Age, growth and reproduction of mottled sculpin (cottus bairdi) in the Coweeta creek drainage from 1993 to 1998

We quantified: (1) growth rate, (2) length-mass relationships, (3) size- and age-specific fecundity, (4) egg sizefrequencies, and (5) size- and age-specific egg diameter relationships for reproductively active female C. bairdi from one of the southern-most extant populations of this species (Coweeta Creek drainage, North Carolina). Gravid females were collected during February and March in 1993–1995, and 1998.Cottus bairdi were collected from Shope Fork and Ball Creek in early spring prior to spawning. We are determining age and length specific fecundities from analysis of whole ovaries. We are also investigating whether are age or length specific differences exist in egg size. We are determining sex specific growth rates back-calculation of age at length from otolith analysis.