Ecology, Environment and Conservation Paper

SPERM CHARACTERISTICS OF TIGER GROUPER (EPINEPHELUS FUSCOGUTTATUS), COMOUFLAGE GROUPER (EPINEPHELUS POLYPHEKADION) AND GIANT GROUPER (EPINEPHELUS LANCEOLOTUS) IN CONTROLLED TANKS

Apri I. Supii, Diana Arifati, Maheno Sri Widodo and Yuni Kilawati

Abstract

The research object is study of sperm of tiger grouper (Epinephelus fuscoguttatus), comouflagegrouper (Epinephelus polyphekadion) and kertang grouper (Epinephelus lanceolotus). They are an important commodity used for hybridization in Indonesia. The research purpose is to know the sperm characteristics of the groupers. Sperm samples were obtained from selected mature male gonads. Parameters to determine the sperm characteristics are morphology, sperm plasma composition and the functional group analysis based on FTIR test. Morphological observations show that sperm of giant grouper (Epinephelus lanceolatus) has the largest head size. Six ion components observed in sperm plasma fishes were calcium, carbon, chlorine, oxygen, phosphorus and sodium. However, percentage of carbon and sodium ions in plasma sperm of comouflagegrouper (Epinephelus polyphekadion) is unknown or nil. Information from the FTIR test shows that the three sperm tested have a functional group profile that tend same with wave number range of 667- 3423/cm.