Histological analysis

​From the 28th of May until the 8th of June we did the first histological analysis of the gonad samples of Lutjanus fulgens that had been collected in Principe during April and May 2018. This is part of the fish maturity study conducted in partnership with Forever Principe, so as to better understand the reproductive biology of this predatory species and inform fisheries management. The histological analysis was conducted at Prof. Charles Tyler’s lab at the University of Exeter, under the supervision of Dr. Anke Lange. Samples are fixed in wax, sliced in the microtome and stained on haematoxylin-eosin, and then analysed on the microscope. Through this analysis we aim to validate the macroscopic assessment of the maturity of the gonads done in the field and understand the gonad development and maturation for this understudied species.