• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.48-55
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• 2009

The gonad maturation and spawning of blue crab, Portunus trituberculatus (Miers, 1876) using samples caught by trammer net in the western coast of Korea from January to December. The gonadosomatic index (GSI) showed the highest value of 15.0 in June and lowest value of 1.29 in August. Hepatosomatic index (HSI) showed the lowest in the spawning season from June to July. Thereafter, from August the value started to increase to 5.77 in December, showing an adverse trend against GSI. In the histological studies of the female reproductive organ, the gonad filled with primary oocytes from January to February and secondary oocytes in May. The female gonads mature from June, and mature and immature groups could be distinguished from December to February or March. In August, female developed another cycle of gonad development, showing new primary oocytes in the gonads again. Some of female crabs had receptaculum filled with already active sperm cells in it from March to May. In the time of August to September, almost all the females had the sperm sacs in the receptaculum. From the result, the coupling period estimated from August to September. Total RNA and DNA values of the crabs were highest in May (2.51, $0.57{\mu}g/mg$). The DNA value remained unchanged except for the value in May ($0.09-0.13{\mu}g/mg$). while RNA value was lowest in January ($1.08{\mu}g/mg$). The RAN/DNA ratio was the lowest (6.23%) in May and highest (18.05%) in July. The value of correlations coefficient between body weight and fecundity of the crabs was higher that of between carapace width and fecundity.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.365-370
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• 2021

Manila clam Ruditapes philippinarum is present at high rates of density in tidal flats in Cheonsu Bay on the west coast of Korea, where clams often exhibit mass mortalities in late summer. We monitored the pathologic condition of clams at Hwangdo tidal flat (HD) to understand the parasitic impacts on clam fitness. Manila clams were fully ripe in July and spawned during August and September, as the histology indicated. The histology revealed that clams in HD tidal flats were heavily infected by the protozoa parasite Perkinsus olseni, as the monthly prevalence ranged from 53% (September) to 93% (August). In addition, Manila clams were co-infected by the metazoan parasite Cercaria tapetis and Parvatrema duboisi with the prevalence of 0-33% and 0-14%, respectively. Massive hemocyte infiltration and subsequent inflammation were commonly observed from the gills of P. olseni infected clams. Clusters of P. olseni trophozoites and heavy hemocyte infiltration were also observed from the female gonad, suggesting that P. olseni interferes with host gonad maturation. The larval trematode occupied almost the entire host gonad, resulting in gonad castration. In addition, Metacercaria of P. duboisi were observed from the subsurface of the mantle. Ray's fluid thioglycollate medium assay (RFTM) indicated that clams collected in August and September contained approximately 4.0×106 P. olseni cells/g gills. Condition Index (CI) declined gradually from spring to early summer, and the decline in CI was interpreted as a consequence of the heavy parasitism, as the parasites drain the host's net energy to be used in somatic growth and gamete production.

• The Korean Journal of Malacology
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.143-150
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• 2006

The gonad index, condition index, reproductive cycle and spawning of the pen shell Atrina (Servatrina) pectinata were investigated using samples from the subtidal zone of Nokdo on the Boryeong coastal waters of Korea. Samples were collected monthly by SCUBA divers for one year from January to December, 2001. A. (Servatrina) pectinata is dioecious and oviparous. The spawning season of this species occurred once a year from June to August, with the main spawning occurring between June and July when the seawater temperature was around $20^{\circ}C$. Ripe oocytes were about 60-65 ${\mu}m$ in diameter. The reproductive cycle of this species could be classified into five successive stages; early active stage (November to March), late active stage (February to May), ripe stage (April to July), partially spawned stage (June to August), and spent/inactive stage (August to October). Monthly changes in the gonad index reached a maximum (4.6) in May (ripe stage), thereafter, the GI values gradually decreased from June to August when spawning occurred continuously. Therefore, monthly changes in the GI values showed a similar pattern to the gonadal phase. The condition index (CI) of the meat part without the posterior adductor muscle reached the maximum in June (ripe and partially spawned stage) and the minimum in September (spent/inactive stage), Accordingly, monthly changes in the condition indice of the meat part without the posterior adductor muscle coincided with the gonadal phases.

• The Korean Journal of Malacology
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.201-209
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• 2010

The investigated of survival rate, sex ratio, condition index, gonad development frequency, gonad index, fertilization rate, hatching rate and time required development of D shape larvae of the ark shell, Scapharca subcrenata. Survival rate was lower in heating group compared with control group (P < 0.05). Sex ratio (female:male) observed 1:0.97 in control group, 1:0.62 in heating group. Condition index was significantly higher in heating group than control group (P < 0.05) and higher increased more than water temperature $17^{\circ}C$ of heating group. Gonad development observed slow in control group but more than ripe stage 80% in heating group (21-28 day, $20^{\circ}C$). Gonad index was higher in heating group compared with control group (P < 0.05). Fertilization rate and hatching rate of the ark shell was observed $82.17{\pm}3.55%$ and $63.57{\pm}2.36%$, respectively. The time required development of D shape larvae of the ark shell was observed 15 hour after fertilization. The suggested that results of the ark shell by heating were effective sex maturation and normal egg development.

• Journal of Aquaculture
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.245-251
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• 2003

Sexual maturation and gametogenic cycle of the hard shelled mussel, Mytilus coruscus were investigated by means of histological method. Specimens were collected monthly in Hansan Bay of south coast, Korea from January to December 2002. Sex of the clam was dioecious. The gonads are composed of a number of gametogenic follicles. The gonad index (GI) was reached the maximum in February (3.40), and the minimum in August (1.18). The monthly variation of condition index (CI) coincides with gonad index. The main spawning occurs between February and March. The gametogenic cycle of the clam could be divided into six stages: resting (August to November), multiplicative (November to December), growing (December to January), maturation (January to February), partially spent (February to April) and completely spent/degenerative stage (April to July). Sex ratio (♀/♂) was 1:0.96.

• The Korean Journal of Malacology
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.199-208
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• 2007

The gonad index, gonadosomatic index, the condition index, reproductive cycle, first sexual maturity, and sex ratio of the hard shelled mussel, Mytilus coruscus were investigated by using histological analysis and morphometric data. Specimens were collected monthly in Kyeokpo, western Korea from January to December, 2006. The gonad index reached a maximum in February, and minimum in September. Both the monthly variations of the gonad index (GI) and the gonadosomatic index (GSI) reached a maximum in February. After that, their values continually decreased between March and April because of spawning. The monthly variation of the condition index coincides with the GI and the GSI. The spawning period was from February to April, with the main spawning occurring between February and March. The reproductive cycle of this species could be classified into six stages: early active stage (November to January), late active stage (November to February), ripe stage (December to April), partially spawned stage (February to April), degenerative stage (April to October), and resting stage (June to December ). Percentages of sexual maturity was over 50% for the female and male hard shelled mussels that ranges from 40.1 to 50.0 mm in shell length. The percentage was 100% for those that are over 50.1 mm. The sex ratios of females to males over 40.1 mm in shell length were not significantly different from a 1:1 sex ratio $(x^2\;=\;0.63,\;p\;>\;0.05)$. No evidence of hermaphroditism was found in histological sections of any hard shelled mussel examined.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.37-45
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• 2013

The monthly variations of blood characteristics and RNA/DNA of black sea bream, Acanthopagrus schlegeli, habituated in Geojae costal area were analysed to determine health condition of natural stocks in terms of gonad maturation and spawning season from March 2010 to February 2011. Spawning season determinated by gonadosomatic index is from June to August. RNA/DNA ratio of black sea bream muscle was strongly correlated with spawning season. During the gonad maturation RNA/DNA ratio in dorsal muscle tissue was decreased contrast to rapid increase during spawning season. Blood composition factors increased in terms of gonad maturation are aspartate aminotransferase, cholesterol, triglyceride, total protein, glucose, globulin, alkaline phosphatase and inorganic phosphate. Other blood factors increased during spawning season are alanine aminotransferase, blood urea nitrogen, uric acid and lactate dehydrogenase.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.223-228
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• 2017

This study investigated the effect of different photoperiods (14L: 10D, 12L:12D and 10L:14D) on the gonadal development and GtH mRNA expression in the pituitary of damselfish. The results showed that gonadosomatic index (GSI) was significantly lower in shot photoperiod (10L:14D), in comparison with other photoperiodic group during the spawning season. After 60 days treatment, histological analysis of gonad tissue showed that the gonad of 10L:14D and 12L: 12D treatment groups were resting phase with spermatogonia and perinucleolus stage oocytes but the gonad of 14L:10D treatment group was still ripe phase with spermatozoa and mature stage oocyte. The $FSH{\beta}$ and $LH{\beta}$ mRNA expression in pituitary drastically decreased shot photoperiod treatment from July (spawning period). These results suggest that photoperiod is considered to be the most effective environmental factor in controlling the reproductive cycle of damselfish.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.225-230
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• 2020

This study reports the presence of mature and bi-sexual phase gonads in red spotted grouper, Epinephelus akaara after less than a year of cultivation in a commercial indoor tank and a net cage. In December 2018, juveniles were placed in an indoor tank and cultured for five months. In June 2019, the fish were transferred to a net cage and cultured until September. The rearing temperatures ranged from 19.86℃-24.65℃ in the indoor tank and 21.86℃-27.65℃ in the net cage. During the net cage culture period, specimens were randomly selected for histological gonad examination. The highest gonadosomatic index (GSI) value was measured in July (3.38±2.53), and dramatically decreased in August (0.44±0.21) and September (0.42±0.30). In July, some mature fish showed signs of vitellogenic stage oocyte development (vitellogenic and oil droplet stage oocytes), but immature fish were in an early developmental stage containing peri-nucleolus stage (PNS) oocytes. Bi-sexual phase gonads containing spermatocytes and spermatids were observed in the lumen and several PNS oocytes. By August and September, most specimens showed early-stage ovary development. However, mature testis (in August) and bi-sexual phase gonads (in September) were also observed. These results provide evidence for early puberty and hermaphroditism in the red spotted grouper.

• The Korean Journal of Malacology
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.165-172
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• 2007

Gonadal development, reproductive cycle and sex ratio of the purplish Washington clam, Saxidomus purpuratus were investigated monthly by histological observations. Samples were collected from May 2006 to April 2007 in the Gangjin Bay of Namhea, Gyeongsangnam-do, Korea. The clams are dioecious. The gonads consist of a number of oogenic follicle and acinus. Monthly changes in the gonad index reached a maximum in April and a minimum in July. Monthly changes in the condition index reached a maximum in June and a minimum in November. The reproductive cycle of this species can be divided into five successive stages: the recovery and resting stage (June to December), early active stage (January to April), late active stage (February to July), ripe stage (March to October), spent stage (April to October). The main spawning of the clam occurred in July and September in Gangjin Bay. The sex ratio of female to male was not significantly different from 1:1.