BROWN-PETERSON ET AL.: REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY OF THE SPOTTED SEATROUT 



Figure 6. — Photomicrographs of oocytes from spotted seatrout 

 in the mature reproductive stage collected from South 

 Texas. A. Histological section of an ovary in the mature stage 

 that is not undergoing final oocyte maturation (FOM). Oocyte 

 development is continuous, with fully grown yolk globular 

 oocytes co-occurring with oocytes in earlier stages of develop- 

 ment (Magnification 120x). B. "Cleared" oocytes in the lipid 

 coalescence stage, the first stage of FOM (magnification 40 x). 

 C. Histological section of an oocyte undergoing germinal vesicle 

 migration (GVM). (Magnification 160 x ). D. "Cleared" oocytes 

 in the GVM stage (magnification 40 X). Key: GV = germinal 

 vesicle or nucleus, L = Lipid droplets, YG = yolk globules, 

 YGO = yolk globular oocyte, ZR = Zona radiata. 



Figure 7. — Time-course of final oocyte maturation in spotted seatrout collected from 

 South Texas. Lipid coalescence is the initial stage in final oocyte maturation. Data 

 obtained from 46 fish undergoing final oocyte maturation in April and May 

 1985. GVM = germinal vesicle migration. 14L: lOD = hours of light and dark. 



Figure 8.— Relation between batch fecundity (BF) 

 and ovary-free body weight (WT) of spotted seatrout 

 from April 1984 to May 1985. Thirty-three fish with 

 oocytes >350 \i.m that were undergoing final oocyte 

 maturation and formed a distinct batch of oocytes or 

 had hydrated oocytes are included. 



Weight (g) 



383 



