Abstract
The reproductive cycle and gonadal development of Donax striatus from a sandy beach in Ajuruteua, Amazon region, were studied. Monthly sampling took place from March 2015 to April 2016. Histological analysis was performed on 420 individuals, and the oocyte diameters were determined from histological sections and used to determine the reproductive period. The population showed a balanced sex ratio (1:1) with a size at first maturity of 10.9 mm in males and 8.9 mm in females. The population showed r-strategist characteristics and continuous spawning, and the reproductive cycle showed no seasonal variation or significant relation with any environmental parameter. The organic matter was significantly higher in the rainy season. According to the generalized linear model analysis (GLM), only the condition index (CI) had a significant relationship with the organic matter of the sediment. The type of reproductive strategy adopted by D. striatus corroborates the global breeding hypotheses for species of tropical environments. For conservation, it should be recommended to harvest this species at a shell length above 13 mm.
Highlights
Since 1950, invertebrate fisheries have rapidly expanded on multiple scales, and today operate around the world (Anderson et al 2011), increasing the need for research into bivalve reproduction to establish management plans for effective conservation programmes (Quayle 1943, Galvão et al 2006)
Histological analysis was performed on 420 individuals, and the oocyte diameters were determined from histological sections and used to determine the reproductive period
The organic matter was significantly higher in the rainy season
Summary
Since 1950, invertebrate fisheries have rapidly expanded on multiple scales, and today operate around the world (Anderson et al 2011), increasing the need for research into bivalve reproduction to establish management plans for effective conservation programmes (Quayle 1943, Galvão et al 2006). Research on the reproductive cycle reveals the periods when seed can be collected (Nascimento and Lunetta 1978, Galvão et al 2006). Reproductive patterns of bivalves vary according to their geographic location (climatic region), which can be attributed to the environmental variations of each region associated with extreme climatic events, which prompt species with diversified strategies to optimize their reproduction, for example, through the rapid proliferation of mature gametes and continuous spawning limited to certain periods (Cárdenas and Aranda 2000). In the tropics, where planktonic food is continuously available along the coastal margins, the reproductive period is not limited by food availability
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