Growth rate and reproduction of a brood stock of European whitefish (Coregonus lavaretus L.) from Lake Gaładuś under controlled rearing conditions
Mirosław Szczepkowski, Bożena Szczepkowska, Tadeusz Krzywosz,
Krzysztof Wunderlich, Robert StabińskiABSTRACT. The focus of the study was to analyze the effects of the artificial reproduction of whitefish, Coregonus lavaretus (L.) aged from 1+ to 4+. It was confirmed that males comprised 64.5% of the brood stock. The males were sexually mature at the age of 1+, while most females were mature at the age of 2+. The females gained weight faster in comparison to the males, and the differences were highly statistically significant (P < 0.001). Survival during the period from the first spawning at age 1+ to spawning at age 4+ was 79.6% for males and 59.6% for females. The quantity of eggs obtained, the egg size, and their survival during incubation all increased as the fish aged. The weight of the eggs obtained from fish aged 3+ and 4+ was statistically significantly higher that from younger fish (1+ and 2+) (P < 0.001). The results of the current study indicate that exploiting a whitefish brood stock under controlled conditions can begin as early as at age 2+. The highest relative fecundity and largest egg size were obtained in females aged 3+.
Key words: whitefish, Lake Gaładuś, growth, fecundity
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR:
M. Szczepkowski [+], B. Szczepkowska, K. Wunderlich
Department of Sturgeon Fish Breeding
The Stanisław Sakowicz Inland Fisheries Institute in Olsztyn
Pieczarki 50, 11-610 Pozezdrze, Poland
Tel. +48 (87) 428 36 66; e-mail: szczepkowski@infish.com.pl
T. Krzywosz
Department of Lake Fisheries in Giżycko
The Stanisław Sakowicz Inland Fisheries Institute in Olsztyn, Poland
R. Stabiński
Fisheries Enterprise of the Polish Angling Association in Suwałki, Poland