Determination of batch fecundity in Uranoscopus scaber Linnaeus, 1758 from the Aegean Sea, Turkey

This work focuses on reproductive biology aspects of Uranoscopus scaber from the coast of the Aegean Sea. In total, 175 U. scaber specimens were collected in Izmir Bay using trawl nets from January to December 2005. The reproduction period according to gonadosomatic index (GSI) values extents from March to September, with a peak in May (6.32 +/- 1.2). Oocyte diameters taken from 59 mature gonads ranged from 62 to 1860 mu m. Maximum batch fecundity (BF) was 58091 (mean: 11556 +/- 1445) in large oocytes in May, and 8408 (mean: 2821 +/- 945) in hydrated oocytes in September. The BF increased with total length and body weight, excluding the ovaries. Total length (TL)-BF relationships and fish weight-BF relationships were BF = 0.0034TL(4.6248) (r = 0.47) and BF = 59.166W-3101 (r = 0.49), respectively, according to the oocyte size frequency method. There was a linear relationship between BF and fish size.