Successful handstripping of hatchery bred and reared male African catfish, Clarias gariepinus (Burchell, 1822)

A total of 45 Male and 5 female Clarias gariepinus bred and reared in the hatchery in sunning for one year were obtained for this experiment. The fish were then housed separately according to their sexes and maintained on trout diet at 10% body weight for two days before they were subjected to induction. These were then induced using both human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG - 500iu) and carp pituitary suspension (CPS -3mg kg super(-1) suspended in 0.9% saline) either as priming or resolving doses. The milt produced was used to fertilize eggs tripped from females. The results indicated high milt production, motility and fertility in most males

Aspects of mineral composition of male and female Heterobranchus bidorsalis adults exposed to different concentrations of Bonny-light crude oil

Studies were carried out to assess some macro and trace elements of mineral composition of the male and female Heterobranchus bidorsalis adults exposed to graded concentrations (1.00-8.00m/L-1) of Bonny-light crude oil (BLCO). The experiment was monitored for 4 days (toxicity) and 42days (recovery) periods. Significant decreases (P < 0.05)in the sodium (Na), potassium (K), magnesium (Mg), calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), zinc (Zn), iron (Fe), vanadium (Va), lead (Pb) and manganese (Mn) contents of the male H. bidorsalis corresponded with the increasing concentrations of BLCO. In contrast, the female fishes recorded significant increases (P < 0.05) in the values of the above elements in their tissues as the concentrations of BLCO increased. Furthermore, the values of Na, K, Mg, Ca, P, Zn, Fe, Va, Pb and Mn recorded in the male fishes where generally lower than those of their female counterparts and the control fish. Increased values of these elements were also recorded during the recovery periods (days 14, 28 and 42) of this study in the magnitudes of 15% at day 14, 20% at day 28 and 20% at day 42. This implied that the removal of crude oil stress during this period improved the quantity of these minerals deposited in the fish tissues. The highest percent proportion of Zn and the lowest proportion of Pb recorded in both male and female H. bidorsalis adults agreed with the report of other workers for other fish species. KEYWORDS: Heterobranchus bidorsalis, Mineral composition, Bonny-light crude oil, Toxicity, Recovery.

The role of mate guarding, Male Size and Male Investment on Individual Reproductive Success in the Blue Crab, Callinectes Sapidus.

Male blue crabs, Callinectes Sapidus, guard their mates before and after mating, suggesting that the conditions regulating both types of mate guarding dictate individual reproductive success. I tested the hypothesis that large male blue crabs have advantages in sexual competition using experimental manipulations, a simulation model, and field data on crabs from mid-Chesapeake Bay between 1991-1994.

Pawpaw seed as fertility control agent on male Nile tilapia

To find out if pawpaw (Carica papaya) seeds can induce sterility in male Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) and to determine if sterility so induced is reversible or otherwise, mature male tilapia of mean weight 40 g were treated for 30 days with a low dose (4.9 g/kg/day) and a high dose (9.8 g/kg/day) of ground pawpaw seeds incorporated into their feed. Fish of similar sizes in the control experiment were fed with feed that did not contain pawpaw seed. The pawpaw seeds induced permanent sterility in the fish that received the high dose, while sterility in the low dose treatment was reversible. Fish in the control experiment spawned two weeks into the experiment and again in the fifth week. Fish in the low dose treatment spawned three weeks after the treatment had been discontinued. Histological sections of the testes showed that pawpaw seeds produced swollen nuclei in the low dose treatment and disintegrated cells in the high dose treatment. The study showed that pawpaw seeds, which are easy to obtain, can be incorporated into fish feeds and used by farmers to control prolific breeding of Nile tilapia.

Techniques to produce 100 percent male tilapia

A discussion is presented on endocrine sex reversal and chromosome manipulation techniques for producing 1005 male tilapia. Details are given of methods for the administration of steroids and the induction of ploidy.

Heterogeneous individual growth of Macrobrachium rosenbergii male morphotypes

In a single cohort of small freshwater prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergii, the size range of females in the population is rather small. However, among the males, three major morphotypes are found and each has a distinct size category. The differential growth pattern in males, termed "heterogeneous individual growth" (HIG), is a major bottleneck confronting the profitability of farming this species. An attempt is made to understand the cause and impact of HIG on the culture system and methods by which HIG could be minimized in growout in order to maximize the market yield structure of the harvested population.

Reproductive biology of male franciscanas (Pontoporia blainvillei) (Mammalia: Cetacea) from Rio Grande do Sul, southern Brazil

The reproductive biology of male franciscanas (Pontoporia blainvillei), based on 121 individuals collected in Rio Grande do Sul State, southern Brazil, was studied. Estimates on age, length, and weight at attainment of sexual maturity are presented. Data on the reproductive seasonality and on the relationship between some testicular characteristics and age, size, and maturity status are provided. Sexual maturity was assessed by histological examination of the testes. Seasonality was determined by changes in relative and total testis weight, and in seminiferous tubule diameters. Testis weight, testicular index of maturity, and seminiferous tubule diameters were reliable indicators of sexual maturity, whereas testis length, age, length, and weight of the dolphin were not. Sexual maturity was estimated to be attained at 3.6 years (CI 95% =2.7–4.5) with the DeMaster method and 3.0 years with the logistic equation. Length and weight at attainment of sexual maturity were 128.2 cm (CI 95%=125.3–131.1 cm) and 26.4 kg (CI 95% =24.7–28.1 kg), respectively. It could not be verified that there was any seasonal change in the testis weight and in the seminiferous tubule diameters in mature males. It is suggested that at least some mature males may remain reproductively active throughout the year. The extremely low relative testis weight indicates that sperm competition does not occur in the species. On the other hand, the absence of secondary sexual characteristics, the reversed sexual size dimorphism, and the small number of scars from intrassexual combats in males reinforce the hypothesis that male combats for female reproductive access may be rare for franciscana. It is hypothesized that P. blainvillei form temporary pairs (one male copulating with only one female) during the reproductive period.

A study of the male reproductive organs of nine species of penaeid prawns (Crustacea: Penaeinae)

This paper deals with the male reproductive organs of nine species of penaeid prawns; Penaeus penicillatus Alcock, P. merguiensis De Man, P. semisulcatus De Haan, Metapenaeus affinis (H.Milne Edwards), M. monoceros (Fabricius), M. stebbingi Nobili, Parapenaeopsis hardwickii (Miers), P. sculptilis (Heller) and P. stylifera (H. Milne Edwards). The male reproductive organs exhibited structural variations, which were more pronounced at generic level. These variations are mainly due to the type of spermatophore they possess. One species of each genus, that is, P. merguiensis, M. affinis and P. sculptilis were also studied histologically to examine the internal structure of the male reproductive organs. Spermatophores of the six species belonging to the genera Penaeus and Parapenaeopsis are also described and illustrated.

Breeding biology and monosex male seed production of Genetically Improved Farmed Tilapia (GIFT) strain of Oreochromis niloticus L. in Bangladesh

A study on the breeding biology of the GIFT strain of Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus, was conducted for a period of five months. The sex ratio of the parent individuals was optimized for performance in spawn production, where the best results were obtained with a sex ratio of female to male of 4:1 compared to those of 3:1 and 2:1. The diameter of eggs obtained from the GIFT stock had major and minor axes of 2.19±0.09 and 1.72±0.07 mm, respectively, with no significant differences between the treatments. The average number of eggs produced was 392±22 per female, with fertilization and hatching rates ranging between 94-96% and 85-88%, respectively. No significant variation was observed between the treatments. Breeding frequencies per female in the three treatment groups ranged between 10-40 days and the highest value was obtained at a female to male sex ratio of 4: l. In an other experiment, l7 aMethyltestosterone (MT) was applied orally to the fry at their first feeding stage with treatments- 1, 2, 3 and 4 at the dosage of 100, 80, 60 and 40 mg/kg feed respectively, for the period of 28 days. The mean percentage of males obtained in treatments, 1, 2, 3 and 4 were 98, 97, 95 and 68, respectively. Treatments-1, 2 and 3 did not differ significantly (P>0.05) from each other but treatment 4 showed significant variation (P<0.05) from other treatments. The results showed that MT-100, 80 and 60 mg/kg feed administered for 28 days produced close to cent percent male population of the GIFT strains in aquaria.

Report of the BOBLME Pollution Working Group meeting, Male, Maldives, 2-3 June 2010

Meeting to develop environmental indicators to measure overall health of BOBLME; identify important coastal water pollution issues: produce conclusions and recommendations to form an action plan.

Report of the BOBLME Sharks Working Group, Male, Maldives, 5-7 July, 2011

Validation of available information on shark fisheries. Drafting of workplans and proposals to develop and implement National and Regional Plans of Action (RPOA-NPOA)