• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.8-15
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• 2007

The morphology of gonad and reproductive cycle of ribbed gunnel (Dictyosoma burgeri) were investigated on the basis of histological observation. The specimens were monthly sampled in the coastal waters of Jeju from November 2001 to February 2003. The ovaries and testis of this species are categorized as cystovarian and lobule type, respectively. The gonadosomatic index (GSI) of female increased in November and maintained high values from December to February. The GSI of male was similar to that of female although it was decreased in February. The reproductive cycle can be grouped into the following successive stage in the ovary: growth (October to November), mature (November to February), spawning (January to February), and degenerating and recovery (March to September). And in the testis, the stage observed were: multiplication (August to November), growth (November to January), mature and spawning (November to February), and degenerating and recovery (January to September). The minimum maturation size of D. burgeri was over 15.0 cm and fecundity ranged from 2,194 to 6,581 eggs. The relationship between the fecundity and fish body was calculated in the fecundity (F) equation as: $F=0.4057TL^{3.1425}$ ($R^2=0.7621$) for total length (TL); $F=149.88BW^{0.9579}$ ($R^2=0.7982$) for body weight (BW), respectively. The fecundity was correlated positively with TL and BW. The histological observations of the gonads suggested that major spawning of this species probably occurs between January to February, when low water temperature ($13{\pm}0.3^{\circ}C$) period.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.241-250
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• 1982

The structure of gonads, gametogenesis and reproductive cycle of the cockle, Fulvia mutice, were studied mainly by histological observation. The materials were monthly sampled in the southern area of Yeosu from October 1980 to September 1981. F. mutica was monoecious. The gonads were situated between the liver tissues and the outer fibronuscular layers compacted by the connective tissue fibers and muscle fibers beneath the outermost layer of simple cuboidal epithelium. The gonad was composed of a number of the ovarian sacs and the testicular tubules which form the tubular structure. Testicular tubules in the mature stage sometimes contained 'testis-ova' The undifferentiated mesenchymal tissues and the eosinophilic cells were abundantly distributed on the germinal epithelium in the early development stage. With the further development of the ovary and testis, these tissues and cells gradually disapprared. The undifferentiated mesenchymal tissues and the eosinophilic cells are related to the growing of the oocytes and spermatocytes . Early multiplicating oogonium was about $10{\mu}m$ in diameter. As the oocytes grow to $27-34\times50-58{\mu}m$ by increasing cytoplasm, the oocytes connected to the basement membrane by their egg-stalks. The ripe eggs were about $60{\mu}m$ in diameter and they were surrounded by gelatinous membrane. Most male germ cells in mature stage were transformed into the spermatozoa and they formed the sperm bundles. After spawning, undischarged ripe eggs and spermatozoa remained in the ovarian sac and the testicular tubule respectively for some time, then they finally degenerated. Especially the early spent ovarian sacs in May did not contract significantly and then they took part in the secondary maturation within two or three months during the summer season. The monthly changes of the fatness well agreed with the reproductive cycle. The reproductive cycle of F. mutica could be classified into six successive stages : multiplicative, growing, mature, spent, degenerative and recovery stage. It seems that the spawning season is closely rotated to the water temperature, and the spawning occurs from May to October at about $20^{\circ}C$ in water temperature. The peak spawning seasons appeared twice a year between June and July and in September. Acknowledgement The authors wish to express their gratitude to Dr. Kim, In Bae, Dr. Chun, Seh Kyu and Dr. Yoo, Sung Kyoo of National Fisheries University of Busan and Mr. Min, Byoung Seo of National fisheries Research and Development Agency for their critical reading of the manu script.