• The Korean Journal of Malacology
• /
• v.30 no.2
• /
• pp.139-153
• /
• 2014

We investigated fecundities in egg capsules and sizes at 50% of group sexual maturities in female Rapana venosa in three different salinity concentration regions (S-1, S-2, and S-3). In three different salinities, egg capsule heights, the number of egg capsules and the number of eggs and embryos were remarkably increased with the increase of female shell heights (or ages) and also increased with the increase of salinity concentrations. Heights of egg capsules, the number of egg capsules and fecundities (the number of eggs and embryos) were the maximum at S-1 (Gwangyang Bay (average 31.5 psu)) and the minimum at S-3 (the upper reaches of Seomjin River (average 15.5 psu)). Total numbers of fecundities of R. venosa $individual^{-1}year^{-1}$ were about $1{\times}10^6$ at S-1 region, about $8{\times}10^5$ at S-2 region, and about $2{\times}10^5$ at S-3 region. Rates (50%) of individuals reaching first sexual maturities in three different salinity regions (S-1, S-2 and S-3) were over 50% in females measuring 7.1-8.0 cm in shell height (considered to be two years old), and 100% in those > 10.1 cm (considered to be five years old). Biological minimum sizes ($RM_{50}$) in females in three different regions are 72.0 mm SH at S-1 region, 70.9 mm SH at S-2 region, and 74.6 mm SH at S-3 region, respectively. Exceptionally, smaller individuals (considered to be one year old) were participated in reproduction.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Fisheries and Ocean Technology
• /
• v.54 no.2
• /
• pp.188-192
• /
• 2018

The reproduction characteristics of hagfish Eptatretus burgeri were examined using individuals caught in the South Sea of Korea. The spawning season and size at minimum sexual maturity of this species were characterized based on a gonad-somatic index (GSI) and monthly variation egg size (long axis). From monthly variation of GSI, the spawning season was estimated to be from August to September. Developing eggs larger than 10 mm were found in March, and the largest egg size was found in July. The first spawning length was 34.2 cm TL. Batch fecundity ranged from 13 to 117 eggs for hagfish sized from 34.2 cm TL to 77.0 cm TL, respectively, and increased linearly with total length.

• The Korean Journal of Malacology
• /
• v.28 no.2
• /
• pp.175-185
• /
• 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
• /
• v.17 no.1
• /
• pp.45-55
• /
• 2001

Gametogenes, reproductive cycle, first sexual maturity(biological minimum size), sex ratio and larval development of the marsh clam Corbicula japonica were investigated monthly by histological observations. Samples were collected in brackish water of Gokgang stream, Kyungsangbuk-Do, Korea, from August 1997 to July 1998. Sexuality of Corbicula japonica is dioecious and the species are an oviparous clam. The gonads are irregularly arranged from the sub-region of mid-intestinal gland in visceral cavity to reticular connective tissue of foot. The ovary is composed of a number of ovarian sac which are branched arborescent. Oogonia actively proliferate along the germinal epithelium of ovarian sac, in which young oocytes are growing. The testis is composed of a number of testicular tubules, and the epithelium of the tubule has function of germinal epithelium, along which spermatogonia actively proliferate. A great number of undifferentiated mesenchymal tissue and eosinophilic granular cells are abundantly distributed between developing oocytes and spermatocytes in the early developmental stages. With the further development of the ovary and testis these tissue and cells gradually disappear. Then the undifferentiated mesenchymal tissue and eosinophilic granular cells are considered to be related to the growing of the oocytes and spermatocytes. The spawning period is from July to September, and the main spawning occur between July and August when seawater temperatures reach above 22$^{\circ}C$. The reproductive cycle of this species can be divided into five successive stages; early active (February to April), late active (May to July), ripe (June to September), partially spawned (July to September), degenerative (September to October) and resting stage (October to February). Percentages of first sexual maturity of female and male clams ranging in length from 10 mm to 12 mm are over 50% and 100% for clams over 16.0 mm in shell length. Fertilized eggs or Corbicula japonica were 80-90 ${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$ in diameter. In the early embryonic development of C. japonica, the appearance of polar body, trochophore and D-shaped veliger were observed around 40 min., 27 hours and 4 days after spawning, respectively, at a water temperature of 26.5-28.$0^{\circ}C$. The size of larvae of early umbo stage was about 185-210 ${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$ in shell length, 160-180 ${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$ in shell height around 7 days after fertilization. The correlation of relative growth between the culture day (D) and shell length (SL) was expressed by the following simple formula from D-shaped veliger to metamorphosing stage; SL = 13.300D + 209.36($r^2$= 0.9078).

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
• /
• v.22 no.12
• /
• pp.31.1-31.12
• /
• 2019

Background: The black-chinned tilapia, Sarotherodon melanotheron, is the most abundant fish species in the Nakwa (an open lagoon) and Brenu (a closed lagoon) in the Central Region of Ghana. Aspects of the life history characteristics and the ecology of the fish populations in both lagoons were studied to assess the bio-ecological status of this important resource. Methods: Fish samples were obtained from fishermen that fish on the Nakwa and Brenu lagoons using cast, drag and gill nets. The age of the fish was assessed from otoliths analysis and its growth modelled following the von Bertalanffy growth function. Morphometric characteristics of the fish populations were analysed using power regression and ANOVA for parameters comparisons, and Student's t test to determine whether species grew isometrically. The percentage occurrence method was used to analyse the stomach contents of the fish. Results: A total of 382 fish samples from both lagoons were measured, comprising 209 from Nakwa lagoon and 176 from Brenu lagoon. The size and weight of fish samples ranged between 3.9-11.5 cm total length and 1.0-27.3 g for Nakwa Lagoon and 5.6-12.8 cm total length and 3.2-29.8 g for the Brenu Lagoon. The estimated von Bertalanffy growth parameters were L∞ = 12.04 cm and K = 2.76/year for the Nakwa Lagoon samples and L∞ = 13.44 cm and K = 3.27/year for Brenu Lagoon samples. Daily otolith incremental rate ranged from 0.01-0.03 mm per day to 0.01-0.02 mm per day for Nakwa and Brenu lagoons, respectively. Stomach content analysis of the fish samples revealed that the species are planktivorous and the range of food varied between the lagoons. Green algae were the most prevalent food item in the stomachs of the fish samples from Nakwa with the frequency of 69% whilst diatoms (80.5%) were most prevalent phytoplanktonic food item for the fish in Brenu lagoon. Conclusions: The estimates of asymptotic length for the species in both lagoons are close to known values of the species length at first sexual maturity and points to intensive fishing pressure. As a consequence, a comprehensive sample-based survey is required in both lagoons to derive estimates of management reference points. The results of the stomach content analysis are beneficial to the construction of diet matrix for ecosystem models of the two systems.