Relationship between energy allocation and reproductive strategy in Trisopterus luscus

Proximate composition and energy content in Trisopterus luscus have been studied to address energy allocation strategy. Energy reserves in pouting females are mainly associated with lipids stored in the liver. Water content appeared to be a useful index in order to obtain very accurate predictions of energy density, particularly for ovaries and liver. Condition indices, HSI and K, are suitable to analyze nutritional status of fish, since they reflect changes in energy content and proximate composition in the different tissues studied. The seasonality of energy reserves was detected and is closely related to the sexual cycle, indicating that females pouting display a period of energy storage, mainly through lipid deposition in the liver. Therefore, T. luscus should be considered a capital rather than an income breeder, as the energy for reproduction comes essentially from stored energy. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.