of the fertilized swollen egg, being either demersal (sinks to the bottom), semi-pelagic (remains for a short period in the water column, then sinks) or pelagic (floats on or near the surface of the water and could derive for a long distance, several kilometres), scored as a three-state variable [demersal, semi-pelagic, pelagic]
of the fertilized egg after water-hardening. Eggs, which are slightly sticky only prior to water-hardening, were considered as non-adhesive, scored as a binary variable [non-adhesive, adhesive]
behaviour of the larvae prior to exogenous feeding, being either demersal (remain near the bottom) or pelagic (swim actively near the surface), scored as a binary variable [demersal, pelagic]
larvae during the first days after hatching are either negatively (photophobic) or positively (photopositive) attracted to light, scored as a binary variable [photophobic, photopositive]
synchronous (all oocytes present within the ovary are at the same stage of development), group-synchronous (at least two distinct populations of oocytes at different development stages) and asynchronous (oocytes at all stages of development), scored as a three-state variable [synchronous, group-synchronous, asynchronous]
defined as the months in the year when an initial significant inflexion and increase in the GSI is observed. This period corresponds to the onset of the active vitellogenesis, mainly endogenous
defined as the months in the year when the GSI displays the largest increase. This period mainly corresponds to the end of the active vitellogenesis, prior to the final maturation of oocytes (i.e., oocyte meiotic resumption and ovulation)
corresponds to the duration of gonadal quiescence between two consecutive reproductive cycles when the ovaries are recovering from the spawning act (in months)
defined as the months in the year when a significant increase in the GSI is observed. This period mainly corresponds to the initial proliferation of spermatogonia through repeated mitotic divisions, and primary spermatocytes differentiation
defined as the months in the year when the GSI displays a sharp increase. This period mainly corresponds to the transformation of spermatocytes into mature spermatozoa (including the spermiogenesis process) and prior to spermiation
corresponds to the duration of gonadal quiescence between two consecutive reproductive cycles when the testis are recovering from the spawning act (in months)
kind of water frequented during the spawning season, could be either stagnant water such as ponds or lakes (with no or slight current) or rivers and streams (with much more current), scored as a binary character [stagnant water, flowing or turbulent water]
teleost species either scatter their eggs in the water column (pelagophils), or deposit their eggs (i) on a rock or gravel bottom (lithophils), (ii) on plants (phytophils), (iii) on roots or grass above the sandy bottom or on the sand itself (psammophils) or (iv) into gill cavity of mussels (ostracophils). This character is mainly derived from Balon (1975) classification of reproductive guilds of teleost fishes, and scored as a five-state variable [pelagophils, lithophils, phytophils, psammophils, ostracophils]
teleost species scatter their eggs either in the water column, directly over the substrates, or within a nest, which is a depression dug into the substrate by either the male, the female or both parents, scored as a five-state variable [open water/substratum scatter, substrate chooser, nest built by male, nest built by female, nest built by both parents]
teleost species display three main kind of mating system: monogamous (one male and one female), polygamous (an individual, either the male or the female, has several mates), and promiscuity (both sexes have multiple partners within a single season), scored as a four-state variable [monogamy, polygyny, polyandry, promiscuity]
teleost species display three main kind of egg release during the breeding season: total (all eggs are shed at the same time), fractional (several batches of eggs are released at intervals, usually over several days or weeks, but the potential breeding season fecundity is fixed before spawning, also known as determinate fecundity) or multiple (several batches of eggs are shed more than once through a long spawning season, and there is a recruitment to the stock of spawnable oocytes during the entire spawning season, also known as underminate fecundity), scored as three-state variable [total, fractional, multiple]
teleost species are either iteroparous (most individuals survive after the spawning act, i.e., several reproductive cycles during a lifetime) or semelparous (most or all individuals die, i.e., only one reproductive cycle during a lifetime), scored as a binary variable [semelparous, iteroparous]
association between one or both parents and offspring that enhances offspring development and survival (e.g. males of some species guard and aerate their eggs and larvae for several weeks), scored as a four-state variable [no care, male parental care, female parental care, biparental care]