Egg Maturation and Fecundity in Etheostoma

The problem of estimating fecundity in darters (Etheostoma and Percina) was discussed and a new definition of fecundity proposed. Estimates of fecundity in four species of Etheostoma was determined by multiplying the number of oocytes (≥0.3 mm) recruited per week times the number of weeks in the spawning period. Fecundity for E. cragini, E. punctulatum, E. flabellare and E. tetrazonum was projected to be 2660, 5840 to 14,525, 384, 1320 respectively. These estimates were higher or within the range projected by other authors. No significant difference was found in the number of developing ova in weekly field samples and lab-held samples (for one week) of E. cragini, E. flabellare, and E. tetrazonum. There was a significantly lower number of developing ova in E. punctulatum field samples than in lab-held specimens