REPRODUCTIVE BEHAVIORS OF GYMNOCYPRIS PRZEWALSKII IN ARTIFICIAL MIMIC SPAWNING ENVIRONMENTS

This study investigated reproductive behaviors of Gymnocypris przewalskii in artificial mimic spawning environment by visible marker tracking and video monitoring. The typical reproductive behaviors of G. przewalskii can be divided into chasing, accompanying, diving tail, attracting and mating behaviors. Among them, the attracting behavior of the broodstocks described as surface slapping with the dorsal and pectoral fins of a single female or male fish was first confirmed, which is often mistaken for the mating behavior. The daily frequency of chasing, accompanying, diving tail and attracting behaviors were 5.7, 14.7, 9.3 and 3.5 times, respectively. 32 of 34 observed mating behaviors (94.1%) were confirmed as one female with one male. The results showed that female G. przewalskii are one-time oviposition. The frequencies of mating behaviors (spontaneously ovulating and inseminating) were 3—9 times per day and the mating durations were 4—9 seconds with an average 131 (range 15—376) eggs per time. Each female can lay eggs for 3—7 days. Among the 34 mating behaviors, 31 (91.1%) occurred at night (23:00—2:00 the next day) and 3 (8.9%) occurred during the day (6: 00—7: 00 in the morning). This study first clearly described the characteristics of reproductive behaviors of G. przewalskii ex situ, which can provide basic data for mimic-natural spawning ground construction, wild broodstock conservation and natural spawning habitat protection of G. przewalskii.