Reproductive Cycle of the Ark Shell, Scapharca subcrenata, on the West Coast of Korea

Monthly changes in the gonad index (GI), egg-diameter composition, gonadal development, reproductive cycle of the ark shell, Scapharca subcrenata, were investigated by histological method and morphometric data. This species is dioecious and oviparous. The gonad is located among the subregion of mid-intestinal gland, digestive diverticula and the outer fibromuscular layers compacted by the fibrous connective tissues and muscle fibers. The gonad index sharply increased in May, reached the maximum value in June, and then gradually decreased from July to December. The reproductive cycle of this species can be divided into six successive stages: early active stage (January to May), late active stage (June to July), ripe stage (June to August), partially spawned stage (July to September), degenerative stage (August to December), and resting stage (January to April). S. subcrenata spawns once a year between July and early September, and the main spawning occurred between July and August when the water temperatures were above $20^{\circ}C$. This evidence suggest that timings of maturation and spawning are closely related to water temperatures. Even though the spawning period was once a year, it is assumed that the number of spawning frequencies (broods) may occur more than twice during the spawning season.