Reproductive biology of Chinese minnow Hemiculterella sauvagei Warpachowski, 1888 in the Chishui River, China

This study describes the reproductive biology of the Chinese minnow Hemiculterella sauvagei. The length-weight relation-ship, sex ratio, spawning season, size at first maturity, and fecundity were analyzed based on 685 specimens collected from the Chishui River between July 2011 and July 2012. The relationship between standard length (SL) and body weight (BW) were estimated as BW = 2.14 9 104 9 SL2.801 (R2 = 0.839; N = 413; P < 0.05) for females and BW = 1.31 9 104 9 SL3.001 (R2 = 0.868; N = 272; P < 0.05) for males. The female to male sex ratio, 1.52: 1, differed significantly from a 1: 1 ratio. Females predominated in standard lengths>12 cm. Analyses of the monthly variation in the gonadoso-matic index (GSI), the monthly proportions of macroscopic gonadal maturity, and the size distribution of oocytes consis-tently suggested a prolonged spawning season of H. sauvagei from March to August, with a peak from April to May. Logistic curves describing the relationship between proportion of maturity (Pr) at each length interval and standard length were estimated as Pr = 1/(1 +