Reproductive biology of a riverine cyprinid, Labeo umbratus (Teleostei: Cyprinidae), in small South African reservoirs

Abstract

The reproductive and recruitment characteristics of moggel, Labeo umbratus, populations were examined in four small South African reservoirs. Reproduction, characterised by an extended spawning season, high fecundity, short incubation time and rapid larval development, appears to be ideally suited to the highly variable environment of small reservoirs. Evidence suggested that L. umbratus spawns in the reservoirs. In two reservoirs where samples were conducted monthly, GSI (gonado-somatic index) was positively correlated with both water temperature and day length, whilst the CPUE (catch per unit effort) of juveniles was not related to any environmental variable. The success of moggel spawning appeared to increase when there was early spring and consistent summer rainfall.

Keywords: fecundity, moggel, small water bodies

African Journal of Aquatic Science 2005, 30(2): 147–155