Table 6. Sources of heterogeneity/multivariable meta-regression model estimates (SE) of the effects of study characteristics

Effects Fertilization rate Hatching rate
Continent/country
 Europe/Hungary (Reference) 0 0
 Africa/Nigeria (SE) 32.35 (15.4)* 32.18 (12.68)*
 Asia/Iran (SE) 1.08 (11.37) 38.31 (9.9)***
I2 (%) 93.77 93.63
R2 (amount of heterogeneity accounted for) (%) 9.92 57.55
Sperm application
 Dry external fertilization (Reference) 0 0
 Ovarian lavage (SE) –16.45 (9.03) –19.54 (12.23)
I2 (%) 94.23 98.24
R2 (amount of heterogeneity accounted for) (%) 10.22 9.15
Species
Clarias gariepinus (Reference) 0
Danio rerio (SE) –34.38 (12.28)** -
Cyprinus carpio (SE) –9.3 (14.58) -
Rhamdia quelen (SE) 6.27 (13.67) -
 Hybrid (Clarias gariepinus × Heterobranchus longifilis) (SE) 3.22 (21.2) 16.22 (23.58)
Sander lucioperca (SE) –55.58 (33.6) -
Esox lucius (SE) –10.9 (11.74) 33.29 (11.97)**
I2 (%) 93.5 97.15
R2 (amount of heterogeneity accounted for) (%) 20.3 30.75
Sperm treatment types
 Fresh sperm (Reference) 0 0
 Cryopreserved sperm (SE) –53.4 (19.23)*** –55.52 (18.1)**
 Cryopreserved sperm + fresh sperm for dry external fertilization (SE) –59.3 (17.27)*** –60.72 (15.46)***
 Fresh sperm 2 hrs. before stripping (SE) –30.2 (18.32) -
 Fresh sperm 12 hrs. before stripping (SE) –35.9 (18.9) -
 Fresh sperm hormone mix (SE) –3.50 (8.12) –35.90 (16.73)*
 Fresh sperm hormone mixes + fresh sperm for dry external fertilization (SE) –1.8 (15.6) -
 Fresh sperm to the left ovary and NaCl-dissolved hormone to the right ovary (SE) 10.8 (13.65) -
 Fresh sperm from transgenic males but without males in aquaria (SE) –64.3 (13.97) -
 Fresh sperm from transgenic males and males separated by a transparent plastic screen in aquaria (SE) –65.1 (19.4)*** -
 Fresh sperm insemination after 72 hours of hormone injection intramuscularly (SE) –16.4 (10.8)*** 12.88 (12.8)
 Fresh sperm insemination after 72 hours of hormone insemination into ovaries (SE) –22.1 (10.8)* 13.59 (12.7)
 Fresh sperm for dry external fertilization and hormone insemination (SE) –11.3 (11.12) 17.98 (12.47)
I2 (%) 81.12 93.64
R2 (amount of heterogeneity accounted for) (%) 78.32 76.18
 Overall 62.53 65.91
p < 0.05,
p < 0.01,
p < 0.001.
SE, standard error; I2, residual heterogeneity/unaccounted variability.