Gonad size measured by ultrasound to assign stage of maturity in Burbot

Journal of Fish and Wildlife Management
By: , and 

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Abstract

We measured gonad size (diameter and circumference) by ultrasound and used it as a metric to assign stage of maturity in Burbot Lota lota from Lake Roosevelt, Washington. We collected paired gonad tissue and ultrasound measurements monthly from November 2017 to March 2018 and processed gonad tissue for histological analysis to confirm stage of maturity. We measured gonad diameter and circumference by ultrasound. We also measured excised gonad diameter (i.e., true gonad diameter) by digital calipers and excised gonad circumference (i.e., true gonad circumference) by a measuring tape. All late vitellogenic (stage 6) ovaries measured by ultrasound had a diameter greater than 3.90 cm, suggesting a value of 3.90 cm or greater may be used to characterize females capable of spawning in the current reproductive cycle. One mid-spermatogenic (stage 3) and all ripe (stage 4) testes were too large to be measured and were assigned a diameter of 5.11 cm, the maximum value capable of being measured by our ultrasound transducer. A value of 5.11 cm or greater may be used to characterize males capable of spawning in the current reproductive cycle. Testis circumference measured by ultrasound is not reported because some testes were wider than the ultrasound transducer and could not be measured. Measurements of testis diameter did not differ between measurement methods (ultrasound versus true), but ultrasound measurements of ovary diameter and circumference were higher than true measurements. We attributed the difference between measurement methods to flattening of the ovary while applying the ultrasound transducer. Gonad diameter and circumference measured by ultrasound were highly correlated with gonadosomatic index and ovarian follicle diameter, indicating gonad size measured by ultrasound is an appropriate index of gonad development in Burbot.

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Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Gonad size measured by ultrasound to assign stage of maturity in Burbot
Series title Journal of Fish and Wildlife Management
DOI 10.3996/JFWM-20-082
Volume 12
Issue 1
Year Published 2021
Language English
Publisher Fish and Wildlife Service
Contributing office(s) Coop Res Unit Seattle
Description 9 p.
First page 241
Last page 249
Country United States
State Washington
Other Geospatial Columbia River, Lake Roosevelt
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