• The Korean Journal of Malacology
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.9-17
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• 2003

The gonad index (GI), reproductive cycle with gonad developmental phases, first sexual maturity and the sex ratio of the jedo venus, Protothaca jedensis, on the coastal waters of Boryeong, Korea were investigated by histological study. Samples were collected from the subtidal zone of Boryeong, Korea from January to December, 1999. Monthly changes in the gonad index in femal and male clams gradually increased from February and reached the maximum in May, and then the values rapidly decreased from June and reached the minimum in November as seen in variations of the reproductive cycle. The spawning period of this species was once a year between May and July, there was a spawning peak between June and July when seawater temperature was over 20$^{\circ}C$. The reproductive cycle of this species in female and male clams can be classified into five successive stages: early active stage (December to March), late active stage (February to June), ripe stage (April to July), partially spawned stage (May to July) and spent/inactive stage (July to January). Percentages of first sexual maturity of female and male clams of 30.1-35.0 mm in shell length were 52.6% and 60.0%, respectively, and 100% for the clams over 45.1 mm in shell length. The sex ratio of individuals > 30.1 mm in shell length was 1:1 (X$^2$ = 0.40, p > 0.05).

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.571-580
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• 1985

Based on the data collected by R/V "Shinkai Maru" of the Japan Marine Fishery Resources Research Center during the period from April 1978 to April 1979, seasonal migration of Merluccius hubbsi was studied using the catch per fishing effort (tons/30 min. haul) and gonad maturity index (gonad weight /body weight X $10^3$). Merlurccius hubbsi are found in the area between $36^{\circ}S\;and\;54^{\circ}S$ along the coast of Arzentine and are abundant especially above the 100 fathoms in northern offshore of $48^{\circ}S$. It was observed that critical maturity body lengths (spawning minimum body length) in terms of gonad maturity index are 40 cm and 30cm in female and male respectively, while spawning seasons are from December to January and from November to December for female and male respectively. It was assumed that while the group which distrbutes in the north ($36^{\circ}S{\sim}39^{\circ}S$) in spring moves down south to $42^{\circ}{\sim}46^{\circ}S$ for spawning in summer (from December to January), the group which does not move or a part of this group which comes back to the north spawn in the area north of $42^{\circ}S$ throughout the long period except winter time (from July to August). Southern group as well might move north and spawn after mixing together with northern group at $42^{\circ}{\sim}46^{\circ}S$ area around the period of December to January,

• The Korean Journal of Malacology
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.175-185
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• 2012

To clarify reproductive ecology of the melania snail Semisulcospira coreana (v. Martens, 1886) in Bukhan River, gonad development, fatness, gonad index, sex ratio, first sexual maturity of population, monthly change of larvae number and developmental stages in brood pouches were investigated by six identification methods. As maturation progrsses, the sex of the snali can be distinguishable easily by color:: the ovary being blue-green and testis light yellow. The sex ratio of female to male individuals over 13.95 mm shell height was significantly different from 1:1 (${\chi}^2$ = 38.45, p < 0.05). The sex ratio of female to male individuals changed drastically according to the season, Based on the monthly variations of fatness, gonad index and histological analysis, spawning occurred twice a year (spring and autumn) and the mean size of matured eggs was $450{\mu}m$ in diameter. The monthly change of larval number in brood pouch showed also two distinct peaks in March and September during the year. The average number of larvae in brood pouches was 286 - 862 individuals. In this study, the number of larvae in the brood pouches were a minimum in December and a maximum in March (975 larvae). The biological minimum size (the size at 50% of group sexual maturity) of the melania snail was 13.95 mm in shell height in females and males. All females over 15 mm in shell height possesed brood pouches.

• The Korean Journal of Malacology
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.113-120
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• 2013

The reproductive cycle, gonad index, condition index, and the sex ratio in female and male Coecella chinensis, which were collected from the coastal waters of Namhae, the South Coast of Korea, were investigated by histological analysis and morphometric data. Monthly variations of the gonad index and condition index of this species showed similar patterns to that of the reproductive cycle. The reproductive cycle in female and male C. chinensis can be classified into six successive stages: early active stage (April), late active stage (May), ripe stage (June), partially spawned/spent stage (June to August), degeneration stage (August) and inactive stage (September to March). According to monthly changes in relative frequency distributions of ovarian egg diameters of this species, in particular, a number of ripe eggs ranging about 70 ${\mu}m$ appear in June, however, in July and August, although the mode of egg diameters ranging about 50 ${\mu}m$ appear about 80%, these ripe eggs ranging from 60 ${\mu}m$ to 70 ${\mu}m$ are gradually decreased during the period from June to August. Therefore, the spawning period of this species is continued from June to August with a peak between July and August when the seawater temperature exceeds about $24.5^{\circ}C$. The sex ratio of female and male individuals was not significantly different from 1:1 (${\chi}^2$=1.20, p>0.05). No hermaphrodites were found.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.52 no.5
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• pp.496-510
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• 2019

We investigated the reproductive characteristics of the sweetfish Plecoglossus altivelis, including changes in the gonadosomatic index (GSI), frequency of gonad developmental stages, and abundance of drifting larvae, in three streams (Gangjeong, Yeonoi, and Ongpo) on Jeju Island from May 2004 to December 2005. The GSI values of female P. altivelis in all Jeju streams began to increase in September and reached a maximum in October and November. Peak GSI values in males occurred in Gangjeong from October to November, in Yeonoi from November to January, and in Ongpo from September to October. The gonadal development of P. altivelis was classified into four stages: growth (March to October), maturity (September to December in females; July to December in males), spawning (September to January), and degeneration (October to March in females; after November in males). Drifting larvae were collected from October to January. These results suggest that the main spawning activity of P. altivelis in Jeju streams occurs from October to November. The information about the reproductive characteristics of P. altivelis obtained in this study is critical to fishery management for this species.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.121-134
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• 2014

Sessile marine bivalves including mussels, oysters and clams are often used as a sentinel species in coastal environmental monitoring since changes in the environmental quality are often well preserved in their tissues and shells. In this study, we investigated overall health condition of the Mediterranean Mussel, Mytilus galloprovincialis on the south coast using histology. Reproductive condition as gonad index (GI), condition index (CI) as a ratio of the tissue weight to the shell weight, digestive gland atrophy (DGA), types of parasites, and pathologic conditions including erosion, necrosis, hemocyte infiltration, and neoplasia were examined from each histological preparation. GI decreased from March to July then increased from July to September and spawning mussel could be observed as early as in April and the activity continued until September. CI also followed the monthly changes in GI, indicating that decrease in CI was associated with the weight loss due to spawning. DGA increased from March to June, decreased in July and increased from July to September. High DGA values observed in June and September were coincided with spawning and high water temperature. Histology also showed high prevalence of erosion in the digestive gland in June (36.0%) and September (56.4%), suggesting that high water temperature and spawning acted as environmental stressors. No parasitic organism was identified during the survey, although some symbiotic copepods were observed. Histology was found to be useful and affordable technique in monitoring the overall health of mussel, providing useful pathologic information of the cells and tissues.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.351-358
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• 2005

Reproductive condition of the tropical blacklip pearl oyster, Pinctada margaritifera collected during the period July through September 2003 from Chuuk Lagoon, Federated State of Micronesia was investigated using histology. The level of gonad development for each pearl oyster was determined with an average score of five microscopic fields, and the average score was used as the maturity index (ML). All wild pearl oysters collected in July did exhibit fully ripe eggs in their ovaries ($45{\sim}50{\mu}M$ in diameter), indicating that they were ready for spawning. In mid August most wild pearl oysters were in spawning and M1 dropped dramatically from mid- to late September, suggesting that the wild pearl oyster completed spawning during this period. In contrast, the cultivated pearl oysters collected in mid-September held ripe eggs in the ovaries and only a few of them spawned, indicating that gonad maturation of the cultivated pearl oyster was somewhat slower than that of the wild pearl oyster in Chuuk Lagoon during the summer period. Histological analysis also indicated that spawning of the pearl oyster is rather incomplete and they may spawn continuously during summer.

• The Korean Journal of Malacology
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.107-116
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• 2014

Gonadal development and maturation mechanism were studied on the freshwater marsh clam Corbicula papyracea (Heude), which is the endangered species in Korea. The specimens were collected in the rearing ponds and waterway of NFRDI in Gapyeong-gun, Gyeonggi-do from January to December 2004, and then investigated by condition factor, relative growth, gonadal development phases and gonad histological characters based on 30-50 individuals every month. Comparing with the freshwater marsh clam, C. papyracea is small, light olive brown shell and violet interior. The hermaphrodite individuals of C. papyracea take an internal fertilization and fertilized eggs are stored in the foster-sack in the gills, then the hatched juveniles are released outside after an ovoviviparous process. The average water temperature of inhabit area was in range of $1.8-27.0^{\circ}C$ and usually took great effects on the gonad maturation of C. papyracea. The condition factor ranged from 0.14 to 0.21 throughout the year, which was the lowest during winter season (December-February), and gradually increased to the highest value of 0.21 in May. The ratio of meat weight to total weight was 25.9-38.7%, indicating the similar trend with condition factor. The highest values of condition factor and the ratio of meat weight appeared 1-2 months later than gonadosomatic index reached the peak value, it was probably because that the ovoviviparous eggs would spend a long period before hatching from the foster-sack in the gills. To synthesize the characters of meat weight, condition factor and gonad development by histological study, reproductive cycle of C. papyracea could be divided into five successive stages: multiplicative stage (December to February), growing stage (February to May), mature stage (June to August), spawning stage (August to November), recovery stage (November to December). The smallest shell length of matured C. papyracea was 12.6 mm, and individuals, larger than 16 mm, was formed the nursery in the gills.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.352-357
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• 2003

Gonadal development and gametogenic cycle of the equilateral venus, Gomphina collected in the coastal waters of Gangneung, Gangwon-do, Korea were investigated by means of histological method from March 2001 to February 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 June (3.87), and the minimum in August (0.66). The condition index (CI) was reached the maximum in May (0.051), and the minimum in January (0.028). The gametogenic cycle of the clam could be divided into five stages inactive (September to November), early active (November to March), late active (April to May), ripe (June and July) and spent/degenerative stage (July to August). Sex ratio (male/female) was 1:0.9.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Fisheries and Ocean Technology
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.287-291
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• 2009

This study examined the maturation and main spawning season of Japanese spear lobsters, Linuparus tirgonus(Von Siebold) captured around Jeju island from January to September, 2008. Carapace length(CL), body weight(BW) and gonad weight(GW) were measured. Gonadosomatic index(GSI) and sex ratio were calculated. In female group, CL showed the highest value in June and decreased after August. GW showed a peak in July and decreased rapidly after August. The mean gonadosomatic Index(GSI) reached a maximum value between June and August. Number of egg ranged from 143,360 to 189,504.