Evaluating gonadosomatic index as an estimator of reproductive condition in the invasive round goby, Neogobius melanostomus

Author ORCID Identifier

http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8235-6411 : Oliver Love

Document Type

Article

Publication Title

Journal of Great Lakes Research

Publication Date

1-1-2014

Volume

40

Issue

1

First Page

164

Last Page

171

Keywords

11-Ketotestosterone, 17β-estradiol, Gonad development, Gonadosomatic index, Round goby, Testosterone

DOI

10.1016/j.jglr.2013.12.004

ISSN

03801330

Abstract

Using gonadosomatic index cut-off scores has become a standard protocol for selecting reproductive fish in studies on the reproductive biology of round goby, Neogobius melanostomus, a significant invader of the Laurentian Great Lakes, but the validity of this practice has not been validated with histological staging. The goal of the current study was to evaluate the effectiveness of using gonadosomatic index (GSI) cut-off scores to classify reproductive status in male and female round goby by documenting associations between GSI, sex steroids, and gonad development. Gonadal stage was determined in both sexes using hematoxylin and eosin histology. Plasma 11-ketotestosterone and testosterone were measured in males, and testosterone and 17β-estradiol were measured in females. Gonadosomatic index cut-off scores were effective in selecting spawning capable individuals at higher GSI values, but GSI values were limited in the ability to make further distinctions of gonadal stage and missed many spawning capable females. In females, testosterone levels were highest during vitellogenic growth and declined prior to ovulation. 17β-estradiol displayed a similar, but non-statistically significant pattern. Males with developing testes had higher levels of 11-ketotestosterone -but not testosterone -than reproductively immature males, although levels of these androgens were overall positively correlated in males. The findings indicate that the conventional GSI cut-off scores (1% in males, 8% in females) accurately assign spawning capable condition in both sexes; however, they may also exclude some spawning capable females with lower GSIs. © 2013 International Association for Great Lakes Research.

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