The experiment aimed to study the effect of female body weights on reproductive traits of European seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax).
The obtained results could be summarized as follows:
Total egg weight (g) per female (EW/F) and egg diameter (µm) (ED) were significantly affected by female weights groups. Absolute and relative fecundity were 56001.10, 60469.10 and
65368.69; 47.51, 43.35 and 38.40 for (up to 1500 gm), (>1500-2000 gm) and (> 2000-2500 gm), respectively. Analysis of variance showed that, female body weights had significant effect on both absolute and relative fecundity. Hatchability percentage were found to be 63.31, 64.15 and 64.36 % for the three female weights groups studied (up to 1500 gm), (>1500-2000 gm) and (> 2000-2500 gm), respectively.
The average larvae number per fish as affected by female body weight found to be 29822.72, 32242.95 and 34493.22 larvae for the three female weight groups (up to 1500 gm), (>1500-2000 gm) and (> 2000-2500 gm), respectively and the differences between averages of fry number per fish attributed to female weights were significant (P<0.001).
Therefore, the heavier females produced the higher egg production/fish, egg diameter, absolute fecundity, hatchability percentage, larvae number/fish, larvae number/fish. Also, the heavier females produced the lower means of relative fecundity.