Timothy H. Bonner and Gene R. Wilde, Department of
Range, Wildlife, and Fisheries Management, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas 79416;
E-Mail bonnerth@hotmail.com
Keywords: Arkansas River shiner, gonadosomatic index,
reproduction, multiple spawners
We studied the reproductive cycle and spawning requirements of the
Arkansas River shiner in the Canadian River, New Mexico and Texas. Males and females were
present in equal numbers (p<0.05). Oocytes began to increase in diameter and mature in
April and ripe ova occurred from May through August. Gonadosomatic indices (GSI) reached a
maximum from May through August and were significantly greater (p<0.05) than GSIs
during September through April. Diameters of mature ova and GSIs did not vary
significantly from May through August. These results and the absence of spent fish until
late August suggest that individuals were multiple spawners. This is consistent with
periodic occurrences of larval fish through the summer. Our results fail to show a
relationship between spawning and stream flow as has been suggested by earlier studies.
Numbers, but not size, of ova were positively related to total length (r2=0.63,
p<0.05). Mean fecundity was 213.3 ova per fish and total length of 50% maturation of
females was estimated at 34 mm.
