Rich McBride (NEFSC)

“A review of fish reproduction, patterns and processes, in the North
Atlantic Ocean”

Reproduction is a key concept for the study of population dynamics, but
it is complex enough that it requires specialized methods and
terminology. There is probably no better time to learn about
reproduction by fishes, because the successes of recent experimental
studies offer cogent evidence about the processes of oogenesis, an
accumulation of comparative studies reveals the diversity of
reproductive patterns, and a modern literature offers a fairly lucid
framework of terminology. This presentation will present a literature
review of the patterns and processes of fish oogenesis and fish
reproduction, and include time to respond to the interests and questions
of the participants.

This ‘primer’ will introduce the germ cell, oogonial proliferation
(mitosis), and oocyte development (meiosis). The focus will be on
microscopic approaches, such as with histology and examination of whole
oocytes, although reference to macroscopic methods will also be
included. Workable definitions will be given to distinguish semelparity
from iteroparity and total spawners from batch spawners. Various
definitions of fecundity and oocyte synchrony will be reviewed, along
with the implications for each. Finally, the diversity of these patters
will be examined for fishes of the North Atlantic.