Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

BREEDING BIOLOGY AND FECUNDITY IN MYSTUS SPECIES FROM MEHADRIGEDDA STREAM OF VISAKHAPATNAM

L.M. Rao, K.S. Reddy and V. Hymavathi

Abstract

A comparative study on the breeding biology and fecundity of four species of Mysius occurring in Mehadrigedda stream of Visakhapatnam has been made in relation to the physico-chemical conditions of the environment during January to December 1992. M. gullio was predominant towards the mouth of the stream and breeds on the onset of the monsoon (June-July) a little before the flooding, where as Al. vittatus, M. keletius and M. cavasius were observed to breed intensively during the peak monsoon period i.e., August and September. Further, the fecundity in M. gulio was observed to be comparatively higher than that of the other three species. The probable reasons for these differences in between these four species have been discussed.