In some cases, there is a possibility that ripening oocytes also were used in obtaining estimates of these parameters. The methods proposed here advocate counting the oocytes in clutches of MA and MR females before the oocytes are ovulated.
Females begin spawning soon after ovulation.
Diameter measurements of ripe ova alone will be comparable with other similar measurements. If ripe eggs and ripening oocytes were measured the data cannot be compared without error unless it is possible to restage the cells which were measured. In cases where the specimens and the ovarian material remain in collections, this may be possible. The assumption was that this complement represented all of the eggs to be spawned in one season. Research has shown that individual darters and minnows are capable of producing a much greater number of ova in one season than the number of all gametic cells present at any one time.