-305 Olhão, Portugal
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Abstract

Environmental cues such as photoperiod and water temperature are often used by fish as a sign to begin reproduction. However, even after the reproductive cycle has started there are other signs, such as the moon phase that may affect the number of eggs laid by some fish species. The existence of a moon effect has never been investigated in any fish of the sparid family.

In the present study, the effect of moon phase was observed on eggs laid by two Sparus aurata in indoor tanks over a four month period, from January to May, 2003. During this period a peak in eggs laid was observed around the Full Moon. A total of 8644 g and 5653 g of eggs were collected, 4535 g corresponding to the Full Moon and 2882 g to the New Moon.

Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom , Volume 86 , Issue 4 , August 2006 , pp. 899 - 901
Copyright
2006 Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom

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