Reproductive Biology of the Female Manila Clam, Ruditapes philippinarum (Bivalvia: Veneridae) on the West Coast of Korea

Reproductive cycle, first sexual maturity, spawning amount related with the size and spawning interval in female Ruditapes philippinarum were investigated by histological observation and the analysis of morphometric data during artificial spawning induction. Ruditapes philippinarum is dioecious and oviparous. The reproductive cycle of this species can be subdivided into five successive stages: early active stage (January to March), late active stage (February to May), ripe stage (April to August), partially spawned stage (May to October), and spent/inactive stage (August to February). The spawning period was once a year between May and early October, and the main spawning occurred between July and August when seawater temperature was approximately $20^{\circ}C$. Percentages of first sexual maturity of female clam of 15.1-20.0 mm in shell length were 56.3%, and 100% for the clams > 25.1 mm. The mean number of the spawned eggs increased with the increase of size classes (shell length). In case of spawning induction by the same size class, the number of spawned eggs were gradually decreased with the increase of spawning frequencies (the first, second, and third spawnings). In the experiments of artificial spawning induction during the spawning season, the interval of each spawning was estimated to be 15-17 days (average 16.5 days).