Sexual maturation in turbot (Scophthalmus maximus) is related to genotypic oxygen affinity: experimental support for Pauly's juvenile-to-adult transition hypothesis
The relationships between genotypical differences in oxygen affinity and age at first maturation were investigated. Haemoglobins of 52 turbot were analysed by agar gel electrophoresis and the fish segregated into three genotypes; Hb-I(1/1), Hb-I(1/2), and Hb-I(2/2). The genotype Hb-I(2/2) had the hi...
| Published in: | ICES Journal of Marine Science |
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| Main Author: | |
| Format: | Text |
| Language: | English |
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Oxford University Press
1999
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://icesjms.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/short/56/3/320 https://doi.org/10.1006/jmsc.1999.0470 |
| Summary: | The relationships between genotypical differences in oxygen affinity and age at first maturation were investigated. Haemoglobins of 52 turbot were analysed by agar gel electrophoresis and the fish segregated into three genotypes; Hb-I(1/1), Hb-I(1/2), and Hb-I(2/2). The genotype Hb-I(2/2) had the highest oxygen affinity, Hb-I(1/1) the lowest, and that of Hb-I(1/2) lay in between. For both sexes fewer fish of the Hb-I(1/1) and Hb-I(1/2) genotypes matured at 2 years of age compared to the Hb-I(2/2) genotype. The difference was significant only for males. It is concluded that genotypical oxygen affinity properties are related to age at first maturity in turbot, thus lending support to Pauly’s 1984 hypothesis that oxygen supply per unit weight is the master factor in inducing the transition from juvenile to adult in fishes. However, it can not be excluded that sexual maturation in turbot is size determined as Hb-I(2/2) males had higher final weight compared to other genotypes. |
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