Abstract
This study characterized the reproductive cycle of the stout razor clam Tagelus plebeius in the estuary of the Cachoeira River, Ilhéus, Bahia, northeastern Brazil. Samples of 20 animals per collection were taken biweekly from August 2005 to August 2006. The 480 specimens were measured on the antero-posterior axis (length) and then removed from the shell. After macroscopic analysis, the gonads were fixed in Davidson's solution, processed by routine histology and stained by Harris hematoxylin and eosin. The gonads of both males and females appeared milky white, without sexual dimorphism. Microscopic analyses indicated a M: F ratio of 1.06: 1 and continuous reproduction of T. plebeius in the region. The period from August to October showed the most intense spawning. This study provides another example of continuous reproduction of bivalves in tropical waters, and because this species is a heavily exploited fishery resource in the region, it draws attention to the need for a management plan aimed at reducing harvests.
Highlights
Studies on the reproduction of a species of mollusk are important to understand its life history and problems of regulation and conservation (Quayle, 1943)
The data from this study indicated that Tagelus plebeius reproduces continuously in the Cachoeira River estuary, with simultaneous gametogenesis and spawning
In the Brazilian northeast, this pattern was observed in the bivalve A. brasiliana (Grotta and Lunetta, 1980; Barreira and Araújo, 2005; Luz and Boehs, 2011)
Summary
Studies on the reproduction of a species of mollusk are important to understand its life history and problems of regulation and conservation (Quayle, 1943). According to Coe (1943), bivalve mollusks have a wide variety of reproductive strategies, and studies of reproduction in this group can provide important knowledge of sexuality. Knowledge of the periods of greatest reproductive activity is essential to establish management plans for the repopulation of wild stocks (Galvão et al, 2006). Information on the reproductive cycle makes it possible to know the optimum periods for the placement of seed collectors for aquaculture (Nascimento and Lunetta, 1978; Galvão et al, 2006). In Brazil, studies on the reproduction of bivalves are relatively few. Information is available for Donax hanleyanus Philippi, 1847 (Gil and Tomé, 2004a), Chione pubera (Bory Saint-Vicent, 1827) (Borzone et al, 2001), Perna perna (Linnaeus, 1758) (Galvão et al, 2006), Anomalocardia brasiliana (Gmelin, 1791) (Narchi, 1976; Grotta and Lunetta, 1980; Barreira and Araújo, 2005; Luz and Boehs, 2011) and Crassostrea rhizophorae (Guilding, 1828) (Nascimento and Lunetta, 1978; Nascimento et al, 1980; Lenz and Boehs, 2011)
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