Reproductive effort as a predictor of natural mortality rate

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Abstract
An evaluation of the relation between reproductive effort and natural mortality rate was carried out for 20 stocks of fish. More detailed studies were undertaken for five of these to evaluate the utility of three alternative indices of reproductive effort and the magnitude of interannual variability in these indices. A multiple regression analysis showed that the most commonly used reproductive index (wet gonad–somatic weight index) was superior to any of the other life history parameters evaluated (K, L ∞ , age at maturity, maximum age) in predicting natural mortality (r 2 = 0·81). The precision of this index could be improved by careful timing of gonad weight observations, using dry weights instead of wet weights in the gonad –somatic weight index, and sampling in such a way as to minimize the effects of interannual variability in reproductive effort and natural mortality.

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