Reproductive biology of the tench Tinca tinca (L., 1758) inhabiting Porsuk Dam Lake (Kutahya, Turkey)

Abstract

Maturity age, spawning time and fecundity of tench in Porsuk Dam Lake were determined. Field and laboratory studies show that males and females become sexually mature at age 3 and 4, respectively, and the spawning period extends from late April to the beginning of July. The number of eggs ranged from 13,766 to 43,148 and the highest value of GSI for the species is in June, while the lowest value (nearly zero) is in July. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.