Abstract
Ten test and gonad characters in both genders of cultured sea urchins (Strongylocentrotus intermedius, Agassiz) were investigated for sexual identification and sex ratio. Both test (test height-diameter ratio) and gonad characters (gonad index, gonad color and gonad moisture content) were significantly different between male and female sea urchins. For the first time, we report that cultivated female sea urchins are flatter than males. This could provide some new insight into the sexual identification of S. intermedius. The sex ratio of cultured sea urchins kept 1:1 at the density of 5 × 103g/m3, suggests that land-based aquaculture of sea urchins at a density of 5 × 103g/m3 can keep the balanced equilibrium on the sex ratio. Key words: Strongylocentrotus intermedius, test height-diameter ratio, sexual identification, sex ratio in aquaculture.
Highlights
The sea urchin Strongylocentrotus intermedius was a commercially important species originally found off the coast from Hokkaido of Japan and Far East Russia
Body weights were similar between genders, with the averages of 22.35 and 23.17 g, respectively
Significant differences were found in test and gonad characters between males and females (P < 0.05, Table 2)
Summary
To our knowledge, no information is available on the sex ratio of sea urchins in aquaculture, increasing commercial demand has resulted in a great interest in their aquaculture. This lack of knowledge greatly limits our understanding of cultivated S. intermedius. We were strongly motivated to investigate test and gonad characteristics of different genders of cultivated sea urchins, S. intermedius. It could provide some new insight into the sexual identification and sex ratio
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