Duration of embryonic development and S/V (surface/volume) coefficient in fish eggs

Abstract

S/V (surface/volume) coefficient was used to explain the nature of the relationship between length of embryonic development and egg size in fish. It was found that coefficient values were directly related to the rate of energetic processes in the tissues which determined the rate of embryogenesis and duration of embryonic development. From among a number of the examined fish species the smallest viz. the least favourable S/V coefficient (mean value 1.16) was observed in Salmo trutta L., a little better (mean value 2.19) - in Esox lucius L., and the most favourable and the biggest (mean 4.8) - in Leucaspius delineatus L. These differences result in different temperatures selected by particular fish species for their reproduction: low in case of big eggs and respectively higher in case of small eggs.