Reproductive aspects of freshwater prawn, Macrobrachium lamarrei lamarrei {H. M. Edwards 1837} in Upper Lake at Bhopal

Macrobrachium lamarrei lamarrei is an indigenous freshwater prawn found abundantly in freshwater bodies of Bhopal. The aim of the study was to investigate various reproductive aspects (reproductive period, fecundity and sex ratio) of M. lamarrei lamarrei from a freshwater body “Upper lake” in Bhopal region of India. During the course of research total 720 prawns were captured, 312 males and 408 females resulting in 0.70:1.30 (Male: Female) sex ratio. The reproductive peak period of M. lamarrei lamarrei occurred twice during the year, once during the month of June representing major Peak and once again during December representing minor Peak. Fecundity varies linear with the size (total length) of prawn and varied from 69-143 eggs per female. The knowledge about various reproductive parameters reported in the present study an important to define reproductive strategies of M. lamarrei lamarrei in Upper Lake of Bhopal.